NHL: Free Agency, Trade, Injury, and Rookie News!

Senators deal Hossa for Heatley

TSN.ca Staff

8/23/2005 4:29:38 PM

The Atlanta Thrashers have arranged media availability for this afternoon at which time they are expected to announce that the team has acquired Marian Hossa and a defenceman from the Ottawa Senators for forward Dany Heatley.

"We had approached the Thrashers a couple of weeks ago requesting a change of environment," agent Stacey McAlpine told The Canadian Press. "It was an extremely difficult decision, but we all worked together to try and get things resolved and it looks like we were able to do that."

Heatley, drafted second overall by the Thrashers in 2000, has 80 goals and 181 points in 190 career games. His best season thus far came in 2002-03, when he set career highs in goals (41) and points (89).

Heatley played last season with AK Bars Kazan in Russia and SC Bern of Switzerland during the NHL lockout.

He is a restricted free agent and is on the verge of agreeing to terms with Ottawa on a new deal.

McAlpine said Heatley would meet the media Wednesday in Ottawa.

Hossa and the Senators avoided salary arbitration when they agreed to a new contract Tuesday morning, just before the case was scheduled to go to arbitration. A source said Hossa will earn $5 million this season, $6 million in 2006-07 and $7 million the following season.

Hossa recorded 36 goals and 46 assists in 82 regular-season games in 2003-2004. In 467 career games, the six-foot-two, 215-pound Slovak has 188 goals and 202 assists.

More to follow.
 

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Knightfall1972 said:
Just thought I'd point out that I've gone through the list of free agent players (listed above) and updated it with additional players, after spending some time researching the free agents on each team. There are many new rising young players out there that are still available, as well as many vetern players.

Some of the better unrestricted players still available include Albelin, Bondra, Brathwaite, Bure, Damphousse, Deadmarsh, Dafoe, Dykhuis, Corson, Czerkawski, Francis, Grosek, Hackett, Irbe, Keane, Korolev, MacInnis, Marchment, Mironov, Orszagh, Perreault, Savage, Samuelsson, Shields, Stevens, Thomas, Tugnutt, Woolley, and Young.

I'm very surprised that no one has signed Bure, Deadmarsh, or Stevens yet.

Opinions?

KF72
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Did you mean *Pavel* Bure? His knees are destroyed.

Deadmarsh has yet to recover from back to back concussions he received in October & December of 2002.

Scott Stevens is still recovering from his concussions and is contemplating retirement.


One guy you didn't mention is Brad Bombardir. He's somewhat solid and very affordable. I really hope my Kings sign this guy, as they're one d-man short.

Of the ones you've mentioned, I'm actually quite surprised Perrault hasn't been picked up. I mean, c'mon! Sure he's soft, but he's been the best face-off man in the NHL for the last decade! And he's a lot younger than a MacInnis, Thomas, Francis, Damphousse, etc.
 
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Tuzenbach said:
Did you mean *Pavel* Bure? His knees are destroyed.

Deadmarsh has yet to recover from back to back concussions he received in October & December of 2002.

Scott Stevens is still recovering from his concussions and is contemplating retirement.
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I knew Pavel had some injury issues, but I didn't know it was that serious. And I didn't know that Deadmarsh and Stevens both had concussion issues.

Tuzenbach said:
One guy you didn't mention is Brad Bombardir. He's somewhat solid and very affordable. I really hope my Kings sign this guys, as they're one d-man short.
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Bombardir's strengths are definitely his size and strength. His stats, however, aren't as consistent as a GM would like, IMO. Specifically, his plus/minus stats are especially "varied" from year to year. In 2002-03 his +/- was 15, while in 2003-04 his +/- was -9. Of course, evey D-man struggles with "that" stat once in a while.

Tuzenbach said:
Of the ones you've mentioned, I'm actually quite surprised Perrault hasn't been picked up. I mean, c'mon! Sure he's soft, but he's been the best face-off man in the NHL for the last decade! And he's a lot younger than a MacInnis, Thomas, Francis, Damphouse, etc.
Click to expand...

It's true that a lot of the unrestricted players are of the old guard, but we should never underestimate experience and history when it comes to what GMs are looking for, in order to find the winning formula.

Another talented player that many GMs might be looking at is Vladimir Orszagh (LW) from the Nashville Predators. He has had three straight 30 point seasons with the Predators. His 2003-04 season is his best with 16 goals & 21 assists in 82 games.

Mariusz Czerkawski is also another outstanding player who, while a little older (33), is still an offensive threat. He had 25 goals & 24 assists in 81 games with the New York Islanders in 2003-04.

KF72
 

Knightfall1972 said:
Calgary Flames
Restricted: n/a
Unrestricted: A. Eriksson, D. Lowry
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Dave Lowry has retired. He's now an assistant coach of the Calgary Hitmen.

I'm going to miss Perreault, but I guess there's no room left for him on the Habs. And when's Montreal going to get a backup? Shields would work. So would Schwab. The ex-starters would want too much money or not be happy not starting (ala Tommy Salo).

Heatley to Ottawa. Grrrr. Oh well, better than Toronto or Boston...
 

*is a little shocked by the Heatly move but picking him up for Hossa, good deal on both sides*

Yes Stevens has had a few concussions, but I don't think he's done for just yet. But that's just me.

Deadmarsh, I knew, had several concussions over 2000 and 2001, but I'd still like to see him skate one more time.
 

I guess i haven't seen enough of Heatley. Is he so good that he is worth Hossa and a defenseman?

RE:Stevens - I am pretty sure that I read somewhere that he is either going to retire or go back to NJ, and that he isn't considering offers from other teams.

RE: Perreault - I'm also surprised that he hasn't been signed. A good faceoff man is a big plus to a contending team.
 


Agamon said:
Dave Lowry has retired. He's now an assistant coach of the Calgary Hitmen.
Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know. Anyway, here is the latest trade for today...


Ducks ship Rucchin to Rangers

TSN.ca Staff

8/23/2005 8:29:06 PM

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim traded longtime Ducks centre Steve Rucchin to the New York Rangers for enforcer Trevor Gillies and a conditional pick in the 2007 draft.

"The Mighty Ducks would like to thank Steve Rucchin for his efforts and dedication over the last 10 years in Anaheim," said Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Burke. "We wish him the very best of luck with the New York Rangers."

Gilles, 26, has two assists and 277 penalty minutes playing with Hartford in the AHL last season.

Rucchin, 34, played in 82 games with Anaheim during the 2003-2004 season, scoring 43 points. He was drafted out of the University of Western Ontario by Anaheim in the 1994 NHL Supplemental Draft and appeared in his first NHL season with the Ducks in 1994-95.

Rucchin spent several seasons as the pivot between high-flying Ducks Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne and has compiled 432 points in 616 career games. He's slated to earn $2.261-million this season.
 

Wow. Another one I didn't see coming. I figured with Selanne back with the Ducks, Rucchin was staying this time. If anything I thought they'd trade him when Kariya left.
 

Nightfall said:
Dan Heatly is/was approximately 1/3 of the Thrasher's offense. So yeah I'd say he's worth Hossa and D man.
Click to expand...

And the defenceman is Greg de Vries. This is definitely a good deal for the Thrashers, as de Vries is a solid blueliner.

Nightfall said:
Wow. Another one I didn't see coming. I figured with Selanne back with the Ducks, Rucchin was staying this time. If anything I thought they'd trade him when Kariya left.
Click to expand...


In the new NHL, of a $39 million US salary cap, I think there are going to be some surprising moves. This is a good deal for the Rangers. A player like Rucchin is the right direction for them to be heading.
 

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