Hossa signs

[Eazy_b97 1]

I think Ottawa won this deal. I like Hossa, think he's a great player, but of the two, Heatleys a better player. More well rounded. Ontop of it, he's cheaper than Hossa and De Vries, although a good D-man, was overpaid and I think they could've handled this situation better. I think they may have had a shot at Thornton for Heatley, or one of the Lightnings top 3. I think both teams got good players, but I think the keys are the salaries. Heatley signed cheap, Hossa got a little more than what I expected (5 mill is what I had pencilled) and De Vries is a 1.5ish type of D.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

Looks like he was the one wanting out, not Atlanta dumping him.

So far that struggle has been marked by missteps and stumbles culminating with Heatley's formal request some 10 days ago that he wanted to be traded from Atlanta, the team that drafted him with the second overall pick in the 2000 draft, the team which has shown him unwavering support through the bleakest of times.

"Did I ever think we were ever going to trade Dany Heatley? I didn't think this day would ever come," Atlanta GM Don Waddell said Tuesday evening after Heatley had signed a three-year deal in Ottawa worth $13.5 million.

"It was a sad day. It was a sad day for me because of everything that's happened in this organization," Waddell said of Heatley's demand to be traded. "It was sad to see that he wanted to leave us. But after I had some time to think about it, reflect on it, I understood what his reasons were and certainly I respect him for that."

Heatley told Waddell that he'd sold his home in Atlanta and that he thought it would be difficult to return to the city where two years ago during training camp he was involved in a car accident that cost the life of teammate and close friend Dan Snyder.

"Just driving around the city and being with his teammates here he felt that it was going to be tough for him," Waddell said. "He just really felt that the emotional side of him said a change would beneficial for him, not only personally, but for his career."

In a brief statement issued through the Thrashers, Heatley said that "requesting a change of environment was an extremely difficult decision. After a tremendous amount of reflection and numerous conversations with my family, it made the most sense to seek a change."

"I appreciate the support the organization has given me over the years and I'd like to thank them for honoring my request," he added. "My teammates, the fans and community will always hold a special place in my heart."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2141518

[mattopiela 0]

I am a huge Hossa fan, I know him personally and hes super chill. I hate to see him go, but hes was pretty dumb for asking that much money when he knew the situation Ottawa was faced with. I think with Hossa and DeVries (who by the way is brutal, way past his glory days) will have a very good team.

For Ottawa it was pretty much a cap move, but in all honestly I'd rather see Alfredson ship out, because hes gettin pretty old and hes not that great come playoff time.

And as far as Heatly goes ?

Heatley had a shitty season...

Heatley had a shitty World Cup....

Heatley had a shitty World Championships

Heatley is pretty damn shitty now...

Well kinda, if he can back to being the old Heatly then cachiiiiiiiiiiiiing for Ottawa.

[SailRace 1]

Looks like he was the one wanting out, not Atlanta dumping him.

So far that struggle has been marked by missteps and stumbles culminating with Heatley's formal request some 10 days ago that he wanted to be traded from Atlanta, the team that drafted him with the second overall pick in the 2000 draft, the team which has shown him unwavering support through the bleakest of times.

"Did I ever think we were ever going to trade Dany Heatley? I didn't think this day would ever come," Atlanta GM Don Waddell said Tuesday evening after Heatley had signed a three-year deal in Ottawa worth $13.5 million.

"It was a sad day. It was a sad day for me because of everything that's happened in this organization," Waddell said of Heatley's demand to be traded. "It was sad to see that he wanted to leave us. But after I had some time to think about it, reflect on it, I understood what his reasons were and certainly I respect him for that."

Heatley told Waddell that he'd sold his home in Atlanta and that he thought it would be difficult to return to the city where two years ago during training camp he was involved in a car accident that cost the life of teammate and close friend Dan Snyder.

"Just driving around the city and being with his teammates here he felt that it was going to be tough for him," Waddell said. "He just really felt that the emotional side of him said a change would beneficial for him, not only personally, but for his career."

In a brief statement issued through the Thrashers, Heatley said that "requesting a change of environment was an extremely difficult decision. After a tremendous amount of reflection and numerous conversations with my family, it made the most sense to seek a change."

"I appreciate the support the organization has given me over the years and I'd like to thank them for honoring my request," he added. "My teammates, the fans and community will always hold a special place in my heart."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2141518

Yeah, guys, i think this is an importnant thing to note. Heatley came to Wadell and asked him straight up to be traded. He just said he couldn't face coming back to Atlanta with all the emotional ties he had here.

Gotta repsect the guy for being straight up about it, and also respec the thrashers organization for treating him accordinly and looking for the trade. I think both teams have made out quite well, and i think the thrashers top 5 forwards are going to be a strong force this season.

On a side note, i heard an interview on the radio with Waddell this morning, and i hadn't realized but apparently Pasi Nurminen is out for at least the season, possibly his career. Looks like Lehtinen gets teh number 1 spot.

[shute 4]

why do we need to respect anyone who goes up to their GM to say "trade me"? once that happens i don't think any GM has a choice and is forced to make a trade. if you look at it in Atlanta's point of view they just picked up a guy who is less valuable (even though i hate heatley and love hossa) and will cost them a lot more. with that extra money they could of picked up another sniper... heck they could of picked up kariya.

i really like the Lehtinen kid and i think he'll be a hall of fame goalie but i think giving him the #1 spot this year would only hurt him in the long run. he really should be put in as backup with about 20 games this season.

[Miike 1]

I was lucky and got the chance to see Lethinen play in person, When he back stopped Finland to a Bronze Medal at the 2003 WJHC in Halifax. Man, i think he has a great career ahead of him!

[SailRace 1]

why do we need to respect anyone who goes up to their GM to say "trade me"? once that happens i don't think any GM has a choice and is forced to make a trade. if you look at it in Atlanta's point of view they just picked up a guy who is less valuable (even though i hate heatley and love hossa) and will cost them a lot more. with that extra money they could of picked up another sniper... heck they could of picked up kariya.

i really like the Lehtinen kid and i think he'll be a hall of fame goalie but i think giving him the #1 spot this year would only hurt him in the long run. he really should be put in as backup with about 20 games this season.

I make the claim about respecting Heatley's request, because it was a request based on unusual, very emotional circumstances. He didn't come up saying, hey, i hate you guys, i hate the team, i hate atlatna! Atlanta has got some terrible memories for a kid that's only what, 24, 25 years old. Now granted, what happened two years ago was entirely his fault, and i'm not trying to start a war about what happened to snyder. But at least Heatley was up front and said look, i may not be able to cut it emotionally. It's better for the Thrashers to know that now, rather to find out half way through the season that his head isn't in the game. Who knows, he may never get his head back in it, but the Thrashers don't need to worry about it anymore.

Hossa is only 2 years older than Heatley, and playing with a guy like Kovalchuk, will only increase his output and his value to the team. I think Atlanta will do just fine with this deal. Waddell did say in the interview this morning that they told Heatley they would only let him go if they could get a star caliber player in a trade. They were not going to dump him for just anyone, and certainly weren't going to just let someone buy his contract. Are there other players better than hossa that they might have traded for, maybe...but i don't know if there are that many others that will fit the atlanta system as well as he will.

As for Lehtinen - yes, i agree, it's a lot of pressure to throw a kid that young into the number 1 spot....but the truly amazing goalies have stepped to the plate when given the opportunity. Either way, i think the Thrashers will be a great team to watch this season, simply for the entertainment of each game.

[ktang 34]

I've never gone through anything like what Heatley went through, but I think it's OK for Heatley to come to terms with the emotional stress of playing in Atlanta and wanting to escape from it. This is different from a petulant player refusing to play until his salary is renegotiated (e.g. Yashin).

When he came back after recuperating from the crash it must have been hard to wear the jersey with the #37 (?) patch on it every game. Some might have tried to ignore the problem until it ate away at them, so I think he did the right thing by being honest, both to himself and to the Thrashers.

Wadell was classy in the way that he handled things after Heatley told him that he needed to get out of Atlanta.

Muckler was on Sportsnet last night explaining things from his perspective. Waddell had approached him about Heatley-for-Hossa while Hossa was still at a salary impasse with the Sens. Muckler wanted to keep Alfreddson as the highest-paid Sen, and he viewed Heatley as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Sens, so he then signed Hossa with the intent of trading him.

Heatley has a new 3 year contract, at something like 3.5, 4.5, and then 5.5 million per year, then he will be only 27.

So, Wadell and Muckler turned two potential problems into a win-win for the Sens and Thrashers.

[Eazy_b97 1]

i really like the Lehtinen kid and i think he'll be a hall of fame goalie but i think giving him the #1 spot this year would only hurt him in the long run. he really should be put in as backup with about 20 games this season.

I disagree. He's played against Men since he was extremely young, has thrived in every situation, and is easily better than Nurminene or Hurme (who I actually like). The kid is big, agile and has a good head on his shoulders. He isn't 19 years old, he can handle the responsibility and pressure just fine.

[sherwood21 0]

Oh my is Heatley an animal or what...

Absolutely disgusting tonight, as was Spezza

[Cavs019 708]

Needless to say my fantasy team had a good night.......

[ktang 34]

After the first round of this year's (2007) playoffs, it looks like Ottawa got the player it needed. Hossa didn't score in the Thrashers' 1st round sweep to the Rangers; was he hurt?

[jay 1]

Are you sure it's not ego surgery?