Neil staying in Ottawa with 4-year, $8M deal
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 1, 2009 10:12 PM EDT
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PrintUnrestricted free agent right-winger Chris Neil decided against moving today, re-signing with the Ottawa Senators for a four-year, $8M deal. It appeared Neil was going to move on after rejecting the 'final offer' of $1.7M for four years, but it looks like the player who said he wanted to stay actually did want to stay. TSN had reported that the New York Rangers offered Neil a four-year, $9.6M contract, but left that money on the table to stay in Ottawa.
Most Ottawa fans had already prepared themselves for Neil to move on, so this comes as a bit of a surprise--particularly given that Neil had his worst season (statistically speaking) in the NHL last season. The $2M annual salary is almost double the $1.1M he earned last year, and is a high price to pay for any fourth-line player. Under new coach Cory Clouston, Neil was largely resigned to the fourth line, and will likely compete with Jarkko Ruutu, Cody Bass, and Zack Smith for minutes on the Ottawa Senators' bottom two lines.
I will say it's nice to have a player who actually wants to stay in the city, and is willing to put his money where his mouth is as proof, but I think we've overpaid here for a player who is quickly losing his effectiveness as he gets older and as the game gets faster. Hopefully the steady downward trend in points for Neil since 2005-06--where he had 33 points, down to 28 in 2006-07, 20 in 2007-08, and finally 10 in 2008-09, turns around this year--but history shows that's rarely the case in the NHL.
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If I wasn’t so angry at the Heatley situation, this would piss me off even more. I’m pretty upset at the prospect of four more years of watching Chris Neil skate slowly, screw up a pass, throw a late hit, draw a penalty, get in a fight, and then try and get the crowd going by waving his hands every single time.
I was hoping young, fast players would get a chance.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 1, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Same here. I actually like Neil and his game, but not at $2M a year. At least Murray didn’t throw in a no-trade clause… maybe he’ll be bait when the deadline hits, like last year.
Murray loves giving out NTCs
He probably gave him one, we just haven’t heard about it yet.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 1, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on, now, Peter...
I know Murray gives them out like those little nudie cards in Vegas, but we know Neil left money on the table to play here so there probably wasn’t the need to sweeten the pot with one. Besides, with the headache Heatley’s is giving him, I bet it’s a while before another NTC is dished out in Ottawa.
MORE MONEY!!!
WE MUST TIE UP MORE MONEY!!!
OH SHIT, WE HAVE A CAP PROBLEM NOW!! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!?!?
WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE JUST SIGNED MIKE COMRIE TO THIS CONTRACT IN FACT!
INSTEAD OF CHRIS NEIL WE COULD HAVE HAD MIKE COMRIE.
MIKE COMRIE ISNT EVEN GOOD AND I WOULD HAVE LOVED THAT.
lol
that might be overstating the case a bit
definitely overstating. but still. next year we have a TON of UFAs and RFAs to sign. If Neil gets 8M/4yr, how much are we paying Foligno, Volch, Campoli, Lee, Shannon, etc?
Is that sarcasm?
Foligno was one of very few bright spots on last year’s team. And Campoli’s got, what, 30 games under his belt with Ottawa?
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 2, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
losing Heatley
if it happens, would be a much worse thing fro the Sens
I think you’re in the minority on that one. I can’t see how losing a player who doesn’t want to play for you is a bad thing.
who says he does not want to play for the Sens?
if he truly did not want to play for the Sens he could have walked out the door earlier today. Obviously that is not the issue.
He said he didn't want to play for the Sens
Did you not hear about his trade demand?
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 2, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
he said he wanted a trade cuz he is unhappy with Clouston’s coaching (a bit immature on Heatley’s part) so he asked for a trade … but he is having mixed feelings cuz he likes playing for the Sens and his Sens team mates, hence he declined the Edmonton trade
if he really hated life with the Sens all that much, he would have jumped at the Oiler gig
Where did he say he is having mixed feelings?
He hasn’t said ANYTHING to the media; that’s just speculation on your part.
He declined the Oilers trade for his own reasons
He wanted to go to one of his previously-chosen teams, like the Rangers, and he didn’t like that the Senators were rushing him to make a decision. His representatives have said so.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 2, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Where is that coming from?
From all I have been able to read, Heatley was upset about being demoted from the first power play line to the second. That’s all I have heard mentioned. I do not think that’s an irreconcilable difference.
No, he didn't.
He asked for a trade privately. His agents took it public.
Well, he DID demand a trade out of Ottawa...
So, that’s usually a good indicator of not wanting to play for a team, right?
well, he got his trade and he did not act on it
bottom line, actions speak louder than words
True
But I think those actions say “I’m a big baby and I only want to be traded to teams that can’t afford me and that’s not my problem, so you figure it out while I pout about backchecking.”
Agreed about poutiness .. but
I agree this whole thing is about Heatley poutiness but frankly disgruntled fans who are willing to part with Heatley for nothing are as equally pouty as is Heatley about being miffed about being on 2nd power play line … I say, grow up already ladies
How about if Dany stays with the Sens, if he sends you a bouquet of flowers with a card that says "sorry about our disagreement last year. This season every goal I score will be dedicated to you. Love Dany xo xo xo"
will that get pouty fans back on the Heatley bandwagon if he stays?
well about 20 minutes to midnight so we find out soon
lol
No, I don’t want a bouquet. I want him to go to a skating camp in the summer, come to training camp, buy into Clouston’s system, and lead the Sens to the Cup for the next 5 years. Doesn’t he remember how awesome he was playing in both ends in 2007 when Spezza, Fisher, and Vermette were all out? Backchecking creates turnovers which create goals. It’s not like Clouston is asking him to go fight Andrew Peters every night or something.
I’d rather part with him for two young, good kids that play in the system than watch him skate around in circles tapping the ice for a one-timer. Team play wins Cups — we see it in the Finals every year. If he’s not going to fully buy in to the system, then he shouldn’t be on the team, no matter how many goals he’s scored for us in the past.
Block Heatley trade
at this point, if i was the Sens, I would block Heatley trade. Before, I could have used up free space to go after Hossa, Havlat, Gaborik or Sedins … but now they are all gone. So … Heatley got to stay.
Ok, so....
I hate Heatley, Murray should be fired, and somebody needs to break Chris Neil’s legs so he has to retire and we’re not on the hook for this ridiculous contract.
Oh yeah, and we neglected to sign ANY of the FA talent out there. Way to go, Murray. I have always been a Murray supporter, but now I’m joining the mob. FIRE MURRAY!
We will not win the Cup in the next 10 years. Guaranteed.
he was patient and kept Heatley
he gets thumbs up for me on that
Heatley is slightly better than Havlat, roughly the same as Hossa but at a cheaper rate and more sturdy tha Gaborik … the Sedins for Heatley might have been an OK swap …
I would prefer Heatley over those other guys
I would prefer HAPPY Heatley over them. Not disgruntled, toxic Heatley that wants nothing to do with the Ottawa Senators.
how disgruntled is he?
i think fans have proven to be more disgruntled than Heatley … he quietly discussed his concerns with Clouston a long time ago, they told him to sit on it a bit … he kept playing fine
meanwhile, Heatley has not been vocal about subsequent events
if anything, Heatley has proven himself to be a model “disgruntled” player
Crap, what gave it away?!
Seriously, I wish I was. I’d love to have some beers with him and hear his side of this whole thing…. maybe talk some sense into him.
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