Silver Nuggets: So much reaction, so little time

by PeterR on Sep 14, 2009 7:00 AM EDT Comment 10 comments

There's a lot of people out there, and a lot of different opinions on the Ottawa Senators acquisition of Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek, and a second-round pick in 2010 from the San Jose Sharks for Dany Heatley and a 2010 fifth-rounder.

If you haven't yet, start here, at Silver Seven:

PeterR: Heatley traded to San Jose for Cheechoo, Michalek, and a second-round pick (Cautiously optimistic)
DarrenM: The Morning After: Heatley Out, Michalek/Cheechoo In (Not equal value, but not terrible)

Or other places on SBN:

Fear the Fin: Doug Wilson does it again, Dany Heatley is a Shark: That'll Cheech You, after changing his name (one would assume), will deal with the consequences of calling the Sharks the Stanley Cup favourites before they play one exhibition game.
Fear the Fin: Heatley Finds A Home: Mr. Plank talks about the trade, sure, but also the precarious position it might put San Jose in after this season, with $21M to sign 11 players.
The Copper & Blue: Dany Heatley Traded: Jonathan Willis asks a committee of Edmonton Oilers fans if they'd trade Dustin Penner, Andrew Cogliano, and Ladislav Smid to San Jose for Michalek and Cheechoo. Most say no.

Then check out the Senators' blogosphere:

Five for Smiting: Sweet Baby Jesus, It's Over! It's Finally Over! (Love it)
Black Aces: Heatley Traded...And The Lessons Learned (Love it)
Sens at Land's End: Hopefully my last ever post about a Heatley trade (Like it)
Another Ottawa Senators Blog: Now what? Sens hit the ice today (Satisfied)
The 6th Sens: Heatley Traded (Disappointed)
SENS Town: Heatley Is A Shark (Hate it)
SENShobo: Heatley Departs But Questions Only Removed From Forefront (Uncertain)
Sens Army Blog: Finally (Like it)

And why not some mainstream media, too:

(Read more... )

Dany Heatley lure too hard for Sharks not to bite on [Toronto Star]: Damien Cox says that San Jose might have given up too much for Heatley--factoring in not only Michalek and Cheechoo but also the salary-dump trades of Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich--for a player who can score, but can't help them beat a team like Anaheim (see: 2007 Stanley Cup Final). He seems to think Ottawa did as well as could be expected. Good take, all in all.
Numbers Game: Heatley Knows Way to San Jose [TSN.ca]: Scott Cullen looks at the deal, and reaches the conclusion that Ottawa showed patience to get the best return, and San Jose showed desperation. This makes me feel happy.
Michalek eager for 'fresh start' in Ottawa with new season [Ottawa Citizen]: Michalek's version of the standard 'Sorry to leave friends, happy for new opportunity' post-trade interview. He should be here Tuesday, delayed due to visa issues.
Clear the air [Ottawa Citizen]: GM Bryan Murray talks about how frustrating this situation was, how he knew Heatley had to be dealt (for whatever we could get), and his expectations for the new guys: Michalek to play as a top-line left-winger, and Cheechoo to hopefully score 25 or more.
Senators celebrate Day after Dany [Ottawa Citizen]: Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, Nick Foligno, talk about their relief that the saga is over, and the team can focus on hockey now.
Neil, teammates relieved Heatley traded [Edmonton Sun]: See above, but Chris Neil is happier, too. But he's been outspoken on it for a while; he'll be worth the $2M this year if he takes a shot at Heatley when Ottawa's in San Jose.
Sens better team after Heatley trade: Alfredsson [Ottawa Citizen]: Not much else a captain can say, really. Alfie thinks the added depth will help the Senators more than a year of a pissed-off Heatley would have. I think it'll be easier for fans to watch, anyway.
The way to San Jose: A Heatley timeline [Ottawa Citizen]: Pretty cool piece chronicling the 64-day-long Heatley-Gate saga.
Sharks comfortable with making Heatley deal [Sporting News]: Craig Custance basically says the Sharks hit this out of the park, but notes that the long-term commitment to a player who doesn't really know that long-term commitment is a two-way street might be risky.
The Heatley trade: All in all, Sens made the best deal they could [SI.com]: One guess as to Allan Muir's point.
Trade makes Sharks, oops, better not say it [San Francisco Chronicle]: Columnist Ray Rotto calls Heatley "one of a diminishing number of 50-goal scorers" in the NHL; judging by his performance the last two years, he might be better called 'one of a number of diminishing 50-goal scorers'. (Alright, I'll probably eat crow after a season on this one, but can't I take one shot?)
Purdy: Wilson reveals winning hand [San Jose Mercury News]: Blah, blah, blah, Doug Wilson's a living god, and so on. Pretty amazing that the guy was able to acquire a player who demanded he be traded to his team, isn't it? Yeah, I'd say that's a heck of an accomplishment.

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THIS.

he’ll be worth the $2M this year if he takes a shot at Heatley when Ottawa’s in San Jose.

And how. I’ll break up with my girlfriend if I have to to see that game.

Also:

Pretty amazing that the guy was able to acquire a player who demanded he be traded to his team, isn’t it? Yeah, I’d say that’s a heck of an accomplishment.

Ha ha ha.

Man I love that tuna casserole.

by Bloggy on Sep 14, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ve never been a Neil fan, and his frustrating ineffectiveness in the last two seasons made that contract incredibly painful. But seriously… we know he hates Heatley, it’s pretty obvious, so he’s got to take a run at him. Got to.

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Sep 14, 2009 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great round-up, Peter. I really liked that Michalek article – didn’t realize his girlfriend was from Montreal, and he just seems to have a really great attitude.

by DarrenM on Sep 14, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Michalek is a great guy, and we’re gonna miss him in San Jose to be sure.

I’ll still be seen sporting the #9 around DT San Jose.

Fear the Fin: Where... IMA TAKING UR BLOGZ FRUM U!!

by That'll Cheech You on Sep 14, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

TSN...

posted their fantasy predictions today. Mixed feelings about these, I’d say:

Jason Spezza: 33G, 50A – 80pts, +7
Alfie: 28G, 48A – 76pts, +10
Alex Kovalev: 26G, 38A – 64pts, -2
Milan Michalek: 26G, 36A – 62pts, +9
Jonathan Cheecho: 24G, 22A – 46pts, +2
Mike Fisher: 20G, 23A – 43pts, +5
Nick Foligno: 19G, 20A – 39pts, -5
Chris Neil: 8G, 10A – 18pts, +3, 183PIM
Filip Kuba: 8G, 27A – 35pts, -3
Chris Campoli: 9G, 22A – 31pts, -1

Goalies
Pascal Leclaire: 28 wins, 2.92 GAA, 9.04 SV%
Brian Elliott: 18 wins, 2.70 GAA, 9.03 SV%

I do like that they have us pegged for at least 46 wins this season, which is playoff worthy. I wonder why they didn’t give Shannon a better look; 20pts in 35 games last year, you’d have to think he has the potential for 40+ this season, right? I do like the possibility of six (maybe seven) 20-goal scorers, which is offensive depth we haven’t had in a long time. I do think Kuba and Campoli can push for 40 points each, as well.

Is it October yet!?

by Daggs28907 on Sep 14, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they figure that the new additions push Shannon out of the top six, and therefore, out of notable point production.

That being said, we somehow still have 7 forwards there with 20+ goals (well, 19 for Foligno).

by DarrenM on Sep 14, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shannon could still stay top-six

They’ve assumed he’ll fall out, but Cheechoo was third-line in San Jose last year. It’ll be a good battle for that final top-six forward spot, no matter what—we assume Fisher’s the second line centre, then Shannon, Cheechoo, and Foligno duke it out for that sixth spot.

www.silversevensens.com

by PeterR on Sep 14, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

whatever combination you have on there, it’s safe to say we have a very good 3rd line. considering our third line is the same skill level (if not better) as our 2nd line last year.
in my opinion, no matter what happens, we’ll have 2 players in the 3rd line that are deserving of a top six spot.

besides, i have a feeling we’re going to try cheechoo on the first line with spezza to feed passes to him in the early going.

and i feel odd to think that fisher is our second line center.

by xBKx14 on Sep 14, 2009 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm really a fan of the Black Aces Article.

by xBKx14 on Sep 14, 2009 11:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

* Fear the Fin: Doug Wilson does it again, Dany Heatley is a Shark: That’ll Cheech You, after changing his name (one would assume), will deal with the consequences of calling the Sharks the Stanley Cup favourites before they play one exhibition game.

To be fair, I think everyone and their mother is predicting that in San Jose. And if TCY has learned one thing over the years, it’s to always listen to his mother.

Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution

by Mr. Plank on Sep 15, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs