Iggy72
February 14th, 2008, 8:17:27 PM
Mckenzie updated his blog. Mostly he talked about Prospal likely being moved by T-Bay. Then he mentioned this:
A pair of NHL general managers are facing some very difficult decisions. Only the names have been changed.
Atlanta GM Don Waddell has to deal with the Marian Hossa situation.
Buffalo GM Darcy Regier has to deal with the Brian Campbell situation.
And the situations are close to identical.
Both GMs are holding out hope, albeit faint, of signing those players before the trade deadline on Feb. 26 or even the July 1 date when they both are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.
But, while neither can or will say this publicly, the sense in Atlanta and Buffalo is both players are not going to sign before the trade deadline.
Regier met with Campbell's agent Larry Kelly in Ottawa on Tuesday and while everyone is embracing the lines of communication are open party line, that is not to be confused with real progress on a new deal. Same sort of deal in Atlanta, where Waddell has had enough conversation with Hossa's agent Ritch Winter to know no one should be holding his breath waiting for Hossa to re-up with the Thrashers.
So it would be fair to say Waddell and Regier will be much more aggressive in ascertaining their value in the next 13 days leading up to the trade deadline.
Waddell and Regier need to get a very clear picture of exactly what Hossa and Campbell would fetch in a trade.
Then they need to weigh the return against what moving those key players would do to their teams for the balance of this season and perhaps the playoffs.
Atlanta is in a tight battle within the Southeast Division for the third seed overall in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo has climbed into the top eight in the East and would love nothing more than to stay there.
But these are not the Sabres of last season, when they were co-favorites with Ottawa to emerge from the East. And as much as the Thrashers would like to replicate last year's playoff appearance, there is probably a greater sense of building something over the next few years in Atlanta than a singular focus on this post-season.
In other words, the likelihood of both Hossa and Campbell being traded before the deadline has become extremely high.
Waddell and Regier will keep trying to sign them; they will keep talking to other teams; they will keep watching the NHL standings and where they fit in. But when push comes to shove on or before Feb. 26, the overriding sense is that the Thrashers and Sabres aren't going to put themselves in a position to see Hossa and Campbell skate off into the unrestricted free agency sunset without getting something in return.
Whichever way it goes, the GMs in question face some very tough decisions
All this after Tuesday's talks and especially Phaneuf's signing.
Here's the link:
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=229581
Your thoughts, aside from maybe being tired of me posting this stuff? ;)
Pax.
Iggy72
A pair of NHL general managers are facing some very difficult decisions. Only the names have been changed.
Atlanta GM Don Waddell has to deal with the Marian Hossa situation.
Buffalo GM Darcy Regier has to deal with the Brian Campbell situation.
And the situations are close to identical.
Both GMs are holding out hope, albeit faint, of signing those players before the trade deadline on Feb. 26 or even the July 1 date when they both are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.
But, while neither can or will say this publicly, the sense in Atlanta and Buffalo is both players are not going to sign before the trade deadline.
Regier met with Campbell's agent Larry Kelly in Ottawa on Tuesday and while everyone is embracing the lines of communication are open party line, that is not to be confused with real progress on a new deal. Same sort of deal in Atlanta, where Waddell has had enough conversation with Hossa's agent Ritch Winter to know no one should be holding his breath waiting for Hossa to re-up with the Thrashers.
So it would be fair to say Waddell and Regier will be much more aggressive in ascertaining their value in the next 13 days leading up to the trade deadline.
Waddell and Regier need to get a very clear picture of exactly what Hossa and Campbell would fetch in a trade.
Then they need to weigh the return against what moving those key players would do to their teams for the balance of this season and perhaps the playoffs.
Atlanta is in a tight battle within the Southeast Division for the third seed overall in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo has climbed into the top eight in the East and would love nothing more than to stay there.
But these are not the Sabres of last season, when they were co-favorites with Ottawa to emerge from the East. And as much as the Thrashers would like to replicate last year's playoff appearance, there is probably a greater sense of building something over the next few years in Atlanta than a singular focus on this post-season.
In other words, the likelihood of both Hossa and Campbell being traded before the deadline has become extremely high.
Waddell and Regier will keep trying to sign them; they will keep talking to other teams; they will keep watching the NHL standings and where they fit in. But when push comes to shove on or before Feb. 26, the overriding sense is that the Thrashers and Sabres aren't going to put themselves in a position to see Hossa and Campbell skate off into the unrestricted free agency sunset without getting something in return.
Whichever way it goes, the GMs in question face some very tough decisions
All this after Tuesday's talks and especially Phaneuf's signing.
Here's the link:
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=229581
Your thoughts, aside from maybe being tired of me posting this stuff? ;)
Pax.
Iggy72