The Rangers Have Taken Their Shots At Heatley

About TMR

I've played hockey my entire life and have always been a die hard Rangers fan. Now that I'm done chasing the dream, I play in a few beer leagues but it just isn't the same as the glory days. I started this blog a little over a year ago and it has since evolved into something I really enjoy. Do I one day aspire to be a professional sports writer? Possibly. My dream job is being a general manager of a professional hockey team. My mood is hopelessly attached to whether the Rangers win or lose on a given night. I despise Sidney Crosby, loathe Martin Brodeur, and think Ricky Dipietro uses more hair products than any man should ever use. My name is Ryan McFadden and I am the editor of The Manic Ranger blog. Be sure to comment whether you like what I have to say or not. I can be reached by e-mail at tmrangerblog (at) gmail.com

Written by Ryan McFadden

Saturday, 27 June 2009 07:44

via Larry Brooks, NY Post

The opportunity for the Rangers to acquire Dany Heatley from the Senators remains on the table, though The Post has learned that Ottawa's demands border on the delusional.

Heatley, who has five years at $35 million remaining on his contract that carries an annual cap hit of $7.5 million, is due a July 1 up-front payment of $4 million on his $8 million salary for this season. The Rangers are one of the few teams -- if not the only team --

willing to take Heatley's contract before Wednesday. Still, though league-wide interest in Heatley is minimal, Murray has asked the Rangers for various permutations of young, inexpensive talent, with each one featuring Marc Staal. The requests have been denied. Staal is a non-starter.

Sather would like to be able to complete a deal for Heatley before Monday's 5 p.m. deadline for delivering offer sheets to restricted free agents. If the Blueshirts get Heatley this weekend, they most likely would not qualify Nik Zherdev at the obligatory $3.25 million.

Bryan Murray needs to wake up and smell the coffee, unless his owner wants to eat $4 million on July 1st, he needs to stop acting as though this is not a capped league in the middle of a recession. The Rangers are flexing their big market muscles and are one of the few teams willing to essentially pay the Sens $4 million to acquire Heatley now as opposed to after July 1st when the sum is due as part of last seasons salary.

Marc Staal is a deal breaker, Ryan Callahan is a deal breaker, but the Sens might get away with Brandon Dubinsky although I have to say that at that point the Rangers have overpaid. Yes, they've overpaid if they include Dubinsky, Rozsival, and Zherdev and a draft pick. At this point it's very clear that the market for Heatley is thin. Murray has made some bluffs saying if the offers don't improve then Heatley will play for the Sens next season. False, they do not want Heatley in their locker room next year. It would provide for a distraction and a very awkward situation for a team trying to put a miserable season behind them

My guess is a deal gets done today, if anything just because the Sens don't have much of a choice but to swallow the bitter Heater pill and move on. I still think that by the end of this years draft, Dany Heatley is a Ranger.

Comments (5) Add Comment

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written by PuckCentral.net, June 27, 2009

Murray is asking for way too much if this is true & the Rangers would just be better off staying away. IMO any deal involving Staal or Dubinsky is a deal breaker

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written by TMR, June 27, 2009

Well I hope the Sens owner is happy to eat $4 million.

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written by Brian, June 27, 2009

I'd trade Dubinsky over Callahan. We need wings, and I'm not sure that Dubinsky is ever going to be as good as everyone expects. I don't see him netting more than 60 points in a season.

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written by AJ, June 28, 2009

if they trade callahan or staal....that would be like signing redden all over again......a joke. dubinsky, zherdev, rozival, and a pick is overpaying....take dubinsky out of that deal and they can have the rest if we're eating four million. heatley would help....unless he's a hothead in the lockerroom...idk if he is or not.

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written by Dylan, July 01, 2009

theres a few i wouldnt trade... especially grachev and zherdev.. just wait those two are going to be insane togehther..

i dont know if it will happen.. rangers wont part with grachev or callahan.. and probably not dubinsky.. i could see something like rozi zherdev and anisimov... thats about all i would give up... heatley is worth a lot, but with no other offers we shouldnt overpay..

murray is going to have to take what he can get, or pay heatley the 4 mil.. its up to him..