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Heatley,Tanguay, Kaberle, Baseball Buzz? Halladay>PHL(e4)

July 23, 2009, 4:50 PM ET [ Comments]
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BASEBALL BUZZ!

Roy Halladay to the Phils (e4)(from Carlton, "the Anonymous Baseball Blogger"...just a joke)

Ok...Not a HUGE baseball guy, but I know or Toronto and Philadelphia based fans will have HUGE interest in this deal. I am just passing this one along because after talking to sources in both cities over the last few days about Hockey related rumors I happened upon sources in both cities today with insider information that told me that Blue Jay's pitcher Roy Halladay is likely Philadelphia bound in the VERY near future. (If any of you baseball fans reading my stuff happened upon my stuff for the first time, an (e4) is a rumor coming from 2 or more sources somehow directly connected to the possible deal.)

now back to your regularly scheduled hockey....

Tanguay

Believe you me...I did not want to report, nor do I at all understand, the rumors involving Tanguay and the Flames. They have no space, they weren't particularly a great match last they were dating...But anyway, it is an (e2).

Tanguay is at a pivotal point....(Either become this year's Allison/Sundin or pick a place to lace em?) No, more like the old Years vs. Cash vs. Career argument. The latest out there is that the Coyotes are back in and the once favored Panthers are out. Not so sure, but it would make some sense. The issue with Tanguay at this point is this:

Do I play 1 year in a market and system where I could succeed the most and go for broke next summer potentially getting more money long-term plus make myself a better player now? Or do I do the money grab now and play for a team that maybe isn't so suited for my game but hope that I can become the player the team is built around?

So let's look at the teams involved and where they fit:

Teams who would go longer term: Phoenix, Florida, the NY Isles
Teams who would go short term: Tampa, Nashville, Calgary

Ok, so were I his agent I would tell Alex that he is coming off of 2 years where his production was down. Granted, last year wasn't terrible given that he did put up 41 points in 50 games, but his goal production has diminished since the lockout from 29-22-18-16. In Colorado he was heading toward becoming a solid 30 goal guy (which usually equates to 5M per these days), but since leaving he hasn't really found the right players with which to play.

This is why the fact that the Avs aren't really in this is so baffling. They have money and his old line-mates. However that is not an option as of now.

So then you have to ask yourself why he has been moved from Colorado to Calgary to Montreal and the Habs are letting him walk while signing the similar Cammalleri? Usually players start getting moved around like this when teams are afraid of what that player will cost. Obviously Montreal must have gotten the sense that it would be more than they were willing to spend.

The issue here is "What's best for Tanguay's career?" He has shown a huge difference in numbers when he plays with top guys. that much we know for certain. Were I him I would take less money for one year and put up 30+ playing with Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Stamkos. The addition of Ohlund and Hedman is going to make the Lightning a dream team to play with for a guy of his skill set. (Can't wait for Lightning/Capitals games this year...When could you say that??)

However, Tampa is likely not willing to gamble more than a year on him, where Phoenix, Florida and the Isles may give him 3+ years. But probably not at the 5 per, which I am quite sure he would receive if he notched 30 or even more in Tampa.

We will see. History shows us that players that take a small step back for their careers have more career in the end.

Heatley

There definitely is a bit of a spike today in that it appears as though the Sharks and Sens have picked up the chatter...Also, it has been reported that the Oilers sent a video to Heatley in an attempt to sway him. Reaction to this tactic has been mixed among those I talked to. Some saying this was a desperate move while others praised it.

I praise it. If I were an Oilers fan I would want my team to use every possible tactic to land a 50 goal guy. I have said it before, but love them or hate them, the Oilers NEVER give up and are constantly in the game fighting for players. I think it's outstanding.

There will be a bit of a freeze this weekend on Heatley talk as he attends Spezza's wedding. I have a huge amount of admiration for Jason Spezza and I think that is the right thing to do so as not to show up what is truly an MUCH more important event.


Kaberle talks getting going?

After coming oh so close to an actual deal last weekend talks have really cooled...Today they started to heat up. Are they at a fevered pitch again?

"Not yet, but very soon" I was told by a source with the three teams remaining to watch for; Buffalo, Boston and Vancouver...But don't count out Atlanta or the NY Islanders here.

A Kovalchuk full of Cash?

If reports are correct, Ilya could soon be the wealthiest hockey player in history. Talks are apparently entering a "critical stage" on a deal that would keep Ilya in Atlanta for quite some time...

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