Minny will not get rid of heatley anytime soon. They just spent a fortune on upgrading their roster so the reality is they will want to keep as much talent as possible. I know heatley as seen better days but he is still a top 4 talent on that minny team. Raymond and ballard are terrible no one wants them or their contracts.
- Bluechip23

I have heard a few times Minny want to dump him.

Raymond and Ballard are useable not terrible.

With Kane being "disgruntled", I think a blockbuster trade is possible & a better route than an offer sheet. I still think the time to trade Edler is now if Gillis isn't getting anywhere with an affordable extension.

To WPG: Edler, Booth, Raymond
To VAN: Kane, Byfuglien (both supposedly unhappy in WPG)
- GhostOfDCT

Highly doubt that Winnipeg does that.

Semin we would have to aquire via UFA. Heatley is a salary dump we get rid of two contracts .
- VANTEL

Semin was a joke... dont want him. I'm only interested in adding strong positive character at the moment.

There's been nothing but negative following Heatly around going all the way back to his days in Atlanta. Now Minny is the next city with an unhappy ending. I don't see him fitting with the coach we have at all. Heatly would be demanding a trade as soon as AV puts him on the 4rth line. I fear there may be enough distractions this season.

Sounds like good value for spare parts when the baggage isnt considered. If he scored 40 golas on a line with Booth and Kesler, it would be worth it. That kind of production with kesler in the middle is unlikely tho.

I really want to see Raymond moved... even for a late pick. Having him this season just gets in the way of developing Kassian, Schroeder and Jensen. It's more likely some of our physical players sit games out as well with mason in the lineup. Maybe our 4rth line grit could improve with more games? I even expect Raymond to fly out of the gate this season but I know where it leads eventually...

Simply not a fan of the offer sheet.
Thanks for the great, daily effort, Ian.
- Marwood

that because of kesler?

Highly doubt that Winnipeg does that.
- GuyLaDouche

And withstand the irresistible draw of Raymond? I don't think so

If Minny was really trying to get rid of Heatley would Vancouver fans consider a mutual salary dump of Ballard Raymond and a 2 nd for him. Raymond has 1 year and Ballard has 3 more remaining . So they would save 1 mil this year and 3 mil the following year. If they didn't like Ballard they could buy him out on the last year or trade him.

We get a top 6 RW who is sometimes lazy but can still get you 30 to 40 goals a year.
- VANTEL

Absolutely not.
No thanks to Heatley.

Absolutely not.
No thanks to Heatley.
- Marwood

You prefer Raymond and Ballard? I don't .I am not a Heatly fan at all , but I think he would score more goals that Raymond.

that because of kesler?
- numbear

No.
I didn't like it when Gillis did it to Backes, either.

You prefer Raymond and Ballard? I don't .I am not a Heatly fan at all , but I think he would score more goals that Raymond.
- VANTEL

And if he was making 4.5 million I'd be like HELL YA! But he makes around 7.5 million and a terrible attitude to boot. The guy has ZERO leadership.. and not at all what this team needs.

You prefer Raymond and Ballard? I don't .I am not a Heatly fan at all , but I think he would score more goals that Raymond.
- VANTEL

I didn't say I prefer Raymond & Ballard.
Bambi on ice has to go, I can't watch him picking himself up off the ice once per shift any longer.
Ballard, I think can be quite effective if given a f^cking opportunity. Love his hip checks.

I know they can sign bfore July 1st. You missed the point, teams have holes to fill. They have to balance a budget. July is not late in the offseason. If the RFA won't sign, how does it come down to the GM not getting it done? It's not as simple as that.

If you think it's no big deal then why is it not done often? You and the GM's are of different opinions obviously.
- boonerbuck

They aren't done more often because teams have to overpay for it to really work.. (penner and weber) And even now Weber will most likely be matched by Nashville. I would do it if I know its not going to be matched because if it creates a bit of turmoil between the GM's I know it would have been worth it. When you do an offer sheet and it gets matched you have now created this unneccessary tension between the teams and nothing has come from it.

99 out of 100 times the offer sheet is matched... and now the GM is pissed. The balance should be budgeted around that player... not many players on Dallas are of Benn's calibre.. same can be said about Kane. If they haven't signed its because they aren't too happy with the organization... the dollar amount being discussed or a combination of the two.

I think offer sheets if used strategically and sparingly is a good way to get a star calibre player without giving up too much assets and having to wait forever to get the player you want.

I didn't say I prefer Raymond & Ballard.
Bambi on ice has to go, I can't watch him picking himself up off the ice once per shift any longer.Ballard, I think can be quite effective if given a f^cking opportunity. Love his hip checks.
- Marwood

The same could be said about Edler. It's ridiculous sometimes.

They aren't done more often because teams have to overpay for it to really work.. (penner and weber) And even now Weber will most likely be matched by Nashville. I would do it if I know its not going to be matched because if it creates a bit of turmoil between the GM's I know it would have been worth it. When you do an offer sheet and it gets matched you have now created this unneccessary tension between the teams and nothing has come from it.

99 out of 100 times the offer sheet is matched... and now the GM is pissed. The balance should be budgeted around that player... not many players on Dallas are of Benn's calibre.. same can be said about Kane. If they haven't signed its because they aren't too happy with the organization... the dollar amount being discussed or a combination of the two.

I think offer sheets if used strategically and sparingly is a good way to get a star calibre player without giving up too much assets and having to wait forever to get the player you want.
- kneughter

Bottom line is the GM's do get pissed off and you say as much yourself.

Like I said earlier, in some circumstances I support the offersheet. I think Dallas and Benn are less damaging than the Jets and Kane. A player like Weber would be worth a shot if we had an exit plan in place for Lu, Ballard(or Edler), and Raymond. We seem to be in agreement mostly so I'm kind of lost on what you are debating with me.

They aren't done more often because teams have to overpay for it to really work.. (penner and weber) And even now Weber will most likely be matched by Nashville. I would do it if I know its not going to be matched because if it creates a bit of turmoil between the GM's I know it would have been worth it. When you do an offer sheet and it gets matched you have now created this unneccessary tension between the teams and nothing has come from it.

99 out of 100 times the offer sheet is matched... and now the GM is pissed. The balance should be budgeted around that player... not many players on Dallas are of Benn's calibre.. same can be said about Kane. If they haven't signed its because they aren't too happy with the organization... the dollar amount being discussed or a combination of the two.

I think offer sheets if used strategically and sparingly is a good way to get a star calibre player without giving up too much assets and having to wait forever to get the player you want.
- kneughter

Actually, based on history there's roughly a 58% chance the offer will be matched. Not bad odds.

Every one of these guys except Spencer would be too expensive to be on vancouvers current roster. Signing Raymond was dumb.

And if he was making 4.5 million I'd be like HELL YA! But he makes around 7.5 million and a terrible attitude to boot. The guy has ZERO leadership.. and not at all what this team needs.
- kneughter

Ballard and Raymond are 6.5

Actually, based on history there's roughly a 58% chance the offer will be matched. Not bad odds.
- bloatedmosquito

Ya... based on recent attempts though... they are matched. In the 90's... it seemed that alot of the offer sheets had side deals done. So they were more like trades than offer sheets.

Every one of these guys except Spencer would be too expensive to be on vancouvers current roster. Signing Raymond was dumb.
- manvanfan

Got that right.

Ballard and Raymond are 6.5
- VANTEL

Thats still a million less... and its TWO players compared to ONE.. so on top of that you need to spend more money to get another Dman.. unless you want the bottom 2 defense making less than a million each. Besides... trading Lu would free up enough cap space to afford him if we wanted to anyways. But I wouldn't.. the guy is a pissy prima donna... I dont want him near this team.

I like Ballard... I think he is going to surprise people this year.. especially since he is most likely going to play his natural side.

Got that right.
- VANTEL

We should have a model like philly, except don't trade the Sedins. Putting different players on our 4th line every season isn't making us any better. The only forwards that should be safe the sedins, burrows, hansen, lapierre. I'll even say it. Kassian.

Thats still a million less... and its TWO players compared to ONE.. so on top of that you need to spend more money to get another Dman.. unless you want the bottom 2 defense making less than a million each. Besides... trading Lu would free up enough cap space to afford him if we wanted to anyways. But I wouldn't.. the guy is a pissy prima donna... I dont want him near this team.

I like Ballard... I think he is going to surprise people this year.. especially since he is most likely going to play his natural side.
- kneughter

I know a lot of fans like Ballard .I am not sold on him .

I know a lot of fans like Ballard .I am not sold on him .
- VANTEL

AV has taught you well....

I know a lot of fans like Ballard .I am not sold on him .
- VANTEL

Who likes Ballard?

I know a lot of fans like Ballard .I am not sold on him .
- VANTEL

How do the goalies feel?

AV has taught you well....
- kneughter

I think if he played decent stretches, I would be ok . I have seen more bad from him than good .I know injuries and playing the wrong side have hurt his play but still need to see the good .AV does have a way of ruining careers though