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TagsFind out how the Senators are making out with their efforts to trade Dany Heatley and re-sign Chris Neil, and more speculation the Bruins might move Phil Kessel or Marc Savard.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Bryan Murray has told teams interested in Dany Heatley to submit their offers as soon as possible as he has said he won't trade Heatley if he's still on the club by July 1st when the winger is due a $4 million bonus. Heatley has reportedly submitted a list of preferred destination which includes Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, San Jose, Vancouver and the NY Rangers. Calgary is also considered acceptable. The Kings, Canucks, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers are believed interested and while the Wild, Blues and Oilers aren't on Heatley's list he might be willing to be flexible to get out of Ottawa. Garrioch claims the Kings want to move forward Alex Frolov and defenseman Jack Johnson but the Senators have concerns about the two as they're worried the former won't fit well within their system while the latter is believed seeking $5.5 million per season. The Kings might also be willing to part with centre Jarret Stoll. The Wild meanwhile could offer center James Sheppard, defenseman Tyler Cuma or winger Cal Clutterbuck plus they might be trying to move defenseman Marek Zidlicky, center Eric Belanger and winger Derek Boogaard.
Garrioch also reports Murray will meet with Chris Neil's agent in Montreal but it appears Neil will be heading to the UFA market next week. It's believed Murray is trying to move additional salary by shopping Jason Smith, Alex Auld and Chris Kelly but hasn't found any takers.
Don Brennan reports the Senators would like to retain defenseman Brendan Bell but are trying first to move Smith and Alexandre Picard. The club didn't qualify Bell's rights making him eligible for UFA status but Brennan suggests his first priority could be returning with the Senators.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: Murray could be bluffing regarding his statement that he won't move Heatley after July 1st, hoping to attract more interest or better offers. It might work but it could also blow up in his face. As for reports Johnson is seeking $5.5 million per season that has been repeatedly denied by the Kings, most recently by GM Dean Lombardi, who called these reports "inaccurate". As for their rumored interest in Heatley assistant GM Ron Hextall appeared to suggest otherwise when he said Heatley's public request for a trade raised "red flags". The Wild however are interested but it remains to be seen if that can be translated into a deal. The Oilers could offer up a puck-moving defenseman as they've got plenty but given their limited cap space and goaltending issues they might not be a viable trade partner. Reports of the Blues interest have thus far come outside of St. Louis, which has raised some concern in the local media that acquiring Heatley could derail their rebuilding process. As for Neil, I think he'll become a UFA and could be snapped up by another club within the first couple of days in July.
BOSTON.COM: Kevin Paul Dupont reports Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said he'd like to move up a slot or two in the upcoming draft. He currently holds the 25th overall pick and has his eye on a player which might be available slightly ahead of his current position. Dupont speculates Chiarelli could be targetting Boxford winger Chris Kreider. Dupont also reports rumors persist the Bruins might be trying to move center Marc Savard, who'd have to waive his no-trade clause, but he feels it's more likely Marco Sturm, not Savard, could be the one being shopped.
BOSTON HERALD: Steve Conroy reports Chiarelli won't comment on his talks with restricted free agent forward Phil Kessel nor say he was shopping Kessel but Conroy believes the topic has come up.
HOCKEYJOURNAL.COM: Douglas Flynn reports veteran forward Mark Recchi, whom the Bruins acquired at the trade deadline, would like to return with the club next season but Chiarelli remained non-committal on the subject.
SPECTOR'S NOTE: For all the focus upon Heatley, Lecavalier and Bouwmeester as potential trade candidates this coming weekend Kessel's situation has been somewhat overlooked as a trade possibility. Unless Chiarelli can dump salary elsewhere and/or Kessel is wiling to re-sign for around the same money as David Krejci ($3.75 million per season) he could be dealt. I doubt the Bruins will have enough money to re-sign Recchi, and I don't believe they'll ask Savard to waive his clause but could ask Sturm to do so.
