Source: Senators defenseman Andrej Meszaros agrees to deal with another team
Andrej Meszaros has been unable to come to terms with the Senators. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
Adam Proteau
2008-08-28 17:05:08
Hours after Ottawa GM Bryan Murray held a news conference to announce the team was at a contractual impasse with restricted free agent defenseman Andrej Meszaros, The Hockey News has learned from an NHL source that Meszaros has agreed to the terms of a multi-year offer sheet with an average salary in excess of $5 million per season.
The team that has agreed to terms with the 22-year-old has yet to be confirmed.
When contacted by The Hockey News, Murray denied the report.
"I’ve heard rumors that that’s happening, but there’s no confirmation of that at this point," said Murray.
Earlier in the day at the press conference, Murray explained his negotiating position:
"I think Mez is a potentially good young defenseman who had a bit of an off-year this past year, and we've asked their camp to entertain that in what we're trying to do with him," Murray said. "I think we've made more than a fair offer and put ourselves in a position where he could come here and, with some help, we think he can be a top player.
"We need their camp to help us in that area as well. I've tried to get that message across, but to this point, we haven't gotten there."
The Ottawa Sun is reporting Meszaros was looking for a deal in the $4.5 million per year range while Ottawa had countered with an offer of $3.5 million per.
Meszaros has played three NHL seasons, suiting up in all 82 games in each campaign. He has a career 26 goals and 110 points and is a plus-24. In addition, he has played 34 NHL games, collecting two goals and seven points and a plus-1 rating.
He was drafted 23rd overall by the Senators in 2003.
Mike (Posted 2008-08-29 19:25:22)
I think mez will end up with tampa just said the preds cuz they need the forward the Bolts would offer for him. But i do agree the bolts end up with Mez at the end of the day
Mike (Posted 2008-08-29 19:22:01)
YA i think its the Nashville Preds who offered the offer sheet if any team did. They would then trade him to the Bolts for Joikinen and Sj 1st rounder is my guess
hype (Posted 2008-08-29 18:56:06)
I agree with Adam of all the people commenting. Nothing any of us can do but disagree and I don't think the Big Guns are listening to any of us.
J'BRAV (Posted 2008-08-29 17:47:07)
Personally I think it's a terrible move, they have the potential for a freat offense but they're defense will get younger with this move and add carle and it will also be turnover prone all at the price of a probable top 10 pick next year if not higher.
bruce richards (Posted 2008-08-29 16:51:25)
take the picks with our top line and some luck we will be fine,still better than the overrated habs who we will demolish again this year
Adam (Posted 2008-08-29 16:48:34)
here's the update
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/17692-Multiple-sources-confirm-Meszaros-to-Lightning-deal-in-the-works.html
J'BRAV (Posted 2008-08-29 16:17:53)
Well it's confirmed the lightning is the team that signed meszaros to the offer sheet. There looking into some type of trade.
Kjetil Aasland (Posted 2008-08-29 16:16:17)
The ONLY reason? :) Yeah, right. Obviously I would have had a +35 rating too if I played alongside Chara. So would my Grandpa. And gee, a defenseman struggling a bit in his sophomore season at the advanced age of 21, clearly he sucks and has no potenital. You on the other hand are of course prescient.
Todd Foley (Posted 2008-08-29 15:28:29)
Hey Assland, Chara was THE only reason Meszaros looked good in his rookie year. Yes, he was a + 35 with Chara and then in his second year he was a -5 with Redden. So what happened to his amazing so called plus minus..Buddy you have no idea what your talking about, stop commenting if you have no clue. Meszaros is worth about 2 Mill at best. If Philipps is making 3.5 mil, why the heck is Meszaros asking for 4.5. He would be lucky to develop into a Chris Philips. Jason Smith will only be making 2.5 mil. Meszaros will never ever be a Jason Smith either. Murray is a smart man and will play this out to the tee. At the end of the day he still has about 8 mill to spend to get to the cap...the Sens will be fine.
Kjetil Aasland (Posted 2008-08-29 14:43:43)
Sorry, I don't buy the rap Meszaros is getting here. This is a guy who has three straight 82-games seasons at age 22. "Chara made him look good in his rookie year"? Come on, how many defensemen that age would have recorded the best +/- in the league, no matter who he was playing with? And how can a player who did that as a 20-year old possibly be "incapable of keeping the puck out of his own net"?
Also, this is a league where Mike Commodore and Jeff Finger now gets paid more than Murray is offering him, and where Ron "Waivers" Hainsey gets more money than he is requesting. Asking him to sign for 3.5 mill is far beyond reasonable.
Billiebee (Posted 2008-08-29 14:35:43)
As a Sens fan - let Mez go, he has a good shot from the point but that is where his attributes end - no hockey "smarts"
J'BRAV (Posted 2008-08-29 14:28:48)
Damn,Damn and Damn some more. Now how are we suppose to sign jackmfjohnson and later doughty, hickey, teubert, voinov, martinez,etc. DAMN!
Marco (Posted 2008-08-29 14:20:57)
I'm torn about this, I would like to see Ottawa get the draft picks but this deal is only adding to the crazy inflation we're seeing in the league. I realize Mez puts up points..but so does Bryan Mccabe and neither of these guys can keep the puck out of their net when it counts. In some cases (Mccabe) they put the puck in their own net...
Adam (Posted 2008-08-29 14:18:27)
lol, yeah, I remember reading that Schneider one as being imminent :)
I'm not sure Hockeybuzz is the most reliable
Rob (Posted 2008-08-29 14:18:05)
I can't believe 5mil? This guy isn't that good, F'n Toronto caused this with the Finger contract. I'd take the picks and try and trade for a better Dman if I was Murray.
maxime (Posted 2008-08-29 14:15:59)
Hockeybuzz.com just reported it, but they got it from here...although they had another one, dating from wednesday morning... : Sources this morning have informed me that Schneider may be a Canadien as early as "this evening or tomorrow morning." There is much speculation surrounding this move as it may be a trigger move that comes from the Canadiens being officially "out of the Sundin Sweepstakes."
Adam (Posted 2008-08-29 14:13:26)
Check the Ottawa Sun, Sportsnet, and any number of blogs/rumour sites
Maxime (Posted 2008-08-29 14:09:25)
Googled it, found nothing...gonna go look again...Tampa Bay would make sense...they need D-Men bad...but 5M$ a season? After dumping Richards, Boyle, and re-signing Lecavalier to a huge amount of money?
JB Hockey (Posted 2008-08-29 14:00:01)
I have been told by 3 sources now that the Tampa Bay Lightning have re-acquired their 3rd round pick from Pittsburgh. I am trying to get confirmation as we speak but if this is indeed the case then the next move would be for the Lightning to sign Andrej Meszaros to an offer sheet.
Adam (Posted 2008-08-29 13:38:37)
maxime, varying degrees of information on this are being reported on virtually every hockey site I know of... perhaps you're not looking hard enough?
Maxime (Posted 2008-08-29 13:38:06)
I'm suspecting this source may be as reliable as the New York Times' article about Sundin, or that other one in a Swedish paper...
maxime (Posted 2008-08-29 13:35:55)
Can't find anything about it anywhere but here...
Habs suck (Posted 2008-08-29 13:22:12)
I sincerely hope you leaf bashers are wrong, although nothing would suprise me with what is happening Mez-wise. Would you all get off the Finger deal until he's actually played a bit in the east to prove his value? I think the craziest deal for a defenceman honors must go to NYR/Redden debacle.
Adam (Posted 2008-08-29 13:21:22)
game_misconduct: That's another reason to believe it's TB... their owners have already done some wacky things in their short tenure, what's one more?
Although they are weak on D, this really doesn't address what they need... they've got Ranger, Carle, and Kuba who are all pretty good on O, but lacking on D/physicality... do they really need another?
As I've said on other sites, I have a feeling Tampa's going to be losing a lot of 7-6 type games
Caz (Posted 2008-08-29 12:58:00)
The fact that it's taking so long to hear which team supposedly signed him to an offer sheet leads me to believe that it's pending on a trade to be completed. Tampa is weak on the blueline and have to many forwards. They would need to reacquire their 3rd rounder from the Pens. The Pens could use another winger so someone like Jokinen could be part of the package. Maybe Sydor and a 3rd for Jokinen? Or the Hawks may have a deal in the works for Khabibulin which would clear up some cap space.
Still waiting (Posted 2008-08-29 12:40:51)
Still waiting to hear which team supposedly signed him......personally, I think this is just a BS rumor or we would have heard by now.....
game_misconduct (Posted 2008-08-29 12:34:26)
If this is true, it could really be the beginning of the end for hockey. If other 22 year-olds start believing that they are worth 5M, then we might as well plan for a lock out next year. I just can not believe any GM would do this.
Caz (Posted 2008-08-29 12:29:37)
Ozzy - I agree that the Leafs are stupid enough but they traded their 2009 2nd rounder to the Isles to move up in this year's draft so they can't sign Meszaros to an offer sheet. Even if they had all their picks, can you imagine how well that would go over in Leaf Nation in June if they gave away Tavares to their Ontario rivals for yet another overpaid blueliner? @jan - I had mentionned the Sabres as a possible team but you can breathe a sigh of relief. They also traded their 2nd rounder to the Sharks in the Rivet deal.
Leafs Rebuilding (Posted 2008-08-29 12:20:32)
Cliff don't sign Meszaros. You've done a great job starting to rebuild but don't be stupid and give up our 1st round pick (Tavaras/Hedman). Keep rebuilding Leafs lets get top 3 picks for the next 3 years!
jan (Posted 2008-08-29 11:59:24)
I hope Buffalo's not the team that makes this deal.
Flyer guy (Posted 2008-08-29 11:19:00)
Good call Ozzy, never underestimate the stupidity of Leaf's ownership.
Ozzy (Posted 2008-08-29 11:17:26)
The Leafs are doing the deal for Mcabe first, to make room for Mezaros in cap space. And yes they are pretty dumb, as they will once again be giving up their future for a 4th line blueliner. The owners aren't that dumb you say, what about the Finger deal?????????Some things never change!!
Caz (Posted 2008-08-29 10:42:21)
In order to sign a player to an offer sheet, a team must have their OWN draft picks which in this case is the first 3 rounds. They cannot use draft picks acquired by a trade. This eliminates 11 teams. @Daniel - The Kings don't have their own 2nd rounder from the Cloutier deal which the Canucks flipped to the Sabres in the Bernier deal. Even though the Kings need to reach the cap minimum, I doubt Lombardi would risk giving up a 1st rounder which will most likely be a top 5 pick and a good chance at Tavares. @Mad Habber - The Bruins gave up their 2nd rounder to the Isles in the Nokelainen deal. Any team who finished in the bottom 10 last year will be optimistic in October but if I was GM on any of those teams I would not take the risk. With a lot of teams near the salary cap, that eliminates a few more teams. By process of elimination, my best guess would be a team like the Devils or Sabres who need help on the blueline but I don't see Lou or Regier making that move. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the Islanders either. They did give up Chara and 1st overall pick which turned out to be Spezza for Yashin. Either way, the Sens should take the compensation.
J'BRAV (Posted 2008-08-29 10:39:05)
What a dumb comment the kings are already close to the cap floor and with the signing of sully and stoll they'll reach it. Also, yes it's about getting young talent but who would you rather have mezzie or a chance at tavares/hedman and haven't you guys learned by now this team is being built through the draft,so dean isn't getting rid of next year's 1st.
daniel (Posted 2008-08-29 10:10:42)
i hope the kings sign him. they need to reach the cap minimum. he is a young gifted defenseman and if lombardi doesn't have to get rid of anybody in the process to do it, why not? granted he might be a little overpaid at 5.2 million or even 5 mil whatever it is. so is michal handzus at 4 million a year. he is only 22 years old and the kings are looking to get younger. he fits the plan of the kings and i wouldn't be suprised if it was LA that he was going to. Martin, the whole reason for the Kings young talent is to get as much young talent as possible for the bright future of the organization. things can only get better if they sign meszaros. but you are right in one aspect, he ain't worth the 5.whatever he is supposedly gonna recieve. i also have the feeling that if he does sign with the kings, lombardi is gonna be the next kevin lowe with the vanek deal.
Mad Habber (Posted 2008-08-29 09:50:08)
Usually what happens when a player signs an offer sheet is the picks get traded back for players. Though that hasn't happened lately.
Wonder why nobody is mentioning Boston? The might take a risk on his inconsistency because his best season came as Chara's partner. I think the cap might be a bit of a problem but they might have something worked out with one of there goalies?
Sam (Posted 2008-08-29 09:47:18)
As long as it is under $5,231,249 per year the compensation is a first, second, and third round pick. Over that and under $6,539,061 and it is steep two first rounders plus a second and third. So if its true expect it to at the very most be around $5.2M/year.
Craig S (Posted 2008-08-29 09:37:59)
Please, pretty please, would somebody take him!!!! I've watched him play for 3 years in Ottawa and he isn't worth a million a year.
jonathan p (Posted 2008-08-29 09:31:53)
Please ottawa take the compensation. This guy is not worth 5 million a season. Whats the compensation on a 5 million per year player? 2 first and a second round pick? Even if its from new jersey i would take it.
Adam H (Posted 2008-08-29 09:05:30)
Adam, From my understanding it's either way. It would be ridiculous to be able to do deals like that. I thought that once an offer sheet is done that player is locked in for the year with a no movement kind of deal. Also, the teams that are making these deals need to have their OWN picks to use as compensation. So that you can't do a whole bunch of deals trading dregs and 5th liners to stock up on picks to make one big score. Which means that Tampa has to get their own pick back from Pittsburgh in order to be considered as one of the teams able to make a legal binding offer sheet.
whatsthatsmell (Posted 2008-08-29 08:57:35)
I agree with flyerfan52.... the flyers suck.
Shawn (Posted 2008-08-29 08:13:26)
I can say with confidence that the team in question is NOT the NY Rangers. We already paid too much for the other sucky defensemen from Ottawa.. Wade DREDDEN (get it? cuz I'm dreading watching him play? yuk yuk..).. though I think i'd rather have Mezzie then Redden...
Danny (Posted 2008-08-29 07:54:38)
I have a hard time believing that Carolina would be in on this. We don't need any more defense without losing some of the ones we have know. And certainly not at a a price tag of 5 Mil+ and draft picks since we are already over our self-imposed cap.
Martin (Posted 2008-08-29 07:50:44)
Meszaros to LA Kings would be ridicolous. Kings already have som great young players at defense, so it would be stupid to overpay Meszaros AND throw away draft picks that they could use to improve their forward unit or goaltending. If it´s the Kings, Lombardi should finally be sacked.
steve (Posted 2008-08-29 06:08:03)
Someone's going to pay Meszaros $5 mil per plus give up draft picks? Is there another Meszaros, or is this Andrei?
Napoli (Posted 2008-08-29 03:23:33)
@Rodney Ross: I would add Atlanta, LA, and the Isles to that mix of teams you have listed there. Both ATL and LA need to catch up to the minimum salary cap range. Also, I don't think Edmonton will be the team either. They already have three D who can score in Visnovsky, Souray, and Gilbert. Plus they don't have 5 million in cap room. And Colorado would be pushed right up against it as well.
Mooseundskwirl (Posted 2008-08-29 01:34:50)
Yet another in a long line of outrageous offers that some team will probably wind up regretting.
Adam (Posted 2008-08-29 00:09:35)
Adam H., no, that's only for the team that matches the offer sheet. In this case, if Ottawa matches, then they are stuck with Mesz until next September. It doesn't say anywhere in CBA section 10.3 (the offer sheet section) that the new team couldn't trade that player immediately. Or, at least, I couldn't find it. It's true it allows for some shady deals. For instance the one you mentioned. Also if a lowly team (i.e. high draft picks) wanted an RFA, they could make a deal with a good team (whose picks are much worse) so the Original team is compensated with far worse picks than they would otherwise be. That said, such a deal would be incredibly difficult to pull off in a way that would satisfy both beneficiaries, and both those teams might be blacklisted by some GMs for their shady dealings.
Mike (Posted 2008-08-28 23:43:38)
Umm yeah to the idiots that think its Toronto ITS NOT. Peddie and Tanenbaum might be stupid but they are not dumb enough to give three picks, all which will be high and the 2nd Rounder having to be in 2011 because they gave the next two years away. Think of it as having Meszaros over possible Hedman and two other picks. Doesnt make any sense they already have ten potential defenseman. Phoenix does make a lot a sense and it means they are going a long way this season.
Adam H (Posted 2008-08-28 23:29:13)
Flyerfan52 and Schoefeld. Look at the post right under Flyerfan52's first post and what Adam wrote. You can NOT trade a player for a full year after he has signed an offer sheet. That would enable teams to do backroom dealings to circumvent the CBA. i.e. Team A wants to sign Player X but does not have the proper picks so they make a deal with Team B to sign X to an offer sheet and then (assuming X's team does not match) Team B trades X to Team A for players or picks or both.
APlace (Posted 2008-08-28 23:21:23)
Only team that's going to shell out $5M+/yr at this point in the offseason would be LA, to my mind, seeing as how they're $10M under the salary cap floor, and have been looking to add a high priced defenseman to make up part of that (Matthieu Schneider was on the block).
Rodney Ross (Posted 2008-08-28 22:55:48)
To me, its one of these teams:
Phoenix
Vancouver
Colorado
Carolina
Edmonton
He isn't a top 2 defenseman, but he is a solid 2nd line defenseman, and would help any of these teams immediately. But I agree with mostly everyone on here: 5 million for him is just as bad as 4+ million for Whitney here in Pittsburgh.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-28 22:52:36)
Thanks Schoenfeld. The teams I used were an example but it opens up a world of possibilities. For fun lets say Meszaros signs with Vancouver then they flip him and Luongo to the Rangers for Lunqvist and Gomez. Things like this could keep people occupied until the puck drops.
Schoenfeld (Posted 2008-08-28 22:31:25)
I believe so, once the first team has declined its option to match, the player is a newly signed free agent, so could be dealt, just like any other newly signed free agent. Of course, i don't know of any situation in which this has actually happened. I guess, if one team doesn't have their own picks to offer as compensation, they could set up such a deal with a third party team... Chicago does have their picks though, so they could go the more direct route. LA doesn't have all their picks.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-28 22:17:21)
Could a team signing a RFA to an offer sheet and then signing him flip him to another team? For instance - and it's only a for instance, could LA sign him and trade him to Chicago for Habby? I know the original team can't trade him the first year after matching.
Adam (Posted 2008-08-28 21:40:39)
I thought the same thing Brandon, but in the CBA it stipulates that a team that matches an offer sheet can't trade the player for one year.
Quote: 10.3 (b)
... The Prior Club may not Trade that Restricted Free Agent for a period of one year from the date it exercises its Right of First Refusal.
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-28 21:35:14)
Flyers suck, I hope you're not rooting for Buffalo. I was hoping they didn't finish at the bottom and give up a star as compensation if it is them.
Brandon Sparks (Posted 2008-08-28 21:19:58)
My question is, if the draft picks aren't what Murray wants in compensation, why not match the offer, and then make a trade offer to the team who gave him the offer sheet? If this was a top tier team (which I don't think it is, unless somehow Chicago plans on shipping Khabibulin soon) then it would make sense, since a first, second, and third round pick late in the draft wouldn't be as good as an NHL ready player, plus a stacked team would have players of a decent caliber to sacrafice. If Murray plays this right, he may end up with addition by subtraction (no offense to Meszaros, who has a fair amount of potential and is already a top 4 D-man)
flo (Posted 2008-08-28 21:05:07)
if he has to go, then i hope it is to the leafs, florida, atlanta or the isles. tavares would be a much needed relief for the sens. they need some top dogs for the years coming. they won't be able to rely on their top line forever... unless vermette explodes.
well goodbye mez, thanks for some of those good times. go sens go!
Caz (Posted 2008-08-28 21:02:41)
It can't be Tampa. They gave up their 3rd rounder in the Malone/Roberts trade. They have the Sharks' 3rd rounder but teams cannot use draft picks acquired through trades with offer sheets. It also can't be the Sharks, Bruins, Flyers, Ducks, Flames, Habs, Leafs, Wild, Sabres or Kings. Teams like the Islanders, Thrashers, Panthers or Blues will likely be in the draft lottery and would be stupid to risk losing Tavares or Hedman this year and maybe even Taylor Hall next year since I don't see them improving anytime soon.
Brandon Sparks (Posted 2008-08-28 20:56:50)
I highly doubt that Columbus would make an offer sheet like that. As terrible as they are with developing their draft picks (minus Nash of course), they already upgraded their blueline as much as I believe we will see this season. They seem to be going with size in front of Leclaire anyways. Tampa seems to be a possible destination with the departure of Boyle, not only did they dump his salary, but they dumped Richard's too, leaving room for Meszaros' 5 mil. They seem to really want to force their way back on to the scene, since they know they cannot keep some of their better players for long term (how much longer is St. Louis on contract for?) Although, this is under the assumption that Smith, Denis, or Rammo do well between the pipes. The Islanders make no sense at all by trying to sign him. As for Florida, with the possible arrival of McCabe, I don't see why they'd be after Meszaros too (since they'll most likely have to surrender some draft picks for him). Maybe they want to make it easier for McCabe so the fans will have two defensemen to pick on for being overpaid. I like the Phoenix idea, and I could picture Meszaros in their sweater, but I don't see them dealing away the draft picks. My thought is that maybe Chicago would try something like this, since they've done a lot with their roster this Summer, and it wouldn't hurt them to lose a first rounder given their up-and-comers, although they'd need to deal Khabibulin (L.A. anyone?)
Adam (Posted 2008-08-28 20:48:14)
Hey Raj, if that's the case, we will let him go, that'll be one helluva good pick! That'd definitely put us in the Tavares sweeps.
Raj Singh (Posted 2008-08-28 20:37:09)
Leafs made the offer sheet and Ottawa is gonna let him go.
Rebecca Podniesinski (Posted 2008-08-28 20:31:54)
While we are all throwing names in the hat of where's he's going..... The Islanders.
Now have we named them all yet?
NHL Inslider (Posted 2008-08-28 20:17:04)
Tampa you morons.....
Andrew Mason (Posted 2008-08-28 20:11:22)
I think there's a possibility it could be Phoenix. I don't know if they have the draft picks but they seem like they will go for him after trading Boyton and Ballard.
Norris (Posted 2008-08-28 20:08:30)
Why would Vancouver want to move Kevin Bieksa? If anything , willie Mitchell should go to the Rangers for Gomez. Mitchell is HIGHLY over rated and plays like Dana Murzyn, just costs A LOT MORE.
Brian Murray (Posted 2008-08-28 20:03:04)
It was the Florida Panthers who gave him the offer. We are telling them to keep their draft picks and send us McCabe on Sept. 2.
Kyle Sprysa (Posted 2008-08-28 20:02:35)
That's get the compensation in a deep upcoming draft, bye bye MesZie sissy!!
flamer (Posted 2008-08-28 19:57:33)
I was thinking LA but then found out they don't have the picks to compensate. Possibly St.Louis or Vancouver made this attempt.
Flyer guy 16 (Posted 2008-08-28 19:39:48)
The only way it makes any sense for Van to make this move is if they have a big trade brewing. Defense is the only strength they have(well, obviously they're pretty set in goal).
cantskate (Posted 2008-08-28 19:36:09)
The Isles wouldn't make the playoffs this year if they acquired Lidstrom and Pronger. Mez would help them, but not to get to the post seas.
Arpan (Posted 2008-08-28 19:33:27)
I think it is St.Louis but Im hoping it is Vancouver. Remember one of the Blues head scouts has a connection as in he was with Ottawa when Mezaros got drfated. Also Marek Scwarz a Blues goalie prospect and Meazros both played for the Giants for a year in the WHL.
andy (Posted 2008-08-28 19:29:11)
It's Vancouver! This move makes sense on many different levels. 1) It allows them to move Bieksa (or maybe even Edler in a gomez deal should NY be dumb enough to do such a thing) for some proven scoring power. 2) He has played in Vancouver with the Giants as a junior. 3) He is Slovak which may help to draw in Gaborik as a free agent next year. The bottom line is that Gillis is out to make some noise and he will surprise many of the pesimists in the near future.
prediction: nucks place fourth in the conference this year
aj
Adam (Posted 2008-08-28 19:17:00)
I doubt it's Atlanta since they just got Hainsey for the same role Mesz is likely to play... same with the Isles and Streit, although with the Snowblower and Wanger around, who the heck knows...
i think the BJs are a good guess...
Habsfan (Posted 2008-08-28 19:06:31)
I would almost guarentee it is a team like Columbus that is desperate to make the playoffs. The Islanders come to mind too. Atlanta?
Adam (Posted 2008-08-28 19:04:49)
the team hasn't been named because it's still unofficial... it's a rumour that could well turn out to be true... once (if?) it's properly filed with the nhl, then we'll find out the team... I read through the CBA section on RFAs, and it's true, it's your next pick that you use... thus, by my understanding (as by the person who said so before) any team that does not have its 1st 2nd AND 3rd round picks for next year is not eligible to send an offer sheet for 5 mil...
Nick Gauthier (Posted 2008-08-28 19:01:03)
LesHabitants: One bad season and yet again, MTL fans hang onto that like its a cup. Do we need to remind you how many bad seasons the Habs have had prior to the last 2? And of course, you're gonna pull out the "24 cups we've won" crap. Sure, 24 cups...how many since the Sens became a franchise again? None. Your team has no original members from the last cup win on the ice. So get your head out of your ass and wake up to reality. Meszaros is a waste of money in my opinion and would be better used if he was indeed signed by the Habs...
Sure the sens might not make the playoffs this year, many fans consider this a somewhat rebuilding season. But again, do we REALLY need to remind you how many playoffs the Habs missed in the last 15 years? Grow up.
Graham (Posted 2008-08-28 18:45:02)
something's wierd about this... why haven't they named the team?
j'brav (Posted 2008-08-28 18:44:11)
Well it just might be that the same GM is at it again. Thanx alot canucks!
Flyers suck (Posted 2008-08-28 18:42:40)
and 2 places ahead of the flyers.
Todd Foley (Posted 2008-08-28 18:42:15)
Hey LESHABITANT...the only fool here is you.. A Habs Fans..please. Born and raised in Montreal and I don't know any Habs fans in my neighbourhood. All SENS and LEAFS Fans. HABS SUCK....fool !!!! Everyone in Montreal knows the team suck. Keep drinking your Carey Price juice brother !
jimbo (Posted 2008-08-28 18:41:20)
Redwingsfan...like your playoff picks now just reverse the order and take it to vegas!
Flyerfan52 (Posted 2008-08-28 18:41:15)
man, you might get your wish. I think Buffalo is one of the few teams with the cap room and picks to do this. If so, I hope the Sabres finish 9th in the east this year. Just 1 ahead of the Sens.
Carl (Posted 2008-08-28 18:36:16)
EDIT -
The trade that sent the rights to Roberts and Malone was for a 4th. However, the 4th became a 3rd when Malone signed with the Lightning.
Carl (Posted 2008-08-28 18:34:54)
It isn't the Lightning. When they signed Malone, the pick was a 3rd round in 2009 instead of the 4th.
j'brav (Posted 2008-08-28 18:27:49)
It's not the kings they are already close to the cap floor, reports are it's the lightning. either way bad move the guy isn't at that pay scale yet if ever.
senshobo (Posted 2008-08-28 18:27:46)
The possible destinations are listed here, based on the requirement that the team have the picks needed in the upcoming draft. LA does not have all the picks it would need, and cannot be the team that signed Meszaros to the offer sheet.
bawston dude (Posted 2008-08-28 18:26:11)
FIVE MILLION? Who does he think he is? This smells of the Kings trying to get to their 40 million dollar floor. Murray will no doubt take the picks and run. 5 million per year? I cant shake that. 5 million per year? FIVE MILLION PER YEAR? Does this guy think he's Chara or Lidstrom? Where evr he goes,i hope he blows out his knee in the pre-season games.
redwingsfan (Posted 2008-08-28 18:25:11)
Oh yea... the loss of Meszaros almost surely indicates that the Senators will NOT make the playoffs this year....
1. Montreal
2. Pittsburgh
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
5. New York (the good one)
6. New Jersey
7. Tampa Bay
8. Carolina
definitely dont see ottawa in here... even Boston has a better chance of getting in
man (Posted 2008-08-28 18:24:53)
He would be a great fit in Buffalo, the Sabes should give him an offer
LesHabitant (Posted 2008-08-28 18:23:05)
Hey Todd the Fool, "invisble in the playoffs, and in about 75 of the 82 games last year" could describe every player in a Sens uniform last year!! Thats why Meszaros fits so well in Ottawa! Too bad he has to leave for a bigger and better team, maybe the Thrashers! ...Haha Sens will suck more this year than last - and that means no playoffs in Ottawa this year! Go Habs Go!
redwingsfan (Posted 2008-08-28 18:21:49)
I honestly dont know what team would be stupid enough or desperate enough to take such a chance on an unproven defenseman... however this definitely seems like something either the Canucks, Kings, or Devils would do.
Adam (Posted 2008-08-28 18:19:49)
He's not worth 5 mil yet, but if this is true, we may have to match, depending on the team. If it's a top team like Detroit, absolutely match, we can't lose him for a 25-30th pick... if it's someone like la, let him walk, then we likely get a top 5 pick next year... maybe even a shot at tavares
of course, we could always match the sheet and try to trade him for an nhl calibre defenceman and some picks
he's been good offensively, but the guy is a mess in his own end... a 5 mil defencemen, in my mind, ought to be either spectacular in the o-end or strong in both... meszaros has not been either yet
Todd Foley (Posted 2008-08-28 18:14:28)
I am shocked at some of the pro comments for Meszaros, did anyone who is commenting here see any Sens games last year. He was terrible. He was playing with our suppposed number 1 defenceman in Redden and he looked out of place all year. He was invisble in the playoffs, and in about 75 of the 82 games last year. Really not sure why what people are thiknig here. Murray wanted him to play with Jason Smith this year because he knows, Smith will teach him to be a better player and play hard for 82 games..not just 10 of them. Jason Smith will just be like Chara and mask his mistakes again, he is really not good. I would play Shubert with Smith before Mesjaros. He's young and everyone is worried about "if" he becomes a good player..but after watching hockey for 20 years and the Sens for last 13 years,,he wont become a top 4 player any time soon.
Sorry, we need guys like Philips, Volchekov, Smith type defenceman. And it makes me laugh if people think he was going to be a Offfensive Defenceman. Bottom line, Murray knows he screwed up by trading Corvo away for a bag of pucks in Commodore, so he must be shaking in his boots. But being a smart man, Murray will figure this out quickly and get a player that will be even better and will be able to play now..not 3 years from now after 15 million dollars spent on his development..please give me a break.
Carl (Posted 2008-08-28 18:02:48)
Nope. It is the pick in the following draft.
The only caveats are when it deals with multiple picks in the same round. For 2 first round picks, it is 2 picks in the next 3 years and 4 first orund picks have to be in the next 5 years (I think - I don't have the CBA open).
and for the Kings, they can not tender an offer sheet in the range of $2,615,625 - $6,539,062.. so they are out.
Martz (Posted 2008-08-28 17:58:50)
I thought it was "your next 3rd round pick" (could be the one in 2012 for example)... But I agree that in this case it could lead to the trade of a higher 2nd rounder (32nd overall for example) to give away a lower one (55th)...
Carl (Posted 2008-08-28 17:56:18)
If the offer is less that 5.231M, then it can not be the Kings. The Kings do not own their own 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft. It was sent to VAN in the Cloutier trade, and then to Buffalo in the Steve Bernier deal.
Martz (Posted 2008-08-28 17:48:38)
Meszaros fan, at less than $5,231,246 per season its only a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd. And it'd be insane for the Kings, imagine if they finish in the last 10, they'd give excellent picks to the Sens... But nevertheless its a possibility...
Meszaros fan (Posted 2008-08-28 17:40:03)
It had better not be the Canucks that offered him 5 million plus!!! He is young and I like his play. I mean, come on, he's suited up for ALL 82 games the last three seasons. But, at 5 million plus. I'm thinking it might be the Kings. They need to make it to the cap floor. The draft compensation would be ridiculous at 5 million +. 2 first round picks, a second and a third round pick??? Heck no. Only if it were a multi-year deal. And only if we were signing him to flip him to another team.
Martz (Posted 2008-08-28 17:38:59)
Well, for the team who signed him, a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd for Mez at 5mil for lets say 6 years, it could be a nice move (especially if the team is already good, will finish in the top 5 and has a lot of prospects, like the habs). But Im not saying I hope the habs signed him, I'm just saying it could be a good move.
If he becomes a markov-like D-men, it would be a great move. Especially if its for 5+ years and there is no NTC...
Kjetil Aasland (Posted 2008-08-28 17:34:25)
Errata: Meszaros is Slovakian, not Czech.
He'll leave a gaping big hole on the blueline and an even bigger one in the Sens long-term plans if they let him go. But I guess it depends on whether they think he'll be a Markov-level player. I can't think of a lot of Defensemen whos done more at his age though.
flo (Posted 2008-08-28 17:31:09)
i'll concede that mez could and should of done better last year, he did show some tremendous ability in the stanley cup run a couple years ago. and agreed that it is a hefty price to pay for such a player, i believe mez has the talent to take it one step further. another problem with all this is who the heck is left? i mean that's got the caliber of game? malik is on his way out and only last minute solution. ottawa can't afford to lose some of it's best young players. heck they should of signed vermette to a four year contract. i for one don't see many aspirering young prospects in bingo that could do what mez does. are we gonna make an offer sheet to some other restricted agent? the choices are thinning out. mtheiu shneider? trade against who???
CanadianTough (Posted 2008-08-28 17:30:30)
I hope it wasn't the leafs who gave the offer sheet, Cliff seems to love the D-men this year but he's not that stupid - sounds like a move Gillis would do. Ottawa should take the picks....
Graham (Posted 2008-08-28 17:19:00)
If he's going to cost "5 Mill and change"... so long buddy, I'll take the picks. I agree that he has potential to become a great skilled D-man, but not at the 4.5 he was aking for on this contract. He's gotta prove something first, and step up his game on D. This will put a big whole in the Ottawa blue line though. Who is coing to contribute points on the back end?
Todd Foley (Posted 2008-08-28 17:16:01)
DO NOT MATCH THE OFFER !!! Meszaros is not worth $5 million a season. Chara made him look good in his rookie year and then, he played with Redden (who sucks as well) for the last two years more and his true colours showed. He's terrible, slow, does not play pyhsical, and well not worth the money. He's a 1.5 Million player at best. Mr Murray is a smart guy and will not match, he can easily go find another player for 3 Million a year. Sign Marek Mailk from the Rangers, much better player and he's huge..6 -6 250 lbs..! Bottom line Meszaros sucks. Go SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!!!
flo (Posted 2008-08-28 17:11:31)
what! i'm sure they could of tossed 4 mill at him and he would of taken it! there are so many teams out there that have holes in their line-ups that they'll pay anything to get a good player. mez is a good an possibly great defencement and i don't think ottawa can afford to lose him. good job murray now he's gonna cost you 5 and change.
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