Dreger: Heatley top of 2008 UFA class

[Madferret]

Dreger: Heatley top of 2008 UFA class
TSN.ca

There have been moments of "frenzy" in this summer's free agent hunt.

The Edmonton Oilers' signing of Thomas Vanek to an offer sheet and Buffalo's swift acknowledgement of an intent to match certainly got the heart beating.

So, while the flood of signings slows to a trickle, let's set the table for next year's potential crop of unrestricted free agents. A crop, I should add, that may live up to the title, "free agent frenzy."

Ottawa's Dany Heatley, Atlanta's Marian Hossa, and San Jose's Patrick Marleau headline the list of potential 2008 unrestricted free agents.

Of the three, Heatley's numbers over the past two years have been staggering. Back-to-back 50-goals seasons, one hundred plus points, comparitively he blows Briere, Gomez and Drury out of the water.

Heatley hasn't missed a game in two years and has amassed 208 points with 100 goals. Scott Gomez scored 46 goals and 144 points over that same period. Heatley scored 17 game-winning goals, compared to Gomez who collected six.

Now Gomez, a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, just signed a 7-year contract with the Rangers that averages $7.35 million per year. Based on Scott Gomez's average is it reasonable to suggest Heatley will re-set the bar next July?

Are three consecutive 50 goal seasons grounds for the maximum, $10 plus million per year across the board? Some believe Dany Heatley has the statistics to ask for a starting point north of $8 million right now.

Heatley's agent J.P. Barry is expected to meet with Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray this week to discuss Ray Emery's extension with the Senators. Heatley's future is likely to come up, but unless Eugene Melnyk has the money truck parked outside Scotiabank Place, this negotiation isn't even close to being finalized.

For TSN.ca, I'm Darren Dreger

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20070502/heatley_78657.jpg

[Madferret]

8M eh...pretty soon the NHL is going to have to adapt the 'franchise player' rule into the CBA.

[Kiddo]

heatley is the most prodctive player to come along as free agent in years. its funny that both he and hossa will hit the market at the same time, watch them both land back with there original teams. lol

:nod:

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

I got the feeling Heatley will get a huge paycheck somewhere and come nowhere close to living up to the expectations of it. Here's to hoping it's Vancouver or Edmonton blowing their wads.

[MadDevil]

I got the feeling Heatley will get a huge paycheck somewhere and come nowhere close to living up to the expectations of it. Here's to hoping it's Vancouver or Edmonton blowing their wads.

Watch the Rangers sign him to a 7 year, $60 million deal...

[Mel]

Watch the Rangers sign him to a 7 year, $60 million deal...

Those jabs ring pretty hollow in the world of the salary cap! :nod:

[Madferret]

7.5 M and Heatley will stay a Sen.

[MadDevil]

Those jabs ring pretty hollow in the world of the salary cap! :nod:

I don't know, the Rangers did just spend $51 million on a guy who's cracked 20 goals once in his career and $35 million on an overglorified second-line center.:nod: :D

[krypt1968]

I don't know, the Rangers did just spend $51 million on a guy who's cracked 20 goals once in his career and $35 million on an overglorified second-line center.:nod: :D


Actually Lou is finnally going to break the Bank and make Heatley a devil and have him Play a more defensive role resulting in a point reduction of 30 points off his season average. :nod:

[Iced Tea]

The NHL has already started down the path to another useless lockout due to teams acting stupid with their money so "Crash" Heatley may as well be the first player to somehow receive $10 million in the "New" NHL. :rolleyes:

A salary cap? Is that a hat made from celery?