MAK Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 (edited) From the hockey news PHOENIX COYOTES-Announced C Blake Wheeler has rejected a contract offer, making him a free agent. Montreal should really make a pitch for him. he's big, he scores and he's right handed. further more: he wouldn't cost us a pick. his stats Edited May 30, 2008 by marky_and_komi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House11 Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I don't think he want's to come to Montreal ... reason being is he rejected a contract that would be more than he can make in the open market. He was drafted the year before the lockout. Now I believe he's subject to the CBA rookie cap now. I'm pretty sure he wants to play somewhere like Minnesota ( his home town ) ... not Pheonix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habitforming Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I don't think he want's to come to Montreal ... reason being is he rejected a contract that would be more than he can make in the open market. He was drafted the year before the lockout. Now I believe he's subject to the CBA rookie cap now. I'm pretty sure he wants to play somewhere like Minnesota ( his home town ) ... not Pheonix The problem for Wheeler is he wants top 6 ice time and in the desert he isn't a lock for it with all the youth they have right now. Montreal could give him the ice time assuming Ryder doesn't come back, but then what do we do with either Higgins or S. Kostitsyn on the Koivu line? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoZed Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Young unproven player who never played in the NHL and have a big idea of themselves = not fit for the Habs' team-first philosophy. Not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 I don't think it's the guaranteed minutes that Wheeler is seeking. It looks more like he's mesmerized with him being able to select where he plays. Cali is right though, I think it's going to be in Minnesota. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House11 Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 (edited) I don't think it's the guaranteed minutes that Wheeler is seeking. It looks more like he's mesmerized with him being able to select where he plays. Cali is right though, I think it's going to be in Minnesota. He was drafted out of high school in Minnesota and I believe he went to the U of Minnesota ... so I think it's a pretty good guess ! haha. To Habit - I think he has just a good chance of cracking the Yotes top 6 as any other team ... No matter where he goes to play, he's going to have to earn that right to play top 6 minutes. Or he'll get top 6 minutes in the AHL Edited May 30, 2008 by CaliHabsFan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Well the irony in all this is that if there was an NHL team that Wheeler could have no problem cracking the line up, it's Phoenix. They have a whole bunch of spots pegged for rookies next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habitforming Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 To Habit - I think he has just a good chance of cracking the Yotes top 6 as any other team ... No matter where he goes to play, he's going to have to earn that right to play top 6 minutes. Or he'll get top 6 minutes in the AHL I agree, but you have to take into consideration what his family and agent could be barking in his ear on the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsniper Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Wasn't Wheeler a huge reach anyway? Like one of Thomas Hickey proportions? Seems it went to his head. Still wouldn't mind him joining the Avs though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_Stealth Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Wasn't Wheeler a huge reach anyway? Like one of Thomas Hickey proportions? Seems it went to his head. Still wouldn't mind him joining the Avs though. He was a huge reach but the kid's got talent and there's no denying it. I think it's rather obvious his intentions are to play for the Wild and he doesn't want to play in Phoenix. It could also be a result of the agent giving the kid bad advice. From the sounds of it, Phoenix offered him a solid contract and he just declined which is telling you he has no intentions of playing there. Or some other whacky ideas but I'll wait it out and see what he decides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Solid contract? He got offered the best deal possible. Max rookie salary with all the bonuses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain_Stealth Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Solid contract? He got offered the best deal possible. Max rookie salary with all the bonuses. I know. I guess I didn't really make it sound that way though so I apologize for my poorly worded sentence. The crazy idea? He tries UFA and the Coyotes grab the 35th pick in the draft and afterwards sign Wheeler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House11 Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Solid contract? He got offered the best deal possible. Max rookie salary with all the bonuses. Acutally better than any rookie can get now ... because he was drafted in 04 ... before the lockout and the new CBA took place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLP Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 thought the Habs had first dibs on all youngsters from the Gopher State are we about ready for a Habs UFA speculation thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Ryder Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 The Bruins are wheeling, it appears they just signed Wheeler who wanted to play with his friend Kessel. Link ? RDS. This team is going to be a tough one to beat. With Bergeron, Kobasew return next year. + Wheeler, Rask and Zach Hamill as top prospects Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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