Ladies and gentlemen, it’s July 1

June 30, 2009   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

Do you know where your free agents are?

Well technically, UFA doesn’t begin for another twelve hours (at 12 PM EST) but man the moves have been coming fast and furious already starting with the Gomez – Higgins trade a few hours ago of course. 

Somewhat less surprisingly, Dany Heatley was traded to the Oilers for defenseman Ladislav Smid and forwards Andrew Cogliano and Dustin Penner literally minutes before he was due a $4 million roster bonus.  Interestingly, Smid and Penner were originally dealt to the Oilers in the Chris Pronger trade three years ago.

And in a move that proves maybe there really is something unique about Alberta (as departed Devil coach Brent Sutter pointed out defensively in his final press conference in New Jersey) or there’s something stronger than even Lou Lamoriello‘s Kool-Aid in the water out there, the Flames managed to lock up defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to a long-term deal hours before he was set to become a UFA.  Bouwmeester signed a 6 year, $33 million deal, a good chunk of change to be sure but he almost certainly would have gotten more money and years as a UFA.  As it turned out however, he also wanted to go home.

If yesterday’s any indication, today and Thursday should be pure insanity with names such as Hossa, Gaborik, and Khabibulin available just to name a few.  Then again it usually is with the beginning of UFA in this sport (not to mention the trade deadline).

UPDATE: Well just to make things crazier, it seems as if Mr. Heatley has refused to waive his no-trade clause and the deal’s been called off.  Man I’d hate to be an Oilers fan right about now.  Bouwmeester runs to Calgary while Heatley wants no part of Edmonton.  Not to mention Ottawa’s stuck footing a $4 million bill and probably keeping an unhappy star.