Dreger: Jets likely to buyout Blake Wheeler

[ShootIt]

We can form an AARP group with Wheeler and the Staal bros.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

He’s a little young for the Pens, but we’ll take him.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

He’s eligible for a 35+ bonus contract. If a free agent, a contender can leverage the 24-25 cap spike in 23-24 via an easily obtainable performance bonus. There’s greater flexibility, even if the number ends up being the same.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I bet he goes to Florida

Could see it. He has a place there I believe, plus his BFF Paul Maurice is the coach.

 

[Rpenny]

Yes, and this thread hasn't added anything. I was expecting a confirmation or pre-confirmation, not just another reporter's insight

thanks. I thought maybe I had fell through a time travel hole or something

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

Wouldn’t say he ran out of answers. Ladd was contract greedy so the Jets passed and thank God they did. Ladd was a disaster post-Wimnipeg.

In post-game interviews in the last year of Ladd’s tenure, he answered a lot of accountability-related questions with “I don’t know…” and just looked lost. Wheeler stepped in for him and gave the captain responses, and it was pretty clear that the media would run through him afterwards. He took that bullet.

 

[heilongjetsfan]

So no takers even at 50%

Probably not without a sweetener, cos he'll be pretty cheap to sign as a UFA after he gets his buyout $$.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Yes, and this thread hasn't added anything. I was expecting a confirmation or pre-confirmation, not just another reporter's insight

Did Dreger first report it? If not, he is just hoping we forgot about the first report a few months ago

 

[AcerComputer]

AZ can probably get a draft pick for taking him



No, Laine's better

Laine asked for a trade out of WPG though? The GM now has to make the best of a bad situation.

 

[oil Leaks]

Steve Dangle 1 for 1 #insider

 

[joestevens29]

So no takers even at 50%

With a 5 team trade list probably not. And why would he open that list up when he knows damn well he's going to get more money getting bought out.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Is he the last of the original Thrashers?

 

[PajamaBoy]

If they flip Dubois for Vilardi, Kupari, Iafallo, as reported, I think it's a pretty good return for Laine - no?

Lol if u say so

 

[BKarchitect]

Given that Hayes and RyJo probably have more left in the tank than Wheeler and we’re essentially given away at 50%, not being able to move off Wheeler and just wanting to buy him out should surprise exactly nobody at this point.

 

[joestevens29]

Is he the last of the original Thrashers?

Believe so. Think there is only 3 left playing in the league, Kane, Bogosian and Wheeler himself.

 

[viper0220]

Is he the last of the original Thrashers?

Yes.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

AZ can probably get a draft pick for taking him



No, Laine's better

Isn't Laine barely a ppg and injured often?

 

[AcerComputer]

Lol if u say so

Laine asked for a trade, so you do they best you can. Rarely do you "win" in a deal. Same story with PLD, guy wants out and asks for a trade, hard to "win" a trade again. I think all things considered WPG make out quite well just getting Vilardi alone.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I've seen the Canadian media label guys as cancers and put all the blame on them before. I'd take Wheeler on the Leafs for 2M or less

 

[PajamaBoy]

Laine asked for a trade, so you do they best you can. Rarely do you "win" in a deal. Same story with PLD, guy wants out and asks for a trade, hard to "win" a trade again. I think all things considered WPG make out quite well just getting Vilardi alone.

Or u ship out the insecure baby in wheeler.

 

[Maukkis]

So no takers even at 50%

It sounded like there was interest (perhaps willingness to give up a small asset too), but not enough to make someone jump the queue. Understandable, I think, as the Jets were massively on the clock here.

 

[herzausstein]

Wheeler with a 5 team trade list. Easy to force a buyout then he can go sign a 1 year cheap deal with wherever he wants without forcing them to give up assets. He will get 5.5 million from the buyout so he just needs 2.75 million to make up the difference or sign for more and come out ahead.

 

[AcerComputer]

Or u ship out the insecure baby in wheeler.

Deal is officially: Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, 2024 2nd round pick. Seems like a pretty amazing return to me.

 

[JKG33]

I've seen the Canadian media label guys as cancers and put all the blame on them before. I'd take Wheeler on the Leafs for 2M or less

Well he'd fit right in with this core group that's for sure

 

[Oilslick941611]

losing Dubois and Wheeler will be a net benefit for the Jets. That locker room has been in shambles for ages. Could be a threat next year.