RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER: J.P. Giglio recently reported Carolina Hurricanes winger Jeff O'Neill believes his future with the team is uncertain and could well depend on what happens during his contract negotiations with the club this summer. O'Neill also said he felt "unwanted" after hearing news that 'Canes GM Jim Rutherford was entertaining offers for him prior to the trade deadline. If given a chance, he said he'd prefer to sign with a team that has the best chance to win a Stanley Cup, admitting the Hurricanes don't have that much hope of winning one, but added if the club made some additions that could bolster their chances then he'd prefer to stay.
Maybe McGuire was right when he said this guy was more trouble than he was worth. Seems to me he's a grade-A suck. I personally wanted him, but I could have been wrong about that one. The last thing this club needs is someone moping around the dressing room because he feels he isn't getting enough ice time. Contrast that to Kovalev, a real star, who has shown nothing but humility and level-headedness since coming over (which was a surprise to me). Looks like Gainey got the right man after all.
RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER: J.P. Giglio recently reported Carolina Hurricanes winger Jeff O'Neill believes his future with the team is uncertain and could well depend on what happens during his contract negotiations with the club this summer. O'Neill also said he felt "unwanted" after hearing news that 'Canes GM Jim Rutherford was entertaining offers for him prior to the trade deadline. If given a chance, he said he'd prefer to sign with a team that has the best chance to win a Stanley Cup, admitting the Hurricanes don't have that much hope of winning one, but added if the club made some additions that could bolster their chances then he'd prefer to stay.
Maybe McGuire was right when he said this guy was more trouble than he was worth. Seems to me he's a grade-A suck. I personally wanted him, but I could have been wrong about that one. The last thing this club needs is someone moping around the dressing room because he feels he isn't getting enough ice time. Contrast that to Kovalev, a real star, who has shown nothing but humility and level-headedness since coming over (which was a surprise to me). Looks like Gainey got the right man after all.
He's also hyped as one of the game's power forward, yet he's about Zednik's size and not even as aggressive as Z...
I kind of glad they did not pick up Jeff O'Neill. I also think he is very overrated. This summer, instead, I hope they trade what they were going to move for O'Neill to acquire a top draft pick and then take the money saved and venture into the free agent market.
RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER: J.P. Giglio recently reported Carolina Hurricanes winger Jeff O'Neill believes his future with the team is uncertain and could well depend on what happens during his contract negotiations with the club this summer. O'Neill also said he felt "unwanted" after hearing news that 'Canes GM Jim Rutherford was entertaining offers for him prior to the trade deadline. If given a chance, he said he'd prefer to sign with a team that has the best chance to win a Stanley Cup, admitting the Hurricanes don't have that much hope of winning one, but added if the club made some additions that could bolster their chances then he'd prefer to stay.
Maybe McGuire was right when he said this guy was more trouble than he was worth. Seems to me he's a grade-A suck. I personally wanted him, but I could have been wrong about that one. The last thing this club needs is someone moping around the dressing room because he feels he isn't getting enough ice time. Contrast that to Kovalev, a real star, who has shown nothing but humility and level-headedness since coming over (which was a surprise to me). Looks like Gainey got the right man after all.
He's either an egomaniac or a dummy. The Canes were not close to being contenders this year, their best move is to rebuild, which they are doing. The rumours about this guy fly all the time that he has a bad attitude and that he doesn't like to fly. He's an individual that doesn't seem to fit into the very conservative NHL world, that's for sure. Could be a good or bad thing. One thing for sure, he cranks it up at playoff time. We all know that...
He's either an egomaniac or a dummy. The Canes were not close to being contenders this year, their best move is to rebuild, which they are doing. The rumours about this guy fly all the time that he has a bad attitude and that he doesn't like to fly. He's an individual that doesn't seem to fit into the very conservative NHL world, that's for sure. Could be a good or bad thing. One thing for sure, he cranks it up at playoff time. We all know that...
In additions I think he means next year, not this year.
Maybe McGuire was right when he said this guy was more trouble than he was worth. Seems to me he's a grade-A suck. I personally wanted him, but I could have been wrong about that one. The last thing this club needs is someone moping around the dressing room because he feels he isn't getting enough ice time. Contrast that to Kovalev, a real star, who has shown nothing but humility and level-headedness since coming over (which was a surprise to me). Looks like Gainey got the right man after all.
In a place like montreal and in a system like the one that CJ is promoting... I think that we can't afford to have those sort of players.... And the fact that the media in montreal is about as thirsty for controversy, as an English soccer team on tour is gagging for a quick leg over!!!!! Any problems such as a split dressing room, they would have a field day... we've all seen this before... We need in montreal.. solid team players... or in the case of kovalev (but hes only been here a few weeks lets see how he turns out.... i believe he should be fine..) a true professional who knows what hes getting hmiself into. If this is what a Jeff O'neill would bring to the team... i wouldn't want him!!!
This league is about not-burning bridges. Don't think that this kinda stuff doesn't filter through the GM ranks. Look at how professional a guy like Dowd was in joining the Habs. He talked about good experiences with his past teams, didn't say anything negative about the team he just left, and really talked about the positive experience of joining a young team on the playoff hunt. That is a "team" player that will always fit in. A spoiled whiner can stay looking amongst the remaining 29 for work IMO. Can you imagine Gainey and Julien wanted to work with that kind of player...I sure can't.
Truthfully, I would like to see Gainey make a pitch for O'Neill in the offseason. I wouldn't want to pay too much but if his value is down....
Look at it this way. His value is at a low point, could possiblely be it's lowest point of his career. If we could get this guy cheap I think he could become a really good addition. Imagine a year or two ago if there was mention of Montreal landing this guy. We would be jumping up and down.
As for his 'whining', I think it's a case of a guy saying how he actually feels instead of the proper answers. Lots of players feel the same way O'Neill does about certain things, but give the standard 'just happy to be here', 'happy to go their' answers to the media. I mean Patrick Roy stated he didn't want to play for team Canada at the '02 games if he wasn't ensured the starters role, and made the whole 'last game in Montreal' comment and he still somehow found a way to be a value addition to the Av's. Also, if Kovalev can be considered a true proffesional after coming here, why couldn't O'Neill. I mean if you look at Kovalev's and O'Neill's track records, you can't say O'Neill's is worse than Kovy's.
I've always wanted to see Jeff O'Neill in a habs uniform. I agree with Darz if his value is low make a pitch for him. A change of scenery could be all he needs to kickstart him back to the 30 goal plateau he should always be at. As for not liking to fly that can be overcome.. I remember a guy named Mogilny who was scared to fly and he turned out ok.
Kovalev won't be back next year. O'Neill is still young and will cost about half what resigning Kovy would cost.... get it done Bob.
