Ouellet on waivers

The Lightning apparently has placed right wing Michel Ouellet on waivers. We will know at noon eastern time on Tuesday whether he was claimed or assigned to AHL Norfolk. Ouellet, who is scheduled to make $1.3-million this season, was acquired last year as an unrestricted free agent. Though he came on strong at the end, he was a disappointment with 17 goals and 36 points in 64 games. He had a goal and an assist in four preseason games. Tampa Bay would save $1.3-million off the cap if he was claimed.

Comments

[matthew]

Trust me he's going somewhere with Halpren!

[Mike13]

Andrew, if it was such a good bargain, then why did no one want him? Hint: it starts with "It's not" and ends with "a bargain".

[Twinebulge]

Khabibulin on waivers, able to be plucked by anyone for no compensation to the Blackhawks. *sigh* Who'dathunkit 4 years ago.

Ouellet being gone does make one big problem go away: his name. We've seen everything from Quellet to Ouellette to Omelet and everything in between....

I'll miss Tarno but he's basically redundant at this point

We knew Melrose would put Koci out there, as I said the first day the brouhaha about not having Roy or any enforcer came up. No Melrose team is going to get kicked all over the ice and let the stars get pounded without somebody to take care of business, and as Melrose himself told me flatly at the meet & greet, Koci is the guy. Is he that great of a fighter? No, but it's the thought that counts--and the size and willingness. Lets the skill players have some breathing room out there

[Paul]

Quellet will go to the Rangers. He's scheduled to fly back from Europe on their team charter.

[Slapshot]

Someone like LA or St. Louis who is a mile under the cap might take a shot at him. Guys like this who are always on the cusp of doing something most often get picked up because the next team sees the potential not the liabillity. Just like the Lightning did.

[Andrew]

Mike13 - Ouellet only makes 1.3 million. That's a pretty good bargain for a guy that is relatively young, is good for 20+ goals, and still has a lot of potential.

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Third line guy, playing on the second line of a Feaster-fangled team. No way was Ouellet ever going to be any more than a third line guy anywhere else. They signed him for way too much money, but that's what Jay Feaster does. Oullette is a perennial 15-18 goal a year guy that can score on the power play and then get hurt allot. Good player but he's soft and doesn't like to hustle on defense. He would do well in a system that runs a trap like New Jersey.

[Mike13]

Michel's problem is his salary. He will almost certainly clear waivers. This is just another example of Feaster throwing too many bucks at a guy who hadn't proved that he was worth that kind of dough.

[keith]

A decent player, but never really fit into the "big picture". His late last season splurge linking with Halpern was probably more by luck than good judgement. Given how the team is shuffled to its line up today I dont see plave for him.

[boltcc]

Like Habby, I'm sure most teams knew they were going to be put on waivers so they Didn't make a trade at full salary when they can get them at half price. Kinda dissapointed in Ouellet though, he had the talent but didn't seem to have the motivation, no wonder Pittsburgh didn't resign him.

[Geografer]

I'm sure they tried to trade beofre waiving (just as I am sure Chicago tried to waive Habby before they waived him today) and clearly there were no takers. Hopefully for he and the Lightning he will get picked up on the way down so to clear his salary off the books. Too bad though we have to give up an asset for nothing but when a you go nuts and sign way to many forwards in the off season and come into camp with 17 on one-way deals what do you really expect - though that would require thinking ahead.

[vickie]

i think he will be picked up on waivers. The guy is awesome.

[McGz]

I'm a little surprised that they didn't trade Ouellet for at least a draft pick. Do they actually think he's not going to picked up?