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Here, let me guess. Wheeler will be going to the Flyers or the Rangers by the end of today's FN consensus.
Think I'll stir the pot right now and say neither...Looks like he wants to go to a real contender...LOL

Who does this punk think he is? Mario Lemieux? Wayne Gretzky? Steve Yzerman? This punk owes the Coyotes something for drafting him that high!

These punks should be required to sign for the team that drafted them so they can trade their rights to another team and at least get something in return! Or, their greedy agents should be required to pay a heafty fine if they fail to reach an agreement on a first time contract! That'll take care of this nonsense!

This is ridiculous! Why should a club be cheated out of a draft pick without compensation?

Maybe the Flyers. Guess he wants to play with a playoff team.

no this cracker sounds more like John Elway

I get it! He grew up in frozen swamps of Minnesota. He's affraid he'll melt in the Phoenix sun!

it probably isn't a good sign when a player you drafted 5th overall rejects your team. still, wheeler has no leverage since he hasn't played a game in the nhl yet, so it's really stupid that he's pulling this kind of crap. this isn't a really good way to start your career.

He reminds me of the Bears Cedric Benson. I hope he's got as good a career as Cedric! LOL!

The Coyoets are actually starting to put together a competitive team.This kid just spurrned Gretzky who gave him one hell of shot.The winters in Phoenix are gorgeous,the women are plentiful and the money was all he could ask for.granted about twelve people show up to watch games at Jobbing.com Arena but this kid is missing a shot at joining a young nucleus of players who really are getting better and better.

Its never a good idea to spurn Wayne.

Why is it dumb for him to want to become a free agent? He'll make a ton more money that way. Also, did he ever ask anyone to draft him so high? No. He doesn't owe them anything, and I don't see why everyone has their panties in a bunch over this.

And yeah Hillbilly, if you think about marketing and other things, Phoenix is just about the worst place he can wind up. He won't get the same kind of exposure he could get if he were to play in a market that actually cared about hockey.

Listen people....the team that signs him will have to compensate the Coyotes with a 35th round pick. He's also taking LESS money to be a free agent. I dont know how thats possible,but thats the deal. Since he's been playing in Minny all this time,speculation is thats where he wants to be playing. Thats also his home to boot. This story sprung yesterday and can be found on the www.sportsnet.ca website.

i can just see karma allowing the coyotes to get in the plaoffs while the team that signs wheeler doesn't

Amen, brother conesy!

Sorry about your luck Coyote "fans". Instead of talking about a kid NONE OF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, why don't you just stay tuned. Wheeler's a nice kid, great talent and will be a star in the NHL. Only time will tell why he chose not to sign with the Coyotes. Why not wait until June 8th and see what he has to say instead of jumping all over him for something you know nothing about.

i'm no Coyote "fan" but i still think you should give the team that drafted you a shot.Where would Wheeler have been drafted if he didn't get drafted so high ....late 1st round at the best?

yeah but he should at least give back to the coyotes who actually had the balls to draft him when nobody really expected him to go that high

Eric Lindros anyone?

By the way, Hillbilly Jim, there was only one REAL wrestler - not Hillbilly Jim - Ravishing Rick Rude!

No player - in the league, draftee, etc., - owes anything to any team. It's a business! Teams cut players all the time. What if Blake had gotten hurt in college? The Coyotes wouldn't give him a second look.

Players need to look out for themselves and then play for the fans. Blake never played one second for the Coyotes so he owes them nothing. No matter where he might have been drafted - it would have been in the first or second round - it wouldn't matter. Bottom line is he is going to play in the NFL and he's going to be a player you want on your team - talent and character wise!

If you cross Gretzky, he will extract his revenge by forcing you to watch Janet Jone's old movies. The horror...the horror....

It's what wrong with todays athlete and lets face it, it's a business. They want big $$$$$ bucks from day one, mind you they haven't played a game yet, insulted if they don't get it, holdout, and sadly other teams will give it to them. It's in all the pro sports, the leagues just need to set price structure for Rookies. Let them prove themselves first, then give them the cash. Also it sucks that their are no more Yzerman's or Sakic's that play their entire careers with one team. Both could have left for more money during their careers but didn't. Let me add, Sakic will retire before leaving the Avs for another team.
heck maybe the Great One & Phoenix will be glad he didn't sign with them.