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In Souray, the hockey club is forced to still pay the blueliner $12 million dollars for the remainder of his contract.
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"It's a hefty price for anyone to have to throw away," remarked Timberwolves general manager, Blake Wendt at a press conference at Canadian National Gardens. "It's hurts even more when you're in the financial situation were are here. But it was our only option. Sheldon was not going to be here next season. There is no sense in him holding a roster spot when we can fill it with someone that might actually play. Plus I really didn't want to be staring at that contract any longer. With everything guaranteed, there was no way around it. It sucks and we obviously extended the terms of this contract a year too long."
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In reference to Wendt's comments about Souray not playing. That all stemmed from a interview with Souray after the Timberwolves were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual Cup-winner, Copenhagen Crusaders. In it, Souray spoke with CBC about how he felt his time with Thunder Bay had come to an end after he felt he was treated unfairly through training camp, where he lost his roster spot to rookie Carl Gunnarsson, and was sent to the minors. Souray said that the demotion was classless and without merit. Saying that he competed throughout training camp and that with his contract, it was financially the best option for the Timberwolves to keep him up. After those comments, it was clear that the next move was Wendt's.
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"Sheldon felt wronged and made those feelings known in a very public setting," said Wendt. "That's fine. It's within his right to say whatever he wants. He can now continue to say what he wants, however he wants as a former member of the Thunder Bay Timberwolves. Beyond that, we wish him luck in his hockey career, and will leave it at that."
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Somewhat lost in the Souray drama, Mark Streit was released not for his off the ice issues, but for his on ice performance. When he was acquired from the Long Island Express at the trade deadline, it was hoped that his scoring production would come over with him and help the Timberwolves in adding another weapon to their arsenal for the playoffs. Streit managed just two goals and was routinely scratched or limited to only power play minutes.
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"Regarding the release of Mark Streit," said Wendt. "It just wasn't a fit here. There wasn't much chemistry with Mark and anyone, really. He never seemed comfortable here, and his level of production we seen in Long Island was sorely missed here. We wish him the best of luck and wish things had worked out better for all of us."
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With the CCHL Cup heading across the Atlantic for the first time in league history, the offseason is anything but a down time for clubs looking to adjust their fortunes for next season. For the Timberwolves, after these releases it's onto signing or releasing their restricted free agents before June 1st.
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"We know who we're keeping and who we're not," said Wendt. "There's really not much more to say on that matter right now. You will know soon enough what our intentions are, and that will be when the league formally announces such things. I will say that some things might surprise some of you, and I'll leave it at that for you guys [the media] to analyze and dig and flame rumour mills about. Enjoy your summer, and I will see you at the draft in July."
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