I dunno about most, I'm too lazy to go digging for it but I know there were a few folks who took their lumps for immediately saying he'd probably go on to play well somewhere else. Was a lot of dumping on him after the buyout, and even throughout the season when he'd be brought up as someone who was doing well in Florida.
It's one of those scenarios that seems to have worked out for both sides though, which is nice because that's not always how it goes.
Ottawa would probably be the second choice, Leafs fans are gonna Leafs fan but I think a lot of Habs fans would get on board with Ottawa