Finally... a break in the silence

In February I started to get very busy, but I had also lost hope in the Senators. I just up and stopped posting because I could not find the time to do so and before I knew it there was nothing to say. The Sens were out of the playoff race months ago and all I could hope for was the next season ... then in late Spring, Dany Heatley provided me with something to consider. He wants out of Ottawa.

Let me be frank when I say this, but Dany drove his own trade value into the floor when his agent(s) broke the news in the media. At the end of the season, Heatley had his meeting with the coaching staff and then management where he expressed his displeasure with his "new" role under coach Clouston. Senators GM Bryan Murray asked Heatley to give it some time and think about what he wants to do and Dany went off to play in the World's. Apparently Heatley's decision did not change and rather than taking his trade request quietly to Murray and letting him do his dealing, Heatley's agent(s) approached the media with the news of a trade demand. Reason stated was the new role on the club and how Heatley did not get along with Clouston.

Well, naturally the fans in Ottawa immediately started forming the mob, grabbing up pitchforks and lighting the torches. We are one thing if not adapt at running players out of here (re: Yashin, Schaefer, Corvo to an extent, Emery, etc). I am not saying that previous players have not deserved to be run out, but not all of them should have been chased away so readily. Needless to say, however, Heatley is worthy of the ire of the fans. Consider that he resigned with Ottawa for an extensive period of time. He wanted to play here when the ink was signed on the paper and rather than deal with Clouston man to man, Heatley decided to take the whiners route. Of course the fans have every right to be mad...

That said, what is Murray going to do with Heatley now? Leading up to the draft, calls were fielded and offers were made, but none of them were reasonable. The one I know of for sure was the NY Rangers offering Zherdev (a RFA worth a junk of change) and Rozsival (7mil) which to say the least was a win for the Rangers but a complete failure for Ottawa. Murray knew if he took that the angry mob would turn on him for already blowing deals that saw other players leave the club for free (we're about to see Comrie walk for the second time unless a miracle happens). Murray is/was looking for a top 6 forward, a prospect / younger player with NHL readiness and a pick. More importantly, Murray was looking to reduce his cap hit from Heatley's contract by 2-3-million if possible so he could wade deeper into the Free Agent oceans on Canada Day.

So now what? Heatley is either going to be dealt before Canada's 142nd birthday, or owner Melnyk will be signing a cheque to the tune of $4-million (which, by the way, is not something he wants to do for an ungrateful player already) and Heatley will be told to attend training camp. That would put the ball back into Dany's court and he would have to face the music or be shamed by his public perception. He would become the next Yashin if he chose to take the latter path, but could Ottawa ride it out and get a quality pick and a unappreciated talent (Spezza and Chara anyone) again?

One thine is for sure is that if Ottawa holds to their guns and if Melnyk eats the $4-million bonus, Heatley will immediately have his trade value increased. However, what I would like to see is something from Dany's lips to the public. He should at least come out to his fans who supported him through thick and thin in Ottawa and explain what is so wrong with Clouston's coaching style? Is it that Cory wants him to actually be active in a play rather than waiting for the puck all time? Perhaps it is because Dany does not want to spread offence around and wants to see everyone else play to his calibre? I want answers.

- BigW