Oh Dany Boy ... The Pipes Are Callin'

Free Agent Frenzy came and it went. On the good news front, Senators GM Bryan Murray was able to lock up UFA Chris Neil to a four year deal worth $8-million. While some bloggers and fan sites were stating that Neil was overpriced before the free agency period the reality became evident that other teams were willing to offer him upwards of $2.5-million per season for his services. In the end, Neil decided to stay where he has always been and continue his work here as our gritty forward. This shows a ton of character to the fans of the Senators when other players just lack it...

Speaking of Dany Heatley, the midnight deadline for Sens owner Eugene Melnyk to pony up a $4-million bonus to the disgruntled winger came and passed as well. You might remember that nearly a month ago Heatley's agent decided to go public with the trade demand in an obvous power play to score his client the big ticket. Murray played host to a few suitors, but the only deal he felt was worthy of Dany Heatley's talent was to get Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Vadislav Smid from the Edmonton Oilers. Now, I am not going to analyze that trade to death, but it would have been a bad one for Ottawa. However, it was the only trade worth noting in the end and the ball was in Heatley's court to waive his no movement clause to facilitate his trade demand...

I do want to take a brief moment and discuss the trade demand one more time and explain how come Dany did not get his wish before Free Agent Frenzy. To me, it all comes down to the teams Heatley put on his magic list and how it handcuffed Murray from the get go. According to Sun Media the teams Heatley put on his short list included the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.

Kings: Rumours swirled surrounding Heatley and the Kings early, but it looked as though those were just rumours. In order for the Kings to be able to acquire Dany they would have to give up a lot of their young talent ... something that they wouldn't be too keen on. Los Angeles hasn't been a hot bed of hockey for quite some time and it would have given Dany a chance to fade away into obscurity while being the teams #1 guy, but the return cost was just too high.

Rangers: Another team that hosted a ton of rumours and it seemed a likely contender for a while when a trade started to materialize. Like LA, it could have easily had Heatley in the spotlight on the club and it seemed a likely contender for the winger to go here.

Sharks: The trade would have cost the Sharks more than they are comfortable with. They have a group of guys who mesh well together and have proven some success. If the first day of free agency is any indication, the Sharks are in no mood to tamper with what they believe is a winning club.

Red Wings: Just because they lost the Stanley Cup this year doesn't mean they are going to go out and start moving names around. While Hossa was set to test the market--then land the big deal in Chicago--the golden rule in Detroit would be turned off by Heatley's cap hit.

Blackhawks: A young team with a lot of up and coming potential where a star winger would be an ideal fit ... if the Hawks felt that winger were a team player. They would need to be capable of not only leading by example, but also taking the team on its shoulders. Heatley's attitude about how his club performed and his role on it last season under Cory Clouston cast a lot of doubt on his character and no doubt the Hawks (as well as other clubs) stayed away because of it.

Canucks: Dany's own agent is the same agent for the Sedin twins ... In order for Heatley to even have a shot at signing in V-city, the Sedins would have needed to have been handled. Needless to say that wasn't dealt with until less than an hour before the twins became UFAs.

Bruins: Who can the Bruins easily afford to trade away to Ottawa for Heatley? The Sens and Bruins are in the same division and would see a lot of one another in coming seasons ... a trade for either side could prove to be frustrating in the long. Not many teams trade in the same division and it was immediately unlikely that Murray would find a trading partner.

Basically Heatley and his agents knew full well the only real option for Dany was either Los Angeles or New York (Rangers). While it was rumoured that the Rangers and the Senators had a deal in the making there was a lot of confusion surrounding that $4-million signing bonus and how it came into play. Sadly, in the end, the only team truly interested in Healtey turned out to be the Edmonton Oilers and although they were not on Healtey's short list, Murray tried to get him to go ... It is clear the GM does not want him in the locker room next year.

The day after there are press releases and reports that JP Barry, the all-star agent of some of the biggest names in the NHL including Heatley, was very displeased with how Murray treated his client's trade demand. Naturally the agent is ticked off at Murray because no one is interested in a prima donna who doesn't appear to be a team player... Sorry JP... but if your client wants out of here so badly he needs to make concessions as well.

I think Heatley should be made an example of. Naturally the Ottawa Senators want to do the same thing, but I also mean by the NHL and NHLPA. I fully believe that:

1) If a player that has a no-movement or no-trade clause demands a trade they automatically forfeit their right to veto.
2) If a player signs on with a club they are not permitted to demand a trade.
3) The only bonus that should be given at the end of a season is production related. If a signing bonus is involved it should be dealt with at the time of signing the contract.
4) If a player has an issue with a coach, they should take every stop possible to work out the issue rather than making a scene. Heatley only spoke with Clouston at the end of season meeting and not since ... how can the issues he had be addressed let alone handled?
5) An alternate captain of any team should be held accountable to his actions.

The next time I write about Heatley I hope it's to tell him good bye and not to let the door hit him on the ass on the way out ... I am beyond the desire to talk ad nasseum about this pathetic excuse for a grown adult.

If I were Bryan Murray I would present Dany (not his agent) with the following options:

1) You work out a trade that is fair for both teams between the Senators and whoever is interested.
2) Accept the Edmonton trade.
3) Sit out the season.

In other news ... Team Canada announced it's orientation roster and the only Ottawa Senator to get the invite was Dany Heatley.

- BigW