Heatley Deal With Edmonton Not Officially Dead
by DarrenM on Jul 1, 2009 3:05 AM EDT
10 comments
In what has become the most confusing newsstory in recent memory, the deal sending Dany Heatley to the Edmonton Oilers is not officially dead. According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, Heatley has not refused the deal outright, he simply has not waived his no movement clause at this time. Basically, he's looked at it, and done nothing, which he has a right to do.
You see, as it turns out, the July 1st bonus does not have to be paid until 11:59pm on July 1. This means that the Sens have all day tomorrow to find Dany Heatley a home so that they are not stuck with paying the $4M advance on his $8M salary for the 2009-2010 season.
And Dany? According to Heatley's agent, J.P. Barry:
"Dany is going to sleep on it"
So, that's where we stand. Dany Heatley is still an Ottawa Senator (as long as he doesn't have nightmares), but he came closer to leaving the team than he ever has, and that deal is still on the table - or is until either Heatley rejects it or someone else ups the ante.
Honestly though, if Heatley ultimately refuses to waive the NMC, it's hard for me to decide if he's the villain or the hero. I mean, he's being selfish and making free agent frenzy a complete mess for Bryan Murray tomorrow. But at the same time, he also stops us from taking on Dustin Penner's contract, which is a bonus.
However, if this trade doesn't happen, then I would not want to be Oilers' GM Steve Tambellini - there might be an awkward meeting coming up with Smid, Cogliano, and Penner.
Expect to hear a lot more about Heatley in the next 24 hours.
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Perhaps Heatley is having mixed feelings about leaving the Sens
… or maybe Heatley may prefer to see if other offers pop up on July 1
What a soap opera.
The Edmonton deal is ok, not great. If Smid and Ciogliano were locked in for longer and if Penner were 1-2 mllion less per year, it might be more palatable.
If you look at how much these other folks are asking for (like the Sedins’ ridiculous request), Heatley’s deal is probably looking ok, a couple of years out. I think keeping him is still a good option.
by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They can’t keep him, not after this summer. It’s like he’s going out of his way to make himself persona non grata in Ottawa.
by Mark Parisi on Jul 1, 2009 10:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why? the players still like him. Sens mgmt are disappointed but not fuming angry. Some idiot agitators at the Ottawa Citizen and few angry fans are not going to prevent Heatley from scoring 40-50 goals if he stays. To those fans who do not really care, the goal tally will make them overlook Heatley’s misstep … if he stayed.
The persona non grata comment may be the opinion of a vocal minority or even a small majority. But Heatley has enough supporters among people who are more concerned about fielding a competitive team than the idiosyncracies of personalities.
by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're kidding, right?
I’d say there is a microscopic minority, of which you are apparently a part, that still supports Heatley. Neither of us have done scientific studies to find out, but how can a player demand a trade, refuse the trade the team has put together, and then re-join the team without any ill will?
by PeterR on Jul 1, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's what I'm wondering, too.
I agree that both the Citizen and Sun have been unfair since his trade request became public (I suspect bitterness over his media silence throughout last season, which I don’t begrudge at all), but even <emif he’s still liked in the locker room, there’s no way he’s liked by the fans or the front office after this. Melnyk — he of the locker room tirades — made a personal pitch to Heatley to get this contract done. You think he’s not feeling betrayed?
Not only that, but Heatley’s actions say that A) He doesn’t want to play with the guys in that locker room anymore and B) that he’s not interested in helping that locker room on his way out. That wouldn’t endear him to me as a teammate. You have to believe guys who worked their butts off to make that team, guys like Foligno and Shannon, are wondering what his problem is.
by Mark Parisi on Jul 1, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
*Nuuuuuuuu-nee-nu-nee-nu*
Is Heatley gone yet?
How ’bout now?
by Bloggy on Jul 1, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You want to talk arrogance?
Heatley is, according to malkin to the kings Garrioch, trying to work out his own trade:
Sources say Heatley, along with agents J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine, weren’t happy with the Edmonton trade and were trying to broker a deal with the New York Rangers.
I can’t believe a person thinks this is an okay thing to do.
by PeterR on Jul 1, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
if I was Sens mgmt ...
….. and Heatley asked for a trade, one of my first courses of action would be to say, “you (Heatley) are a great player, we have you under contract and intend to keep you or playing talent of equal value. As a courtesy, we will try to find a deal that gives us fair value for your services. Meanwhile, this is not our highest priority, so if you think you can find a deal, feel free to do so, with the understanding that we have the right to rescind it at our discretion, just as you have the right to rescind any trade we offer up, at your discretion. Bottom line, unless a fair trade is lined up, you are a Senator and as such, expected to execute your role to the best of your ability and in a manner consistent with direction by your boss, coach Cory Clouston. We would prefer if you are happy in your role, but you should understand, it is not necessary for you to be happy and a secondary priority to the interests of the team.”
Bottom line, if Heatley’s camp can line up a good deal than more power to them … but the Sens are under no obligation to accept the transaction if it is not a fair deal. Or in short … knock yourself out Heatley.
by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
While I agree...
The problem is that keeping a player who doesn’t want to be here is just cutting off our nose to spite our face. What are the Sens going to do, pay Heatley $7.5M a year to sit out? To go out there with no effort every night? To have him miss a bunch of games with a mysterious injury? That’s money that could be spent on players who want to play, and we constantly see teams that play a team game go deep in the playoffs, while teams relying on superstar talent wipe out.
If he plays and sucks up and down the ice, he makes himself that much harder to trade, much less get any kind of quality in return. I don’t think Murray has a choice… he has to trade Heatley while he can still get something for him. It was an ugly situation with the Sens the second the trade demand became public. Their best hope is to get some young kids and have them develop into something.
by Mark Parisi on Jul 1, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not really convinced ...
… that Heatley really dislikes being on the Sens all that much. He apparently gets along with his team mates quite well. Mostly, it seems like he is having a little snit over a variety of issues including (1) lesser ice time (2) “relegation” to 2nd PP line and (3) Clouston commentary about lack of fitness, foot movement and peripheral non-scoring playing.
Issue (1) may or not be true, but I am sure, Heatley still gets plenty of ice time no matter what system Clouston implements. Issue (2) is something Heatley needs to get over. One of the Sens key weaknesses is too much talent concentration in the top three and than a serious plummet in skill in lines 2 and lesser rank. Heatley on PP2 only makes the Sens stronger by giving them a combination PP punch which makes the Sens stronger, it is not a commentary on Heatley’s skill. Issue (3) is something Heatley should probably listen to. Sure Heatley is great, but that does not mean he is perfect and/or above making changes to his professional practices that could improve or lengthen his career. He should probably check his ego (perhaps justified by his 50+ goal ability) and listen to Clouston’s commentary to improve his and the Sens’ prospects.
I think the Heatley-Sens situation is a lot of personality issues that are just not that relevant compared to the issue of building the Sens and winning a cup. Most of the problem, IMHO, lies with Heatley. He needs to mature and adjust his attitude a bit, for his benefit and that of the Sens. Hopefully, it will all be worked out and he will remain a Sen.
IMHO, it is all just a little software glitch in Heatley’s programming, a problem a variant of which most folks have likely suffered, just that it is not splattered all over the front page of newspapers and TV shows. So, in the best scenario, it all just kind of fades away over time, Heatley comes back (hopefully, a little more humble and respectful of the organizational hierarchy) and the Sens get back on the path to the Cup.
by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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