Heatley traded to San Jose for Cheechoo, Michalek, and a second-round pick
by PeterR on Sep 12, 2009 2:47 PM EDT
40 comments
HOLY SHIT THIS DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. It's true what they say: Where there's smoke, there's fire.
The Ottawa Senators have traded Dany Heatley to the San Jose Sharks for wingers Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek, and the second-round draft choice in the 2010 NHL entry draft, as per TSN.
Trade discussion and rumours were at an all-time high leading into the training camp weekend, and with Heatley's absence at the team's charity golf tournament on Friday, it seemed inevitable that the trade was going to happen and the disgruntled winger wouldn't be suiting up for the Senators.
In return for the two-time 50-goal scorer, Ottawa gets a one-time 50-goal scorer in Cheechoo who, along with Michalek, will flesh out the Senators' top-six forward ranks. In terms of salary, the Senators' dumped Heatley's $7.5M cap hit but picked up $4.3M for Michalek (whose contract runs through 2013-14), and $3M for Cheechoo (on contract through next season), meaning an overall savings of less than $200k.
Michalek scored 57P in 77GP last season (23G, 34A), his fourth as a full-time NHLer. His best year was 2006-07, where he had 26G and 40A in 78GP. He's got all-world speed, and would fall into the second-line left-winger spot quite well. It might mean Nick Foligno could get bumped to the third line, but that might be a more fitting place for Foligno.
Last season was Cheechoo's worst statistically since his rookie year, and he also suffered from injury setbacks at various points. His offensive numbers in all categories have steadily declined since 2005-06, when he won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's top scorer with 56G and also had 37A for 93P overall, down to 69P in 2006-07, 37P in 2007-08, and finally to last year's forgettable 29P. Should he return to form as a goal-scorer, he could do well with a spot on the Jason Spezza's wing along with Alex Kovalev or Daniel Alfredsson, but if not he could be a debilitating use of salary cap space.
Immediate reaction to the trade seems to be negative for Senators fans, who think that Ottawa hasn't received full value in the trade. I'm not yet ready to call it a full loss yet, though. Michalek and Cheechoo both had off-years last season, which seems even more depressing given how successful San Jose was as an organization, but there is a chance they could bounce back to give Ottawa a very strong top-six forward corps. Time will tell.
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Cheechoo definitely had an off year last year, but he was normally lined up with the likes of Mike Grier and Marcel Goc (neither are with the Sharks now). Michalek may not have had the best season points-wise, but he learned to play in all three zones. Plus, both can play on the top line if there’s an injury. Ottawa is no longer a one-line team.
Jon Casey fan since '84
by stufflife on Sep 12, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it’s some good depth they picked up. Better than the Penner-Cogliano deal.
I’m just mad that Heatley got to go to the team he picked.
"Life is just a place where we spend time between games. Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death." - Fred Shero
by Karina on Sep 12, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
their problem now.
now he’s on a team that can’t win a playoff series.
by xBKx14 on Sep 12, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
should be an easy enough transition
Refusing To Bow To Your Standards Since 2006
by JaredFromLondon on Sep 13, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
That's a rec'ing
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Sep 13, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree. I think Penner/Cogliano/Smid is a much better deal for OTT than Cheechoo/Michalek/2nd. Cogliano could be a 2C and Smid is a top 4D. At best OTT gets two second line wings in this deal, which is worse than Cogliano/Smid. Penner and the 2nd is probably a wash. If I were an OTT fan I’d much rather have seen Heatley go to EDM than SJS.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 12, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I keep reading that Smid is a top 4 D, but is he really? I think that’s overvaluing Smid.
by DarrenM on Sep 12, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. Admittedly, I have not seen a lot of Smid, but I think top 4 is a flat out exaggeration.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 12, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Smid would have no place on the Senators, with the surplus of bottom-pairing defencemen we have. He would simply have been another NHL contract in the way of potential (read: Karlsson).
by PeterR on Sep 12, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, I wasn’t clear. He’s not top 4 D right now, but he’s 23 and he has 200 NHL games played. He’s nowhere near his ceiling yet, neither is Cogliano. I don’t think Cogliano is actually a very good 2C option right now (38 points in 82 games last year) but he should develop into that.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 12, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was normally lined up with the likes of Mike Grier and Marcel Goc
This would make an interesting post.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Sep 13, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh
I’m not pleased with this deal at all. If Cheechoo returns to form, we’ll be fine. Now we need a center.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 12, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
aagoodfella will probably be pissed.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 12, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
considering he was the only one of us that really wanted him to stay.
i wish we got a center instead of cheechoo. will i eat those words when he nets 50 for his second time(unlikely at best)??? i just can’t believe it’s finally happen.
by xBKx14 on Sep 12, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes .. stupid deal … if the Sens did this deal and sent only Heatley without the 5th round draft … it would be moderately pallatable, but it is just lop-sided and foolish
Sens mgmt needs to be more proactive about squashing personality disorders before they get out of control - you can blame Sens losing one of the best snipers in the game on bad personality mgmt, not Heatley
moreover, the Sens have also lost out on contract length so the Sens screwed themselves in the short-term and long-run .. barring the unlikely event that Cheechoo revisits 50+ goals, this deal stinks
on the plus side, there is the petty victory of dumping a player who “hurt the Sens feelings” — yea, that is gonna help alot in the standings
by aagoodfella on Sep 14, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this deal blows
mgmt hit the panic button
by aagoodfella on Sep 12, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that considering the poisoned atmosphere and the fact that everyone knew Heatley wanted a trade.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Sep 13, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good deal overall
the only thing i don’t like in my opinion is that we got cheechoo instead of a center, but, alright then, cheechoo it is.
by xBKx14 on Sep 12, 2009 6:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Question:
Why a second-rounder, not a first? Seems to me like Murray should’ve been able to snag a first.
Not getting full value for Heatley in this deal – but that’s a given. Considering it was either this or a media circus, it could be a lot worse.
by DarrenM on Sep 12, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You have to believe it’s because Wilson was negotiating from a position of strength. Camp’s about to start, Murray knows he can’t have Heatley there, Wilson won’t budge off a second… take it or leave it. Murray doesn’t have much of a choice except to take it or have Heatley in camp.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 12, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have a feeling this deal has been on the table since the start...
Wilson said ‘this is our best offer, let us know whenever’ and the Sens, without being able to get a better deal, went back to this.
But it sucks, because it seems Heatley knew all along this offer was on the table, and that’s why he nixed the EDM deal.
by PeterR on Sep 12, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah, I doubt Michalek was in from the start. Probably more truth the Ehrhoff/Cheechoo stories.
Meh. I think I like this better than the Edmonton deal anyway. They’re comparable, at least.
by DarrenM on Sep 12, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually, BM said that Michalek came into trade talks late.
by DarrenM on Sep 12, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also – we now have too many right wingers: Alfie, Kovalev, Cheech, Neil, Dono… and then Shannon and Winchester (who both also play C).
And after reading the comments on Fear The Fin, they are WAAAAY too happy. We must’ve gotten hosed, heh.
by DarrenM on Sep 12, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Well they’ve seen this story before, and they got the best player in the trade. I can understand their excitement.
A man must have a code.
by Fehr and Balanced on Sep 12, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, Wilson just got another elite offensive player for 75 cents on the dollar (at best)
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Sep 13, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Warming up to this
All right, let’s say Cheechoo moves to LW. That gives us:
Cheechoo-Spezza-Kovalev
Michalek-Fisher-Alfredsson
Foligno-Kelly-Shannon
and..
Ruutu-Winchester-Neil?
Those are lines I’m actually excited about, except I hate to break up FFS. I don’t think Fisher is the right C for Michalek and Alfie, but Kelly would be even worse. Murray needs to package Kelly, Schubert, and Picard for some good, young center.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 12, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that I’d keep Alfie on the top line, and put Kovalev on the second, but that’s just me.
by DarrenM on Sep 12, 2009 7:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think I'd prefer that too
But I can’t see Kovalev excelling playing with Fisher like he could with Spezza. Alfie is smart enough that he can make his points playing with Fisher and Michalek. I don’t feel the same way about Kovalev.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 12, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The thing is…. Kovalev loves the puck. He’s such a puck possession player. So is Spezza. I think it’s dangerous when you get them together that there’s not enough passing to the third guy.
by DarrenM on Sep 12, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you really think Spezza is a puck possession player? I found myself frustrated last year with his constant need to pass it. Not the blind passes so much, but watching games I always thought he would get into a shooting lane, do a move, and try and force the puck to Heatley. He crashed the net more under Clouston and I thought he was a better player for doing so.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 13, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess I mean he’s a puck possession player in bringing it into the zone. I do think he should shoot more often, but he certainly likes to dangle and bring it into the offensive zone – much like Kovalev.
by DarrenM on Sep 13, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotcha. I definitely agree with you there.
by Mark Parisi on Sep 13, 2009 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't let the screen door hitcha where the good Lord splitcha.
See ya, Heater. Won’t miss you one bit.
Man I love that tuna casserole.
by Bloggy on Sep 13, 2009 7:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Outsider’s perspective:
Bad deal for the Sens in the sense that they didn’t get anywhere near full value. No players that could be called stars. No prospects. No first round picks. This is a classic “three quarters for a dollar” trade, and even that might be generous.
Good deal for the Sens in the sense that they were bent over a barrel and running out of options. Given how much Murray had his hands tied by the Heatley camp, he probably did about as well as he realistically could have.
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Sep 13, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That was my buddies reaction on Saturday as well. I didn’t think that Murray would do this well to be honest.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Sep 13, 2009 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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