Not Clearing Up Anything

So Dany Heatley's no longer a coward for failing to explain himself.

Now he just looks like a suckhole unwilling to live up to his obligations for reasons that appear to be at best flimsy.

Heatley claimed today he wants out of Ottawa because his role has been "diminished." Strange, given that he averaged between 18-22 minutes of ice time last season, and finished this year by playing 22:24 and 23:07 in the final two games of the regular season.

Doesn't sound like fourth liner minutes, does it?

Nobody's buying it. It may be that he doesn't like the new coach, Cory Clouston. Or it may be something else entirely relating to what has been a poisonous, destructive hockey environment in Ottawa since the club made it to the Stanley Cup final. Or it may be, as one NHL general manager says, that Heatley is simply a player who "wants nothing to do with the hard part of the game." The GM was speaking about Heatley on the ice, but it could also extend to his off-the-ice attitude.

What Heatley did not address today was any obligation he may or may not feel to fulfill his end of the enormous contract he signed two years ago, other than saying he'll show up at the Sens camp next month if necessary to keep the paycheques coming.

Moreover, playing the "diminished role" card makes him look like anything but a team player, particularly when you look at teams like Detroit on which players like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk accept less ice time for the good of the team.

Sens GM Bryan Murray isn't having much luck moving the winger, and clearly he's tried. Problem is, there isn't much of a market out there for a one-dimensional goal-scorer who has found two NHL cities not to his liking and apparently has very specific needs for fitting into the team concept of hockey.

He might get you a few goals. But it doesn't seem likely you can win with him.

Comments

[presto]

It's been a loooong summer without ya Damien. Good to see you're still callin'um as you see'um. Can't wait to read more!

[Mike]

Damien,

There's always the Kontinental Hockey League. Maybe they could trade him for Nikolai Zherdev. (ha ha)

Seriously, there don't seem to be many teams out there wanting 7+ million dollars against the cap for a player to be whining later.

[John Richardson]

Welcome back, Damien.

If there are three players I don't want to see playing in Vancouver, it's Heatley, Spezza and Joe Thornton, all of whom disappear when the going gets touch.

I can't imagine this "trade me" demand of Heatley's is going to earn him a lot of brownie points with Steve Yzerman --or anybody else at Hockey Canada.

Dany can join Alexander Daigle and Alexei Yashin as the poster boys for entitled, self-centred Ottawa Senators.

[Derrick Leung]

He did play a diminished role offensively. I watched a lot of the Sens games and he was playing with guys who couldn't set him up OR puck the puck in the net. He was also not getting on the ice for the PP as much as usual.

[Bryan M]

Agreed, but it's a bit of a tough call with Heatley. He's not a floater on the ice, and I'm always impressed by his desire to play for Canada at the World Championships where he's had some very good performances. The man can play.

That said, Canada has a lot of guys who can put the puck in the net. This team needs 23 (or whatever the Olympic roster size is) guys who can pull together and win tough games against the Russians and others. Bertuzzi was such a disastrous mistake last time the brain trust needs to ensure they don't take a player this time who will distract (though to give him credit Heatley has loads more talent and speed than Bertuzzi ever did).

I'm hoping guys like Simone Gagne come out smoking and make the decision to leave Heatley at home an easy one for Stevie Y.

[Gary Allen]

Trade Heatley for Marleau straight up!
Both are underachieving forwards for their respective teams in the playoffs!

[Steve R]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Hopefully the brain-trust at Team Canada decide to diminish is role further and un-invite him to the orientation camp next week.

Ah we can only hope.

[Lou Jaffe]

Now we know why he chose to say nothing all summer...........because he had nothing to say. Clearly this guy wants it all handed to him without what is required to achieve it. I gained an immense respect for Sidney Crosby this past playoff, not for the points, but for the never say die approach he took to the other aspects of his game that was needed for his team to win. That is what is required of team leaders and I don't see Heatley providing that. Hey Dany, if you want more of a role then go out and earn it.

[Peter]

this guy is a one-dimensional player who can be a real floater sometimes. and they gave him 7+mill? i knew it will come back and bite the Sens.him and Spezza deserve each other.
maybe if he would try and earn his role on the ice, he would get more ice time and PP time. but that of course requires hard work...

[other mark]

Any team taking on Heatley and his contract will have issues, to be sure. But I think the expectation that Dany Heatley would hold a press conference and explain all the motives behind his desire to be traded is a bit much. Let's not forget some of the facts:

1. his role has been dimished. Less time on the 1st unit PP.
2. he isn't getting any younger and this team is not really showing any signs of improving in the near future.
3. Nobody seems to recall how this all started.

I think most are too willing to hang Heatley out to dry on this because they feel he hasn't handled his trade request in a quiet/behind the scenes way... but can anyone remember who went public first? Was this Dany and his agent or 'un-named sources?'. Just sayin'. btw... I think there are better all round players for the Olympics, so that's a mute point to me.

[Garmo]

Also, you can't demand a trade, and then say you want to decide where you will be traded to. The Sens will never get close to market value if that is the deal. If Heatly really wanted out, take any trade that comes your way...otherwise, shut up and play.

[Jakj]

Ottawa is the perfect place for him................LOL