Heatley just wanted a change

[Urkie]

Heatley's return to Ottawa will happen this Thursday so he's starting to talk more about what led to him asking for a trade. Lets just say he's not saying anything he hasn't said before.

Heatley speaks ahead of return to Ottawa - sportsnet.ca WAP

"I think the main thing is a change. I just needed a change. Some people can't accept that," explained Heatley. "I know there's been a lot of stuff speculated and lot of stories told. But the main thing is I felt like it was time for me to change and get a fresh start somewhere and I've enjoyed my time in San Jose."

I respect his decision to ask for a change but I would like to hear the truth. I suspect it's because he felt the Sens couldn't win the cup with the team he was on in 08/09 but we'll never know.

The only thing certain is that when his trade demands became public. It pretty much fucked the Senators organization. Michalek is a good player but he's no Dany Heatley.

 

[BostonAJ]

Edmonton would have been a change, no? He's full of shit.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Yeah San Jose got both Thornton & Heatley for very little. However up to this point having both players hasn't changed the outcome in the playoffs. The more things change in San Jose the more they stay the same.

 

[mattola]

Michalek is a good player but he's no Dany Heatley.

but you got Cheechoo., surely he wasn't a one hit wonder.....








/ducks





you guys got rolled in that deal. Heatley screwed Sens good with his demands and turning down Edmonton. the Oilers deal was far superior to the one they got. but that is not ottawas fault it was Dany's

 

[dash]

Edmonton would have been a change, no? He's full of shit.

I'm going to pass on this softball from AJ

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

but you got Cheechoo., surely he wasn't a one hit wonder.....








/ducks





you guys got rolled in that deal. Heatley screwed Sens good with his demands and turning down Edmonton. the Oilers deal was far superior to the one they got. but that is not ottawas fault it was Dany's

Can anyone really blame Heatley for not wanting to go to Edmonton?

 

[Urkie]

Edmonton would have been a change, no? He's full of shit.

Very true. Not to mention Ottawa was a change for him.

How many teams would have taken Heatley in after his car accident in Atlanta and all the lingering doubts surrounding him?

The Senators took him in and traded one of the best players this organization has ever had in Marian Hossa. They made him comfortable and he had the best years of his career in Ottawa. The team made it all the way to the finals with him being a major factor so the following year he signed a long term contract. That same season, they even gave him an A on his jersey and gave him a much bigger role.

If he wanted a change then he shouldn't have signed that long term contract.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Edmonton would have been a change, no? He's full of shit.

I'm going to pass on this softball from AJ

Im not lol

He probably wanted a change for the better, right?

 

[Urkie]

but you got Cheechoo., surely he wasn't a one hit wonder......

/ducks

you guys got rolled in that deal. Heatley screwed Sens good with his demands and turning down Edmonton. the Oilers deal was far superior to the one they got. but that is not ottawas fault it was Dany's

Cheechoo lol. I had forgotten about him.

Heatley screwed the Sens when he made his demands public knowledge. Once that happens, then his value goes way down because then the Sens are in a position where they have to trade him. If it had been something that stayed private then there wouldn't have been quite the backlash.

 

[pixburgher66]

Its hard to blame him for not wanting to go to Edmonton...it's cold, and dreary, and the team is not really...well, they stink. Can you imagine if your boss said you'd been transfered to Edmonton...oh, you got a promotion, you have more responsibility, but there's no room for upward movement...at least not for a few years. If that were me, I'm pretty sure I'd look for any way out of it. Sure, it screwed Ottawa, but San Jose was obviously the better opportunity.

 

[Urkie]

Can anyone really blame Heatley for not wanting to go to Edmonton?

Not really, I'll be honest but what I do blame him for is making the trade demands public knowledge. There is no way a veteran GM like Bryan Murray would be stupid enough to leak that to the media. I could be wrong I guess but I don't think so.

Heatley wanted out and he wanted out asap. He didn't care one bit about Ottawa.

 

[dash]

Well, there was considerable talk about amending NTC's and maybe voiding them once a player demands a trade from a team. This got considerable airtime in discussing the Heatley saga. I don't know if this topic will be discussed at the next CBA talks.

/Of course, it's a moot point if the player doesn't have a NTC.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Its hard to blame him for not wanting to go to Edmonton...it's cold, and dreary, and the team is not really...well, they stink. Can you imagine if your boss said you'd been transfered to Edmonton...oh, you got a promotion, you have more responsibility, but there's no room for upward movement...at least not for a few years. If that were me, I'm pretty sure I'd look for any way out of it. Sure, it screwed Ottawa, but San Jose was obviously the better opportunity.

Do not discount the allure of West Edmonton Mall

 

[mattola]

Can anyone really blame Heatley for not wanting to go to Edmonton?

actually yes I can Edmonton is a great hockey market with great fans and good ownership that is trying to make it better. The city itself is not san jose or vancouver etc but its a good city and with the money he makes would be a great place to live. besides that












its not Calgary........





/ducks from Dash's shoe......


hey I lived there. Im kidding Calgary is ok too.

 

[dash]

Do not discount the allure of West Edmonton Mall

Discount and Mall in the same post?!? Well done.

/Not quite as good as Edmonton and shit in the same post (ala AJ), but still well done.

 

[Urkie]

Well, there was considerable talk about amending NTC's and maybe voiding them once a player demands a trade from a team. This got considerable airtime in discussing the Heatley saga. I don't know if this topic will be discussed at the next CBA talks.

/Of course, it's a moot point if the player doesn't have a NTC.

I think NTC's need to be taken out entirely but I doubt that happens now.

If they are kept in then that provision should be added in. That if the player approaches the GM and asks for a trade, then that NTC goes out the window. I agree that GM's should not be able to just trade a player with a NTC at any time. That's what I thought NTC's were for. Not to be used the way Heatley used it.

 

[dash]

actually yes I can Edmonton is a great hockey market with great fans and good ownership that is trying to make it better. The city itself is not san jose or vancouver etc but its a good city and with the money he makes would be a great place to live. besides that












its not Calgary........





/ducks from Dash's shoe......


hey I lived there. Im kidding Calgary is ok too.

Who throws a shoe?!? Honestly.

 

[BostonAJ]

Im not lol

He probably wanted a change for the better, right?

Followed by the equally obvious...

If you're making $7.5 mil and publicly request a trade you shouldn't have the balls to invoke your NTC once you've been accomodated. At one point Edmonton was practically begging him to come over.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Pretty tough life Heater lives, it's too bad his strong desire for a change came right after signing a monster contract with an NTC. Poor fellow.

 

[Slimpikins]

I think NTC's need to be taken out entirely but I doubt that happens now.

If they are kept in then that provision should be added in. That if the player approaches the GM and asks for a trade, then that NTC goes out the window. I agree that GM's should not be able to just trade a player with a NTC at any time. That's what I thought NTC's were for. Not to be used the way Heatley used it.

I don't think they should have to give up their NTC if they demand a trade. It is part of their negotiated contract. I think the problem is that some GM's like to give out NTC's & NMC's like they are candy. The entire reason they exist is to give the player final say on if and where he gets traded. If teams give them to guys they have to know the risk.

I didn't follow the Heatley situation until he came to San Jose and I do not know how things developed between him and the Senators so I will not pass a moral judgment on that exact situation.