The Heatley Saga

Posted 7/1/2009 1:40:00 AM

What a crazy night. The entire hockey world had an incling that the Dany Heatley deal was going to get done before 12am EST because of the deadline involving his $4M bonus; well, a deal did get done...sort of. Here's how the night unfolded from my chair in the CHED studio.

Check out the audio of how some of it unfolded by going here:

http://www.630ched.com/Channels/Reg/InsideSports/Story.aspx?id=1108405

***Note: Times are estimated and not precise.

8:05pm - Sign on with "Inside Sports". First guest is Mark Spector from Sportsnet.ca. We talk for 15 minutes about why the Oilers should go after Heatley, the predicament that Bryan Murray is in and all the different rumours flying around. Some are saying that Heatley to NYR is done; some saying that Heatley to Oilers is done.

8:32pm - James Duthie from TSN calls in as scheduled. He tells us that they are about to report that the Oilers and Senators have agreed to a deal that would send Heatley to Edmonton for Penner, Cogliano and Smid with the caveat that Heatley must first waive his No Trade Clause.

8:33-8:45pm - Duthie and I continue to talk on the air while both only paying half attention to what the other is saying while texting our various sources. By the end of the conversation neither of us is sure of anything other than the fact that none of the Oilers players have been officially informed of a trade.

8:50pm - Bob Stauffer phones in. He's spoken to one of the players and the agent for another. They're aware from the media of the deal that is in place but have not been contacted to be told that it's official.

9:00pm - Getting e-mails from listeners and people popping up in the live chat saying that other outlets are starting to say that Heatley has agreed to waive his NTC. I haven't heard this. Start to wonder if we got beat.

9:05pm - I get a text from Duthie warning me that TSN is not prepared to go with the story yet. Many other texts from Duthie would follow over the course of the night to keep me updated on where TSN was at with the story. In my opinion, they are the benchmark; they don't often make errors. I give a big credit to James and TSN for helping with the flow of information to our listeners.

9:15pm - Get word from Heatley's agent that he hasn't waived his NTC. Message is that other outlets are jumping the gun.

9:20pm - Text from source in block letters warning me that it's "NOT DONE" and to avoid going with it like the other outlets are.

9:25pm - Get word from 2 sources that if Heatley has agreed to waive his NTC, the Sens don't know about it yet.

9:35pm - Oilers players still haven't been officially informed of any trade. They're paying attention to all the rumours like the rest of us. A couple of sources speculate that Heatley will probably waive his NTC but I still don't have anything solid to go on. Still on the air saying that we can't confirm anything either way.

9:45pm - Get word that Sens GM Bryan Murray has made it known in recent days that the price to acquire Heatley will go up if the Sens have to pay out his $4M bonus.

10:00pm - Deadline comes and goes. Some outlets still reporting that he waived his NTC. My sources still telling me that it wouldn't be a good idea to follow suit.

10:10pm - On the phone with Stauffer when a source texts: "He did not waive. 100% confirmed." Text is quickly followed up by another source that confirms. I start to wonder what went on behind the scenes to have so many outlets reporting that he was going to waive. Seems like something strange must have happened.

10:12pm - Continue with the show taking listener phone calls under the assumption that Heatley outright rejected the deal to Edmonton.

11:45pm - Not so fast. Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the deal might still be alive. Apparently, the teams were misinformed about the deadline for the bonus to be paid. It's actually 24 hours later than they thought! Sounds like Heatley's camp might have been aware of the actual deadline while the teams weren't.

11:45pm - Heatley's agent JP Barry says that Dany is going to "sleep on it" and hasn't given a yes or a no yet.

11:50pm - Continue with the show...get word that the Oilers are trying to figure out what their course of action will be when the morning hits.

12:05am - Rangers have tabled an offer that is weaker than the Oilers offer. But, with the extended deadline, speculation runs rampant that they might increase it.

12:30am - Wrap up show. Can't wait for tomorrow.

Posted By: Dan Tencer

Comments:

I'm listening to the show tonight, and Heatly is showing his true colors. He is holding the Senators hostage, and he would do the same to the Oilers. Aquiring Heatly will end up being a huge mistake. The Oilers need to walk away.
Posted By Size 12 Shoes On 7/1/2009 10:00:05 PM

It looks like Heatly will be an Oiler by the end of the day. I think this is a mistake being made by the Oilers. Anytime an employee in any industry does not want to work for you, he will not be a long term asset. Hockey players are no different. If the Oilers management need to convince Heatly to play here, he will not have the right attitude, and in the end it will not work out.
Posted By Size 12 Shoes On 7/1/2009 9:20:28 PM

Did you hear the mayor?? we are hard on the boys..oh boo hoo.cry me a river! the millions they get paid, and we have to be nice fans if they don;t play, then we are not quiet! boy, if you think we are tough, you should see toronto fans!Mr Mayor! If heatly is taking this damn long, he sounds like a prima donna and not one I would welcome...his loos not our ")
Posted By wendy On 7/1/2009 7:44:01 PM

Vanek, Nylander, Penner, Heatley... Oilers organization just not looking like they can 'get it done'. Why are things seemingly so difficult here?
Posted By JH On 7/1/2009 6:17:06 AM

Why do we go through this same drama every year. Pronger in '06. Nylander in '07. Hossa in '08. Heatley in '09. There's always something like this happening to the Edmonton Oilers. Even if Heatley accepts at this point, what is the fan reaction going to be towards a guy who came over only because no one else could impress Murray enough?
Posted By Saurash Reddy On 7/1/2009 2:22:36 AM