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The Heatley Saga: What Now?

Posted 7/2/2009 1:45:00 PM

So, Dany Heatley doesn't want to waive his No Movement Clause to come to Edmonton; at least not yet. Not on a timeline that would make life easy for the Senators, or the Oilers for that matter. So now, if you're Steve Tambellini, you have a decision to make. Do you continue to pursue this transaction?

Why the answer should be yes

Dany Heatley is an elite calibre scoring talent, something the Oilers have not had, arguably, in almost 2 decades. In Heatley's last 4 seasons he's scored 50 goals twice and his lowest total was his 39 goal output last year. To contrast, in the last 17 seasons the Oilers have had precisely 1 player score 39 goals; Ryan Smyth accomplished the feat in 1996-97. The team is coming off a season in which a defenseman led thim in goal scoring (Sheldon Souray had 23, tied with Ales Hemsky), the first time that's happened in the history of the franchise. While the argument can be made that the future of the offense is in good hands with talents like Sam Gagner, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paarjavi-Svensson, this is a team that has missed the playoffs for 3 straight years. The franchise, and its fan base, want that slide to end. Now.

Heatley would become the star player that the Oilers haven't had since Chris Pronger departed and lacked for so many years before that. The drawbacks and red flags have become obvious but, to paraphrase an old John Muckler line, "Having a bunch of great guys in the room is nice, but maybe we need a couple asses that can play hockey." In today's NHL if you want the 'perfect' player, the Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin who has all-star talent and all-star character, you need to draft and develop him yourself. And, that takes time. If you want to improve immediately it's not realistic to wait for one of those 'perfect' players to come available somehow. Especially if you're a franchise that has struggled to acquire elite talent via free agency.

Dany Heatley isn't the perfect player; but he would be, inarguably, a significant upgrade to the current Oilers roster.

Why the answer should be no

I'd like to lead in to this by sharing with you one of the many text messages that I've received over the course of this crazy soap opera. The author, a source from another organization, gave this thought: "They need to demonstrate some show of pride. It's like they're begging him. Playing for the Oilers should be a privilege."

Read that last line again. "Playing for the Oilers should be a privilege."

He's right. It'd be a privilege to play anywhere in the NHL, of course, but especially here. The history, the passion of the fan base, the flat-out first class organization that has been taken to another echelon under the guidance of Daryl Katz. The Oilers might not be located in a tropical climate or on the verge of a Stanley Cup parade, but they oughta be damned if they beg somebody to play for them. By giving him the NMC in his contract the Ottawa Senators gave him the power in situations such as this; they don't have a bullet to fire, other than refusing to trade him. They are, without alternative, playing by Dany Heatley's rules now. The Oilers, on the other hand, are not.

We don't know all the details here. Heck, we know very few of them. But, what we do know is that for 2 straight days, Dany Heatley has rejected every request to waive his NMC to move to the Oilers. There could be, for all we know, very specific reasons why Heatley is handling himself the way he is. And, for all we know, the Oilers might have been told straight up from the outset that it was a long shot. But, in any case, it's tough to continue down this path while retaining your dignity. The appearance, at least, is that this is another player rejecting this team and this city. They've asked him nicely, even traveled to his home to ask in person, and now it's time to move on. Time to find another player who would feel privileged to play here.

Posted By: Dan Tencer

Comments:

Mr. Heatley's conduct is/was extremely unprofessional, if he had no intention of ever coming to Edmonton, why did he not just say NO from the get go and not make everyone jump the hoops? I think he would have come to Edmonton if the Oil would have been willing to re-do his contract and pay him another Mill or two. He appears to be a selfish head case whom has now shown his true colors to the world. I would be very surprised if any team would be willing to take him and his self centered baggage at any cost other than significantly reduced??? Happy Trails Dany, you made the bed, to bad you have to now sleep in it...

Posted By Oil Town On 7/3/2009 2:06:52 PM

It's a catch 22. You want it to be a privilege to play for the Edmonton Oilers, but the Oilers have missed the playoffs for 3 straight years, and no free agent wants to come here. The optics right now appear that it is NOT a privilege to play for the Edmonton Oilers, rather it appears to be a death sentence to come here. This team and this city have taken a kick in the teeth since Pronger left. Unfortunately, we need to become a winning team in order for this to become an attractive place for players to come and play. But in order to do that we do need some elite hockey players to make this team better. I think getting Pat Quinn is a start in the right direction, and hopefully Khabibulin gives us some credibility in net. Do we still want Heatley? Personally I think right now he wants to stick it to Ottawa as he feels they have not given him any options and I don't know if Edmonton was on his list of preferred places to play. Yes the Oilers shouldn't beg, but I think Steve and KLowe are in a tough spot. They need an elite hockey player on this team. You saw what happened when we had Pronger, we went to the finals. I think Hemsky is great player, but I think he needs to play with an elite player who can put the puck in the net for him to get to the next level. I think Heatley could be that guy. If not...then lets hope that Gagner, Eberle, and Svensson could be the next faces of this franchise. But that will take some time as they are very young.

Posted By oilerfan On 7/2/2009 4:48:13 PM

I just find it incredible that the Oiler management flies to Kelowna to beg Heatly to take millions of dollars that the Oilers obviously want to give away in a heart beat ! Wow - no wonder these athletes have the enormous egos that they do, when team owners can't give them their money fast enough !
Posted By DON On 7/2/2009 3:34:13 PM

You are bang on with point number 2. In fact, anyone with a job right now, should feel privileged. Keep in mind that Dany is also young like myself and he will make mistakes. One has to wonder the direction he is being given by others (older than him).
Posted By Scott On 7/2/2009 2:41:14 PM

I just want this to end. That being said I understand why the Oilers brass are going to such desperate lengths for a problem player. An elite sniper in his prime is very rare on the trade market and that's the only way the oilers can land this talent because free agents of that calibre are looking for warm weather or championships. Heatly won't just add 40 goals to our offence: he will free up the ice for hemsky so he can get to that next level we've been waiting for, he will ease the load on Horcoff so that he can be the defensive conscience of the line and still have energy to kill penalties, he will provide a down-low scoring threat on the power play that is BADLY needed to free up Souray's bombs. That is why they are pushing so hard even if it reeks of desperation. BUT, Why are they not addressing the 3rd line center who can win faceoffs / kill penalties..Lots of players available (Malhotra) If Kessel is availble, why on earth are we not pursuing that instead. Keep up the good work Dan and we enjoy your input on the Nation comments section..keep it up.

Posted By Ryan On 7/2/2009 2:40:41 PM

That Heatley is pulling this BS trick alone tells me he doesn't deserve to be an Oiler. We are better than this and this is the time you make a graceful withdrawal. No one will hold this against the Oiler's, because through all this they have be classy and professional. Heatley should lose some ground in the mind's of Team Canada too, I am sure.
Posted By Chayos On 7/2/2009 2:40:11 PM

This feeling is something I've gotten much too used to as an Oilers fan. This is the feeling that things just never go our way. Maybe we do land a 50 goal scorer in the end, but only at the cost of the organizations dignity and the fans ability to respect the player. It's going to be hard to enjoy having him on our team now. If he stays in Ottawa, Cogliano and Smid probably have chips on their shoulders. I'm not worried about Penner, as his skin was thickened plenty last year wearing those nice suits.

Posted By Jesse Mitchell On 7/2/2009 2:39:03 PM

Perhaps this is karma for KLowe's handling of the Mike Comrie ordeal. I'll trade you but I want you to pay me $2.5M. Now it's Heatley's turn. I'll take the trade but I want Ottawa to pay me the $4M bonus.
Posted By llcooljayce On 7/2/2009 2:34:31 PM

Dan, as I understand it, the NYR bowed out of the Heatley race out of respect ... I'm assuming it was out of respect for the Oilers organization ... can you please clarify? I have been a die hard Oilers fan for the last 32 years and I have seen the good times and the bad and we are in the midst of the bad time ... I mean it's not mid to late 90s bad but pretty close. A player like Heatley would definitely do a lot to change that but I'm very torn. I want the 50 goals but I don't want another Pronger ordeal next summer ... what's a fan to think? Do we try again for Heatley and cross that bridge when we get to it or abandon him completely? What makes this especially heard is that we have no idea what Quinn can do for the three players that are supposed to go to Ottawa. Penner has flashes of brilliance that show me he's worth the $4M/year and then there are games where a 5'10" player plays with more heart and strength than he does ... maybe Quinn is the right person to motivate him. Cogs is Cogs ... unbelieveable player and probably the most solid Oiler last year besides Rolli ... and character out the ying yang. Smid is still a project but has great potential ... Either way, I think the Oilers will be fine but I cannot fathom how Heatley could ever go back to Ottawa.

Posted By llcooljayce On 7/2/2009 2:29:44 PM

I'm about commented out on this whole situation, but wanted to thank and congratulate you for your persistence and professionalism in pursuing this over the past few days. I only hope that, when things are all said and done, we get to hear the whole story this time.
Posted By Matt K. On 7/2/2009 2:22:48 PM

I agree we have had some of the best players to ever lace up skates play here so he should be happy we are willing to give up what we are in this trade. I would love to have a goal scorer but while waiting for this deal we may have lost the chance to get another one even close. This is what bothers me is this waiting and missing out on other possible deals that are going on right now
Posted By John On 7/2/2009 2:20:24 PM

I couldn't agree more! Playing for ANY NHL team is an honor, and playing for a team as rich in history and players as Edmonton just magnifies the honor. I personally liked Heatley two days ago. Can't say the same now. He needs to grow a pair and make a decision before he burns all his bridges in the NHL. Its amazing how quickly good players can get jaded and blinded by the bright lights.
Posted By Whitney M On 7/2/2009 2:20:04 PM