Posts Tagged Dany Heatley

Jason Spezza out up to 8 weeks

“Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza suffered a serious knee injury in Monday’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury.

The Ottawa Citizen is reporting that Senators head coach Cory Clouston said Spezza will not require surgery but could be out up to eight weeks.” (Source:TSN)

Jason Spezza can’t buy a break this season. It’s no secret that Spezza has been struggling mightily this season so far, and now he will suffer a huge setback with a serious knee injury.

It’s hard to put your finger on what factors are to blame for his poor offensive output to this point, but you can certainly suggest that the loss of sniper Dany Heatley isn’t helping. With just 5 goals and 14 assists Spezza has been a disappointment in Ottawa, with frequent giveaways and seemingly disinterested play. 

Watching him last night it was almost like he was passing to areas where he expected a teammate to be, and looked confused when it resulted in a blatant giveaway. He would do well to simplify his game a bit and try to get in the same frame of mind as his teammates when he does return.

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Heatley Trade Request? Horton, Cogliano on the Block?

Expect to start hearing that Dany Heatley wants to be traded from the San Jose Sharks, he’s been bumped to the 2nd power play line, and therefore cutting into his ice time. Don’t the Sharks know not to mess with Heatley’s ice time?

The Florida Panthers may be looking to trade C/RW under achieving Nathan Horton. Of course the Leafs will be mentioned as potential suitors for Horton, as he’s the type of player Burke likes. Horton is still only 24-25 years old and makes around $4 million. The price to acquire him will most likely be high due to his upside.

Elliot Freedman mentioned on Saturday’s hotstove that Marc Savard will be on the Leafs radar this off-season if he’s not re-signed by the Bruins. This is a rumor that will most likely linger all season long, or until he re-signs.

The Edmonton Oilers might be looking to trade Andrew Cogliano for a big centerman.

Canadiens GM, Bob Gainey, has been receiving calls regarding goalie Jaroslav Halak. With Carey Price’s play dating back to last season, it might be hard to trade away Halak.

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Opening Night Observations

Brian Burke’s makeover was in full effect right off the start with Colton Orr and Jay Rosehill getting into 1st period fights. Mike Komisarek also got into fight, but took 5 minor penalties, 2 of which resulted in a Montreal powerplay goal. Francois Beauchemin looked a little shaky.

From the book of ‘Are You Kidding Me”, my fantasy hockey team just took a hit as the RDS is reporting that my #1 defensemen, Andre Markov, will be out 3-4 months with a torn tendon in his knee. He suffered the injury in the 3rd period after colliding with Carey Price. It was Price’s revenge on me for dropping him before the “Aki Bergala’s” won the Fantasy Hockey Championship last season.

Dany Heatley had an unforgettable San Jose Sharks debut, he was a -3 in 21 minutes of play. His lazy coasting in the defensive end led to one goal. He also fanned on a pass in the slot with a wide open net.

Nabokov and Luongo got off to shaky starts. Nabokov allowed 5 goals on 20 shots. Luongo allowed 4 goals on 22 shots. On the other side of things, Carey Price made 43 saves in a 4-3 OT victory, and Kiprusoff turned aside 39 shots.

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TSN vs GlobeSports Projected Scoring Leaders

In keeping with the projected scoring leaders for this season, we compared TSN’s Scott Cullen’s Top 40 projections with GlobeSports.com’s Eric Duhatschek’s. 31 players appear on both lists.

Players who only appear on 1 list as top 40 potential scorers: Ales Hemsky, Alex Tanguay, Alexander Frolov, Alexander Semin, Anze Kopitar, Brenden Morrow, Daniel Briere ,Jean-Pierre Dumont, Marian Gaborik, Mike Cammalleri, Patrick Kane, Patrick Marleau, Patrik Elias, Paul Stastny, Scott Gomez, Shane Doan, Steven Stamkos , Thomas Vanek

RANK TSN - Scott Cullen GlobeSports - Eric Duhatschek
1 Alexander Ovechkin Evgeni Malkin
2 Evgeni Malkin Alexander Ovechkin
3 Sidney Crosby Sidney Crosby
4 Pavel Datsyuk Joe Thornton
5 Nicklas Backstrom Dany Heatley
6 Joe Thornton Ryan Getzlaf
7 Ryan Getzlaf Ilya Kovalchuk
8 Dany Heatley Pavel Datsyuk
9 Ilya Kovalchuk Marc Savard
10 Marc Savard Jarome Iginla
11 Jarome Iginla Alexander Semin
12 Jason Spezza Nicklas Backstrom
13 Rick Nash Jason Spezza
14 Zach Parise Henrik Sedin
15 Henrik Zetterberg Daniel Sedin
16 Henrik Sedin Vincent Lecavalier
17 Martin St. Louis Henrik Zetterberg
18 Daniel Sedin Zach Parise
19 Mike Richards Jeff Carter
20 Daniel Alfredsson Rick Nash
21 Jeff Carter Corey Perry
22 Eric Staal Martin St. Louis
23 Jonathan Toews Eric Staal
24 Derek Roy Paul Stastny
25 Vincent Lecavalier Mike Richards
26 Anze Kopitar Marian Gaborik
27 Bobby Ryan Scott Gomez
28 Mike Ribeiro Jonathan Toews
29 Patrick Kane Daniel Alfredsson
30 Corey Perry Steven Stamkos
31 Olli Jokinen Martin Havlat
32 Shane Doan Bobby Ryan
33 Simon Gagne Patrick Marleau
34 Patrik Elias Ales Hemsky
35 Martin Havlat Brenden Morrow
36 Jean-Pierre Dumont Olli Jokinen
37 Alex Tanguay Simon Gagne
38 Thomas Vanek Mike Ribeiro
39 Alexander Frolov Daniel Briere
40 Mike Cammalleri Derek Roy

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TSN Releases Projected Scoring Leaders

Scott Cullen of TSN has put out a Top 250 projected scoring for the upcoming season. We’ve posted below the Top 40.  He has only Alex Ovechkin as the only 50 goal scorer, and only 3 players (Ovechkin, Malkin, and Crosby) scoring over a 100 points. Only 13 players are projected to point a game or better.


RANK PLAYER TEAM POS G A PTS +/- PPP PIM
1 Alexander Ovechkin WAS LW 55 54 109 5 43 54
2 Evgeni Malkin PIT C 41 67 108 12 40 76
3 Sidney Crosby PIT C 33 68 101 10 43 71
4 Pavel Datsyuk DET C 30 65 95 27 36 20
5 Nicklas Backstrom WAS C 23 71 94 14 39 44
6 Joe Thornton SJ C 25 65 90 19 39 53
7 Ryan Getzlaf ANA C 28 60 88 17 40 99
8 Dany Heatley SJ LW 47 41 88 10 31 82
9 Ilya Kovalchuk ATL LW 47 41 88 -8 38 58
10 Marc Savard BOS C 22 66 88 7 34 72
11 Jarome Iginla CAL RW 40 46 86 7 32 62
12 Jason Spezza OTT C 33 50 83 7 32 63
13 Rick Nash CBJ RW 42 40 82 7 23 79
14 Zach Parise NJ LW 36 44 80 13 25 26
15 Henrik Zetterberg DET C 36 44 80 18 30 34
16 Henrik Sedin VAN C 19 61 80 15 31 56
17 Martin St. Louis TB RW 32 48 80 -4 27 24
18 Daniel Sedin VAN LW 30 49 79 14 30 40
19 Mike Richards PHI C 29 48 77 16 32 69
20 Daniel Alfredsson OTT RW 28 48 76 10 29 30
21 Jeff Carter PHI C 40 36 76 12 22 70
22 Eric Staal CAR C 37 38 75 6 26 54
23 Jonathan Toews CHI C 36 39 75 14 26 57
24 Derek Roy BUF C 30 44 74 2 26 42
25 Vincent Lecavalier TB C 32 41 73 -11 25 64
26 Anze Kopitar LA C 29 44 73 -11 26 30
27 Bobby Ryan ANA LW 34 39 73 15 28 46
28 Mike Ribeiro DAL C 22 51 73 3 26 44
29 Patrick Kane CHI RW 23 48 71 -3 32 47
30 Corey Perry ANA RW 33 38 71 12 25 106
31 Olli Jokinen CAL C 32 39 71 -1 29 74
32 Shane Doan PHO LW 27 43 70 1 24 65
33 Simon Gagne PHI LW 33 36 69 20 23 36
34 Patrik Elias NJ LW 25 43 68 9 27 34
35 Martin Havlat MIN RW 28 40 68 12 17 34
36 Jean-Pierre Dumont NAS RW 22 46 68 3 19 26
37 Alex Tanguay TB LW 22 46 68 7 21 42
38 Thomas Vanek BUF LW 39 28 67 3 25 52
39 Alexander Frolov LA LW 30 37 67 -4 24 28
40 Mike Cammalleri MON RW 30 37 67 -4 28 48

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Heatley Finally Moved to San Jose

One dragged out story is now done, only one to go (the Coyotes). The Ottawa Senators where finally able to move Dany Heatley to the San Jose Sharks. The Sens sent Heatley and a 5th round pick to the Sharks for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo, and a 2nd round pick.

It will be interesting to see how the Senators fans react to this trade. They should be happy that this 4-5 month saga is finally over, but will they feel that the Sens got enough back in return? Murray was pretty much hand cuffed in what he do, the selfish Heatley really put him under the gun.

Cheechoo is a $3 million cap hit, with 2 years remaining at $3.5 million per season. The 24 year old Michalek is locked up for 5 more years with a cap number of $4.33 million. Heatley has 5 years remaining at a $7.5 million cap hit.

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Sens Talking to Comrie and Sykora

The Ottawa Senators have held discussions with free agent center, Mike Comrie, and winger, Petr Sykora. Both I’d image would be contingent on Dany Heatley being moved. The Sens are already over the cap. They’d love to dump Jason Smith and his $2.6 cap hit, but I don’t see anyone wanting to take that on.

The LA Kings are not interested in Heatley, and I don’t blame them. You can’t argue with that he’s one of the more talented, but the baggage and selfishness he’d bring to any team may not be worth it (including the cost to acquire him). The Kings will be an interesting team to watch this year, they’ve got a great foundation, goaltending still a question.

“Do I want to bring in a Dany Heatley with all that baggage? It might work,” Lombardi said in a report on the Los Angeles Times website last night. “But I don’t think we’re in a position where we can afford that … Maybe a change of environment and he grows up. But my point is, do we need to take that risk right now? It scares me.

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Sundin Decision Soon, Heatley to Speak

Shocking news … Mats Sundin is still undecided if he’s going to play hockey next year. Feels like 2008 all over again, but thankfully this year there has been virtually no mention of it. Sundin was supposed to have made his decision by the end of July, but his decision should come next week according to agent, J.P. Barry. 4 or 5 teams are apparently interested, with the Vancouver Canucks being one of them. Sundin will (well, should…) definitely get a lot less than the $5.6 million (pro-rated) he received last year from the Canucks. I don’t how Sundin will come to a decision by next week, that would mean he’d have to attend training camp. And on a side note, if by the odd chance someone from ‘faceoff.com’ (the site where the article came from) reads this entry, PLEASE fix the font color on your site, reading the blue font is painful.

In other shocking developments, Dany Heatley has decided to come out of his cave and speak to the media regarding the mess he’s created in Ottawa. There will be a press conference at 1 pm today, at his agents and Team Canada officials urging. Yesterday he also let the Senators know that he’ll report to camp if he’s not traded. Now that would be an uncomfortable for him, and I wouldn’t feel sorry for him at all.

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Sharks Interested in Heatley.

“Sources say the San Jose Sharks have more than a passing interest in the two-time 50-goal scorer, but if they’re going to make the deal, they might have to get a third team involved — possibly the Montreal Canadiens — because the Senators aren’t willing to accept what the Sharks have on the table.

The Senators don’t want anything to do with winger Jonathan Cheechoo, who has been offered as part of a package along with defenceman Christian Erhoff and a first-round selection”.(source-Sun Media)

After the Dany Heatley camp informed Edmonton Oilers GM  Steve Tambellini that Edmonton wasn’t an option for a trade, talks of Heatley going to San Jose  in a potential three way deal including The Montreal Canadiens are being rumored.

I find this whole situation created by Heatley asking for a trade from Ottawa disturbing. With all the terms and conditions in a players contract covering trade clauses or no-trade clauses, it should be included that if you have a no-trade clause, you waive that right when you request a team to trade you.

It’s fair to assume that the purpose of a no-trade clause is to protect a player from being traded to a team they find undesirable for whatever reason, or having to up-root their family etc.. It seems like a reasonable  agreement to negotiate some form of control over your destiny for players with a high enough status. If we continue with that line of thinking it’s also fair to assume the player requesting a trade finds his current team undesirable but should at least forfeit the right to choose where he goes, considering the team is at an obvious disadvantage when dealing with other teams who know they’re in a position where they have to deal the player.

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Kovalev Appeals to Heatley to Stay?

Ok, somebody pinch me. I just read an article outlining how the Ottawa Senators had a press conference to introduce Alex Kovalev to the fans and media. Brian Murray also stated ”We can fit both of those guys on our team very nicely, maybe one on left and one on right wing”- referring to Kovalev and Heatley.

Later, Kovalev also appealed to Heatley… ”Definitely, with the player that he is, it would be nice to have him back,” Kovalev said. “I know Dany a little bit from playing with him for Kazan in the lockout year. He’s a great, talented guy on the ice and off the ice and would definitely help the Senators organization and hopefully will continue to help the organization”.

If they bring the disgruntled Heatley back after calling out coach Cory Clouston in the media for lack of quality ice time etc, you might as well fire Clouston. Do you think any other player in the line-up will respect anything Clouston has to say when the team has hung him out to dry like that? Talk about having your knee’s taken out. Can you imagine the clique issues? Guys wanting to side with Heatley, and apparently Kovalev, being as the Senators obviously have, over the coach.

Clouston coached them to a very respectable 19-11-4 after going 17-24-7 under Craig Hartsburg to start the year. So if all Heatley wants to do is win, what’s the issue?

It’s my opinion the “issue” is that Heatley has become a primadonna and doesn’t like being “mis-treated” by a rookie coach. EGO. Who knows how crooked a pro athletes view of proper treatment is compared to us regular Joe’s but what I do know is having another primadonna like Kovalev go to bat for Heatley’s character means little and less to me.

Other news from around the NHL;

  • The Montreal Canadiens have signed Tomas Plekanec to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed Andre Deveaux to a 1 year deal. Terms not disclosed.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman John Moore to a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender Brent Johnson to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Financial details were not disclosed.
  • Radim Vrbata is making a return to the desert. The veteran forward has been traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning back to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Todd Fedoruk and David Hale.
  • The Atlanta Thrashers re-signed defenseman Boris Valabik to a multi-year contract on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed, per team policy.
  • The Calgary Flames have signed forward Nigel Dawes to a two-year contract worth $850,000 per season.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have announced the signing of goaltender Curtis Sanford to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2009-10 season.The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
  • The Boston Bruins have signed defenceman Matt Hunwick to a multiyear contract extension.
  • The Phoenix Coyotes re-signed forwards David Spina and Jeff Hoggan and defenceman Sean Sullivan on Monday. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.(source-TSN)

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