| 11 June 2009
1) Aside from watching Pascal Leclaire and Brian Elliott man the goaltending position next year, was anyone actually looking forward to this team perform? The defense and forwards are deep in numbers but not really in dynamic talent and with the bulk of the roster being locked up long-term and protected with movement clauses, it's not like this situation was going to resolve itself. Things have been so bleak from that '07 Cup appearance that expectations have waned from, let's build a Cup contender to there's nothing wrong with battling for the 8th seed in the East. The team was in a rut and any Heatley trade will shake up the roster and bring in some invaluable assets to move forward both in the short-term and in the future. Sure, this team might not replace a 50-goal scorer in the short-term but really, who cares? This team wasn't winning a championship any time soon with Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson's cap hits.
2) Historically, every time the Senators trade a one-dimensional first liner who wears #15, it usually works out for the betterment of the team. Just ask Shawn "Who the fuck is Brian Pothier? And why did I get dealt for him?" McEachern.
3) Currently, there aren't enough villains playing in the NHL that Sens fans can boo whole-heartedly. Hell, I can't even look at the Leafs roster and pick out a player that I truly despise. Doesn't anyone miss the days where it was fun to go to Islanders games to boo Berard and Yashin? Unfortunately, if Heatley goes to a California-based team, we might not get to see him play in Ottawa for awhile. I'd hate to see this built up contempt go to waste.
4) For the first time in this hockey market, Jason Spezza doesn't look quite as flaky as he used to. In the past two years, no one has taken more criticism than Spezza but no one has handled it as well either. When the going has gotten tough, he's absorbed it all and hasn't complained. Off the ice, no one stands more to gain from Heatley's absence than Spezza. The media has already started to devote ink to how well Spezza has handled his detractors and it wouldn't be surprising to see this sway public opinion in his favor.
On the ice, we'll finally get the answer to the question of who benefits the most from their linemate -- Heatley or Spezza?
5) Why there hasn't been discussion for a controlled, public Heatley t-shirt bonfire at ScotiaBank Place is beyond me? Schedule it for June 26th, put up a beer tent with some BBQs, have multiple televisions covering the NHL draft and charge a $5.00 cover with all proceeds going to Roger's House. What better way for Sens fans to get together and talk hockey than this? There's not one reason why this wouldn't be a popular event to attend. It'd be a cash cow.
6) In the past year, players with poor work ethics like Heatley, Emery and McGrattan will have all been purged. The power in the locker room has shifted from the players to the Coaching Staff. Any subsequent Heatley trade demonstrates that it doesn't matter who you are, you're going to have to fall in line under Cory Clouston. After two mediocre years, that has seen the onus of the blame being put on the coaches, this moment can be our "Get off my plane!" Harrison Ford moment. The organization will no longer be held hostage by players who put their egos before the team's success.
7) With the goaltending situation resolved, the biggest question mark facing the Senators organization was that Ottawa didn't have enough secondary scoring. Ottawa's farm system is riddled with decent blueline prospects and projected third-line players. However, the organization lacks is blue-chip offensive talent. Not to take anything away from Peter Regin or Zach Smith, but with a Heatley trade, the organization can instantly restock itself with talent that we should expect to do more than survive at the NHL-level. (Note: If you're interested in the 2009 draft class, the Ottawa Senators site is featuring a series of columns dedicated to players who might be available for the Senators at their current #9 slot. The domain is currently featuring Jared Cowen.)
8) This summer's free agent class is laden with expensive injury prone forwards who have demonstrated that they're unable to lead a team on their own. Is it worth spending $6M+ on less productive players like Gaborik, Havlat or Hossa or is it more worthwhile to make a splash at the NHL Entry Draft by dealing for the third most productive goal-scorer in the past three years in Heatley?
9) Dany Heatley, despite his productivity was and never would have been the face of this franchise. In fact, getting rid of Heatley's face will make for a better live experience. Countless times over the past few seasons we had to walk up to ScotiaBank Place, and have our immediate attention drawn to Dilated Dany Heatley's eye on that player's mural that adorns the main gate windows. Looking at it was like driving past a horrific car crash on a major highway. It became innate to walk by, look up, say "Ugh!" And if that wasn't bad enough, it became tedious to explain to our significant other or kid(s) how his eye got injured during the lockout in Switzerland. To make matters worse, Leafs fans would heckle the picture with material like "I heard his boyfriend has really acidic semen." The picture just was not cool. Frankly it wouldn't surprise me if Dany requested a trade because management refused to PhotoShop his image.
10) By the end of his deal, Dani California will be 35 and will have earned $35 M since the time of his trade. His knees will be in horrendous shape and skating wasn't his forte to begin with. With a massive contract under his belt, there's no incentive for him to dedicate himself to the gym. He's the forward version of Wade Redden - sans personality.
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