NHL FanHouse

Knuckle Puck: What's Wrong With Vaccinating National Treasures?

Kevin Schultz — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Senators, NHL Fans, NHL Economics

Each and every Saturday this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

There's something to be said for Canadians and their level-headedness at least as it compares to us Americans. They always seem so much calmer. But during the past week our neighbors to the North have been in an uproar about Calgary Flames Flu Vaccination Crisis 2009. Sure, they're rightfully up in arms in Alberta that the Flames and their peeps received shots before some of the neediest people in the province but that almost seems like a trivial matter compared to what's going on down here.

While we're duct taping the economy together, bringing machine guns to healthcare debates and desperately trying to figure out if there's a boy in that darned balloon they're worried about flu shots. It must be nice having that as the toughest problem your nation is facing! Now I know, we're kind worried about flu shots too, but it's easily eighth on America's list of Things That Will End the World by 2012 -- right before "zombie apocalypse" and after "iPhones enslave us." So I think the folks up north need to relax a bit. It's like the great Allen Iverson once said, "we're talkin' bout flu shots. Not a plague. Not an epidemic. Flu shots."

And really, what's so wrong with the province of Alberta vaccinating its most precious resource? That's protecting national -- or at least provincial -- interests, I'd say. The chief export of Canada is hockey and vaccinating hockey players is simply insuring and protecting your national treasures. Unless you accidentally give them a super virus that turns them into flesh eating zombies. But ignoring the zombie possibility, I'd say this was a prudent move. Kind of like if we vaccinated some of our national treasures such as the Statue of Liberty, Las Vegas and Tom Cruise. I don't know where we'd be without those three much like Alberta would be in trouble without the Flames or Oilers.

To be fair, it's getting cold and the most at risk in Alberta do need to be vaccinated and that's nothing to joke about. The common flu kills nearly 36,000 people per year in the United States alone. But hey, if you believe the media, Sony Pictures or the Mayans it's all irrelevant because we're screwed anyway.

Famous YouTuber Update of the Week
You've heard all about 5-year old ~~Herb Brooks~~ Josh Sacco but just when you think he's faded out of our consciousness this kid just keeps on bringing it. He's been on Sportscenter, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and is planning on attending the Winter Olympics in a few months. This kid has done more in his fifth year on this planet than most of us do in a lifetime. I, for one, can't wait to see what he has planned for age six.

How to Burn $10,000 in an Hour, Legally
Because actually setting fire to that much money would likely violate any number of laws, the folks at Fenway Park have given us a great solution for when we really just need to get rid of six months' pay really, really fast. Why lose it in a casino or on a super expensive dinner when you can spend it on playing an hour of hockey on the Winter Classic rink at Fenway!

Surprisingly, the folks in charge are claiming that there has been a lot of interest in an hour of ice time that is being sold at rates of $7,500 to $10,000 per hour. Of course most of the interested parties are corporate -- now that's one hell of a holiday party -- so the recession is clearly over if they're spending money on this.

Knuckle Pucker of the Year Nominee

Each week, we'll nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to giving me something to write about. By the end of the year I'll come up with some way to declare a winner. Today's nominee is...

... McDonald's Canada! In the midst of a crippling global recession you are on top of your game! Your stock price is at an all time high and you're showing your true colors as apparent Leafs backers by giving this swift kick in the pants to the city of Ottawa: the release of a set of hockey cards that include one Dany Heatley in a Sens sweating declaring him "a hit in Ottawa since joining the team in 2005-06."

Hilariously horrendous timing: I'm lovin' it!

Knuckle Puck: What's Wrong With Vaccinating National Treasures? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stamkos Leads Lightning; Capitals Survive Thrashers Comeback Attempt

Adam Gretz — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Lightning, Senators, Thrashers

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the story lines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Lightning 5, Senators 2: After what can only be described as a disappointing rookie season, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Stamkos is starting to show the talents that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. The 19-year-old center scored two more goals on Thursday (giving him nine on the season), while he and his linemates (Ryan Malone and Alex Tangauy) combined for eight points in Tampa Bay's 5-2 win against Ottawa.

Stamkos added an assist in the win, and is now tied with Martin St. Louis for the team lead with 14 points in 10 games. His second goal of the game, which gave Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead midway through the third period, was a perfectly placed wrist shot on the fly.

Capitals 4, Thrashers 3: Alex Ovechkin scored two goals in the first period and helped Washington take a 3-0 lead into the third period in Atlanta. The Thrashers managed to make it a game thanks to a pair of goals from Zach Bogosian and Todd White, only to have Mike Knuble seal it with an empty-netter with 53 seconds to play. Bogosian added a second goal with one second remaining. The Capitals have now won six in a row and get the Islanders at home on Friday.

Thursday's Other Games

Speaking of comeback attempts ... Detroit rallies to force a shootout in Edmonton but comes up short in the end.

New Jersey is now 6-0 on the road.

Ilya Bryzgalov picks up the shutout against St. Louis.

Pekka Rinne stopped all 22 shots he faced to help lead Nashville past Chicago.

Vancouver knocks off the kings in a shootout.

Loose Pucks

-- The top 10 worst shootout attempts of all time. [Greatest Hockey Legends]

-- Phil Kessel might be getting close to making his Toronto Maple Leafs debut. They certainly need him. [Leafs247]

Picture Of The Day

I already gave you your video of the day up above, so here's a picture of the day: You're always in the spotlight when you're a goaltender in the NHL.

Friday's Key Games

Avalanche vs. Sharks: Probably the best game of the night as Colorado, the team with the best record in the NHL at the moment, visits the team that finished last year with the best record in the NHL.

Penguins vs. Blue Jackets: The suddenly shorthanded Penguins visit Columbus. Based on their meetings from a year ago, this could be a fantastic rivalry if the NHL ever put them in the same division.

Maple Leafs vs. Sabres: A team that seems to be sneaking under the radar? Buffalo. The Sabres have lost only one game in regulation and Ryan Miller is leading the league in just about every category for goaltenders.

Stamkos Leads Lightning; Capitals Survive Thrashers Comeback Attempt originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Shutout for Martin Brodeur, But Devils Get a Win

Adam Gretz — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Predators, Rangers, Senators

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the story lines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Devils 4, Rangers 2: With a shutout on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur would have tied Terry Sawchuk's record for most career shutouts. While the future Hall of Famer will have to wait for another night to reach his next milestone, he still managed to stop 29 shots to help lead the Devils to a 4-2 win.

Zach Parise scored a pair of goals -- and assisted on another -- as New Jersey handed the Rangers their second straight loss. The Devils, meanwhile, have won five of their past six.

Also: Crazy game in Ottawa, video of the day, and more.

Predators 6, Senators 5: For the first time this season, Nashville scored more than four goals in a single game, lighting the lamp six times in Ottawa ... and it still almost wasn't enough thanks to a ridiculous third period that saw the Senators score five goals.

The Predators entered the third period with a 3-0 lead, only to watch Ottawa rally for three goals in 10 minutes. From there, the two teams exchanged goals, including each team scoring in the final minute of regulation. With the Predators leading, 5-4, and on a power play, Ottawa managed to get a shorthanded goal from Chris Phillips with less than two-seconds to play in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Fortunately for Nashville, Shea Weber scored a power play goal at the 2:11 mark of the overtime period (his second goal of the game), giving the Preds the win.

Nashville not only set a season-high with six goals, it also scored two goals with the man advantage. The Predators entered play on Thursday with only one power play goal on the season.

J.P. Dumont had five points, including four assists, in the win.

Thursday's Other Games

Atlanta tries to comeback against Washington, but comes up short. That fluke goal turned the entire game around. [Box Score, Jeff Schultz's goal]

The Flyers pick up a shootout win against Boston. [Box Score, Recap]

After finally earning a win on Wednesday, the Islanders get blown out in Montreal. [Box Score, Recap]

Steve Stamkos scores two for Tampa Bay. [Box Score, Recap]

How about the Coyotes? Overtime win against Detroit. [Box Score, Recap]

Edmonton gets a pair from Dustin Penner in a 6-4 win. [Box Score, Recap]

Hats off to Anze Kopitar [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- The Sergei Kostitsyn drama in Montreal keeps taking bizarre twists and turns. [TSN]

Video Of The Day

Ottawa Loses to Nashville in overtime, but Chris Phillips gets the Senators a point with this last-second shorthanded goal.

Friday's Key Games

Penguins vs. Panthers: Pittsburgh is, quite simply, on a roll right now and enters Friday's game against Florida with the best record in the league. It's the Penguins first game without Sergei Gonchar, who will miss four-to-six weeks with a broken bone near his hand. Brent Johnson is expected to make his second start for Pittsburgh. Florida has lost five of six.

Blues vs. Wild: The Blues return home after a three-game road trip that ended with a sour note in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. They're hosting a Minnesota team that has been struggling all season, losing six of eight games.

Hurricanes vs. Avalanche: Colorado enters play on Friday tied for the second-most points (14) in the league, having lost only one game in regulation. The 'Canes have lost four in a row, including two in a shootout.

No Shutout for Martin Brodeur, But Devils Get a Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Flames, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Senators, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Some weeks, this job is just too easy. Our search for the best hockey fights includes a couple dandies this week, including a classic heavyweight battle in Toronto. It's the kind of bout that makes Brian Burke smile. Check out our runners-up, along with video of this week's best fight, after the jump.

Runner Up: Matt Walker vs. Chris Neil

Video here. Walker got some good early shots in, but Neil had a rally in him. This went from being a one-sided affair to quite competitive very quickly.

Runner Up: Jared Boll vs. Brandon Prust

Boll is one of the more underrated fighters in the league. He's big and strong, and also happens to be tough as nails. Prust brought some intensity to this fight, and he didn't back down after Boll landed an early right that would have staggered a lot of guys. Watch Prust make an impressive comeback here.

Runner Up: Zack Stortini vs. Triston Grant

Last week, we showed you Stortini standing and watching as skilled teammate Sam Gagner got in a scrap. No more of that, as Stortini mixed it up Tuesday, as his Oilers were blowing out the Predators. Stortini is a lot bigger than Grant, but the Nashville youngster held his own, mainly by keeping a strong hold on Stortini and limiting his ability to punch. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: David Koci vs. Colton Orr

This is easy. You don't even have to watch the video to know it's awesome, because Koci and Orr have plenty of experience and are more than capable of putting on a show. The heavyweights wore each other down, and there were more than a few punches thrown. Apologies for the lack of sound, but the feed that night had audio issues throughout. It's too bad, because it would be worth money to hear Joe Bowen call a fight this good.

Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hats Off to Mike Richards, Happy Birthday Danny Briere

Adam Gretz — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Canadiens, Capitals, Flames, Flyers, Maple Leafs, Senators

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our Weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the storylines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Flyers 6, Capitals 5: After a scoreless first period in Philadelphia, the final 40 minutes of regulation -- and the overtime period -- of the Capitals-Flyers game turned into a defense optional contest.

The two teams pumped in 11 goals during Philadelphia's 6-5 overtime win, including a second period hat trick from Flyers center Mike Richards, giving him five goals in his first three games of the season. Such a number would have given him the early season lead in goals scored, had it not been for Alex Ovechkin continuing his white-hot start by adding a pair of his own, also giving him five on the young season.

After the jump: Video of the day, an unlikely hat trick, Ottawa tops 'The Monster'

The game-winning tally came from Danny Briere at the 3:52 mark of the overtime period on the same day he celebrated his 33rd birthday. Some of the other offensive highlights from the night: Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom registered three more assists ... Flyers defenseman Matt Carle had four assists of his own - in the second period ... Capitals winger Alexander Semin scored two more goals ... Through three games, the line of Ovechkin, Backstrom and Semin has combined for nine goals, 15 assists and 24 points.

Flames 4, Canadiens 3: Entering play on Tuesday, former No. 10 overall pick (2002) Eric Nystrom had played 124 games in the NHL and scored eight goals. During Calgary's 4-3 win against Montreal, the 26-year-old winger scored three goals on three shots for the first multiple-goal game of his career. Scott Gomez scored his first goal as a member of the Canadiens in the loss.

Senators 2, Maple Leafs 1: The Maple Leafs dropped their third in a row to start the season, falling to their Provincial rivals. Daniel Alfredsson and Shean Donovan provided the offense for the Senators, while Pascal Leclaire stopped 26 of 27 shots in net. Matt Stajan provided the lone goal for Toronto (his third of the season) and Jonas Gustavsson stopped 26 shots in his first career start. For 59 minutes and 23 seconds, Gustavsson pitched a shutout for the Leafs only to surrender both goals in a 37-second span early in the second period.

Tuesday's Other Games

Carolina tops Tampa Bay in a shootout. [Box Score, Recap]

Minnesota comes back for overtime win. [Box Score, Recap]

Edmonton wins in a shootout. [Box Score, Recap]

Los Angeles takes on San Jose [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- With Andrei Markov on the shelf for a few months, Montreal addressed its power play and depth on the blue line by adding free agent defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeon. He scored 14 goals for Minnesota a year ago. [TSN]

-- Good news for the New Jersey Devils as winger Patrik Elias has returned to the ice. [Fire & Ice]

-- Bad news for the Colorado Avalanche as goaltender Craig Anderson, the man leading their surprising start, missed practice on Tuesday with a "minor groin strain." According to Adrian Dater, the Avs believe he will return to practice on Wednesday. [All Things Avs]

Video Of The Day

Mike Richards pounces on a loose puck and scores his third goal of the game.

Wednesday's Key Games

Another slow night on the schedule as only four teams are in action.

Penguins vs. Coyotes: Phoenix continues its season-opening three-game road trip in Pittsburgh against the Stanley Cup Champions who are looking to win their third in a row.

Canadiens vs. Canucks: Vancouver looks to get in the "W" column for the first time this season against Montreal, while everyone asks what's wrong with Roberto Luongo?

Hats Off to Mike Richards, Happy Birthday Danny Briere originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bloggers React to Heatley Trade

Kevin Schultz — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, Sharks, NHL Fans

It's been a couple days since Dany Heatley was shipped from Ottawa to San Jose, so we've all had a little time to take a step back and look a the trade. Today, some of the best and brightest in the two blogospheres involved have taken the time to share their views on the trade with us. I have an odd feeling that the Senators' bloggers feel a lot of relief now that the trade has been mad but, to find out, follow me through the jump.

First to chime in on the trade are the Sharks bloggers.

"I've got a lot of great Sharks memories associated with Jonathan Cheechoo, which is why it's kinda sad to see him go. He's had groin/abdomen injuries over the past few years, and that's limited his ability to get into open spaces or drive the net for rebounds. You'd get these flashes of his wicked one timer or his great hands, but during the times he was healthy, Todd McLellan would put him on the third line because Devin Setoguchi was playing so well. So losing Cheech doesn't take too much out of the Sharks lineup.

As for Milan Michalek, well, the worst part about losing him is I won't get to make fun of my friend's Michalek jersey anymore (we teased him that he should have put "Trade Bait" on it)...

I still worry about Heatley's work ethic. McLellan's system requires a lot of hustle and communication and there's not a lot of room for freelancing. I hope Doug Wilson sees something that we didn't, and maybe it'll be up to Dan Boyle and Rob Blake to put Heatley in his place. I get the feeling that the deal will either be sheer genius or a horrible disaster: sure, you'd rather have Heatley's talent than Michalek's in your lineup but that contract could be a giant albatross for years to come."

- Mike Chen, Mike Chen's Hockey Blog

"The Sharks add a potential 50 goal 100 point player without having to give up former captain Patrick Marleau or a first round draft pick for the third straight season. Heatley could be put on the top line with Joe Thornton and Devin Setoguchi, with Marleau sliding down to a second line with Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe. For the Sharks, scoring is not going to be a problem in 2009-10. They will have to focus on maintaining their intensity over an 82 game schedule, and developing a new tougher identity.

Heatley cited a diminished role in Ottawa as the reason for demanding a trade. In San Jose, regular season success is almost a little bit of an albatross. Only performance in the postseason matters. The Sharks have had problems responding to physical challenges, locking down leads late in games, playing with intensity from the drop of the puck, and scoring goals in clutch situations. If Heatley is looking for a role to fill, that is what San Jose needs from its best players in the playoffs. That, and the occasional fight with an Anaheim Duck."

- Jon Swenson, Sharkspage

And now, their counterparts in Ottawa who, well, are pretty happy about the whole thing.

"I'd be an absolute, brain dead, vegetative idiot to think that the Sens "won" this trade in the conventional sense. Not that The Bryan had much of a choice, but on paper, without a Marleau or even a couple of solid prospects coming the other way with Cheechoo and/or Michalek (a first round pick would have been nice too) this was an outright mugging by Doug Wilson. Or...was it?

Would Ottawa be a better team if Heater had been forced to stay? Maybe...for the first three months of the season. But once the Olympic roster was announced in December, what would stop him from pulling the chute? A dressing room cancer is easier to take if he's scoring 50 goals. A cancer who no longer has any motivation to play somewhere he doesn't want to be? Not so much. At least this way, the Sens are now a legitimate threat over two lines (something we haven't been since...well...forever) and most important, we FINALLY get a drama free room.

Bottom line: The boil has been lanced, we got a couple of pretty good guys in return, and we can now all forget that Dany Heatley was ever an Ottawa Senator. I'd like that. I'd like that very much."

- Paul, Five for Smiting

"The most positive thing about the Heatley trade, at least initially, is getting rid of the distraction. The past two seasons have been torture for Sens fans, and it's going to be nice to go into one with a bit of optimism. The return wasn't market value, but I don't think it ever would have been; the timing for this trade demand could not have been worse, and I think Bryan Murray did the best he could with the hand he was dealt. Michalek and Cheechoo both have reasons to like coming to Ottawa (Cheechoo's closer to his home, and Michalek's closer to his girlfriend's hometown), and both have plenty to prove. The salary flexibility should put the Senators' in a better position, too, although they definitely need to get some offensive talent in their farm system. Bottom line, the Senators should be better than they were last season, but they'll have to use the flexibility wrought by this trade effectively to ensure it's not debilitating in the long-term."

- Peter Raaymakers, Silver Seven Sens

Bloggers React to Heatley Trade originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dany Boy Gets His Way

Christopher Botta — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, Sharks

Dany Heatley, the NHL's Big Baby, got his way. Now we wait to see if Heatley has paved a path in the sandbox for others to follow.

Gretz: How Stats Shake Out in Heatley-to-Sharks Trade

One day last month, Heatley skated on a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau at Team Canada camp, thinking how cool it would be if they were on the same team. Saturday, dealt on demand by Ottawa to San Jose, Big Baby's dream came true. Aw, how sweet ...

Not really. This isn't the first time an All-Star player whined his way off a team, but the Heatley case is a real beaut. Just four years ago he was traded to Ottawa so he could leave Atlanta, where he was charged with vehicular homicide for a car crash that killed Thrashers teammate Dan Snyder. After last season, when Heatley and the once-formidable Sens faced adversity, he showed his appreciation to the community and team that embraced him by declaring he was too good for them.

This isn't the first time a big scorer turned his back on Ottawa. While Heatley pouted out with five years and $33.5 million left on his contract, Alexei Yashin in 2000-01 held out from the Senators with a season left on his. A year later the one-time Hart Trophy candidate was traded to the Islanders for more than equal value: the second overall pick (used to select Jason Spezza) and a future all-world defenseman in Zdeno Chara.

No such luck this time, Sens fans. GM Bryan Murray -- with no leverage and few options because Dany Boy already turned down a deal to Edmonton -- could only get Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek and a second-round pick. The Sharks tried all summer to unload Cheechoo, a 56-turned-12-goal scorer, and found little interest. Michalek is a strong second-line player capable of 25 goals and 60 points. Neither matches up to Heatley as hockey players.

As people, of course, it's a blowout. But that's not going to do the Senators any good when they are scratching for every point in March to get the eighth seed in the East and Heatley is converting Thornton's feeds for 40 goals. For the second straight year, the Sharks will dominate the regular season. They have seven months before they can prove if the talented infant they just acquired will help make them men in the playoffs.

Two weeks ago, Heatley hilariously blamed his decision to bolt on his revised role under new Ottawa coach Cory Clouston. On Saturday, he Fred Astaired at his final media scrum in the Canadian capital. "There were some personal things that I, uh, thought would be best for everyone involved," Heatley stammered incoherently.

The gutless winger tried one last time to see how many Ottawa people he could bring down with him. A man completely lost in his own b.s., he attempted to stain an entire franchise. Fact: no one in the league bought it. Fact: Heatley just wah-wah-wanted to be on a better team. Turning down Edmonton exposed the Canadian kid as a fraud.

For the last week, FanHouse contacted insiders all over the Senators organization. While the usual hockey urban legends -- a girlfriend issue, a family member too involved -- are in play, everyone we spoke with said Heatley's list of excuses was a farce. "Any of the stuff you might hear or see on the internet is garbage," one of his ex-teammates told FanHouse last night. "The stuff with Cory and his decreased role? A joke. You think he was coming off the first line? Dany didn't have any real problems. He was our problem."

Now Heatley is a Shark. As he makes his case for the Canadian Olympic team and his own stability, he will be a good boy for one season. At the end of it, he could be holding the Stanley Cup. Still, Dany Heatley will not be a winner. Let's also hope he doesn't become a role model for spoiled young NHL stars in search of a way out.

Dany Boy Gets His Way originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By the Numbers: Dany Heatley Trade

Adam Gretz — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, Sharks

(Getty Images)

The Dany Heatley saga has, mercifully, come to an end thanks to Saturday's trade that sent him west to San Jose, so it's time to start taking a look at what each team is getting -- and losing -- in this blockbuster deal.

There's no question that San Jose is getting the best player in the trade with Heatley, but can Ottawa realistically replace his production with Michalek and the steadily declining Cheechoo?

The numbers don't look encouraging.

First, let's take a look at how each player performed, offensively, during the 2008-09 campaign.

The Trade: 2008-09 Season Stats
Player	Pts	Pts/Min	ES Pts	ES Pts/Min
Dany Heatley	72	.044	46	.035
Milan Michalek	57	.040	36	.033
Jonathan Cheechoo	29	.028	19	.022

It was a "down year" for Heatley as he registered his lowest point total since the pre-lockout NHL. Even so, he still managed to light the lamp 39 times, leading the Senators, while his 72 points were third on the team, trailing Daniel Alfredsson by just two points. The Sharks are getting a legitimate front-line talent that should be a good bet for 40 goals. If we assume that he'll play on the top line with an elite puck distributor like Joe Thornton, another 50-goal season (he has two of them) isn't out of the question. Even with his large contract and off-ice issues, that's an awful lot of production to replace for an Ottawa team that's already short on goals (the Senators scored just 213 goals a season ago).

So what is Ottawa getting back with Michalek and Cheechoo? Let's start with the bed news first, just to get it out of the way.

Coming out of the lockout during the 2005-06 season, Jonathan Cheechoo exploded onto the scene with a career year, scoring 56 goals to lead the league while amassing 93 points. Since then? It's been all downhill.

Jonathan Cheecoo: The Decline
Year	Pts	Pts/Min	ES Pts	ES Pts/Min
2005-06	93	.056	50	.047
2006-07	69	.051	39	.039
2007-08	37	.032	22	.024
2008-09	29	.028	19	.022

Cheechoo is signed for two more seasons, carrying a cap hit of approximately $3 million per year. That's a solid chunk of change to pay a guy with that level of production, especially when it's been dropping rather steadily over the past three seasons. Michalek, on the other hand, should offer a bit more optimism for the Senators.

Milan Michalek: The Numbers
Year	Pts	Pts/Min	ES Pts	ES Pts/Min
2005-06	35	.027	24	.024
2006-07	66	.050	39	.038
2007-08	55	.038	38	.033
2008-09	57	.040	36	.033

Entering what will be his fifth full season in the NHL, Michalek doesn't turn 25 until early December, so it stands to reason that he might still have some room to improve. He's a solid two-way player, has great size, and has been consistent in his production (especially at even-strength) over the past three seasons. He's not going to replace Heatley offensively or in the goal-scoring department, but few players in the NHL would.

******

There's no question that Heatley had the Senators between a rock and a hard place all offseason. His trade demands, combined with his no-trade clause and unwillingness to play in certain cities, greatly limited the options for general manager Bryan Murray. Throw in a contract that pays him an average of $7.5 million over the next five seasons and the fact he's asked his way out of the only two cities he's played in during his career, and, well, that's a tough sell. In terms of on-ice production, it was going to be impossible for the Senators to come out on the winning end of any Heatley trade, and my initial reaction to this one is just that: talent-for-talent, they're getting ripped off.

Off-ice and contract issues aside, the Senator are sending away one of the NHL's most prolific goal-scorers and receiving a good first or second line winger (though, not anywhere near as productive as Heatley) and a declining enigma that hasn't come close to repeating his career season from four years ago.

The Senators did what they had to do, but it's hard to argue that they're a better hockey team than they were six months ago.

By the Numbers: Dany Heatley Trade originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dany Heatley Breathes a Sigh of Relief

Susan Slusser — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:51:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, Sharks

Dany Heatley skated on a line with San Jose's Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton last month at Team Canada's Olympic orientation camp, and because Heatley was thought to be a Sharks' target most of the summer, the three kidded around a bit about the possibility of keeping that line together.

"We were kind of joking around with it," Heatley said on a conference call Saturday after being traded from Ottawa to San Jose. "There was talk of San Jose as well. It was fun to get out on the ice with those guys."

More: Heatley Traded to San Jose, Really

Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said on the same call that Heatley is the kind of player who will make the team better now and, more importantly, later in the year.

"He's a great fit for us, something we've been looking for," Wilson said. "There aren't many guys in the league that have his skill set, to score 50 goals and to be selected to the camp for probably the hardest team in the world to make. A player of this caliber only makes you better, highly motivated and just coming into his prime."

Wilson swung the deal without parting with Marleau, the franchise's all-time leading scorer; left wing Jonathan Cheechoo, one of the Sharks most popular players, is going to the Senators along with Milan Michalek. There was no three-way deal on the table: "Our focus was purely between Ottawa and ourselves," said Wilson, who again criticized an ESPN report Thursday night that Marleau was going to the Kings while Heatley was coming to San Jose.

Heatley said that San Jose always was on the list he'd provided the Senators when he requested a trade after last season. Earlier this summer, it was reported that he'd nixed a deal to Edmonton, but the Sharks -- who won the President's Trophy last season -- are a team that Heatley is excited to play for. He knows several of the players, and head coach Todd McLellan coached Heatley in the World Junior Championships. Assistant general manager Wayne Thomas played at Wisconsin with Heatley's father, Murray.

More than anything, Heatley is just happy to get a summer of uncertainty over with; he was a figure of controversy after the trade request and the Edmonton refusal were made public. "It was tough," he said. "It wasn't the greatest summer. The way it went down, I don't think was the way anyone wanted. But I'm relieved to be going to San Jose. I'm glad it's come to a resolution."

Wilson had cleared some cap space by dealing defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich to Vancouver, and he said that he believes that Heatley's salary (which averages about $7.5 million per season), is reasonable. "What we don't want to have is golden handcuffs or a retirement plan," Wilson said. "He's 28 years old, we do feel this is very fair."

Is Wilson concerned that Heatley will want out in San Jose after asking to be moved in Atlanta and Ottawa? No.

"We are all completely comfortable with the type of player Dany is and person he is," Wilson said.

Wilson indicated that while he is happy to field calls from other clubs, the current roster is the one that the Sharks will boast going into the season.

"We're right where we are right now," Wilson said, adding, "We're done talking. It's about getting it done on the ice."

Dany Heatley Breathes a Sigh of Relief originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dany Heatley Traded to San Jose, Really

Adam Gretz — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, Sharks

After a lot of drama, a failed trade attempt to Edmonton, a bizarre conference call that answered absolutely nothing, and several reports (quickly greeted with denials), disgruntled forward Dany Heatley has finally been traded by the Ottawa Senators. Heatley, along with a fifth-round draft pick, was traded to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday in exchange for forwards Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo, as well as a second-round draft pick.

Botta: Kessel Next? 6 Potential Landing Spots

The trade comes just two days after a report surfaced from ESPN that had Heatley going to San Jose as part of a three-team deal, a report that was quickly denied by Sharks general manager Doug Wilson.

Heatley, a two-time 50-goal scorer, joins a San Jose club that is coming off another disappointing exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs, losing in six games to the No. 8-seeded Anaheim Ducks.

As for the Senators, they receive the 24-year-old Michalek, a former top-six pick who has developed into a steady 25-goal, 55-point performer over the past three seasons and is a strong two-way player. Cheechoo, 29, registered a career-high 56 goals during the 2005-06 season, but has failed to approach those numbers in the following seasons, scoring 37, 23 and 12 over the next three seasons.

More on this blockbuster trade throughout the day.

Dany Heatley Traded to San Jose, Really originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick Marleau, Doug Wilson Talk About False Trade Report

Susan Slusser — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Senators, Sharks, NHL Rumors

SAN JOSE -- Patrick Marleau doesn't always pay attention to trade rumors, but Thursday night's report on ESPN that he'd been traded to the Kings was a little different because his phone started ringing non-stop.

Marleau, the Sharks' all-time leading scorer, knew there was no three-way deal with San Jose, Ottawa and Los Angeles. He has a no-trade clause and no one had asked him to waive it.

"When I know something, you'll know something," he told reporters at the Sharks' practice facility on Friday morning, adding of trade rumors in general, "That's just something for people to write about or make up. I don't worry about it. I just have to worry about getting ready for camp."

Marleau has been the subject of trade speculation much of the summer in the wake of San Jose's first-round flop to the the eighth-seeded Ducks. When the NHL's best team in the regular season bowed out so quickly, there was immediate speculation that the Sharks would make some major moves. Then GM Doug Wilson moved Brad Lukowich and Christian Ehrhoff late last month, creating more salary cap flexibility, and the rumors about very available Ottawa wing Dany Heatley sprang to life again.

Wilson was none too pleased with ESPN's false report, which he immediately denied on Thursday night, calling it "complete bull."

On Friday morning, when asked by FanHouse if the Sharks had been involved in talks of any substances with any other clubs, Wilson said, "We take every call from every team. That's the way we do business. ... When we find something that fits for us, we do it. Out of respect for the parties involved, what happened yesterday is not the way we do business."

Wilson has a strict policy of not discussing other teams' players in the media, and of course there are rules about that which were put in place to guard against tampering. But beyond that, Wilson feels a responsibility not to break his trust with his players. Unless and until the Sharks finalize a deal and announce it, he's not going to toss around names. It's a confidential process, he said.

He did note that the team is now in a position to be more flexible if an opportunity should arise, but he doesn't make a habit of denying each and every rumor that comes down the pike as a result. He felt he had to on Thursday night, considering the trade - which ESPN reported would send Alexander Frolov and Jarret Stoll to Ottawa along with Heatley to San Jose and Marleau to L.A. - was being characterized as completed.

Earlier in the day Thursday, this space had speculated about the possibility of the Sharks acquiring Heatley and sending Marleau to Los Angeles; Marleau, whose wife is from San Jose, might be more amenable to Los Angeles than to some other spots, while San Jose's assistant GM, Wayne Thomas, is friendly with the Heatley family and played with Heatley's father, Murray, at Wisconsin.

Wilson reiterated Friday that he has not asked Marleau to waive his no-trade clause, and Marleau confirmed that.

Asked if he believes he'll be in San Jose to start the season, Marleau said, "I'm planning on it. I'll take it one day at a time."

Marleau's teammates are all well aware of the rumors this summer and particularly on Thursday night.

"Paddy's been in 18 different trades," Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle said with a smile. "Last night, I turned on ESPN and sure enough, he was going to L.A. I called him and his wife said it's not true.

"We expect him to be here when the season starts. Obviously, he's a great player, he had a great season last year, and if he's here, great. If not, there's a good player coming in. We'll see. He's a great guy and we'd love to have him around."

Patrick Marleau, Doug Wilson Talk About False Trade Report originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dany Heatley Traded to Sharks

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:05:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Senators, Sharks

UPDATE: TSN denies the trade reports.

It happened more than two months after most observers thought it would, but Dany Heatley finally got his wish. Evidently, the threat of having him at Ottawa Senators training camp was too much for the team to deal with.

Mere hours after FanHouse's Susan Slusser reported the increase of rumblings surrounding the San Jose Sharks and Heatley, ESPN now reports that Heatley has indeed been dealt to the Sharks as part of a three-team deal.

John Buccigross reports that the agreement has been reached, and the Senators will get a pair of young players in return.

From the Los Angeles Kings.

Instead of San Jose sending prospects to Ottawa, the Sharks were able to work the Kings into this three-way dance. They are reportedly sending forwards Alexander Frolov and Jarrett Stoll to Ottawa, and the Sharks will ship former captain Patrick Marleau to Los Angeles.

Sharks GM Doug Wilson and Senators GM Bryan Murray both shot down the report when contacted by ESPN.com.

"It's simply not true," Murray told ESPN.com Thursday night. "I've had conversations with teams today but still I'm not close to a deal [involving Heatley]."

If the report is true, the Senators are able to get the young players they've coveted in return for Heatley, and the Kings add another veteran to their very young roster.

Heatley had been rumored for some time to be seeking a relocation to California, and he would become the centerpiece of a huge preseason shakeup in San Jose.

Report: Dany Heatley Traded to Sharks originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharks, Heatley Rumblings Increasing

Susan Slusser — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Senators, Sharks, NHL Rumors

The San Jose Sharks are often linked to Dany Heatley, like many other teams this offseason, but the latest whispers out of San Jose are that this time, something might happen.

No one is denying anything, and while that doesn't guaranteed a deal is struck, it makes it highly likely that talks are ongoing.

California teams are thought to rank highly on Heatley's list when it comes to his trade demand, plus Sharks assistant general manager Wayne Thomas was teammates with Heatley's father, Murray, at Wisconsin, and he is close to the Heatley family.

The Sharks could use Heatley -- not many teams would say no to a top goal-scorer -- but even more so, the team probably would welcome a means to move Patrick Marleau, most likely to Los Angeles.

Marleau, recently stripped of his captaincy, has a no-trade clause, but because his wife is from San Jose, he might be more amenable to staying within the state rather than going to one of the other rumored destinations this summer, such as Montreal or New Jersey.

When I spoke to Sharks GM Doug Wilson on Monday at the team's rookie game against Anaheim, Wilson said he hadn't asked Marleau to waive the no-trade this summer. It's possible that wouldn't be broached until a trade is solidly in place first; why ask someone to waive the no-trade for something that ends up falling through?

It's also possible that the topic has come up unofficially at some point. Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov, for instance, recently told the San Jose Mercury News that he would waive his no-trade clause if the Sharks ever asked him to, because he wouldn't want to play for a team that doesn't want him. (So why have the no-trade clause in the first place? Just add a big bonus in the event of a trade.)

There was speculation when the Sharks moved Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich to Vancouver that the salary cap space was being cleared in the event of a Heatley deal. When I talked to Wilson on Monday, I asked if the current team was the one the Sharks would go into training camp with and he responded by saying that there might be deals right up until March 3.

Something is afoot in San Jose. It now seems as if there is a very real chance of seeing Dany Heatley in teal this season, and that Marleau will move on after failing to take the league's top regular-season team beyond the first round last April. File this one under Definite Maybe.

Sharks, Heatley Rumblings Increasing originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taking on Trouble: Dany Heatley's Saga

Adam Gretz — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, NHL Fans

Occasionally, our NHL FanHouse e-mail address (nhlfanhouse@gmail.com) gets an e-mail that isn't trying to sell us prescription drugs at a discounted price or hook us up with rich young singles. Following Dany Heatley's conference call on Friday, we received the following question from a reader:

After hearing his "press conference" on Friday, I'd be interested in knowing if any of you guys would still take Dany Heatley on your team?

Susan Slusser: If pro sports teams turned away prima donnas and players with issues, there would be a lot less talent in the various leagues. Any team that has the need would jump at Heatley and it looks like a few have tried.

Bruce Ciskie: I'd love to be the tough guy here, but the bottom line is that a team is going to take any opportunity available to them to get better. This includes the Senators. Under no circumstances would any team in their right mind give up major assets for a guy deemed to be a cancer both on the ice and on the salary cap. However, not every team is "in their right mind."

Tom Mantzouranis: The question isn't whether a team would take a Dany Heatley; I think we've all seen that teams in all sports will gamble on talent despite the personality. The question is whether I would take him on my team, and I wouldn't. There have simply been too many models in team sports that prove that character can trump talent in both ways. Character can create a whole greater than the sum of parts, and character (or lack thereof) can also weigh a talented team down. I can see taking an educated risk on a question mark depending on the player and circumstances, but I don't think Heatley is the type of transcendent player who warrants that type of effort and stress. I'd be content letting him be someone else's problem if I'm running a team.

******

There's no question that in professional sports talent trumps off-field or "chemistry" concerns in many, many situations, and there's no question that Dany Heatley is a gifted goal-scorer and top-line player. But is he worth the headaches off the ice? His first public comments this offseason left just as many questions as answers as he continuely danced around the issue of his possible trade to Edmonton and cited a diminished role as being the reason for his trade request.

The Falconer at Bird Watchers Anonymous offered up a post on Sunday recalling Heatley's exit from Atlanta, while Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun penned an article on Saturday detailing how the Senators are bracing for a training camp circus if the team can't work out a deal that is acceptable to Heatley (which seems likely at this point). Heatley first spoke to the media on Friday, and according to veteran center Mike Fisher, via Brennan, he has yet to address his teammates in Ottawa: "Maybe he was feeling bad about the situation and trying to hide from it as much as he could. I don't know what he was thinking. But I don't think he's talked to any of the guys."

Fisher continued:

"It looks right now like he's going to be back, and if that's the case, I'm sure he's going to give everything he has," said Fisher. "No question, it's going to be different. It's going to be a circus. But as long as he works hard and is a positive guy, that's all we want. If he contributes like he can and helps us win, that's all we want. "He'll want to address the guys .... yeah, I'm disappointed, but I can move on. As long as he proves he wants to play and play hard, under the coach's system, like the rest of us. It's what we're all paid to do."

All of that being said, here's the question for the readers: Would you want your team to trade for Dany Heatley given the events of this offseason?

Taking on Trouble: Dany Heatley's Saga originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dany Heatley Breaks Silence, Talks About Trade Demands

Adam Gretz — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, Senators, NHL Rumors

Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley finally broke his silence and spoke on a conference call about his trade demands from his home on Friday afternoon. The basic gist of his demands: it's a hockey decision and has nothing to do with his contract, the coaching staff or the fans in Ottawa. He also stated -- multiple times -- that he never wanted the demand to go public, and that he still wishes to be dealt from the Senators.

After the jump, some highlights from the two-time 50-goal scorers conference call on why he asked for a trade and why he rejected a trade that would have sent him to Edmonton.

On when he decided to ask for a trade:

"It's not something that I woke up one day and was in my bed and said I was ready to ask for a trade," said Heatley. "I think it was brewing, and something I thought of privately for a long time. I waited until after the season to, you know, just really be sure. I really thought about it at that time, and I think in the middle of May we verbally communicated to the Senators that I'd like to be traded."

On turning down a trade to Edmonton:

"It has nothing to do with Edmonton personally. When we asked for a trade and started to talk to Ottawa about the trade we wanted to go about it together. We wanted some options. And to this date there has only been one option. At the time the one option was Edmonton, and I just wasn't ready to make a decision at that time."

He also added that Edmonton is a great hockey city and that "it has nothing to do with the city of Edmonton."

On speculation about head coach Cory Clouston being the reason for the trade demand:

"I think the main reason is definitely not Cory solely, I think the main reason for me is when I signed In Ottawa two years ago, I was supposed to be an integral part of the team. I think over the last two years, and more recently over the past year, I feel that my role has diminished. Especially this past season I think it diminished a lot more. And again, it's something that I've been thinking about for a long time. Again, Diminished role is the biggest thing. I feel that I'm a player that can play in a lot of different situations. I'm an offensive guy, but I do take pride in all aspects of the game and I don't feel that I was given that role on the team."

On waiting so long to speak and what he owed the fans in Ottawa:

"I really think, first of all, I love the fans In Ottawa. I think it's a great city. That's why I signed long-term there. The reason I didn't speak until now is simply because there's a process that has to take place. In all fairness to Ottawa and the other teams involved, I didn't feel it was necessary or purposeful to come out publicly and create more of a circus than it already was. It's unfortunate again that it became public. That's not what I wanted. The main reason is to just not complicate things and out of respect to the teams involved."

On why Edmonton is not an option and his perception among Canadian hockey fans:

"I know hockey fans in Canada are passionate. I love that about Canadian hockey fans, I love playing for Canada, I love playing in Canada. It has nothing to do with Edmonton, it has everything to do with the options. That's the bottom line. To this day there has only been one option, and I know there's other teams out there."

Pressed on the Edmonton Issue again:

"Again, because it's the only option. I don't feel I can make the right decision until there are a few options and I can make the proper decisions for myself and my career."

Reporter: "so they were never really an option then?"

"They were not on our initial list of teams that I gave the Senators to talk to. When that trade came up it came as a big surprise and I wasn't ready at that time, nor am I now, to make that decision."

On what happens at training camp if no trade is made:

"I'll be in camp if I'm still a Senator and I'll be ready to go."

That question came from Don Brennan and it also included him asking whether or not Heatley would be willing to turn in the Assistant Captain's 'A'. Heatley did not address that aspect of the question.

Outside of a brief flirtation with San Jose a couple of weeks ago, the rumor mill has been completely silent, and it's looking like him opening training camp with the Senators is a pretty good possibility. Especially since he seems to have no desire to even entertain the idea of playing in Edmonton. Should be an interesting season if he's still sporting the red and black when the puck drops in October.

Dany Heatley Breaks Silence, Talks About Trade Demands originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL's Top 50: Dany Heatley (No. 16)

Adam Gretz — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 16 is Ottawa Senators (for now) forward Dany Heatley.

It's been quite an offseason for Dany Heatley and the Ottawa Senators. After a disappointing 2008-09 campaign that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, Heatley, the best player on a team starving for offense, requested a trade. Shocking, yes. No matter, general manager Bryan Murray worked to move the disgruntled winger and eventually came to an agreement with the Edmonton Oilers that would have sent Heatley out west for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid.

The problem? Heatley didn't want to play in Edmonton, either, proving that, yes, beggers can be choosers. Heatley may eventually join Alexei Yashin and Alexandre Daigle on the list of most loathed players in Ottawa sports history, but that doesn't change the fact he's still one of the most talented goal-scorers in the world.

The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List

The Numbers: Dany Heatley
Dany Heatley	Goals	Assists	Points	Pim
Career Totals	260	283	543	456
Average Per 82 Games	41.1	45.9	87.7	73.8

Draft Year: 2000

The New York Islanders traded Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers (for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha ... ouch), setting the stage for Mike Milbury to select Rick Dipietro No. 1 overall. Dany Heatley was the next player off the board, going to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Why He's On My List

Regardless of how he's handled himself this offseason, Heatley's ability to put the puck in the net is as good as any player in the NHL right now. He's finished in the top-10 in goals five times, and even though this past season was considered a down year for the 28-year-old winger, there were still only eight players in the league that finished with more goals. Not bad for an off year.

He has a pair of 50-goal campaigns on his resume, something only six other active players can claim: Alex Ovechkin, Teemu Selanne, Brendan Shanahan, Ilya Kovalchuk, Keith Tkachuk, and Jarome Iginla.

Obligatory YouTube Video

Incredible shot from a terrible angle.

NHL's Top 50: Dany Heatley (No. 16) originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Dany Heatley Rumors; What Will Rangers Do With Zherdev?

Adam Gretz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, Senators, Sharks, NHL Rumors

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our daily look at the previous night's action. During the offseason, we'll look at some of the storylines and moves taking place around the league three times per week. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

The Heatley Rumor Mill Continues To Spin

The Edmonton Oilers have finally given up on the idea that disgruntled Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley will waive his no-trade clause to play for their team, and with that comes the rumor of a potential deal involving the Senators, San Jose Sharks and Montreal Candiens.

Joe Thornton feeding passes to Dany Heatley? Yes, please.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun started the rumor mill this weekend, and quotes Senators general manager Bryan Murray as saying, via e-mail, that he has "an option" to finally move Heatley. Assuming this actually happens, the question then becomes: will Heatley accept the trade this time around?

Nikolai Zherdev Gets $3.9 Million In Arbitration

Newsday's Steve Zipay reported on Sunday night that Rangers forward Nikolai Zherdev was awarded just under $4 million ($3.9 million, to be exact) in his arbitration hearing; slightly more than the Rangers offered him, slightly less than what Zherdev asked for. The Rangers must now decide if they want pay him, dump him, or trade him. Zipay feels a trade could be in order to any number of Western Conference teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, where former Rangers coach, Tom Renney, is currently an assistant. Oilers blog Lowetide takes it upon itself to offer up Dustin Penner for Zherdev.

Loose Pucks

... Blue Shirt Banter counts down the Top-10 Jerseys of all time. A nice mix of original six teams (Montreal, Rangers, Blackhawks) and now-defunct NHL franchises (the Cleveland Barons!).

... Puck Daddy's Sean Leahy asks if Ilya Kovalchuk will stay in Atlanta.

... Jiri Hudler still plans on playing in Russia this season.

More Dany Heatley Rumors; What Will Rangers Do With Zherdev? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL's Top 50: Daniel Alfredsson (No. 32)

Adam Gretz — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 32 is Ottawa Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson.

Prior to Daniel Alfredsson's arrival in Ottawa, the Senators were a laughing stock in the NHL, winning just 33 of their first 216 games. It was the worst record after three seasons for any expansion team in league history, and it almost seems impossible to lose that many games. Such is life when Norm Maciver is your leading scorer.

While first-round picks Alexei Yashin, Alexandre Daigle and Radek Bonk were disappointments for one reason or another, it was Alfredsson, a sixth-round pick in 1994, that proved to be the cornerstone of the team.

The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List

Alfredsson made an immediate impact his rookie season, leading the team in scoring with 61 points. The next season, the Senators qualified for the playoffs for the first time and started a run of 11 consecutive postseason appearances, a streak that ended this year. He's spent his entire career with the Senators and signed a contract extension in October, complete with a no-movement clause, that pretty much guarantees he will retire in Ottawa as the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

The Numbers: Daniel Alfredsson
Daniel Alfredsson	Goals	Assists	Points	PIM
Career Totals	355	566	921	409
Average Per 82 Games	31.1	50.0	81.1	36.0

Draft Year: 1994

The second of Ottawa's sixth-round picks, Alfredsson was selected No. 133 overall, one spot after Anaheim took forward Bates Battaglia. Other notable picks around the NHL included Ed Jovanovski, Ryan Smyth, Milan Hejduk and Eric Lindros' brother, Brett Lindros.

Why He's On My List

One of the better two-way wingers in the league, Alfredsson plays in every situation for the Senators and has had his best seasons after the age of 30. His career mark of .99 points-per-game is ninth best among active players, while he's averaged nearly 1.20 points-per-game since the 2002-03 season (the year he turned 30). Like every player on the Senators, his production dropped a bit this past season, and it was the first time since 2001-02 he failed to average over a point-per-game. He's the captain in Ottawa, a five-time All-Star, winner of the Calder Trophy as the league's rookie of the year and a Gold Medal winner in the Olympics. A complete player.

Obligatory YouTube Video

Daniel Alfredsson sends the Ottawa Senators to their first Stanley Cup Final.

NHL's Top 50: Daniel Alfredsson (No. 32) originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL's Top 50: Jason Spezza (No. 34)

Adam Gretz — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Senators, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 34 is Ottawa Senators forward Jason Spezza.

Alexei Yashin's career in Ottawa may have been tumultuous and relatively disappointing, and he may be one of the most loathed figures associated with Ottawa sports, but he did give Senators fans this: it's because of him, and the maniacal dealings of a former New York Islanders general manager, that the Senators now have one of the game's top play-making centers.

During the 2001 NHL draft, Islanders general manager Mike Milbury, making bold trades for the sake of making bold trades, parted ways with up-and-coming defenseman Zdeno Chara, forward Bill Muckalt, and the No. 2 overall pick to acquire the moody Yashin, and then signed him to an outrageous 10-year contract extension (the Islanders are still paying him today). The No. 2 pick that year? Jason Spezza.

The NHL's Top 50 Players: See the Entire List

Since making his NHL debut during the 2002-03 season, Spezza has become a point-per-game player and a three-time 30-goal scorer for the Senators. The Islanders eventually bought out Yashin's contract and are currently paying him to not play for them. Amazing trade for the Senators. Horrendous trade for the Islanders.

The Numbers: Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza	Goals	Assists	Points	PIM
Career Totals	148	270	418	302
Average Per 82 Games	30.3	54.9	84.4	61.5

Draft Year: 2001

The second overall pick in 2001, Spezza was taken out of Belleville of the Ontario Hockey League. Ilya Kovalchuk, the player taken No. 1 by the Atlanta Thrashers, is the only player selected that year with more goals and points in the NHL.

Why He's On My List

There are few players in the NHL that can distribute the puck like Spezza. He's twice eclipsed the 90-point barrier, and he's finished in the top-six in assists-per-game three times in his career, most recently during the 2007-08 season. His current mark of .668 assists-per-game puts him right between San Jose's Joe Thornton (.690) and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk (.667) among active players. That's pretty strong company. Had his numbers not taken a rather large dip this past season I would have had him significantly higher.

Obligatory YouTube Video

Spezza undresses a Montreal defender, and then lifts a shot over Jose Theodore for a game-winner in overtime.

NHL's Top 50: Jason Spezza (No. 34) originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently Beggers Can Be Choosers: Heatley Rejects Trade to Edmonton

Adam Gretz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:45:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, Senators, NHL Fans

Dany Heatley put the Senators in a rather difficult position earlier this offseason when he surprisingly requested a trade out of Ottawa. General manager Bryan Murray, naturally, worked to make that request a reality, and after several weeks of rumors and speculation, it appeared as if the two-time 50-goal scorer was finally traded to the Edmonton Oilers late Tuesday night for the somewhat underwhelming return of Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid.

Apparently, Edmonton wasn't good enough of a destination for Heatley, as he ultimately rejected the deal by refusing to waive his no-trade clause after hours of waiting (which led to fans losing their collective minds on the Hockey's Future message boads).

To recap: Heatley requests trade, Senators trade him, Heatley rejects trade. Yeah. That seems about right.

Since the trade fell through, it's been assumed that since Heatley was still a Senator at 12:01 AM ET, Ottawa now owes him a $4 million bonus, which will now lead to Murray asking for a larger deal in return for his All-Star winger -- or he'll simply keep him for next season. But as TSN's Bob McKenzie explains, that may not be entirely correct:

From McKenzie:

A lot of confusion has existed because there is a $4 million bonus payment due to Heatley on July 1. It was the understanding of many involved, including the Senators and Oilers, that once the clock struck midnight and turned over to July 1, the Sens would be on the hook for the $4 million bonus payment, which may have been a serious impediment to getting a deal done after midnight. But as it turns out, the NHL says as long as a Heatley trade is concluded before midnight eastern tomorrow night, the bonus payment allocation can be transferred to the new team. So, in effect, the Senators have another 24 hours to find a suitable deal that Heatley will approve and NOT be on the hook for his $4 million signing bonus.

As frustrating, annoying, and downright hilarious (unless you're an Oilers fan) as this entire soap opera turned out to be, it's still probably a positive for Ottawa. This was set to be a rather lopsided trade in favor of Edmonton, and, quite honestly, a disgruntled Heatley is still better than the package the Senators were set to acquire. Now they either keep him, or find a better deal.

For Oilers fans, this has to be a tough pill to swallow because for three brief hours it appeared as if they were going to land one of the league's elite goal-scorers, still in the prime of his career, without having to give up the farm.

Now it's back to the drawing board.

Jonathan Willis at the Copper & Blue offers his frustrations on the latest NHL player to reject Edmonton:

This really isn't what the fanbase needs. I've gotten so sick of listening to the self-loathing "everyone hates Edmonton" speech from everyone that I don't even know what to do anymore. Heatley joins Nylander and Pronger and Lupul and Comrie and all the rest.

So, where does Heatley go now? Following the Scott Gomez trade to Montreal earlier in the day on Tuesday, there was a report from Rick Carpiniello of the Ranger Report that Heatley was set to become a Ranger. I suppose this puts them back in play. And, hey, Los Angeles still has the attractive combination of cap space, assets and beaches.

UPDATE: As if this story needed another twist and turn, McKenzie updated his original report and added the following:

It's true that Dany Heatley did not waive his no-movement clause when requested by the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, but that isn't to say it's not still possible for him to waive it on Wednesday. He has, technically speaking, not issued an outright refusal to move.

Oh, the drama.

Apparently Beggers Can Be Choosers: Heatley Rejects Trade to Edmonton originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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