Heat

I've publicly criticized Dany Heatley for many things - his attitude, his effort, his demeanor, and more specifically, his most recent playoff performance.  There's also the Dan Snyder tragedy, which doesn't speak to his capabilities as a hockey player, but as a human being, and I think it's an incident that will forever call his character to question.  His latest antics (demanding a trade less than a year after signing a lucrative contract extension only to quash the only good offer the Senators received for him) have left an even worse taste in my mouth.  If he wasn't happy under the new coaching regime in Ottawa - one that makes him accountable for his inconsistent play - that's fine.  But don't go public with it, you owe the organization and its fans at least that much.  Once you come out and say you want to be traded, you don't exactly put your GM in an advantageous bargaining position.  

Miraculously, Bryan Murray managed to negotiate himself a pretty decent offer.  I think the Senators would be a better team tomorrow if they dressed Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid instead of Dany Heatley.  The trio offered up by Oilers' GM Kevin Lowe helps Ottawa in several areas of need.  So, Heatley wants out... but apparently he's not going to Edmonton.  I guess beggars can in fact be choosers.

At the end of the day, Heatley's actions have hand-cuffed his current team, disappointed the fans of two Canadian teams, and embarrassed three NHL players, who now have the awkward task of walking back in to Rexall Place and moving forward as though Lowe never tried to trade them.  It's time that the NHL look to the NFL-model of allowing for contracts that aren't guaranteed to avoid problems like this in the future.  Everyone effected by this saga, except he who set it all in motion, deserves better.