An Improvement in Ottawa for the Senators?

When Executive Vice-President and General Manager Brian Murray traded the prolific winger Dany Heatley this past off-season to the San Jose Sharks, it was the inevitable that a deal had to get done, but it was a must that the return involved at least two high-end NHL players that can play a top six role in Ottawa. Senators fans learned of Heatley’s fate and welcomed forwards Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo to the nation’s capital. How things would play out in the 1st quarter of the 2009-10 season was certainly in question, but I’d imagine Brian Murray and Head Coach Cory Clouston welcomed the opportunity to proceed with 23 players who wanted to play in Ottawa and not ones that wanted to jump ship.

Michalek and Cheechoo joined Alex Kovalev as the newcomers of the Ottawa Senators. Without hesitation, Head Coach Cory Clouston inserted all three of them into top-six-forward roles. As much of a no brainer as it seemed, the results are far from expectations prior to opening night. Through 24 games played, Kovalev and Cheechoo have a combined six goals to show for and are a minus 8. Michalek is a bright spot with 13 goals in 24 games played, but by no means is this guy playing his best hockey. Brian Murray mentioned all three of these high end players as candidates to shake things up on the top units, in an attempt to get forward Jason Spezza re-energized. Two goals for Spezza thus far however, dictate once again, it’s not working out quite as planned. The Senators might have a 13-7-4 record which is much improved from last season, but this is not what anyone upstairs had in mind.

The regular season began with Pascal Leclaire between the pipes for the Ottawa Senators. The significance behind this was not only did the Ottawa Senators have a potential threat in net, but the return investment from the trade that sent popular forward Antoine Vermette to the Columbus Blue Jackets at last years trade deadline was about to make his debut. The trade was another high impact move for Brian Murray, trying to solidify the goalkeeping, not only for this coming season, but the future. Coming off of season ending ankle surgery, Leclaire started by posting eight wins in 16 contests, before recently sitting out with an undisclosed lower body injury. To make matters much worse for the Senators, Leclaire was subject to a deflection of a puck off his cheek bone, sitting on the bench as he backed up his counterpart Brian Elliot. A broken cheek bone will now keep Leclaire out 4-6 weeks. Brian Elliot has taken on the #1 role with AHL journeymen Mike Brodeur as his backup. Again, Brian Murray has to be simply shaking his head.

Alexander Picard and Filip Kuba lead all Ottawa Senator Defensemen in points, though both players have a combined 3 goals to show for. Rookie D-man Matt Carkner has 2 goals in 24 games, after taking on the role as an AHL enforcer in previous seasons. Chris Phillips who is clearly Ottawa’s #1 defensemen has 7 points and is tied with Chris Campoli through 24 games. All of that being said, you can’t help but to think Brian Murray is kicking tires to try and improve this bleak blueline. You also can’t help but to wonder what it would be like to actually have an impact player on the blueline in Ottawa, such as the one they lost to the Boston Bruins via free agency years ago, AKA Zdeno Chara.

There are bright spots in Ottawa early on. Their record indicates a vast improvement from that of last season. Heatley is no longer there and a promising Milan Michalek seems to be just getting started. Pascal Leclaire will eventually be back, in the meantime, a pretty solid Brian Elliot will tend between the pipes. Alex Kovalev will eventually score some goals in crucial situations, while Jonathan Cheechoo might just flirt with the Rocket Richard trophy on a few occasions. Things aren’t all that bad in the Nation’s Capital. In fact, some might say they are much improved. If you’re a Senators fan, there is one thing you can be sure of however, Brian Murray is well aware of the list of tasks at hand.

Fallout From The Dany Heatley Trade to San Jose

[Editor's Note: Just last week, Darren Coslov wrote that the time had come for Ottawa GM Brian Murray to trade Dany Heatley (possibly to the San Jose Sharks), and that deal is now a reality. His thoughts on the deal...]

One disgruntled Dany Heatley was never going to stand in the way of the Ottawa Senators. They're looking for plenty of answers as it is following an extremely disappointing season. In fact, GM Brian Murray has been kicking tires for some time now, trying to fit the best possible pieces to the puzzle. Dany Heatley aggressively made it known that he had zero interest in becoming a long term fit in the nation’s capital. However, trying to justify reasons at this point is irrelevant, following a trade that sent the 72-point scorer in 2008-09 to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forwards Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek.

One thing we know at this point, after a fairly quiet offseason for San Jose, this deal makes the Sharks better and adds more questions marks across the board for the Ottawa Senators.

The Sharks now look poised to defend their Presidents Trophy as the top team in the regular season, and potentially end a string of disappointing post-season appearances. The Sharks gain a top-tier forward in the National Hockey League, but rest assured one thing, Dany Heatley will need to understand his role upon arriving out west, play his game, and keep his mouth shut in order for the Sharks to benefit fully from this deal. The potential of the Sharks becoming a greater force in the playoffs is there, but only Heatley can control whether he will be an addition to this squad.

Some might forget that prior to the past two seasons, Heatley was a back-to-back 50 goal scorer on the Senators. With him paired up with playmaker Joe Thornton, who once recorded 92 assists just a few seasons ago, it's hard to imagine many teams being able to handle this top line. (Note: Team Canada fans can expect to see these two paired up when the Olympics roll around as well this February in Vancouver)

On the other side of the table, the Ottawa Senators needed to pull the trigger on a trade to rid themselves of Dany Heatley, that much we do know. Brian Murray waited patiently all summer to ensure he was able to get what he wanted in return for his one-time superstar winger. GM Murray had to get back NHL ready players, not to mention, players that could potentially be a long-term fit. You have that in Michalek and Cheechoo if both players can identify their roles in Ottawa, and immediately compliment the likes of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, newly acquired Alex Kovalev, and Nick Foligno. Ottawa gains two players with a combined 35 goals in the 2008-09 season. However, a Rocket Richard winning 56 goals scored by Jonathan Cheechoo in the 2005-06 season is surely not forgotten.

Brian Murray took his first steps forward without Dany Heatley just hours into training camp. Only time will tell how this deal will turn out. In the meantime, the Ottawa Senators will begin the 2009-10 season with a brand new look. What happens from there, that’s up to Head Coach Cory Clouston and the 23 guys sitting in front of him.

As for the San Jose Sharks, Dany Heatley certainly adds a major weapon to the mix. What he does on and off the ice however, could impact the Sharks in a variety of ways which will likely determine where this team ends up. GM Doug Wilson is sold on Dany Heatley, perhaps he has no choice at this point. Whether this results in the Stanley Cup that Sharks fans so desperately want, or the end of the Wilson reign in San Jose, we should know the answer by this time next year.

- Darren Coslov

The Time Has Come to Trade Dany Heatley

[Editor's Note: Darren Coslov chimes in on the frustrating summer Ottawa Senators' fans have experienced following superstar forward Dany Heatley's trade demand in June...and July, and August]

Let’s take a second and realize how great of a job Ottawa Senators GM Brian Murray is doing by not moving the disgruntled Dany Heatley for the sake of just meeting his ridiculous demand.

In October 2007, Heatley signed a 6-year $45-million extension to stay with the team. After coming out of the gates fast in the 07-08 season, the Senators completely flopped in the second half of the year and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last season was no better as the team limped through the year and eventually brought in Head Coach Cory Clouston to take over the reigns and right the ship. Heatley and Clouston clashed as the forward's role was slowly reduced, leading to a career-low 72 points and an eventual trade demand. When it comes to Heatley, I wonder at what point is he going to skate away from his own drama he finds ways to create?

Brian Murray knows what he has in Dany Heatley as a player, but also knows what he has in Dany Heatley as a person. There's a big difference between the two, the latter being the ultimate reason he must be dealt prior to opening night.

GM Dean Lombardi of the Los Angeles Kings knows quite well what Heatley could do in Southern California with the crop of young talent he has gathered, but realized the potential consequences far sooner than the Ottawa Senators did prior to the Heatley for Marian Hossa swap in 2005. GM Doug Wilson of the San Jose Sharks promised big changes and needs to clear necessary cap space to make a Heatley move happen, although moving certain assets for a liability might be the reason this deal has not happened by now.

Patience is the key when negotiating a trade involving a prolific player such as Heatley. Brian Murray must get a return that will not only help out now, but also add youth to their not-so-impressive depth chart. Murray's trade leverage is understandably minimal at this point and the bridges have been burned with teammates. This isn’t about assisting Heatley with his immaturity. This is not about Dany Heatley period. This is all about owner Eugene Melnyk and the Ottawa Senators. It’s time to move bad baggage for the sole purpose of improving the big picture and the Sens ridding themselves of a player who no longer wants to wear the sweater in the Nation’s Capital. With training camp merely weeks away, it’s time for Brian Murray to part ways with Dany Heatley.

- Darren Coslov