What Murray isn’t getting is that his son went into hiding and brought alot of the bad press on himself.  If he would have actually spoke to the media and told his side of the story Canadians might have had a bit of sympathy for him.

Posted by J on 10/12/09 at 08:24 AM ET

Yeah, Heatley is the real victim here.  Let’s not forget why he had to be traded out of Atlanta.

I agree with J, perhaps some insight as to why Heatley signed a six-year, $45 million contract with Ottawa and then asked to be traded a year later might go some ways to helping us understand and empathize with him.  I have trouble building up sympathy for a guy who, with lack of more evidence, seems to have a problem with work ethic and with getting along with people.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 08:51 AM ET

I have trouble building up sympathy for a guy who, with lack of more evidence, seems to have a problem with work ethic and with getting along with people.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 09:51 AM ET

...who gets paid millions upon millions of dollars to play a sport.  How can you not sympathize with the guy? **removes tongue from cheek**

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/12/09 at 09:22 AM ET

An underreported part of this story was that Heatley constantly tried to tell his side of the issue, going so far as to offer to pick up writers at their houses and drive them around town for a while as he explained his actions in detail.

Amazingly, everyone declined.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 10/12/09 at 09:26 AM ET

I don’t think he owed anybody a reason other than the Senators - who had one obviously or they would not have traded him.

Should he not have asked for the trade and stuck to his word… maybe, but sometimes situations are better if they change - for both player and team.  Just like the Senators felt with the Hossa for Heatley trade.

I’m not saying everything was handled correctly, but for both parties involved I am sure this was the best outcome, despite the hurt feelings.

Posted by WingMan from The Q C on 10/12/09 at 09:31 AM ET

I thought about mentioning the millions of dollars, Drew, but I didn’t want Murray Heatley thinking I was piling on to his precious princess.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 09:31 AM ET

I don’t think he owed anybody a reason other than the Senators - who had one obviously or they would not have traded him.

If you’re getting paid more than $7 million per year to entertain the fans, then you damn sure owe them an explanation for when you don’t want to do that anymore for them.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 09:37 AM ET

An underreported part of this story was that Heatley constantly tried to tell his side of the issue, going so far as to offer to pick up writers at their houses and drive them around town for a while as he explained his actions in detail.

Amazingly, everyone declined.

Oww.

Posted by Primis on 10/12/09 at 09:39 AM ET

Waaaaahhhhhh, wahhhhhh, waaaaaahhhh.

Dany Heatley killed a guy. Don’t forget that.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 10/12/09 at 10:06 AM ET

100%, Nathan.  If there’s one guy on the frigging planet earth who better never complain about anything, ever… it’s Dany Heatley.

I mean, are you kidding me?  He’s lucky he didn’t die in that accident, too.  He’s lucky he’s not in jail for 10 years for Vehicular Homicide.  He’s lucky he’s making 7 mil a year.

And he’s going to get pissy and demand a trade?  Seriously, f him.  I hope that idiot starts dating Dirk Nowitzki’s ex.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 10/12/09 at 10:26 AM ET

who seriously cares about this anymore other than a bunch of Drama Boy Fans and morons in the media? whats more annoying than Heatley is the fans whining like theyre just as “noble” in their life choices and the media people, who usually are just as full of crap themselves. they just dont have anyone following them around because no one cares about their life.

Posted by Death Metal Nightmare from MKE on 10/12/09 at 11:17 AM ET

When you get off your own soapbox, Death Metal Nightmare, I’d like you to know that I’ve never killed anybody.

If you have killed somebody, then good for you, I agree that you have no right to get down on Dany Heatley. 

Sports stars and celebrities do not deserve insulation from the media and the fans.  If they don’t like the attention, they’re welcome to find a way of making a living that doesn’t include the spotlight.  Celebrity doesn’t just sneak up on hockey players in Ottawa.

Another excellent post by a guy who gets off on playing devil’s advocate.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 11:31 AM ET

When you make $7 million per year playing a sport that is sold to the public, viewed by 15,000 - 20,000 fans live on a semi-nightly basis, and viewed by hundreds of thousands (or millions, in some cases) more on television, you are opening yourself to scrutiny.

If you don’t want to be publicly scrutinized, choose a different profession, and make hockey your weekend beer-league hobby.

Oh, and when YOU KILL A GUY… you’re probably going to draw even more attention to yourself.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 10/12/09 at 11:47 AM ET

What abunch of Red WIng whiners. If heatley had gone to the Whine Wings, your tune would be different. Maybe you should focus on the fact that detroit is no longer Hockey Town! Heatley asked for a trade but did not put it public. Additionally, he was more than willing to work out his contract. He is going to be well received in SJ for years to come. I can’t wait until he plays in your Dead Wings arena and he scores. YOUR PATHETIC.

this is the part I love...we have more cup. blah blah blah. Your cup run is over. Time not to dwell on the past, stay present. It is going to be a painful season, Detroit.

GO SHARKS!

Posted by Hockey Rob from San Jose on 10/12/09 at 02:15 PM ET

What abunch

Two words.

detroit

Detroit is capitalized

Hockey Town

Hockeytown is one word.

Heatley asked for a trade but did not put it public.

???

YOUR PATHETIC.

You’re pathetic

we have more cup.

???

...and you’re an idiot.  Enjoy Dany boy until he kills a teammate or asks for a trade after getting crucified when you bow out early in the play-offs yet again.  The only people who want to concentrate completely on the present are those who are ashamed of their past.

S*ck it.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/12/09 at 02:34 PM ET

If heatley had gone to the Whine Wings, your tune would be different.

Nope, I’d still hate the guy.  Many Wings fans still aren’t ok with the fact that Todd Bertuzzi is back in a Detroit uniform.  I guarantee you I wouldn’t be following this team if they had traded for Heatley. 

Whether or not Heatley made the trade request public is immaterial.  It’s just another team on which he can’t get along with anybody.  San Jose needed heart last year in the playoffs, not flash.  They got the wrong thing.

Enjoy Heatley while the weather’s fair, because as soon as the clouds show up, so does the other side of your newest toy.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/12/09 at 02:52 PM ET

If it was any other franchise than Ottawa, I might be inclined to blame Heatley.
But it was Ottawa, and I will cut Heatley some slack and wish him well in SJ.
I have done the same with Ray Emery, I never much cared for Chara, but since he
was run out of the Sens org. , have begun to admire his skills, and the way he has
conducted himself in Boston.

Heatley is off to a good start in SJ (5g, 5a, in 5 games and a +3),
He is playing for a noBS coach who lets his players know exactly what he expects.
I am betting Heatley will be there a long time,

Ottawa is one FU franchise and the changes have to be made at the top.
They mismanaged Hossa, created and fed the entire Emery affair, and have tried to use
Heatley as a big smokescreen for incompetence at the top.  Let;s also remember that
head coaches that land in Ottawa don’t even bother to unpack their bags.  Bryan Murray
throws coaches and players under the bus on a regular basis whenever the seat gets hot.

A guy died, and Heatley was judged not entirely at fault. 
It happens to young people every day.
The fans ran him out of Atlanta, and the Franchise ran him out of Ottawa....
Sound familiar....think about Hossa and how both of these guys paid they’re due by
putting in their years playing where they had no choice...and....for the same teams.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 10/12/09 at 03:19 PM ET

Dany Heatley should be thankful every day that the parents of his late friend have very forgiving hearts and didn’t want him to suffer for what happened, because otherwise he would be in jail.  They have more emotional strength than I can imagine.

I have much less of an issue with simply wanting out of Ottawa than wanting out of Ottawa on exactly the terms that were convenient to him.  If a place is making you so incredibly miserable, then you should logically be grabbing for any exit presented to you - even if it’s Edmonton.  His desire for options to choose among was the most off-putting thing about the whole issue.

It’s a nice addition to San Jose, but they didn’t need it - much like Detroit picking up Hossa before last season.  Nice, flashy, attention-grabbing - but really quite unnecessary and not what is going to be most important in determining where the team ends up at the end of the season.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/12/09 at 07:10 PM ET

Bringing up Dan Snyder’s death is really classy.  It was an accident, something that I am sure Heatley will remember for the rest of his life.  Snyder was his friend, obviously he did not want that to happen.  He was close enough to him that Snyder’s parents forgave him, and even hugged Heatley after the ordeal.  As for Ottawa, I am sure that there is a little more to this story then what is being said.  Its not like Ottawa has never done anything “wrong” either.  Look what they did to Hossa, signed him to a contract then IMMEDIATELY traded him to one of the worst teams in the league.  Im sure Hossa didn’t appreciate that. IMHO ottawa got what they deserved.  As for edmonton, who the hell wants to go there.  Their team is bad, and doesn’t look like it will get any better any soon.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 10/12/09 at 10:38 PM ET