Heatley Talks

From TSN:

Dany Heatley says that he feels that his role with the Ottawa Senators has been diminished, and that’s the biggest reason why he has asked for the team to trade him.

The veteran forward spoke in Kelowna, B.C. on Friday for the first time since he made the request in June. He stated that his wish to be traded has not changed over the summer.

“When I signed in Ottawa two years ago, I felt it was to be an integral part of the team,” Heatley said. “Over the last two years and more recently over the past year, I feel my role was diminished. This past season, it diminished a lot more.

“This is a straight hockey decision. I have nothing against the fans of Ottawa, or the city of Ottawa. I would like the opportunity to go somewhere where I can play to the best of my capabilities and be the player that I can be.”

Read the entire article here.

Does anyone believe this is the only reason?  C’mon, I may have been born at night but I wasn’t born last night.  There are clearly other reasons for Heatley’s trade demand.  Have Heatley’s responsibilities really decreased that much?  I mean, he played some second power play minutes under Cory Clouston but the team was horrible before Clouston took over.  He came in and tried to wake some people up.  What’s wrong with that? 

Now, I don’t believe Heatley’s “diminished role” played a part in the Senators’ relative success under (I feel like that team was due to win some games) but I don’t blame Clouston for those tactics either.  He has to wake up his squad, and when a team with the talent of the Senators is playing that poorly, anything goes.

To me, there are reasons behind the scenes for this demand.  That’s fine too; frankly, the reasons may be none of our business but this is his front and it is a safe one.

Maybe I’m wrong in all this, but color me unimpressed and unconvinced with this excuse.