Reply To: Heatley situation

I am going to share with you the opinion of an Ottawa resident and team fan.

Bryan Murray, on behalf of the team owner, negotiated long and hard to pursue a contract extension for Dany Heatley. The ownership made it clear that he was a cornerstone of the organization and they wanted him to remain in Ottawa as a loyal member and committed to the orgamization.
To further this sign of loyalty he was provided the no trade/movement clause he wanted.

In my opinion, and many of the Ottawa fans, when a no trade clause is negotiated by a player it means that the player is asking for the protection from the team that they will not move him. Essentially they are asking for loyalty and security.
What fans in Ottawa are upset about is simply this…
Dany Heatley asked for loyalty, he indicated that he was loyal by resigning and wanting the no trade clause (i.e. he did not want to be be traded from Ottawa) and then in return for all that he wants a trade at the slightest sign of "conflict".
Players and coaches work these things out…they happen every day. Players don't run from them.
Fans see this action, and his silence on the issue has not helped in the slightest, as weak, lacking character and a complete slap in the face to an organization that brought him here and has been nothing buy loyal and supportive of him ever since.

What I hear people saying is that they see him now as "the spoiled child who takes his toys and goes home" when things don't go his way.
Fans are very confused and disillusioned…"How do you ask for a no trade clause and then turn around and ask to be traded?" And then on top of all that.."How do you ask for a trade but then want to control the process by turning down options that are available for a trade?"
Lets face it people…if it was really so bad in Ottawa that he just had to get out why would he then turn down a chance to get out?

Feelings of fans in Ottawa have nothing to do with Dany Heatley the man. It has everything to do with the actions of the man…or lack of action in some cases.
And in my opinion fans have every right to hold that opinion. He has done nothing to avert it.