Beggers CAN be Choosers: Why I’m siding with Dany Heatley.

If you’re a constant reader of this Blog, you know that my extra-curricular activities are mostly things I’ve created, and managed. As the GM of a fastball team and a ball hockey team, and Founder and co-manager of a poker tour, I can often identify with what major league GMs have to contend with. So you’d be surprised to find that I actually agree with Dany Heatley’s side of things, and not Murray’s.

Let’s start where this all began, the day the stupid Sens fired the single greatest coach the Sens have ever had, in Craig Hartsburg. I mean the guy won GOLD with the Jrs! Then they up and promote this BASTARD Cory Clouston who walks into the dressing room like he OWNS the place, and just starts bossing everyone around! Ok, so the Sens haven’t lived up to their potential thus far. So they have a losing record. So they’re a longshot for the postseason for the first time in years. Does that give Clouston the right to tell Heater to try an improve his skating? Where does Clouston get the nerve to spread out the offense onto two potentially lethal powerplay units? How can Clouston possibly think he has the right to split up The Big Three and demote Heater to the second line, thereby improving the team’s overall offensive production. This ignorance shaved off 2 WHOLE MINUTES of ice time for #15. COME ON!!! Not to mention Clouston’s foolishment and lack of foresight cost the Sens a shot at John Tavares. Then Sens went 19-10-3 over the remainder of the year. They started looking like the team of old. A winner. No wonder Heatley wanted out.

So Heatley innocently, perfectly understandably, tells the media, "Hey. Guys. I want to play for another team." Well, can’t blame him there. I mean here's a guy who scores 50 goals when the team’s doing good. Who WOULDN’T want him? The contract? Peanuts for what you’re getting in return! If you’re a team who’s already doing well, and already has feeders on your top line who know how to pass to a guy with a wicked one-timer, this is a no-brainer. Apparently 28 other GMs CAN be wrong.

Which leaves us with the Edmonton Oilers. And really. Come ON! Have you seen this city? I’m sorry, but would YOU want to play in an arena labelled as one of the loudest in the NHL? The headaches would be unbearable. Maybe Heatley held out until after July 1st because he needed the extra $4 million to spend on Advil. Even if he might get a Rexall discount.

But there’s more. The Oilers are a young growing team who have some solid youth in Gagner, Cogliano and Nielson, you’ve got your skilled top forwards with Hemsky and Horcoff, you’ve just brought in a Cup winner in the Bulin Wall to backstop you for the next 4 years, and the D’s not terrible either with guys like Souray and Gilbert among others. Sure the team didn’t do much under Mac T, but under Quinn? Renney? Not to mention that the Oilers are rich in history and have a tradition of some of the greatest Championship Teams in NHL history, formed by some of the biggest and greatest NHL Superstars ever to play the game. Gretzky. Messier. Kurri. Fuhr. Oh man. Adding Heater to this mix (you lose Cogliano, but that’s ok) and you’ve got a recipe for a great club going forward. True. But here’s where Dany’s likely got some issue: What do you do AFTER the game in effing Edmonton? Build an Igloo? Go dog-sledding? What if Heatley wants to go buy some CDs and also needs a new pair of shoes? What if the West Edmonton Mall’s HMV and Payless Shoes are 8 miles apart? Have you seen this place? It's got carnival rides, you can go on submarine rides, it’s got an effing waterpark in it. Who needs it. Heater’s got ALL that money, and he’s gonna blow out a knee walking around that monstrosity?

Stupid Edmonton. City of Champions my ass.

Heatley’s a smart guy. He got a no-movement contract, so he can dictate where he wants to go. And through this entire development, Dany’s proven one thing that’s apparent with guaranteed contracts: Beggers CAN be chosers.

M@