Dany Heatley, right, is unhappy over his 'dimished role' with the Senators. (Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)A report of a trade that would send Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley to the San Jose Sharks is being vehemently denied by all three of the teams reportedly involved.
ESPN.com reported late Thursday that the Senators had reached an agreement on a three-way deal that would send Heatley to San Jose, the Sharks' Patrick Marleau to the Los Angeles Kings, and L.A. forwards Alexander Frolov and Jarret Stoll to Ottawa.
The general managers of all three teams denied the report.
"It's simply not true," Ottawa's Bryan Murray told ESPN.com Thursday night. "I've had conversations with teams today but still I'm not close to a deal [involving Heatley]."
L.A. GM Dean Lombardi told ESPN.com via text message: "It is complete bull."
"It is an absolute fabrication," San Jose GM Doug Wilson told ESPN.com via text message.
Slow sales
Is the controversy surrounding Dany Heatley impacting the Senators' ticket sales?
During a breakfast meeting at Ottawa City Hall on Thursday, Senators president and CEO Cyril Leeder said that the ongoing saga of Heatley's trade request is hurting the organization at the box office.
"Yes," Leeder said, when asked if there is a correlation between slow tickets sales and the difficulty the Senators are having with trading Heatley. "Some people have outright said, 'We are not renewing our tickets."'
Leeder said the Heatley situation isn't the only factor causing financial woes for the Senators this season. He also cited the recession and the fact the team missed the playoffs last season.
Heatley asked the Senators to trade him earlier this summer, explaining later that a "diminished role" with the team was the biggest reason for the request.
"When I signed in Ottawa a few years ago I was told that I was going to be an integral part of the team. I think over the last two years, and more recently over the last year, I feel that my role has diminished. This past season, it diminished a lot more," Heatley said.
Decreased ice time
Twice a 50-goal scorer, Heatley potted 39 goals last season — his lowest total in four campaigns with the Senators. His ice time also dipped to 20:07 per game, more than 1½ minutes below his average workload in 2007-08.
Heatley, 28, confirmed reports he has experienced tension with Ottawa coach Cory Clouston, who took over the job midway through last season after Craig Hartsburg was fired.
"I feel that I'm a player that can be used in a lot of different situations. I'm an offensive guy, but I think [I'm strong] in all aspects of the game, and I don't feel like I've been given that role on the team," Heatley said.
Murray reportedly tried to trade Heatley to the Oilers last month, but the forward blocked the deal through his no-trade clause.
Heatley — who signed a six-year, $45-million US contract with Ottawa in 2007 — said he would still report to training camp, which begins this weekend, even if the Senators couldn't trade him.
"I have a contract and I'm going to honour that contract," he said. "At the same time, I think we know there are other teams out there who are interested and hopefully something can get done."
With files from The Canadian Press
