The San Jose Mercury News’ Gary Peterson writes a column examining the San Jose Sharks’ off-season to date. In the piece, he says the fate of forward Patrick Marleau is yet to be determined. He says “there has been speculation of a trade that would send Marleau to Ottawa for forward Dany Heatley, probably because it makes so much hypothetical sense. Heatley is unhappy where he is, and Marleau clearly needs to go if the Sharks are to upgrade their grit factor.”
Has anybody else heard this rumor (at least from a legitimate source)? Would make some sense, though I would think Ottawa could ask for more in return.
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July 12, 2009 at 11:45 am
Zach
This could be true, as one of the “big three” (Joe, Nabby, Marleau) are more than likely to go, and Patty is the most likely of the three. However I dont know if Heatley is the right choice. Although he is consistently a high goal scorer (which is exactly what the sharks are missing), he has a pathetic attitude and would be a huge risk for the chemistry of the team. If Doug Wilson picks him up, I would be surprised if he does not clearly mention that there will be no typical stuck-up Heatley attitude in San Jose. As to giving more than Marleau to the Senators, Ottawa is desperate to get rid of Heatley, so Marleau may not be a bad trade, however I would expect to see either a draft pick or a smaller-name forward.
July 13, 2009 at 12:18 pm
jlope23
Thanks for the insight, Zach. This suggested move does seem to make a lot of sense. Perhaps the Sharks are one of the two “mystery” teams alleged to be working on a trade proposal with Ottawa. I know the Sharks would definitely need some salary relief to make such a deal happen. Would almost (ALMOST) be a wash to swap Marleau for Heatley.
July 21, 2009 at 2:38 am
mitchsolomon
Zach, it would be impossible for the Sharks to take him on without dumping someone else, namely cheechoo. 90% of… hockey aware Shark’s fans would much rather see nabby go, and we are all very excited for possible trades that would leave us with price or halak. And if it were a 3-way, it is possible for the Sharks to retain marleau, gain Heatley, and shed 4-5 mil in cap with the removal of Michalek + Cheechoo (an established center with a shooter who needs to return to form presents a very tradable asset), and ehrhoff to another. all described at inthesharktank.wordpress.com.
btw there isn’t enough depth in the Shark’s farm system to allow us to trade picks or prospects, so it would not be a smaller name forward going. it would be a big 1, and w/ the cap problems in ottawa, it would be necessary to involve a 3rd team w/ plenty of cap room.
July 21, 2009 at 2:39 am
mitchsolomon
ps most sharks fans would rather have Marleau w/o the C than Heatley
August 4, 2009 at 11:27 am
Tim Liao
Speak for yourself mitchsolomon. As a long time Sharks fan who has been a rabid fan since game one, all the way back in 1991 I would much rather have Heatley than Marleau.
August 4, 2009 at 11:29 am
Tim Liao
A real coup for the Sharks would be if the Sharks could package Nabakov and Marleau in exchange for Heatley and Pascal LeClaire. I don’t know why no one has thought of this but it make the Heatley trade much more palatable for Ottawa without bringing Montreal into the fold.