Sharks get Danny Heatley

[Upton]

Ending months of speculation and controversy after Heatley expressed his desire for a trade out of Ottawa, the Senators have completed a blockbuster deal with the San Jose Sharks in which they will acquire Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek and a second-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Along with Heatley, the Senators will send the Sharks their fifth-round pick in the 2010 draft.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=498359

The original rumored trade had Patrick Marleau leaving. I like this one much better.

[Onceuponalife]

1. Heatley is a great player

Cheechoo was expendable, but Michalek is going to be missed. We'll see how this plays out...Heatley on a line with Marleau and Thornton? *drool*

Can't wait for October!

[Forkboy]

2. Sounds like a trade worth making.

I have one concern. Heatley has quit on two teams now, and one thing the Sharks seem to need the most is heart, not scoring. I'm not sure Heatley fills that role. If other players can step up and provide that then it won't matter, and adding 40+ goals to your lineup can make up for a lot...until the playoffs.

Still, this is easily a deal worth making. Even if Heatley decides he wants to leave SJ like he has Atlanta and Ottawa, at least you'll get a few years out of him, and adding a premier goal scorer is never a negative overall. And despite the playoffs last year, they're still going to be one of the top teams to beat in the West this year, and this makes them even better. I'm still leaning to the Hawks winning the West this year (their goalie situation is my concern there), but this makes me rethink it a bit.