Morning Mashup: Heatley Traded

by Mislav Jantoljak on July 4, 2011 in Free Agency - 979 Comments

Photo Credit: Zimbio.com

Apparently, Paul Holmgren is not the only GM that wants to re-tool his team. After a series of surprising UFA contracts the Sharks shocked everyone in the water trading  star forward Dany Heatley to Minnesota in exchange for Martin Havlat, a forward that always had that star potential, but never quite got there.

This isn’t the first time these two teams tangoed together in a trade this summer. During the NHL Entry Draft, the Sharks traded promising RW Devin Setoguchi, along with Charlie Coyle and a first round pick (2011) to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Brent Burns and a second round pick (2012).

Personally, it’s pretty clear Minnesota won both trades. Yes, the Burns – Setoguchi trade looks like a good deal for both clubs because Burns still might end up as a great NHL defenseman but when you factor in Charlie Coyle (THN’s 11^th ranked prospect in the 2011 Future Watch edition) and a first round pick used to draft Zack Phillips this year, it’s really hard not to see them as winners.

As far as the Heatley trade goes, it’s pretty clear why the hockey world continues to call it the Heatley trade. All due credit to Martin Havlat, but Heatley is clearly the better player. A vital variable could be age, but they are both 30. Heatley had 2 more points than Havlat last year (64) and that year was considered bad by his standards and revitalizing as far as Havlat is concerned. The Canadian winger also scored 4 more goals last year and previously had back to back 39 goals seasons, 82 and 72 points respectively. Not only that, but during the last 4 seasons Heatley has tallied 80 points more than Havlat while playing in 48 more games. In fact, in the last 4 seasons, Heatley only missed a total of 13 games.

The Wild got exactly what they needed, they refilled they prospect pool which now features high end prospects Mikael Grandlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, Zack Phillips and Marco Scandella. They got a superstar player they needed ever since the departure of Marian Gaborik, not to mention the complete restructuring of their offense which looks a lot more potent now. Congratulations Chuck Fletcher. Apparently, guys with that last name have a knack for big trades.

NHL LINKS:

SJ Sharks trade Dany Heatley to the Wild for Martin Havlat, a look from THN

More on the Heatley trade from NHL.com

Crazy UFA spending points to CBA doom, by Ken Campbell

Edmonton Oilers sign Nugent-Hopkins to three-year entry level contract

Are the Flyers a better team now? Wyshynski with an in depth look

Capitals find a surprise discount for one of the better goalies in the NHL

Talbot deal violates the CBA? Yay!

LEAF LINKS:

Check out Alec’s superb breakdown of the Connolly signing

Vintage Leafs has some new fantastic photos

VLM: Is the Richards “miss” really a miss? No panic in Leafland as Connolly and Franson join the blue and white

THN examines the best salary dump ever! Burke is still king

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