Heatley/Hossa - Two Years Later

After coming across a few posts about the topic (one at the Nasty Nest and another at Hockey Buzz), I feel like I need to chime in a few words about the whole thing - you know, the trade that is still talked about to this day (obviously).

I became connected to Dany Heatley during the season following his triumphant run at the Calder Memorial Trophy. After the '01-'02 season, the Thrashers were boasting two great young talents, Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk. This was right around the time I started following hockey again on a more regular basis. I never followed the Thrashers and I was only attentive when the once-terrible New York Islanders made a playoff run right around that time.

Needless to say, I had no knowledge of anything in the Atlanta hockey sphere, so when I finally decided to come back to the sport, it was exciting to know that some of the sport's up-and-coming stars were in town. In '02-'03, Heatley just about owned everyone at the All-Star Game, even coming up with the MVP award for his performance in the game. No one could forget the gap-toothed smile from when he captured that title. By the season's end, Kovalchuk had 38 goals and 67 points while Heatley amassed 41 goals and 89 points.

Then September 29, 2003 happened - Heatley wrecked his Ferrari while doing 80+ MPH on Lenox Road in Atlanta and tragically ending the life of his friend and teammate, Dan Snyder.

There is no way I can even comprehend what Heatley must've went through during the recovery process. So when he suggested to Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell that he'd like a trade out of Atlanta, it really shouldn't have come as a shock. To drive down Lenox Road and always remember that's where the death of your friend happened, that you were responsible, that 37's hung all around Philips Arena, that 37 was a constant reminder on your jersey - he couldn't escape the consequences of his actions in Atlanta and wanted a fresh start.

It came as a tremendous shock to the fans of the Thrashers. The fans that backed him no matter the cost, that provided endless amounts of support and forgiveness for his actions, that just wanted the best for Heatley, experienced a gamut of emotions. People sympathized with Heatley, others considered it a slap in the face to the community who was there for him. A lot of people simultaneously held both sentiments toward Heatley.

Regardless, Waddell obliged Dany's request and dealt one of the most promising starts of the NHL to perennial contender Ottawa for an elite player in Marian Hossa and journeyman defensemen Greg deVries.

As I said, the outcomes of the trade are still being discussed, argued, and overanalyzed to this very day. It was one of the bigger trades in the past few years in NHL player transactions. Two elite players were moved in the blink of an eye. Hossa was coming off productive seasons with the Senators and was pushing for more money with the team he hoped to finish his career with. Heatley was just returning to the game after his horrific accident and was a big question mark.

Would this trade ever equal out? Trading a "soft" Marian Hossa and an over-paid defenseman in Greg deVries to the Thrashers for a forward who had his best years ahead of him, but would his past and his injuries allow such promising talents to emerge?

Today marks two years after the pen met the paperwork. In those two years, Hossa was apparently worth the money he sought after in Ottawa while he's had breakout seasons for the Thrashers. Heatley has been stellar in the red and black, quieting all of those who doubted him and his abilities. But there are still the arguments as to who got the better of the deal. More so, I find a bunch of what ifs that linger on. I think the comparisons about who's career has flourished since the trade are getting a little stale, but the what ifs clearly remain.

Back when the trade occurred, I just couldn't believe the news. It was I think my first day back at Georgia State and Lindsey and I were driving around Atlanta after classes to find some dinner. I ended up getting a call on my phone from my friend Zack who informed me that "our German sensation was traded today." Instantly I tuned in 680 on my car radio and heard the truth myself. I couldn't believe it. Here's a player I'm just starting to get attached to, who I really embraced following his accident and he's gone. I had to know the circumstances behind this. We ended up eating at Mellow Mushroom and watching ESPN to know more about this historical day for the Atlanta Thrashers. Eventually I found out like everyone else about Dany's reasoning for asking to be traded, who we got in return, and then Dany's response to leaving.

I definitely had Hossa on my radar in terms of fantasy players to pick up that season, but to actually have him as a Thrasher was a big deal. It was the best outcome possible for a trade and no team was getting worse after the fact. It was just a bit heart-breaking when Dany Heatley arrived in Ottawa and publicly announced at how ecstatic he was about ending up in Ottawa. I think that's where the current debate lands, at least in Atlanta - still support Heatley's efforts or consider him a traitor?

As far as I'm concerned, yes, I was a little angered over Heatley's excitement about moving out of Atlanta and to an instant contender. It bothered me that he made the transition so easily. It got under my skin that he was as good as he was at the beginning of the '05-'06 season following the lockout. But I got over it. I wish him the best in Ottawa and I hope he's able to win a Cup while there. During these playoffs, I felt awkward wanting to root for the Sens because of Heatley - did I really want him to succeed so well even though he really didn't have much to say (out loud) when it came to the Thrashers organization? Fortunately, they played the Ducks, who I liked since day one of last season. It just doesn't sit well with me that he was so excited moving to a bona fide hockey community and that he got up north as quick as he could upon his trade out of Atlanta.