Dany Heatley

At 43 years old, Dany Heatley has this physical status:

Daniel James Heatley (born January 21, 1981) is a German-born Canadian former professional ice hockey winger.

Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers second overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top NHL rookie in 2002.

However, after being responsible for a car crash in September 2003 that killed teammate and close friend Dan Snyder, he requested a trade and was subsequently dealt to the Ottawa Senators. One of the Senators' perennial leading scorers during his tenure with Ottawa, Heatley set franchise records for single-season goals (50) in 2005–06, and points (105) in 2006–07, a season in which he also scored 50 goals.

He played on the left wing with line mates Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson.

The line was consistently among the highest scoring in the NHL after its formation in 2005–06, with the trio combining for a total of 296 points that season. Heatley represented Team Canada in six World Championships, two Olympics and one World Cup of Hockey, as well as two World Junior Championships.

In 2008, he surpassed Marcel Dionne as Canada's all-time leader in goals and Steve Yzerman as the all-time leader in points for the World Championships. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Heatley demanded a trade from the Senators.

A deal was in place to send Heatley to the Edmonton Oilers on June 30, but Heatley refused to waive his no-trade clause.

On September 12, he was dealt to the San Jose Sharks in return for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second-round draft pick in 2010.

After playing two seasons in San Jose, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Martin Havlát, his former teammate with Ottawa. On July 9, 2014, Heatley signed a one-year deal as a free agent with the Anaheim Ducks worth $1 million.

On December 30, 2014, Heatley cleared waivers and was assigned to Anaheim's AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals.

On February 28, 2015, Heatley was traded to the Florida Panthers along with a third round pick in 2015 for Tomas Fleischmann.

Heatley most recently signed with the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in September 2015.

He was nicknamed "Heater", based on his name and scoring prowess.

Early life

Heatley was born in Freiburg to Karin and Murray Heatley, where his father played professional hockey. When Murray retired from hockey, the family settled in Calgary, Alberta.

Personal life

Heatley holds dual Canadian-German citizenship because his mother is German.

On September 29, 2003, Heatley was seriously injured in a car crash after he lost control of the Ferrari 360 Modena he was driving on a curved road in a residential area of Atlanta. The car struck a wall, splitting in half and ejecting Heatley and his passenger, Atlanta Thrashers' teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley suffered a broken jaw, a concussion, a bruised lung and a bruised kidney, and he tore three ligaments in his right knee. Snyder was critically injured with a skull fracture and died in hospital of sepsis on October 5, 2003. Heatley pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide, driving too fast for conditions, failure to maintain a lane and speeding. He admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the crash, but his blood-alcohol content tested below the legal limit. He was sentenced to three years probation and the judge ruled that any vehicle driven by Heatley could not have more than six cylinders nor surpass 70 mph (112 km/h). Heatley avoided having to go to trial as part of a plea deal that dropped the first-degree charge of vehicular homicide. The Thrashers and the Atlanta community were largely supportive of Heatley, and Snyder's family told the judge and prosecutors that nothing would be gained by imprisoning him.

In August 2012, it was revealed that Heatley had filed an $11 million lawsuit against his longtime agent and business adviser Stacey McAlpine, McAlpine's parents Gerald and Eugenia, and several companies. The suit, filed in the Calgary Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta, alleges that the defendants lured Heatley into several real estate ventures across Canada and the United States with promises of huge returns that never materialized. It is also alleged that Stacey McAlpine made unauthorized withdrawals of more than $4 million from Heatley's bank accounts. The defendant companies named in court documents are Presidential Suites Inc., Waterfront Development Inc., McAlpine Sports Management Inc., and NSEM Management Inc.

One month later, it was revealed that Heatley's former Senators teammate Chris Phillips was also initiating a $7.5 million suit against Stacey McAlpine to recover lost money as a result of bad real estate deals. The suit, launched at the Ontario court in Ottawa, alleges Phillips felt he was misled by McAlpine and has not been able to recover monies invested.

After a lengthy court process, Heatley was awarded $6.5 million from a judge in Calgary, Alberta on July 21, 2017. McAlpine was later arrested and charged with fraud, money laundering and theft by authorities in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on October 18, 2017. McAlpine died on March 5, 2018, at the age of 54, and the charges of fraud, theft and laundering the proceeds of crime were stayed two days later.

Heatley was selected as the cover player for the 2004 installment of the EA Sports NHL video game franchise in 2003 (NHL 2004). However, due to the fallout from Heatley's crash shortly afterwards, EA switched the cover photo to Joe Sakic, although many copies of the game were shipped with his photo on them.

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Playing career

Heatley tallied 91 points in 36 games in 1997–98 to earn the Harry Allen Memorial Trophy as the league's best scorer, while playing minor hockey in the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL). He went on to lead the Buffaloes to the bronze medal at the 1998 Air Canada Cup, where he was named both Top Scorer and Tournament MVP.

He joined the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 1998–99 to keep his NCAA eligibility (as opposed to playing in major junior) as Heatley intended to play college hockey in the United States. He was named AJHL and Canadian Junior A Player of the Year after scoring 70 goals and 126 points in 60 games.

He began his two-year association with the University of Wisconsin Badgers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in the following season (WCHA). In addition to winning WCHA Rookie of the Year awards, he was selected to the WCHA's first All-Star team and NCAA West Second All-American Team as a freshman. He was drafted second overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, behind goaltender Rick DiPietro. Heatley, who was named to the 2001 WCHA Second All-American Teams and NCAA West First All-American Teams, decided against turning pro with the Thrashers in his sophomore year.

Heatley made his NHL debut with the Thrashers in 2001-02, leading all rookies in points (67) and assists (41) and finishing second in team goal-scoring (26) behind Ilya Kovalchuk. He was named Rookie of the Year by the Calder Memorial Trophy, which also included Kovalchuk.

Heatley made a name for themselves in the 2002–03 season by scoring 41 goals and 89 points in 77 games and finishing ninth overall in league scoring.

Heatley's season did not begin until January 2004, but he later appeared in only 31 games as a result of a car accident that critically injured Heatley and killed his teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley's season was bitter, with the Thrashers failing to qualify for a playoff spot.

Heatley played for the Swiss team SC Bern during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. In only 16 games, he scored 24 points before an errant puck struck his left eye and broke his orbital bone. As a result of this injury, the pupil of his left eye became permanently dilated. He and Thrashers' coworker Kovalchuk were on the Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Superleague, totaling 4 points in 11 games.

Heatley demanded to be released from Atlanta ahead of the lock-out in the hopes of leaving reminders of the tragic tragedy behind. This was particularly unpopular with Atlanta fans, particularly because Snyder's father Graham said that Heatley owed a great deal to the Thrashers' group, which had specifically been extremely supportive of him during his trial and ordeal. The Thrashers sent Marián Hossa and veteran defenseman Greg de Vries to the Ottawa Senators on August 23, 2005. After lengthy and often contentious talks, Hossa had just resigned with the senators. Heatley, who was a restricted free agent at the time of the trade, immediately agreed to a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Senators.

Heatley's first game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 5, 2005, was played by Jason Spezza and Brandon Bochenski, but the Senators lost with five minutes to go, but Daniel Alfredsson, who had replaced Bochenski, scored the tying goal. Heatley became the second player to score in an NHL shootout this year, beating Leafs goalie Ed Belfour after Alfredsson in 2005-06, the first year that the NHL introduced the shootout. Their sticks are now in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Heatley's four goals in an 8-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 29, marking a career high for goals in a game.

Heatley got off to a good start with his new squad in the first 22 games of the 2005–06 season, defeating Marián Hossa's previous franchise record of 13 consecutive games. This was behind only Wayne Gretzky's 23-game streak since joining the Los Angeles Kings in 1988-89.

He was booed often in his first game back in Atlanta as a Senator, signaling that Thrashers fans were snagged by Heatley's new trade request. Despite scoring, Heatley and the Senators suffered an 8–3 loss to his former Thrashers teammates.

Heatley finished the 2005-06 season with 50 goals and 103 points, their fourth in the league. Incidentally, Heatley's first 50-goal season was the first time any Senators player had reached that mark, establishing a franchise record for goals in a season (previously held by Marián Hossa, who scored 45 goals in 2002–03). Heatley's 103 points tied Daniel Alfredsson for the team's lead, as well as beating Alexei Yashin's franchise record of 94 points in a season (achieved in 1998–99).

Ottawa ended the season with the best record in the Eastern Conference and second-best in the league, catalyzed by a revivaled sense of urgency. They were eliminated in the second round by the Buffalo Sabres after having high hopes for the playoffs. In ten games, Heatley scored 12 points. Heatley and Alfredsson were selected alongside Alfred Sisson to the second All-Star team at the end of the season.

Heatley also scored 50 goals twice more in the league to Vincent Lecavalier's 52 goals) and 105 points (fourth in the league). He became the first NHL player to do so since Pavel Bure in 1999–2000, when he reached the 50-goal plateau for the second straight season. Heatley's 105 points tied for the previous franchise record he held with Alfredsson. His success earned him a spot on the first All-Star team.

Heatley and the Senators ended up another good regular season by progressing to the Stanley Cup finals but fell short in five games against the Anaheim Ducks. The Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley line was dominant, leading the NHL in playoffs points, with the rest of the NHL tied at 22.

Heatley started the 2007–08 season with a new six-year contract extension with the Senators worth $45 million, right off the top of a Stanley Cup finals appearance. Heatley had been playing in 208 consecutive Senators games before breaking his shoulder in a collision with Detroit Red Wings forward Dallas Drake on January 12, 2008. He played in 81 games for 82 goals and 41 assists in the 2007–08 season. All season, Ottawa was plagued with injuries to its superstars. Ottawa played the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, marking the same first-round match-up of the previous year. Heatley and the Senators will not make a second attempt at the Cup again, and they were defeated in four games. Heatley lost only one point.

Heatley's alternate captain to Daniel Alfredsson was chosen on October 3, 2008, as well as defenceman Chris Phillips. The 2008–09 season, on the other hand, saw reduced production for Heatley and the top line as well as an 11th-place finish for the Senators in the Eastern Conference, well out of playoff contention.

Heatley had made a trade request on June 9, 2009, just one year into a six-year contract extension that began in 2007. He was off his lowest points total since his rookie season (excluding his shortened 31-game season in 2003–04). Heatley's old head coach Cory Clouston is reportedly dissatisfied with his work with the Senators. Heatley, despite his lower offensive numbers, felt that his deferred ice time and his change from the first power-play line to the second power-play line were unfair to him. These issues were brought to the attention of management during the senators' year-end meetings prior to their trade request.

Senator Bryan Murray's then-general manager, who was "shocked and dissatisfied" with Heatley's request in an interview with journalists after it had been made public. Murray also said that Heatley's words had caused head coach Clouston to be disillusioned. "We've been through so many coaches here that we couldn't win enough games with," Murray said. "We brought in a guy whose results we were really excited with." The team started to look like a real team again. And then to be completely blindsided by one of your players, who doesn't want to fit in. A coach is finding it difficult to believe."

The request was blindsided by Senators' followers, and observers around the league were both perplexed and anger. Sports journalists around Canada slammed Heatley's behavior, calling him a "brat," "pathetic," and "reprehensible." "I was surprised at it, but I understood it," Atlanta Thrashers' Don Waddell said of Heatley's determination to move out of Atlanta following Dan Snyder's death. "I really don't know this one." He asked to get out (of Atlanta) and joined a team that he obviously approved of and that had some success. They advanced to the finals of the 2007 Stanley Cup in London. I can see from the above that he has a lot of support in Ottawa. On the surface, I don't think (the trade request) has a lot of positive things... It doesn't appear that a positive team spirit is conveyed." After the crash that killed his son, Graham Snyder, father of Dan Snyder, was instrumental in assisting Heatley in avoiding prison time. Heatley's decision to request a trade from Ottawa surprised him, saying, "I'm surprised because he signed a long-term contract (with Ottawa) and was playing in a market that seemed to embrace him." Heatley's decision to reduce his playing time and bump him down to the second power-play unit rather than demanding a trade, according to Snyder. "Certainly, (working with Clouston) behind the scenes would be a lot more fruitful, and trying to work through it." "We know Dany very well," an Atlanta Thrashers employee told the Vancouver Sun cryptically. These activities occur for a reason."

With a letter published in the Ottawa Citizen condemning the widespread opposition to the trade demand, Tom Molloy, a close friend of the Heatley family, stoked the fires in Ottawa. "Heatley's" mother is extremely distraught. "No one says that this guy gives up a month of his summer to play for Team Canada, so the assaults were all personal stuff," Molloy said. Heatley's decision was sorely blamed on the Senator's team that it was unconstitutional, according to Molloy, "this is an organizational thing." "Why don't guys want to play here anymore?" I'd be calling my manager in and asking, "why don't guys want to play here anymore?"

Heatley's big contract, which was supposed to pay him $7.6 million for the upcoming 2009–10 season, was a challenge, and no other NHL franchises had the available salary cap space to accommodate it. The partial no-trade clause in Heatley's deal, which limited the number of teams with whom Ottawa could negotiate a potential agreement. On June 30, 2009, a trade was carried out to bring Heatley, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav md over for a bargain, but Heatley shocked the hockey world by refusing to sign the no-trade clause that would have finalized the agreement, angering fans in both Ottawa and Edmonton. Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, suggested that the Senators might have grounds to file a lawsuit because Heatley's deal gave the team a pay increase (due July 1, 2009), which would have saved the Senators the money. Melnyk filed a lawsuit against Heatley later that day, claiming that the club "shouldn't have paid a substantial roster bonus to a player who was seeking a trade," but that was not disclosed until the terms were revealed.

Heatley was also a Senator of the Senators when Ottawa began to try to accommodate the trade demand. Heatley had no choice but to report for training camp, and the environment around him and his Senators' teammates was described as "awkward," "tense," and "untenable." Daniel Alfredsson, a team captain, revealed days earlier that a situation in which Heatley turned up in Ottawa as an unhappy camper would cause a massive media headache for the remainder of the team. "If he comes back," Alfredsson said at the time, "anything is going to get blown out of proportion" if someone hits him in practice or something." Heatley himself slipped back into Scotiabank Place, avoiding the cameras and the throng of reporters awaiting some clarification regarding his decision to leave Ottawa. "I knew the minute he stepped out the door I'd have to trade him right away," GM Bryan Murray said a short time later. "I didn't think there was a chance." We just felt that we had to move him."

Heatley was traded to the San Jose Sharks in 2009, along with a fifth-round pick for Milan Michálek, Jonathan Cheechoo, and a second-round pick in 2010. Heatley's earnings reached $8 million last year.

Heatley scored a hat-trick with a penalty shot goal in the third period of the season, his third game in the San Jose's first game of the season, bringing his season totals to four goals and five assists.

Heatley defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6–3 on November 20, his second hat-trick in as many months, as he scored three times from passes from teammate Joe Thornton. The Sharks were disqualified in the 2010 Conference Finals as Dany Heatley was in the penalty box. The Chicago Blackhawks had the game-winning goal, sweeping the series. Heatley's head coach Todd McLellan revealed that the team had been playing the entire playoffs with a torn groin muscle.

Heatley was booed frequently on December 2, 2010, during his first return to Ottawa. Senators supporters were reluctant to excuse him even though he had claimed that Ottawa and the supporters there had nothing to do with his decision to be relocated. Several fans who attended the game covered up their #15 Heatley jerseys with certain letters obscured, so the name plate would spell out the word "H-A-T-E." In a organized rally, a group of ten fans came down to ice level and threw their Heatley jerseys onto the ground. Another fan held a sign that read "Even Yashin Thinks You're A Jerk," a remark made by former Senator Alexei Yashin, who left the team during the scandal in 2001. Heatley was a backer during the game 4–0, with Heatley assisting.

Heatley's season came to an end last year, with only 26 goals and 64 points in 80 games. Heatley had suffered multiple injuries throughout the season and particularly during the playoffs, and it had been confirmed after the season had concluded.

Heatley's former teammate with Ottawa was traded to the Minnesota Wild on July 3, 2011. Devin Setochi, a former teammate of the Sharks, was traded by the Sharks to the Wild on June 24, ten days before he was traded. Despite a hot start to the year, the Wild continued to have a good season, scoring 53 points. Heatley scored 13 seconds into a game against the Vancouver Canucks on February 9, 2012, scoring the fastest goal in Wild history.

Heatley's scorching 2012–13 season saw him score 11 goals and 10 assists in 36 games with Minnesota. However, during a game against the San Jose Sharks in April, an altercation with former teammate Marc-Édouard Vlasic dislocated Heatley's left shoulder, requiring surgery that ended his season.

Heatley's output dropped sharply in 2013–14, with only nine goals and 19 points in his first 55 games. With the unrestricted free agency, rumors have emerged that his NHL career is over and that he may migrate to Europe to continue his hockey career. Despite showing glimpses of his former play (not seven points in a ten-game stretch) by the 74-game mark of the season, he had only scored 27 points. Heatley was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career after being demoted to the fourth line for several games.

Heatley agreed to a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks worth $1 million on July 9, 2014. After four games with no points, he was a healthy scratch. Heatley was assigned to the Norfolk Admirals, the Ducks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. On December 29, 2014, he was released on waivers. Heatley and a 2016 third-round draft pick for Tomás Fleischmann were traded to the Florida Panthers on February 28, 2015. He ended his time with the Ducks without scoring in 6 games, but he had 7 in 25 games against Norfolk, but not in 26 games. Heatley did not play a single game with the Panthers as he announced to the team's farm affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

On September 17, 2015, Heatley joined the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He and the Ice Tigers advanced to the DEL playoffs, where they fell short of the Grizzlys Wolfsburg. Heatley played 59 games in the 2015-2016 season, totaling 19 goals (including the Ice Tigers' final goal of the season) and 18 assists.

Heatley has been elected to the NHL All-Star Game five times and has appeared in four of them, the most recently in 2009. His first appearance in the All-Star Game was in 2003, where he scored four goals, tying a single-game All-Star record (held by four other players, including Wayne Gretzky). Heatley's only goal for the Eastern Conference was a 6–5 loss as the game went to a shootout. The shootout goal did not count towards his maximum of four, placing him second in the standings. Heatley also received an assist for a game-high five points and was named All-Star Game MVP. "Twenty-two years old," Heatley's remarkable show in just his second NHL season, Jeremy Roenick said, "Twenty-two years old?" replied in reaction to Heatley's stellar results in just his second season. You're not supposed to be able to do moves like that at 22 years old. "My goodness."

Heatley's next appearance came in 2007, where he competed with former SC Bern teammates Daniel Brière and Marián Hossa and suffered a goal and two assists in a 12–9 loss to the Western Conference. Heatley was scheduled for the 2008 game but had to cancel due to a shoulder injury he sustained in a previous game against the Detroit Red Wings. Heatley was chosen to his fourth All-Star Game in 2009 and scored a goal in a 12-11 Eastern Conference victory in a shootout.

Career statistics

Bold indicates led league

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