Kovalev Appeals to Heatley to Stay?

Ok, somebody pinch me. I just read an article outlining how the Ottawa Senators had a press conference to introduce Alex Kovalev to the fans and media. Brian Murray also stated “We can fit both of those guys on our team very nicely, maybe one on left and one on right wing”- referring to Kovalev and Heatley.

Later, Kovalev also appealed to Heatley… “Definitely, with the player that he is, it would be nice to have him back,” Kovalev said. “I know Dany a little bit from playing with him for Kazan in the lockout year. He’s a great, talented guy on the ice and off the ice and would definitely help the Senators organization and hopefully will continue to help the organization”.

If they bring the disgruntled Heatley back after calling out coach Cory Clouston in the media for lack of quality ice time etc, you might as well fire Clouston. Do you think any other player in the line-up will respect anything Clouston has to say when the team has hung him out to dry like that? Talk about having your knee’s taken out. Can you imagine the clique issues? Guys wanting to side with Heatley, and apparently Kovalev, being as the Senators obviously have, over the coach.

Clouston coached them to a very respectable 19-11-4 after going 17-24-7 under Craig Hartsburg to start the year. So if all Heatley wants to do is win, what’s the issue?

It’s my opinion the “issue” is that Heatley has become a primadonna and doesn’t like being “mis-treated” by a rookie coach. EGO. Who knows how crooked a pro athletes view of proper treatment is compared to us regular Joe’s but what I do know is having another primadonna like Kovalev go to bat for Heatley’s character means little and less to me.

Other news from around the NHL;

  • The Montreal Canadiens have signed Tomas Plekanec to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed Andre Deveaux to a 1 year deal. Terms not disclosed.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman John Moore to a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender Brent Johnson to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Financial details were not disclosed.
  • Radim Vrbata is making a return to the desert. The veteran forward has been traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning back to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Todd Fedoruk and David Hale.
  • The Atlanta Thrashers re-signed defenseman Boris Valabik to a multi-year contract on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed, per team policy.
  • The Calgary Flames have signed forward Nigel Dawes to a two-year contract worth $850,000 per season.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have announced the signing of goaltender Curtis Sanford to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2009-10 season.The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
  • The Boston Bruins have signed defenceman Matt Hunwick to a multiyear contract extension.
  • The Phoenix Coyotes re-signed forwards David Spina and Jeff Hoggan and defenceman Sean Sullivan on Monday. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.(source-TSN)