Edmonton Oilers: No Interest In Heatley- What Happens Next

(Photo by: Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

The Edmonton Oilers management called media conference call today (Friday) to officially announce that the team is no longer interested in the services of sniper Dany Heatley.

Oilers' Gm Steve Tambellini had reportedly been making offers to the Ottawa Senators to acquire Heatley, and he is fed up with Heatley's stubbornness and Sens' GM Bryan Murray's high prices.

With Edmonton out of the picture, Murray now hopes to hear offers that fulfill his requirements of a strong winger and a puck-moving defenseman. Edmonton offered Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid, a deal which Heatley rejected to Murray's distaste.  

Now, as the season draws near, the Senators are left with a disgruntled winger and little time to make a move.  

Rumors circulating from the start of free agency report that the San Jose Sharks are interested in Heatley, and Heatley is interested in them.

ESPN reported that San Jose offered a trade including Jonathan Cheechoo and Christian Ehrhoff, which Murray rejected, despite his requirements being filled.

Another rumor circulating, thanks to our good buddy Eklund (yes Eklund), reports that the Sharks are close to trading for the rights of Phil Kessel.  The Sharks are currently pressed against the salary cap, so Doug Wilson would be wise to shop for Kessel only as trade bait.  

Acquiring Kessel would free up cap space, and then another trade with Ottawa including Heatley for Kessel and 1-2 Sharks would solve the problems for three teams.  

The ball is in Murray's court, and perhaps with this news from Edmonton, he will make a deal that relieves the tension for a few teams and starts the new season with happy players.

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