Shark Attack: San Jose's Dany Heatley Proves To Be Dynamic Scorer

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When you think about NHL snipers, you probably think about their booming slap shots and their quick wrister nailing the open corner of the net.

San Jose Sharks' left winger Dany Heatley can do those things, and he has done all those things as well as any sniper in the league throughout his seven-year career.

The native of Freiburg, West Germany has scored 50 goals twice in his career, and has accumulated 275 goals in 529 NHL regular season contests.

But Heatley is a versatile goal-scorer. In 22 games this season, Dany Heatley has scored 14 goals and 23 points on the Sharks' top offensive line.

The 28-year-old is currently on pace to score close to 50 goals this season. This would be his third time accomplishing reaching the 50-goal plateau. 

His 14 goals this season has him tied for first in the league right now, and he has been hovering around the top five in goals for most of the season.

Heatley's 14 goals are only equaled by Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.

Heatley finished the 2008-09 season ninth in the NHL with 39 goals for the Ottawa Senators. One goal ahead of current teammate Patrick Marleau.

As "Heater" has simply stated numerous times this season, "I like to shoot the puck."

The 6-foot-4, 221-pound winger has probably said that in a majority of his interviews since arriving in San Jose, but he has certainly been true to his word.

Although Heatley has showcased his howitzer of a shot and pin-point accuracy on numerous occasions, he has shown that he can find different ways to score.

Yes, No. 15 has scored some highlight reel goals this season, but he has also done some things that weren't advertised to Sharks' fans when he was traded from the Ottawa Senators for forwards Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo, and a second round pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft. 

I'll just say right now that, as a Sharks' fan and Bay Area resident, I only got to see Heatley play for the Senators and Atlanta Thrashers once in a blue moon.

For that reason, my knowledge of Heatley's style of play and strategy for goal scoring prior to landing in the Bay Area wasn't very high. However, I did know about his spectacular offensive prowess.

But enough about me.

The point is that the hopeful for Canada's Olympic team has been willing to find certain ways to score that some sharp shooters aren't willing to do.

That method pertains to the old adage: "go to the net."

As an old hockey coach of mine has said of that strategy, "it's not rocket science."

And the former Senator and Thrasher certainly knows that.

Sure, Heatley might not be as tenacious or agitating in the corners as guys like Scott Nichol and other energy players, but he has shown that he is willing to pay the price in front of the net to light the lamp.

Of Heatley's 14 goals this season, he has scored 10 of them below the hash marks in front of the opposing net.

That's not to say that those goals have all been of the garbage variety, but they have been those "will, not skill" goals that head coach Todd McLellan iterates to his team on a constant basis.

The other four goals notched by the perennial all-star were a slap shot for his first goal of the season against the Kings, a one-timer at home against the Minnesota Wild, another one-timer in Chicago against the Blackhawks, and his hat-trick-clinching goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on a penalty shot.

To bottom line all of this, the Calder Trophy-winner in the 2001-02 season as the NHL's top rookie hasn't been the typical "pure goal-scorer" that Sharks' fans might have expected.

Some of the finesse players in the league don't like standing in front of the net to score the ugly goals that Detroit Red Wing's left winger Tomas Holmstrom has trademarked during his 12-year career.

But don't tell that to Dany Heatley.

Despite his skill and bomb of a shot, this Sharks' first line sniper has worked as hard for his goals as teammate Jed Ortmeyer has on the third line.

Suffice to say, Heatley is not the only sniper in the league who has a nose for the net.

But not all big-time goal-scorers like Heatley are willing to take the punishment in front of the net in order to score.

After getting off to somewhat of a slow start this season, if one could call eight and a half periods without scoring "slow," Heatley now leads team teal in goals and has been the big gun the San Jose expected him to be when they acquired him just before training camp started.

The 50-goal scorer's determination to find the back of the net at all cost is what has made him one of the premier goal-scorers in the NHL.

Heatley's ability to score goals in different ways makes him even more dangerous for the Sharks.

His style of play and approach to offense might be what the Sharks need to get over the hump. 

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