Dany Heatley in Edmonton Tonight!

Though he won’t say it to the media one can bet that San Jose Sharks scoring forward Dany Heatley is eager to get tonight’s game in Edmonton over with. Even though it’s been roughly four months since the 28 year-old refused a trade to the Oilers odds are that time has not soften the anger fans still feel towards Heatley who will be the target of vocal abuse once he steps onto the ice at Rexall Place. This eight year veteran who is currently the Sharks second leading scorer with 29 points surprised his Ottawa Senators teammates and management last spring when he demanded a trade. At the time Heatley’s reputation took a bit of a hit by not only going public with his demands but also for the fact that in October 2007 he committed himself to Ottawa by signing a lucrative six year extension. Once July rolled around Heatley who was coming off a below average 72 point season angered Edmonton fans when he refused a trade that would have sent forwards Dustin Penner, Andrew Cogliano and defenceman Ladislav Smid to the nation’s capital. A couple of months after refusing the deal the two time 50 goal scorer accepted a trade on September 12 to the San Jose Sharks who currently sit in first place overall with 38 points. Heatley who has scored eight goals and 11 points in his last eight game has developed instant chemistry with big Joe Thornton who leads the Sharks with 33 points. Meanwhile all Edmonton fans can just shake their collective heads and wonder what could have been for their team who have now dropped six of their past eight games. Edmonton scorer Ales Hemsky may not play tonight due to injury and veteran goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is questionable with back spasms. You can bet that Edmonton players along with their fans will have some extra adrenalin on Friday night playing against a superstar who refused to join their Edmonton Oilers.