With the Dany Heatley situation in Ottawa growing more tense as training camp nears, Daniel Alfredsson has said that he will demand an explanation from the troubled winger should he return to the team next week.
Senators’ Captain Not Happy with Heatley
“If it comes to that (Heatley returns), obviously you can’t just wipe it under the rug and go on. You’re going to have to address the situation and we’ll do that if that’s the case next week,” Alfredsson told reporters on Friday afternoon.
“There’s been teams before where you have guys you don’t like on the team. But when it comes to stepping on the ice, everybody just has to work towards the same goal,” said Alfredsson. “When it comes to Dany and his situation, once he’s on the ice, he’s going to do his best - no question.”
Alfredsson mentions that a trade before training camp would be the best course of action, although it’s unlikely at this point.
“Obviously, it would be the best scenario for everybody. But if it were that easy, something would have already been done. We’re ready for whatever happens and make something good out of it.”
With what seems like the entire NHL, its fans and players rushing to lambaste Heatley for his actions this summer, former teammate Ray Ferraro came to the aid of the controversial winger.
“Let me tell you something, when I was in Atlanta, I roomed with Dany. Anyone who says he’s a bad guy is full of (crap),” Ferraro said. “You had a situation where he signed a big deal and had what I call, ‘The Summer of Dany.’ He didn’t work out, went to baseball games and came back a step out of shape. But you’re talking about a talent who was out of shape and still scored 36 goals last year.
“Two years go, he scored 50 goals and how many players scored 50 in the league last year? Two? Does he have more growing up to do? Of course he does. If he winds up staying in Ottawa, he’s going to have to go to the team and have a sit down with them to make things right. He’s going to have to say that although he’s asked been traded, he’s ready to give 100%.”
“The worst thing about the off season situation is that it went public,” Ferraro said. “People don’t realize that players ask for trades all the time but the demands never go public and that was unfortunate. But you’re talking about a one-shot scorer, and how many of those are in the league.”
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