15 Years Later: Evaluating Dany Heatley’s Impact on the Ottawa Senators
Heatley’s Immediate Impact
15 years ago, Dany Heatley received an opportunity to wipe his slate clean in the nation’s capital after being involved in a fatal car accident as a member of the Atlanta Thrashers which resulted in the death of teammate and close friend Dan Snyder.
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Following a lengthy legal process and increasing animosity between him and the Atlanta Thrasher management (which spanned from the 2003/04 season to the end of the lockout season), Heatley and his representation requested “a change of environment” to start over and put his off-ice events behind him. Not only did Heatley receive an opportunity to integrate himself into a new community, but he was fortunate to go to a team that was ready to win.
The former Calder Trophy winner instantly fit right into the Senators mould in the 2005/06 campaign, slotting in as the missing piece to the iconic CASH line featuring Captain Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Heatley himself. In their first season together, the trio established themselves as a nightmare for defence pairings to play against, producing a combined 296 points between the three of them, eventually leading Ottawa to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference. The combination of Spezza’s two-way play and speed with Alfredsson’s gritty, yet finesse style of play, was complimented perfectly by Heatley’s scoring prowess, which gave opposing teams numerous headaches and worries, especially when trying to exit their own zone. The CASH line was lethal both off the rush and on the forecheck, with Heatley being a regular benefactor of a one-time pass from his line-mates, who worked effortlessly to get him the puck in high-chance scoring areas.
As part of the CASH line, Heatley claimed multiple franchise records in his first year with the club, which included being the first Ottawa player to record 50 goals in a single campaign, and scoring a franchise-best 23 power-play goals in a single season. Heatley also became the first Senator to reach the 100 point mark in one season, in which he also claimed the franchise point streak record for 22 straight contests earning a spot on the scoresheet (which now stands as the 20th longest point streak in league history).
The Cup Run
Heatley completely shattered his career highs that year and further elevated his game to another level the following 2006/07 season. The former second overall draft pick posted another 50 goal campaign, becoming the first player to score 50 goals in back to back seasons since Pavel Bure did so in the 1999/2000 and 2000/01 campaigns. Heatley also finished fourth in league scoring that year, passing his previous season’s point total with 105 points, and sat two goals behind Vincent Lecavalier for the Rocket Richard Trophy (awarded to the player who scores the most goals that season).
However, Heatley’s outstanding offensive year was overshadowed by his club’s dramatic postseason run to the Stanley Cup Finals, in which the 50 goal scorer played a vital role in getting his team past the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. During that run, Heatley and the CASH line were the most lethal trio that an NHL post-season had witnessed since the Pittsburgh Penguins dynasty of the 1990s. Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley all finished tied for the lead in league scoring with 22 points in the playoffs, marking the first time in NHL history all three members of a line led the league in points.
Ottawa Senators
Additionally, the trio combined for 41% of the team’s offence throughout the playoffs, scoring 28 of the Senators’ 69 goals scored during that post-season. After dominating their opponents in the East, the three stars were unfortunately held to a combined total of 8 points in their finals loss by a tight-checking third line which consisted of Rob Niedermeyer, Travis Moen, and Sammy Pahlsson, who were specifically tasked with shutting down the Senators top guns.
Heatley specifically played a large role on this line during the post-season and became more of a playmaker for his teammates, eventually finishing tied with Spezza for the league lead in assists. He was also a regular voice speaking on behalf of the Senators after their games, often being a memorable presence in post-game interviews by joking around with the media and offering honest soundbites and insight into his team’s play. Additionally, Heatley’s successful conversion of regular season to playoff success was a welcome surprise to Senators fans after his counterpart, Marian Hossa, failed to do so during his time in Ottawa. Heatley essentially gave the Senators faithful more of a reason to re-invest their trust in the team with his play in the regular season and in the playoffs after multiple early exits from the playoffs. He also helped push the club over the hump which was the Eastern Conference Finals, the one obstacle the Senators could never get past before he arrived in Ottawa. I would say that he played a key role in saving the team’s reputation at the time and did his part in helping this small market team succeed especially in his first two years as a Senator.
Heatley’s Last Half as a Sen
After the Senator’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals and establishing high hopes for the next few seasons, Ottawa initiated a coaching carousel behind the bench after Bryan Murray was promoted to General Manager, which ultimately led to four different men (including himself) being recycled through the position to replace him. The team itself enjoyed a successful regular season in 2007/08, booking their ticket to the playoffs again only to be swept in the first round by Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. That same season, Heatley saw a dip in offensive numbers because he missed 10 games, but still finished a respectable 15th in league scoring.
The next season, however, saw two more men (Craig Hartsburg and Cory Clouston) brought in as head coaches of the Senators to lead them back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but this inconsistency in messaging from behind the bench frustrated Heatley even though he continued to put up high offensive numbers. The two time 50 goal scorer’s anguish reached it’s peak during the 2008/09 season and requested a trade mid-season, which served as a distraction for the disgruntled Senators organization and increased the animosity between the players and new coach. After finishing the 2008/09 season with 72 points and the Senators missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996, Heatley was shipped out of Ottawa in the summer in exchange for Johnathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek, and a second-round pick, ending an eventful and historic tenure in the nation’s capital.
The Club’s Purest Goal Scorer
Although the latter half of his time in Ottawa was not as memorable as the first two years, Heatley left behind a large impact on the Senators organization from a hockey perspective. Not only did Heately eclipse and set many franchise records, but he also helped solidify the Senators as a Stanley Cup contender upon his arrival in Ottawa. Heatley’s goal-scoring ability filled a gaping hole on the Senators roster which Marian Hossa failed to deliver specifically in the playoffs. His game-breaker mentality and knack for scoring was something the Senators desperately needed to address in order to succeed, and GM John Muckler went out and did just that by bringing in a proven scorer in Heatley.
Moreover, Heatley’s keen instinctive offensive awareness helped elevate the game of those around him too, including Alfredsson and Spezza. Before Heatley arrived in Ottawa, the other two members of the CASH line did not see the same amount of offensive opportunities and results as they did when the Senators injected him into the lineup. Upon Heatley’s arrival, Alfredsson scored a career-high 103 points and Spezza recorded a career-high of 71 assists after being slotted alongside the Calgary native in their first year together. Both Spezza and Alfredsson played the best hockey of their careers alongside Heatley during his four-year tenure in Ottawa, not only putting up the best offensive totals of their career playing together but also making the biggest impact on the city and the fans during this time too. Spezza and Heatley were known for being great friends and were often seen at various events off the ice and in the community showing support for various charities. Thus, Heatley not only completed the Sens’ offence but also added an element of camaraderie to the leadership core in Ottawa.
Although Heatley’s time in Ottawa ended abruptly and without a Stanley Cup, number 15’s legacy still lives on 15 years after he was acquired, and will go down forever in the Senators’ history books as the club’s purest goal scorer. Until a future Senator surpasses his records, Heatley will be remembered quite fondly for being the finishing touch to a work-in-progress Senators offence which helped them get to a place where the franchise had never been before, and for being the team’s highest point-producing forward in team history. Heatley ultimately helped put the small market Ottawa Senators back on the map in the hockey community as a competitive and offensive team, and will forever be remembered as the catalyst to a high octane offence led by the CASH line.