Steve Yzerman announced Canada's mens hockey team roster at noon today.  

Too the disappointment (and horror) of people across Ottawa, beloved heart and soul Senator Mike Fisher didn't make the cut, while heartless goal-scorer Dany Heatley did.  

Heatley, who last summer made it clear he believes he is too good to represent the nation's capital as an Ottawa Senator, is apparently still willing to represent the nation itself at the Olypics.

I intend to cheer on team Canada with all of my heart, but Dany Heatley doesn't represent any part of the Canada I believe in.  Selfishness, arrogance, and a willingness to disparage the very communities that support us are traits that have nothing to do with my vision of this great nation.

The Olypics aren't just about going for gold.  They are about showing the world who we are as a country and a people.  Is Dany Heatley really the face we want to put on Canada for the rest of the world?  I don't think so.

The nightmare that ate up most of the summer for hockey fans in Ottawa, the Dany Heatley debacle, has finally come to an end.  The team, the fans, and the media can now, finally, concentrate on what really matters: returning the team to the heights of greatness from which it so quickly fell. 

 From the Sentators website:   

Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the club has acquired forwards Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek, and a second-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Dany Heatley and Ottawa's fifth-round draft choice in 2010.

Cheechoo, 29, was San Jose's second-round pick (29th overall) in 1998 NHL Entry Draft. In 440 career National Hockey League games, the right-winger has scored 165 goals, added 126 assists and 304 penalty minutes. He also recorded 35 points (16 goals and 19 assists) and 32 penalty minutes in 58 career playoff games.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Cheechoo won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer when he tallied 56 goals for the Sharks in 2005-06. Cheechoo was voted in as a starter for the 2007 NHL all-star game.

Michalek, 24, was San Jose's first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. In 317 career NHL games, the left-winger has scored 91 goals, added 123 assists and 184 penalty minutes. He has also recorded 16 points (10 goals and six assists) and 18 penalty minutes in 39 career playoff games.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Michalek recorded his third consecutive 20-goal season in 2008-09 when he scored 23 goals and added 34 assists in 77 games.

Heatley, 28, was acquired by the Senators from Atlanta on Aug. 23, 2005, in exchange for forward Marian Hossa and defenceman Greg de Vries. In four full seasons with Ottawa, Heatley ranks fourth all-time with the club in goals (180), seventh in assists (182) and seventh in points (362). He missed only nine regular-season games due to injury (all in the 2007-08 season).

The long awaited Dany Heatley press conference finally took place on Friday. I was going to link to the transcript, but then I thought, why bother? Heatley said basically nothing of interest. Here's the short version of his shockingly banal answers:

• He wants out of Ottawa because he feels his role on the team has diminished.
• He turned down the Edmonton trade because he wanted to be presented with more than one option as to where he was going to go.
• He isn't concerned that his reputation has taken a hit because everyone he has played with knows he a "team guy".
• He didn't mean to personally insult the people of Edmonton or Ottawa, but he apparently doesn't feel he owes anyone an apology either.
• If he hasn't been traded by the time training camp starts, he will honour his contract and play for the Sens.

I don't even know what to say at this point. Like everyone else out there (included the parties involved) I just wish this whole saga would come to an end.

Over at the Ottawa Citizen, Ken Warren has a great article about Jacob Barrette, a graphic design who put together an old school inspired jersey for the Ottawa Senators. How much better is this jersey than the Sens current third jersey? A thousand times better, that's how much! The jersey honors the Senators heritage, while maintaining a sleek modern design. Well done, Mr. Barrette!

Too bad the team hasn't adopted this look!

While still trying to deal Dany Heatly - a talented goal scorer unwilling to put in a full effort every game - the Ottawa Senator's have signed Alex Kovalev - a talented goal scorer unwilling to put in a full effort every game. 

The fact that Kovalev was signed in the midst of the Heatly debacle would tend to suggest the ex-Montreal Canadian recognizes the need to put in a consistent effort under his new coach Cory Clouston.   Here's hoping he can help turn thing around for this troubled Sens team.

 In other Sens news, the team has signed tough-guy Chris Neal to a four year deal, meaning Neal may be able to play his entire career in Ottawa - a rare feat in the modern NHL.  In an interview on Team 1200 yesterday, Neil expressed his respect for the Senators organization and his love of the city itself, noting he intends to remain in Ottawa after he retires from hockey. 

Wow. Just when you thought Dany Heatley couldn't look any worse, after demanding to be traded from the Ottawa Sentators, he has now rejected the trade Brian Murray arranged for him with the Edmonton Oilers.

Congratulations, Heatley.  Last week you looked like a self-centered and selfish brat.  This week you look like a full on A-hole.

It's definitely time to start a campaign to ensure this guy doesn't make it onto team Canada.  Someone put together a petition and show me where to sign! 

Balsillie Makes Offer To Purchase Phoenix Coyotes - Conditional on Team in Southern Ontario

Two days ago Jim Balsillie tabled an offer today to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, following the team's bankruptcy filing. The offer to purchase the team for $212.5 million (U.S.) is conditional on relocation to Southern Ontario, to become the seventh NHL franchise in Canada.

"The current team ownership asked that I table an offer to purchase the Coyotes and significant discussions resulted in an offer that is in the best interests of the franchise, the NHL, and the great hockey fans of Canada and Southern Ontario," Mr. Balsillie said.

Just over halfway through one of their most dismal seasons since the mid-90's, the Ottawa Senators have fired head coach Craig Hartsburg and replaced him with Cory Clouston. 

Who in Cory Clouston? 

Who cares! 

Clouston is the forth coach the helm the Sens within the last year, and by this point it's clear that coaching is not the team's problem.  A lack of talent isn't the problem either; it never has been.