San Jose Sharks trades in Minnesota Wild's Martin Havlat for
Dany Heatley –NHL offseason Update
It was the second biggest transaction between San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild, as the former traded their star forward, Dany Heatley, to Minnesota for right winger, Martin Havlat, on Sunday, day-three of the 2011 National Hockey League's (NHL) free agency.
The first move was to fulfil San Jose’s need for rowdy defenseman, as they traded Devin Setoguchi and a couple of other players for defenseman Brent Burns, who has a marvellous previous season with Minnesota.
San Jose realised that they had given up a top-class forward attacker for Burns, thus needed to fill the gap once more, Heatley was given up for Havlat, and by looking at the trade, it was a win-win situation for both teams.
With this trade, Minnesota hopes to add that extra firepower to make it into the playoffs, having missed it for two straight seasons now.
Martin Havlat, on the other hand, is hoping for a team that can lead him to Stanley Cup glory, something he has been yearning for during his 10 season career.
Havlat potted 62 points, 22 goals, 40 assists, last season with Minnesota and hopes on making a bigger impact now he’s with San Jose.
"For a hockey player, if your season ends April 10, it's kind of an empty feeling, an unsuccessful season for sure", Havlat said. "When the real season starts, you're sitting at home watching the best hockey on TV. I enjoy playing the playoffs. That's why
I play hockey, to have that chance".
Heatley played his second season with San Jose after a hard-talk trade between Ottawa Senators. He registered an impressive 64 points, 26 goals and 38 assists, during last season in 80 games played.
"We are excited to add Dany Heatley, one of the top goal scorers in the NHL, to our team", Wild's general manager, Chuck Fletcher, said in a press release on Sunday. "He is a quality player who has averaged more than a point a game in his nine-year career".
While both teams have their own vested interests in the trade, winning the Stanley Cup is their mutual goal and players like Heatley and Havlat certainly have the capabilities to make that happen.
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