More on Dany Heatley / Somebody Make This Stop

Dan Barnes’ article in the Edmonton Journal this morning gives us yet another depressing update/non-update on the Dany Heatley situation.

According to Barnes’ source, the Oilers have no deadline for a resolution to the Heatley situation, and they haven’t given a deadline to the Ottawa Senators or Dany Heatley, either.  According to Barnes, Heatley’s camp wants at least two other options, and while Murray is negotiating with two other NHL teams there’s no particular reason for those teams to be in much of a hurry to acquire the Senators forward.

Meanwhile, Heatley himself remains ensconced in his summer home (see video above), comfortably removed from both the situation and the beating his reputation is taking in the media.

Other than that, the situation remains at a standstill, as do the Oilers.  In fact, if the season started tomorrow the only roster changes to the team would be swapping out Ales Kotalik, Kyle Brodziak, and Dwayne Roloson while adding Nikolai Khabibulin – not the sort of forward movement fans were expecting from G.M. Steve Tambellini.

There haven’t even been much in the way of rumours of other movement, beyond an ill-advised attempt to overpay Senators fourth-liner (and Heatley critic) Chris Neil on a multi-year contract.

Last season, Steve Tambellini made some good moves (notably the Erik Cole trade), but for much of the season stood pat evaluating while the Oilers struggled.  He’s gotten largely a free pass for that; after all, it wasn’t clear if he, Lowe, or Daryl Katz were in control of ths situation.  He doesn’t deserve and he certainly won’t get a similar free pass if he fails to make substantial moves this summer.  Hopefully, the situation won’t come to that.