Heatley thriving North of the Border

May 28, 2007 - 1:27 AM By Scott Erskine PA SportsTicker Hockey Editor

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - From the moment he was drafted second overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2000, everyone knew Dany Heatley would become a star in the NHL. But it wasn't until he landed in Canada's capital city that he became a complete player.

Following a number of great achievements at both the amateur and college levels, Heatley took the NHL by storm upon his arrival in 2001-02, winning the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie and going on to record a hat trick en route to MVP honors in the All-Star Game the following season.

But after being involved in a tragic auto accident that claimed the life of Atlanta teammate Dan Snyder prior to the 2003-04 campaign, Heatley's status as a rising star came into question.

Concerned that the German-born right wing no longer would be able to thrive in the city, Thrashers general manager Don Waddell traded Heatley to the Ottawa Senators in August 2005 for Marian Hossa, a deal that has worked well for both teams.

The party that has benefited most has been Heatley, who has reached the 50-goal and 100-point plateaus in each of his two seasons with the Senators. He credits his success to the city and his teammates, who have allowed him to move on with his life and career without passing judgment.

"From the day I got to Ottawa, people have treated me great," he said. "The organization has been great, and it's just a great (locker) room to walk into. I think there's quality guys in that room, all great guys."

Heatley has bonded well with his Ottawa teammates off the ice. He doesn't think it has anything to do with his previous circumstances, claiming it's just a matter of the players enjoying each other's company.

"I don't know if most teams do it, but usually you go for dinner with your four or five guys," he said. "But this is a team where everyone sticks together and everyone hangs out together. It's just been a lot of fun to be a part of."

Another thing that helped Heatley ease into his new surroundings was the work stoppage that wiped out the entire 2004-05 campaign.

"It felt good coming in," he said. "I think there was too much made of what went on, in the lockout and before that. I think I felt I was ready to go from the time I got here. It's just been a lot of fun."

Playing on one of the NHL's most dangerous lines with Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza has only helped Heatley achieve his impressive offensive numbers. But it also has given him the opportunity to improve his all-around game, something coach Bryan Murray believes has made him even more valuable to the Senators.

"We saw something real big-time in this kid, and he's worked real hard at this game," Murray said. "And I think the change sort of started when the team got better this year. He was a real good player for us last year, but I think his determination to become a good two-way player really took effect in the November-December area.

"I think he's a real dynamic player with the puck and a real good player without the puck. I don't know that I would have said that every day last year. But he's certainly become that."

Senators general manager John Muckler credits Murray with Heatley's evolution.

"I think Bryan has done a wonderful job with him in explaining how the game should be played as far as the team concepts are concerned and being an overall hockey player, which he is now," Muckler said. "I felt that when he first came to us, he was more of a goal-scorer than anything else. Now, he's a complete hockey player, taking on every responsibility that he has to take on to be a really good player in the National Hockey League."

If leading the NHL with 21 points thus far this postseason constitutes being a "really good player," Heatley definitely is that - and a whole lot more, as the Anaheim Ducks are about to find out.