Throwin’ Spray: Danny Heatley traded to Sharks

Throwin’ Spray, a phrase from “Here Come the Hawks” and title of the semi-daily post on BlackhawkUp.com, will feature quick-hitting Chicago Blackhawks- and NHL-related news and links.

Rumors have been rampant since roughly July that the Chicago Blackhawks were entertaining the possibility of trading for disgruntled Ottawa Senators forward Danny Heatley. Well, now we can all rest easy.

TSN reports the San Jose Sharks paid a steep price, sending Milan Michelak, Jonathan Cheechoo and a 2nd-round pick for Heatley. As Second City Hockey put it so eloquently: “So now Heatley gets what he wanted all along – a first round playoff exit next year.”

Heatley’s talent aside, I wondered why the ‘Hawks would want to part with Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg and whoever else to land a contract with six years and $45 million remaining. We haven’t even started the season yet, and I can’t help but think of the money the Blackhawks have to come up with to keep unrestricted free agent franchise players Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.

While that problem still remains, at least the ‘Hawks didn’t go out and trade for another.

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