Heatley heading to Edmonton - maybe

It looks as if Heatley may be wearing Oiler colours this coming season and, assuming he doesn't ask for a trade, for the three seasons that follow. As of right now it still doesn't look to be official but TSN is reporting that the only hurdle left to clear is Heatley waiving his no trade clause. Going back to Ottawa will be Penner, Cogliano, and Smid.

I guess until every I is dotted and T is crossed this isn't done , see the Nylander "signing" for proof of that, but if the deal does go through I've got to say my gut reaction is that I like it, even if I don't like what he did to get out of Ottawa. A couple of reasons why:

• Heatley will be the first true goal scored that the Oil have ever pit out with Hemsky. I think the combination could be deadly especially on the power play.
  
• Penner is a good hockey player, better than most in Edmonton would like to believe, but he wass never going to win over the fans here. I think that if fan reaction to him continued the way it was going he would have asked for a trade out of here sooner than later; with another subpar season he'd have been tough to deal.
• Losing Cogliano hurts for sure but this frees up money to make sure Gagner doesn't see an offer sheet and clears up a spot in the middle. As much as I like him I'm not sure having Horcoff, Gagner, and Cogliano would have worked long term; for the future I would have preferred to move Horcoff but there's a six year deal at $5.5 million a season cap hit that makes that tough.
• Smid is solid but is replaceable with talent already on the team. I'll give him credit for playing a more physical role to try and get more ice time this past season as all the offensive spots were already filled but there are players who are truly physical who do that much better.
  

The bottom line is that this team needed a top line scorer, Heatley fills that role. The power play needed to be better, Heatley will help there too. Yes the option was there to take time and develop the talent internally to fill those holes. Had we stayed the course with the young players we have or had tried to add a UFA tomorrow we might have been successful in winning more games, but I doubt to the same extent we should now.

We'll see if I feel the same way tomorrow, but for now I like it.

Update 10:33 - As quick as I thought I like'd it, the trade might be dead.