After 2 years of underperforming, the San Jose Sharks have sent Dany Heatley to the Minnesota Wild for Martin Havlat. This means no one in Bachmann land will be complaining about a high priced forward dissapearing in the playoffs since they don't make them.

It also means that the Sharks get to save $2.5 million in salary for the same results. Havlat had only 3 less goals than Heatley last season. Mind you at $7.5 he should have had 50 goals. Heatley's reputation as a sniper took a hit in San Jose also. Most of his goals were up close in front of the goalie. The kind players making a lot less dough make. I don't remember seeing too many sniper/one timers in the two years he was here.

On paper it looked like a great deal. But Heatley never showed that he was better than the forward he replaced-Milan Michalek. He was useless in 2 playoff years, supposedly one of the reason GM Doug Wilson aquired him in the first place.

So I guess he will have to deal with a team that doesn't make the playoffs, cold winters, & a baseball team not very good. (Heatley & Ryanne Clowe were regulars at San Francisco Giants games. For the geographically challenged- SF is a 1 hour drive from the Shark Tank)

As for Havlat: he's a better 2-way player. He's better in the playoffs & with the trade for his teammate Brent Burns, the Sharks have improved their defense. And with the salary savinggs they can get another forward for a lower line. And no one will be expecting Havlat to score 50. The only problem is Havlat's health. He had injury issues early in his career so that's a concern. But then again the local football team (the 49ers) drafted a running back several years ago who had had multiple operations while in college, & he worked out fine. Name of Frank Gore.