Per Mark Christopher of hockeybuzz.com and senschirp.ca, the Minnesota Wild may have offered Mikko Koivu, Nick Schultz and Tyler Cuma in a last minute offer in an attempt to procure the services of Dany Heatley. Apparently, these are just the major names involved, but that the deal could also involve more than just Heatley coming back to the Wild in a "salary dump" for Ottawa. I would be curious to hear potential names involved in the "salary dump". Also, the deal could involve Colton Gillies going to Ottawa as well. They also indicate/imply that Ottawa really would like Burns and/or Havlat involved. They list Minnesota having the best chance of landing the inigma that is Dany Heatley.

While I have always been a proponent of landing this exceptional player, I wonder if the price is too high? Chuck Fletcher knows that his AHL cupboard is near bare and to potentially unload two of our best prospects (Cuma and Gillies), is just unfathomable to me based on Fletcher's limited comments since taking over GM duties earlier this summer. UNLESS.........there are good to great draft picks coming our way and/or good to great prospects and/or serviceable NHL caliber players ALL coming our way.

In the end, I really don't see this caliber of a deal happening. Why would Minnesota trade away their captain who is a player of GREAT character and leadership along with another proven leader on defense for a player who's character has taken a beating from Atlanta to Ottawa.

Also, Heatley has reportedly turned down the prospect of playing in Edmonton and is rumored to have turned down playing in Buffalo. Why wouldn't he turn down playing in Minnesota? While is collegiate career was played only hours from the Twin Cities in Madison, Wisconsin, I don't know that that would be enough for him to not put the kabash on any deal the Wild would offer. Heatley appears to be playing a Hossa game with his short list of teams he would play for and, possibly, wanting to play for a Stanley Cup contender. While I have every faith in Chuck Fletcher that one day, the Wild will be a Cup contender, I just don't think they are there yet. And, as such, that could be one reason for Heatley to nix a deal to the Wild.

That's not to say that I and other Wild fans (I would guess a majority) would love to have Dany and his talent on this team. We would. It would put us that much closer to becoming a Stanley Cup contender. Heck, it would make us a Cup contender. Assuming, however, that we don't sell the farm just to get one guy. Minnesota sports fans will always remember the Minnesota Vikings' Herschel Walker trade where we thought we were on our way to a Super Bowl when in fact we helped to create the dynasty that was the Dallas Cowboys and their run of Super Bowl victories.

So will this specific deal happen? NO!!!!!!

Could we still get Heatley? YES!!!!

Would Dany nix the trade if a deal were made? Unfortunately, probably.

Fun stuff to think about during the dog days of summer which have traditionally been hockey's slowest days for fans.

Stay tuned Wild fans. There's a new sheriff in town and he's talking "wait and see" on the trade market and, as such, I fully expect another move or two out of this organization along the way.

FYI, I heard the name Kaberle come up in some discussions with some plugged in people. I would be very cautious doing any deal with Brian Burke. The guy is the master of the deal as NHL GM's go and he always seems to get the better end of any deal he does.

Stay Tuned Wild Fans!!!!!

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