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Dany Heatley finally got his wish.
A trade out of Ottawa.
And while many Senators fans look at him as being Public Enemy No. 1, Heatley says he's done nothing wrong.
"I don't think I did anything wrong asking for a trade. I had my reasons for it and if people think differently of me, that's fine. I believe I did nothing wrong, and it's time to move on.
"It's a sad day for me to leave. I had a great four years here, but I felt it was best for me to move on."
After Senators GM Bryan Murray made one last-ditch effort to get the disgruntled winger to drop his demand for a trade Friday, the club sent the two-time 50-goal scorer along with a fifth-round draft pick in 2010 to the San Jose Sharks yesterday for wingers Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo and a second-round pick in 2010.
Murray believed after a meeting with Heatley Friday at Scotiabank Place he had to fulfil the unhappy winger's demand for a trade.
"I don't know whether I'm pleased to announce (the trade), but I'm OK to announce that we've traded Dany Heatley," said a frustrated Murray. "I did spend some time with him (Friday), and when I looked him in the eye and talked to him, I knew the minute he walked out the door that I had to trade him.
"I just felt that we had to move. I called (owner) Eugene (Melnyk), and I told him we've had a good many talks about this, and I think we have to do it. If I can get a little something more out of this deal, we have to do it."
The Sens have been talking to the Sharks about a potential trade since June, when Cheechoo, defenceman Christian Ehrhoff and a 2011 first-round draft pick were offered.
BRUCE.GARRIOCH@SUNMEDIA.CA
