Dany Heatley

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Heatley's NHL career began with the Atlanta Thrashers, where he led all rookies in points (67) and assists (41) in 2001–02. His time in Atlanta was derailed by a car crash in September 2003 that killed teammate Dan Snyder. Heatley pled guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and received probation. Traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2005, he set franchise records for single-season goals (50) in 2005–06 and points (105) in 2006–07, playing on a line with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson that combined for 296 points in 2005–06. He later played for the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, and Anaheim Ducks. Heatley represented Team Canada in six World Championships, two Olympics, and one World Cup of Hockey, and in 2008 surpassed Marcel Dionne as Canada's all-time leader in goals and Steve Yzerman as the all-time leader in points for the World Championships.

In Their Own Story

In his first game for the Senators, against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 5, 2005, Heatley played with Jason Spezza and Brandon Bochenski. When the Senators were down with five minutes to go, Daniel Alfredsson replaced Bochenski and scored the tying goal. As 2005–06 was the first year the NHL implemented the shootout, Heatley became the second player to score in an NHL shootout, scoring against Leafs goalie Ed Belfour, after Alfredsson. Their sticks are now in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Later that month, on October 29, Heatley scored four consecutive goals in an 8–0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, marking a career high for goals in a game. Heatley made a spectacular start with his new team, registering points in the first 22 games of the 2005–06 season, breaking Marián Hossa's previous franchise record of 13 consecutive games. Among players with new teams, this was behind only Wayne Gretzky's 23-game streak upon joining the Los Angeles Kings during the 1988–89 season.

Reader's Guide

Dany Heatley never played for the Florida Panthers. His NHL career was spent with the Atlanta Thrashers (2001–2005), Ottawa Senators (2005–2009), San Jose Sharks (2009–2011), Minnesota Wild (2011–2014), and Anaheim Ducks (2014–2015). He last played with the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in 2015–16. Heatley was drafted second overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, behind goaltender Rick DiPietro. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 2002. Heatley set Ottawa Senators franchise records for single-season goals (50) in 2005–06 and points (105) in 2006–07. He represented Team Canada in six World Championships, two Olympics, and one World Cup of Hockey, and in 2008 surpassed Marcel Dionne as Canada's all-time leader in goals and Steve Yzerman as the all-time leader in points for the World Championships.

Did You Know?

• Heatley was born in Freiburg, Germany, where his father played professional hockey.
• He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 2002.
• Heatley set Ottawa Senators franchise records for single-season goals (50) in 2005–06 and points (105) in 2006–07.
• In 2008, he surpassed Marcel Dionne as Canada's all-time leader in goals and Steve Yzerman as the all-time leader in points for the World Championships.
• Heatley was at the wheel in a car crash in September 2003 that killed teammate Dan Snyder; he pled guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and received probation.