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Daniel Alfredsson will be ready to go for Senators training camp next week, and he refuses to let Dany Heatley's trade request become a distraction.
The Ottawa captain spoke on Friday during a preliminary skate as he prepares for the Sept. 12 opening of camp. Heatley has said he will attend training camp even if his trade request isn't met, and Alfredsson was asked if he would expect the two-time 50-goal scorer to speak to the team in an attempt to clear the air.
"No question, if that happens. You can't just wipe it under the rug and go on, you're going to have to address the situation, and we'll do that if that's the case next week," said Alfredsson.
Alfredsson discussed the prospect of having a player on the team who has admitted that he doesn't want to be there.
"It's not the ideal situation, but it's something that can be worked out, I guess," said Alfredsson. "He does help our team if he plays - no question - so if something happens during the season or if (GM) Bryan (Murray) decides he's going to stay the whole year, who knows what's going to happen.
"As players, we can't really make those decisions. We take what we have and make the best of it, and that's something that we'll work out as it comes along," added Alfredsson.
When asked about the possibility of Heatley being made to give up his assistant captaincy, Alfredsson offered that it was a decision that would be addressed with team management and the coaching staff.
In terms of Heatley's trade request, Alfredsson felt that he didn't have all the facts.
"All I know is he has his reasons, and I don't know if he's told the whole story, or if there's something else. I haven't spoken to him and I don't know what his reasons are. I could only speculate and I'd like not to," said Alfredsson.
"Obviously it would be the best scenario for everybody (for him to be traded), but if it was that easy then I think that something would already have been done. We're ready for whatever happens and we'll make something good out of it."
With the prospect of a training camp circus ahead should Heatley report as promised, Alfredsson kept things in perspective.
"It's not something that we'll use as an excuse if we get off to a slow start. But if he comes back there is going to be a lot of attention, a lot of focus," explained Alfredsson. "Whatever happens in practice, if somebody hits him, or if something occurs, everything is going to be blown out of proportion."
The Ottawa captain spoke on Friday during a preliminary skate as he prepares for the Sept. 12 opening of camp. Heatley has said he will attend training camp even if his trade request isn't met, and Alfredsson was asked if he would expect the two-time 50-goal scorer to speak to the team in an attempt to clear the air.
"No question, if that happens. You can't just wipe it under the rug and go on, you're going to have to address the situation, and we'll do that if that's the case next week," said Alfredsson.
Alfredsson discussed the prospect of having a player on the team who has admitted that he doesn't want to be there.
"It's not the ideal situation, but it's something that can be worked out, I guess," said Alfredsson. "He does help our team if he plays - no question - so if something happens during the season or if (GM) Bryan (Murray) decides he's going to stay the whole year, who knows what's going to happen.
"As players, we can't really make those decisions. We take what we have and make the best of it, and that's something that we'll work out as it comes along," added Alfredsson.
When asked about the possibility of Heatley being made to give up his assistant captaincy, Alfredsson offered that it was a decision that would be addressed with team management and the coaching staff.
In terms of Heatley's trade request, Alfredsson felt that he didn't have all the facts.
"All I know is he has his reasons, and I don't know if he's told the whole story, or if there's something else. I haven't spoken to him and I don't know what his reasons are. I could only speculate and I'd like not to," said Alfredsson.
"Obviously it would be the best scenario for everybody (for him to be traded), but if it was that easy then I think that something would already have been done. We're ready for whatever happens and we'll make something good out of it."
With the prospect of a training camp circus ahead should Heatley report as promised, Alfredsson kept things in perspective.
"It's not something that we'll use as an excuse if we get off to a slow start. But if he comes back there is going to be a lot of attention, a lot of focus," explained Alfredsson. "Whatever happens in practice, if somebody hits him, or if something occurs, everything is going to be blown out of proportion."
