Ottawa owner's trivial pursuit of Heatley’s $4 million bonus

News is just trickling out now that Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk filed a grievance with the NHL against former Senator Dany Heatley(notes), seeking to reclaim the $4 million signing bonus Heatley snagged after refusing a trade to the Edmonton Oilers over the summer. Bruce Garrioch broke the story in the Ottawa Sun, indicating that Melnyk filed the papers during the summer and that the long-shot tactic could simply be a way to aggravate Heatley after the San Jose Sharks winger handcuffed Ottawa in the offseason with his trade demand. From the Sun:Sources say Melnyk contends in the paperwork filed at the NHL's New York headquarters, that Heatley's camp -- including agents J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine -- gave the Senators permission to speak with the Oilers and the two-time, 50-goal scorer should have accepted the deal to Edmonton.It's believed Melnyk not only claims the decision by Heatley to kill the deal cost him $4 million, it also hurt the club's ability t...