The Martin Havlat for Dany Heatley trade is a solid move for both clubs but Havlat’s fantasy value gets a huge lift.
Analysis: The 2010-11 season was a return to form for Marty Havlat who had perhaps his most disappointing professional season in 2009 with Minnesota. Havlat scored 22 goals and tallied 40 assists in 78 games last year on a team without any offensive talent with the exception of Mikko Koivu. Fast forward to the 2011-12 season where Havlat finds himself on a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau or in the worst case Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe. It is certainly a huge boost and will take tons of pressure off of the speedy winger. Health is always a concern for Havlat but if he can stay healthy he should be able to put up top forty forward numbers. Havlat could even pair up with twenty-two year old Logan Couture who put up 56 points as the Calder runner up. Either way you slice it, San Jose has the depth Havlat needs to produce with relative ease.
Projection: Havlat should put up seventy-five to eighty points with at least twenty-five goals in the coming season. Expect his minus ten rating this past season to be at least a plus ten in 2011-12.