There is nothing I love as much as a good fight.

Heatley, whose inability to score in the playoffs was a significant factor in Ottawa being swept by the Penguins, drew the ire of the callers to radio talk shows and writers of letters to the editor who thought he showed considerably more effort at the worlds.

In leading his country to a silver medal, Heatley scored a Canadian record 12 goals in nine games and was named tournament MVP.

Spezza, who like Heatley could only muster one assist in the four games against the Penguins, was relegated to fourth-line status by Canadian coach Ken Hitchcock.

Publicly, he remained a team player and responded in a politically correct manner. Privately, the treatment would have very much steamed the proud and confident Spezza.

It also added fuel to Spezzas detractors, who have become fed up with his giveaways and failure to develop into more than a one-dimensional, offensive player.

Heatley and Spezza are the cornerstones of the Senators franchise and will earn $10 million and $8 million respectively next season. They have also combined for just one goal — by Heatley — as Ottawa has lost its past two playoff series, including the Cup final against Anaheim last year.

Tied into long-term deals with the two stars, the Senators need them to start producing when it matters most, the very next chance they get. Either that, or GM Bryan Murray will have to act on any notion he may have already had to try and trade at least one of them.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: The Senators had a nice stretch from Dec. 5-18 during which they won six in a row, including three games against Carolina, Pittsburgh and Atlanta by a combined 17-4 score. But really, they would never be as high as they were on the night of Nov. 6. In front of their home crowd, they extended their record to 13-1 — the fastest start by a team in league history — with a 5-1 pounding of the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. They did it with their No. 1 center, Jason Spezza, missing his fourth game in a row with a groin injury. They showed their depth, with five different players doing the scoring. And they chased goalie Vesa Toskala, the Leafs marquee free agent signing, before the midway mark of the second period. Indeed, life was good in Senators-land.

TURNING POINT: In retrospect, the Senators Stanley Cup final was Jan. 12. On that night, they played the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Place in a battle of the two conference leaders. Led by two goals from captain Daniel Alfredsson, they won 3-2, improving their record to 29-10-4 and silencing the doubters who refused to acknowledge them as the best team in hockey. But the very next night, they hit the wall and never did fully recover. The 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders wasnt a surprise, given the natural letdown of facing an inferior opponent less than 24 hours after the Detroit game. But they went on to win just three of their next 11 games and play out the second half of the season at a sluggish 14-21-4.

NOTES, QUOTES

—GM Bryan Murray wants his successor behind the bench to have a strong personality and not feel intimated by players who need to be hauled into the office for a fair conversation about their responsibilities within the teams system. If the player doesnt respond to the positive feedback, has to be willing to relegate him to a lesser line or sit him out a few shifts, said Murray. He has to be real strong verbally. What we need is strong direction and then, if you have good people in your organization, they will follow that. The coach has to be willing to stand up for what he believes in. Murray said he would like to have a new coach in place by the draft on June 20-21.

—Receiving a ringing endorsement from Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza was Pat Burns — a three-time Jack Adams Trophy winner as the NHLs coach of the year — after he worked with the two Senators stars as an assistant coach with Team Canada at the worlds. The 56-year old Burns is a candidate to take over the Senators vacant head coaching job, as is former Colorado and Atlanta bench boss Bob Hartley and former Anaheim and Chicago coach Craig Hartsburg. Its believed, however, that Murray would prefer to give the opportunity to an up-and-comer who has proven himself at another level, the way he did when he hired Mike Babcock as his coach in Anaheim. To that end, the top candidates include Randy Cunneyworth , Kevin Dineen and 39-year old Pete DeBoer, a Kitchener Rangers coach who has a 539-248-60-31 record over 13 seasons behind an Ontario Hockey League bench. If he doesnt land in the NHL first, DeBoer is expected to coach the Canadian team at the next world junior championship.

QUOTE TO NOTE: Ive learned not to really read what you guys are writing or what people are saying. You get hot and cold sometimes. — LW Dany Heatley, upon returning from the world championship and responding to criticism that he showed more effort with Team Canada than he did in going goal-less in the Senators first round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

ROSTER REPORT

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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: At 35 years old, RW Daniel Alfredsson continues to be the Senators best all-round player. Despite injuries that limited him to 70 games, he finished second in team scoring, with 40 goals and 49 assists for 89 points. His leadership qualities are unquestioned, and his popularity with Senators fans is unlike anything before seen in this city. Chants of Alfie ring through Scotiabank Place every game he plays, and thats not likely to go away any time soon.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: As disappointing as it was for the Senators that G Ray Emery failed to return to the form that helped the team to the finals last spring, he was nothing more than a bystander, as the backup to Martin Gerber, down the stretch and into the playoffs. Even more disappointing was the play of D Wade Redden, who was obviously distracted by trade talk. A former 17-goal scorer and power-play quarterback, Redden scored just six times this season, and not at all in the last 35 games or the playoffs. When your teams highest paid player at $6.5 million is barely hanging on to a spot as a top four defenseman, its not good.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Senators have seven players who are eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1. They are D Wade Redden , RW Martin Lapointe , LW Cory Stillman , D Mike Commodore , LW Chris Kelly , RW Shean Donovan and C Randy Robitaille . Redden wont be back unless he takes a significant cut, and his representatives believe other teams are going to offer him similar to what hes making now.

Lapointe was a fourth-line player and would likely have to be willing to take a salary of less than $1 million for the Senators to consider taking him back. Stillmans home is in nearby Peterborough and he would like to come back. Its likely something will be worked out there.

Commodore had a tough time adjusting to the Senators system after he was traded to Ottawa in February. But in the last couple of weeks and into the playoffs, he became what Murray thought he would — a steady, albeit slow-footed defender who gives the Senators some needed toughness on the blue line. If you would have asked me two or three weeks ago, I could have given you a definite answer. A definite not a chance, Commodore told reporters, after the Senators were eliminated, when asked if he would be back. Now, theres a chance.

The Senators would like to have Kelly back, as hes considered a smart, multipurpose player who is also popular among his teammates. But they may not be able to afford him if hes looking for a raise into the $2 million neighborhood. Rookie Cody Bass, who will earn $510,000 next season, would be a drop-off but could handle Kellys role.

A fourth-liner for much of the season, Donovan was Ottawa best forward through at least the first two games of the Pittsburgh series. He has family roots in Ottawa and will likely be back.

Robitaille is also from Ottawa, but he did not perform to expectations. He will not be offered another contract.

C Antoine Vermette and D Andrej Meszaros will be looking for significant raises as restricted free agents. Its possible Meszaros could be used as trade bait.

BIGGEST NEEDS: On more than one occasion during the season, GM Bryan Murray lamented the fact the team was in need of a swift-skating, puck-moving defenseman. Former Ottawa junior Brian Campbell, who finished the season with San Jose, is at the top of Murrays wish list. Campbell loved the city when he was a member of the 67s and if doesnt re-sign with the Sharks, his agent, Ottawa lawyer Larry Kelly, will hear Murrays best pitch.

PLAYER NOTES:

—Differing stories emerged from the D Wade Redden camp and the Senators in regards to a contract for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. GM Bryan Murray confirmed he asked Redden, who made $6.5 million last season, if hed be interested in a deal similar to that of Ottawa D Chris Phillips, who in 2006 signed a five-year agreement worth $3.5 million per season.

Redden agent Don Meehan called the story nonsense, saying no offer was made. Reddens people believe hell get close to what he made on his last contract, which is why hell test the market come July 1.

—Unable to find a taker for a tra...