Heatley, whose agent Stacey McAlpine told TFP in June that his client's demands came much earlier in the season, was almost dealt to the Edmonton Oilers but that trade fell through after he declined to waive his no-movement clause in search for more options.

"Obviously I signed there because I liked the city. I still like the city; I love the fans," Heatley said. "For me, it’s a hockey decision right now. I've been thinking about this for a long time. Over the past few years, especially towards the end of last year, I felt my role was diminished and kept diminishing. I feel I'm a better player than that. That's really the main reason."

Heatley, who presented the Senators with a list of teams he'd accept a move to in May, also told the media that he tried to relay his message to the Senators on several different occasions over last season, but "I just feel it can't be solved."

If the Senators aren't able to deal Heatley by the start of training camp, or the start of the regular-season, the 28-year-old is prepared to begin the 2009-10 campaign in Ottawa.

To date, there has only been one formal trade offer presented to Senators GM Bryan Murray, and that was the Oilers' package of Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid.

Heatley wanted to make it clear that this situation "has nothing to do with Edmonton," in a sense that he didn't like the market or the team. He tried to explain that was simply looking for more options because he "knows there are other teams out there."

"I know there are teams interested," Heatley said. "Hopefully the Senators can get something done with one of these teams."

The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are believed to be two of the teams still interested in Heatley.