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 to sell season tickets because of the uncertainty in the Senators camp.

More analysis from The 6th Sens.

Now, there's obviously some validity to the latter claim ... which is quickly undermined by the fact that the Senators gave Heatley a no-movement clause that put the puck in his end of the rink if he demanded a trade. The entire grievance, in fact, is centered around the contractual conditions the Senators gave Heatley upon his signing an extension: A $4 million bonus on July 1, 2009, and the no-movement clause.

It doesn't matter if Barry and McAlpine gave the Senators permission to speak to the Oilers or the Orlando Rollergators; Ottawa gave Heatley the right to exercise a veto and gave him a bonus to collect as long as he was a Senator -- both of which he did. In fact, the bonus the Senators promised him actually harmed their ability to trade him.

In the battle of dumb versus selfish, the winner is selfish.

Barring any bombshells lingering off the record, this would appear to be a slam-dunk case for NHLPA lawyers. Provided, of course, that Chelios doesn't scare them all away.

[Stick Tap to Puck Buddy James R. for the Heater tip.]

Related: Dany Heatley, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks