According to his agent, Dany Heatley is seeking a trade out of Ottawa for reasons that have to do entirely with hockey - and not with the city itself.

"It all has to do with hockey. It all has to do with the hockey environment he's in," Heatley's agent JP Barry told Sportsnet.ca on Tuesday night. "It's just about where his situation is with the team."

Heatley has asked for a trade out of Ottawa, just one season into a six-year, $45 million contract he signed in October 2007. But after signing that contract - just four months after the Senators reached the Stanley Cup Finals - the fortunes of both Heatley and the club have taken a turn for the worse.

Last season, Heatley endured his least productive season in the nation's capital, scoring 39 goals and 72 points in 82 games.

Barry confirmed that he's been speaking with Senators general manager Bryan Murray for the past couple of weeks about a trade for his client. And with the NHL Entry Draft approaching later this month, Barry feels it's the right time for a trade to happen. But he left the situation entirely up to the Senators front office.

"If it's going to happen, now is the time," continued Barry. "We'll work with Bryan - but it's up to Bryan what he wants to do in this situation."

For his part Murray declined to address specific questions about the Heatley situation, instead choosing to issue a statement.

"We signed him (Dany Heatley) to a long-term deal and we expect him to honour it. At this point in time he's a Senator," Murray said.

Heatley has a no-trade clause and would have to approve any trade before he is officially dealt. He has five years remaining on his current contract, with a cap hit of $7.5 million per season.