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Left-winger Dany Heatley wants to leave the Ottawa Senators because he is unhappy his time on the ice has been cut.

Heatley stunned fans at the end of last season by requesting a trade, a year into a six-year contract that is due to pay him $7.5 million next season.

"The main reason is that when I signed in Ottawa (in 2005) I felt I was to be an integral part of the team," said the 28-year-old as he made his first public comments since his trade request.

"I feel my role has diminished. I think especially this past season it has diminished a lot more."

Heatley notched 72 points last season, the lowest in his four campaigns with Ottawa.

In 2005-06 he became the first player to score 50 goals in a season for the franchise, and then became the first to record two consecutive 50-goal seasons for the Senators.

Heatley, who has already turned down the chance to join the Edmonton Oilers, said he would return to Ottawa for pre-season training if he did not find a new team.

He joined the Senators from the Atlanta Thrashers after being involved in a car crash that killed team-mate Dan Snyder in 2003.

Heatley, who admitted to speeding, pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide and was given three years' probation.

Reuters