Ducks look to a motivated Dany Heatley to fill out the first line

With good timing, a hunch and a mutual gamble, the Ducks hope they have found a productive first-line wing.

Anaheim’s off-season decision to sign veteran forward Dany Heatley was low-risk — a $1-million, one-year wager on a 33-year-old coming to his fifth NHL city after sputtering through a 12-goal season in Minnesota.

The potential high reward of the move was revealed 48 seconds into Monday’s preseason opener, when Ducks’ center Ryan Getzlaf shifted Heatley a pass that he whisked to the net.

Heatley knows how to score. He had back-to-back 50-goal seasons for Ottawa; in the latter one, his Senators lost to the Ducks in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final.

In the dominant first line that season with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, Heatley continued a streak of scoring 25 or more goals in seasons in which he was healthy.

The run began as he won the Calder Trophy in Atlanta and lasted through a stretch with the San Jose Sharks in 2011 before he was surprised by a trade to defensive-minded Minnesota.

“Got shuffled around in the lineup and couldn’t get going,” Heatley said of the swoon capped in April of this year by his first NHL designation as a healthy scratch.

An assistant coach and teammate helped Heatley with extra practice, sparking his play for the postseason as the Wild upset Colorado in seven games, with Heatley scoring a goal and contributing two assists in the finale.

There that evening were Ducks’ scouts, who reported back to General Manager Bob Murray that Heatley”might work.”

“I know he’s a proud guy,” Murray said. “He wants to go out the right way. We’re giving him a pretty good opportunity. This can work out for both of us.”

Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau installed the fit Heatley in training camp as the new first-liner with Getzlaf and Corey Perry, who combined for a staggering 153 points last season accompanied by a parade of left wings.

Veteran Dustin Penner struggled with his fitness to keep up. Youngsters were too green or intimidated.

“Unfortunately, for the third guy, if there’s an off night, it’s his fault, not ours,” Getzlaf said, “which isn’t always warranted. … I’m not saying we’re perfect.”

Heatley was the most valuable player at the 2008 World Championships, in which he played alongside fellow Canadian Getzlaf, and Perry joined them as a teammate on the 2010 Olympic gold-medal winning team.

“We’re looking for smarts, that when he gets in the other team’s zone and you give him the puck, he knows what to do with it,” Boudreau said. “Doesn’t turn it over, makes the right play. ... You need a guy who’s comfortable in his own skin.

“Heatley has potential. One of the best distributors of the puck in the NHL is Ryan Getzlaf. And two of the better shooters over this period of time are Dany Heatley and Corey Perry. If we’ve got a distributor to them, then maybe they should score some goals.”

After scoring another goal against the Kings on Thursday, Heatley said, “I think it can work and I’m going to try my best and keep going with it. … I fit in with the Ottawa guys, and I can fit in with these two.”

Heatley expressed that same optimism when he and Getzlaf talked after Heatley selected the two-time Pacific Division champions over a few other teams “who kicked the tires,” on him.

“Any time there’s a goal scorer on my line, I’m pretty happy,” Getzlaf said.

“I spoke to ‘Heater’ and he was excited, like he had a little bit to prove — motivated, ready to play. It’s not a money move. He came here for an opportunity to win and contribute again.”

The roots from which Heatley draws that competitive spirit from are intensely deep, and private.

Heatley was the driver in a 2003 high-speed car crash that left passenger and Atlanta teammate Dan Snyder dead days later.

Snyder’s family pushed for leniency, and Heatley was convicted of second-degree vehicular homicide, receiving three years’ probation and ordered to give 150 anti-speeding speeches.

He refused to speak about the tragedy to The Times, and one of his most recent comments was found in a 2007 New York Times story in which he said, “That’s something that will be with me forever.”

The sport — the work — remains.

In San Jose, some regarded Heatley as the best man in the room.

“I’ve met a lot of people, played in a lot of cities, played under a lot of coaches … those experiences help you filter through a lot of things and you learn to just worry about playing, about hockey, about taking care of yourself, about keeping that one focus,” Heatley said.

“One thing I’ve learned is that if you’re producing and doing your job, you’re going to play — no matter the coach, no matter the team. I understand that. My job is to produce, contribute and help this team win.”

Perry said he doesn’t see slippage from Heatley: “He’s exactly who we need … great guy, quiet guy, guy who leads by example.”

“You give him any time in any area where he’s open, ‘Getzy’ can find him and I’ll be in front most of the times. There’s going to be a lot of opportunities. Defensive guys will have to watch who they cover and you can’t just not cover him.

“Hopefully, coming here rejuvenates him and it goes well. It’s something we’re looking forward to, bracing for a good year.”

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimespugmire