Right now, it seems like Marc Methot is healthy.
He’s ready to return to the lineup. The challenge is getting Methot into game shape and that’s a decision that will fall on Head Coach Paul MacLean. MacLean has talked about wanting to be patient with Methot and make sure this isn’t an issue that come up again later in the season. MacLean suggested that he didn’t expect Methot back until the beginning of December but I’m thinking it could be sooner than that.
At the same time, the Senators need to make some room on the roster. Right now, trade seems to be the preferred route with one of Colin Greening or Erik Condra the most likely candidates. If Ottawa can get a team to offer a mid-round pick to take on Greening’s contract, that’s a deal they will make.
Colin Greening has been a real pro throughout this situation but in the end, it’s a business and the Senators have to find a way to make room on the roster. Bryan Murray attended the GM Meetings in Toronto yesterday and you can guarantee Greening’s name came up in discussions with other General Managers.
Once Methot does return, the blueline which appeared to be a weakness through the first 18 games, suddenly doesn’t look so bad. MacLean will have eight guys to choose from back there and should be able to put together some decent pairings.
Obviously the first pairing will be Marc Methot and Erik Karlsson. Karlsson hasn’t exactly been himself to start the season and I think a lot of that has to do with inconsistent D partners. He’s played with Phillips. He’s played with Cowen. And he’s played with Borowiecki. Karlsson is a great player but it’s tough to get into a rhythm when you always have a different face hopping over the boards with you.
Jared Cowen and Cody Ceci have looked quite good together recently and should probably stay together once Methot returns. Cowen seems like a new man since spending five games in the pressbox and really looks like a capable second pairing defenceman. Right now, anyway. Meanwhile Cody Ceci has quietly been Ottawa’s most consistent defenceman all year. Leave these two together and I think you have a pretty solid second pairing.
Things get a little less clear once you get to that third pairing. Chris Phillips, Mark Borowiecki and Patrick Wiercioch all play the same side so only one of them can dress. Eric Gryba seems like a lock to hold his spot on the right side. Borowiecki and Gryba have spent a lot of time together this year but it’s hard to imagine Phillips being sent to the pressbox. Phillips and Gryba seems like a decent third pairing but then the challenge for MacLean becomes finding a way to get those other two into the lineup on a regular basis.
Trading a defenceman is always an option too. Murray and MacLean both talked about how difficult it was carrying 8 D all last season and seemed like they would be reluctant to do it again this year yet right now anyway, that seems to be exactly where they are headed.
Marc Methot’s return will certainly improve the Ottawa blueline but it will also mean some tough decisions for the Head Coach. Those tough decisions will have to be made in the not too distant future.
The Senators are on the ice for practice at 10:30 AM this morning. They take on the Leaf-killing Nashville Predators tomorrow night.
