With the start of the NHL season now just a little over a week away, the Ottawa Senators have made another surprising move.
Veteran forward Zack Smith was placed on waivers earlier today in a transaction that has most fans scratching their heads. Not because they disagree with the move necessarily but because the motivation and timing are anything but clear.
While it’s not a huge stretch to suggest that other forwards, including the likes of Filip Chlapik and Colin White, have outplayed Smith in Camp, it is odd that waivers is the route the Senators are going here.
Unless of course Pierre Dorion has some indication that there is a team that would consider claiming Smith and the remaining three years left on his deal. It seems unlikely but maybe. It’s also hard to believe that the Senators would pay Smith that kind of money to play in the American Hockey League.
It’s no secret that the Senators were looking to move Smith’s contract. His name was a fixture in the rumour mill at last year’s deadline and he was mentioned again in the lead up to the NHL draft. So it’s not like this comes completely out of left field.
Smith has spent the majority of Camp and the preseason on one of the top three lines and according to Guy Boucher, he’ll stay there if he clears waivers tomorrow at noon. It’s clear that this latest move isn’t going over well in the locker room though.
More Duchene:
“It’s tough because we love Smitty. He is a great leader, he is a great player. Unfortunately, I guess, sometimes in this business, things happen that are sometimes beyond hockey reasons and things like that. It’s tough right now, we are hurting.”— Brent Wallace (@tsn_wally) September 25, 2018
A desperate attempt to save money? Making room for a young guy? Getting rid of a player that hasn’t produced? Whatever the motivation, a move like this probably requires some form of explanation from Management.
Pierre?
