As the Ottawa Senators get set for a week that includes a back to back against the Sabres and Penguins beginning tomorrow night, it seems like an appropriate time to quickly check in on the rumour mill.
While things seem relatively quiet around the Senators right now, you can be sure the team’s recent goal scoring troubles has General Manager Bryan Murray actively searching for help up front. And while nothing seems imminent, there are a couple names that could be options for the Sens in the not too distant future.
Let’s start with Stephen Weiss
An unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, Weiss is going to draw a ton of attention should the Panthers decided to openly shop him. While he has struggled early on this year, the career Panther has three straight 20 goal seasons and seems like a perfect fit in the Senators top six. This is a call you can be sure Murray would make. Florida GM Dave Tallon insists that his priority is to retain Weiss but not everyone is convinced. If he’s available, the Senators will be interested.
Ryan O’Reilly is another interesting option.
A contract holdout with the Avalanche, O’Reilly is another guy that seems like he’d be a good fit on a team’s second or third line. There will be plenty of teams lined up for his services should the Avs decide to go down that road but it doesn’t seem to be a priority for them just yet. While I haven’t heard anything specific on this front- I would assume the Sens have interest.
And then there’s the Anaheim Ducks.
Off to a ridiculously strong start, the Ducks have a couple players that every team will be keeping their eye on. Both Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are set to be free agents at the end of the season and teams are already beginning to reach out to Ducks GM Bob Murray.
Here’s what I know and what I hinted at last week- Sens GM Bryan Murray has an interest in both of them. Does he have the pieces to get a deal done for either or perhaps more importantly, the budget to make it happen? Hard to say. And can the Ducks really move either of them when they look like a legitimate contender in the Western Conference?
Seems unlikely but you can guarantee both those guys are going to be mainstays in the NHL rumour mill for the next couple months. You can also guarantee Sens GM Bryan Murray will keep a close eye as the situation unfolds out West.
Knowing Bryan Murray, he has a few other options on his radar that nobody is mentioning right now but these seem to be the most prominent names floating around the rumour mill.
The Ottawa Senators are back on the ice for practice this morning at 11:00 AM. They take on the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow night at Scotiabank Place.
