With the Ottawa Senators sitting in 5th in the Eastern Conference, fans have already started to speculate about what might be in store when the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around in a month and a half.
In a rebuilding year, Bryan Murray could be put in a tricky situation should the team approach the deadline holding down one of the top eight spots in the East.
Early impressions, and they are just that right now, is that the Senators will not be a buyer leading up to the deadline. Now that doesn’t necessarily put them in the seller category either but I really don’t see the Sens making a big splash in the trade market before the end of February.
The way I see it, Murray already made his move, acquiring Kyle Turris in exchange for David Rundblad in December.
There are some big names floating around the rumour mill right now. Ryan Getzlaf, Jarome Iginla, Corey Perry and Rick Nash are all believed to be available, for the right price. The Ottawa Senators will NOT be involved on any of those players.
If the Sens do make a move, it would have to be for a bargain-bin salary or be a trade where equal dollars are going the other way. In a rebuilding year, the Senators are on a tight budget and there isn’t really a ton of wiggle room for Murray to add large player contracts.
While adding will be difficult, Bryan Murray has some interesting decisions to make should the team be holding down a playoff spot and someone comes calling about Sergei Gonchar or Filip Kuba. Kuba is a UFA at seasons end while Gonchar has another year at $5.5 million.
This really will be a last minute decision for the Sens and will depend on where they find themselves in the standings towards the middle of February and exactly what the market value is for these two players.
Right now, Sergei Gonchar and Filip Kuba are extremely important pieces on the Ottawa Senators blueline.
- Sens are on a heck of a run right now but a daunting stretch awaits. First up a home and home with the 4th place Flyers and then a three game road swing with stops in New York, Pittsburgh and Montreal. Ottawa will play 10 of their next 12 away from Scotiabank Place.
- Some good news on the injury front as defenceman Chris Phillips is expected to return to the line up tomorrow afternoon in Philadelphia. Phillips passed all his concussion tests and has had a couple of symptom free work outs. No word yet on who will come out of the line up.
- Craig Anderson will get the start in goal tomorrow. When MacLean was asked if he would go with Anderson in both weekend games, he indicated no decision has been made as of yet.
