Q - With the trade deadline approaching, some top teams will want to stock up on talent to make a serious run for the Stanley Cup. Which veterans can the Ottawa Senators trade and what potential prospects can they hope to get in return?


A - I have some thoughts on this. Some are shocking to Sens fans, but at the end of the day its time to face it up, this team isn't winning anything other than a draft lottery pick - it's time to rebuild.

First of all, they should either try to move or demote Kovalev. I'd waive him to wipe his $5 mill of the books (he's done in 6 months anyway). This could help you have money to bring in a trade (for example, a player for a prospect and Commodore in Columbus - they deal a high salary off, and you buy him out in the off season and it becomes a player for prospect deal).

Leclaire is a bust and since he's done this year, either dangle him for whatever you can get or run the clock this year and let him walk as a UFA.

Make a call on Phillips - If you keep him, you know what you'll get out of him, but run the risk he'll walk as a UFA in July. Ultimately I'd try moving him as he will have value and you can pick up a prospect or maybe a 2nd/3rd rounder and clear $3.5 mill at the same time (use that money to sign someone in the off season or re-up Karlsson). After all, he's not helping you to the finals this year.

Trade Alfie - This will probably get me killed if I leave my house but he's past his prime (even if there is a touch left in the tank) and he's not leading this team to another cup (unless its behind the bench or in the front office somewhere). Move him and his high salary while you can still get anything for him from a contender. Let's face it, this team needs to re-up and he's a trade-able asset.

Move Fisher if you have the right deal and he's willing to waive his NTC. He's a great player and an excellent number 2 C, but if you get the right deal (Ryan Ellis from Nashville for example), then I'd pull the trigger. It would be easy enough to patch that hole with a UFA signing or by bringing someone up like Zack Smith.

Keep Cowen as he is going to be apart of the future core with Karlsson (sort of like when Phillips and Redden came up together in the late 90s and provided the core after they added guys like Chara and Berard). Same with Campoli as I think he is better than what he is playing, however given where he is on the depth chart I think his low ranking has something to do with it.

Move Gonchar IF you can. With his salary, declining play, absent defense and the fact that he would be a liability if he retires (cap hit would stick regardless if he plays or not) it will be hard if at all possible to move him. Let's remember that in Pittsburgh, the talent around him hid the problems with his game and being in Ottawa has exposed them which will hurt his value. Maybe you get someone who is desperate and gambling on his shot at bumping them either into the play offs or just tipping the scales to make them a contender. Try the same with both Chris Kelly and Filip Kuba if you can as well.

If you can get something equal for Spezza, I say take it. His soft defensive play, high salary and declining point totals make him worthwhile to get shipped out. He'd be amazing if they actually brought in a coach who would hold him to his laziness and holes in his game, if that could ever happen. On the other hand he is talented enough to be a legit number 1 centre in the league and they don't grow on trees. If you can get a top prospect (Seguin or Hall for example) then sure, go for it, other wise sit on him and try to turn things around.

Keep Milan Michalek as his value right now is too low to make it worth while and I think he's having a rough go while still recovering from his last injury. He is a great plug in the top two lines even if paid a touch more than he should have been (probably $3.5-4 mill a year is right).

I would probably run a tandem of Ellior and Mike Brodeur next year since these guys are more 1a types (not quite a starter by better than a backup) and would hold the fort until Remier is ready to take the starters job. Plus they will come cheap.

To say what they should get back, that really could be anything and everything. They need a better and more mobile defense core. Bieksa would be the first guy that comes to mind and is respectably paid which would make an immediate impact. That said they will need to bring in a few guys - 1 or 2 established NHLers and maybe 1 or 2 through promotion from the farm.

They need better wingers to play with the centres. Spezza has taken a nosedive since Heatley left town since Alfredsson is too old and slow, Kovalev only shows up for 1 in 4 games to play and Michalek has only had mild chemistry with him as well has lost a gear in his speed since his knee injury. Someone they may want to target here is Devin Setoguchin in SJ. SJ needs a defensive D (maybe Philips) and Ottawa maybe where Devin can re-energize and find his game again.
They have average depth on the back two lines where I would probably hold onto Neil and Ruutu (both crowd favourites, decently priced and do a reasonable job). I look to a team like Pittsburgh who spent the last 3 years collecting grinders, fighters, role players and other 3rd and 4th line players. Many think that it is stupid, but this is the depth that makes them difficult to play against, as well as go the distance through 82 games and a full cup run. Vancouver has done the exact same thing this year when guys like Manny Malhotra where signed (his face off percentage is also a huge bonus). It's time to emulate the successes of other so either grab some depth at the deadline or on July 1st.

Lastly, fire Bryan Murray! This guy has been the biggest overall problem to the team as he's shown nothing but desperation and rolling the dice on a lot of the moves he has made in the last 2 years. I believe these moves have brought this team nothing and probably made them worse which is why they are in the situation today. With that consider firing Clouston as well. I think he's a good coach, but has lost the confidence of the players. Maybe you can turn it around next season with him if there is a turnover of the core guys in the next 8 months, but that would be the only situation.

Ok here is what some knob from Montreal put out on the net earlier today. I simply couldn't let this one slide by and eagerly responded with a little fact.

"It's true. The only thing certain in hockey is that Pens fans are bandwagon jumpers, with no actual knowledge of the game. You got lucky with Mario, and you got lucky with Sid, and you still can't beat the Habs."

Here's my response:

"Ok you want to talk about "luck"? Yes you are right we got lucky in making great picks in two particular years, but last I checked 1 player doesn't make a championship team. Hell, you can't even buy a championship team (check out the Renfrew Millionaires if you yourself know little about the history of the game). But you really want to talk abotu luck? Montreal getting lucky with Patrick Roy. How's that for luck. Or why not the Richards, Beliveau, Dryden, etc. While we're at it, lets point out that Montreal won most of their cups between 1940 and 1980 (all years where there were only 6 teams or less competition or during the expansion years where the new teams were weaker). Why not go even further and talk about Montreal's claim to all players from Quebec during those years as well where rival clubs could not draft/sign young french Canadians, basically monopolizing a whole market so they could continue stocking their teams consistently while everyone else in the league had to cut up the remainder. What good luck was that! It almost makes one wonder if the Habs simply got lucky all those years, or maybe and much worse, forced their own luck. It's no secret the lifetime record is in favour of Montreal (I think it is something like 32-13), but like I mentioned, with the expansion in 67, is that really telling the whole story?

Like many have mentioned, there are bandwagon jumpers everywhere. I knew lots of them who jumped onto Montreal back in 93 for example. I never was a jumper and supported the Pens from the late 80's as a toddler right through until present day, which by the way included the "lost" years between 99 and 2006 where they almost folded, went bankrupt, moved and dealt everyone away.

So how's that for having actual knowledge of the game, not only have I been a lifelong Penguins fan, but I am young AND actually know a little something about hockey too. So for next time feel free to say go habs or talk about key players or whatever, but leave the foot in mouth comments out of here."