MUCKLER CANNOT AFFORD TO REPEAT PAST MISTAKES
As awesome as the Ottawa Senators have looked of late, the stark reality is that they are not built for the long and gruelling playoff wars. They lack size and toughness, not to mention a big centre with excellent face-off skills and a solid goaltending tandem.
These shortcomings, without question, have been their Achilles’ heel ever since they became competitive in 1996-97. Inexplicably, management is still waiting to address them.
As if that wasn’t enough, the two black clouds that hovered over GM John Muckler’s head at this time last year are still here this season; only the names have changed.
Head coach Bryan Murray should have played back-up rookie goaltender Ray Emery a lot more before last March’s trade deadline to see if he could excel over a prolonged period, in the event that Dominik Hasek got hurt. Well, we are all painfully aware of how that story unfolded.
The Senators find themselves in an eerily similar position this year, as they need to find out very soon if number two goalie Martin Gerber can spell Emery. The trouble is that Murray won’t even play the Swiss veteran, having totally lost confidence in him, which leaves poor Muckler with no choice but to move Gerber for a cheaper and more reliable substitute netminder. Alas, no GM in his right mind would ever think Gerber is worth $13.1M for the next three years, so Ottawa will just have to swallow his salary, if not their pride.
Meanwhile, everybody in the Nation’s Capital will be fervently praying that Emery doesn’t pull a Hasek this season, forcing a very ineffectual Gerber to be thrown out to the lions (or Predators) during the playoffs.
Despite the uncertainty over Hasek’s health last season, the Senators brass remained convinced they had a genuine shot at the Cup. How else to explain why they opted to keep both Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara, who were scheduled to become unrestricted free agents (UFA) on July 1, rather than trade one of them in return for some insurance in nets?
Once again, that story didn’t quite follow the envisioned script. Ottawa not only missed out on a glorious chance to win that elusive silverware - perhaps their last kick at the can for a long time as some Toronto scribes love to point out - but they also lost Chara to the Bruins.
Some deal. Zilch for Zdeno!
This year’s UFA is Chris Phillips, another defenseman from Western Canada like Redden, who is rumoured to be high on the Edmonton Oilers’ wish list, and whose projected minimum salary of $4M a year this summer will likely price him out of Ottawa’s salary cap.
So rather than risk losing yet another dependable rearguard (albeit one that has to take innumerable holding and hooking penalties to compensate for his lack of mobility in the faster-paced game), the Ottawa GM would be wise to offer the Edmonton Oilers a package of Phillips and either Peter Schaefer, Mike Comrie or Patrick Eaves to secure Ryan Smyth, who is also set to join the ranks of this summer’s UFA crop. The Senators have basically nothing to lose, since they will be entering this year’s post-season with expectations significantly curbed from seasons past. Upon reflection though, that may not be such a bad idea after all, since this bunch of players have perennially wilted under playoff pressure.
Just imagine how much stronger Ottawa would have been last spring with Ryan Smyth playing centre and spending most of his ice time in the enemy’s crease. The gritty Oiler veteran is exactly the type of power forward that the Senators desperately need to even begin contemplating a long and fruitful post-season. Equally important though, his presence in the lineup will immediately relieve the pressure on young Jason Spezza’s shoulders, a gifted playmaker that isn’t quite ready to be the team’s number one centre just yet, despite what the coaching staff thinks.
With the salary cap money saved, Muckler could then obtain a solid back-up for Emery, and possibly even a big, stay-at-home defenseman. It’s John’s call, and there will be plenty more attractive players like Smyth available as the February 27 trade deadline nears and teams move from buyers to sellers. But should he stand pat again this year, and his team suffers another early exit from the playoffs, then I’m afraid that Mr. Melnyk will have no choice but to axe the 72 year-old gentleman.
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11 Responses to “MUCKLER CANNOT AFFORD TO REPEAT PAST MISTAKES”
January 27th, 2007 at 12:12 am
This article is ridiculous! There are so many things wrong with it…do you even watch the Senators? And what the hell? Aren’t you supposed to be a Senators fan?
First, Chris Phillips has become one of the teams most reliable defensemen in the last few months. And although he isn’t the quickest skater, he is far from slow. Second, I’m sure that Edmonton would be willing to give up Ryan Smyth. That’s total absurdity! Especially for Mike Comrie. Wow. Your ignorance boggles my mind! And lastly, I’m sure there would be a team that would take a chance on Gerber, after all, someone took a chance on Jose Theodore last season.
January 27th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I don’t understand this rational to trade Phillips with ZERO help coming back. You’ve stated in the past you can never have to many d-man come playoff time but now you want to see Phillips leave and bring in Ryan Smith? I just don’t get it…we lose Phillips an above average d-man but get no one to fill his spot unless you move Schubert back. Who goes where if this deal is done?
We already know once healthy Hamel gets the boot out of Otown since he doesn’t fit the mold in Ottawa.
I think Ottawa should look for a hard nosed (angry) d-man to help them out.
January 29th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Ryan Smyth doesn’t play centre……give your head a shake. And Gerber’s contract is worth 11.1 million (3.7 a season)
January 29th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
My apologies to all for this sloppy reporting. I’ve become such a critical observer, yet pathetic that I envision Smyth playing center. Big deal though, as Mucker should still go get him, even if he played defense.
That’s right, It was only $11.1 so it is a better deal already than I even bothered verifying.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:15 am
Well Gerber got the start last night and won. I hope with this being his 5th win in his last 6 starts he’s finally getting his confidence back.
Glad to see someone took a chance on Perreault and he’s thriving (all-star?). He would have looked nice in a Sens uniform.
Do you think anyone will pick up Hamel off waivers?
January 31st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Good question. You’d think someone could use him, but professor Murray has done an excellent job of burying the classy player. Would love nothing better that he gets picked up by the Habs and then scores the winner against the Sens in the first round.
February 1st, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Ok i havent read too many of your blogs but where does the hatred for the Sens come from? That being said I would love to see Smitty in a SENS Jersey this year and for years to come but he is a loyal Oiler and I dont see that changing.
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:50 am
I had a definition for the page title “Smarting” under info but somehow that got deleted in the move to the new MVN configuration.
It said that a team becomes “smarting” after suffering 9 straight spring swoons.
It doesn’t help one bit that I was also threatened with legal action by a most senior Senator executive a few years ago for sending in by e-mail my suggestions on improving their rudderless team.
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:20 am
Gotcha, I understand your frustrations thats forsure but just looking at this year and the way they have changed their style of play, do you not agree they have what appears to be an attitude and commitment to defense suited for the playoffs…..all trade gafes and player signing aside? I am confident they will beable to get rid of gerbers salary in the off season. (they may need to send alittle more like Jersey did with Malakoff) I know you can be bitter especially with their slow start but they seem to have righted their problems (maybe its just cosmetic who knows)
The way you need to look at things is that in a 30 team league winning the cup is harder than almost any other sport, I know you can argue that either way for baseball, basketball etc…. but the point being just icing a competitive team can be a problem imagine we had Toronto or Phoenix’s roster….I think one thing is certain in the “NEW NHL” and that is that dynastys are dead and for Melnyk to promise one is totally foolish. I predict Muckler retires at years end and Murray becomes GM he did amazing jobs in aneheim drafting players that Burke is now getting all the credit for.
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
While I’ve had this intermittent feeling that these guys have finally got it, i.e., how to play in the second season, you get the Montreal game this week (and who knows which team shows up tomorrow) which tells me this team is still not built for the playoffs. So I’m sitting on the fence.
When Murray was hired in 2004, the Ottawa Sun published my letter to the effect that Murray should be GM and Muckler should be the coach, based on their track record.
Ottawa has always had their ducks not properly aligned, hence the reason they’re still without a Cup.
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:57 pm
JP, I can’t read this any more. I bet the newspapers are tired of all the complaint letters you send, particularly the ones that have no merit. I’m glad the papers don’t print your drivel - it’s just whine after whine after whine.
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