Senators Media: Trade Deadline Review
May 5, 2016 12:46:21 GMT -5
Rob, Beans (BOS), and 3 more like this
Post by brob89 (NSH) on May 5, 2016 12:46:21 GMT -5
- TSN Ottawa
In a season that feels like a breath of fresh air for the much maligned iNHL franchise in Ottawa, the 2017 Trade Deadline
has passed with a slight, but nonetheless present, feeling of regret, disappointment, and confusion. Is Ottawa still one of the favorites
to get to the cup final? Probably. But many teams around them improved over the deadline, while Ottawa traded their
6th leading scorer for a 3rd line center whom they will surely buy out in the summer. Beyond that, they moved and acquired
various picks and prospects none of which will help them this year. Surely more should be expected from a team that's
looking to challenge for the cup.
Sources around the league are suggesting that Ottawa was pushing hard to acquire a top six forward, with names like Duchene,
Elias Lindholm, and Jeff Carter all being players they are thought to have made offers for. But it's hard to figure out exactly what their
thinking was in letting Okposo go if they did not have another deal already in place. Sure, this team is good and they have players in
the bottom six who can play up, like Johansson or Trotchek. But this team isn't better without Okposo, and trading him for
young assets right before a cup run is simply bizarre. LA certainly would have been content to rid themselves of Dubinsky's
contract without bringing in Okposo, so then why move him now?
When asked, Ottawa Assistant GM, Matt Gough seemed to suggest that Ottawa did have alternate deals in mind saying,
"It wasn't easy to move Kyle. He's been a great player for us, and we know he's going to go to LA and be a great player for them.
But we had a plan in place, and in the end, this is just how it turned out. We're happy with who we have moving forward and
confident that we can compete for our goals now and in the future."
And if there is any redeeming light for Senators fans, that is it. There window is not closed. Not even close. But for future
trade deadlines, it's likely that GM Lawblaw will be under increased scrutiny. His team was in a position to be buyers, and yet
they seemingly chose to sell. Maybe he knows something we don't. Or maybe he's just the worst.
For now, Ottawa will likely continue to do well and probably make it into the playoffs as one of the the top two seeds in the Atlantic,
but whether they will be able to match the improved play that will undoubtedly come from teams like Washington and Boston who have
both improved this deadline remains to be seen. Their window remains open, but it won't forever. They need to win, and soon.
- end -
In a season that feels like a breath of fresh air for the much maligned iNHL franchise in Ottawa, the 2017 Trade Deadline
has passed with a slight, but nonetheless present, feeling of regret, disappointment, and confusion. Is Ottawa still one of the favorites
to get to the cup final? Probably. But many teams around them improved over the deadline, while Ottawa traded their
6th leading scorer for a 3rd line center whom they will surely buy out in the summer. Beyond that, they moved and acquired
various picks and prospects none of which will help them this year. Surely more should be expected from a team that's
looking to challenge for the cup.
Sources around the league are suggesting that Ottawa was pushing hard to acquire a top six forward, with names like Duchene,
Elias Lindholm, and Jeff Carter all being players they are thought to have made offers for. But it's hard to figure out exactly what their
thinking was in letting Okposo go if they did not have another deal already in place. Sure, this team is good and they have players in
the bottom six who can play up, like Johansson or Trotchek. But this team isn't better without Okposo, and trading him for
young assets right before a cup run is simply bizarre. LA certainly would have been content to rid themselves of Dubinsky's
contract without bringing in Okposo, so then why move him now?
When asked, Ottawa Assistant GM, Matt Gough seemed to suggest that Ottawa did have alternate deals in mind saying,
"It wasn't easy to move Kyle. He's been a great player for us, and we know he's going to go to LA and be a great player for them.
But we had a plan in place, and in the end, this is just how it turned out. We're happy with who we have moving forward and
confident that we can compete for our goals now and in the future."
And if there is any redeeming light for Senators fans, that is it. There window is not closed. Not even close. But for future
trade deadlines, it's likely that GM Lawblaw will be under increased scrutiny. His team was in a position to be buyers, and yet
they seemingly chose to sell. Maybe he knows something we don't. Or maybe he's just the worst.
For now, Ottawa will likely continue to do well and probably make it into the playoffs as one of the the top two seeds in the Atlantic,
but whether they will be able to match the improved play that will undoubtedly come from teams like Washington and Boston who have
both improved this deadline remains to be seen. Their window remains open, but it won't forever. They need to win, and soon.
- end -
