Post Deadline

After being away for a week I was anxious to see the list of trades from deadline day.  The list disappointed.  While there was a number of trades involving a number of players and picks - it lacked something.  It lacked some of the big names that had been rumoured for so long.  Deadline day truly gives the word "rumour" it's definition.  Half of the names you hear about being traded all season end up staying right where they were.
 
My main disappointment in the day comes with my team - the Ottawa Senators.  Disappointed is actually much too harsh of a word.  I really like the Vermette/Leclaire trade.  Pascal Leclaire lost his starting job this season to rookie Steve Mason - but he was playing injured, the same injury that has him out for the rest of the season.  If Leclaire can come back healthy next season for Ottawa and solidify their goaltending situation it will really help this team turn back into a winning franchise.  Ottawa also received a 2nd Round Pick for this year's draft from Columbus which really helped sweeten the pot.  The addition of Mike Comrie a few weeks back will more than make-up for the scoring Ottawa loses in Vermette.
 
Where my main disappointment comes from is the inability to move Kuba/Shubert/Neil.  Murray actually re-signed Kuba to somewhat reasonable contract.  Kuba is not a terrible player but what the resigning does is eat up some valuable cap space Murray could have used to add another top 6 forward.  Time will only tell if the Filip Kuba resigning with pay dividends.  Murray may suggest that he did not get enough value offered for Neil and/or Shubert.  Something tells me that maybe Murray had them valued too highly.  Shubert has been a healthy scratch forever now and I find it hard to believe that he could not get at the very least a 6th Round pick for him.    Neil does have some value but seeing as how he is a pending UFA it just doesn't make sense to lose him for nothing.  I love what Chris brings to the team - but Ottawa simply should not re-sign him for anything more than what he is already making ... about $1 million.
 
The most interesting deal of the day was Buffalo shipping out a 2nd round pick for Dominic Moore.  Really?  Buffalo then shipped out Ales Kotalik to Edmonton for a 2nd Round Pick.  So essentially Kotalik was traded for Moore.  I don't know if Buffalo has any plans on re-signing Moore or not at season's end.  Buffalo also picked up Mikael Tellqvist from Phoenix to help fill the void left by Ryan Miller's injury.  It is somewhat comical to see Buffalo relying on two Senator and Maple Leaf castoffs (Lalime & Tellqvist) to get them into the playoffs.  Lucky for Buffalo that Joe Nieuwendyk has retired.
 
Have a good day!