With yesterday’s debut of Sens TV’s Senate Reform and the need to put out Sunday’s podcast recording, I missed out on commenting on a bunch of Senators related newsworthy bits. So without further ado…
Jason Spezza Drawing Inquiries?
A little bit late in posting this on the website but I did use Twitter to address the news. (Speaking of which, if you’re not following the site on Twitter, what are you waiting for? Click here to start following the site today.) In the New York Post, Larry Brooks mentioned that the New York Rangers will not be eager to bend on a whim and write a blank cheque for Brad Richards to ensure that this year’s top free agent prize inks a contract with the Blueshirts on July 1st.
Brooks went on to suggest that the Rangers will examine the market and explore all potential scenarios in the event that Richards does not sign with the team. As an example, he goes on to cite the Rangers interest in Senators center Jason Spezza as possible trade trade target.
After being inundated with trade rumours in seemingly every offseason in recent memory, the mere mention of Spezza’s name in NHL trade rumours is enough to draw the ire from some of the most passionate Sens fans.
And as ridiculous as it sounds to believe that the Senators would even consider moving an asset like Jason Spezza when the organization dealt for Craig Anderson and extended Chris Phillips late last season, you can chalk up the idea to the kind of due diligence every team typically explores during the offseason. And Brooks himself acknowledges that it would be counter-intuitive for the organization to make a play on Spezza since the cost of acquiring the Senators first line center would be too high a price to pay.
The Rangers will look at Jason Spezza, 28 next week and who has three years at $7 million per remaining on his deal with Ottawa that includes a no-trade clause. Even if Spezza would agree to waive it to come to New York, even if the Senators would move him, chances are GM Bryan Murray would demand far too much in return. ~ Larry Brooks, the New York Post
In other words, Spezza’s going nowhere. So unless Ron Hextall and the rest of those Los Angeles Kings braintrust arsonists pull out a proverbial gas can and torch Spezza’s reputation like he’s the second coming of Dany Heatley, we can rest easy and take pride in the fact that such a core player is desirable around the league.
Back Surgery For Alfie
According to Le Droit’s Marc Brassard, the Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson will undergo a surgical back procedure this week that typically characterized by a four-to-six week recovery period. It’s the latest twist in the saga to determine whether or not Alfredsson will even be healthy enough to play next season.
Bob Boughner Interviewed
According to ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun, former Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach Bob Boughner was interviewed for Ottawa’s vacant head coaching position. Boughner, if you’ll remember, left his position earlier in the offseason citing that the travel and time away from his family wore on him.
Boughner joins the likes of Paul MacLean, Dave Cameron, Kirk Muller, Kurt Kleinendorst, Gerard Gallant and Craig MacTavish as potential candidates to replace Cory Clouston. Unlike some of the other names on Bryan Murray’s list, Boughner has the distinction of some nostalgic lore that reminds me of the days when the Senators played at the Civic Centre.
Back in those days, there was this one fan who sat in that single row of seats that outlined the boards that was just within the Senators own blueline. You couldn’t miss this guy. He never missed a game and would always wear a fedora. And in the event that you could actually ignore the hat, he was one of those types who desperately sought the praise and admiration of those around him – making wisecracks in his outdoor voice, laughing at his jokes and then turning around to see which nearby fans were actually paying attention to what he had to say. Anyways, there was this one game in particular in which Boughner, then with the Buffalo Sabres, threw a bodycheck along the sideboards directly in front of fedora man.
Never one to miss an opportunity to heckle an opponent, he bellowed, “You suck Bob Booger!”
The nickname “Booger” stuck for the remaining period and a half. The final buzzer couldn’t come soon enough.
And sticking with Senators coaching candidates, the CBC’s Elliotte Friedman wrote in his weekly 30 Thoughts blog pieces that he saw Saw Sportsnet’s Ian Mendes in Vancouver last Tuesday and asked him who he thought would get the coaching job in Ottawa. He said, “Paul MacLean.” Think Ian’s nailed this one. And, just like Mike Babcock helped sell Guy Boucher to Steve Yzerman, he’s selling MacLean to his old boss, Bryan Murray.
99% Chance Ottawa Selects One of…
According to the Ottawa Sun’s Don Brennan, director of player personnel Pierre Dorion believes that there’s a 99% certainty that Ottawa selects one of Ryan Strome, Mika Zibanejad, Sean Couturier, Gabriel Landeskog, Dougie Hamilton or Jonathan Huberdeau.
I suppose an optimist will look at that 1% chance and continue to believe that the Senators could still trade up for a higher draft pick but Strome, Zibanejad and Couturier were worked out by the Senators yesterday afternoon and I don’t think too many Senators fans would mind seeing the organization package some second rounders with the Nashville pick to acquire a second top ten pick and get two of these three players in a Senators jersey.
That might be tougher than people think though because according to Kevin Allen’s Twitter (@kausatoday), he heard that prospect Mika Zibanejad could go as high as No. 3 overall.
Gabriel Landeskog and Jonathan Huberdeau will work out for the Senators this afternoon and for what it’s worth, Ryan Strome in particular had some glowing things to say about the city via Twitter (@strome18), “Having an unbelievable time in Ottawa so far. Great city, great people and a fantastic organization!” and “Enjoyed my time in Ottawa. Meeting Alfredsson and the Sens staff was great.”
Keep buttering us up Ryan…
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