Ottawa Off-Season '07

[Madferret]

Senators call news conference for today
Canadian Press with files from TSN.ca staff

OTTAWA (CP) - The Ottawa Senators have called a news conference for later today amid reports a front-office shakeup is in the works.

Sources close to John Muckler tell TSN Muckler learned of his fate over the weekend, mere hours after signing veteran Dean McAmmond to a two year contract extension.

Mucker had 1 year remaining on his term as general manager with the Senators and another 2 years as a contracted advisor.

There's also speculation Bryan Murray, whose contract as head coach expires June 30, could be promoted to GM.

Neither Murray or Muckler would comment on the reports Sunday.

The Senators went an impressive 48-25-9 in the regular season, and advanced to the Stanley Cup final, shaking off the tag of post-season underachievers. But they seemed to run out of steam in the final, losing to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.

The news conference is scheduled for 1pm et.

[Max Power]

Finals appearance not enough to save Muckler



DAVID NAYLOR

Globe and Mail Update



OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have fired general manager John Muckler, the club will announce at an afternoon news conference Monday.

Muckler had one year left on his contract as general manager and another two as a consultant for the Senators. And while there has been considerable speculation Muckler might remain with the team in some capacity despite his firing, a source said his working relationship with the Senators is over.

Head coach Bryan Murray is expected to be promoted into the GM's role, although it is not clear whether Murray will retain the coaching role as well.

Muckler was dismissed on Friday, the same day he re-signed centre Dean McAmmond to a new two-year contract worth $1.75 million. McAmmond, Ottawa's fourth-line centre, played a critical role for the Senators this past season before being concussed and knocked out of the playoffs by a Chris Pronger elbow in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

Senators GM John Muckler was rumoured to have been fired on Saturday, according to one media outlet. (Jonathan Hayward/CP)





Muckler took over the Senators in June of 2002, guiding them to the Eastern Conference final the following spring and the Stanley Cup final earlier this month.







Other then orchestrating the Heatly deal and a few other things I can't think of anything big Muckler has done. The Philips and Volchenkove signings are gold too but he's not the guy who drafted them. Saying that I still thought he was doing a decent job so something else happened here.

McAmond @1.75 is good too...Glad they signed him for another 2





...

[Rusty]

If I read right at some places, it also had to do with his inability to trade for Roberts!

Seeing as Melnyk told him point blank to get him!

I find that a little far fetched, but Melnyk is the big guy........

[KB in Kelowna]

I didn't see this coming:no:

[Madferret]

Murray finally gets to sink his teeth into the team his way.
Should be an interesting summer.

[Man.Utd]

I thought Mucks was a fine GM but with his age I don't think he would have been re-signed anyway so this just accelerates the process. It'll be an interesting summer as Ferret said. Hopefully he can manage to move Gerber and Redden. That cap space combined with the cap going up should leave ample room to bring in the players needed for this team to get the job done. We were close this post-season and only need some tweaking IMO. Hopefully some glaring weaknesses will simply fix themselves too (like Meszaros needing to rebound).

[Madferret]

Ok, so the short list of coaching replacements...I'm guessing:
Paddock
Cunneyworth
Hunter
Quinn
Burns.

[Max Power]

I thought Mucks was a fine GM but with his age I don't think he would have been re-signed anyway so this just accelerates the process. It'll be an interesting summer as Ferret said. Hopefully he can manage to move Gerber and Redden. That cap space combined with the cap going up should leave ample room to bring in the players needed for this team to get the job done. We were close this post-season and only need some tweaking IMO. Hopefully some glaring weaknesses will simply fix themselves too (like Meszaros needing to rebound).

You want Redden traded????

I get the feeling that would be high on Murray's list. The problem with Redden is he has a NTC in his contract. The rumor is San Jose is interested in him which could be a good trading partner. All I know is they better get something good for him and not just give him up for nothing.

[Man.Utd]

I never wanted him signed in the first place at 6.5M and yes I'd like him gone. Cap space very poorly spent IMO and my fears about him last summer became reality this season.

I'm sure we could get at least a decent return for Redden and I'd take it even if it's just bluechip picks and prospects. There's always UFAs out there (we'd have 10M to spend if we can move Redden and Gerber) and Schubert is clearly ready for a full-time roll on the blueline. He was already our #3 PK option being sent out when one of Phillips/Volchenkov takes a penalty.

It's probable that we'll lose Redden for nothing if we allow him to become a UFA at next season's end. We'll see I guess...... but that's been my stance since he signed his contract.

NTCs get waived all the time so I don't see how that would be a huge stumbling block for an apparently elite defenseman.

[Max Power]

I think the demand for Redden might be higher then most think. Even if they let him start the season and he plays well he could fetch a good trade.

Ok, so the short list of coaching replacements...I'm guessing:
Paddock
Cunneyworth
Hunter
Quinn
Burns.


As far as coaches go I'd love to see Burns behind the Sens bench.

[charlio lemieux]

I think the demand for Redden might be higher then most think. Even if they let him start the season and he plays well he could fetch a good trade.



Think he could get one or two of Edmonton's first rounders?
It is also a place he may be willing to waive his n/t clause for.

[Darsehole Tucker]

As frustrating as it is spending $6.5mil of cap space on an outlet pass and weak puck strength, our record without Redden in the lineup is piss poor.

He indicated he wouldn't waive his NTC and even wanted to sign an extension. Redden is a quality defensemen when he doesn't play like he did last year, hopefully injured. I say we give him the opportunity to prove his worth next year and if he blows we move him before the deadline. We have Spez and Heater to worry about next summer. I don't think the interest for Redden is very high right now, it might be worth trying to get his stock up before moving him.

[Man.Utd]

A lot of those losses without Redden came when the team was struggling early in every way possible. We would have needed much more than Wade Redden back to reverse those results. Our wins vs. losses record with Redden this past year was nothing more than good timing by Wade for a groin pull as far as I'm concerned.

The draft is today. That's always exciting and I'm hoping Murray announced his arrival as GM by dealing away one of my whipping boys.

[Madferret]

Sens sign quartet of players
July 03, 2007

The Ottawa Senators signed 2005 first-round pick Brian Lee to an entry level contact, while agreeing to two-year deals with forwards Danny Bois and Jim McKenzie, and a one-year deal with defenceman Matt Carkner.

Lee, 21, was Ottawa's first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2005 entry draft. The native of Fargo, N.D., recently completed his second season at the University of North Dakota, where he set career highs in assists (24), points (26) and penalty minutes (69).

Bois, 24, spent the 2006-07 season with the Binghamton Senators, scoring 14 goals and adding 13 assists while leading the team with 153 penalty minutes. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native made his National Hockey League debut during the 2006-07 season with Ottawa, playing in one game and recording seven penalty minutes.

McKenzie, 23, was Ottawa's first fifth-round draft pick (141st overall) in the 2004 entry draft. The St. Paul, Minn., native spent last season with the Michigan State Spartans of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. McKenzie set career highs in goals (12), assists (18 ), points (30), while adding 56 penalty minutes.

Carkner, 26, signs with the Senators after spending last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 75 games with the Penguins, he scored six goals and added 24 assist for 30 points while recording 167 penalty minutes.

The Winchester, Ont., native was Montreal's second-round draft choice (58th overall) in the 1999 entry draft. In 2001, he signed a free agent contract with the San Jose Sharks, spending the next five seasons with the AHL's Cleveland Barons. Carkner made his NHL debut during the 2005-06 season, recording one assist and two penalty minutes in one game with San Jose.

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[Madferret]

Eklund seems to think that Murray has is eyes on;
- Foppa
- Geurin
- Shanny

[Max Power]

Eklund seems to think that Murray has is eyes on;
- Foppa
- Geurin
- Shanny

I like the idea of any of these but salary needs to be shed

[Madferret]

I like the idea of any of these but salary needs to be shed

Guerin is likely our viable option considering the cap space.
Foppa though eh, if we had a little more wiggle room I'd say sign him and sit him until the playoffs.
Shanny made what 5M last year? There's no way we can afford that if he's looking for those kind of numbers again, and who knows if he wants to play here.
After saying all that, we'll probably end up signing someone like Marty Gelinas instead...lol
Bill Guerin & John Paddock - book it...

[Max Power]

Guerin is likely our viable option considering the cap space.
Foppa though eh, if we had a little more wiggle room I'd say sign him and sit him until the playoffs.
Shanny made what 5M last year? There's no way we can afford that if he's looking for those kind of numbers again, and who knows if he wants to play here.
After saying all that, we'll probably end up signing someone like Marty Gelinas instead...lol
Bill Guerin & John Paddock - book it...

D'oh
In the end it's all about the $$$

[Madferret]

Senators promote Paddock as head coach
Canadian Press

OTTAWA (CP) - Bryan Murray didn't have to look far to find his successor as head coach of the Ottawa Senators.

Murray promoted Senators assistant John Paddock to the head job Friday, filling the vacancy created when Murray took over as general manager after John Muckler was fired June 18.

"I talked to a number of people, I don't think I have to go through the names . . . people that have experience in the league, guys that were hoping to get to the league at some point in time during their career," Murray said during a news conference at Scotiabank Place. "It all came back to me and I feel very comfortable.

"I think this an important thing for an organization to know the person and know the person well."

Paddock, 53, served as Murray's assistant the past two seasons and before that coached the Senators' AHL affiliate in Binghamton, N.Y.

It's been 12 years, though, since his last NHL head coaching job with the Winnipeg Jets.

He inherits a team that made its first Stanley Cup final appearance this past season, losing in five games to the Anaheim Ducks.

"It's an extremely exciting time when you become a head coach in the National Hockey League again," said Paddock, who becomes the sixth head coach in the team's modern history. "I don't look at it as a difficult transition.

"This hockey team has been successful and has the same solid core of players. We're not looking to re-invent the wheel by any means, we're just looking to continue and have a successful season."

Most of Paddock's head-coaching success has come at the AHL level.

Although he's been a pro head coach for 18 seasons, he lasted less than four years as coach of the Jets. While holding the dual role of coach and GM of the club, he replaced himself as coach in April of the lockout-shortened 1994-'95 season.

Paddock's record was a sub-par 106-138-37 in the regular season in Winnipeg. In the playoffs, the Jets suffered consecutive first-round losses in his first two years, then failed to qualify for the post-season in his last two.

Still, Murray liked Paddock's experience - in addition to being an NHL player and holding head coach, assistant and GM jobs, Paddock's also been an assistant GM with Philadelphia and director of pro scouting with the New York Rangers - as well as his relationship with the Senators players, many of whom he consulted before making the decision.

Randy Cunneyworth, who coached the Buffalo Sabres' AHL affiliate in Rochester, N.Y., last year and was a former Senators captain, was also thought to be seriously being considered.

"I know the players really respect and like him," Murray said of Paddock. "There were some names out there that have experience coaching in the league, but I wasn't sure how they'd fit in with this group of players."

Added Senators defenceman Wade Redden: "He's been around the game a long time and he's done everything. He's a good hockey man, a smart hockey man. Obviously he's going to treat us differently (than when he was an assistant), but he's an honest guy."

With assistant coach Greg Carvel staying on, Paddock will begin the search for another assistant. The Binghamton Senators are also looking for a new head coach.

Paddock said his stoic but intense approach on the bench will differ from that of the more-animated Murray, but little else is expected to change. He, like his GM, would like to see the Senators continue taking steps toward becoming a bigger, tougher, more aggressive team.

"Size matters, I think we found that out in the Stanley Cup final," he said.

Meanwhile, Murray and the Senators have been quiet during the first days of free agency.

Ottawa is one of the few teams yet to have signed any new players and Murray said he intends to eventually add one, likely a veteran forward. However, with the free-agent deals being too rich for his liking, Murray said he's looking at a possible trade and promoting players from within the system.

The Senators are currently shopping goaltender Martin Gerber, who still has two years remaining on the three-year, US $11.1-million deal he signed last summer, to free up salary as they face going to arbitration with No. 1 goalie Ray Emery.

On Thursday, free-agent centre Mike Comrie left Ottawa to sign with the New York Islanders. Earlier in the week, the Senators lost Tom Preissing to the Los Angeles Kings.

"I can't commit contracts to other players that may cost us one of our good people going forward," Murray said.

EMERY CLOSE
From a source "Emery and the Senators are close. Ray wants 4M, and the Sens are offering something near Gerber's deal (3.7) If a deal cannot be reached, the sens will accept the offer reached by the ruling. LA is the team that’s very interested, and was almost ready to offer a sheet to him, but found the price Ray was asking for.....Gerber regardless is still on the market, Pheonix still interested, talks again of a Morris-Gerber plus pics swap. If no deal can be reached he will be a starter in the minors."

[Madferret]

Sens deal Schaefer to Bruins for Donovan
Canadian Press

OTTAWA (CP) - The Ottawa Senators have traded winger Peter Schaefer to the Boston Bruins in exchange for veteran winger Shean Donovan.

The move will save the Senators space under the salary cap.

Schaefer has three years and US$6.7 million left on his deal while Donovan has one year left at $925,000.

The 30-year-old Schaefer had 12 goals and 34 assists in 77 games with the Senators last season.

He added a goal and five assists in 20 playoff games.

The 32-year-old Donovan had six goals and 11 assists in 76 games with the Bruins last season.

[Madferret]

Schaefer trade gives Senators cap room
TSN.ca Staff

Trading forward Peter Schaefer to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Shean Donovan is a minor move at best, but with the cap money saved, the Ottawa Senators may have more challenging transactions in mind.

And that's signing some of their probable free agents to long-term contracts.

The Senators have three key players to try and re-sign after the 2007-08 season - winger Dany Heatley, centre Jason Spezza and veteran defenceman Wade Redden.

The top priority for the team is Heatley.

Ottawa fans and NHL general managers know all too well that the back-to-back 50-goal scorer headlines the list of unrestricted free agents next summer, and the pressure will be mounting on Murray to lock up his All-Star forward.

Heatley's statistics speak for themselves. In his two years in the nation's capital, he has put together two 50-goal seasons and back-to-back 100-plus point campaigns. If Heatley hits the open market next July, his new salary will surely blow away those that Daniel Briere, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez signed this month.

While there is no telling where a player will sign or for how much, the precedent for locking up Heatley may have been set this month when franchise players Jarome Iginla and Joe Thornton took 'hometown discounts' with the Flames and Sharks.

If Heatley were to sign a long-term deal for less money, it could be easier for Murray to lock up his other two players.

Spezza, who will be 25 next July, will certainly command big dollars next summer, as the Senators' top centre will become a restricted free agent.

After the signing frenzy that took place between the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers for 43-goal man Thomas Vanek this month, Spezza - who tallied 177 points in his last two seasons - could attract lucrative offer sheets from other teams and create a salary cap headache for the Senators.

The Senators re-signed Redden last June, holding him off the market for two years. With one season left on his deal, there's no doubt that his contract status is weighing heavily on Murray's workload.

With his star players ready to cash in on free agency next summer, Murray - who just stepped into the general manager's post last month - already has a tough job ahead of him. He could end up signing all three players, two of them, or even just one. Dealing Schaefer on Tuesday is certainly not the solution to securing all three of them, but it could be a step in the right direction.

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[Madferret]

SHEAN DONOVAN, Right wing, shoots right, 6'2", 209 lbs.

Born: Jan. 22, 1975 (Timmins, Ont.)

Drafted: San Jose's second-round pick, 28th overall, in the 1993 NHL entry draft

Transactions: Traded to Colorado from San Jose with 1998 first-round draft pick (Alex Tanguay) for Mike Ricci and a 1998 second-round draft pick (Jaroslav Kristek), Nov. 21, 1997. Traded to Atlanta from Colorado for Rick Tabaracci, Dec. 8, 1999. Claimed off of waivers by Pittsburgh, March 15, 2002. Traded to Calgary from Pittsburgh for Mathias Johansson and Micki DuPont, March 11, 2003. Signed by Boston as a free agent, July 2, 2006. Traded from Boston to Ottawa for Peter Schaefer, July 17, 2007.

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[Madferret]

Senators turn attention to Emery
Canadian Press

(CP) - Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray achieved a few things in what wasn't exactly a blockbuster trade Tuesday.

He acquired from Boston what he viewed as much-needed grit and size for his checking line in veteran Shean Donovan while also clearing up valuable salary cap space in the process.

He'll need that space when signing restricted free agent Ray Emery to a new contract. Ottawa's starting goalie has a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for next Tuesday in Toronto and no matter what happens he'll get a big raise over the US$925,000 he earned last season.

Now the Senators have room to accommodate that raise, shedding Peter Schaefer's contract, which calls for a $2.1-million salary next season and $2.3 million in both the 2008-09 and '09-10 seasons.

Getting Emery done is Ottawa's top priority. The 24-year-old restricted free agent emerged as the Senators' starter last season and led the team to a Cup final appearance, going 33-16-6 in the regular season with a 2.47 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

"We've certainly talked to Ray and his agent, spent some time last week with the two of them together and negotiated a little bit with (agent) J.P. Barry," Murray said on a conference call Tuesday. "We're preparing to go to arbitration but we're open to continue our conversation.

"We'll do a little bit of that hopefully tomorrow and the early part of the week."

Both sides have comparable deals they can point to. On the one hand, the Senators can say that Buffalo's Ryan Miller and Carolina's Cam Ward each earn an average of $2.66 million a season and like Emery were young starting goalies and restricted free agents when they signed their $8-million, three-year deals.

But the Emery camp can respond by saying Miller's deal is a year old and the market place has changed dramatically since then. Ward, meanwhile, didn't have arbitration rights when he re-signed earlier this summer.

Instead, the Emery camp likens the $4.25-million, one-year contract signed by New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist last week, also a young starting goalie and restricted free agent who had salary arbitration rights. The Senators could turn around and say Emery isn't at the same playing level as Lundqvist.

So it appears the Senators will want to be in the $3-million salary range while the Emery camp will push for closer to $4 million.

"We had very good discussions last week about the goalie market," Barry said Tuesday. "We're going to start talking again this week. We'd like to see if we can head off arbitration but sometimes there is too much of a gap in the comparables."

Murray wasn't confident arbitration could be avoided.

"I don't know," said the Sens GM. "We talked, but it sounded like the numbers were such that we're probably going to have to prepare to go to arbitration. It doesn't look at this moment that we should be too optimistic to get a deal done."

Checking centre Chris Kelly and defenceman/forward Christoph Schubert also have salary arbitration hearings scheduled, Schubert for July 27 and Kelly on Aug. 1.

"I actually talked to Kelly's agent last night," said Murray. "We're going to talk again tomorrow. We hope that we can resolve it, but again, the numbers as comparables at this point seem to make them think they can get somewhat more by going to arbitration. If that's the case then we'll be prepared to do that.

"But we'll continue to talk to all of them over the next week."

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[Madferret]

Nycholat inks multi-year deal
Sportsnet.ca

OTTAWA (CP) -- Defenceman Lawrence Nycholat, who got into one game with Ottawa after being acquired from Washington last season, has agreed to a multi-year deal with the Senators.

Nycholat, 28, has spent the bulk of his career in the AHL. He was obtained Feb. 27 from the Capitals for defenceman Andy Hedlund and a sixth-round pick in the 2007 entry draft. He appeared in 18 games with the Capitals after recall from their Hershey, Pa., farm club.

The Calgarian has played 28 career NHL games with the Senators, Capitals and New York Rangers. He was undrafted while playing for the Swift Current, Sask., major junior team.

The Senators also signed right winger Niko Dimitrakos to a one-year contract.

Dimitrakos, 28, has played four NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers, most recently with the Flyers where he recorded no points and six penalty minutes in five games during the 2006-07 season.

A native of Somerville, Mass., Dimitrakos was San Jose's fifth-round draft choice (155th overall) in the 1999 NHL entry draft. He played two and a half seasons with the Sharks before being traded to the Flyers for a 2006 third-round draft pick on March 9, 2006. In parts of four NHL seasons, he has scored 24 goals and added 38 assists for 62 points, while recording 95 penalty minutes over 158 games. The right-winger has added one goal and eights assists in 20 career NHL playoff games.

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[Madferret]

Nycholat has a good shot at being our 6th D this upcoming year if Schubert is going to be a permanent forward.
We have a good year upcoming in terms of prospects - Lee / Foligno / Nycholat / Hennessy / Heerema all will given a serious look to make the team.

[Man.Utd]

The D situation will be interesting - I'd much rather Lee anchor the corps in Binghamton than go to waste on the bench up here. Barring injuries, that seems all but certain. Murray wants to get bigger though and Schubert was already seeing PK time after Phillips and Volchenkov in the playoffs. I think he'll be a permanent fixture defense next year on the bottom pairing, especially with Paddock taking the reigns behind the bench. Schubert truly developed his game as a blueliner under him in Bingo after starting off as a a project with just the raw tools. He still very much is in a sense. We'll see how that goes and it's just a hunch but I'm really looking forward to him getting the chance. He has his flaws - at times he gets caught turning and is forced to hold on for one - but I'm partial to the big German of course.

Donovan for Schaefer probably makes us worse but it was still a solid deal. It gives us more flexibility next summer for when we need to re-sign so many big names, sheds a good deal of salary for a deadline deal like Comrie this past season, and Donovan is more of a conventional checking type player. That last point is a crucial one because Schaefer appeared to be getting pushed from the 2nd line to the 3at times and players like Eaves and Vermette - the latter Murray came out and mentioned to get more opportunities - need to start getting tougher minutes at some point.

Good point on the youth, Ferret. it seems like a rookie eventually plays his way on to the roster (or is at least expected to before failing like Kaigorodov) each season, be it out of training camp or later on in the season. Last season was unusual in that regard as when Kaigorodov failed the cupboard was bare. If the team doesn't want McGrattan as a top twelve forward I'm sure we'll see one of Hennessy or Foligno fill in adequately on the 4th line in that now vacant spot, assuming there are no more additions. The youth movement simply continues and is why this franchise has managed to stay competitive over the years.

[Madferret]

Trade to Senators hits home for Shean
By DON BRENNAN

The plan was to get back this way all along.

It's close enough to his cottage on Tilden Lake near North Bay, the friends he grew up with in Carleton Place, his wife Teresa's family in South Mountain.

"Ottawa was going to be our home when I'm done playing," Shean Donovan said yesterday from the Burlington, Vt., summer hangout of his pal Aaron Miller, a defenceman with the Vancouver Canucks. "To get a chance to play there is just awesome."

Good for him, good for Ottawa.

Donovan, acquired by GM Bryan Murray yesterday, will soon join Randy Cunneyworth as the only 67 to also play for the Senators. Since leaving Brian Kilrea's tutelage in 1995, he has lived in nine different cities: Kansas City, San Jose, Kentucky, Colorado, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Calgary, Geneva and Boston. But for somebody who gets around, he's more of a go-through player. And that, plus his salary, is what the Senators like most about him.

Peter Schaefer is more talented. He could perform magic with the puck. But he never did give in to coach's pleas that he shoot more and only once (20 goals, 2005-06) did he near the goal totals expected of him as a second- liner. Schaefer's most important contributions became his speed and penalty killing. Donovan can deliver those for a fraction of the cost.

Money is an issue for this team now, as it will be if and when the Senators try to open up long-term contract talks with the likes of Dany Heatley, Mike Fisher and Jason Spezza. Trading Schaefer gives them at least a little extra wiggle room.

But not to be trivialized is the sudden-impact factor of Donovan. If Christoph Schubert is sent back to the blue line as expected, the Senators lose a hard-skating forward taller than 6-foot-2 and more than 200 lbs. who doesn't mind playing a physical game. Filling that key role now will be Donovan, whose place will likely be on the fourth line alongside former teammate Dean McAmmond and Brian McGrattan.

Donovan was selected by the Sharks in the second round of the 1993 entry draft, following a season in which he finished third in 67's scoring behind Mike Peca and Steve Washburn.

Tim Higgins, then a scout with the Senators, said Ottawa was flipping between Radim Bicanek and Donovan before finally the need for a defenceman was greater.

'I LIKED DONOVAN A LOT'

"I liked Donovan a lot," said Higgins, now an associate coach with the 67's who sometimes helped run Killer's practices back in those days. "He had a great work ethic and was low maintenance."

His hands were never as good as his feet, however, and upon being summoned by San Jose, Donovan was cast in a third- or fourth-line role he never escaped.

Through his many stops, Donovan never forgot where he came from. Every Christmas he would send his 67's billets souvenirs from the team he was with that season. Now, they may wind up with an occasional pair of tickets at Scotiabank Place.

"I'm so excited to be back playing in Canada," said Donovan, whose best season was with the Flames in 2003-04, when he had 18 goals and 24 assists in the regular season then five goals and five helpers in 24 playoff games. "It was fun to play in Calgary. Now I get to do it in a place I grew up. I'll be excited."

[Madferret]

Goalies a 'tender issue for Murray
By ERIN NICKS

If you are to believe some media's interpretation of the Senators' current goaltending conundrum, all that needs to be accomplished is the following:

Re-sign Ray Emery.

Trade Martin Gerber.

Sit back and admire one's handiwork.

Apologies for being the bearer of obvious news, but if it were that easy, wouldn't it be done by now?

If Ray Emery goes to arbitration on July 24, the first issue will resolve itself in one form or another fairly quickly. It's the second dilemma that seems to be tripping everyone up.

The idea rolls off their tongues with such ease, but after scratching beyond the surface they realize that Gerber and his remaining $7.4-million salary (all terms US) is an issue with no clear solution.

Ultimately, the daunting math gives way to simple addition and subtraction. Ottawa has two goalies. If you remove one, you're going to need to replace him with another.

Here's another instance where Ottawa is feeling the pinch of a highly depleted farm team in Binghamton.

Once richly maintained, the Senators' minor-league system has been mortgaged to feed the current roster's requirements.

Ottawa doesn't have a groomed third man waiting in the wings for a call-up.

No disrespect meant to Jeff Glass, but last year's 9-24 record and 4.11 GAA with Bingo are not the highest of selling points. The 22-year-old still requires a major amount of polish before legitimate consideration could be made.

Emery was able to prove himself worthy of the No. 1 position last year, but there are few goaltenders in the league capable of bearing the brunt of 70 games or more per season.

Emery is not one of them.

So if the addition cannot be homegrown, the Senators will have to look elsewhere for their backup. That's what makes a potential trade idea like Gerber to Phoenix for D Derek Morris seem all the more preposterous.

Why would the Senators want to pile on additional salary (Morris is set to earn $3.9 million next season) in a trade that wouldn't aid in the position they are immediately attempting to remedy?

Any team looking to improve in the goaltending department isn't going to possess what Ottawa requires in net.

$3.7M QUESTION MARK

If a franchise already had something sufficient, or a diamond in the rough signed to an enviable contract, why would they want replace such a backstopper with a $3.7-million question mark?

Short of committing the ultimate salary dump -- trading the Swiss-born 'tender for a song and allotting a portion of his former income to a free-agent backup -- the Senators would still need another team to take a financial risk for them.

Ironically, after all the freewheeling we have witnessed on the open market during this off-season, No. 29's paycheque now seems in line with other league spending. But tell that to a franchise with reservations (and a back pressed squarely against the salary cap).

Bryan Murray may want to trade Gerber, but he can't cut off the nose to spite the Senators' face.

It will require a delicate balancing act to ensure that Ottawa's net and wallet are not left sparely filled -- and it's a move that could set the tone for Murray's tenure as GM in this city.

However, don't be surprised if the other shoe fails to drop before Emery's situation is settled.

After all, who knows how much longer Gerber will reign as the highest paid goaltender in the city?

Right now, there's no clear-cut answer on how to deal with Gerber.

But if Murray finds him too difficult to unload, with Emery standing by in the meantime, palms outstretched, the solution may be thrust upon the GM far quicker than he expected.

[Madferret]

Sens avoid arbitration with Emery
Darren Dreger with files from the Canadian Press

The Ottawa Senators and goaltender Ray Emery have avoided salary arbitration by reaching a last minute three-year contract agreement worth $9.5 milliion.

Emery was happy to avoid the arbitration process and the knowledge he will remain in the nation's capital:

"I'm more excited by the fact I'm staying in Ottawa long term and will have the opportunity to see the team fight to get back to the Stanley Cup final," Emery tells TSN. "So I guess it's less about being relieved and more about looking forward to the future."

''It was a difficult negotiation,'' Emery's agent J.P. Barry told The Canadian Press. ''Bryan and I started pretty far apart but we worked hard to close the gap and were able to do so this morning after Bryan was able to speak with Mr. Melnyk.''

The 24-year-old Emery was a restricted free agent. He will earn $2.75 million next season, $3.25 million in 2008-09 and $3.5 million in 2009-10, for an average of $3.16 million a season, a big raise over the $925,000 he made last season.

Emery enjoyed a career season last year as he replaced Martin Gerber as the number one man between the pipes for the Senators, helping lead the team to their first Stanley Cup finals appearance in modern history. Emery was 33-16-6 in 58 regular season games with a goals-against-average of 2.47. During the playoffs he was 13-7 with a 2.25 goals-against average.

The $3.16-million average for Emery eclipses the $2.66-million average salaries from Buffalo's Ryan Miller (signed last summer) and Carolina's Cam Ward and is less than the $4.25-million, one-year deal signed by New York Rangers starter Henrik Lundqvist.

Emery says he doesn't feel too much pressure having to live up to a two-million dollar raise.

"I'm going to play the same, the only way I know how and I don't care about the money, but recognize there's a responsibility that comes with it."

The Cayuga, Ontario native is currently recovering from wrist surgery and is unlikely to see game action until September.

[Madferret]

Senators ink Schubert; avoid arbitration
TSN.ca Staff

The Ottawa Senators have avoided arbitration with defenseman/forward Christoph Schubert as the two sides have agreed on a $2.65-million, three-year deal.

The versatile German scored eight goals and collected 17 assists with a plus-30 rating in 80 regular season games last year, playing at left wing in 51 of those games.

In two NHL seasons, Schubert has 12 goals, 23 assists, 104 penalty minutes during 136 regular season games. He also has added two assists in 27 playoff games.

Drafted 127th overall by the Senators in 2001, Schubert played his first three pro seasons with the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Binghamton, N.Y. From 2002-03 to 2004-05, he had 14 goals, 40 assists and 281 penalty minutes over 216 regular-season games. Schubert also added five points (2-3) and 22 penalty minutes over 15 post-season games.

His arbitration hearing was scheduled for Friday.

[Madferret]

Redden wants to stay put
By Ian Mendes
Sportsnet.ca

Ottawa Senators defenceman Wade Redden is planning on starting the season where he usually does - in Ottawa.

On Tuesday, Senators general manager Bryan Murray admitted he had a trade worked out for Redden at the NHL Draft last month. But Redden, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, balked at the deal.

"I knew that Bryan had talked to a few teams at the draft, but it surprised me at the time," Redden told Sportsnet.ca from Kelowna, B.C. "He never came to (my agent) Donnie Meehan or myself and asked if I wanted to be moved."

Redden was part of a Senators team that reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007. However, it was a sub-par year on a personal level for the blueliner, who collected just seven goals - his lowest total since 1996-97.

The 30-year-old has one year remaining on a two-year contract he signed in July 2006 for $13 million. Next summer the Senators have several key unrestricted free agents, including Redden, Dany Heatley and Mike Fisher, so the veteran defenceman is aware of the team's situation.

"We'll see what happens as the year goes. I know (Murray) has some decisions to be made with the free agents that will be coming up on our team," he said.

But given the team's success last spring, Redden doesn't sound like a player who wants to leave Ottawa.

And he re-emphasized the no-trade clause in the contract when asked if he would like to be elsewhere.

"One thing that remains though, is that I have a no movement clause in my contract," he continued. "So if he wanted to move me, I would have to okay it. I am happy there and am looking forward to this season. Especially after getting to the finals last year, I feel we can get there again.

[Man.Utd]

I never wanted him signed for the money he was going to command and now it appears we're stuck with him for another season.

Hopefully Murray can find a way to not lose him for nothing when his contract is over. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem too likely now and was a big fear of mine when Redden and management entered negotiations. You can get a lot for apparent top 10 (in some people's mind even top 5) defensemen. Ottawa will probably end up with nothing. I'd deal him for high end prospects and picks even. He's very replaceable. As far as actual on ice performance goes he was not significantly better than any of Phillips, Volchenkov, Corvo, or Preissing down the stretch and Schubert was already being used ahead of him on the PK depth chart in the playoffs.

[Madferret]

Senators sign Kelly to one-year deal
TSN.ca Staff

The Ottawa Senators announced Tuesday the club has re-signed centre Chris Kelly to a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration with him.

Kelly recorded his best season in 2006-07, scoring 15 goals and adding 23 assists for 38 points in 82 games. He also had seven points while playing in all 20 post-season games.

In two full NHL seasons, and four games during the 2003-04 campaign, the 26-year-old has recorded 25 goals, 43 assists and 116 penalty minutes over 168 regular season games. Kelly also has contributed seven points in 30 career playoff games.

Kelly was Ottawa's third-round pick in the 1999 NHL draft.

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20070217/OTT_kelly_65184.jpg

[Madferret]

Senators sign Luke Richardson
TSN.ca Staff

The Ottawa Senators have signed defenceman Luke Richardson to a one-year, two-way contract.

An Ottawa native, Richardson recorded three assists and 16 penalty minutes in 27 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2006-07 season. In 1,339 career NHL games, he has scored 33 goals, added 159 assists and recorded 2,012 penalty minutes. The defenceman has added eight assists and 130 penalty minutes in 69 career NHL playoff games.

''Luke is a character player who brings experience to our club,'' said Senators general manager Bryan Murray. ''We feel he can be a leader who can be an great example for our young defenceman to learn from.''

[Iced Tea]

Sens hook Fisher for 5 years

September 17, 2007
Sportsnet.ca

OTTAWA (CP) -- The Ottawa Senators locked up one of their best two-way players to a long-term deal Monday, signing centre Mike Fisher to a US$21-million, five-year extension.

Fisher had 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points last season, his seventh with the Senators.

The 27-year-old Peterborough, Ont., native played a key role in Ottawa's run to the Stanley Cup final last spring. He supplied plenty of grit at both ends of the ice and recorded 10 points (5-5) and 73 hits in 20 playoff games.

Fisher was drafted by the Senators in the second round (44th overall) of the 1998 NHL entry draft. In 384 career regular season games, he has 192 points (92-100) and 314 penalty minutes.

Fisher was nominated for the Selke Award as the NHL's top defensive forward in 2005-06. He finished third in the voting, behind Jere Lehtinen and winner Rod Brind'Amour.

Fisher, who was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, will earn US$1.5 million this season. He will earn $6 million in 2008-'09, $4 million annually for three seasons after that and $3 million in 2012-'13.

Ottawa forward Dany Heatley and defenceman Wade Redden are still slated for unrestricted free agency after the upcoming season while centre Jason Spezza will be a restricted free agent.http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20070917_122012_5836

Fisher seems more worthy of that kind of money then some of the yahoos getting paid the same or more.

I can understand the structure of the contract with salary dropping as Fisher ages but the $6 million next season uses up a lot of cap room when the Senators have Heatley to resign.

[Madferret]

Home town discount?
Next captain of the Sens....

[Darsehole Tucker]

I don't know how much of a "discount" he gave the team. I'm a huge Fisher fan (the only sens jersey I have) but that's still a lot of money. How much is Alfie making? I'd say he got rewarded the amount that he deserved without much of a discount. I do hope that's he's our next captain.