SENShobo
Comrie Returns, Who Wants 1st Rounders Anyways?
by SENShobo on 02/20/09 at 05:13 PM ET
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Goodbye Dean, your penalty killing skills and speed apparently were not what was desired. That much-traveled San Jose 1st rounder (and it had better be San Jose’s first rounder, turns out it is) gets the boot too.
Welcome back Comrie. Don’t worry, you’ll only have to stick around for a couple months. Campoli? Well, you might be around for a while longer.
At this moment, I’m not sure what to think, just how I feel.
Update - Comrie and Campoli on the trade, audio clips.
I feel as though someone’s supposed to be playing Chip Diller to my crazed mob in Animal House. But let’s review.
McAmmond was going to be free July 1st, and Comrie will as well, so they’re both a wash for the future. Campoli is 23 24, in his fourth season with 20-63—83 in 228 GP, all with the Islanders, hence the career -40. I can aknowledge that 23 is still young for a defenseman, and we’ll get another year with a $633,000 cap hit before he’s RFA. Still, I’m far from convinced that Campoli is going to be better than the names San Jose’s pick will line up next to.
For the here and now, it’s do or die, and maybe Murray’s hoping that Comrie (7-13—20 in 41GP, 0-1—1 in last 8GP) and Campoli (6-11—17 in 51GP, 1-0—1 in last 7GP) have numbers that fit with their Conference stature and not their ability. Maybe Comrie’s familiar face has Murray hoping that there’ll be some quick chemistry with the team that just lost captain and leading scorer for a week.
Right now, the team is stocked with players who can play center, Comrie’s 41.3% won’t win him that spot. The team is also stocked with offensive hopeful defensemen (Schubert, Bell, Lee, Picard, Kuba, and Campoli), with a pair of Karlssons likely on the way soon. Either Binghamton’s going to get some help for their AHL playoff push, or we haven’t seen the last of Murray’s moves, considering that all of those players would have to clear waivers, none likely to.
So what’s next? Expect to see a top two line juggle featuring Heatley, Spezza, Comrie, Foligno, Fisher, and Shannon, maybe a chance Vermette sneaks in, tomorrow afternoon. Right now, the press box might be the safest place for a defensemen; Murray could well be looking to spotlight any of the young puckmovers for future deals.
Remain calm, all is well. You just gotta give it some time.
Oh, wait, that’s right. We need twenty wins in the next twenty five games to keep the playoff streak alive. Nevermind, get to work boys, you’re fighting for more than just the playoffs now.
Update - 5:30PM EST
Coutesy the Ottawa Senators’ website, the players talk about their trade.
Comrie starts out by saying he’s excited to be traded back to Ottawa, moving from a team in 15th place to a team in 11th place with a hair of a shot at the playoffs. Don’t laugh so quickly; Comrie’s on a one-year deal at $4 million, and moving to a more offensive and aggressive team that’s gunning for the opposite end of the standings will surely give him a chance to boost his value for July 1st, maybe it’ll even work out for Ottawa too.
Campoli seems a bit more shocked about the trade, describes himself as a smart puck-mover, and his 18 giveaways should let the Sens breathe a sigh of relief, perhaps, considering how enjoyable it was to see Kuba putting a great tape-to-tape pass onto a Sedin stick, the brothers combining for a goal and an assist on that play.
Update - 6:45PM EST
Also from the Ottawa Senators’ website, an interesting set of quotes.
“I’m obviously excited,” said Comrie about rejoining the Senators. “I played in Ottawa before. I know what’s at stake and what it’s like and it’s an exciting place to play.
“It’s a great group of guys and I’m thrilled about the opportunity to play on a great team.”
Comrie becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but Murray is confident he can possibly keep him in Ottawa beyond this season.
“When I talked to him a short time ago, (Comrie) indicated he really was disappointed when he left Ottawa,” said Murray. “He enjoyed it here and he felt that he should have stayed here. I think what we’ll find out, with 25 games left, is whether we like each other enough to make a deal this summer to continue (having) Mike stay in Ottawa.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators, Trades | SENShobo | Permalink
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