The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

If a team is going to have a deep run into the playoffs, there are a few components that I feel are absolutely vital to ensure success:

1. A top notch goalie. Your team will need their goalkeeper to steal a game here and there as well as give confidence for the players to take chances and not be afraid to forecheck.

2. A defined #1 line. 37 seconds left and your team needs one goal to force overtime? It should be automatic as to who hits the ice at this moment.

3. A deep defensive corps. You need a clearly defined #1 and #2 defenseman, as well as dependable guys who average 10 minutes a game who aren't prone to mistakes.

4. A #1 and #2 centre. Not in terms of just making with what you have, but in comparison to other NHL teams, two powerhouse centres who can be difference makers when it counts.

I think the Ottawa Senators have addressed points 1 to 3. The one tweak I think they need is to make is to address centre Bryan Smolinki, as clearly he is not performing up to standards with his $2.25 million a year contract.

If you look at the contending teams around the league, they have a 1-2 punch down the middle that makes it difficult for opposing teams to check. In Toronto, you have Mats Sundin & Eric Lindros (and to a lesser extent, Jason Allison). In Tampa Bay, you have Vincent Lecavalier & Brad Richards. In Philadelphia, you have Peter Forsberg & Keith Primeau (if he ever gets back from injury). You see where I'm going with this? Jason Spezza is the MAN in Ottawa, but Smolinski, clearly, is not.

Earlier this season, Smolinski started playing with Alfredsson. Alfie flourished...Bryan struggled. When the lines were juggled after Brandon Bochenski was sent back to the AHL, he got to play alongside scorer Martin Havlat. Again, not much was made of that. Now that Havlat is out, he plays alternatively with lesser players and he simply doesn't consistently contribute. When was the last time you said "Wow, Bryan Smolinski saved the day for us!"?

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun put forth the rumour Ottawa may be going after Blues' centreman Doug Weight. St. Louis pays Weight a lot of money and it looks like they won't make the playoffs, and considering Weight will be an unrestricted free agent next season, it wouldn't make much sense to keep him. If the Blues wanted, they could trade him now and get something in return, then try to re-sign him for next season if they still value his services. If Ottawa were to make a trade for him, maybe for a prospect and/or draft pick, there's a one-two punch you can be confident about: Spezza & Weight. I doubt any team would trade for Smolinski straight up for his perennial underperforming, but that's the one move that should be made come the tradeline a few months away.

There have been rumours Ottawa will make a pitch for guys like Todd Bertuzzi, Owen Nolan and Steve Reinprecht. But Weight is an established veteran, perfect for the #2 centreman job and as a playmaker can be put on the power player and can compliment on a regular shift a guy like Martin Havlat. A trade for Doug Weight, for me, makes the most sense.