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

We all know this already: The NHL lockout did nothing did keep salaries from spiraling out of control.

And since the number of quality free agents wasn't too high this summer, it wasn't much of a surprise that many players were overpaid for what they've accomplished. Many teams are trying to demonstrate to their fans they are committed to winning by overpaying for these players, but there are long term consequences when these big contract players fail to perform. Look no further than players like Alexei Yashin and Pavel Kubina; these teams won't be able to contend for a few years.

Some of the contracts that stand out in particular include Mike Commodore's 5 year, $18.75 million dollar deal (a 5th defenceman at best), Wade Redden's 6 year, $39 million contract (if Ottawa is tough to play in, how is New York is easier? And didn't his play diminish after his first $6.5 million a year payday?), Brian Campell's 8 year, $56.8 million contract (simply too long a contract) as well as Mats Sundin's non-signing. I have no idea what is going on this guy's mind: If you want to play for a contender, you could have signed with Detroit. If money was the issue, Vancouver's obscene $20 million 2-year deal made you the highest paid player in the league. Loyalty? The Leafs don't want you back so you owe them nothing. Maybe he thinks he's bigger than he actually is.

As for my Sens...well, I wanted Campbell. With Redden out, they have to put Christoph Schubert as their #6, a guy who hasn't played defence regularly in the last 2 seasons, and ideally I would have liked to have seen rookie Brian Lee play no higher than a #5 as he needs time to develop. Having Philips and Volchenkov as your top pairing would leave a spot beside Meszaros as the #3 or 4 guy, and unless they make a deal most of the experienced D are already taken.

The Sens did sign Jarkko Ruutu today, and while he's a good agitator there are simply too many 3rd and 4th liners on the team. Their forward lines looks like this (nothing confirmed, but this is the best I could come up with):

Alfie-Spezza-Heater
Foligno-Fisher-Neil
Winchester-Vermette-Kelly
Ruutu-McAmmond-Donovan

That would leave Cody Bass as a healthy scratch depending on how the others play. And looking at that lineup, after the Pizza line can the others put the puck in the net? I wouldn't count on it. I really think Ottawa needs another top 6 forward...perhaps one of the prospects are ready, or maybe there's someone they could sign (Markus Naslund?) that could help fill the void.

Anyway, we'll see how the rest of the summer pans out, but for the first time in a long time I'm not so confident on how the Sens will do next year (no, this doesn't mean I'm cheering for the frickin' Habs or anything. It's Sens 4 Life!). I hope Bryan Murray and Craig Hartsburg have a few tricks up their sleeve.