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

All has been quiet the last few weeks in Sensland, but an article by The Hockey News that has been picked up by many "rumour" sites has made many Sens fans today discuss the look of the defensive corps of the Senators when opening night hits. It's starting to look like Andrej Meszaros might play for a different team after a rumoured offer sheet of $5 milion a season has been put forward by an unnamed team (some saying the Tampa Bay Lightning).

Of course, it's all just rumour and nothing more at this point, although Meszaros' agent offered a "no comment" when asked about the situation. But if there is really such an offer on the table, Ottawa would be stupid to match it and Meszaros would be stupid not to take it.

Players have to take into account their careers are very short and I don't blame them for wanting to maximize their salary. Every team though in a salary-cap environment has to be smart when they hand out contracts and they can't simply hand out a blank cheque. Especially when a player has shown potential, but not much more than that.

Meszaros had a pretty bad year last year and his sophomore year wasn't much better. So GM Bryan Murray has to weigh that in while at the same time realizing he's only 22 years old and has a lot of skill to be an all-star. But it's just potential right now, and a lot of teams have signed players to crazy contracts based only on this potential, and this is a good example of it.

If there's a $5 million a year offer on the table from another team, the Sens would receive a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick as compensation. As much as you may not want to see him go, I think Ottawa would be foolish not to accept it. And I also think that these draft picks could be very valuable to acquire a different player in trade.

Murray's reported offer of $3.5 million a year is very reasonable when you consider that's what #1 Ottawa d-man Chris Phillips makes while his partner Anton Volchenkov makes about $1 million less. He has to keep cap space open for trades and injuries so I don't think Murray is doing a bad job here.

But, there's not much you can do when another team is willing to overpay.