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

The salary cap era is not an era that encourages player movement. Trades have to involve contracts virtually dollar for dollar, and teams are paranoid about losing their prized players and sign them to ridiculous, high-price multi-year contracts.

But if you have some cap space, and a team to tango with who does not have any delusions of a potential post-season who are looking to rebuild, you can ship off a journeyman centre and 1st round draft pick, and pick up some immediate front-line help in Mike Comrie and a young d-man in Chris Campoli. Some Sens fans are upset that a first round pick is given up in a deep draft, and improving the team now is a mistake when they want the team to take a knee for the rest of the season to land #1 prospect John Tavares.

After Ottawa lost a crucial 4-point game to the Habs this afternoon, it appears their brief winning streak might have just been smoke and mirrors. Still, you have to look at the big picture. A pick that might be #30 in the first round if the Sharks win the Cup is pretty much a crapshoot. Campoli has been well-regarded as a puck-moving d-man and indeed got two assists in his Sens debut, the sort of player Murray has been looking for. Comrie liked his time hear in Ottawa and is a perfect 2nd liner, a good skilled guy who can score. Resigning him will depend if he takes a cut from his inflated $4 million salary.

Overall, I think it's a good deal for the Sens, a mix of immediate and future help. I think the post-season is a bit of a pipe dream now, but at least we're seeing the team, both in the front office and on the ice, making an effort to give the fans something to believe in.