Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ottawa Made a Trade; Relax
First and foremost, I am happy to read that Richard Zednik's condition has been upgraded from stable to good at NHL.com. This is fortunate, thank God he got the medical attention he did and good on them to get Zednik on a the road to a speedy recovery.
Now, about the title, the Senators - who come to the Rock this Wednesday, Tom Gulitti has a preview to tell you what to expect (Spoiler: Marty's starting this one) - made a trade yesterday. Ottawa sent winger Pat Eaves and defenseman Joe Corvo to Carolina in exchange for left winger Cory Stillman and defenseman Mike Commodore (source: TSN). On paper, this seems to favor the Senators. The Hurricanes pick up a young, 23 year old two way forward in Eaves, who could still develop into a top six forward; as well as a veteran defensemen in Corvo isn't afraid to take that shot from the point. Not bad, but the Senators get a physical defenseman in Commodore who can take Corvo's minutes and then some (Commodore has averaged 19:15 in Carolina in their top 4, Corvo only 17:41 on Ottawa's bottom pairing), and a scoring left winger in Stillman (21 G, 25 A) to give the team some added punch on offense (as if they needed it).
Bob McKenzie at TSN states that it is a big trade and a good one for Ottawa, namely for the experience that Stillman and Commodore can bring to winning Stanley Cups - something Ottawa obviously lacks. However, I find it a bit unsettling that McKenzie refers to Stillman and Commodore:
If Stillman and Commodore play to their potential, the Senators are much improved. Stillman's secondary scoring is particularly welcome.
Now, I can buy Stillman as a top six forward and Commodore as a #4; but if it's such a good trade, why the qualifier about playing to their potential? Maybe it's because while both have sipped from Lord Stanley's Cup - something Ottawa usually sees from the outside looking in - there are warning signs in both players. Commodore was more noticible for his big red half-afro, half-disaster style of hair rather than being a stalwart defender on the Canes blueline back in 2006 - namely because he wasn't that big stalwart defender in that series. He hasn't hit that level of play since, and it's probably a reason why Carolina had no qualms trading him. Stillman's resume looks a lot better. While he only contributed 2 goals and 5 assists in Tampa Bay's 2004 Stanley Cup win, he exploded in 2006 with 9 goals and 17 assists with Carolina in a successful 2006 Cup campaign. Still, for a guy who routinely puts up at least 20 goals a season (only 2 seasons in his last 10 where he didn't and those were cut by injury), he doesn't stick in one place for a really long time. He may give him that secondary scoring, but on a team that features Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley (who will return by playoff time, I think), if the top players are shut down - the team's in trouble, unless he steps up in a huge way. That's why I'm hesitant to think he'll be putting any team over the top.
It's a good trade for the Senators provided both players actually mesh with the team and can contribute - it's entirely possible that in a different system than Carolina, the two could flourish or fade. I think it'll turn out somewhat like that, but I can't call it a blockbuster. No big names moved nor does this trade make Ottawa the team to beat in the East. Which leads me to my point, a message to all the Devils fans:
Stop composing letters, e-mails, wishes, complaints, rants, dreams, and message board posts about the Devils should trade this guy or that guy, just to make a move. Lou's never let someone else force his hand, nor does he make a deal he doesn't want to do. Relax. Ottawa made a trade, it may turn out OK for them. But that doesn't make them Cup contenders, and it definitely doesn't mean the Devils have to do anything in response to keep pace, to look good in the eyes of pundits, or any hogwash like that. Relax.
It's a good trade for the Senators provided both players actually mesh with the team and can contribute - it's entirely possible that in a different system than Carolina, the two could flourish or fade. I think it'll turn out somewhat like that, but I can't call it a blockbuster. No big names moved nor does this trade make Ottawa the team to beat in the East. Which leads me to my point, a message to all the Devils fans:
Stop composing letters, e-mails, wishes, complaints, rants, dreams, and message board posts about the Devils should trade this guy or that guy, just to make a move. Lou's never let someone else force his hand, nor does he make a deal he doesn't want to do. Relax. Ottawa made a trade, it may turn out OK for them. But that doesn't make them Cup contenders, and it definitely doesn't mean the Devils have to do anything in response to keep pace, to look good in the eyes of pundits, or any hogwash like that. Relax.
Labels: 2008 Season, Devils Issues, Hockey - General
# posted by John Fischer @ 8:13 PM 0 comments 
