Parse the prospect and draft cost as finely as you will, but the Ottawa Senators’ trade deadline moves were perfectly commensurate with the team’s position and potential.
The Senators hit the deadline with a reasonable chance to win the Atlantic Division, while also having to be extremely mindful of the fact a post-season ticket is in no way assured. And though neither player will put Canada’s capital on his back in pursuit of either goal, it’s impossible to argue the Sens aren’t at least slightly improved with the addition of wingers Alexandre Burrows from the Vancouver Canucks and Viktor Stalberg from the Carolina Hurricanes.
As for disgruntled youngster Curtis Lazar, he didn’t seem to fit either the short- or long-term plan in Ottawa. That the 17th-overall pick in 2013 failed to fetch a first-rounder back is likely the source of some disappointment, but it also speaks to how sour the situation had become.
In terms of things that impact the here and now, an all-in move—we all heard the Matt Duchene musings—at a high cost never really made sense for Ottawa. The Minnesota Wild; the Washington Capitals: These are teams living in a unique space where desperation collides with legit opportunity. Bold action was called for from those clubs, both of which are pursuing their first championship in franchise history.
Those simply aren’t the stakes for Ottawa.
That said, the Sens have major skin in the game when it comes to playoff series wins. Ottawa telegraphed its intentions for all to see at this time last year, when it acquired Dion Phaneuf and his burdensome contract. That was the Senators saying, “We’re in the business of winning as many games as possible right now.”
And that has value, even when there seems to be a ceiling on where a team can ultimately go.
This spring will mark the 10th anniversary of Ottawa’s one and only modern-era Cup final appearance. In the decade since, the Sens have never been back to the Eastern Conference final, advanced beyond Round 1 just once and missed the playoffs all together four times.
How sweet would, say, 10 playoff victories taste this April and May? It’s conceivable any non-wild card team in the East could win two rounds this spring and the Senators—fortunate members of a dreary division—are no exception.
General manager Pierre Dorion talked about veteran players wanting to hug him after it was announced Ottawa had acquired Burrows, who subsequently signed a two-year contract extension. A fist bump would have likely done the transaction sufficient justice, but you get the idea.
Burrows is on the Mount Rushmore of maddening people who can actually play, and Ottawa’s charges are happy to have him on their side. Even if he’s not a 20-goal scorer anymore, he can still contribute something to a Sens offence that ranks 19th in goals per game, to say nothing of the hard-earned wisdom gained through 70 career post-season appearances with Vancouver.
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People can decry the sacrifice of prospect Jonathan Dahlen to acquire Burrows all day long, but it’s hard to imagine that move is going to irreparably damage a Senators organization with prospects like Thomas Chabot, Colin White and Logan Brown in the hopper.
As for Stalberg, he’s a speedy skater who can help the bottom of the lineup and offer a little protection against an injury bug that’s already gnawed some holes in Ottawa. Is a third-rounder too deep for a depth player? Perhaps, though at least Dorion invested in a guy who can fly as opposed to some of the more old-school sloshers who changed teams in the past couple days.
Maybe that’s cold comfort for Sens supporters hoping for a big swing on Wednesday. Our recommendation would be to start finding the appeal in smaller victories.
