Trade Hopes Now All But Gone

One month after the start of free agency, and the Sens roster is looking almost full. If we can assume that McGrattan and Lawrence Nycholat have now earned permanent roster spots, and that Christoph Schubert will forever play left wing, we have the full 20 players we need to ice for a game. That still leaves us three short of the 23 players we are allowed to keep each season, something I'm very doubtful Murray will let slide.

But with just under 5 million left in cap space, it's hard to imagine that we could get much for our team without bringing up some B-Sens. There's been plenty of talk about trading Redden and Gerber, but after a month of moves in the NHL, there's little hope left that we can shop them. Taking into account that a team needs to be missing a solid goaltender to take Gerbs, a solid leader defenseman to take Redden, and needs to have the cap space and trade potential to tempt us, there are few options for Murray.

Redden has virtually eliminated any possibility of his trade. Murray admitted to having a deal worked out on draft day for Redden, likely with the Oilers prior to their Pitkanen and Souray moves, but Redden nixed the deal. If he wouldn't accept going close to home to play for a Canadian team as loved as the Oilers, there's almost no way he'd go anywhere else. Be mindful though: he's only 30, a bit young to retire (even with Niedermayer considering it at 34, although he's won it all). This season, after earning his 6.5 million, he is looking at a greatly reduced salary if he plays as he did last one. As long as Redden hindered himself, rather than being hindered by his age, an injury, or something outside his control, he will likely step up so that he can keep earning good money in the future, with the Sens or elsewhere.

Gerber would undoubtedly love to play more than the 29 games he played in this season. I'm going to stray from the common thought that he's a loser and needs to be gone faster than the Nashville franchise, and actually suggest that he's worthy of a shot. Look at his numbers from the last two seasons, as the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Hurricane's starter, and as the Sens backup to Emery. His save percentage was unchanged at .906, so it would appear he didn't get any worse. His Goals Against average was also the same, at 2.78 in both years, certainly not a shining mark. Both years he faced an average of 29 shots for every hour in the net. So how can you explain the difference between his record of 38-14-6 and 68.3% of possible points earned as a Cane and 15-9-3 with only 56.9% of possible points earned as a Sen? Since his stats show the same goalie, other factors might come into play.

It's not the sole responsibility of the goalie to secure a win for his team, so some blame could rest with the Senators. The Hurricanes finished the 05-06 season 4th in the league in points, one win back from second place, with 294 goals for, whereas the Sens finished the 06-07 season 9th in points, three wins back of third place, and with 288 goals for, showing a weaker team in front of Gerber this season. Take a look at his last twelve games: 10-0-2 with 91.7% of possible points earned. He had a .942 save percentage and a 2.08 GAA. Maybe not facing the toughest opponents, but nonetheless.

I believe that some of his failings may be, as we hope Reddens also were, due to self inflicted psychological pain. He lost his way against the Canadiens in last year's playoffs, losing his job to rookie Cam Ward, who played the rest of the way and helped the Canes win the Cup. Then his team decides to take the rookie and cast him off, just as the Ducks had let him go the year before. While not playing yet like a true starter, I believe he has the potential to be one, and surely has the potential to be part of a truly successful goaltending tandem. But it looks doubtful that anyone would want him. Boston took Manny. Toronto took Toskala. Florida took Vokoun. Phoenix took Aebischer. Bryzgalov's still on the market for less than 1.4 million. It would take a desperate team to go for Gerber now.

With both Gerber and Redden having not astounded anyone this past season, and with both looking to improve, the likeliest case will be that neither moves before the season begins. With games, they might both return to form, and interest teams. A newly tantalizing Gerber could tempt teams having goaltending misfortunes. Redden will not likely move though. Even if he plays up to his old form, his no-trade clause won't likely be waived. He would certainly not choose to waive it to leave the Sens if they looked ready to make a run for the cup. So, for the moment, it would appear that we will be in a long wait to see how things play out, and will have to hope for the best.