Friday: Small News, Big Notions

The only news I've found today is about the start of training camp for the Ottawa Senators. It's actually old news, and I am just slow.

The latest Alexander Nikulin blog post, translated on HFBoards, has our prospect saying that he's been asked to be in Ottawa for September 8th for the beginning of training camp. His post mainly goes on to describe how hard he has been working this summer, and how much effort he's putting into making the team.

He also remarks offhand that his visa for the upcoming season lasts one year, ending as his remaining contract year does. Should he get a new contract, he will think about getting a new visa as well. If you've read Nikulin's blog, you'll know that he's been working hard to make it to the NHL, dealing with his disappointments and burgeoning hope.

This, to me, is one reason why I can still live with the Corvo-Eaves for Commodore-Stillman trade. On paper, it would almost look like we made out better, but it was the contracts that extend past this season that made Eaves and Corvo the real value. There was even hope that Stillman might be able to stick around, or that having those Cup rings and experience would rub off on the team. The real reason for the trade might be much simpler.

Look down to Binghamton, and you'll find a lot of prospects. Many who also hope to join the NHL (and some who have a good chance to do so). Roster decisions start out easy. Of course you keep Alfie, Heater, Spezza, Fish, Phillips, and Volchie. They are the core, they know their roles, and they execute with precision every season. Then it gets a little more tricky, but still a breeze. Yes, Gerber's better than anything we could get in return in a trade, Vermette and Kelly have good defensive usefulness along with the chance to produce some secondary scoring, and so on.

But what about when you get down to those last 5 or 6 spots? I could catch myself wondering if Eaves would ever breakout and really contribute for the team, or if Corvo wouldn't make me go "uh-oh", and might start playing with more heart, contrary to his lack of love for the city. How long do you keep the non-superstars around?

By letting Corvo and Eaves get traded for what became two empty roster spots this season, it helps allow the team to continue to give its prospects a chance. I know few of us know what it's like personally, but I'm sure none of us would be thrilled to be in the minors, hoping to break through to the big leagues, only to hear that the team has signed or traded for mediocre players that are far from guaranteed to add to the club's success.

This is exactly why I think it's important that, along with the superstars, role players, and veteran leadership, we also allow for a continual flow of prospects up to the team. Maybe they don't earn a full season, but hopefully at least a long enough stay to get a feel for the team, without triggering NHL pay, or else they do contribute. If they don't, then that rotating slot could be used for a trade-deadline acquisition, or else it continues to allow the team to give players a taste, to keep them fired up and working hard. Fail to give them a shot, and they become unmotivated, lose faith in their dreams, the team, and themselves, and that's the last thing we could ever want for our boys.