Yeah, I know: with almost $5M in salary committed to one-way goalie contracts, why on earth would the Sens be looking to take on another?

Except this year, more than in recent memory, there's a glut of decent (if not outstanding) names available and a buyer's market. What's the harm in signing, say, Biron on a $1M / 1 year deal?

More options after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

It looks like Brian Murray is on his way out after next season. He intimated as much at his press conference. And with at least $12M in salary coming off of the cap after next season, there's no better time for a new guy to step in and make his mark (unless Murray pulls a Gainey, throws all the spare money at the wall and then quits).

In the interests of a smooth transition, it seems like the right time to bring in the successor. As an assistant GM, maybe, with a clear and transparent message that this is our guy. All of Murray's decisions could then be coordinated with the new guy's long term plans.

I'll admit, part of this is motivated by the apparent availability of Steve Yzerman. He's never been a GM, but the Ottawa boy could be a big boost to enthusiasm over the franchise. With Tampa, Atlanta and others looking, he could get snatched up soon.

If we miss out on Stevie Y, what are the alternatives? Fill the gap internally? Someone who's been sitting on the self and comes up with every GM rumor, like Jay Feaster or (shudder) Pierre McGuire? Who will be Ottawa's next GM, and what will he do with all of that cap space?

With Calgary having recently exploded and trigger-finger Sutter still steering the ship (for now), the talk seems to be of an impending Iginla trade.

Though he probably won't be traded, and Murray hardly seems the type to throw boatloads of assets overboard in a trade, it's fun to think of one of the best all around players in the league in a Sens uniform. What could Ottawa possibly give to pry Iggy out of Calgary?

Some combination of Michalek, Foligno, Lee, Campoli, Cowen, Weircoch, and picks?

Could we induce Calgary to take Cheechoo, Kuba or Kovalev to make the money work?

Is anyone untouchable for a player of Iginla's calibre? What if they asked for Phillips or Fisher?