Comments on: Evaluating the other trade http://sevendeadlysens.com/2009/12/06/evaluating-the-other-trade/ The happenings of the Ottawa Senators. Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:26:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kreeco http://sevendeadlysens.com/2009/12/06/evaluating-the-other-trade/#comment-70 kreeco Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:01:46 +0000 http://sevendeadlysens.com/?p=303#comment-70 The inclusion of Comrie and McAmmond in the deal amounted to a salary cap era money dump. Both had no impact on their teams but Comrie made more than McAmmond so the Sens had to shell out some extra money as a result. As far as Bryan Murray is concerned, the signings of both Jason Smith and Alex Kovalev have both been complete disasters. Say what you will about Kovalev but 10 million for two years is way too much for a player at this stage in his career. As for Smith, that was an absolutely horrendous signing and Murray is lucky he decided to retire last offseason. I think Murray's biggest weakness is that he has given way too much money for way too much term to players who haven't lived up to their contracts. Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, Filip Kuba, Chris Neil, Chris Kelly and the list goes on and on. Murray seems to be unwilling to give away players who have served him well, a thing that GMs must come to terms with under the new CBA. I think that Eugene Melnyk has had a lot to do with that as I suspect he is far too involved in personnel decisions with the team but that's another discussion for another time. I don't like Murray as I think he has taken a good team and made it a marginal one at best. The Sens have yet to win a playoff game since Murray was hired as GM so the results speak for themselves. Luckily for Murray, he seems to have drafted well so far although it's still too early to tell. The inclusion of Comrie and McAmmond in the deal amounted to a salary cap era money dump. Both had no impact on their teams but Comrie made more than McAmmond so the Sens had to shell out some extra money as a result.

As far as Bryan Murray is concerned, the signings of both Jason Smith and Alex Kovalev have both been complete disasters. Say what you will about Kovalev but 10 million for two years is way too much for a player at this stage in his career. As for Smith, that was an absolutely horrendous signing and Murray is lucky he decided to retire last offseason.

I think Murray’s biggest weakness is that he has given way too much money for way too much term to players who haven’t lived up to their contracts. Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, Filip Kuba, Chris Neil, Chris Kelly and the list goes on and on. Murray seems to be unwilling to give away players who have served him well, a thing that GMs must come to terms with under the new CBA. I think that Eugene Melnyk has had a lot to do with that as I suspect he is far too involved in personnel decisions with the team but that’s another discussion for another time.

I don’t like Murray as I think he has taken a good team and made it a marginal one at best. The Sens have yet to win a playoff game since Murray was hired as GM so the results speak for themselves. Luckily for Murray, he seems to have drafted well so far although it’s still too early to tell.

]]> By: Sacul http://sevendeadlysens.com/2009/12/06/evaluating-the-other-trade/#comment-69 Sacul Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:04:46 +0000 http://sevendeadlysens.com/?p=303#comment-69 This one has been a head scratcher. I usually think BM is an excellent trader/drafter, but I didn't get this one at the time and I still don't. I guess it's just a case of him seeing something in Campoli that wasn't and still isn't there. Comrie was playing injured and didn't even get the chance to audition for another contract, which would have been tough in the best of circumstances and impossible with the Heatley fiasco going on. He was open about being willing to take a "haircut", but he would have had to take a McGuire. I was a big fan of McAmmond's too, but it was clear he wasn't the same after the huge shots to his noggin. I know there are many Murray haters among Sens fans. I'm an ardent supporter. I think he was put in a heck of a horrible spot by Merry Muckler and Melnyk knew it, hence the firing after a good run. Perhaps the Campoli deal was done with other "back room" reasons in mind...hard to say. Aside from this deal, can you point to other bad trades Murray has made as Sens GM? (No, the Heatley deal will never count. I mean real ones.) As Sens GM, I'd say Murray gets a D on coach selection (barely bumped up to passing with the Clouston selection) and very good grades on everything else so far. This one has been a head scratcher. I usually think BM is an excellent trader/drafter, but I didn’t get this one at the time and I still don’t. I guess it’s just a case of him seeing something in Campoli that wasn’t and still isn’t there. Comrie was playing injured and didn’t even get the chance to audition for another contract, which would have been tough in the best of circumstances and impossible with the Heatley fiasco going on. He was open about being willing to take a “haircut”, but he would have had to take a McGuire.
I was a big fan of McAmmond’s too, but it was clear he wasn’t the same after the huge shots to his noggin.

I know there are many Murray haters among Sens fans. I’m an ardent supporter. I think he was put in a heck of a horrible spot by Merry Muckler and Melnyk knew it, hence the firing after a good run.

Perhaps the Campoli deal was done with other “back room” reasons in mind…hard to say. Aside from this deal, can you point to other bad trades Murray has made as Sens GM? (No, the Heatley deal will never count. I mean real ones.)

As Sens GM, I’d say Murray gets a D on coach selection (barely bumped up to passing with the Clouston selection) and very good grades on everything else so far.

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