Tony’s Take – The Chris Campoli Trade

(source: senators.nhl.com/)

Yesterday, your Ottawa Senators made their last trade before the 3 pm deadline as they shipped off defenceman Chris Campoli and a conditional 7th round draft pick  to the Chicago Blackhawks for a conditional 2nd round draft pick and forward Ryan Potulny. The conditional pick from Ottawa’s side depends if they re-sign Potulny who is a UFA at the end of the year. The conditional pick from Chicago’s side will be the latest pick of their three 2nd rounders they have. The three picks they have are their own, Calgary’s and Atlanta’s 2nd rounder.

Here’s my take on the Campoli trade:

With the re-signing of Chris Phillips  on Sunday night, it was expected that someone had to go on the blueline. With Campoli being the most affordable defenceman Ottawa had, and on an expiring contract, Campoli was the easy choice to be moved. In getting a 2nd round draft pick for Campoli, Ottawa has now stock piled three 2nd rounders and two 1st rounders in this year’s draft. In getting a 2nd rounder, Ottawa somewhat re-coup’s the late 1st rounder they essentially gave up to get him.

In GM Byran Murray‘s press conference about the trade, he stated he planned to not qualify Campoli this summer if he could not trade him. So getting anything for him now is gravy. Campoli did not have a future in Ottawa and never really found his stride here. And with Murray’s drafting reputation, this 2nd rounder will go along way in helping rebuild this team.

In getting forward Ryan Potulny, the Sens get to audition another young player hoping to earn a contract next season. His best season was with the Edmonton Oilers  last season when he scored 15 goals and 32 points. The 26 year old will be a UFA at the end of the year and has spent most of this season in the minors. Potulny was also picked up so Ottawa could spend down one of their young kids back to the Binghamton Senators to help in their playoff run.

What the Blackhawks  get is a mobile offensive minded defenceman that can play in their bottom pairing. He has worked on his defensive side of the game these past two seasons, and he not a liability in his own end. Already having one of the best defensive  units in the league, Campoli can come in and play his game on the bottom pairing and help fill in if one of the other pairing D-men go down.

GM Murray  has now acquired a 1st rounder, two 2nd rounders, a 6th rounder and a 7th round draft pick to go along with their own seven draft picks in this years draft. In total, Ottawa goes into the Entry Draft with 12 draft picks to hlp in the rebuild. 

I think both teams walk out of this trade on top as Ottawa gets another high draft pick in this year’s draft, and Chicago gets a cheap, mobile defenceman to play in their bottom pairing.