It was a trade deadline that offered oh so much and delivered so little. Depth is great, but surely the Ottawa Senators focused too much on depth and character.
Let’s run through the Sens dealings prior to March 1.
Alex Burrows
The most mind-boggling move Ottawa made prior to the window shutting. Rightly, there are mixed thoughts on it. I was not impressed by it at all. Vancouver overwhelmingly won the trade hands down. Not a single hockey analyst has even insinuated that Ottawa did well out of it, considering the price.
Furthermore, Ottawa actually come third in this trade. Vancouver win as they get highly tipped prospect Jonathan Dahlén, who might finally be appreciated. Who comes second in this trade you ask? Alex Burrows himself, how he has managed to not only get a year extension but two is eye-watering.
Burrows will only decline in this two-year span, the extension was need to waive his no movement clause, this should’ve scared Ottawa off. It didn’t.
That makes uncomfortable viewing for Sens Army, the Allsvenskan is not a substandard league and to see a second round prospect improve that much, is incredible.
The Burrows trade is old-fashioned and somewhat antiquated in today’s NHL. If Mitch Marner’s rise to stardom tells us anything, it’s that speed and agility is the future of the game. Therefore, the Sens seem to be determined to remain in the dark ages, and use the magic word of character.