Sens still in hunt
Ottawa awaits Capitals' answer in chase for Bondra
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun
All the Senators can do is wait for an answer from the Washington Capitals on star winger Peter Bondra.
Sources say Senators GM John Muckler has put his best offer on the table -- a No. 1 or No. 2 draft pick along with winger Petr Schastlivy -- and the club is now waiting for an answer from Capitals GM George McPhee.
It's believed McPhee has placed the "acceptable" offer in front of Washington owner Ted Leonsis, and since McPhee's power is limited these days, he must wait for approval before making the deal with the Senators.
For his part, Muckler isn't making any comments on the potential trade. Bondra would help Ottawa's power play and could also be used in a penalty-killing role. He would compliment the club's offensive players.
One thing is certain: Defenceman Shane Hnidy will not be part of the deal. The club has only seven healthy blueliners, has little depth in the minors and isn't going to sacrifice one with so many teams searching for help.
Still, if the deal doesn't get completed soon, the chances of it happening get less. There's indications the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils are both making a pitch for Bondra to keep him from going to Ottawa.
While the Leafs are trying to get Bondra as part of a package that includes injured defenceman Sergei Gonchar, sources say the Devils are willing to offer Scott Gomez to try to get the Caps to send Bondra their way.
Bondra told a Washington reporter last night he had heard nothing about the deal to Ottawa from McPhee. Bondra left Washington's 4-1 loss to Florida on Friday with back spasms and is listed as day-to-day.
Hopefully, if they do get him, he ruins the chemistry and the sens crash and burn. A leaf fans standpoint. The leafs are after Bondra, and I personally dont want him. I dont want the sens to get him either tho.
Hopefully, if they do get him, he ruins the chemistry and the sens crash and burn. A leaf fans standpoint. The leafs are after Bondra, and I personally dont want him. I dont want the sens to get him either tho.
I don't think Mr. Ferguson cares if you want him or not k:
Seems Mucks wants to mix it up a bit on the wires.
Quote:
Muckler exploring 'avenues' other than Bondra
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- Ottawa Sun
John Muckler continued to work the telephone yesterday.
The Senators GM is rumoured to be waiting to hear from the Capitals about his offer for sniper Peter Bondra, but one Washington source said yesterday that the Caps were working their own phones trying to see what they could squeeze out of the marketplace. The field in pursuit of Bondra might have widened to include up to six teams, said the source.
There's talk the Devils and the Maple Leafs had both entered the fray to better the Senators' rumoured offer of a first- or second-round draft pick and W Petr Schastlivy.
Bondra isn't the only commodity interesting Muckler.
"I'm pursuing a bunch of different avenues," he said.
Muckler would also like to add some help on the team's left side, a position "that could use some tweaking," and scare up another defenceman.
"We have seven (blueliners), but that may not be enough to get through," he said. "A couple of injuries and you're short."
While some might wonder how adding Bondra to a team that's already the highest-scoring in the league improves things, Muckler argued "you can never have enough ammunition. You're always trying to get more."
Noting the importance of special teams in the post-season, Muckler said he would like to shore up the second power-play unit with a pointman, a position in which Bondra excels.
Well, he's still pursuing Bondra, but other options haven't been completely left out either. I also hear New Jersey's in there, and a little T.O.
I'm sure Bondra's his top priority for a trade, and I'll bet he's heading to Ottawa soon.
__________________ "It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bondra Hunting
Bondra Hunting
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