The Lightning edged the Senators 4-3 on Thursday. With the exception of asking Bobby Ryan to update how his injured finger held up, no one was interested in player reaction to a third-period comeback that fell short.
The Senators are the primary focus of the hockey world. Sixty games removed from being an overtime goal away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, the third-worst team in league standings is in dire straits. Rumours of trading anyone and everyone are all abuzz.
Chatter continues that a combination of Derick Brassard, Cody Ceci, Mike Hoffman, Johnny Oduya and Jean-Gabriel Pageau won’t be Senators come Monday at 3 p.m. ET.
Unfathomable at the beginning of the season, talks of dealing Erik Karlsson are being broached. The Senators’ captain is one year shy of potentially filing for free agency, a cause for concern to club management and fans alike. GM Pierre Dorion is fielding offers for the two-time Norris Trophy winner due to uncertainty regarding Karlsson's desire to remain a Senator. There’s also the spectre of paying Karlsson $10-11 million yearly contract for eight seasons starting in 2019-20. Is the team willing to commit to doling out such a healthy sum?
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Ceci and Mark Stone are restricted free agents at season’s end. In addition to Karlsson; Brassard, Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel are unrestricted the following campaign.
Brassard, one the NHL’s hottest scorers with five goals and four assists in the past seven games is feeling the heat. The front-line centre is on a friendly deal that carries a $3.5 million actual salary this year and next. If a contending team is willing to absorb his $5 million cap hit, they will be getting a proven playoff performer.
“It’s been a rough couple of days before the deadline. We have to play and do our job. We have to take care of each other,” said Brassard after Thursday evening's game. “The rest will take care of itself. We all have phones, and social media, even on TV. It’s part of the business. We’ve all been there before. Whatever happens on Monday, we have to just move on after.”
Mark Borowiecki is staggered by the amount of teammates names being tossed around.
“I’ve been here four years now. This is the most rumours I’ve seen. There are a lot of core guys in here. You really do your best to cut it out, but at some time it’s going to creep in a little bit. We’re professionals, you want to do your best to cut it out. At the same you’re human and it’s going to take a bit of a toll,” lamented the hard-hitting defenceman.
“Guys don’t talk about it in the dressing room. It’s kind of awkward. You’re all good friends. We’ve been through a lot together. It’s one of those you discuss in small groups. I haven’t talked to (Karlsson) about it, a ton. When you put down roots in a city and you hear rumours, it’s tough. It’s going to wear on you mentally, but we can’t make excuses.”
Borowiecki added: “You feel like you’re in limbo, a little bit. You’re in trade purgatory. You’re not sure what’s going on. You almost want the ball to drop and have it happen, if it is going to happen.”
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Already having scored a career-high 16 goals, Ryan Dzingel appears to be taking the trade talk in stride. “We’re human beings," Dzingel said. "You hear a lot of stuff. When you put the gear on, it’s all about your head. Once you get on the ice, your head is clear. That’s why we love the game of hockey.”
Even Bobby Ryan, who returned to the Senators lineup after missing three weeks waiting for his finger to heal, isn’t immune to rumours. It’s been reported Dorion is shopping the 30-year old, possibly in a package with Karlsson, to rid the team of paying $30 million of outstanding salary over the next four seasons.
“I’ve heard what’s going on. I think we all have. Guys probably talk about it in pockets. 'Have you heard this? Have you heard that?' It wouldn’t be fair for me to comment. I saw the guys for two hours before the game,” explained Ryan. “We understand where we’re at. It’s the nature of the beast when you don’t win and don’t perform. It is what it is. You can’t take it personal. I took it personal a few years ago and learned the hard way. I decided not to do that. If someone calls and tells me I’m moving, I’ll move. If not, I’m very happy to come to the rink and remain a Senator. I think that’s probably the grandest scale I’ve heard with all the names, but I’m not surprised.”
For the record, the swelling in Ryan’s finger has subsided. It’s the best it’s felt this season since repeatedly being injured.