Saturday, January 10, 2004
Laraque in the Capital?
Allen Panzieri reported in today's Ottawa Citizen that John Muckler is interested in Oiler Georges Laraque. Not a big deal. Ottawa Sun sports columnist/fiction writer Bruce Garrioch had already reported the same rumour.
But Panzieri speculated that Laraque might be traded for Todd White because of their similiar salaries.
There's just a couple of problems with that speculation:
John Muckler has stated that he isn't looking to deal anyone off the Senators roster. He's looking to add players by trading prospects and/or draft picks.
John Muckler has been extremely straight forward during his tenure so far in Ottawa.
Laraque is a liability right now having signed a three year contract for $4.1M at the start of the season. You don't pay a fourth liner $1.4M, no matter how dominating he is at dropping the gloves, when the owners are pushing for a salary cap in the upcoming CBA. Who wants to waste $1.4M of cap room on a guy who'll play 8 minutes a night when it could force to trade someone who is good hockey player?
Todd White makes more of an impact on the Senators roster then Laraque would.
Kind of makes you wonder how Panzieri pulls a paycheck on a regular basis when he doesn't even have to make sense.
Who knows. Maybe Muckler will get Laraque. During Havlat's recent suspension Chris Neil filled in admirably for him on the third line with Spezza and Smolinski. If Laraque were acquired, maybe Jacques would move Havlat to left wing with Bonk and Hossa, put Neil back on the third line and have Laraque replace Neil as the fourth line right wing.
But Panzieri speculated that Laraque might be traded for Todd White because of their similiar salaries.
There's just a couple of problems with that speculation:
Kind of makes you wonder how Panzieri pulls a paycheck on a regular basis when he doesn't even have to make sense.
Who knows. Maybe Muckler will get Laraque. During Havlat's recent suspension Chris Neil filled in admirably for him on the third line with Spezza and Smolinski. If Laraque were acquired, maybe Jacques would move Havlat to left wing with Bonk and Hossa, put Neil back on the third line and have Laraque replace Neil as the fourth line right wing.
