Bondra to Ottawa rumour

[blny]

I'm trying to figure this one out. I don't really understand what Ottawa's interest in him would be, or where they'd play him. Peter is almost 36. He can still play, but is he the type of rental the Sens should be after?

At present Ottawa's lines at present are roughly:

Schaefer- White - Alfredsson
Havlat - Spezza - Hossa
Schastlivy- Smolinski - Neil
Van Allen - Bonk - Langfeld

They have Fisher, Varada, and Vermette waiting in the wings or injured. Bondra is a RW. Do you remove toughness from the lineup (which they don't have in spades up front) and put him on the third lilne with Smo'?

The whole story seems like a weird move to me. I wonder if it's to keep rivals from getting him (which has been done in the past).

Sportsnet is reporting that the return for the Caps is Shane Hnidy. Hnidy just can't crack Ottawa's deep defensive group with any consistancy. While the Caps are desparate for bodies in that regard. Hnidy would also be cheap. So the return makes sense. Still I'm puzzled as to the reason that Ottawa would potentially make this deal.

Thoughts?

[franko]

I'd be surprised if Bondra moved to Ottawa. Originally it was Vermette and Schastlivy for Bondra, but Ottawa isn't about to let Vermette go. Pure spec, especially when you add salary.

[blaise]

Hnidy would be about right, considering that Bondra intends playing only one more year after this.

[jkr]

I would also be surprised if this happens. They don't need much more skill.

Varada's knee injury seemed very serious so Muckler should be targeting a grittier type of player like Mike Grier.
I like the way he plays. He's big, rugged and will block shots. At 29 he is still fairly young and has a couple of 20 goal sesons in his resume.

[jkr]

They were talking about this again on Hot Stove. The reasoning is that that they want to strengthen their 2nd power play unit.

Apparently the leafs are interested in Bondra & Gonchar but I can't see waht they would have to give up to do that. Then again the source is Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. The guy has been reporting Bomk rumours for years and I don't think he has ever had anything right.

Davidson weighed in on this. Washington management is so relieved to get rid of Jagr's contract that future trades may be rethought. McPhee feels Bondra ,( extremely popular with Washington fans) Lang & Gonchar are key to the Caps future. Any deal for these guys will have to make real hockey sense & there won't be a salary dump.