Just when Ottawa Senators fans thought it was safe to scroll Twitter again, word of an impending Alex Burrows buyout surfaced.
At times, it’s easy to feel some sympathy for Senators GM Pierre Dorion, as the team is clearly operating on a stringent budget. Such thoughts make it easier to understand all the gymnastics involved in the Kyle Turris - Matt Duchene trade, among other decisions that seem to blow up in Ottawa’s face.
This Burrows situation is a painful intersection for the Senators, on the other hand, as penny-pinching collides with unforced errors.
Error 1: Ottawa traded intriguing prospect Jonathan Dahlen to the Canucks for Burrows in February 2017.
Error 2: They immediately turned around and handed Burrows an extension, which they’re paying their way out of this summer. Giving Burrows another deal was already questionable, but being that it is a 35+ contract, that decision looks and looked even worse.
And that’s the thing. People were mocking this move from day one, yet like with many other questionable trades, it only gets worse as time goes along. Hockey Twitter will have a field deal here if Dahlen ends up enjoying a quality NHL run (he just finished another nice season in Sweden and a cup of coffee in the AHL).
Via Cap Friendly, Ottawa’s takeaway from buying out Burrows is a pittance, and really makes this situation more pathetic.
#Sens Alexandre Burrows is on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout. Since the contract is a 35+, the #Sens receive no cap hit savings; however, the club will save 1/3 of the remaining cost and free up a contract spot.https://t.co/0TPJMDK8ww pic.twitter.com/sO0HU2bLvg
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 26, 2018
In hindsight, it’s difficult to stifle a snicker at Dorion’s “elated” comments after landing Burrows.
“We’re elated,” Dorion said after the trade, via the Ottawa Citizen. “The best sign for me is when I have five key veterans in our locker-room come up and I think one wanted to hug me and the other (one) shook my hand and thought this was a great move for our organization.
(Ouch.)
As you’d expect, plenty of people are dunking on the Senators for their latest blunder.
looks like signing burrows to that contract was a case of the senators biting off more than they could chew
— Dan (@cultureoflosing) June 26, 2018
It will be interesting to see if Burrows, 37, lands with another NHL team (or plays overseas?). If he retires, the cantankerous winger would end his career having scored 409 points in 913 regular-season games and 39 points in 85 playoff contests. Not bad for an undrafted player.
But definitely a bad move by the Senators. They’ve had a knack for those, on and off the ice, recently.
James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.
