From: simpson@bnr.ca (Scott Simpson)
Subject: Re: Trade the #1 draft pick in 1993
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 18:00:35 GMT

In article <1992Nov23.005850.2922@mtroyal.ab.ca> caldwell8102@mtroyal.ab.ca writes:
>In article <1992Nov20.222428.9879@r-node.gts.org>, shadow@r-node.gts.org (Jay Chu) writes:
>> Did you know that Ottawa is in desparate need of a goalie?  They want
>> to have Mike Vernon of the Flames or Grant Fuhr of the Leafs.
>
>They probably want Vernon and Fuhr so bad they're wetting their pants, but
>there's no way in hell they can get them. Both golies will commands a first-
>line player in return, something that is in very short supply in Ottawa. Other
>than their first-round pick in '93, they've got nothing to offer. Their 2nd
>round pick, likely 25th overall, won't be enough, and the first pick is too
>much. Maybe Yashin. Calgary was high on him before the draft...
>
>								Alan

I, for one, strongly disagree that the Senators are "in desperate need of a 
goalie", nor are they "wetting their pants" for Fuhr or Vernon.

The *glaring* hole in the Senators' lineup is *offence*.  Yes, I realise our
GAA is over 5, but our GFA is barely at 2.  In 21 games, we've scored > 4 goals
exactly twice (our only win, 5-3 and a 7-4 loss) and in almost half of our games
we hold the opposition to 4 goals or less.  A quick glance at Tom Wilson's weekly 
stats show that four goals is usually enough to win a game (75%+).  No, I'm not 
saying we have premier goaltending.  It just looks good compared to the anemic 
lack of scoring punch the team posesses.

And, even though I think Sidorkiewicz is a fine netminder, Darrin Madeley is 
definitely the future of goaltending in this town and should be in the cycle
in a couple of years.  Why would Ottawa make a move to get an aging, past all-star 
goalie and give up on the future by giving away a huge prospect in Alexandre Daigle 
or Alexei Yashin?  It just doesn't make sense.  Even trading these young men for 
proven yet past-prime goal scorers would be a huge mistake, IMO.

The teams most interested in Fuhr or Vernon would be a team that thinks it
has a legitimate shot at the Cup *soon* and is strong everywhere but between
the pipes.  Ottawa is just trying to avoid the "worst-ever" label by reaching 
22 points.  And however likely it is that a better netminder might help us 
achieve this goal, it's minute compared to building a team for the future that 
can win a cup.

As upset and frustrated as I am with the team now (of course, I expected them
to lose most games, but not *every* game), I would certainly rather the team
continue the building process than get a quick fix that will ultimately return
nothing.

Anyway, that's just my opinion,
Scott
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