Music: {allcanada} Trade talks puts Phillips in wait-and-see mode

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

{allcanada} Trade talks puts Phillips in wait-and-see mode

A little less than four years ago, Chris Phillips (notes) felt the same uncertainty.

His contract was expiring and he didn't know whether the Ottawa Senators wanted him or could even afford him. So he thought there was a chance they might trade him at the deadline to get something before he left town.

They didn't, of course, eventually signing him to a four-year, $14-million deal.

But now, as that contract expires, the uncertainty is back, but this time there is an added complication. As the team continues to fade from the playoff race, general manager Bryan Murray will have to decide when it is time to cut his losses and start shedding players who are due to become unrestricted free agents.

At 33, Phillips is not in the prime of his career, but he could help a playoff contender and might be one of the more marketable commodities on the team. And with a few young defencemen—in particular Jared Cowen (notes), David Rundblad and Patrick Wiercioch (notes)— expected to fight for spots on the roster next year, he might be expendable.

Phillips, of course, had always hoped he would finish his career as a Senator, but he understands the business. He has heard the whispers and will have to think about what to say when and if Murray asks him to waive his no-movement clause.

"I hadn't really given any thought to it, but obviously, at some point, there's going to have to be some communication between myself and the team to see what their plans are, what my plans are, where I sit in the future, all that kind of stuff," he said Monday.

"I really don't want to speculate on stuff that could potentially happen, that might not even be an option for me. I guess we'll see what happens after that point when there is some talk. It's a different situation for me, talking about it and it being a possibility, but it's part of the game."

However, this season Phillips at least has the security of his no-movement clause.

"It's a unique situation," he said. "I don't know what's going to happen. There's lots of possibilities, asking you to waive it, or maybe they have offers on the table. Who knows? … I'm realistic enough to know those are possibilities, but they're not with me 24/7."

Phillips, of course, won't be the only one Murray tries to unload if the team continues to go south. The word is that he has already been trying to trade Jarkko Ruutu (notes) and Alex Kovalev (notes), both set to be unrestricted free agents, and that teams have expressed an interest in 30-year-old Mike Fisher (notes). The drawback with Fisher, though, is that he has two years left on his contract at a cap hit of $4.2 million per year. The same with 26-yearold Milan Michalek (notes). He's having a lousy year and he still has three years left at a $4.33-million cap hit per year.

Murray would love to trade Pascal Leclaire (notes), who is also set to become an unrestricted free agent. But Leclaire remains out with a lower-body injury and there's no indication when he will even be ready to serve as a backup.

So when would a Sens garage sale begin? A good guess would be at the end of January, after the all-star break.

The Senators have 10 games left before the NHL All-Star Game. If they were to go on a run that nets them, say, 15 of 20 points, Murray would likely hold off on making deals.

Senators Notebook

The team got some good news about its two injured players. Jason Spezza's (notes) right shoulder does not appear as if it will require surgery and he could be back in four to six weeks. Coach Cory Clouston said the initial diagnosis had Spezza being out for a lot longer, but he seems to be getting better every day. The exact nature of the injury isn't clear, but it is thought to be along the lines of a separated shoulder. Leclaire, out with a lower-body injury, continues to work out apart from the team with Chris Schwarz, the team's conditioning coach. Clouston hopes Leclaire can rejoin the team for practice today, and that he can accompany the team to Chicago for Friday's game against the Blackhawks. … Kovalev missed practice on Monday. Most of that was for maintenance, but Clouston hinted that Kovalev is not entirely healthy. … With a day off Sunday, Nick Foligno (notes) drove to Buffalo to watch his younger brother, Marcus, play for Canada against Switzerland at the world juniors. "It was pretty cool to see his face," Nick said. "I was just really happy for his success. … I couldn't be more proud of what he has accomplished."