Gerber to be Waived, EDM Wants Fisher

Both from the Booboo:

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/Hockey/2009/01/11/7985441-sun.html

It
would appear G Martin Gerber's days with the Senators are close to
being over. The veteran netminder is expected to be placed on waivers
in the next couple of days if the Senators can't deal him. It's
believed there was mild interest from the Canucks earlier this season,
but they passed. Brian Elliott was recalled from Binghamton of the AHL
to start last night's game vs. the Rangers, with Alex Auld serving as
backup. Gerber, however, did take the pre-game skate and had been out
on the ice earlier with goaltending coach Eli Wilson.

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Hockey/2009/01/11/pf-7984086.html
The Oilers are eyeing the Senators for help at centre, but their No. 1 choice might not be Jason Spezza.
While league sources say the Oilers have a mild interest in
Ottawa's top centre, the man Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini really wants
in the middle is Mike Fisher.
Fisher has been struggling this season with only three goals in 35 games going into last night, after scoring 23 last season.
But the 28-year-old Fisher isn't one of the players the
Senators are looking to move -- despite his struggles and contract, an
average of $4.2 million (all terms US) for the next five seasons.
The Oilers wouldn't rule out bringing in Spezza, but his
seven-year, $49-million contract is tough to take on. Plus, Edmonton
would like to add a hard-nosed player, like Fisher.

The Ottawa Senators would have to be absolutely incompetent not to explore moving Fisher if there is interest.

The Gerber thing is just obvious.

So we're going to bury Gerber and then ride out the season with Auld and Elliott. Expensive for Melnyk, but I'm fine with that. Elliott will most likely be "the man" next year so maybe this is some good prep.

shabbs wrote:So we're going to bury Gerber and then ride out the season with Auld and Elliott. Expensive for Melnyk, but I'm fine with that. Elliott will most likely be "the man" next year so maybe this is some good prep.

Which tells me that the "Tank Army" will be sorely disappointed.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Which tells me that the "Tank Army" will be sorely disappointed.

Having Elliott ride out the rest of the season here is not a big enough change to make this team win. He is a piece of that but other things have to change before the wins start happening again.

ElliottRules wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Which tells me that the "Tank Army" will be sorely disappointed.

Having Elliott ride out the rest of the season here is not a big enough change to make this team win. He is a piece of that but other things have to change before the wins start happening again.

I was referring to the "expensive for Melnyk" part. He's not eating salary for this team to tank. Hence, other changes would be coming.

Why would we want to keep Fisher? We can't afford to pay someone top-4 money for that production.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Which tells me that the "Tank Army" will be sorely disappointed.

Having Elliott ride out the rest of the season here is not a big enough change to make this team win. He is a piece of that but other things have to change before the wins start happening again.

I was referring to the "expensive for Melnyk" part. He's not eating salary for this team to tank. Hence, other changes would be coming.

To make the playoffs in the 8th seed against Boston, we would have to replicate what the Detroit Red Wings did in the first half of the season.

Melnyk's a shrewd guy. I don't think he's truly dumb enough to maintain that this team is a playoff contender.

I think Garrioch is the one that wants to keep Fisher. The organization can't be that stupid.

asq2 wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Which tells me that the "Tank Army" will be sorely disappointed.

Having Elliott ride out the rest of the season here is not a big enough change to make this team win. He is a piece of that but other things have to change before the wins start happening again.

I was referring to the "expensive for Melnyk" part. He's not eating salary for this team to tank. Hence, other changes would be coming.

To make the playoffs in the 8th seed against Boston, we would have to replicate what the Detroit Red Wings did in the first half of the season.

Melnyk's a shrewd guy. I don't think he's truly dumb enough to maintain that this team is a playoff contender.

Then why would he sign off on burying Gerber's contract in the minors? I'd be shocked to find out that Eugene Melnyk doesn't want this season turned around somehow.

Interesting, I too just heard the Fisher to EDM rumor from someone within the OHL today.

asq2 wrote:Melnyk's a shrewd guy. I don't think he's truly dumb enough to maintain that this team is a playoff contender.

At this point, I'd guess that Melnyk's vision for making the playoffs is purely for additional revenue.

DashRiprock wrote:Interesting, I too just heard the Fisher to EDM rumor from someone within the OHL today.

Did that someone from the OHL hear it from Garrioch?

SeawaySensFan wrote:

DashRiprock wrote:Interesting, I too just heard the Fisher to EDM rumor from someone within the OHL today.

Did that someone from the OHL hear it from Garrioch?

Or read this thread?

shabbs wrote:

asq2 wrote:Melnyk's a shrewd guy. I don't think he's truly dumb enough to maintain that this team is a playoff contender.

At this point, I'd guess that Melnyk's vision for making the playoffs is purely for additional revenue.

I mean that he can't be stupid enough to believe that we can make the playoffs.

We'd have to go something like 30-11 the rest of the way just to get to face Boston.

asq2 wrote:

shabbs wrote:

asq2 wrote:Melnyk's a shrewd guy. I don't think he's truly dumb enough to maintain that this team is a playoff contender.

At this point, I'd guess that Melnyk's vision for making the playoffs is purely for additional revenue.

I mean that he can't be stupid enough to believe that we can make the playoffs.

We'd have to go something like 30-11 the rest of the way just to get to face Boston.

Well, after hearing the "top 4" comment... I suspect his delusion runs deep.