Burrows, Oduya placed on waivers
The winds of change continued to blow through the Ottawa Senators’ dressing room Sunday afternoon.
With the NHL trade deadline set for 3 p.m. Monday, the Senators placed veteran forward Alex Burrows and defenceman Johnny Oduya on waivers at noon Sunday.
Though Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion has tried to deal both players with the deadline approaching, he hasn’t had any luck and the hope is now that a team might be enticed to take them off waivers by noon Monday without having to give up anything in return.
While it’s been well-documented the Senators were hoping to deal Oduya, the decision to put Burrows on waivers is a bit of a surprise.
Both players can still be dealt and sometimes waivers is a way to find out if there’s any interest because often teams call to find out why a team has placed a player on waivers.
With Burrows’ 10-game suspension for kneeing New Jersey ’s Taylor Hall in the head during a Feb. 6 game set to expire after the club’s visit to Washington on Tuesday night, the 36-year-old Burrows will find out Monday at noon if he’s been picked up by another club.
Since Burrows has another year at US$2.5 million left on his contract, it’s highly unlikely anybody would take him. If he isn’t taken, he’d be eligible to go to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville, but it’s doubtful that would happen because Burrows has been a good veteran for the team.
The reality is the Sens have decided to go younger, a decision that might force Burrows to consider retirement in the off-season.
Acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in a deal at last year’s deadline, Burrows played an important role down the stretch and through the run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, but he hasn’t had the kind of year anyone expected.
The Senators also signed centre Jim O’Brien to a two-year, two-way deal Sunday.