Proven winner Murray could solve goalie woes for Sens

Pens puck stopper is on the trading block and Ottawa sorely needs a bonafide No. 1

When it comes to goaltenders, Ottawa’s NHL team has a large quantity. But quality? Of that, the Senators don’t appear to be so sure.

In the last eight years, the team has drafted six puck stoppers, including one in the second round and two in the third. In the last 2 1/2 years, it has also traded for two goalies.

So who will be the successor to Craig Anderson? Who is Ottawa’s goalie of the future?

It sure looks like general manager Pierre Dorion is throwing a lot of you know what against the wall in hopes that some will stick.

Of course, there’s another strategy he could take. Rather than going forward on a wing and a prayer, he could make another acquisition — this time not for promise (Filip Gustavsson) or a stopgap (Anders Nilsson), but for a bonafide No. 1.

Penguins GM Jim Rutherford says he’ll almost certainly move a goalie, either Matt Murray or Tristan Jarry, both of whom are restricted free agents.

Dorion should go after Murray, who is one year older than Jarry and coming off a deal that carried a Us$3.75-million cap hit. (Rutherford will probably want to keep Jarry, anyway. He’s cheaper and was a higher draft pick.)

They should make a pitch for Murray because he’s a proven winner. He has two Stanley Cup rings.

What will he cost? Dorion could start by offering that firstround pick he acquired in the Jean- Gabriel Pageau deal. He doesn’t really need it as much as he needs a goalie.

It’s nonsensical to be overflowing with all that high-end talent, like Ottawa will be, but then have a big ol’ question mark between the pipes.

TO THE POINT

One of the most well-liked coaches in the NHL, Claude Julien provided some good news on Wednesday when he vowed to be back behind the Montreal Canadiens bench next season. In fact, Julien, who left the bubble with what was feared to be a heart attack (he says it was a “malaise”), says he would have rejoined the Habs had they won Game 6 against Philadelphia.

“In the middle of the night I just woke up and didn’t feel right,” said Julien, per Sportsnet insider Eric Engels. “There was chest pains there and it really felt like it was heartburn. … I reached out to the trainer and we decided it was safer to go to the hospital … and they discovered I needed a stent.”

Julien says he’s been assured of a 100 per cent recovery by doctors.

BETWEEN PERIODS

Once upon a time, NHL stars were on a pedestal in society. When they were approached, it was by somebody asking for an autograph. When they spoke in public, people listened respectfully.

But times have changed. On Wednesday, San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture tweeted that in Toronto the previous night, he talked about voting for the Republican Party and mentioned Donald Trump by name.

“I was sucker punched,” said Couture. “Is this really what we are coming to? If you vote you are a villain? Man this world is so wrong.”

By dinner time, more than 7,000 people commented on Couture’s tweet. More than 11,000 retweeted. More than 33,000 liked.

Couture regretted what he had started.

“I am completely wrong for going public with my political views,” he tweeted later. “I understand now. The world is at a tipping point. A wise man once said nothing at all. That’s how we should all go about our business.”

Sad. Really sad.

ON THIS DATE

Exactly 28 years ago, the Habs obtained Vinny Damphousse from the Oilers for Shayne Corson and Brent Gilchrist. In Montreal, Damphousse had at least 38 goals and 90 points in four seasons and was also instrumental in the 1993 Stanley Cup win.

Corson mostly added some muscle for the Oilers in three seasons, while Gilchrist was gone after one year. Habs won the trade, going away.

Exactly 27 years ago, the Kings traded Marty Mcsorley to the Penguins for Shawn Mceachern. Six months later, the Penguins traded Mcsorley back to L.A., along with Jim Paek, for Mceachern and Tomas Sandstrom.