Schaefer

Peter Schaefer off to the Bruins for Shean Donovan. This was purely a salary cap move. I will miss many parts of Schaefer's game: incredible board work, way under-rated stickhandling skill, and two-way ability. That said, it wasn't quite worth $2.3MM/year. Murray was simply off-loading $6.7MM in salary over the next 3 years, in exchange for a $.9MM contract through next season. If Donovan doesn't impress, he was a cheap rental. Either way, the Sens are freeing up money. If not for Emery, surely for next year with Heatley becoming a UFA. Smart money would be to sign him soon. Personally, I would low ball Spezza with offers this year. See if he gets any RFA offer sheets. Spezza would likely command high salary and the Sens would get 4 first rounders as compensation. I would take that. In salary cap NHL, entry level players are key for long term success.