Silver Nuggets: Minor tweaks for the Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray pledged not to mortgage the future and to add complementary players to this team, and with the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline now past, he's proven himself good to his word.

The first move was picking up a solid depth goaltender, bringing in Ben Bishop from the St. Louis Blues for a second-round pick. Although Bishop is going to spend his first days in the organization with the Binghamton Senators, Murray expects him to see at least one or two starts for Ottawa in the coming weeks (unless Craig Anderson's healing powers are on par with Daniel Alfredsson's and he returns well before expected). As you must know by now, Bishop's the tallest goaltender in the history of the NHL at 6'7", and he's an effective shot-blocker who's been one of the best goalies in the AHL this season. He's also willing to fight Robin Lehner for the franchise's Next Top Goaltender (a reality program coming soon to a TV near you).

And yesterday just a little while before the deadline, Murray made his second move by acquiring Matt Gilroy from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Brian Lee. Although it didn't shore up the D-corps in terms of depth, it was likely an improvement--Gilroy is certainly more mobile and offensive than Lee, although he's not quite as sound defensively or physically. The book on Gilroy is that he's a smooth skater who will play in the team's top-five defence, maybe even top-four. He'll offer more options on the powerplay, and will be counted on to move the puck quickly and cleanly out of the defensive zone and up to the forwards.

It wasn't a busy deadline for Murray, but that's likely for the best considering the prices demanded for top players. He added a couple of players who could have a future with the organization, but who don't come with any long-term obligations if they don't work out.

Links after the jump.

Senators headlines:

• Prediction panel for tonight's game has most picking the Boston Bruins. (Senators Extra)
• Tonight's game might see some tempers flaring after 34-year-old Joe Corvo (who knows what it's like to "be a man") openly challenged 22-year-old Kyle Turris to a fight. (Boston Herald)
• Turris, of course, was not suspended for the "cheap shot." (News 1130)
• Milks looks at the Gilroy-Lee trade similar to the Craig Anderson-Brian Elliott trade from last year. (Black Aces)
• A look at the Bishop deal from Binghamton's perspective. (Press & Sun Bulletin)
• Erik Karlsson was the NHL's first star of last week. (THN)
• Be thankful that Don Brennan isn't the Sens' GM, as his prescription for improving the team was to "dump" Filip Kuba for-best-offer, whether that be "a middle-round pick" or "a good batch of sticks." (But he would have kept Brian Lee.) Because it's always wise to trade away your number-two defenceman who's also your top penalty-killer and get nothing back; winning strategy, right? (Sun)

Other headlines:

• A full list of the trades that happened yesterday. (TSN)
• Looking at the Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani for Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer trade: Die By The Blade, Nucks Misconduct
• Paul Gaustad and a fourth-rounder for a first-rounder: Die By The Blade, On The Forecheck
• Scott Howson is a terrible GM. For no discernible reason other than spite, he openly revealed that Rick Nash requested a trade from Columbus--thereby eliminating any possibility this relationship can be repaired, despite the fact that there's still over a month remaining in the season. (Puck Daddy)

And finally, here's Bryan Murray on his deadline day activity: