Gary Roberts is one. But everyone in Ottawa has waxed on about that for two weeks. So I won’t continue flogging.From day one, the Senators have needed a bona fide number one centre, ideally with a side order of grit. They still do. Let’s check the current crop of centremen in the organization.
Jason Spezza
Mike Fisher
Bryan Smolinski
Antoine Vermette
Todd White
Gregg Johnson (PeeDee-ECHL)
Chris Kelly
Charlie Stephens
Jan Bohac (IF Frisk Asker-Norway)
Alexei Kaigorodov (Magnitogorsk-Russia)
Matthew McIlvane (Chicago-USHL)
Igor Mirnov (Dynamo-Russia)
Alexaner Nikulin (CSKA-Russia)
Peter Regin (Herning-Denmark)
John Wikner (Frolunda Jr-Sweden)
Hmmm. Spezza is the only guy at that list with even a remote chance of claiming the top line centre’s job this season. I’m not sure dominating the AHL is in any way a guarantee he’s ready for NHL stardom.
That’s why I think the Sens should look at this 32 year old free agent name I came across. He’s 6 foot 5, 240 pounds. He has averaged well over a point a game in his career, highlighted by a Hart Trophy.
Let me introduce you to: Eric Lindros.
(I’ll give you a moment to either stifle your laughter or fully absorb my genius.)
Lindros is injury prone. There. I said it. Egg shell skull. Brain is goo. Whatever. But is there a player in the league who was better served by the time off than Lindros? Concussion-free for almost 20 months. What if he can stay healthy? You might be able to land a player with hall of fame skills for about a million dollars. Maybe even work in a games played incentive.One of three things would happen.
1) Lindros will be useless.
2) Lindros will be great but get caught with his head down. “Whammy!”
3) Lindros will stay healthy and be dominant.
It’s a nice “buy low” situation. Jason Allison and Peter Forsberg are other UFA centremen who, because of injury issues, will also sign for far below their potential value. They too would look great in an Ottawa uniform. Forsberg would be high end, Allison mid-level and Lindros bargain basement.
Tell me the name Lindros on the back of a Sens jersey wouldn’t sell a few seats at the Corel Centre.
Sound nuts? Well, in my opinion, the Sens are taking a far greater risk with 40 year old, injury prone, frustrating, and incredibly rusty Dominik Hasek, who admitted this week he kept in shape by playing, among other things, beach volleyball. If I take that gamble, I'd certainly roll the bones on Lindros.
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