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Ottawa Senators Overpaid for Canucks F Alexandre Burrows

By Ryan Ritchie |
Dec 23, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks right wing Alexandre Burrows (14) skates during the warmup period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks right wing Alexandre Burrows (14) skates during the warmup period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Announced Monday, the Ottawa Senators have acquired 35-year-old veteran Alexandre Burrows from the Vancouver Canucks. The Sens gave up prospect Jonathan Dahlen while signing Burrows to a 2-year extension in the process.

With the NHL Trade Deadline less than 48 hours away, the Ottawa Senators are the latest team to get involved in the early action leading up to March 1st.

On Monday, the Sens acquired 35-year-old veteran Alexandre Burrows from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for prospect Jonathan Dahlen. It also seems that Ottawa was forced to offer Burrows a two-year contract extension in order to convince him to waive his no-trade.

Simply put, this is a disastrous deal for the Ottawa Senators. Sure, they retain Burrows at a decent cost of $2.5 million dollars/year over the next two seasons, but it’s hefty cost to pay for an aging winger.

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I get it, GM Pierre Dorion and Sens management wholeheartedly believe this team is good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup and that’s why they pulled the trigger. It’s the same reason they were willing to give up a bit of age in the Mika Zibanejad deal.

Sadly though, I don’t think this team is good enough, not right now at least.

Perhaps a guy like Thomas Chabot brings optimism for the future, but I just don’t see the Sens being taken seriously over the next two years.

Maybe I’m biased. After all, I had Jonathan Dahlen projected as a 2nd round pick in my mock drafts in 2016. Many folks reached out to me, asking whether or not I truly believed he could be taken that high. Obviously, the Senators agreed with me. And for good reason, the offensively skilled forward looked great on the international stage with Team Sweden at the World Juniors (six points in seven games). He’s also been tearing up the Allsvenskan (2nd tier Swedish league) in 2016-17 (42 pts in 44gp).

Long story short, the Sens are giving up a sure-fire NHLer, and a guy who could be an impact player somewhere down the road.

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I hope I’m wrong. I hope the Senators get exactly what they’re looking for from this deal by adding some skill and veteran leadership. I do fear how this deal could look a few years down the road, though. After all, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple early exits, which should leave fans wondering how they made such a monumental miscalculation about a team that was clearly not good enough in the first place.

But for now, we may just have to wait and see how this one plays out before making any final judgments.

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