Senators Acquire Comrie and Campoli

[Thrillhouse]

OTTAWA – Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the club has acquired centre Mike Comrie and defenceman Chris Campoli, eight- and four-year NHL veterans respectively, in exchange for centre Dean McAmmond and the San Jose Sharks’ 2009 first-round draft pick, obtained from the Tampa Bay Lightning in August 2008.

Comrie, 28, returns to the Senators, having played 61 games during the 2006-07 season, including 20 playoff meetings en route to the Stanley Cup final. Ottawa had acquired Comrie from the Phoenix Coyotes on Jan. 3, 2007, for centre Alexei Kaigorodov. He had 13 goals, 12 assists and 24 penalty minutes in 41 regular-season games with the Senators, as well as six points (2-4) and 17 penalty minutes in 20 post-season meetings.

In 41 games this season with the Islanders, Comrie has seven goals, 13 assists and 26 penalty minutes. The Edmonton native has recorded five two-point games. He missed 17 games in November due to a hip injury.

In 503 career NHL games, Comrie has registered 151 goals, 180 assists and 389 penalty minutes with the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Senators and Islanders. He was originally drafted by the Oilers in the third round, 91st overall, of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Campoli, 24, is in his fourth season in the NHL and with the Islanders. In 51 games this season, the 6-foot, 190-pound defenceman has six goals, 17 assists and 43 penalty minutes. He has already tied a career season high with two game-winning goals and a shorthanded marker. Campoli has missed seven games to injuries.

Selected in the seventh round, 227th overall, in the 2004 entry draft, Campoli came to the New York club after playing the 2004-05 season with its American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 228 regular-season NHL career games, he has 83 points (20-63) and 128 penalty minutes.

Campoli played four seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters, serving as team captain in his last year.

McAmmond, 35, joined the Senators as a free agent in August 2006. In 916 regular-season games, the Grand Cache, Alta., native has 176 goals, 246 assists and 442 penalty minutes. In three seasons with the Senators, McAmmond recorded 26 goals, 32 assists and 56 penalty minutes over 193 games.

San Jose’s 2009 first-round draft pick that is included in the trade came from the Tampa Bay Lightning when they acquired Andrej Meszaros on Aug. 29, 2008, for Filip Kuba and Alexandre Picard.

[Thrillhouse]

Why would Ottawa do this? When I put my tinfoil hat on, it leads me to believe that Ottawa's trading Spezza.

[bigjohnson]

Yea, strange.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Why would Ottawa do this? When I put my tinfoil hat on, it leads me to believe that Ottawa trading Spezza.

interesting move, dont understand it myself. but i think they'll trade heatley before spezza.

[Isles4life]

I wouldn't have been surprised to see either guy dealt, but to Ottawa? That seems strange. When I read we got a first-rounder from them, I was ecstatic, but then I realized it was the Sharks pick, not the Sens. Too bad. That would have been an insane steal by Garth the other way around! Too bad the Islanders lost their enforcer in this trade.

I think Comrie was gone no matter what, but I am disappointed to see Campoli go. He hasn't had a great year, along with the rest of the team obviously, but I still think he's got a promising future as an offensive defenseman. And yes, the Islanders do have a couple of prospects who fit that mold as well, but Campoli was already an established NHLer. I would have liked to see him stick around as part of the rebuild. But, landing a first rounder, very late though it may be, isn't a terrible return. I would have preferred them to get some kind of prospect in addition back in this deal instead of just a 35-year-old, but I guess that would be asking too much of Garth.

[chilly666]

the problem with that idea is that ottawa doesnt have that much in bingo that could even help the isles. but yes i do agree that prospects are better than picks some of the time.

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by chilly666

the problem with that idea is that ottawa doesnt have that much in bingo that could even help the isles. but yes i do agree that prospects are better than picks some of the time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with that pick, but given the team's nightmarish drafting track record of recent years (granted, mostly during the Milbury tenure), they could easily f*ck things up.

[The DZA]

This has to be follow up to an oncoming deal, cause it makes NO sense.

Because if Bryan Murray honestly thinks the Sens are makin the playoffs, I want the same drugs he's on

[DannoDanger]

Good move by the Isles. They should be moving everything that's not nailed down. It's a long road back.

[canuckfan]

I thought Campoli was firmly in the Isles plans going forward?

My initial reaction is thinking "thats all they got for these 2?" New York may have gotten more for both guys, especially Comrie, if they had held on to him until closer to the deadline. Both these teams are looking for prospects and picks, but here the Isles get a 15 year veteran and a late first round pick, while the Sens land a good young d-man and another guy who's already been there, done that, in Ottawa. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure this deal out for both teams, but thus far I'm thinking Ottawa's got the edge just for landing Campoli - not sold on Comrie - he didn't do that great as a Senator the first time round.

I just thought Ottawa was looking to dump players like Comrie, and the Isles keep guys like Campoli. I guess this could be setting the stage for more things to come for both clubs - we'll just have to see.

[Grittzkey]

Why campoli.. i dont know much about him, But he's a young d-man i assume cheap too.. so why not have him as one of your building peices.

[papas1175]

look for comrie to be moved again, i don't see the point of giving up a late 1st rounder for comrie and campoli if your out of a playoff spot. If ott moves comrie in a decent deal then it makes sense, because campoli is worth at least a 3rd rounder. Comrie is worth a 2nd in a trade. Still makes you wonder why ott would give up a 1st. You have to think a team wanted comrie and the islanders wouldn't trade him to them. Watch ott spin him off to the rangers lol.

Good deal by snow tho, i hope for the islanders sake he stacks up on 1st and 2nd rounders and trades them for 2 or 3 1-10 picks in the draft. The islanders have enough depth time to draft some high talent.

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by The DZA

This has to be follow up to an oncoming deal, cause it makes NO sense.

Because if Bryan Murray honestly thinks the Sens are makin the playoffs, I want the same drugs he's on

I agree with DZA, I want the drugs that Murray's on. Maybe he's a pharmacutical test pilot for his boss. On its surface, I don't understand this trade. I think that Campoli may turn out to be better in the long run than Comrie will. I think that Comrie has been an underachiever in his career and Campoli has yet to prove anything yet. To give up a first rounder, whether its high or low, for this pair seems steep. Especially when you consider the enormous problems this franchise has, that first-rounder may have come in handy. They HAD BETTER be using this as a precursor to a bigger, more sensible deal.

[DaleHunter32]

oh bryan murray..... you sooooo crazy!!!!!!!!

[suckerpunch]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Why would Ottawa do this? When I put my tinfoil hat on, it leads me to believe that Ottawa's trading Spezza.

It flabbergasts me as well.

How is Comrie a replacement for Spezza?
4 million a year for a player of his stature doesn't fit into the Ottawa strategy, whatever that may be.....


Ottawa needs a good puck moving D-man....and they just got a rookie who might fit that bill in the long run, add to the mix Karlson and they might have the missing link. Comrie might have been a condition... who knows. The Sens have plenty of optional trade prospects besides Spezza.

I am thinking Vermette and Schubert or Fisher and Schubert are dangling.... but Comrie's salary is a real question mark.