Fed up after a slow start to the season, it appears as though Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray is ready to deal.
Following a tough practice on Wednesday which concluded with the players undergoing a "bag skate," Murray stated that changes may very well be on the way.
"It's up to all of us, this is a team," Murray told reporters. "It's not the coaches or players only, it's me doing anything I can."
Anything he can includes shipping players out of town, something that the general manager has already reportedly looked into.
"I've talked to a number of people, as I said," Murray said. "I talked to (Minnesota Wild general manager) Chuck Fletcher for a long time yesterday and said, 'can I help you, you help me' type of thing, so we're talking to management of other teams, trying to find if there is a need and possibility of making a move."
While a trade might not be the answer to all of the team's issues, Murray believes that a roster shakeup could serve a purpose.
"That's not always a solution, but maybe it sends a little message to our players," Murray said.
After an off-season of optimism that included the signing of Sergei Gonchar to a three-year deal, the Senators have underperformed on the ice and sit dead last in the Eastern Conference heading into action on Wednesday.
Making matters worse is a groin injury to starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire who had been the Sens' most consistent performer prior to his injury.
The team did make a move on Wednesday as they sent forward Zack Smith to Binghamton of the AHL and recalled defenceman David Hale. Murray admitted that the team's defence corps has been a problem so far this season.
"I think that we have a couple of young guys on the blueline who have really struggled to play their game and I think that it has become contagious," Murray said. "I can't say that one of our ‘D' have played to where I thought they would be."
The Senators will have a few days off before they get their opportunity to impress Murray as they do not play again until Friday when they travel to Buffalo to face the equally struggling Sabres.
