Senators Trade Rumors: Rob Blake to Ottawa?

Rob Blake traded to Ottawa...that could be a headline you read or hear soon enough.  As I have said Ottawa needs a gritty veteran to help bring home the hardware, and Blake surely fits the roll and could be the final piece of the puzzle for the Sens.  Rob Blake admitted to the Los Angeles Times that it's looking more likely for the Kings to make some deals before the deadline.  The veteran defenseman has a no-trade clause, but is an unrestricted free agent at season's end, is playing his best hockey of the season and could be a real boost on the blue line for a contender.  It is also speculated that he[Blake] is willing to waive his clause to bid for a cup and return to LA the following season to be a leader and guide the new group of youngsters.

Now bandwagon Sens fans won't really be enlightened nor will they understand or care about the value and importance a player like Blake would bring to Ottawa.  This team has yet to pull the trigger at the deadline in order to fill the role they obviously need filled.  Year after year you see players move for a playoff run to win a cup and further more you see teams willing to give up what it takes to acquire these players in order to win the elusive Stanley Cup.

When you look at some of the deadline deals that have been made over the years, teams have fared well.  Who can forget about the 1980 deadline deal that saw the New York Islanders acquire centre man Robert "Butch" Goring from the Los Angeles Kings for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis.  To this day, Hall of Fame goaltender Billy Smith credits Goring with being the single most important player on the Islanders dynasty roster that also included Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier.  Or more recently how about the 2006 cup winners who traded to get Mark Recchi.  Sure there are years that trades don't work out, and no I don't think the Sens should make a last resort trade at deadline, but c'mon, for the last 5 or so years the Sens are picked as THE or one of the favorites to win the cup and every year there's another reason or excuse as to why they haven't.  All I'm saying is, sitting on there hands leading up to and during the deadline hasn't done anything for them, so why not change the strategy?  The core is there, now let's tweak it and make a small addition in order to take that next step. 

The bottom line is this team is running out of chances and time to get it done, this isn't Toronto, where there is an endless supply of wishful fans willing to pay top dollar with the same result, eventually fans in Ottawa will demand a Cup or ticket sales will plummet.  I think it's time the glory years return to Ottawa, someone should maybe take this group to the NHL Hall of Fame or make them read the banners or do something to show they have a history and legacy to the Cup.  In case everyone including those that dawn the Sens jersey doesn't know, realise or has forgotten let's review.  1903, 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1920, 1921, 1923, & 1927, not sure what they are?  The years that Ottawa won the cup, so lets take a good hard look back for the last time, and get this group to make everyone look at the now and the future, we have a chance, lets not start but failing to pull the trigger on what this group obviously needs, someone to lead them, that has the respect and experience to help win the Cup.

Personally I'd welcome Mr. Blake with open arms, and start engraving our names on the Cup.

GO SENS GO!!