With the future of Clarke MacArthur in both the long term and short term, there is a gaping hole in the Senators top 6 forwards that they have yet to fill, and haven't found the answer internally, whether it be Shane Prince, Matt Puempel, Alex Chiasson, Curtis Lazar or Milan Michalek.

There have been trade rumours and wishful thinking (Matt Duchene, Patrick Marleau) but the cost of those players are pretty substantial and prohibitive. However, there is one name out there who might be a fit.

Mike Richards.

I know there is a risk involved and he has certainly had his off-ice issues in the past year, and his game has deteriorated somewhat. Are the two intertwined or mutually exclusive? Nobody really knows for sure.

Richards had the reputation for being a fierce competitor and good leader, and up until a couple of years ago, an offensive contributor. Last season was a writeoff for him as he was sent to the AHL, set to be bought out and subsequent legal troubles had his contract terminated by the Kings. There was an agreement made upon appeal so Richards got some amount of money out of the Kings in the settlement.

In a world full of second chances, getting caught at the border trying to bring painkillers across is hardly a mistake worthy of a life sentence and lessons can be learned.

Richards has been skating with his former OHL club, the Kitchener Rangers, and waiting for an opportunity to get back into the league. I don't know if he has or not, but perhaps this is a door that Bryan Murray should knock on.

I would think all Richards is looking for is a chance, and he would probably sign a near minimum contract at this point for that chance to prove he is still a viable commodity. I had a ton of respect for the player he was, and the leader he was that I would welcome him back if I was convinced upon meeting with him that his head and heart are in the right place.

While making an impact trade would pose a risk for the future, this would be almost a no-risk signing where if it didn't work out there would be little downside as they could waive him to Bingo or even mutually terminating the contract.

This is a 30 year old who might not still be at the top of his game, but should be plenty motivated to correct things in his life and career. Whether he can still fill a top 6 role given the way things went downhill in LA is certainly a question, but if you can have Mike Richards on your third or 4th line for less than $1M I would jump at that in a heartbeat.

And if it does work out, all the better and he might be inclined to stay because Ottawa was the team that got him back to the league.


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ON LAZAR & HIS ROLE

Speaking of centers and an ability to fill a role, more and more I think Curtis Lazar should be in Binghamton. I said it before the season started, and I hold true to that theory.

At this point in time, Lazar is a solid NHLer who fills a role on the third line and PK, and occassionaly on the second power play unit. His problem is his versatility, and he can literally play anywhere in the lineup and does based on need on any given night so much that he should have the nickname Slash (LW/C/RW).

The Senators seem to think that they can develop his offensive game on the fly, which is not something I necessarily agree with. Not that there is anything wrong with the game he plays now but I think the offensive expectations are higher. He is still just 20 years old and that may come, but I believe playing top line minutes in the AHL, along with prime power play time learning through experience instead of osmosis how to play an offensive game as a pro would benefit himself and the Senators in the long term.

He was not drafted in the first round with the intent of being a checker. He obviously has offensive ability that just hasn't translated to the NHL, yet, and he is still young. And it might never get there, because there have been tons of junior scorers that don't do it at the next level for a variety of reasons.

The problem is Lazar is straddling the line between being too valuable to send down and having that be the best thing for the team and player in the long term. When I think of Lazar I also think of a guy like Sean Couturier, a player who is a couple of years ahead of Lazar but a guy I am sure they wanted more out of offensively than they are getting regardless of what he contributes defensively. Checkers are a dime a dozen, but there is a reason that guys who put up points get paid accordingly - they just aren't that common.

Yes, Lazar was loaned to Team Canada last year partly as an attempt to get his scoring confidence and it didn't pay immediate dividends. It is not the same as this because that was a pressure filled environment and a short stint. That was great for his character and leadership areas, but not so much in the skill area

Sending him to Binghamton to play against other pros, playing in the role he may be able to fill over a longer term in the NHL, where he can learn the nuances and the tricks of the trade can only benefit the player. And by that also benefit the team.

Lazar admitted himself that it has been difficult waking up in the morning not knowing what his role will be on any given day. And while that is a valuable commodity I don't think that is developing him properly.

The Senators need to do it the right way, and I believe his learning curve would be quicker and he will reach his prime faster with a few months in Bingo, to become a center not just a player. Last season they didn't really have a choice, which is too bad. It might be tough to take, but he usually takes things in stride and I think Lazar would probably welcome the challenge. He doesn't strike me as the type of player to sulk over a temporary demotion because he probably thinks he can do more as well and if this is what it would take to get him to that point then so be it. At least he would know his role.

Lazar is an NHL player right now, no doubt about it. But he isn't the difference between them being a contender or a pretender. Basically right now he is Erik Condra...with more upside. The fact is I would think they want him to reach that upside at some point.

Even if Lazar doesn't end up ever being a go-to offensive player, they will still have what they have and that is a pretty darn good third liner and character leader. At least they wouldn't have to look back and wonder "what if?" if they were to take the steps to develop him properly.

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