From Cloud9 Sports.  by Derek Braid

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With a new coach (John Paddock) and new GM (Brian Murray) at the helm in the Nations’ capitol, the Ottawa Senators are likely just catching their breath following their 4-0 start. Perhaps to no one’s surprise, they are being carried by their top line who has scored all but two of their goals landing Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson all amongst the top 5 scorers in the league. While all things are rosy for the reigning Eastern Conference champs in the infancy of the 07-08 season, things are due to heat up in the front office come the trade deadline.

Newly minted GM Brian Murray will face a slew of decisions that will undoubtedly impact the long term success of their organization. Several of their key players are pending restricted and unrestricted free agents making Murrays’ cozy office chair a proverbial hot seat. The focal point is the expensive unrestricted free agent defenseman Wade Redden, and restricted free agent Jason Spezza.

What must be considered when speaking of pending contract negotiation’s are those of other young stars, namely Jason Spezza, and the perennially underrated forwards Antoine Vermette and Patrick Eaves. Enforcer Brian McGrattan and defenseman Andrej Meszaros, can also be added to the list of players to become restricted free agents next summer, while All-Star defenseman Wade Redden is once again due for unrestricted FA talks.

How many teams will tender an offer sheet to Spezza (thats right, not might tender, but will)? Barring a outlandishly overweight RFA offer sheet, retaining Jason Spezza to play with Dany Heatley will be priority number one. Meszaros’ services will not come cheap either, and this is all in lieu of the negotiations with Redden, who in all likelihood will command the biggest piece of the pie.

Conclusion of article here…