Late Friday night the Andrej Meszaros mini-series came to its dramatic conclusion when the Ottawa Senators sent the restricted free agent to Tampa Bay in exchange for defensemen Filip Kuba and Alexandre Picard and a first round pick. The Bolts wasted no time signing the 22-year-old rearguard to a six-year/$4 million deal and over-selling their new acquisition to anyone within earshot:"Andrej is an elite player ... no doubt about it," [Bolts vice president of hockey operations Brian] Lawton said.Really? Elite? Let's take a closer look at that assertion.
Senators GM Bryan Murray referred to Meszaros' play over the past two seasons as "[leaving] a lot to be desired" (not something you typically hear of the game's top defensemen), and the numbers certainly represent something a lot closer to "pretty good player" than "time to adjust the game plan, we're facing Andrej Meszaros tonight" -- Meszaros finished last season 25th among the League's defensemen in scoring and 68th in that group in plus/minus. He was 80th in ice time, 35th in power-play scoring and 100th in shooting percentage.
Perhaps someday Andrej Meszaros will be an elite player (of course, so too might Alex Picard or the player Ottawa selects with that first round draft pick). But to call Meszaros, a blueliner who has yet to have 40 points in an NHL season or play in an All-Star Game, an "elite player" doesn't pass the laugh test. Then again, what would a circus be without laughter?
Check out Puck Daddy for much more on the trade.
