From the Canadian Golf and Country Club, the site of this year's alumni tournament, Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer strode across the practice putting green with a smile before jumping into the air and clicking his heels.
It was a jovial sign of misdirection because as soon as he reached the edge of the green to meet with the assembled media, the owner, without provocation, began his address by taking issue with recent specific reports suggesting the organization was testing the market on forward Drake Batherson.
"We're at the (NHL prospect) combine, and apparently, we're trading Batherson," the visibly irritated Andlauer stated. "It's not right. You have to get your sources right. You can always validate it here, but it's not for me or Steve. To me, it's all about the player."
Hopefully, Andlauer saved some swings for the course.
One of the defining characteristics of Andlauer's short tenure as the Senators' owner has been his openness and genuine care for his employees and players. If he believes that someone has been wronged, he will put himself at the forefront of the issue to address it.
So, coming off a successful season in which his team reached the postseason, it is not surprising to see Andlauer personally step in and try to shelve any rumours that could adversely impact Batherson's offseason. Considering the importance of progress and the internal growth of this team's core, eliminating anything the players could perceive as negative or distracting is paramount.
The unfortunate part of rumours is that they will not go away. As closely as Steve Staios and his management group keep their cards close to their chest, the nature of the gossip industry is that the Senators cannot prevent agents and other organizations from leaking information.
Similarly, they cannot prevent other teams from calling and kicking tires on Drake Batherson's, or any other player's, availability.
For all the reasons that I outlined in yesterday's article on Batherson's reported availability, he is a valued asset for the Senators. There are only a handful of players who scored 20-plus goals and 60-plus points while tallying more than 100 hits. Batherson was one of those players this season, and the two years remaining on his deal that carries a modest $4.95 million cap hit will make the 27-year-old an asset that the Senators and the rest of the NHL value.
It is the second instance this season where the organization has had to dispel concerns about a player's future publicly. Earlier this season, the New York Post's Larry Brooks suggested the New York Rangers were targetting Brady Tkachuk in a trade, which prompted Staios to reach out to his team's captain to let him know the report was baseless.
Drake Batherson Doesn’t Belong Anywhere Near Ottawa's Trade Bait BoardThere's been quite a bit of dialogue over the past few days about Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson and potential trade talks around the league. According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, three NHL executives are out there telling people that Batherson is "a name to keep an eye on" as the NHL Draft approaches.
Just as he did then, Staios felt compelled to reach out to Batherson.
"It's not often that I do (that)," explained the general manager. "I know things get out there or are written, and that there's no truth to (the rumours).
"When it was written on back-to-back days, I was informed that it was out there a couple days in a row. I talk to our players often through the offseason anyway, but I just thought the timing was right to make sure that Drake knows that there's no truth to it."
It is a considerate gesture, but it also establishes a precedent. This organization simply should not have to respond to every rumour that circulates.
It is an unsustainable model.
What happens when the next rumour hits and the organization ignores it? Will that mean that it is true? Will the players infer that? Or worse, what happens if a general manager calls on Batherson and makes an offer the Senators cannot refuse?
The potential for an awkward situation is real, so despite how good the intentions and the soundbites are, it may serve the organization's best interests if they move forward by refusing to comment on rumours and speculation.
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Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News Ottawa
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