The One That Got Away Comes Back To Haunt Senators

As the National Hockey League's trade deadline was approaching this past February, veteran Florida Panther left wing Gary Roberts weighed his options and "made it abundantly clear that he would only waive his no-trade clause for a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs or Ottawa Senators."

The Senators were looking to land the gritty winger to bolster their forward ranks for a deep playoff run. They knew what Roberts brings to the table come Springtime -- after all, as a Maple Leaf, Roberts had repeatedly tormented Ottawa in the playoffs.

As the Sens and Leafs closed in on Roberts, a new suitor swooped in and snagged him for themselves. That suitor, of course, was the Pittsburgh Penguins, and this afternoon Ottawa got a painful reminder of just what kind of playoff performer Gary Roberts is.

With the Pens down 2-1 early in the third period, Roberts banged home a loose puck in the slot to tie the game. Ottawa regained the lead minutes later, but it was short-lived as an aggressive forecheck by Michel Ouellet followed by a crushing hit by Roberts on Sens blueliner Wade Redden led to Jordan Staal's second goal of the playoffs and a 3-3 game. Ottawa would never regain the lead.

For the afternoon, Roberts tallied a goal and an assist (both in the third period and both with his Pens down a goal) and seven bruising hits. When Pittsburgh acquired Roberts, head coach Michel Therrien said of his newest player, "At 40 years old, you have to give that guy a lot of credit. He doesn't play for fun. He's playing for real." And he's playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Do you think Ottawa General Manager John Muckler is second guessing his decision to not pay Florida's price for Roberts? If not, he's the only person in the hockey world who isn't.