2004 deal haunts 2008 Sens

Ottawa -- Who could ever imagine the type of impact a trade could have 4 years after the fact. A massive trade between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers several years ago is being felt on the ice in this years Eastern Conference Final.

The blockbuster deal was as follows:

July 22, 2004 – Florida//Ottawa Trade:

TO FLA: Jason Spezza, Patrick Lalime, Igor Mirnov (prospect), Patrick Eaves (prospect) & Year 2006: OTT 4 (traded to NASH on 01/22/06)

TO OTT: Roberto Luongo & Year 2005: FLA 1

The trade involved some big names moving around. Jason Spezza and Roberto Luongo are Franchise changing type of athletes.

The early returns on this deal were pretty one sided as the Senators won back to back Presidents Trophies in '04-05 and '05-06. The Sens are still a major force in the NsHL as their march to the Eastern Final showed this season.

Luongo is now in Los Angeles and has his team two games away from a birth in the Championship Series.

In the long term this trade is proving to be quite a problem for the Senators. Lalime (a trade throw-in) is currently backstopping the Panthers to a series win over the Sens. Lalime has faced 97 shots in the Eastern Final and stopped 92 of them. He's been the main difference in this series as he outplays the goalie tandem in Ottawa.

Jason Spezza is also making life very tough on his former team. Spezza plays on the number one line for Florida and they've produced two of the three game winners against Ottawa in this East Final.

Panthers current management spoke out about the trade after practise today. "The current administration owes a great deal to the previous GM. The deal has helped build the Franchise to its point today. We recognize the potential in Spezza and felt great to have him in the organization. Patrick and Jason are key ingredients to every thing we've accomplished to date and we hope they continue to make life miserable for their former mates."

The Panthers hope to continue to frustrate the Sens and the rest of the NsHL with Spezza and Lalime leading the way.