Avs, Sens Swap Goaltenders

The Ottawa Senators have been dumping players left and right over the past few days in an effort to begin the rebuilding process that should keep the Senators out of the playoffs for the next few years. Their latest departure comes in the form of goaltender Brian Elliot, who heads to the Avalanche in a straight up one-for-one deal that has Craig Anderson coming back to Ottawa.

The Senators realized that Elliot was simply never going to emerge as their bonafide No. 1 goaltending option. The 25-year old is struggling in his third NHL season with a goals against average at 3.19 and a save percentage clip at .894. Perhaps it was just the way things were going to go with anybody sporting a Senators jersey. But the time came for general manager Bryan Murray to cut ties with the team's ninth round pick from 2003.

Murray received Anderson in return. Anderson was a journeyman backup goalie for most of his NHL, but he came out of nowhere last season with a tremendous overall campaign in his first year as a free agent pickup with the Avalanche. He played over 70 games with Colorado in 2009-10, sporting a 2.63 goals against average and .917 save percentage as he backstopped the Avs into the playoffs.

But he hasn't brought upon that same type of magic this season. The Avs are very much on the outside looking in on the playoffs picture, and his statistics similar to those of Elliot in 33 games this year have not helped.

For Murray, this is an opportunity to get rid of a goalie that he didn't feel would ever live up to the expectation of starter and bring in a more veteran presence who had at one point showed the ability to be a No. 1. If things work out, Murray could re-sign Anderson over the offseason at what would likely be a very reasonable rate.

"The good thing about it is we get a chance for 20-something games to look and watch (Anderson) and, during that time period, I would think that we'll have discussions and we'll see where we want to be and where he wants to be," Murray said.