Should I stay or Should I go?

well, besides referencing a wicked song from one of my all-time favorite bands, The Clash, I'm sure this very question is bouncing around the minds of Antoine Vermette and Andrej Meszaros. And of course since it seems like this has been dragging on forever, the trade rumors continue to rear their collective heads.

So far, I've heard Vermette for Kubina (I don't see this happening personally, but hey, I didn't see Ruutu coming here either so who knew), Vermette for Bieska; Vermette, Mezaros, Nikulin and a 2nd in '09 for Bowmeester, etc... Oh yeah, you name it, the more outlandish the rumor, it's certainly surfaced somewhere in the past few weeks.

Some will say that Murray waited too damn long, and now he's going to have to suck it up and pay; while others are theorizing since Mezie has received no offer sheets, perhaps none are forthcoming??

I tend to think and agree with a few friends of mine (Shout out to Heater, Jamvan, Cap'n', Jordo and MurderonIce) that Vermette may very well crack before next week, specifically the 31st, and sign a long-term deal. I'm sure Vermette's agent has Antoine convinced he'll be awarded something like $4 - $5M a year; but I think a more realistic number would $3.2 - $3.7 at the MOST!! Either way, I think Vermette has been given some bad advice by his agent and hopefully, as I'm sure we'll all see him signed and or traded within the next 3-5 days TOPS, this whole situation will eventually come full circle, and then, like that, it is done.

Now Mezie is another matter. He could very well wait it out and force Murray's hand for something like $3.5 to $4.2M'ish over a long-term stretch; plus his agent is bargaining with an offer for mezie to sign in the KHL and join his buddy Emery as well, so this situation is far from over.

Now, I am of the mindset that if both can be retained to cap-friendly #'s, then perhaps Murray should just ink them and move on. It's like that ol' Kenny Rogers' tune: "you got to know when to hold 'em... Know when to fold 'em..." Needless to say, Murray, Vermette and Mezie are in a game of chicken, and although I've heard some interesting trade proposals over the past few weeks, I happen to know for a FACT that Murray has a plan B, C and possible D & E in place on the chance that a deal cannot be worked out and he can trade both and get a substantial but fair return for both.

What do you think? Should the Sens keep Vermette and Mezie, or one or the other or neither?
It's a tough decision, so I can only imagine how Murray feels... poor bastard!

I'll go on the record and say that if I had to choose between a young and still developing and learning D man, and an all-around center who can pot approx. 20 goals, play on the PK, play on PP, win face-offs and skate like the wind... Well, the choice is quite clear...

I'll be back with an update and rumors later this week or weekend...

Lates,