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Let’s fire up the “Dustin Penner to Ottawa” rumors

Columbus Blue Jackets v Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 01: Dustin Penner #25 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal for a 2-1 lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Staples Center on February 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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From Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun:

Much criticism and many jokes have been made about Dustin “Pancake” Penner, but it wouldn’t come as a shock if Senators GM Bryan Murray shows interest in the 6-foot-4, 240-pound (on a good day) Los Angeles winger when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The two have a history, and Penner is proving in these playoffs that he still has some game. The native of Winkler, Man. has two goals and five assists in nine post-season games, helping the Kings earn the first berth in the final four.

Some key points of the Penner-Sens correlation:

-- After going undrafted out of the University of Maine, Penner was inked to a free agent contract in 2004 by Anaheim’s GM...Bryan Murray.

-- In 2006-07, Penner scored 29 goals for Anaheim and eight points in 21 playoff games. The Ducks won the Cup that year by defeating the Senators, who were coached by...Bryan Murray.

-- “Don’t forget that in 2009, Murray had Penner included in a package he was getting for Dany Heatley,” Brennan writes. “Before the latter exorcised a clause in his contract and nixed the deal.”

-- Ottawa could use some size up front. The closest they’ve got to Penner’s 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame is Milan Michalek (6-2, 225) and Jason Spezza (6-3, 216).

-- Penner’s in the final year of a deal that pays $4.5 million annually and will almost certainly be taking a haircut as a UFA. The Sens could have as much as $37 million in available cap space.

Feel free to speculate and/or make IHOP jokes in the comments section.