from Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun,

The Senators and Marc Methot are just $300,000 per year apart in negotiations on a contract extension.

It seems to be either a very workable gap or an excuse for Ottawa to solve its blueline logjam by trading the veteran defenceman.

Methot is beginning to think the latter.

"It's at the stage where I'm really not comfortable that the team wants to do anything (on a new deal)," a disappointed Methot told the Sun Tuesday.

Entering the final season on a contract that has a $3 million cap hit and pays him a $3.75 million salary, Methot, an Ottawa native, is willing to sign up long term for what he feels is a "hometown discount."

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