Senators' Legwand baffled by benching but not yet thinking trade

David Legwand isn't used to watching games from the press box.

That's exactly where the veteran of 1,022 NHL games found himself Thursday after being made a healthy scratch for a 6-3 loss to the Dallas Stars by Ottawa Senators head coach Dave Cameron.

Asked why he wasn't playing, Legwand admitted he had no idea, that he hadn't talked to the coach about the decision, and that he wasn't too pleased about the situation.

"Yeah obviously you want to play as much as you can and help the team. But obviously if I can't help the team, I probably shouldn't play," he told Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun. "Maybe that's what they're thinking, I don't know. Maybe you'll get an explanation later."

Cameron later alluded to the fact that Legwand's benching was due to inconsistent play. The center, who has another year at $3.5 million remaining on his deal with the club, has scored seven goals and added 12 assists in 45 games.

With the trade deadline approaching, Legwand confessed he hadn't thought about asking out of Ottawa, but didn't necessarily rule out playing that card, either.

"That's far away," he said. "Way too early to tell. Who knows what's going to happen? It's way too early to tell."

The trade deadline is set for March 2.