Official Ottawa Senators Thread
- Thread starter Madferret
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Sucker Punch
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Madferret said:
Unless we plan on icing 14 forwards and going with 4 defensemen, I don't get it.
He's a servicable 2nd/3rd liner when he's healthy (which is never), but we've got about 12 guys that fit that role. I'd rather have Stone/Silfverberg playing there than him.
I also think we need to bring back Konopka, which I wouldn't have counted on before the playoffs started. There's gonna be a few deserving forwards riding buses in Bingo next year, I think.
Sucker Punch
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Deebo said:
Yeah, he's signed on for another year.
I've pretty much written him off. I don't regret taking a shot at him, but I don't see the NHL in his future. Heck, he went from the NHL, to the AHL, to the KHL, then was demoted to the KHL junior league, was a healthy scratch, and torn up by his coach in Russia this year.
He's now an RFA, when do we lose his rights? We don't have to qualify him if he's signed in Russia, right? If he somehow turns it around and wants another shot in the future, I'd give him a cheap one year deal. But I'm expecting his rights to expire and we never see him again.
Madferret
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Garrioch...Five Sens who could be traded
..tripe
..tripe
Sucker Punch
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Sounds like Kuba won't be returning. I'm not a huge fan, but he played damn well with Karlsson this season, and I see very little in our prospect pool or the FA market that could replace him.
Corn Flake
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hahahahaha.
Sucker Punch
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Madferret said:
He won't be missed. The guy had 2 good years, the first year he was with us, and the last, when he happened to be playing with the best defenseman in the league.
Madferret
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Sens Looking to Deal
It seems crazy to think that the NHL Entry Draft is now just two weeks away.
Last season it felt like Sens fans were talking draft for almost four months. With a return to the playoffs this year, and meaningful hockey played until the end of April, the off season is going to feel a little shorter this time around.
Depending on who you talk to, it could be a very busy draft weekend for the Ottawa Senators.
They are scheduled to pick at 15th but as you know, draft weekend can be a big time for trades and it sounds like the Sens may be looking to deal. In an interview with the Team 1200 on Wednesday, Tim Murray twice used the expression, "looking for a dance partner."
Speaking to the organization's strong prospect pool, Murray readily acknowledged that the team is in a position to trade quantity for quality. And while it may be jumping to conclusions a little bit, that sounds an awful lot like a Rick Nash type deal to me.
You can bet the Senators will at least explore that option leading up to and on Draft weekend.
Obviously the top priority for the team remains signing restricted free agent defenceman Erik Karlsson to a new contract. Murray also discussed this topic during his interview with the Team 1200 and even went so far as to suggest that the two sides already generally agree on the term of the deal.
People I have talked to speculate the "term" both sides agree on could be in the vicinity of three years. Should be interesting to see if the two sides settle on that kind of short term deal in the end.
A signing by the Colorado Avalanche yesterday afternoon raised some eye brows around the league. UFA to be David Jones inked a 4 year/$16 million deal with the Avalanche. The same David Jones that had 37 points last year. You can bet Nick Foligno and his agent were seeing dollar signs after that deal. Obviously the situation is a little different because Foligno is an RFA but you know that Jones contract will come up in negotiations.
It seems crazy to think that the NHL Entry Draft is now just two weeks away.
Last season it felt like Sens fans were talking draft for almost four months. With a return to the playoffs this year, and meaningful hockey played until the end of April, the off season is going to feel a little shorter this time around.
Depending on who you talk to, it could be a very busy draft weekend for the Ottawa Senators.
They are scheduled to pick at 15th but as you know, draft weekend can be a big time for trades and it sounds like the Sens may be looking to deal. In an interview with the Team 1200 on Wednesday, Tim Murray twice used the expression, "looking for a dance partner."
Speaking to the organization's strong prospect pool, Murray readily acknowledged that the team is in a position to trade quantity for quality. And while it may be jumping to conclusions a little bit, that sounds an awful lot like a Rick Nash type deal to me.
You can bet the Senators will at least explore that option leading up to and on Draft weekend.
Obviously the top priority for the team remains signing restricted free agent defenceman Erik Karlsson to a new contract. Murray also discussed this topic during his interview with the Team 1200 and even went so far as to suggest that the two sides already generally agree on the term of the deal.
People I have talked to speculate the "term" both sides agree on could be in the vicinity of three years. Should be interesting to see if the two sides settle on that kind of short term deal in the end.
A signing by the Colorado Avalanche yesterday afternoon raised some eye brows around the league. UFA to be David Jones inked a 4 year/$16 million deal with the Avalanche. The same David Jones that had 37 points last year. You can bet Nick Foligno and his agent were seeing dollar signs after that deal. Obviously the situation is a little different because Foligno is an RFA but you know that Jones contract will come up in negotiations.
Madferret
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Not sure about Nash as Melnyk was pretty adamant about not spending a ton of $ this summer...should be an interesting draft though...Sebastian Collberg is who the mock drafts have us taking at #15:
Madferret
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Big Rig Brewery set to open June 11
The vats are in, more than 2,500 bottles have arrived, and in one corner of the brewhouse you?ll find 55-pound sacks of malted barley just waiting for the right moment. The good news is, brewmaster Lon Ladell expects to make his first batch of Big Rig Brewery pub beer on Tuesday.
big rig gold final 01 Sneak preview: Big Rig Brewery set to open June 11The brew pub itself will be open for business on June 11.
At least, that?s the latest info I got Wednesday when I dropped by the much-anticipated brew pub now under construction at iris Street and Greenbank Road, a stone?s throw away from the new mega Ikea store.
Regular readers may recall I blogged about the brew pub in March. The pub takes its name from one of the principal investors, Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips a.k.a. Big Rig, who?s so excited he plans to grow hops and maybe barley for the pub on his farm in Manotick....MORE
The vats are in, more than 2,500 bottles have arrived, and in one corner of the brewhouse you?ll find 55-pound sacks of malted barley just waiting for the right moment. The good news is, brewmaster Lon Ladell expects to make his first batch of Big Rig Brewery pub beer on Tuesday.
big rig gold final 01 Sneak preview: Big Rig Brewery set to open June 11The brew pub itself will be open for business on June 11.
At least, that?s the latest info I got Wednesday when I dropped by the much-anticipated brew pub now under construction at iris Street and Greenbank Road, a stone?s throw away from the new mega Ikea store.
Regular readers may recall I blogged about the brew pub in March. The pub takes its name from one of the principal investors, Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips a.k.a. Big Rig, who?s so excited he plans to grow hops and maybe barley for the pub on his farm in Manotick....MORE
Madferret
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On with the show for Sens
Time to get down to business.
The Los Angeles Kings are Stanley Cup champs, so the off-season has begun (Here?s hoping a new CBA gets hammered out in time for training camp in September).
With the NHL draft set for June 22-23 in Pittsburgh, Senators GM Bryan Murray has a lot on his plate before free agency begins on July 1.
Here are a few areas that will grab Murray?s attention over the next couple of weeks:
ALFIE'S FUTURE
Captain Daniel Alfredsson will likely make a decision on his future before Canada Day. The 39-year-old has resumed working out and will head to Sweden once his kids are out of school for the summer.
The Senators won?t push Alfredsson for a decision. Murray has told Alfredsson he?d like him back and left it at that.
Alfredsson, who has one year left on his contract, was one of Ottawa?s best players this season, posting 27 goals and 32 assists in 75 games. With those numbers, Alfredsson could play a couple of more seasons.
KARLSSON?S CONTRACT
The Senators are expected to table an offer to this season?s top-scoring blueliner in the next week.
Since Murray and Erik Karlsson?s agent Craig Oster are both headed to the NHL Awards next week in Las Vegas, don?t be surprised if they just sit down for a face-to-face meeting there to try to hammer out a deal.
It shouldn?t be a surprise that the Senators haven?t put their first offer on the table to the 21-year-old Karlsson, who is coming off a 78-point season.
The reality is there isn?t any rush.
The threat of an offer sheet exists, but the Senators would match if somebody throws a boatload of money at Karlsson.
The sides have pretty much agreed on term, now they have to work out cash.
FREE AGENTS
Sources say the Senators have already informed defenceman Matt Gilroy he won?t be back. Dealt here at the deadline from Tampa, it didn?t work out for either side and he will move on.
Blueliner Filip Kuba is all but gone. He can sign with Ottawa if he wants to take a pay cut to the $3-million range. That?s not going to happen, so he?ll hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.
The Senators have expressed an interest in keeping rugged defenceman Matt Carkner and centre Jesse Winchester. Both are waiting for offers.
In Carkner?s case, he could be attractive on the open market.
That leaves centre Zenon Konopka. He?d like to return and did a top-notch job in the playoffs. He could be a guy the Senators ask to wait until after July 1 before making a decision on his future here.
THE DRAFT
Murray and his staff will meet with the media later this week to discuss the draft.
The Senators hold the 15th pick in the first round.
Murray is confident they?ll be able to get some help with the selection, but wouldn?t rule out trying to move up.
?There are players (who are expected to be available at 15) that we certainly like,? said Murray. ?We feel at that position we should be able to get a player that is very useful and will be a guy that will play in the league for a number of years.?
Time to get down to business.
The Los Angeles Kings are Stanley Cup champs, so the off-season has begun (Here?s hoping a new CBA gets hammered out in time for training camp in September).
With the NHL draft set for June 22-23 in Pittsburgh, Senators GM Bryan Murray has a lot on his plate before free agency begins on July 1.
Here are a few areas that will grab Murray?s attention over the next couple of weeks:
ALFIE'S FUTURE
Captain Daniel Alfredsson will likely make a decision on his future before Canada Day. The 39-year-old has resumed working out and will head to Sweden once his kids are out of school for the summer.
The Senators won?t push Alfredsson for a decision. Murray has told Alfredsson he?d like him back and left it at that.
Alfredsson, who has one year left on his contract, was one of Ottawa?s best players this season, posting 27 goals and 32 assists in 75 games. With those numbers, Alfredsson could play a couple of more seasons.
KARLSSON?S CONTRACT
The Senators are expected to table an offer to this season?s top-scoring blueliner in the next week.
Since Murray and Erik Karlsson?s agent Craig Oster are both headed to the NHL Awards next week in Las Vegas, don?t be surprised if they just sit down for a face-to-face meeting there to try to hammer out a deal.
It shouldn?t be a surprise that the Senators haven?t put their first offer on the table to the 21-year-old Karlsson, who is coming off a 78-point season.
The reality is there isn?t any rush.
The threat of an offer sheet exists, but the Senators would match if somebody throws a boatload of money at Karlsson.
The sides have pretty much agreed on term, now they have to work out cash.
FREE AGENTS
Sources say the Senators have already informed defenceman Matt Gilroy he won?t be back. Dealt here at the deadline from Tampa, it didn?t work out for either side and he will move on.
Blueliner Filip Kuba is all but gone. He can sign with Ottawa if he wants to take a pay cut to the $3-million range. That?s not going to happen, so he?ll hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.
The Senators have expressed an interest in keeping rugged defenceman Matt Carkner and centre Jesse Winchester. Both are waiting for offers.
In Carkner?s case, he could be attractive on the open market.
That leaves centre Zenon Konopka. He?d like to return and did a top-notch job in the playoffs. He could be a guy the Senators ask to wait until after July 1 before making a decision on his future here.
THE DRAFT
Murray and his staff will meet with the media later this week to discuss the draft.
The Senators hold the 15th pick in the first round.
Murray is confident they?ll be able to get some help with the selection, but wouldn?t rule out trying to move up.
?There are players (who are expected to be available at 15) that we certainly like,? said Murray. ?We feel at that position we should be able to get a player that is very useful and will be a guy that will play in the league for a number of years.?
Madferret
New member
Sens GM keeping draft options open
GM Bryan Murray says he's 'open-minded' and not ruling out trades, other moves
Bryan Murray is ready to make some noise at the NHL draft. But he's good with staying quiet, too.
While he?d be happy to keep the 15th pick overall, the Senators GM said Thursday morning he?ll listen to all offers of moving up or down in the first-round selecting order. Murray also wouldn?t rule out trading one of his established stars if the right deal presents itself.
?One time many, many years ago, a reporter asked me (if anyone was untouchable) and then there was headlines the next day that I was going to trade Steve Yzerman,? Murray said of his days as GM of the Detroit Red Wings. ?So I?m not going to say that.
"There are people on this team that we?re not really interested in trading. But it may well happen that we would try to do something, to either add a player or a higher pick. We?re very open-minded. So if it gets out there that other managers would like to call, I?d be very open to that.?
Don?t assume the Senators will grab a defenceman with their first pick. Even though their first five picks last year were forwards - including three in the first round - Murray said he would stick with his philosophy of drafting the best player available.
Director of scouting Pierre Dorion expects says that will a good one.
?We?re going to get someone we feel is going to be a Top 4 defenceman or a Top 6 forward down the road,? said Dorion, who wouldn?t rule out taking a goalie in the first round. ?But picking 15th you know that player won?t probably play for you for another two or three years.?
Murray confirmed he has had preliminary contract talks with the agent for Erik Karlsson, who the Senators picked with the 15th selection four years ago. He expects to have further discussions with Craig Oster in Las Vegas, where Karlsson could be awarded the Norris Trophy, later this month.
Murray also said he has not heard from Daniel Alfredsson on the captain?s decision to retire or not, and reiterated he?ll will not push for one. Whenever Alfredsson announces his plans is all right with Murray.
GM Bryan Murray says he's 'open-minded' and not ruling out trades, other moves
Bryan Murray is ready to make some noise at the NHL draft. But he's good with staying quiet, too.
While he?d be happy to keep the 15th pick overall, the Senators GM said Thursday morning he?ll listen to all offers of moving up or down in the first-round selecting order. Murray also wouldn?t rule out trading one of his established stars if the right deal presents itself.
?One time many, many years ago, a reporter asked me (if anyone was untouchable) and then there was headlines the next day that I was going to trade Steve Yzerman,? Murray said of his days as GM of the Detroit Red Wings. ?So I?m not going to say that.
"There are people on this team that we?re not really interested in trading. But it may well happen that we would try to do something, to either add a player or a higher pick. We?re very open-minded. So if it gets out there that other managers would like to call, I?d be very open to that.?
Don?t assume the Senators will grab a defenceman with their first pick. Even though their first five picks last year were forwards - including three in the first round - Murray said he would stick with his philosophy of drafting the best player available.
Director of scouting Pierre Dorion expects says that will a good one.
?We?re going to get someone we feel is going to be a Top 4 defenceman or a Top 6 forward down the road,? said Dorion, who wouldn?t rule out taking a goalie in the first round. ?But picking 15th you know that player won?t probably play for you for another two or three years.?
Murray confirmed he has had preliminary contract talks with the agent for Erik Karlsson, who the Senators picked with the 15th selection four years ago. He expects to have further discussions with Craig Oster in Las Vegas, where Karlsson could be awarded the Norris Trophy, later this month.
Murray also said he has not heard from Daniel Alfredsson on the captain?s decision to retire or not, and reiterated he?ll will not push for one. Whenever Alfredsson announces his plans is all right with Murray.
Madferret
New member
General Manager: Bryan Murray
Top Draft Position: No. 15 Overall
Recent First Round Picks: C Mika Zibanejad (2011), D Jared Cowen (2009), D Erik Karlsson (2008), C Jim O'Brien (2007), LW Nick Foligno (2006), D Brian Lee (2005), D Andrej Meszaros (2004).
Overview: Many Senators fans continue to pinch themselves to confirm that last season did in fact happen and was not all a dream. In a year when most pundits picked Ottawa to finish dead last in the Eastern Conference, if not the league, they managed to stay competitive all year, briefly challenge for the division title and hold on for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
Since it was supposed to be a re-building year, the Senators' prospect cupboard is quite well-stocked as youngsters such as Jared Cowen, Bobby Butler, Kaspars Daugavins and Zack Smith were all able to make key contributions. In his nine-game stint, 2011 first-round pick Mika Zibanejad showed flashes of offensive talent, but also that he needed to work on his game further.
Mark Stone and Jakob Silfverberg also got a taste of life in the big leagues as they saw action in the first round of the playoffs against the New York Rangers.
Short Term Needs: Despite the fact that he played like he was 10 years his junior in the playoffs, Daniel Alfredsson is 39-years old and in the back nine of what has been a wonderful career. Full seasons from Zibanejad, Stone and Sifverberg may help provide some of the offence needed to replace the greatest player in franchise history, but no one can replace his experience or leadership. The Sens may be well-served trading their first-round pick for another big veteran voice in the locker room. The good news is that if they choose to keep the pick, Ottawa has the opportunity to select the best available player at the 15 slot and are not boxed in by any pressing immediate needs.
Long Term Needs: With lots of offensive talent on display and even more on the way, few teams found the back of the net as often as the Senators last year. Unfortunately, few teams allowed as many goals as the Senators as well. They appear to be set in near for both the present (Craig Anderson) and the future (Ben Bishop/Robin Lehner), but the defence corps could use an added injection of youth. Cowen and Norris Trophy nominee Erik Karlsson are a step in the right direction, but veterans such as Chris Phillips, Sergei Gonchar and Filip Kuba will need to be replaced at some point. Since the 2012 draft class appears to be quite deep on the blue line, there is no time like the present to begin the re-stocking process.
Prospect Watch From Scott Cullen: The sixth overall pick last summer, Mika Zibanejad played nine games with the Senators before returning to Sweden for another season. The 19-year-old is a strong two-way talent and while he'll need time to develop, he could be ready for a full-time job as soon as next season. After scoring 54 points in 49 Swedish Elite League games, Jakob Silfverberg joined the Senators for a couple of playoff games. The 21-year-old was a second-round pick in 2009 and has grown into more of an offensive threat.
The Senators' second first-round pick last year, Stefan Noesen has been productive enough in two OHL seasons to think that he might ultimately find his way into a top six role, but seems safe to expect in a top-nine role if his offence doesn't develop in the pros.
A sixth-round pick in 2010, Mark Stone is a big winger with a scoring touch. His skating is a question mark, but after 229 points in his last two junior seasons and an assist in his one playoff games with the Senators, it does appear that Stone's size and scoring touch will overcome any skating questions.
Goaltender Robin Lehner played well (2.01 GAA, .935 SV%) in five games with Ottawa last season, but the 20-year-old's AHL numbers suggest that it wouldn't hurt him to spend more time growing in the minors and, with Ben Bishop signed, there is no reason to rush him.
Injuries have hampered Matt Puempel's development, but he did get healthy enough for nine late-season AHL games. Staying healthy for a full year of development in 2012-2013 should be goal No. 1.
Shane Prince is a pretty skilled player, and 178 points in 116 OHL games over the last two seasons is reason for hope that, with some time in the American League, he can dispell any concerns about his lack of size and strength.
A solid physical defenceman, Ottawa native Mark Borowiecki earned a couple of games with the Senators last season and might be able to compete for a job next season, but part of the reason for that is that Ottawa isn't exactly overrun with top defence prospects at the moment.
Patrick Wiercioch was expected to be one of the Senators' top defence prospects when he came out of Denver University a couple of years ago, but the 21-year-old likely needs some more time before he's considered for an NHL job.
A fourth-round pick in 2008, Andre Petersson was productive in his first year in North America, so the 21-year-old is at least worth watching for further improvement.
Centres Mike Hoffman and Stephane Da Costa are a couple more forwards that might be on the radar after relatively productive AHL seasons.