(UPDATE 12:09 PM)- The Ottawa Sentors have announced that rookie defenceman Erik Karlsson has been assigned to the AHL team in Binghamton this afternoon.
I spent yesterday evening and this morning doing some digging to see if there was anything to the Senators apparent interest in Hawks defenceman Brian Campbell.
The consensus among those that I spoke with is that there is just no way the Senators could fit that contract in at this point. Murray is obviously a fan of Campbell's but certainly not to the point where he could fit in that albatross of a contract.
The Senators would have to send all sorts of contract the other way in a deal involving Campbell and that really doesn't make sense for the Hawks. Chicago would need to take on an expiring contract in order to have the room they need to sign some of their young stars this off season.
The name that is still being mentioned in the Senators rumour mill is Alex Picard. He has had a decent start to the season and seems to have slightly increased his potential trade value. Picard has looked good at times this season and seems to have a decent chemistry going with defence partner Matt Carkner.
With Brian Lee still playing in the AHL, the Senators have a couple extra bodies on the back end (Depending on what happens with Karlsson).
Once again, the Columbus Blue Jackets have been mentioned as a team that has shown a little bit of interest.
Meanwhile, the Senators are expected to make a decision on rookie Erik Karlsson either today or tomorrow. Murray has said on a number of occasions that he would like to keep Erik around for the remainder of the season but we will find out for certain in the next 24 hours.
Don Brennan has suggested that the Senators may be leaning towards sending Karlsson back to Sweden for the remainder of the season.
Karlsson has played in all 9 games the Senators have played this season.
60 comments:
I have no problems with the Senators sending Karlsson down. He hasn't been horrible, but he really hasn't done much at all. I'd like to see him playing in Bingo for a while and I wouldn't mind seeing Lee promoted.
Is it just me or when does Campoli and Picard remind others of Corvo and Priessing.. but just not as good. It's probably in the names but they seem to bring about the same to the game and I have the feeling that if those other two couldn't get things done, Campoli and Picard won't be much better.
When all is said and done and the playoffs will start I think it will be the following on D:
Phillips Volchekov
Kuba "top 4 acquired via trade"
Carkner "Lee, Campoli or Karlsson"
Even though Bryan Murray is a big fan of Brian Campbell, I can not see him coming to Ottawa. Karlsson should remain in Ottawa and play with Filip Kuba. I hope Aalexandre Picard is not moved.
I honestly think it would probably be best for Karlsson and the team if he was sent back to Sweden. At least this way he gets another year to develop and bulk up a bit more and Ottawa will get to keep him under contract for another year.
I also would love to see Murray pursue Brian Campbell. He would be a great addition to the team. Obviously the trouble is fitting him under the cap. As much as I wouldn't want to, we would probably have to give up Kuba to get him. Maybe Murray could work out a 3-way deal so that Chicago gets the expiring contracts that they need.
I think Karlsson could use some time. Is there any word on whether he will go back to Sweden or to the juniors? I would like to see Lee back in Ottawa.
Brennan's comments are off the mark. He assumed that Ottawa would can only send Karlsson to Sweden to save losing a year of entry level status. In fact sending him to the AHL will also retain that coveted extra year.
His time spent in the AHL will not count towards his entry level status so they could send him to the AHL and still have him for a full 3 years. As long as he doesn't play one more game in the NHL this year.
I think sweeden is a bad idea though. Let him play in binghy on the same size ice and same style of play. Sweeden plays on a bigger ice and the skill level is much different.
That is if we decide to send him down. A trade would be great with picard/campoli.
Columbus doesn't have anything of use for the Sens outside of draft pics for Pickard, unless they want to do a Pickard for Pickard swap...hehe
A Campbell for Cheechoo trade would be fair I would think, then Murray can get rid of Kelly and Ruutu elseware to make room, although that wouldn't leave much wiggle room to sign Volchenkov and the RFA's next summer.
If the Sens are indeed going to send Karlsson back to Sweden then do it now so they don't blow a rookie year. I personnally think he should be sent to bingo to develope the NA style.
Chirp, can you confirm once and for all that if Karlsson plays for Bingo now the Sens do/do not lose a year of his contract? I have read mixed reports on it.
I dont believe so but I am certainly not an expert on that.
I'm sure someone in here can confirm that.
I think sending Karlsson to the AHL would be the right move. The NHL is a huge step for some players, and it is very clear that Karlsson will be an NHL player, but he just needs some more time and size. I would also expect that sending him to the AHL would allow him to shine again at the WJC.
As per Brian Campell, I would love the Sens to go after him, but I don't see it happening.
The Sens have approx $2M in cap space and would have to free up over $5M in cap space to fit in Campbell. To put this in perspective the Sens would have to move: Picard, Ruutu or Kelly, and Cheechoo to make the space.
I don't see it happening.
Anonymous @ 12:06
Campbell for Cheechoo is fair? Seriously? Maybe after that deal Murray can hit a real home run by sending Ruutu to SJ for Boyle.
What about Filip Kuba and Jonathan Cheechoo for Brian Campbell? Ottawa and Chicago swap offensive D and at the end of the season Cheechoo's a UFA and Chicago has freed up $3.45M to use for resigning their big 3 in the offseason.
Big move and HFboards is down...join us at hfb R oads.com to talk about the changes.
Ottawa does not use up the first year on Karlsson's entry level contract he has to play at least 10 NHL games. AHL games to not count.
Just for fun, here is a possible (highly unlikely) scenario to acquire Campbell. This is done for fun and to put things in perspective on what type of things would need to happen for the Sens to be able to afford Campbells salary.
Assuming the Sens have $2M of cap space - which is even less next year with the extension to Carkner.
Move #1
Picard ($800K), Ruutu ($1.3M), Ott 3rd 2010 to CHI for Campbell ($7.1M)
Move provides the Sens with a bona-fide powerplay QB. Hawks get a solid return in Picard and Ruutu along with a pick. I wouldn't pay much more for Campbell (due to the cost and length of the contract)
Move #2
Kelly ($2.1) to anyone for a 2nd or 3rd
Move is simply a salary dump to make space for Winchester and cap room.
Move #3
Cheechoo ($3M) to NYI for Tambellini ($587K)
Move is also a salary dump, but Cheechoo would be attractive to the Isles who need more scoring punch (not that Cheechoo has provided that this year to the Sens.) In return the Sens get a cheap winger in Tambellini who has fallen out of graces with the Isles faithful.
This would leave:
approx $1.4M under the cap.
Now understanding next year, the cap will basically be the same, this does not leave a lot of money left over to resign RFA's: Foligno, Regin, Winchester and Campoli or UFA's Volchenkov or Donovan...
so bottom line - it looks like it is almost impossible to land Campbell without cutting too deep into the Sens talent pool in order to free up enough space.
If there is anything to this Campbell thing, it is probably coming from Melnyk not Murray. BM is too smart to take on that kind of a contract but Melnyk strikes me as an interfering, win now, almost irresponsible type of owner. Too bad.
Brennan's comments are off the mark. He assumed that Ottawa would can only send Karlsson to Sweden to save losing a year of entry level status. In fact sending him to the AHL will also retain that coveted extra year.
True, he won't accrue a year against his contract if he plays a year in the AHL before playing 10 NHL games. Don Brennan is a boob, simple as that. I'd venture to say most bloggers know far more about hockey than he does.
Anon 12:25
Let me rephrase what I said.
Obviously in a perfect world Campbell is worth more than Cheechoo, but Chicago needs cap space desperately to re-sign Kane, Toews, Keith, Ladd, Eager etc.
If any trade goes down with Campbell, Chicago will mainly be looking for cap space, they save 4 mill by trading for Cheechoo and he's signed for only 1 more year. Sure another team might be able to trade something better but if Ottawa were to do it we would need to at least send a similiar contract (to Cheechoo's) back.
Considering there sitch, I think its fair, maybe throw in SJ's 2nd rounder.
Campbell has 7 years at $7M left on his contract. He's already 30 years old. Even if we could free up cap space to acquire him, I don't think he's worth it.
It's debatable if he's even worth his money today, can you imagine in a couple of years. Brian Campbell's a pretty good player, but he's not in the class of Niedermayer, Pronger, Bowmeester, Phaneuf or Boyle. And they're all making less money.
Bottom line, it's a bad contract the Sens should stay away from.
Excellent move sending Karlsson to Bingo! Best place for him to develop and is easily accessible if needed! Way to go, Murray!
Brian Campbell is not worth anywhere near that contract. I've watched several Hawk games this year and would say that there are 3 better d on that team than him.
Campbell ain't happening.
And Brennan is SUCH a hack. His article today says that Kuba was injured in preseason and has sat out all 9 games this year. Guy must have slept through our first game I guess when Kuba had over 20 minutes.
What a loser.
I'd sooner go after Nathan Horton and his $4M a season contract to play with Michalek and Spezza.
na na na no trading cheechoo , thats just retarded at this point!!!!!
I'm glad Karlsson is being sent down, he could use the time to develop I think. I thought there was an age minimum for the AHL but apparently it doesn't apply to non-CHL players, so he will be getting a lot of quality time in Binghamton and stay in North America, I think this is the best situation for him right now.
Campbell would be a huge mistake, please stay away. He's paid top 10 money and not nearly a top 10, not even close. That salary would kill the team down the road. It's Chicago's problem, every team would be smart to leave it that way.
is this just a numbers game now that Kuba is back? I don't know, but I have a feeling that once the dust has settled on the Sens blue line Karlsson will be back on the big team. Some bodies will be moved out to make room for the young fella.
I'm with you James Ray....Horton would be a great addition to the sens.
oh yeah, and please stay away from Campbell
If we can find $4M for Horton (or any other forward) I'd MUCH rather see it spent on a top 4 D to play with Kuba.
Lee, Campoli, Picard and Carkner are all 5-6 guys right now (or maybe forever). Karlsson is not ready yet to be top 4 IMHO. If the plan is to make the playoffs and try to win a few rounds, we need a top 4 D added.
Campbell is a waste of time at his price tag.
I think bingo is the best place for Karlsson he will get a lot more usable experience playing there then in Sweden.
k
let alone the debatable and highly doubtable need for the senators to get brian campbell
i am totally appalled by some people actually contemplating that kind of move.
to put things in perspective:
1) campbell is chicago's highest paid player, however, he isnt even their best defenceman, let alone player altogether. seabrook and keith easily pip campbell down the order and...some nights even barker looks better.
2) he is going to be wade redden version 2 in ottawa. look at his contract, the amount and term on it.
3) he is already 30
4) he got highly touted when he was getting traded from buffalo, but, to be brutally honest, he didnt have any impact on any of chicago's playoffs series, or for san jose's. so not a winner.
5) defensive game for campbell sucks, if you dont believe it just watch the way he played in the playoffs.
and now to the needs part. why in the world do the senators even need a guy like campbell. as far as i can see, kuba along with phillips and volchenkov provide us enough stability on the d-core. we just have to add younger talent around them, which has good upside (karlsson, cowen, lee, wiercioch etc.).
and this kind of acquisition also cant be lumped into a salary issues since we would always be taking on salary no matter which way we swing the campbell trade. plain and simple. unless BM wants to trade kovalev to chicago. but then what is chicago going to do with kovalev? they dont need forwards.
get this right people, brian campbell's name is on the market for two reasons only:
1)chicago's management trust is total bonehead and its going to show big time next summer. why? because they signed an unproven guy to a championship like contract without looking ahead.
2) campbell at his price, is clearly not the best player on their team. its the same as the khabibulin and huet situation they had over the past two years. and we all know how that turned out for them too.
i say we stay put with the trades right now. let this bunch play. we have a crazy logjam in both forward and defense which needs alot of sorting. and to be honest, apart from cheechoo and kovalev, to me it seems that the senators need small complements here and there and it should be able to go deep. and to be more particular, just another big shot from the point on the powerplay alongwith Kuba, and that should be sufficient.
Barker should be the guy the Sens should be looking at in Chicago, not Campbell.
Chi: Campoli + 2nd (SJ's)
Ott: Barker
That or Hamhuis in Nashville.
hq ... got the short version of that?
u think lee will get called up now?
Just went to TSN and no mention of Karlsson. TORONTO sports network indeed...jerks!!!
yea i do have a short version lol
dont trade for campbell.period.
I would love to see Ottawa nab Hamhuis. Affordable and a legit top 4 d-man. Would be amazing...
SBP - it is in the ice chips (about Karlsson). Not sure if it's "article worthy" anyway.
I think Karlsson in Bingo is temporary until one (or maybe two) of Campoli, Picard and Lee are moved.
Would expect the medium-term plan to be:
Volchenkov/Phillips
Kuba/Karlsson
CPL/Carkner
If they keep two of CPL, then one of them or Carkner would sit depending on who we're playing and who's hot etc.
I would love for the Sens to make a trade for Horton. I think Picard, Foligno (although I hate to see him go), + SJ 2nd RD pick for Horton and 3rd RD pick would be a good deal.
If we can throw in Kelly or Cheechoo for McCabe that would also work. I think McCabe would do well in Ottawa.
The best thing for Karlsson right now is to spend time in Bingo, get major minutes there and get used to the speed of North American hockey. His timing was way off in the 9 games he played, countless turnovers and not aggressive enough. He will learn that in the AHL. But enuogh on Karlsson...what about Cowan tearing it up, 3g 4a in 8 games!! Monster!
To HQ:
I think Ottawa would be very good place for Campbell, it wont happen cuz of his contract but it would be a very good move!
We need scoring back there, BADLY! there is a reason our PP is dead last in the NHL, our D sucks!
Phillips Volchy will never hit 30+ points, Kuba has 20+ assist and Campoli is struggling. Do you really think Karlsson, Lee or Picard will become our next PP QB??
I dont think so, or until they do, we need one NOW!
SM
McCabe????????????
Please GOD NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
SM:
yea i get the need for a PP QB aside from Kuba and i said we need one too. but we dont need one at 7 million for 7 years. one that totally disappears in the playoffs. one who is a defensive liability-being a defenseman, that is counterproductive.
people here are mentioning McCabe, and i think McCabe with his power bomb from the back would absolutely skyrocket the senators' PP threat. and i think we have the tools to cover McCabe's defensive weak points too in Carkner and Kuba.
however, again, McCabe is overpaid, his cap number right now is 5.7 and he is signed through next season too at..4.15 mil
i think he might be very reasonable if we can jettison kelly+ either of picard/campoli, i would rather it be campoli.
however, i think Murray should hold back his hand right now. just because the PP wasn't working uptil now doesnt mean a trade will fix it. clouston still has tools to play around with, it can be argued that he hasnt used kovalev properly on the PP. also Kuba has been missing time. so, lets see how it pans out.
McClutz??? Are you serious? Can we get Tucker too?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU_RCwy7fi4
I'm on the Dan Hamhuis bandwagon myself, also worth keeping an eye on Z. Michalek
It has been mind boggling how bad Campoli has been considering we gave up essentially a 1st round pick for him last year. He was very solid offensively for us, so I'm not sure what the difference is this year. I hope he picks up his game and makes him a valuable trade asset so it doesn't look like we pissed away a 1st round pick.
Awesomeness! GOOD BUY NUMBER 65!
Knarlson will be great in a year or too, but after seeing him struggle, it's much better more the team to have him in Bingo.
On another note... It's been a sad day here for Ottawa Fans... The leafs 82 consequtive losses dream that lives amongst all of us sens fans has, unfortunatly, been crushed by an incompeteant, hated, ducks team. The same team that has ripped Lord Standly from our grasps... Oh well, always next year!
GO SENS GO!
John,
Campoli was a toss-in on the trade of McAmmond + a pick for Comrie. If you think Campoli cost us a pick then that means we could have traded McAmmond one-for-one for McAmmond? Uh, no.
LOVE that youtube tribute!!!!
Watching Z ragdoll him is priceless and many other gems in there.
The mini-schedule shows no TV for tomorrow's game but NHL.com and the Sens web site show coverage on TSN2...
The hockey gods are finally listening!
Some of you people are crazy. Why would we take on a Brian Campbell type salary. He'd ruin any chance of signing Volchenkov, and in the Future we'd start to lose Karlsson, Cowan and Weiroch because of him.
As for the guy who said we don't have PP QB. While that may be true, what would we do with him beyond this season? If we can get someone on the final year of his contract great. If not I say let the young guys prove themselves this year and next year. Doing that will pay us back majorly in the future for along time.
the way i saw last years deal WAS campoli for SJ's 1st rd pick. Comrie was having a bad year and he and McAmmond were UFA's.
Haha i love the anon guy who keeps coming on here with a huge boner for Dan Hamhuis...simmer down we wont get that lucky...I don't know if anyone is watchin the caps/flyers game on TSN, but Semin just shot the best wrister I've seen in ages past Emery. One of the few times where even though it was just a shot he was facing, the goalie still has no chance because it's perfectly placed and perfectly quick.
Fact is the team is NOT winning the Cup this year, wasting money on Campbell would be the ultimate stupid move to make at this time...
Karlsson to Bingo/Sweden is a good move. I've been saying from the beginning that Karlsson just doesn't look NHL ready yet. I'm glad they decided to groom him a little longer and not rush him. He can go dominate at a lower level and be ready to be on our team next year and for many more after that.
As for this Campbell talk, hell no!!! Keep his overpriced 7 million dollar ass away from this team! We just got rid of one of those monster contracts in Dany Heatley, now we have depth. No point in getting rid of our depth to aquire a great PMD but sadly has no defensive abilities.
If you want a PMD keep looking, be patient and see what players pop up throughout the year. We'll be fine without one for now, but if we can aquire one sooner rather than later it would really benefit our PP and team as a whole.
Does this mean Brian Lee is getting another shot with the Sens?
the campoli and comrie for 1st pick and mcammond trade looks funny now.
ofcourse with comrie jolting for edmonton and not impressing alot when he came here again, you can argue that the trade was basically the 1st pick for campoli and an exchange of expiring contracts.
i dont think the full rationale for that trade will ever be clear, not the least until campoli really shows up.
someone above said campoli has been good for us defensively. not really, he has just been alright. he does get the odd check-fright from time to time but i think karlsson really exposed his weaknesses lol...haha....thats not to blame campoli, but he did get stuck in some sticky situations when karlsson was getting chased in the sens zone.
i think karlsson going down to bingo should make the defense more stable with Kuba back. maybe campoli was having to backup for karlsson in that pairing and thus limiting his game, but with Kuba i think he should improve.
here is to hoping.
Call up Brian Lee. He's better than Picard and Campoli, and Carkner for that matter.
As for Brian Campbell, Chicago should call Bob Gainey or try and find Mike Milbury another GM job. Those are the only ways to get rid of that contract.
I think C-Mac has it right on Campoli trade not Hax. Comrie was recovering from a hip injury where he missed 17 games, it was a salary dump on the Isles part, what the Sens wanted was a PMD. Much like last season the Sens powerplay wasn't performing. Murray thought he was getting a booming shot for the powerplay in Campoli based on his stats last year Campoli looked like a "steal". While the 1st rounder was San Jose, wasting it on Campoli was a mistake, it could have been used to move up in the draft or a prospect. I believe I read later that the Isle were "glad" to rid of Comrie and Campoli(who request a trade) becuase of thier attitude. If Murray trades for PMD, I hope he doesn't grab a one-demensional one with a horrible contract. Probably unlikley but I wouldn't mind if Murray made a Philidelphia like deal for Shea Webber, Alfie ain't getting any younger.
Was Lee on the first PP unit in Bingo? If so he might be getting yet another demotion with Karlsson coming in, you'd think they would be paired together but there both right handed shots.
I bet if that goes down Lee is going to be pissed and we could have another player that wants out soon, just a thought...
To mikep:
I hope you are not suggesting trading Alfie.
But I do want him to win a cup and I think if we don't do well this year that we trade him in the off-season and get back a ton of talent for him. He deserves to be on a cup contender. Maybe if the Red Wings find themselves in 7th-9th around the trade deadline we can pry away a few of their younger stars.
I would like to see Leino and Ericsson come back. I would be cheering for Alfie to win that cup in Detroit!!!
This is the right move and trying him out for the 9 games would give the SENS mgt an idea of what they currently have in the Young Swede. Erik is great skill wise, but the time in Bingo is good for him, while people think it's all about money, not so sure about that theory. With time, he's gonna be great back there.
Anon 6:35
Lee and Karlsson were paired up together on the last pre-season game in Ottawa. I'm sure they will be together in Bingo.
I think Karlsson and Lee will also be paired together inthe AHL as well - that will make their transition to the big team next even easier
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