Daniel Alfredsson, Anton Volchenkov and Chris Neil were all absent from practice this morning. Ottawa was hoping to have Volchenkov back on the ice with the team today but have decided to wait at least one more day. They still hope A-Train will be good to go this Saturday. (CORRECTION-Clouston just said he doesn't expect Volchenkov back until mid next week)
Other than that the lines remain unchanged.
Michalek-Spezza-Shannon
Foligno-Fisher-Kovalev
Cheechoo-Regin-Winchester
Ruutu-Kelly-Donovan
As so many of you have pointed out, Clouston needs to consider a shuffle of that top line. They have shown no chemistry together over the past few games and need to be broken up.
It seems to make sense that they would put Alfredsson back on that second line with Fisher and put Cheechoo with Spezza and Michalek on the top line. Those three had some chemistry at times and should probably be reunited.
Hopefully we see a shakeup before the Senators take the ice tomorrow to host the 4th place Penguins.
On the trade front, expect the rumours to pick up with the Chicago Blackhawks again in the next little while. They're about to re-sign three key players (Toews, Kane, Keith) and will be facing some serious cap issues. The names of Patrick Sharp, Cam Barker and Brent Seabrook are already being thrown around.
I forgot to post this the other day but here is the PROSPECT UPDATE courtesy of the Senators Twitter feed.
58 comments:
Clouston isn't expecting Volchenkov back into the lineup until midweek next week.
P.S. Mike Fisher is on pace for 41 goals and 73 points. Fingers crossed he keeps going. It would definitely be an answer to the goal scoring we were losing with Heatley.
If we can score Barker for Lee and one of the spare forwards + give a 2nd round pick - I think the Sens will be one of the top 4 teams in the East. Then people will realize that Bryan Murray is really one of the better GM's. Hell we could be stuck with BOB Gainey we should fell fortuante. I'm a big SENS fan from Montreal. GO SENS GO!
Chirp, how much pressure is Chicago facing to move a contract? Are you hearing anything substantive in terms of trade talks? Will they be forced into making a trade this year, or can they delay this until the season's end?
I honestly think that Ottawa should be pursuing Barker and Sharp.
next year's d
kuba - barker
phillips - volchenkov
carkner - cowen/karlsson
jeeze, that could be crazy amounts of deep if those guys can play to potential
obviously lee will be part of any deal the sens could make
maybe even throw in wiercoch/karlsson and possibly pick up sharp too???
I think the Sens be pursuing Seabrook and Sharp.
If the Sens were pursuing Sharp AND Barker or Sharp AND Seabrook, we need to ship out $7M in salary. Especially since we only have ~$1M in cap space...
I think it's going to be one or the other.
I highly doubt Sharp, Barker, Seabrook will be traded until the deadline because the Blackhawks can't take salary back so they will probably just trade guys away for good prospects/picks, especially on draft day when some GM's overpay to get a certain player
Cant wait for Wiercioch and Cowen because our defense is looking like a bunch pylons out there, its so sad. I think we need to make a move for one of those defenceman from Chicago fast!
p.s. What the hell is wrong with campoli now? First picard now campoli??
Anybody know where I could find last night's Ruutu fight ? That was EPIC.
I would love to see Ottawa go after Sharp and Barker, but no way are we going to get them for Lee and crap.
I think it will cost at least Karlsson or Cowen + a 1st.
LOL at "epic"
What was epic was how Orr dropped Carkner with that bomb.
huh. clouston says picard has picked up his game. jeeze
atleast he acknowledged the complete lack of chemistry on the first line. however he is still quite a ways away before considering his experiment a bust.
i partly get his reasoning though, he doesnt have a very good reason to split up fisher and kovalev because the two of them have produced together and for the games we have won, the two have had strong games together too. and i think foligno fits on that line purely because he has the legs that cheechoo is missing so much right now. ofcourse the hands are debatable. plus i think foligno is good down low in the offensive zone and is great for cycling and always has had good chemistry with fisher.
still can't believe he is satisfied with the job our defense does.
and as for the trade suggestions. comeon guys get a head shake. lee and a 2nd rounder for barker and sharp? that only happens if chicago cant get a better deal from any team in this league and is in a life and death situation to trade those guys. stop being silly. and calling for bush league trades.
i really think that Murray is dangling volchenkov. it makes sense. even though its going to be a heartbreaking move because if there is one guy to love in the backend of the senators, its volchenkov. it makes sense because chicago does not really have a true shutdown guy in the back. someone who can crunch the opposing offense with crazy hits and is just a force in a shutdown role. with volchenkov in the back, chicago would get really hard to beat. i mean they already allow the least goals in the league, with a guy like volchenkov they wont allow any.
however, this would really only go through depending on where murray sees this team 3-5 years down the road. volchenkov would definitely fetch a dandy return from chicago, thats a given. you can chalk up the versteegs, and seabrooks of ottawa for that kind of trade. ofcourse bits would be going towards chicago too from ottawa.
personally, i would much rather have phillips go, he is declining gradually. he is older and he would fit nicely with chicago as a veteran also. but then again i'm not the GM.
FU JohnnyHolmes! Go hang on your own board.
Every goon gets KO'd once in awhile. Here is Orr gettn KO'd by Eric Godard....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPvVqNzMV68
Happens to the best...Orr showed no honour at all when Carkner tried to get his rematch....
Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp would be good fits for the Sens. My only question is around how they would acquire these players.
There is no question that the Hawks cannot and will not take salary back, so expect the deal for those two players to be a cost effective roster player or two, along with prospects and picks.
Since this is all for fun...I would suggest the following:
TO OTT:
Brent Seabrook
Patrick Sharp
TO CHI:
Brian Lee
Peter Regin
SJ 2nd 2009
OTT 1st 2010
It may seem like a lot, but both Seabrook and Sharp are still young and are both under contract for reasonable amounts.
Acquring them ofcourse, would put pressure on the Sens to let a few players walk in the offseason (Donovan, Shannon, Picard). Plus they would have to move the likes of Kelly and Campoli. It would also put pressure on the Sens and the resigning of A-train...but I think they could fit it all in.
I also wouldn't count out Brian Elliot being part of the package the Hawks would ask for in return. Elliot has no question caught the eye of a number GM's and along with Niemi they could make a nice 1-2 punch of young goalie....hence obviously, the Hawks unload the $5.6M weight of Huet.
Hutch
Orr has and will always be a douchebag. He knows he had the upper hand but still didn't want to let Carkner have his rematch. See you in January Orr you bag of puss.
If you want Seabrook, Volchenkov + would guarenteed be what they want back. I would do it in a heartbeat if it was actually on the table.
I hope they dont trade Lee or Karlson, Lee is starting to play with more confendance and he is a big kid, still very young and Karrlson will be the next Bobby Orr,
hutch:
i would rather get kris versteeg+your pick of d-man from chicago.
just sayin.
peter regin going back might make it work. dont know if the first rounder is worth it.
and NO TO ELLIOT GOING THE OTHER WAY. he is signed reasonably and he needs to be kept here. jeeze the senators havent had this strong a goaltending duo since emery+hasek.
also versteeg is cheaper. also signed for lesser term too. but doesnt mean sharp is a slouch or anything. hm....sharp is better because its an upgrade at centre obviously.
centreman, we need just one more good centreman, either a very good 2nd line centreman. or a very very good third line centreman with 2nd line upside.
however, i think murray should not get jumpy with acquiring yet. see he has the defensive prospects stacked. with lee,karlsson, wiercioch, and cowen coming through and then a few others. he has picks in his hand. he has some cap space coming up next year. the forward core he has, is not too shabby. atleast not compared to the D we have. only Kelly is overpaid. the rest fit their roles. maybe Neil on rare nights looks overpaid. very rare nights though (when he takes stupid penalties). so he should weigh carefully. he basically has four positions locked on defense in phillips, volchenkov, kuba and carkner. and then possibly a fifth if Lee keeps on improving. and then if Karlsson keeps improving, he would have a sixth spot locked. Campoli, Picard are both cooked because those guys just dont play defense.
its going to be interesting. i just dont know if giving up our prospects and picks right now is the best way to go. a guy like regin is coming up from our own system. i don't know, but im the type of fan who would like to see our own good prospects flourish here.
Sharp would make a nice addition to the team...and any addition of a D man who can actually skate would almost guarantee a playoff spot for the sens. I'd be ok with giving up any combination of Foligno, kelly, Lee, picard, regin, winchester, campoli, and a couple of picks to make it happen.
I can't believe people are suggesting we trade our 1st round pick. That's frickin absurd. Have you watched the sens in the past three years? Have you seen ONE legitimate top six forward emerge from our farm system? Just 1? Wonder why that is? Cause we traded all our picks!! If you want to trade picks fine, but don't complain about wallowing in mediocrity for the next... ever.
Forgot to mention that we're pretty much at the cap already. So how are we supposed to take on the 7 mil those guys make combined without shipping anything money back?
make it dont agree with trading the first rounder. that would be being stupid like the leafs.
Please don't make trade scenarios without thinking of the most important factor, THE SALARY CAP.
Holy shit do these peoplen think that having 7 mil come our way for 1 mil going back the other way, make sense for real!???
Get a calculator, it should be under applications on your desktop.
Cam Barker for Lee or picard plus 2nd rounder from SJ.
Go Sens
They key would be to send expirign contracts back to chicago, so they get value this year and let them walk and then they have cap room
that being said the onyl expiring contracts we have are volchenkov, donovan and shannon.
Out of those 3 i could see shannon being of value to the Hawks since he is cheap and fast and would fit with their system
hawks:
barker
sens:
shannon and Picard and 2nd
as much as people dont like picard, he woudl be serviceable in chiacgo, comes cheap, and would replace barkers minutes. he is also an rfa which means they can control their cap situation some more
wow wish it was you guys making the deals for the senators ? is the Hawks GM from your home planet?
Top lines should be:
Cheechoo - Spez - Alfie
Michalek - Fish - Kovi
just trade Volch for Barker straight up.
Then, when Volch reaches UFA at the end of the season, just resign him in Ottawa. BM would have to have a gentleman's agreement with him ahead of time, of course.
i would say
volch, weircoch, SJ 2nd, and 2010 1st
for
Seabrook and Sharp.
then ottawa would need to unload some salary somewhere such as neil or kelly's 2 mil. probably could send neil to toronto since burke has a hard on for him.
hahaha
we all saw how BM's gentleman's agreement went down with Heatley ROFL.
"neil to toronto......"
SC you need to filter out the leaf's fans showing up here
Are some of you people alright in the head? You honestly think that getting a Barker type of player will be as easy as that? Not to mention you have to think about the future and we need those draft choices to find some decent forwards to compliment the good crop of D we developing.
Also bringing up that D how you going to develope them. If you have 4 spots already taken? We will likely have unless Volchenkov is used for a good puck moving defense man. 4 defense man at least coming back. (5 if you include Lee who I definetly believe will be back). And the 3 young guys Karlsson, Cowen and Weiroch.
Karlsson and Cowen are probably locks to make the team. With Weiroch battling Carkner and Lee for the spot next to Cowen. Likely with Lee and Carkner swapping out depending on what Clouston thinks he will need against certain teams. With Carkner providing the physical and fighting. And Lee providing a more skilled puck moving back end. Leaving Wieroch to go back to College or the AHL.
I realize someone like Barker is young and already good. And would make our team better next year. While our other young guys will do that next year. But the cost for someone like him will be very high. Don't forget there are 28 other teams. That would be interested in Barkers services.
a few comments...
I don't suggest you move a first this year...I suggest next year...look at it from the prespetive of adding some scoring punch in Sharp (or Versteg - I love that idea), and some solid D in Seabrook..that 1st next year is a 20th or later pick for sure.
Also, my scenario works, as I did the numbers, and it would put the Sens about $4M over the cap (assuming A-Train signs for $4M and Folingo signs for $1.2M and Winchester signs for $1M and Camploi for $900K)...then the Sens would have to move Kelly and maybe Neil...let a few players walk (Donovan, Shannon, Picard, and maybe even Camploi - as Karlsson can step in his spot)
To Chicago
Volchenkov
Kelly
Regin
To Ottawa
Barker
Versteeg
It gives them options for salary cap next year, and makes us a way better team.
hutch:
i dont think campoli gets signed by the senators if he is still here at end of this year.
picard will walk too if he is not traded beforehand. one of those two will be gone before the season. Kelly is also being shopped around im sure by BM, regardless of whatever other move he makes. only because winchester is just as good (or better) and cheaper. foligno will probably be retained too.
i still insist that BM has either himself tried or has had calls for volchenkov from chicago. there is no other piece that would extract a ransom like versteeg/sharp+d-man from chicago.
neil is probably going to be a hot commodity at the trade deadline. and man he is playing like it too. he's shown a real touch around the net. i personally as a fan am unable to say if he is overpaid or not. neil is a senator in his blood and veins to see him traded would be quite a sore moment.
Why is Kelly on this team and why are we paying him 2.2 million?
18 games-0 goals 2.2 million.
I will play for half that and promise to get as many goals.
If the SENS continue to struggle finding their offence, I would really like them at some point to bring up Ryan Keller, he's lighting the lamp down in Bingo rather well thus far.
I would like to see Murray get one of Seabrook or Cam Barker would see get Andrew Ladd along with one of Seabrook or Barker.
Personally if Murray could one of
Buffylin or Versteeg or even Beech along with one of Barker or Seabrook.
Here is my list of forwards that I would like to see Murray get from Chicago.
1.Andrew Ladd
2.Dustin Buffylin
3.Chris Versteeg
4.Kyle Beech
Seriously doubt that Chicago will trade anyone before the deadline. What's the impetus, unless they absolutely have to move $$$ when Hossa returns to the lineup? No, Bowman will keep this team together for as long as possible. Why not, they're winning and love playing together, it's apparent when you watch them on the ice.
Of the defensemen, I reckon Barker is the odd man out (makes decent $, but not in the top 4), and probably Versteeg (makes decent $, but not in the top 6). Sharp is too good at winning faceoffs and scores as much or more than Versteeg.
Chicago will want to accept expiring contracts (RFA or UFA) for Barker. I'd offer (in this order): Picard, Campoli, Picard/Campoli and a 2nd.
I think it is all the more amazing that we have the best 4th line in the NHL, and Kelly has no goals.
You have to look at the intangibles of his play. I've been very impressed with the level of effort he is putting in, and Ruutu + neil seem to be cashing in on his efforts.
Usually im not one for making stupid trade scenerios like some, no offense. So this has got to be the most realistic:
to Chicago
Kelly
Phillips
san jose 2nd round pick
to ottawa
Barker
3rd round pick
I know Phillips has done alot for us and has alot of experience but hes getting up there in age and i think hes gotta move on. We cant just hang on to all these players we've become attached to because at one point or another they helped us do this or that but the fact of the matter is, if you want to play with the big boys(stanley cup contenders) you need STAR players thats just how it is.
alfie for seabrook
leave the trading to the GMs
I hope Sens don't trade Volchenkov lol, that will make my 3rd Sens t-shirt worthless:(
Emery, Heatley, Volchenkov
I doubt he'd be traded unless Ottawa was sure they couldn't resign him.
Hey chirp, just curious if you have heard any rumblings at all if the Sens are looking into signing Malik for cheap, he's a big defenseman with pretty solid +/-.
it would be nice to drop Cheechoo off the books, going to be a lot of talent looking for a new home soon and this team needs it, thanks Wilson you screwed us over for years to come.
we need to shed some cap we are not far off from being a good team but we all know that is not going to happen know team will take on our dead wood Cheechoo kelly Picard 6M would come in handy
The Andrew Ladd guy has surfaced again. Maybe he's a relative or something.
*sigh*
Here we go again. Let's trade away our future for only short term improvement. Isn't this the problem that everyone had with Muckler's tenure in Ottawa?
Last I checked, the Senators were able to succeed in the NHL by holding onto their picks, drafting wisely, and allowing those players time to develop either in the NHL or the AHL. This strategy seemed to work rather well as we went from being the worst team in the NHL to a perennial playoff contender.
To me, it seems foolish to consider trading away our young players, like Karlsson or Lee, or our draft picks, simply to see short-term gains in the standings this season. Sure, it means that the Senators may not make the playoffs again this year. But I'd much rather we take the time to build this team up again properly than end up in a situation similar to the Leafs, where they have no real prospects in their farm system for the future.
I think the veteran route is the better option, get a player or two at the deadline who is on a expiring contract and will help the sens in their playoff run.
In terms of forwards, I would try and acquire one of: darcy tucker, scott walker, owen nolan, ethan moreau or keith tkachuk.
Owen Nolan would be the best option, wouldn't cost to much to acquire and he could play on the third line. Adds more scoring depth and a player that will help in the playoffs.
In terms of d-men, I would try and acquire adrian aucoin. He is from ottawa has a powerful shot and is the only old d-man on an expiring contract that isn't to expensive and brings offense. I would also look at adam foote, ruslan salei, sean o'donnell as well as some younger d-men in dan hamhuis and jordan leopold.
Ottawa needs to make the playoffs and they can't afford to give up their best prospects in karlsson and cowen to do so.
anyways, thats just my opinion.
Tysen
I agree I would like to see Murray get one of Keith Tkachuk or Darcy Tucker or Ethan Moreau or Scott Walker.
My choice would be Keith Tkachuk.
I think that if Lee keeps playing more of an offensive style like he has been of late, then he could be a valuable asset.
Chicago: Lee, Winchester , SJ 2nd pick.
Ottawa: Seabrook, Chicago 5th.
Michalek-Spezza-Cheechoo
Kovalev-Fisher-Alfredsson
Foligno-Regin-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Donovan
Phillips-Volchenkov
Kuba-Seabrook
Picard-Carkner
Does anyone know how many practices Alfie misses each year or does he practice.
keep that shit monkey tucker away from the sens..period!!!!
hell i agree with other that if a player plus pick trade comes up then use the 2nd rounder from SJ. as for the others i would take Scotty Walker....tends to keep it simple.
I wouldn't trade away any prospects for short term success. Especially hard for Ottawa to trade away for D when we have so much talent coming up the pipe.
I think we are a 6th-8th place team this year. I think balancing our lines will do more for us than trying to acquire some awkward extra piece. If we can get somethign cheap without giving up any future then that's a good deal for this hockey club.
Seabrooke would be an excellent target but I think others are in line to be moved on before him in Chicago. I'd rather keep A-Train than Phillips. If we can't sign A-Train for a reasonable price then we must move him on for the maximum amount of value we can get at the deadline. I'd want a kings ransom or at least a bidding war!
Barker would be a decent aquisition but you have to get him as cheap as possible. His contract is expensive and he's the odd man out. Chicago isn't dealing from a position of strength. A 2nd and one of our 6th/7th D is all I'd offer them. If they ask for more than that it hurts us more than it helps.
-Bejamin
Its nice to ses all these Sens fans throwing out the most rediculous trades and think they are good or decent trade offers.
Come on man!!
Trading Picard, Lee, Campoli, Cheechoo aint gonna happen unless they start producing and I dont see that happening. Do you think Chicago or anyone else for that matter gladly take on our deadwood for their good players.
If Seabrooke, Barker or Versteeg is to come to Ottawa you have to give much better than those 4 clowns!!
Possibly Volchy/Phillips, Regin, Cowan/Wiercioch and picks.
guys,
why are we all so desperate to make such a big trade.
we have reamed columbus once already with vermette. its high time we did it again: filatov's been sent to russia and there is no way he is going back to hitchcock, not unless hell freezes over (and that would be hitchcock's hell btw lol).
Murray needs to make the call. Picard+Regin for Filatov. Columbus can't do anything about filatov anymore, he's a goner for them.
I think Filatov with kovalev would absolutely rock the sens world crazy. two electric russians. it might just make kovalev work hard for the first time in his career.
Just a quick comment on those suggesting Phillips should be traded. This is something that will not happen, he has played his entire career in Ottawa, and trading him without probable cause would be a slap in the face to him, and would, quite possibly cause potential UFA signings to go elsewhere. Put it this way. If you were a UFA would you want to sign somewhere that doesn't care if it's players have built their entire life in their town, not to mention become a face of the organization? Phillips will retire as a Senator.
I would also like to point out that Kelly, who has no goals, has shown that he should be playing here. His line always creates excitement and, a lot of the time, generates scoring chances. On top of that he is a strong penalty killer. We're not over the cap, why trade away a key role player?
Finally, I really don't think Murray will trade away Volchenkov, look at what he brings to the team. Shot blocking, bone crushing hits, solid penalty killing, and a calm/cool demeanor. Think about it for a minute, why would we trade him, I'm fairly certain he wouldn't walk.
Dave
People who want to see the sens trade for clutch-and -grab era relics like tkachuk and tucker are off their rockers. Impatience is what got us here in the first place. Enjoy mediocrity boys. To stay here is simple: look for (seemingly) easy fixes by trading away draft picks and prospects. That way, we can remain mediocre forever, and as an added bonus never have any young up-and-comers to get excited about. We can just watch a bunch of slow old farts putz around the ice until they're officially done, then trade some picks and prospects to "restock the cupboard (aka palliative care unit)". Brilliant!!
pg
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