First off a quick update from Senators practice this morning. Brent Wallace is reporting that Jason Spezza is on the ice but still is not expected to play tomorrow against Tampa. Mike Fisher was not on the ice with the team today.
Jesse Winchester is expected to return to the club this weekend.
Word is the two sides have been speaking off and on all year and that progress has been made. Obviously there's no timeline on this but I would think its the kind of thing that gets done sometime before the year is out.
The Volchenkov camp is looking for a deal with a significant amount of term. One source suggested to me that they may be hoping for something in the neighbourhood of 7 years. That's a massive commitment to make to a guy who plays the game the way Volchenkov does. Injuries are always going to a factor when it comes to Anton so locking in for 7 years could be dangerous.
Bryan Murray and the Senators are apparently willing to offer something in the 5 year range. Speculation is that the dollar amount will be somewhere between $4-4.5 mil depending on how long the deal is.
Up until his recent elbow injury, Volchenkov was off to a very solid start. He has been blocking a ton of shots and seems to be hitting a little more than he did in the past couple of seasons.
I think we can all agree that we'd like to see A-Train kept in the fold. Murray has already mentioned that he hopes the Volchenkov camp is more interested in term than a significant salary raise.
If I had to guess...
5 years/ $21.5 mil
73 comments:
I love A-train but that is too much cash for this team to commit to. Sure he is a great hard nosed stay at home defenseman but he has literally no offensive upside. For 4-4.5mil/season he has to produce as well and he will not. 3.5 mil/4years max, any more and it is not a good signing. Murray use your head not your heart!
honestly 4 - 4.5 is not good. Thats not taking a discount, cause that is the max he would get on the open market in the salary cap era. Volch doesnt have the offense to command money over that. If he wants long term i say give him 5 years at 3.5, (what phillips is making) but gotta disagree with the money there chirp, that would be a recipe for disaster if volch gets worst in his career as a result of the injuries he gets from sacrificing himself.
Too much. Plain and simple.
We need to follow the Detroit method for one dimensional players.
Defensive defensman should NOT be making anything near the $4M mark...
I would extend him at his current $3.25M hit over the next 6yrs ($19.5M total) if he doesn't like it, let someone else take the bait.
He's good, but not that good.
For sure, keep him for the female fans. He definitely has the hottest body (besides Fish of course!)
Yea it would be nice if this contract could get done for under $4 mil but that would mean Volchenkov taking a pretty big home town discount.
Volchenkov does love Ottawa and really has no interest in leaving.
This is great news IMO, alittle on the pricey side but he definetely needs to stay and anyone who thinks he will resign for less than 4mill is going to be dissapointed.
This just means that guys like Kelly, Cheechoo etc have to go, which is fine by me.
The term is alittle risky but if he gets too broken down that is what LTIR is for, and isn't there a rule that if you sign a long term deal before you turn 35 that if you retire your contract is off the books?
Thanks for the update Chirp.
I hope that A-Train can be signed sooner than later. We need him on our team. Get it done Bryan Murray.
Your guess means he's getting 4.3 a year. That's fine for 2 years, but 5 years? No way. If Volch wants long term security:
5yrs at 3.5per, totalling in a 5/17.5 deal. If he wants 6 years, give him 3.25 a year. That would be 6/19.5. Anywhere above 2 years, the most he should be getting is 4mil
Let me preface this by saying I love Volchy. Fave player on the team actually.... but here's my scenario.
-He's going to be overpaid, either in dollars or term.
-We have a severe lack of talented forward depth, but great defensive prospects.
I suggest we trade him at the deadline for some high high draft choices/prospects. Teams will pay a bundle for a guy like him at the deadline.
I would hate to see him go, but I think it would be best for the future of the franchise.
too much - what are comparable players making?
If I had to guess it would be 6 years for 4mil per
nice round numbers!
pay him whatever he wants.. he blocks shots, he gets fans out of their seats with HUGE hits, he is great defensively and isnt careless with the puck. Sure, he doesnt have the same offensive skills as Mike Green or Wade Redden (pffft, haha), but what he lacks in offence, he makes up on defence.
You people who think that 4.5 is too much, maybe you should realize that teams will be lining up to offer 5+ a year for this kind of player.. he is a coaches dream..
Do what it takes, get him signed to a 5 year deal.
GO SENS
I agree, in the low to mid 3 region would be a much more reasonable cost for his skill set.
Not sure if having a 'hot body' implies you get a better deal or not in hockey.
Just put up a new poll.
Interested to find out if the Leafs are still public enemy #1 around these parts...
I voted Leafs, but the Habs are a very close second - I hate watching those teams play eachother. It's brutal when you know that one of those teams are going to win a game -the NHL needs to find a way for both teams to lose when its Mon vs Tor.
bottom line is that there are only 2 D-men that I can find that are making 4.5+ and who don't score over 20 points.
Komisarek
Regher
Guaranteed Murray will not pay a dollar over 4mil per year.
My guess
5yr 'x' 3.85mil
7 years at 3.6-3.8M per season works for me.
thanks annon 11:54 -
I'd like to see a 4 year 3.85 deal. A little low, but thats where I see a home-town discount landing. Anything over a 4 mill dollar deal is not a discount imo.
Hey Chirp! I'm always checking this site for updates. Great work! A quick question, is Murray looking to upgrade the team in any way? (ie Trade.)I personally think that this team needs a #1 or #2 defenseman.
Pits for me, but TO a close second, but really TO media should be on that list..hehe
Anyone else jump for joy when Kessel got drilled by Ohlund last night? I don't wish anyone to be injured but the way the commentators were drooling over every move he made and then BOOM he gets smoked, good times.
Is it true that Pierre Gauthier has been spending a lot of time at Bert's Bar (the original)?
I used to hate the Leafs first and foremost but in the last three years, with the resurgence of the Habs and decline of the Laughs, I have developed a hatred far more potent for Montreal.
I find that with the departures of McCabe, Domi, Roberts, Tucker, Quinn and Belfour, and the fact that the Leafs have become so pathetic talent-wise, I don't really have much reason to hate them anymore. Hate has sort of turned into pitty...
Sure, you can't dismiss the incredibly unclassy and stupid fans, but do they really top the Ole Ole chanting morons from Montreal? I don't think so...
Those wannabe eurotrash retards show up as much as Leafs fans to annoy us in our own house, have players I would love to bitch slap like Lapierre, O'Byrne and Latendresse, and are actually a threat to our team making the playoffs.
I say, as Sens fans, let's concentrate our hatred towards Montreal.
I agree with Anon 11:35 but sign him before trading him. Then we can get some picks/prospects and a few mils off the cap. Use that money to try and acquire a much needed legit 2nd line center. With Cowen and Weircioch coming up, and with Carks I think we should be fine on the physical side without our beloved Russian. This will also allow them to get rid of Camps and Picard.
No way I'd want A-Train on a 7 year deal. I expect him to wear down by his early to mid thirties. Also, in about 3 years we'll have guys like Weircioch and Cowen forcing there way into the top 4 D along with Karlsson. No way I want the Sens on the Hook for a big money deal for a guy who'll be pushed to 5/6 in about 3 or 4 years.
I would love to see him signed to a 4 year deal with 5 being just because he's Volchie.
As to the price it's going to be at least Kuba money without a doubt.
I'd be wary of anything over $4M for Anton - as much as I love the guy. Term doesn't worry me though. I know he plays the game like its his last, but he's demonstrated a hundred times or more that he will play with injuries - I don't expect that to change. If he wants 7 years, offer $3.5M per year and accept $3.75M if they counter.
I'd HATE to see him elsewhere, but he would fetch a lot at the deadline if worse comes to worst.
As for the poll - gotta go with the leafs. Don't really hate the habs much but since they're in our division and their fans over-run our rink when they're in town I guess they're #2. The Sabres don't bother me much, so I'd round it out with Du-ucks, Pens then Sabres. And as another poster said, I hate when the leafs play the habs too - seems like it always goes to OT.
Everyone was in love with this guy last week then suddenly people are suggesting trading him? Look how the team has done without him. This guy is worth every penny he makes. Guys with the heart and commitment that he has don't grow on trees. He never takes a game off, something that cannot be said about every player on this team.
Absolute lunacy. If that kind of contract is given out, the Sens will have little or no ability to compete going forward. BM better have a serious plan to unload some other hefty contracts.
I agree with anonymous 115. He is very good. Our defence is inexpensive compared to other teams. Our problem with the cap is that we are overpaying some of our 3rd and 4th line forwards. If we lose Vol we will become less experienced. Cowen and weiroch are 2 years away (they will play in Bingo next Season) so we only have KArlson coming up next year. We will likely get rid of Picard or Campoli next summer and we do not want to be forced to bring up 2rookies in one season.
Why not pull a Hossa here?
Sign him for 8 years and a total of $26M. The first 5 years at $4.5M, then $1.5M, then $1M for the last two years.
Cap hit is $3.25M and if he retires because he's too beat up after 5 years he only passes up $3.5M but we save three years of $3.25M on our cap hit.
Win freakin' win baby.
ill guess
6 years @ 3.8 mil
kind of off topic here but my opinion is we are one star player away from being a legit cup contender team and i think it has to come on the back end so someones gotta go eventually and im not saying it should be volchenkov but maybe even moving a guy like lee or campoli for someone.
hmm
looks like were at almost 50mil salary next year with 9 forwards 4 defence and 2 goalies.
So if we sign Volch for around 4 mil that leaves us around 54 mil and needing to sign a defence and 3 forwards. Plus apparently the cap is going down. There is going to have to be some changes in Ottawa for the salary cap...
Seven years I would do. If injuries catch up with him and he is forced to retire like Smith, he comes off the books. If it were 7 years at say $3.4M per, I'd do it.
Also just to let everyone know, I went to the Sweden vs Carleton game last night. Andre Petersson has Kovalev hands and was ridiculous to watch in the warm up. He was on the top line with Paarjarvi-Svensson and Caps 1st rounder Marcus Johansson. He didn't do anything crazy out there but the ice is very small and no one really stood out except for Markstrom. He did have some nice plays and backed checked well enough for an exhibition game.
Jakub Silfverberg looks solid. Great two way player. Played all situations and has good speed and size. Crashes the net a lot too.
3.5-3.75 Maximum, and even 3.5 is very close to over-paying. If we pay 4-4.5M we are just idiots plain adn simple. He might get 5M as a UFA but thats because people overpay by stupid amounts --> See Gomez/Neil/Blake/Gionta/Yashin to name a few. Just because some GM's gave huge contracts to players that aren't that good doesn't mean everyone should get one.
In terms of reasonable grounds for argument if you don't produce points you shouldn't get over 3.5M. If we were going to give him 4.5M I'd much rather we go after a 10 goal 40+ points all around good D with puck moving skill for 4.5-5M. No way no how can we afford 4M+ long term. If he wants term take a deal with a fair price please. Especially since he's been injured for 10-15 games in each of the last few seasons and is only just getting healthy again now.
-Bejamin1
Also just to let everyone know, I went to the Sweden vs Carleton game last night. Andre Petersson has Kovalev hands and was ridiculous to watch in the warm up. He was on the top line with Paarjarvi-Svensson and Caps 1st rounder Marcus Johansson. He didn't do anything crazy out there but the ice is very small and no one really stood out except for Markstrom. He did have some nice plays and backed checked well enough for an exhibition game.
Great! Hope he wants to play in the NHL someday.
Jakub Silfverberg looks solid. Great two way player. Played all situations and has good speed and size. Crashes the net a lot too.
Fantastic!
Why not pull a Hossa here?
Sign him for 8 years and a total of $26M. The first 5 years at $4.5M, then $1.5M, then $1M for the last two years.
Cap hit is $3.25M and if he retires because he's too beat up after 5 years he only passes up $3.5M but we save three years of $3.25M on our cap hit.
Win freakin' win baby.
This is excellent of A-Train Accepts it. Good call Hax. Might have to be 9-11 years though. Have to push him to 37 or so on that kind of deal. However at 11 years we could probably get his cap hit down to 2M-2.5M. Not a bad idea. He's durable enough he might even play the whole thing/retire at 38.
-Bejamin1
honestly guys money can be fixed easier than you think. Kelly could probably be traded we just wouldnt get much and that is 2.1 off the books. Cheechoo could be bought out at the end of the year and it would cost us only 1 million for the next two years to do that...so right there you saved 4 million by dumping two useless players. keep in mind cowen may play next year but hell make what picard is making right now and picard wont be resigned i wouldnt think. money wont be as much an issue as people think it will be.
If he hits the market, Burke will sign him for 10 years at 7 mil per season.
hey hambown, nice update pal. Thanks dude, I was wondering about Silfverberg
hey hambown, nice update pal. Thanks dude, I was wondering about Silfverberg
There's lots of answers to our cap situation for next year. Kelly, Ruutu, a couple of extra forwards and a couple of extra D. Cheechoo even if he doesn't improve.
I don't think we need to abandon hope of keeping A-train just because our current roster is tight.
I think we all know that some salary is going out at some point this year. Either Kelly/Ruutu in "dump fashion" for picks or some other salary if we get a good trade offer.
Give him like 2.5-3.0M per year. He could be a 5-6 d-man as soon as Karlsson, Lee, and Cowan are ready to go (which could be next year).
Burke won't sign Volch for that much with Schenn, Beauchemin et al. on his blueline, he needs scorers not D.
Not more than 4 and no longer than 4-5 years please...7 years is way too long...
I'd like a 4 year, 4.0 or 3.5 deal myself, once he hits his 30s he will start declining so...
Remember that even though we have a strong defence in our farm systems (AHL and OHL), they are going to take time to become the high impact players we know they can be. A player like Volchenkov is invaluable to their ongoing training and he will show them what it takes to be a top defenceman in the league.
Sign Volchie to a 6 year deal at around 3.5-3.8 and let him act as a leader to the other d-men coming up in the next few years. Remember that d-men often do not enter the NHL and have a huge (and ongoing) impact right away. Look at Luke Schenn as a great example. He was great last year but this year is making mistakes that any young d-man in this league will make.
Keep Volchie.
GO SENS GO!
kgv
Hi guys jus wondering I know it is a stupid rumor but the guy from hockeyleaks is saying that the Detroit Red wings have interest in trying to get Brian Elliot what would guys want in return from Detroit?
personally me I would like have Tohmas Holstrom what would you guys think?
Brooks Orpik = 3.75
Corey Sarich = 3.6
Willie Mitchell = 3.5
Craig Rivet = 3.5
Mike Commodore = 3.75
Brad Stuart = 3.75
Robyn Regehr = 4.02
Mike Komisarek = 4.5
So basically Volchenkov wants to be among the highest paid defensive defensemen. Regehr and Komisarek are exceptions to the standard.
If he really does want 4.5 mil/season he is not prepared to take any kind of hometown discount and in fact wants more than he should be paid.
The trend has been to offer 3.75 mil/season over a 5-6 year term. Anything more than that and he should be moved.
Have you not been watching the games since Volchy has been out? The Sens need him. Trade him? No way... I would give him 5 year contract at about 3.5 - 4.0 a year. It will be at least 3 yrs before any of the 'rookies' coming can fill his shoes. He is very valuable to this team -- as proven in the last couple of games.
The Sens may have cap issue next year.. but they can be fixed. They are a lot better off then some teams like -- Chicago, San Jose & Boston and probably Rangers as well... hate to be them next year if cap goes down.. who do they get rid of?
We all love Anton but sad to say that we're going to overpay him and over extend his contract because thats the way Murray rolls... :-(
Its too bad, but look at all the other recent signings as an indicator of whats to come.
I am liking the Hossa style contract being talked about here....Also just heard that if the decision is left up to Spezza he will be in for tomorrows game!
This is a stupid idea, but I'm just gonna put it out there... Is it possible to pay the A-Train league minimum with a 60 thousand bonus per game for a couple of years? If he goes 82 games, he'll earn about 5mill but if he misses a few, he earns less...
Is there a rule against this?
Just a thought...
Anon @ 5:08 ... he was commenting on my remarks of the game... hence why they were in italics.
Nevermind about the last post, Volchie can't get a bonus... sorry.
Anon 6:32PM and then who is our solid back-up for the year? Leclaire does have injury history so that is a high risk move until Lehner is ready. Unless they gave us one of their decent young forwards who are struggling to start the year like Leino or Abdelkader or Williams. It's really hard to gauge his value though, especially because Detroit needs a goalie bad. If we could get the price high then its probably worth it.
Elliot for Zetterberg would be a fair trade, but I'm not sure that Murray would have the guts to pull the trigger.
I agree with most in that there is no way I would spend $4 to $4.5 million per season on this guy. No way. He is a good solid d-man but at that money you need the guy to at least be on your second PP unit and be better offensively. If it were me I would offer him $3.5 million max max and for no more than 4 years. Even at that it is a risky deal. No one will offer this guy $5Million a year and if they did the best thing to do would be to give a sigh of relief that we didn't do anything so stupid.
anon 6:37 sums this up nicely. anything more than that and we should say ciao!! I also like V but not that much!!!
anon 9:00, please tell me your being sarcastic. We have nothin in our line up i would take from ottawa for zettrberg if I were a detroit fan. Im a huge sens fan too.
Volchie wants (allegedly) more money than Orpik, Mitchell, Stuart and Regehr? AND big-time term?!!Give me a frickin break, that's absurd. And before everyone jumps on that, NO GM in the league would trade any of those guys for volchenkov.
On a side note, I'm really pleased to see the OHL taking the health of their players seriously. Bold move from the league continuing to be the most progressive of all the leagues (that I know anything about) in NA. Hopefully the NHL will wake up and start to follow suit.
this is what is happening now we to many players making to much like Kelly an Neil, I love Anton but I would sign him for as little as possable then trade him, we need some draft picks, we have two years left on Cheechoo and Kov contracts, but we will need a new GM I like Murray but he is not good at contracts
"Elliot for Zetterberg would be a fair trade, but I'm not sure that Murray would have the guts to pull the trigger."
In what universe? Zetts is a 70-90 point forward, franchise type. He's also insanely responsible defensively and is quite young as well, on top of being a winner.
You want Zetterberg? Here's what you need to offer:
Daniel Alfredsson
Brian Lee
1st in 2010
1st in 2011
Franchise player for franchise player, Ottawa ends up winning this because Zetts has at least 6-8 more years in him at full potential.
Don't like that one?
How about...
Michalek
Karlsson
2010 1st
2011 2nd
This is the kind of thing you need to throw out there. No one is going to trade an elite, 80 point forward for a backup goaltender...(massive facepalm)
Anton deserves to be one of the better paid defensive defensman as he is up there with the league's best (Regehr, Stuart). That being said, with idiots like Burke and others willing to throw ridiculous amounts of cash at the opening of free agency, he puts Volchenkov's agent in a position of power and Murray in a position of weakness.
This will either be another "Chris Neil" signing or Volchenkov accepts a long term deal (5 years) in the 3.25-3.45 and they call it a hometown discount.
If he walks, he will finish his career into obscurity which would be a shame for his legacy...
Dude, he was clealy kidding...
I will probally get chewed out for saying this, but I think it might be time to consider trading Alfredsson. Looking at our cap situation for next year with Volchenkov needing a contract I realized that unless some rookies step in and are huge, it doesn't look like we will have the defence to be a legitimate contender. As much as I would like Alfredsson to win a cup in a ottawa jersey I don't think it will happen. Maybe we should consider getting the best value for him now before he starts slowing down more. By the way, does he have a NTC?
People on this site are cheap and delusional. There is absolutely no way A-train will be signed for less than $4M/yr. That is not overpaying for him.
And there will be no free agent out there to replace A-train either, at least without seriously overpaying. The franchise (and Murray) know that they are best off keeping their homegrown talent.
Chirps "offer" is in the right ball park.
Long term contract and pay A- Train 4-4.5... no thanks... 3-3.5 max is where he should be... he has no offensive upside whatsoever. If we can pull off a 6 year - 16.5 million... that's what I would like.
And in a related story..."Mike Milbury to be named as the next GM of the Red Wings."
Elliot for Tomas TaTar would be fair I think, that or a 2nd.
Anon at 11:06...
You are now asking for too much from our side... Zetterberg for Alfie + Lee/pick... not everything else you mentionned. Look, what we got for Heatley, you'd get for Zetty... simple as that.
Oh, and dude was kiddin with the trade proposal... :P
Anyone even joking about trading Captain Alfredsson is a transvestite.
I would trade Alfie to a cup contender but only to a cup contender!
Ideally I would trade him to Boston for Toronto's 2 1st round picks and Lucic. I would also give them Lee to sweeten the deal for them.
I want to see Alfie win the cup and even though I hate Boston I would get to see him come to Ottawa 3 times a year.
Anyone think that's fair?
I think it would be fair RR I am a big fan of the Sens but even bigger Alfie fan it would be great to houner him I think he would really help Boston, as long as it is not Toronto lol
we do need to start rebuilding we are already behind Toronto and Montreal omg i dont want to start loseing to TO
Dear Author www.senschirp.ca !
You are absolutely right. In it something is also thought good, agree with you.
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