(UPDATE 1:04 PM)- The Ottawa Senators Twitter feed has posted this week's prospect update. Here is the link...
The layoff seemingly comes at a good time for a team that's battling a few injuries as well as a flu bug thats been making its way through the locker room the past few weeks.
Jason Spezza has missed the last two games and his absence has been felt by the club. Not only have his offensive contributions been missed but also his faceoff ability. The team has been awful on faceoffs the last two games including two lost draws that led to goals against the Thrashers this past Saturday.
You would have to think this is something Clouston will focus on during the extended break this week.
There was no sign of Spezza at practice this morning. Hes expected to take a couple days off the rest up his back. Ottawa needs to have Jason at 100% with a tough stretch coming up on the schedule.
Here are the lines from today's practice...
Kovalev-Fisher-Alfredsson
Michalek-Regin-Cheechoo
Foligno-Shannon-Neil
Ruutu-Kelly-Donovan.
Rumour mill is pretty quiet these days despite the Senators losing four of their last five. The injury to Volchenkov hurts but it seems as though Murray thinks Ottawa has the personnel to survive the loss.
The Senators could obviously use another guy on the back end that can log big minutes and play a decent offensive game but I really get the sense that will be something the club addresses later in the season, perhaps closer to the trade deadline.
28 comments:
How many defence are out there and available that can log big minutes and have an offensive upside SC?
I find it hard to believe that other than Campbell and his giant contract, there isn't much out there in terms of that type of defenceman
Yea that really is the problem. Not a lot of those guys are available this early in the season.
I cant help but look at Niedermayer (UFA after this season) as a guy that could be available around the deadline.
Pipe dream I suppose...
neidermayer's cap is it at 6.5mil i believe so the sens would have to move quite a bit of salary, and probably 2 younger defensemen going that way as well, such as campoli, picard, kelly, 2nd rounder from heatley trade for him. but yea thats some wishful thinking.
Looking at next summers UFA list for dman, the only guys who might be worth looking at IMO are:
Kim Johnsson - Getting Old though, but could be had for not too much I would think if Min goes into rebuild mode later in the season.
Dan Hamhuis - There will be a line up of teams at the deadline for this guy if he's available, probably couldn't resign him unless we move some people either.
Zbynek Michalek - Very Underrated in the league, but not sure what Phoenix would want.
Outside of that maybe look to Chicago for Barker.
Cam Barker. He's making just over 3 mil for the next 3 yrs. But that might ultimatly make Volchenkov unaffordable. Everyone can now see how valuble he his that he is not playing because of an injury. As much as Kelly is liked, I would try to trade him along with Picard or Lee. Both D men are RFA and would not need to be signed by Chigago. Saving them money, which they need.
Keep in mind that if we were to pick up Neids (unlikely) that we'd only be getting him at or near the deadline so we don't get the full cap hit. Still a significant hit mind you and we'd likely need to have moved some salary, but not 6.5M.
SC: You're right, faceoffs are definitely an issue. This is where we all remember the value of Vermette. If only Columbus had wanted Auld, Zubov and Winchester instead...
If there was a slight chance that Neids came to Ottawa, the first thing he would have to do is shoot a puck at Alfie to even the score and patch things up...hehe I kid I kid.
Does anyone know if the sens practicing daily or are there days off to heal/get over the flu?
PL
Do u guys think Neids would play here after the Alfie incident? Or is that old news?
I agree the Senators need another dman that can play top minutes and can score and is a little physical.
Also I think the Senators need another forward who can score and who is a vetern forward who is gritty and can go in front of the net I am thinking the Senators should try to get Erik Cole.
I am bring up that the Senators should try to get Erik Cole because the Hurricanes are struggling and Jim Rutherford is wants to make a move Rutherford is looking for some more speed I am think that Murray should try to package up Shannon and Kelly for Kelly or somthing else.
On another site some of the Hurricanes fans think Erik Cole could be had for a 3rd round draft pick or a 2nd round draft or maybe Rutherford may want a prospect back in return.
If Mike Peca can play along side Darcy Tucker, then yes, Niedermayer can play with Alfredsson no problem.
Also, updated Prospect update on the Senators Website
Wow - do we really have 10 posts without a single anon saying "I hope Murray gets fired"???
A slow day indeed.
I am also in agreement that the sens need to shore up the back end. We need another experience top-4 Dman (someone with some offensive ability), even when volchie comes back.
Just curious, can someone tell me where I can get a Halifax style donair in Ottawa??? not a shawarma or gyro, a real halifax donair.
The Eric Cole guy is back!
Or is he..this guy's grammar is better...
Anyway, onto the topic at hand.
Yes, a top 4 defenseman is a strong need. We need to package up Kelly and Campoli for one. The problem is, is that enough for a quality all around defenseman? What if you add Zubov's rights? Yeah, That's not all that enticing, is it.
I don't want to give up too much of the teams future, so picks and prospects are out of the question.
To a cap-strapped team at the deadline, it's POSSIBLE that that might be an option, but then again, Kelly doesn't exactly come cheap.
Jonsson seems like the best possibility, with Hamhuis and Barker the preferred choices.
I would love to see the Sens bring in Neids to help with the D and Forsberg to add some more offensive depth(who I'm surprised no one has taken a gamble on him)
Anon 1:56:
Why don't we also get Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic out of retirement, and ask Scotty Bowman to coach for us? Man, all the other teams would just admit defeat then...
Please ... no Forsberg. If he wants to play for 500k, fine. But otherwise he's a retread with only the slimmest chance of actually helping any team.
If Ottawa can land Forsberg for 1-1.5m I would be game for it...
wow no negative posts ? that's not a good thing, beleive it or not. they are random ticket buyers the ones that run to the game at the last min, approx 1,300.00 per game. I know you all don't like them on your site but they are "needed" for this club. lets all hope they still care, if not we could lose this club in Ottawa
we need to bring back Erik Karrlson we need hope for this season....
ANON 3:40 - can you explain that to me? How is it that the 1300 walk-up fans every game are the same people who come here posting "I hope Murray gets fired" or "Trade Kovalev"?
I agree with your general statements that we need all the fans we can get - even the critical ones. But I don't see how you equate people that post negative BS with no constructive thoughts to the 1300 walk-ups.
My post was in jest anyway, but just curious about your logic here.
Didn't everyone see Alfie aplogise to Neids during the congratulatory handshake after the last game in the Cup final. I did, I saw as well Neids say, don't worry about it. After as well, Neids said he'd done some insane things himself. So all is well in the Neids/Alfie world.
We've all noticed that we need a Top 4 D. So many people saying he needs to be "Offensive"? Don't we already have that with Kuba plus our collection of bottom guys (Picard-Campoli-Karlsson-Lee)?
Because an elite guy (like Niedermayer) is quite unlikely, Murray will have to take whatever he can come up with. You guys think he should go "Offensive" or at least "Offensive-Minded"? I'm not so sure, because the mystery rental will likely be paired with Kuba.
My favourite is Michalek...I've really been watching him lately and he's very solid defensively with good offensive skills. I just have no idea what Phoenix's plans are for him, but I would think he's in line for a big raise on his small salary for next year. There might be a small chance.
The other guys, I just wonder if they would make for an overly soft pairing with Kuba. We saw the "Redden-Meszaros" softy disaster (especially in the playoffs) as a second pairing before. How about some defensive BRUTE like Sean O'Donnell (LA)? He's old, can take bad penalties...but has a hell of a mean streak and is an Ottawa guy. Just an older Carkner? I dunno. He's played Top 4 minutes for years, though.
LOL at the speculation on Alfie/Neids issues. It's such a non-issue for both players/teams. It's not like Pronger and McAmmond playing together, or Downie and McAmmond.
With respect to negative comments here - it's nothing compared to what gets posted on TSN.ca. Or even the OttawaSun comment areas. Some of the comments there are not only negative, but really out of line and clearly only posted to upset Sens fans.
It's one thing to be a Sens "fan" who constantly complains about their own team and illustrate limited hockey knowledge - not everyone is smart. But when fans of other teams specifically target Sens articles on line and post comments that are entirely designed to upset Sens fans - that bothers me.
Sorry, just surfed through a few other websites and had to vent :)
Nieds isn't coming here either way; we're not a team on the Cusp of a puck and he's happy in Anaheim.
As for Spezza, this is a benefit for the team as it lets us focus on a playoff-type team and lets us explore other options at forward.
Look, plain and simple the Lightning are ripe for the taking. A loss to that team and you have to think trade talk starts mounting and Murray might be on the hot seat.
(Not really on the hot seat comment, but we needed a negative comment about Murray...)
I have to agree with Hax about the crap you read on other sites. Many weenies just spout crap to try and get people going. There are a lot of people that have read a headline or watched half a Sens game and think that gives them some kind of decent knowledge.
Also, I've had my comments removed (when they were not controversial at all, just fact-based about the Sens) from those sites...so I much rather spend my time reading Sens Chirp and similar blogs! The hatred of the Sens is widespread for some reason. I guess Ottawa needs to just win a few Cups and shut up some people. Dare to dream.
Keep it up, Chirp!
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