Mentioned this earlier in the week but I'm away from the city this week and obviously a little slow on the draw. Thanks to everyone who posted the news in the comment section. Even when I'm not around to post on the site, I can always count on the readers to keep things up to date.
The signing of Butler took a little longer than expected but was a no brainer.
Butler will have every chance to succeed in Ottawa next season. He saw a regular shift with Spezza down the stretch and next year should be no different. Should be interesting to see what he can do with a full season.
With the signing of Zibanejad and Butler, the Sens roster appears to be pretty much settled. Murray will continue to try to move a defenceman before the season starts but that won't be easy,especially at this time of year.
I think it's safe to say the Sens have officially entered the off season.
Scary. I'm going to be playing a lot of NHL11 till september...
Go Sens Go! So glad we got Bobby Bottle Service signed for these next two years. Gives the kid some breathing room to snipe.
The competition level for our boys should be good. Any one of them young guys can lose their jobs pretty quickly.
I've already been playing a lot. In the last few weeks, I've probably doubled how much I've played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ame0XOLB8lM
youtube.com/watch?v=ame0XOLB8lM
DaCosta can play in the ahl, just like butler did:)
Just under 3 months till the next season starts!
*Sigh*
oh yeah the multiplayer is wicked, I am just a recent convert as word of mouth got to me eventually, not much of an online gamer, but am with this game, only played 2 games so far, but will be back online for more soon. The only thing kind of disappointing with it is the trophies are super easy. (and no platinum trophy either, what a gip lol)
Pretty confident that Foligno is playing on a 1-way.
10-11th in the East maybe, if all play above expectations. Don't get me wrong, it will be a fun year.
I'm with ya on that one buddy. I think 10th or 11th place finish is as high as this team can finish this year, and that's if a lot of players play way above expectations. We have one of the worst top 6 forward groups in the NHL and our defense is just ugly right now.
On the flip side I'm really excited to see how Filatov, Butler, Cowen, Rundblad and potentially Zibanejad develop this year. It will be an exciting season to watch because of the youth movement we have going, but the results are gonna be ugly.
Agreed with the fun to watch, but as for playoff aspirations, they could happen if a lot of ifs happen, but otherwise, going to be realistic and say this team won't be contending until Lehner is ready to be our # 1 and the prospects all flourish at the same time, which could be like 3 years from now at the very best.
I see you've finally come around and joined the realistic side of things. Welcome!
Gonna be weird when he gets shipped out of Ottawa before the trade deadline...
Michalek-Spezza-Butler
Foligno-Regin-Alfredsson
Greening-ZSmith-Condra
Neil-Konopka-Winchester
That leaves Filatov, da Costa and Z-Bad in the AHL (or SEL for Mika) barring a dominating camp. I think Filatov has the best shot at displacing a 1-way guy (Winnie seems to be the most likely healthy scratch if Filatov proves his worth.)
On defense, these guys all have 1-way deals:
Gonchar-Phillips
Karlsson-Kuba
Lee-Carkner
One of Cowan or Rundblad will also make the team, depending on the greater need (masher vs. puck-mover).
Obviously Anderson and Auld will tend the twine, with Lehner carrying the load in the AHL.
Sens will finish ahead of the stupid Leafs, but I don't think they quite have the horses yet to catch Boston, Buffalo and Montreal in the Northeast. Not ruling it out, but I just want to see development, improvement, hard work and a good environment between the coaches and players.
I expect a playoff berth in 2012-13.
GO SENS GO!
- Dartmouth NS
I'm meeting Neil at a Roger's House function next month, Tookie i'll let him know you already have his bags packed for him.
I think trading Neil actually makes a lot of sense, although I think the term of his contract makes it difficult. However I believe that the organisation sees him as here for the longer haul especially when you consider we have no real cap space issues for the next 2 years at least.
As long as he doesnt know where I live were good! :)
With all our young guns they are going to need protection from guys trying to push them around.
Keeping Neil makes sense at this point.
you mess with the young guys and our fourth line is going to put the hurt on you in a big way.
The second reason is I don't think teams will want to pick Neil up at the deadline because of the extra year on his contract - it's rare that players with term get moved at the deadline, especially players who have a limited skill set.
I don't think 1 more year can be equated to too much term being left on his contract. Just my opinion.
Neil is expendable, there is no place for a 2mil 4th liner. Especially when he isnt even doing his well. The old Neiler was much better.
So were Fisher and Kelly, and they actually played a much bigger role. Neil can be replaced by Smith, Konopka, Winchester. There is no room for him anymore.
But loyalty only goes so far. It only goes so far from the team perspective and it only goes so far from the perspective of the player as well. Every team has had players that they think they will be able to build around who have jumped ship at the first sign of more money or a better chance of winning. It's part of the game and I have no issue with it.
Loyalty is a luxury and can occasionally blind you.
Depends if he fits the plan.
Your argument is fine to a point but it has to be tempered with reality, the other side of it is I'm glad that you don't run the team because we would have a team of 36 year olds on the decline who you've kept around because they have been loyal. Logic and good hockey sense have to enter your equations more often. It's a balance. Loyalty to Alfie above all else - yes. Loyalty to Neil and Phillips above all else - no thanks.
I have no problem with the two guys I have mentioned still being at the club. I still think the 3rd year on the Phillips deal is one too many. I thought that the Neil contract was too much money and term, but I now think I was wrong about that. He absolutely stood up and was counted in the past couple of years when it looked like nobody else gave a shit.
I didn't say he's a lock, but he's definitely better then Winchester. If you'd keep Winchester over Neil, there's not much I can say cause that's just crazy talk.
I am all for keeping Neil but just saying.
I think you're misunderstandin g my statement. Neil has a place on this team, there's no reason to replace him just for the hell of it. His contract is fine, it's only people who don't understand the true market that still complain about it. Neil is here to play, and I'll cheer for him every day he is and not complain and whine about having him here or paying him too much. Neil is a great Senator and deserves more respect then you scrubs are giving him. He's fought for it and earned it!
Not sure why you'd think I'd build a team of 36 year olds just because I'd keep Neil who is 32. Does every team need veterans, yes. Does Ottawa need more then are currently on the roster, no and could still use losing 1 on D.
The Sens will be a young inexperienced team next year who will not be able to compete with the 'big boys' of the league.
But I fully expect them to work hard and compete every night... that gives them a chance at least... better than the 1st four months of last season that is for sure.
I'm not advocating replacing Neil just for the hell of it, but I do believe he's more expendable than most and there are at least a dozen or 15 players who will be on the active roster next year that I would keep over him.
Some I would keep because they are just flat out better than Neil, there are others like Zack Smith for example, who do a similar job to Neil and who are maybe not as good as Neil is right now, who I would keep over him because it serves the team better in the longer term
Balance is the key, which I think we agree on.
Thats what everyone said when we beat Philly end of season, they had no chance in hell. (the sens)
I agree balance is key, we just definitely have a very different view on the balance Neil brings. If there's a fighter on our team who is expendable it's Carkner. But until Smith learns to stop taking stupid penalties, I don't want this team to depend on him and Konopka as the only tough guys. I really think Neil is the type of tough guy you keep around.
I think Carkner sticks around because he is cheap, probably more OK than most at sitting in the press box and, although this can be over rated, seems like a nice guy to have around. My friend who works at the sens says he also looks extremely good with his shirt off but I don't think that should come into it.
I like what Neil brings, I don't think he's as effective as he was but the way he stepped up and battled these past two years was astonishing, especially whn nobody else around him was doing it. He is absolutely worth having around this year. Next year??? Let's see how Smith and Konopka progress.
a bit of a Chris Neil fan myself but during last season, it seemed he shy away from hitting people. he just went around people and stop taking the body. i hope his approach at taking rodgers house wasn't to stay in ottawa longer.
Exactly, worst case scenario he's a good example who protects our younger roster, best case he puts a few in the net along the way too. Win-win!
Neil was offered more $ by other clubs as a UFA (especially the Leafs) but he took less to return to the Sens.
I wouldn't take any amount of money to play with the leafs, would fear waffles or other breakfast items being thrown at me lol
Yes they did beat Philly & the Habs & Tampa (3 times I believe).. but over a full season.. don't know.
Guys like Regin and Foligno are fringe top 6 on our team and realistically there won't be room for BOTH of them in one years time. My guess is that we trade the one who has the better season at the deadline.
we mostly got roasted by the Leafs though, but that could have been due more to shoddy goaltending/def ense.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/boards/thread.php?thread_id=89257&page=3
He more or less said the Sens had a bad year.
Their long-term injuries were not to role players but to key players expected to carry the club. The players filling in did not do a good job.
There was a black cloud over the club from Nov-Jan dealing with Daron's death. (may she rest in peace)
Bad coaching staff that mis-used players.. too many line combos, Gonchar wrong side.. etc.
Sens had improved in goaltending. Young players on the Sens next year that won Calder Cup. Much better coaching.
21 yr-old Filatov better than 39 yr-old Kovy.
Lot of IF's this year in way of health and how young guys will do along with goaltending... will determine where Sens finish.
Was a very good comment.
Each team won 3 games... so I would not say Sens were roasted by the Leafs.. maybe in the first several games against Elliott.
Anyone else still having issues with this site. You can't post back to back comments?
Meaningless games for teams already in a playoff spot, except for the Habs, which is not a great accomplishment to beat.
Yes - that would be fixed if we could increase the comment length to 2000 or 2500 characters.
Its not how many you win but how you win or lose. If I remember correctly Kratos is right,the losses to the LEafs were all one sided pretty much while our 3 wins were close as hell. I could be wrong.
http://www.capgeek.com/charts_floor.php
So if NHL teams can only have 23 players... what is Colorado going to do when they need to spend about 3M to get to the cap floor but already have 23 players?
Trade low salary -- take back high salary -- I guess..
But as he said... GOALTENDING..
I also can't see why every freakin' pre-season we have to put up with Leaf & Habs games. Don't we see them and their f@@@in fans enough in the regular season.
Have some other teams come in for pre-season games.
I have absolutely no idea whats going on in Colorado, isnt it the same front office that put together that great Cup run, what the hell has happened?
They go and get a solid goalie in Anderson from Florida, they had Stastny, Duchene, Stewart and now would of had atleast another top 5 pick, they were looking like a great rebuilding team. Dismantled...
Each team won 3 games... so I would not say Sens were roasted by the Leafs.. maybe in the first several games against Elliott. I miss the days when Ottawa was smoking the Leafs 8-0, 7-0, 10-4, but those were when we had Havlat, Alfie, Spezz, Heatley (douche) lighting it up, right now, we don't have those profilic scorers.
Anyone else still having issues with this site. You can't post back to back comments?
yeah those games against Elliott were not pretty, but unless there were a lot of 1-0 games against them and Anderson stood on his head (like he did in that shootout game), with our inability to score regularly, we weren't matching them skillwise.
whats worse than that is every time we play the leafs it is our second game in back to back games.
02/04/2011 TOR 4 @ OTT 2 Tyler Bozak James Reimer
01/01/2011 TOR 5 @ OTT 1 Tyler Bozak James Reimer
27/11/2010 TOR 0 @ OTT 3 Alex Kovalev Brian Elliott
@ Toronto Maple LeafsDate Score Game Winning Goal Winning Goalie
19/02/2011 OTT 1 @ TOR 0 (SO) Jason Spezza Craig Anderson
02/11/2010 OTT 3 @ TOR 2 Erik Karlsson Brian Elliott
09/10/2010 OTT 1 @ TOR 5 Phil Kessel Jean-Sebastien Giguere
We got beat pretty bad by them in two games, the other being 4-2, and our widest margin of victory was 3-0.
was thinking the same exact thing lol
yeah they do, will be the first one to admit that, just right now, so do we (just being realistic, not being a hater), but things will get better, even Melnyk is preaching patience during this rebuild.
Yeah I saw that... the league really helped them out in divisional games with the Sens schedule anyways.
Man, imagine how that would be abused? lol
My point was both Leafs & Habs play Sens in pre-season games a couple of times I believe... WHY? Sooner prefer other teams
On the plus side I would enjoy reading how we should trade for Andrew Ladd and/or Eric Fehr for another 50 lines of text.
I would like to see the size of the comment box increased. If the size of the comment box could be increased I would like to see that. Sens chirp should do that. he should increase the size of the comment box.
God knows the comment section is filled with those people.
Close proximity and they are who cares warm up games for prospects.
EriK Cole
Brent BurnZ
Brian Roloson
I would like to see that. If Murray could sign one of those players you mentioned or maybe Andrew Ladd or Eric Fehr I would like to see it.
my attention span would never last that long, especially since I read this comment section while at work inbetween working (stupid call center job lol)
I still he's off the charts with the Eric Cole love though.
at least Montreal signed him and not us, take that Habs, one of the worst contracts given in the FA Frenzy in my opinion, Connolly is close behind.
Adam Proteas wrote a piece in THN which stated that Ottawa is one of the 5 teams in the NHL that improved the least amount during the close season. His central point is valid, because we didn't really improve the team that much.
BUT
Where he completely messed up was by refusing to acknowledge that we are clearly in a rebuild and improving the team in the close season for next season wasn't the priority of the last couple of months.
Connolly's contract and attitude are both garbage. You guys should read what the Leafs fans write in the comment section on Yost's HB blog if you want a laugh.
mmmm I do want a good laugh....might actually have to load up HB.
And for the costs associated to having the team travel - closer teams, cheaper games. Not to mention hated rival, better ticket sales.
Money, Money, money
Cowan Rundblad Filatov Petersson and not decided yet Ziby.
Yeah hey why not go after Fleischmann or Bergenheim while were at it!!
Hahaha JoJo the clown!!!
I just read that a few minutes ago and was going to make a post about it. You make a good point, too much blabbing on and trying to be witty, no real information about the organization and what they are trying to accomplish.
Let me guess, you read Yost today.
I don't read HB, if i want to know where people aren't going to be traded I'll read the Ottawa Sun.
http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20110715/NEWS01/110715020/James-Matthews-Binghamton-hockey-pioneer-businessman-dead-77?odyssey=tab|topnews|img|FRONTPAGE
The club made it a priority to visit Petersen in hospital with the trophy which was a classy act. Hopefully they were able to do something similar for James Matthews.
Edit: Dang, missed.
Need. .... Sens game....
Thirsting for.... action....don't know if.....I....can hold out
.... much longer....
(too bad there aren't any blue women or giant reptilians around to keep me busy until October..)
Even if luck prevails and they close out at 8th, they would likely be out in 5 or 6 in round 1
Mid september when season tickets are distributed
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/13194/ottawa_senators2011_draft_review/
I beleive BB16 has that potential for sure and that is why I am glad we signed him 1 way. I would have loved to get another year though.
Vs Montreal 4/7/11 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB9YTcSjRSs
Pre season penalty shot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVJEr3bfpPE
Vs Tampa 3/11/11 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBxWu4p60fM
Vs Philadelphia 4/5/11 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eRU386SWx4
Vs Florida 2/23/11 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78KqxgbTfD4
Vs Boston - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtAbHMEX9bc
Vs Atlanta - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5zYzsVMb4c
the guy is good for 20 or so goals on the second or third line and would probably sign for 1.5-2 mil.
i know we want to give the young guys a chance but he is a character guy with a good work ethic.
JoJo the clown > Tookie the benighted Senschrip commenter!
David Rundblad, D
Jared Cowen, D
Robin Lehner, G
Jakob Silfverberg, C
Patrick Wiercioch, D
Louie Caporusso, C
Bobby Butler, RW
Jim O'Brien, C
Erik Condra, RW
Roman Wick, RW
Eric Gryba, D
Andre Petersson, LW
Colin Greening, C
Chris Wideman, D
Kaspars Daugavins, LW
Markus Sorensen, RW
David Dziurzynski, LW
Mark Stone, RW
Derek Grant, C
I am glad we picked up Konopka and I am glad we ended there.
Yeah those teams that spent stupid won't have the cap room next year when the better UFA's will be out there. Should be interesting to see what happens.
lame
Off topic - What do you guys do to stay cool during long heatwaves like this?
Good! Now the Bfans won't cry when Lehner is in the whole season.