Under Paul MacLean, the Sens are expected to have an improved power play and few players will benefit from that more than Karlsson. Along with Gonchar and Rundblad (assuming he cracks the roster), offence from the back end should be a strength for the Sens.
Karlsson averaged 23:30 per game last season and will likely see that number increase next year. The Sens are expected to have a young group of defenceman and there are going to be nights where Karlsson will play increased minutes because a young guy is struggling. If that's the case, Karlsson will have to be better in the defensive side of the game.
The young Swede finished with an ugly -30 last season but under the guidance of MacLean, should learn to be a more effective player in his own end next year. Karlsson will never be a player that dominates physically but he can still improve on his positioning and ability to angle guys off the puck.
Last year Karlsson was a player that snuck up on some people.
Fans knew he was talented but EK proved he has the skills to be an elite offensive defenceman in this league. If he can continue to develop the defensive side of his game people around the league will really start to take notice.
The Sens are expected to play more of a puck possession style next season and that will mean guys like Karlsson will be given a little more opportunity to be creative with the puck. His offensive numbers should improve as a result. That being said, the Sens are a team that will likely struggle to score goals this year which should prevent Karlsson from a huge boost in his totals.
2011/2012 PREDICTION- 80 GP 16 G 40 A 56 PTS
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as an Ottawa Senator !
Chirp, something I noticed for awhile, thought I'd bring it up. On the Home page where you post your Feature story, that opening section of text which is available to read, before clicking into the full story, for some reason when I do click into the actual story, that section of text is almost the exact colour as your background and it's almost unreadable without highlighting it. Sure, I've already read it on the home page, but I thought I'd let you know.
Cheers
Haven't experienced that here, what browser are you using?
Karlsson last year was the most exciting player on the Sens (alfie spezza out), hard not to lean forward in your chair when he had the puck on his stick.
Karlsson scoring in the all star shoot out was way cool when so many forward superstars failed.
Great goalies know what the forwards they face have in their bag of tricks and have a good idea what they are going to do. Karlsson is a wild card in the shoot out.
Sick Sick skill
I find it funny that the article fails to mention Ottawa's blue line or Alfie. and come on, it took a lot of wrongs to finish 13th in the east, I think we can do better than 13th.
I think your comment on Spezza depends on how you measure best. In points, I doubt highly it will be his best season, but I do expect that he will be a more effective 2-way player and will keep growing as a leader for this group. If that's how you are defining "best" ... I agree
You are correct !
I meant it in points and all around play !
.... AND? Did he not say anything else?
You mentioned that the Sens will have a group of young defenseman.... the issue right now is there is no room on the blueline.. for Cowen & Rundblad.
That's the issue. Who will leave for these 2 to get into the lineup?
Our blueline right now
Phillips
Kuba
Gonchar
Karlsson
Carkner
Lee
I see only one of those leaving and us carrying an extra Dman the entire season.
One of Lee or Carkner will be leaving to make room unless Kuba goes on waivers, I really think that Carkner is the odd man out.
Ditto for me
Maybe... but he is the most physical of them all... until Cowen is ready.
Kuba should be the odd man out.. but will Murray waive him? I'm not sure... Nobody will take him... so Sens are stuck. There will be injuries though... so maybe that's how to get them in.
I still think Kuba is the odd man out. Also, if Carkner's role is more of a here and there enforcer this year, the team could easily carry him as the 8th Dman to start the year. The team will definitely carry at least 7 though.
Physical yes, but what good does that do when he's out of position and doesn't have the footspeed to even be physical until it is too late. Look at our 4th line and why do we need Carkner still?
I think so too but that all relies on Melnyk agreeing to another buy out with some still on the books.
I see Carkner as the most expendable.
Correction: most easily expendable
How come its so hard to envision a world where Kuba simply doesn't make the team? Look at what the Rangers did with Redden... cut him from the team, sent him to the minors to make room for younger players; and his salary was over 2 million dollars more than Kuba's.
We've passed the date where his contract can be bought out, but I'm pretty sure we can send him down to the minors if there are 7 guys who outperform him at camp.
I think the buyout window has passed, no? I think he'll either be waived, sent to the minors or carried until he can be traded. I'm not against the 8 D on the roster to start the year and also while we give Rundblad & Cowen their 9 game tryout.
The buy out is an option but I wouldn't want us to have Kuba on next years cap plus I'm not sure Murray wants to add to his already lengthy buy-out list.
The best we can hope for is that somebody gets desperate enough to trade for Kuba. Next best thing would be somebody asking after Gonchar or Lee.
I think Carkner is dman 7 and one of Rundblad or Cowen starts in Bingo.
http://the6thsens.com/2011-articles/august/alfieskatesrundbladspeaks.html
PRAISE ALFIE!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!
I'm using IE 8.0.7601.17514. Verified the same thing with IE 9.0.8112.164121 as well.
Just tried Firefox 3.6.18 and I don't have that problem. Looks like EI continues to disappoint me.
Sorry?
Apology accepted...
Nobody is going to pitch a trade for Kuba. I think the fact that we aren't in contention makes it MORE important to get him off the roster because he's taking valuable minutes away from a player who has a future here and needs to begin his development. Its not like we're in cap hell and by pushing to sign Kovalev, Melnyk has shown he's more than willing to throw money away.
And enough with the Lee bashing. The guy is just 24 and is beginning to show that he can be a decent player. Top pairing player? No, but he never should have been a top 10 pick so he shouldn't have to live up to the expectations of one.
The Rangers are one of the wealthier teams in the league. They don't care how they spend bucks. Make a mistake signing a player... no problem..demote him. This is just another way to circumvent the cap.
NHL.com has their ticker updated with the next NHL game!! Signs that hockey season is approaching... 1/2 August down...
Yes agreed -- Sens 4th line will be a handful -- if it's Konopka, Winchester & Neil.. but you also need toughness on D. Carkner, right now, is the only one to fit the bill on that... Cowen can't do it right away.
I know with Cheechoo it was 2 yrs.. 600K last year & 1.6 this year -- or something like that.
I know we don't have NY type money, but I wasn't suggesting that we demote Kuba so that we could sign a free agent to an enormous contract like the Rangers do; Demoting Kuba to the minors and putting Rundblad in his place only adds a rookie contract. Kuba gets paid either way and anyone thinking he'll do anything in Ottawa next year that merits 3.7 million is dreaming.
Yes, the buyout period has gone by. That is no longer an option.
Currently they can trade Kuba. He can't be waived until the waiver period opens just before the season (September 26th?) ... or he could retire.
Kuba may be attractive to one of the teams looking to reach the Cap floor (Col, NYI, Pho, Win). None of those team have holes on defense but Colorado & NewYork might be in need of a little more experience.
MikaZibanejad Mika Zibanejad
I wear #93 because I'm born 19(93) :))
so no more number 12 i assume
And sit down before you hurt yourself in your rush to defend Brian Lee. I think he was one of our most consistent dmen towards the end of last year. But him leaving is much more likely than Phillips, Karlsson, Rundlad or Cowen. That was the point you missed as it sailed by.
subban looked very ready to play in the nhl but instead they put him in the AHL for 1 full season(sorta since he was called up in february then went back) and during the time pk spent in AHL he earned him self a spot on the AHL all star team and won the AHL President's Award.
and i agree with round leaf, maybe kuba just doesnt make the team this year?
Again with the money. The only way that Kuba gets traded is if we accept an even shittier contract in return. Does Scott Gomez with his 7.5 million dollar cap hit for 3 more years and 38 points last season (without missing any time) sound appealing? So that rules that out.
The other options out there are keeping him on the roster, where he'll take away a spot from someone who worked their asses of last year to merit it, and still earn 3.7 million; we could buy him out when another window opens (think hard about that one because that will SAVE us money); or put him on waivers and have him play in the minors.
Kuba makes 3.7 million dollars next year if he's on our payroll (NHL or AHL) we aren't saving any money by having him play here.
I do not believe that Melnyk wants to be paying Kuba 3.7 million to play in Bingo or sit on his arse somewhere watching the pay cheques come in. If Murray could trade Kuba for somebody with about the same money but who had a possible future with the sens after this year I think he would seriously look at it.
I'll type slowly so you'll understand, I am sure that the sens want Kuba off the roster and I agree that he is taking up a spot from somebody more deserving, it isn't just about the dollar amount it's about what the money gets you. Throwin 3.7 million away doesn't seem like a great idea when we aren't going to be legitimate contenders in this upcoming season.
In pure hockey terms getting rid of Kuba is a no-brainer, but that isn't the only consideration for Melnyk.
Humour me here because maybe my thickness is preventing me from following your flawless logic, but if we aren't a contender, and Kuba wouldn't be a difference maker anyway, and taking minutes away from a young player will only hurt said players development, and the cap difference is only around $800,000, how is Kuba playing in the NHL NOT throwing away 3.7 million dollars?
How is this money saved, or redeemed? What will Kuba be doing next year to assuage Melnyk's concerns and feel that his investment of 3.7 million dollars was a sound financial decision?
I also think though that Melnyk's pride is a consideration, it's not solely about spending or saving money. I think he would rather spend 3.7 million on having Kuba play for the first part of the season and hope that we get something for him at the deadline than spend it on him in the minors or on waivers.
I agree with everything you say about Kuba being a waste of a roster spot or a waste of money. In fact I think Kuba is a waste of oxygen but I think that for this year money is just as, if not more important, than the on ice product.
I know Melnyk is rich and has thrown money at bad players before but that was when he thought we were cup contenders. I just think that the money is more of a consideration than you think it is.
In terms of keeping him to try to move him at the deadline... I still have nightmares about the trade deadline 3 years ago when it was rumoured that we could have unloaded him for a first round pick. Instead we resigned him to the monstrous contract he has today. I'd love for Kuba to get it together and boost his value, but I really don't see it happening. I'd also like a time machine to go back and tell Murray to trade him 3 years ago.
Haven't experienced that here, what browser are you using?
I'm using IE 8.0.7601.17514. Verified the same thing with IE 9.0.8112.164121 as well.
Just tried Firefox 3.6.18 and I don't have that problem. Looks like EI continues to disappoint me.
IE 7, 8 & 9 have an IE 6 compatibility mode. The button is next to the refresh button. Unselect it and the grey-out issue goes away. IE 6 was a non-standard piece of shit but so many people used it, many web designs were modified to accommodate for its stupidity...
They called spezza a star
My bet is that he will be " servicable" next season. That said, I would welcome a trade to get a young guy minutes.
This was all me. You will know when it's the new contributor writing.
I'm using IE 8.0.7601.17514. Verified the same thing with IE 9.0.8112.164121 as well.
Just tried Firefox 3.6.18 and I don't have that problem. Looks like EI continues to disappoint me.
IE 7, 8 & 9 have an IE 6 compatibility mode. The button is next to the refresh button. Unselect it and the grey-out issue goes away. IE 6 was a non-standard piece of shit but so many people used it, many web designs were modified to accommodate for its stupidity...
Yeah, I did that after I found out Firefox worked. Man I hate IE.
No Looking Ahead today. Going to feature a roundtable I did with a few other Sens blogs.
Subban came from junior hockey - playing against boys his age. Rundblad has been playing against men in Sweden. What he needs to do is get used to the NHL game & ice surface.. different from the SEL.
When Murray signed him to that contract he was coming off a good season.. and Ottawa need a puck moving D.
More freaky stuff going on. When I enter the main page I see this:
Wednesday Roundtable
So it looks like Chirp has posted his new story or is in the middle of doing so but ran into trouble. The website also logs me off my account. When I log back in, I'm taken to the last readable story, Looking Ahead with EK. Hence posting this comment. When I click the SensChirp Home button, back to square one again.
Here are my predictions for next season
1- Jason Spezza 65pts
2-Daniel Alfredsson 59pts
3-Gonchar 47pts
4- Karlsson 46pts
5- Bobby Butler 39
6- Milan Michalek 31