For many Sens fans, all that we know about David Rundblad comes from Youtube videos and comments we read on message boards. This afternoon fans will get a chance to watch Runblad first hand. All the action can be seen live on TSN.
Until now, Rundblad was on the team's reserve roster but he gets a shot against the undefeated Canadian side this afternoon. The game will also feature Jakob Silfverberg who will suit up for the Swedes. Canada and Sweden are both tied atop of Group F.
Still in the early stages of planning but we are hoping to put together another road trip to Binghamton. Game 5 of their series is scheduled for May 21 (a Saturday!) so hopefully it works out. Will post more details when they become available.
Too bad the game is on during work hours. It will be interesting to see how Rundbland and Silfverberg make out.
http://www.myp2pforum.eu/threads/56182-2011-IIHF-World-Championship-(Slovakia)-May-9
Looks like there's a few links at the bottom of the page.
two things, one why has Rundblad not played up till now.
and two, and unrelated, are you planning a bus trip to Bingo?
I would really like to go and want to make plans,
thanks
I feel like both of these questions are answered directly in the post.
Go Sweden!
sorry Chirp I did not see this anywhere,
If you are planning a bus trip to Bingo, when would it be for?
thx
Haha also in the post. May 21
Also, I think Miguel is drunk.. I'm kinda jealous
I had the game to tape on the PVR before I knew Rundblad was playing! Now I may just cancel what I was going to do and watch it live. Havlat and Spezza are the 2 other players we drafted that I was this stoked about coming to camp (yes I know we didn't draft Rundblad). Sometimes it seems to good to be true that we got him. This time it isn't : )
I really hope Michalek's injury isn't serious cause if it isn't BM should REALLY shop him this summer. He's a liability and isn't worth the 4.33 he makes. Which is why the Sharks traded him after 1 season with that new contract they gave him.
THEY KNEW they overpaid. Which is why Wilson told BM: Couture, Clowe, and Seto weren't going anywhere. He wanted to get rid of Michalek and Had BM in a corner, knowing there was no chance Heatley was walking into the Sens dressing room again.
Cue one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history.
Should have traded him to LA
The guy gets injured way too damn much, sometimes because of bad luck- but it isn't going to do the team any good if he gets hurt again next season for an extended period of time. I'm tired of these soft Europeans à la Hemsky and Gaborik who is incredibly skilled but injury prone. If we can get a more durable top 6 winger for MM I would say go for it. Reminds me a lot of Andrei Kostiskyn. Same type of player. When healthy he's pretty effective, we've all seen what he can do.
Too bad he's soft. He's still really good, though.
Does everyone remember the hype over Roman Wick last year?
As for the callups this year, I don't mean to be negative, however in my opinion I thought Peter Regin finished then 09-10 season better then any of these guys finished the 10-11 season and look at the disappointment Regin was this year. There are no guarantees any of these Bingo guys will be major contributors to next years Senators team.
@conor smythe - I would be amazed to find 1 other person who believes Michalek is truly a 3rd line player. At best that's the opinion one would expect from a casual fan if not just someone looking at a stats sheet for the first time.
its funny though, cause I'll bet you can find 1000 people who agree mike fisher is a 3rd line centre.. michalek has very similar numbers, and struggles to find chemistry, just like fish.
4 years ago, I'll bet peoples expectations of fisher are exactly the same as yours for michalek.. but he never broke out. and I don't expect 9mm will either.
I like the guy, I just don't see him doing anything more than he's been doing so far (including getting injured). can't complain with 25 goals. but the price tag is way too high, and he'll never become an assist guy with the way he plays..
If he was on the 3rd line he would not be getting 25 goals anymore. And those 1000 people who agree mike fisher is a 3rd line center are ALL wrong, because he never has been. I'm still confused how some think this is a matter of opinion still.
Are you expecting point per game production from your 2nd line? That would be a sweet team to have, but very rare in a 30 team league.
rundblad looks aight so far!
After looking at his numbers again, his production in SJ the 3 seasons before coming to Ottawa would be acceptable (55-66pts/seaso n) But common, 12 and 15 assists the past 2 seasons? thats just embarassing for a top 6 player.
On a roster that he played on such as ours, his assist tally may be passable.
You also have to keep in mind that when he played for SJ he played along side Joe Thornton :S
either way, if we keep him I'm ok with that, I just think contract-wise, if we were to move somebody it should be him or gonchar (dreaming, I know)
Ah ok, given your expectations, I can definitely understand the disappointment. The fact of the current nhl is that you hope for PPG pace from 1st line, 50-60pts from 2nd line and 30-45 from 3rd. The teams that match this are probably fighting in the playoffs every year, the teams that exceed are the elite and the teams that don't match this are playing golf with the rest of us.
With Michalek specifically though, i will say he is not an assists guy, he's purely there for scoring, cycling, good defense and great positional play.
Runblad has looked alright for his first game.
... and he scored 22 goals. That's pretty good.
I jealous :S
Hopefully Edmonton picks Larsson first. They don't need anymore forwards lol
I don't think he looks all that bad. Took a bad penality down low tho when muscling with Spezza.
He's a slight young man and can get tougher, but ya looks good on the PP.
He's the type of player that likes to make his teammates "look good" if you know what I mean. Plays well with other skilled guys.
I don't see him on the ice with say a checking forward line. Should be top 4 defenceman.
Who would pair up with him tho? Gonch? Maybe Lee..
Bring on the offseason I can't wait to see this team play!
He ended this season strong. He was finally over his knee injury.
That elbow to the head from the Russian player can happen to anyone..
He played in 66 games this past season with 18 goals.. 4 of which were shorthanded I believe.
Douchebag played 80 games and got 28 goals.. so not much different.. but douchebag did have more assist.
Ottawa had a bad team this year, no confidence.. UNTIL the kids started playing..
Next year there will be ups and downs no doubt.. but I'm looking forward to the young guys playing.
Michalek was on pace for 27 goals and 15 assists in his first full year as an Ottawa Senator. It was an off year for him assist wise as in the previous four seasons he'd collected more assists than goals.
Michalek was on pace for 22 goals and 19 assists this season. Not quite the production we expect but everyone knows his knee didn't return to full strength until about halfway through the season after which he was very good down the stretch.
Please go look at the stat lines for 2nd line forwards in the NHL. You'll find the average is right around 40 points. A 2nd line forward who produces 60+ points is what you call an extremely valuable asset in the NHL. Very few teams in the NHL have more than three 60+ point forwards.
For your information, in European Elite Leagues, the top scorer on each team wears a different coloured helmet so that the fans know who the stars are. It's an old ritual and the fans love it.
The Swedish Elite League is very strong and the fact that Rundblad won the Salming Award for Top Defenseman at such a young age shows there's something to the hype.
Honestly I see top 6 with potential top 3 upside in Silfverberg. He plays such a mature game, he hits, he wins puck battles, has a nice shot and is great defensively. Could probably slot into our top 6 as early as next year.
If he stays great if he goes no big deal.
I think he is replaceable, I also agree with the chemistry or lack there of, he can score by himself just fine though and has speed and can find the back of the net.
time will tell if he gets moved or stays and who will replace him.