Having finally had a chance to watch the game on TV, I was quite impressed with the way the Aeros play. They do such a great job of clogging things up in their own end and are making life pretty tough for the BSens. The good news is the Sens finally seemed to be finding their legs late in the game which is a good sign heading into Friday.
I really think that long layoff between the conference final and the final has hurt Bingo early on. Add in the long break between game 2 and 3 and you can see why the Sens are having trouble finding their legs. I predict they will be much better on Friday night.
- It's still quite early in the process but the Ottawa Senators have begun to work on contracts for RFAs Bobby Butler and Eric Condra. Should be interesting to see what each player gets on their next deal.
- Beginning on June 6, the Sens will launch a new series called Senate Reform (See the teaser under the Video Tab). Few details on the series just yet but apparently it will be modeled off the success of Oil Change and will feature a number of beyond the scene features leading up to the NHL draft. Good on the organization for trying out something like this.
- Draft day prediction: The Sens first pick will be either Ryan Strome or Gabriel Landeskog
- The next head coach of the Ottawa Senators will be Paul Maclean, Kirk Muller, Craig MacTavish or Kurt Kleinendorst. Let's hear your predictions for the next coach and first round pick.
Eric Condra 1 year two-way contract
I still like Couturier if he is still avaible (big and looks nhl ready)
Paul Maclean will be our next coach 2 year contract.
As for the draft, I would really like to see Gabriel L come to Ottawa but unfortunately I think he'll be gone. Given his keen interest in Ottawa and the fact that we're building team Sweden in Ottawa, I'd like to see us go up and get him. I think his leadership and NHL readiness set him apart, although I think his upside might be less. Unlike Florida, Colorado and some of the other clubs, I don't think we're as bad as our record so we need someone who can play now as opposed to years from now. In order, I would like to see us take: RNH (I really like him); Gabriel L (for reasons mentioned); Huberdeau; and Strome.
Just piecing together stuff we already know. While MacLean and Muller were among the candidates interviewed, they certainly were NOT the first people Murray spoke to.
Personally I'd rather the cost and return of moving Nashville's into the top 10, then trying to move up from 6th. I also like the quality, skill and depth in the top 10.
Another interesting alternative would be to move both up by a small margin to target specific players the team likes. (So maybe upgrade to 4/5th & 15/16th.
What are your thoughts?
As for the coach, I predict that the Sens will hire Kirk Muller and I have a feeling that Kurt Kleinendorst will be brought up as an assistant.
If I'm wrong about the coach then it will be Paul Maclean that's hired.
What kind of prediction is that? Not exactly going out on a limb. Be a man and pick one.
Haha at least I left out Cameron and Boughner.
20 goals for BB16 next season.
Paul Maclean for head coach. Cutourier drafted.
Kurt Kleinendorst
Maclean as coach.
Butler 3 year deal 1 way
Condra 2 year deal 1 way
no idea what the cost will be.
And that fat head hitchcock, thank god.
Lando or Coutuier/ hub ...and if all fails Zibanejab
all the 2nds we stock up forward postions
butler 3 years 1way
condra 2 years 2 way
Unfortunately, he's signed on to Djurgårdens until 2013.
By then though you can imagine how pleased which ever team drafts him will be.
A while ago somebody posted a link to a you tube video of two sens fans performing Quit Playing Games With My Heart and fitting it to the disasterous season just gone. For those that haven't seen it, it's very funny and my personal highlight was them trying to trade Redden for Chara on xbox or something similar.
The organisation liked it so much that they invited them to SBP for a chat and have asked them to produce another video over the next month or so.
RNH
... just kidding my guess is Strome/Landesko g as well
Fla 3rd overall
Erik Gudbranson ( hasn't signed and Murray loves hometown boys Orleans )
Ottawa 6 th
Ottawa 21 st
Boston 2nd
Weinroch
Seems like overpayment but that would be 2 top 3 players and Ottawa still has there 2nd and chi 2ndOttawa's top 4 runblad karlsson cowan gudbranson
Just an idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCLOkXitFZE
This is awesome.
Gudbranson was a 3rd overall pick who made the nhl team last year but the GM wouldn't agree to a contract so he could delay him another year in junior. I really think you have a good idea here, but I think at the very least you'd have to add 1 more 2nd rounder from Ottawa, maybe even their 1st next year (lottery protected).
6th pick - Landeskog (yes he will slip)
13th pick via trade with Flames (21st and Chicago's 2nd) - Mark McNeill
Coach - Paul Maclean
I honestly thought about another 1st next yr or another 2nd but if its a lottery pick next year that would be tough pill to swallow but another 2nd is fine with me either chi or are's next year
6th Pick - Huberdeau (Couturier if he's the only one left)
21st Pick - moved up to get Zibanejab/Strom e or kept and take Saad or Rask
BB - 3 yr 7mil 1 way
Condra - 3yr 3mil 2 way
Agreed. I'm really amazed lottery protecting picks is not more common in NHL. It's almost a default in the NBA these days.
Unless Gudbranson converts to forward thats not an option, we dont need more D, we need scoring up front.
Im all for adding offence up front but to have the top 4 dmen of the future and having 3 out of 4 locked up on 3 year entry level deals leaves Ottawa with lando hub or couturier and with huge capspace guaranteed for offensive help via trade or Ufa for at least 3 years
This means Ottawa goes from rebulid to rebuilt in 2 to 3 years max
With the 21st selection they move down to 26-30 and take Tomas Jurco (pick up another 3rd)
Butler is signed to a 2 year, 1 way deal. Slightly over 1mil per year.
Condra is signed to 1 year, 2 way deal.
Maclean is Head coach.
Kleinendorst as assistant.
Simon Gagne signed.
Patrick Wiercioch and 3rd or Sam Gagner. Or (brooks liach or Tomas Kopecky signed)
Liach being the best case scenario)
Gagne Spezza Butler
Michalek Liach/Gagner Alfredsson
Greening Regin Landeskog
Foligno Smith Neil
Jesse Winchester
Phillips Karlsson
Cowen Gonchar
Lee/Kuda Rundblad
Kuba/Lee
Anderson
McElhinney
Brooks Liach may is clearly the best option as the second line center but Ottawa will not be the only team looking to get him. Gagner comes to mind as they have so many young forwards on Edmonton he may be able to get for the small price of Wiercioch. I say small because we have Cowen, Rundblad, Gryba, Borowiecki, Smith etc...
He may not be the most consistent however he has over 40 points in each of his NHL seasons, is still only 21 years old and a change may be all he needs to take his game to the next level.
And how exactly will you re-sign those guys when their ELC is up, no way you manage to keep all 3. The SENS situation doesnt allow for more D's to be inserted unless you get rid of Kuba, Gonchar or Phillips and I dont see them going anywhere.
Assistant Head Coach - Dave Cameron
Entry Draft - #6 - Couturier or trade up to get Landeskog
- #21 - trade up to get Mark Scheifele C or Jenson RW/LW
- #35 - Tomas Jurco LW or Tyler Biggs RW
Personally, I would love to see Murray use the assets at his disposal to find a way to draft both Couturier & Scheifele. That would cure the center position problem in Ottawa for the next 10 yrs. They can always fill in the wings with what they already have, they could draft some decent forwards in the 2nd round plus there is the UFA market (Fleischmann/Le ino) & of course through future drafts.
It would also be great if Murray could put together a package to acquire Florida's pick using roster players & some prospects not named Cowen, Lehner or Rundblad.
Drafting Landeskog is a possibility, But I dont see the sens trading down in the draft with that 21 pick. If anything they're going to move up with that pick.
Simon Gagne is not going to sign with the sens - he's at the tail end of his career and is looking for cups. Look for him to sign with Philly again or a team like that.
I don't see Edmonton giving up Sam Gagne, especially when he is still so young. He's a player that gives a lot back to his team and can do a lot of different things for his team. Weirchoch and a 3rd just wont sell it. Don't forget Edmonton is a rebuilding team and having so many young players is not taken for granted by their management.
You left out Silfverburg in your lineup, he's going to crack the sens liney next year. ( I know you said tentative, but this would be a change I would make)
Spreading the ice time across a top 4-6 instead of a top 2 will help keep their next contracts lower while they are still determining a pecking order. Kuba, Phillips, Gonchar will likely no longer be around by the time this money is needed. Maybe even Michalek could be gone. Anderson would likely be leaving at that time as well as Lehner should be ready by then. They'd probably just buy Kuba out like they might anyways this summer.
Also their big contracts are so far down the line it's pretty silly to avoid a great trade based on unknowns far down the road. The higher 1st would help provide a more preferred offensive pick at 3 then at 6th as well. Not all of our picks this year are going to be scoring forwards. BM's already said he's looking for a goalie or two and I'd be amazed if there are not at least 2-3 D taken as well.
I reckon mucho effort is being made to move Kuba at the draft, maybe in an effort to move up from 21st. Hell I'd offer the 21st and Kuba to move DOWN a couple of spots.
Gonchar philly kuba(next year) contracts would be expired by the time 3 out of 4 needed there contracts so use there money to re up the 3 out of 4 futures
LOL ... Sadly I agree! Kuba just needs to disappear.
#21 - Trade with MWild and get Zibanejad (package Cowen)
Re-sign Butler - 3 years, $6.5M, 1 way
Re-sign Condra - 2 years, 2.4M, 2 way
Tank and trade Alfie, Neil, Regin at deadline for picks, draft Yakupov...(Dats yuk + Bure = Yakupov)
2013-14+ Roster
Yakupov Spezza Butler
Michalik Zibanejad Landeskog
Petersson Da Costa Silfverberg
Foligno Smith Greening
Karlsson Rundblad
Wiercioch Lee
Phillips Smith
Gryba
Anderson/Lehner
Lehner/Anderson
Silfverburg is playing in sweden next year, he just re-signed with his team.
Gagne showed this playoffs that he still has some jump left he is only 31 to say he is at the end of his career is unfair. I only say him as he could come cheaper than he should go for due to past injuries. He defiantly would look amazing next to spezza.
Gagner on Edmonton is always in trade rumors. With there lack of defense and magnus parjarvi, hall, eberle, RNH (most likely) for the right price he could be had. Maybe I didn't put enough in my trade but it is defiantly a start.
WTF, package Cowen? I give up on you Tookie.
Dasyuk + Bure = best ever player in the history of the nhl, not some random prospect.
He's not a random player Jabs, 50 goals, 101pts as a 17 year old in the OHL, hits, fights and even speaks english...
He's already been compared to the likes of Bure and Datsyuk, im not making this shit up. This guy is the next Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Malkin...
First pick overall: Couturier or Landeskog(Ideal)
Next head coach: Kirk Muller or KK
I hope they sign BB16 for at least 2 years on a 1 way preferably 3.
Being the next Datsyuk is very different from being Datsyuk + Bure ... unless you meant Valeri Bure. He's still just a prospect though and not worth trading key pieces plus tanking for.
21st pick Puempel
Not the ideal scenario, just being realistic.
Butler : 3 years 1 way 1.5 per
Condra : 1 year 2 way
Condra: 2 years, 900k avg, 2 way
6th - Lando (he might slip, if he's around at 4 and NJ looks like taking a forward, Murray will probably try to swap picks with them).
21st - They won't use the pick, it's a big part of the trade they make to get a legit 1st line LW.
Coach - Paul McLean
First off 21st+Cowen would get a LOT more than just the 10th overall pick (Cowen was 9th overall and is NHL ready now).
Secondly, somebody needs to explain the term untouchable to you, as in "Alfie is an untouchable", he doesn't want to be traded. Neil is a locker room guy, wouldn't trade him either unless it was a good offer.
Also, I believe it's bad karma to tank, last time Ottawa did it, they got Daigle. DAIGLE!!!!
Finally, that defensive group looks weaaaakkkkkkkkk!
P.S. Butler is not getting 2mil+
#21.. who cares, we're going to package our 2nd, plus one of the 2nd's we've acquired for a top 15 pick.. thats better than 21st
Coach - Mclean: anybody who has worked with babcock for so long is ok in my books
Bobby Butler - Give him whatever he wants
New GM. I've bitten my tongue for too long. every one of your trade proposals is utter trash. sorry man
Well said! Only thing I disagree with is Butler getting 3 years. I believe it's going to be 1 or 2 years (that way he's still RFA at the end of his next contract).
Anyhow, my quick take on the game was that the Sens key players were horrible. Locke, Butler, Potulny, Greening did nothing until the last 5 minutes. They need these guys to step up or Saturday may be the last game of the season.
2) Trade Cowen. Oh dear. Have you been paying attention? Cowen IS the future of the Senators blueline. He's ALMOST untouchable.
3) 2+mil per year for a guy with 10 goals? He doesn't even have half of a full NHL season under his belt, and you would pay him a similar salary to Andrew Ladd and Dan Cleary? How about you let the guy prove himself first, THEN reward him.
4) The fact that you even use the word 'tank' in serious conversation about this coming season immediately dismisses ANY semblance of credibility that you might have had left.
Could you be more lost? You're going to sign Butler for over 2mil a season when he hasn't done anything in the nhl? Glenn Sather? Is that you?
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=367672
GET IT DONE MURRAY
what do you think karlsson's contract is going to be?
and how about regin, i am going to predict regin is going to put up 40points this season or else he will (and i hate to use this word) be a "bust".
i hope the work foligno does this summer works too (rember how stamkos, spezza, crosby) all on diffrent occasions did series hard work over the summer and came back and played like stars.
just imagine what our 3rd line can be in 2years time
foligno - regin/da costa - silfverberg
I wonder if the Sens will have enough cap room to sign him. ~7.5 mil a year is probably what he's askin'.
Imagine a Spezza-Richards top 6.....
Maclean
And trade Cowen?? bahahahahaaaaaa aaaaa
I like your question Jabs. I bet most readers would like moving NSH's pick for a higher one to be the best for our franchise in the long run. I imagine the cost is high to move up those few spots, when we'd still get a great player at 6th.
Where does someone like Wiercioch - who could be a good top 4 D or could never make the NHL - get us? Shannon? Regin? I'd rather not trade Regin just yet, or Winchester for that matter. Certainly not Foligno or Michalek. Does Wick count as sweetening the pot? I find it hard to imagine Neil going. Wouldn't mind parting with Gonchar, would love to part with Kuba, but who wants either? Lee is improving and should stay.
Interested to hear what people think each of these scenarios would take.
Quoting Novascotian:
I'm pretty sure that if MacLean is named head coach, he will be able to choose his own assistants. Besides, I would much prefer to have Kleinendorst continue working his magic Bingo.
He'd probably sign a 6 year 6M deal and he's 31 and will soon start declining.
BUILD FROM WITHIN FOLKS! That's how you get the camaradery you see on rising young teams. You don't get that with teams that build on UFAs.
The next head coach of the Ottawa Senators will be Kirk Muller
and Tookie should stop posting.
I love the idea of bringing in Simon Gagne, his personally one of the guys I look up too.
Draft PBA but if you have the choice - Landeskog or Huberdeau.
Lindy Ruff let go one if his assistant coaches today. Rumour has it they are looking to bring in Mike Foligno.
Could they come after Nick? I would really hate to lose that guy. He does play with an edge, not an elite scorer but his attitude & toughness is what I like.
I was also going to bring up Gudbranson as well. Rumours out there is he does not want to sign with Florida. So they will have to look the trade route.
I know the Sens have D prospects out the ying-yang but if you could package Weircoch + our 6th rd pick + a 2nd round + maybe a 3rd rd pick or a roster player/prospect for Gudbranson & their 3 rd pick. I would certainly do that.
NYR did not pay much for Erixon.
Gudbranson is local kid. One mean SOB on D. Partner him with Cowen in the future. WOW.
You get a good young D + move up in the draft.
NJD head scout said they're looking at 8 to 12 players... This either means they are looking to trade slighly down or they're planning to draft off the grid
CBJ are being pressured into acquiring an impact player for next year... Will they give up their 8th pick?
How about our 35th + Michalek + Wiercoch (or Benoit)? We'd then get 6th, 8th and 21st... DROOL...
Don't think I would move Michalek.
Murray wants to acquire top 6 players... not move them out.
He also said at the hot-stove meeting with Season Ticket holders that he would try to bring in a UFA/RFA that is UNDER 30.
I always wanted Landeskog or Strome!!!!
Cowen, Rundblad, Lehner, Karlsson and Butler better not be going anywhere. doesnt anybody else remember a team that tried to fast track a rebuild?
WE DONT NEED BIG NAME f.a's UFA or RFA!!! PERIOD.
They're older, they're EXPENSIVE right away against the cap, they cost you younger players down the road when you hit cap problems because of the BIG FA on your cap (see chicago Hossa + Campbell=No byfuglien!!!)
And why should we part with an elite young talent for more of the same?
No f.a's minus a back up goalie. Run with the kids next year. Next f.a class is much better anyways!
Huberdeau miraculously falls into our lap at #6. The guy proved so many people wrong with what he accomplished this year, winning it all. I have been hoping he would fly under the radar since March, sadly, it looks like he soared..
If Zack Phillips is still available in the 15-20 spot, move up with a 2nd or 3rd or a defensive prospect and our 21st.
Paul MacLean is sounding very promising. I think Kirk Muller is Dallas bound and I'm not crazy about the idea of Kleinendorst leaving Bingo. Others in my mind would be a bust.
I wouldn't care if we gave them a deal like Foligno and Condra or whatever. I dont have high hopes for anyone minus:
Cowen, Rundblad, Lehner, Butler and Wiercioch.
Also if we are going to deal Wiercioch then it better be a rock solid talented young player in return!!!
He's not an elite scoring talent.. but watching him down the stretch in Ottawa -- he's a very smart player.
Good defensively.
I would not want to give up on him and I don't think Murray will.
If Buffalo wants Foligno that bad... their 16th overall-- straight up. If Murray wants to throw in a 3rd round pick... or Boston's 2nd... then okay.
But I prefer Foligno's stays.
Foligno I would also not trade for a 16th pick unless the 16th would be way better than him, risky deal as we have not seen his full potential I don't think.
Butler Spezza is going to be two of the first line and a player by trade or FA.
Second line could be Alfie Landskog and a Michalek upgrade.
other lines Condra Greening Strome
Foligno ZSmith ?
The year after Petersson Silverburg could be ready, Alfie may retire so there is one spot,
Yes, they're an expensive option, but we need to fill voids. As of right now, we do not have a proven second line centre and top 6 LW from within.
As much as I like the young players in our system, it would be fool-hearty to chance a good season out of them next year.
Peter Regin hasn't proven himself yet. Da Costa hasn't proven anything yet. And whoever we draft with our top pick might not even play next season too!
We need to fill the voids with players who can score some freakin' goals, which the team lacked terribly last season. And even with the young kids called up, we still didn't score *many* goals on a consistent basis.
Alls I'm saying is that it would be a huge risk to slot a Da Costa or a Regin in our top six and hope that they can produce.
I like Murray's intention of getting a UFA this offseason, and wait with eagerness to see who it is.
I believe that DaCosta has not impressed yet, but it's no fault of his own. He played 11:22, 6:47, 11:58, and 15:32 respectively in his four games, and in only one of those games did he play with someone besides Lessard and Winchester. Frankly, he hasn't had an opportunity to impress yet, because the coach didn't give him the opportunity that he should have had in the four meaningless games that finished the season. Yet another reason why Clouston was a skinflap.
I don't think anyone here thought that a college FA who is 5'11 and 180lbs would be a checker. He's a 2nd line center in the NHL or he's nothing, so he needs to be tried out as a 2nd line center. Give him good wingers and see what he does.
But he needs to do a few things. He needs to work on faceoffs and skating in particular. He needs to be at summer rookie camp. If he does all the right things, then maybe he gets a shot.
Murray has 10+ draft picks this year, but the odds are that only the 1st and 2nd rounders have a legit shot at being impact players. If you add another early pick, that's adding one impact player.
It sounds well and fine on the surface, but it means that they all likely get the ELC's at the same time. Which means that their ELC's will all expire at the same time. Which then means that you have to find money for all of them at the same time. And if they've all become good enough players to warrant even a mid-range salary, there's a pretty good chance you won't be able to retain them all. Not a choice that any manager wants to make.
I think Murray has enough early picks. If he wants to try to move up from 21, I'm cool with that, but I'd much rather see him turn some of those picks (not 6) into a quality 1st line LW.
Oh no! The feared return of the dreaded Book It Guy!
(From a post yesterday, I was thinking that Jason was that Guy. BTW Jason, when exactly is that coach going to be signed? You have 1 hour, 19 minutes for your prediction to come true...)
Give the guy some time. Let him play some time in the AHL. Hell, if it's needed, let him play the full season in the AHL and if he shows promise, call him up and have him up sometime during the season.
But to chance the guy's potential and just slot him in as our second line centre would be asking a lot so soon from him.
He did look real good in the four games he played though.
FA Spezza Michalek
#6 DaCosta Butler
Greening Smith Alfredsson
Foligno Winchester Neil
i agree for part of that, i think regin should be filled in rather than da costa, just as jasontheoldsens chirp said to let da costa have sometime in the AHL. another is i doubt our #6 will be ready, i rather see more of greening and condra play. and i hate to say it but agree on alfie being down to atleast 3rd line, age has caught up to him and he is just too slow too keep up with the young ones (although he can easily keep up with his hockey smarts and skill), hate to say it but if he doest respectfully retire at the end of the coming season, he will become our "Brind'Amour"
I wasn't sure if Da Costa could be sent down. Then again Butler was lol! believe me hate to see alfie moved down but maybe less time he can keep his energy up. I think #6 will play because Murray stated that our first round selection will play sometime in the nhl right away
FA Spezza Michalek
#6 Regin Butler
Greening Smith Alfredsson
Foligno Winchester Neil
Condra 750,000 1 way 2 yrs
Keep sixth pick and hopefully get Gab L. If not Strome or Zinj are not much of a drop and have a higher ceiling.
Trade 21st pick and D prospect like Wieroch and maybe F prospect to PHI for Carter and neg rights to Leino (likely not enough to get phi players but it gives phi sal room for goalie)
If no phi trade then trade up from #21 to try to get Zinjabed or Strome.
Because muller will likely be Dal or NJ bound MacClean gets job with Kleindorst and Gallant as assistants. I hope Cameron doesn't enter the picture. All I can remember of him is how his jr squad choked at the worlds this past yr.
Coach: McLean
#6: Couturier (Only one Left after Huby and Lando gone)
#21: Traded for young ready now forward, Simmonds type)
Have fun in Bingo tomorrow,
C-Mac
on the contract front.
Butler is given a two year 1-Way deal @ $1.2
Condra is given a two year 1-Way deal @ $0.8
Draft Choices
#6 will either be traded up to get Landskog or at number #6 will get Landskog. either way. Were getting him because i said so.
#21 will move up to select Landskog friend Mika Zibanejad
So what language was he speaking then in the TSN interview just posted?
True dat.
I like your coaching scenario...
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