As a Red Sox fan, it has always been a dream of mine to get to a game at Fenway Park. On Friday night, we sat out in the Centre Field Bleachers and then on Saturday our seats were directly behind the visiting dugout. Unbelievable expereine and something I will never forget.
The parade on Saturday was absolutely insane. Obviously a great time but here's hoping the next Stanley Cup parade I attend is here in Ottawa.
Thanks to the loyal readers of the site for keeping things going on here while I was gone. I was able to follow the comment section over the course of the weekend and saw that the discussion continued on seamlessly in my absence.
As it turns out, the vacation was well timed because this turned out to be a fairly quiet weekend for the Sens.
One piece of news that did surface though is the pending addition of Dave Cameron to the coaching staff. I think it's pretty clear who is pulling the strings on that personnel move but despite his recent struggles in big games, Cameron is a hard working guy that should help out the Sens staff.
I just hope that new head coach Paul MacLean was given the opportunity to be involved in this decision. Nothing official has been announced as of yet but I think we could hear something as soon as tomorrow.
We'll get into some draft talk starting tomorrow.
And in case you're reading...Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Michalek and Kuba both dealt at the draft to move up
Select Lando, than Jurco
BM lands Brad Marchand or Andrew Ladd with an offer sheet.
Signs Brooks Laich and one of Tommy Fleischmann or Jussi Jokinen
Brings in Harding to back up
Marchand/Ladd - Spezza - Butler
Lando - Laich - Alfredsson
Fleischmann/Jok inen - Da Costa - Greening
Foligno - Smith - Neil
Extra: Winchester, Condra
Winnie switches with Smith, and Condra with Greening depending who is playing better
Gonchar Karlsson
Rundblad Phillips
Carkner Cowen
Anderson
Harding
Solid!
That's the best meme you can come up with ... why not:
All your Cameron are belong to us!
or
In Soviet Russia, Business back in you!
or for the geeks out there ...
Imagine a Beowolf cluster of Camerons
Nice idea ... but cue Supertramp ... "Dreamer .... nothing but a dreamer ...."
I`m about 95% certain that, unless we move down significantly, the player that we select with our first pick will be Zibanejad or Strome or Landeskog (if Murray wants to move up).
also, i dont think we are a team that should be talking about whether or not a kid with that level of talent is first line material. he would immediately become our second best forward.
whats the deal with the hockey pool?
Ah yes, thanks for the reminder! Congrats! Email me and we can talk about a prize.
email sent.
Don't tell me who to love!
Dave Cameron coached the Binghamton senators for 3 years. the team sucked and he was relieved of his duties. So he couldn't coach our Ahl team, now he's being brought to coach our Nhl team?
Thanks Eugene. Where do i buy my tickets?
I hope we get an explanation for this.
I know a lot of you don't think KK should be the assitant but he did coach a lot of these players coming into the Sens lineup in the next two years. KK has 1 yr left on his contract. I see him gone after that. A big mistake in my opinion if he does leave.
I see Landeskog going to Colorado. I can't see Murray paying the asking price to move up 4 spots in the draft.
5 more days until the draft.
Then July 1st in which I hope Murray only goes after the goaltender. Other than Laich or maybe Upshall that is all I would want.
Marchand will not be leaving Boston. Ladd will be signed in Winnipeg.
Can't see Michalek traded. Murray wants to get a top 6 forward not trade one away.
Also Spezza destroyed with Cameron as his coach in Bingo.
Why would people be so angry about an assistant brought in, who seems to be a well respected coach in the world of hockey?
Don't you think an announcement like that should come from the Sens... not Cameron?
Apparently a couple of other NHL teams inquired on Cameron for assistant coach.... Detroit reported to be one of them.
He coached Binghamton during the Muckler years. Do we need to explain further... ie he had no players to work with -- other than probably Spezza. What did he have in goal? Jeff Glass, Kelly Guard? How did they work out?
I don't see Murray, with his immense hockey knowledge, as the type to tolerate orders from someone who is (although an owner) merely a fan.
I truly believe Melnyk's role is WAY less than a lot of fans believe. MacLean chooses his assistants and I don't see HIM as the type to take orders from Melnyk either.
Honestly, do we all have our collective heads up our asses? The reason you HIRE a GM in the first place is to make the hockey decisions.
Damn, why does this make me so angry? Melnyk does not run our team. Fuck! Arg!
Melnyk does not pick our assistant coaches. Period.
The Stache+Dave Cameron+ Mark Reeds = Beauty Coaching staff ... Also, I don't think we need to worry about Maclean getting his toes stepped on by Cameron, he knows his place and he's not going to fuck up his rep by screwing with maclean.
I don't begrudge people having favourites, but saying you'll be angry if he doesn't pick so-and-so or so-and-so has the most raw talent, or so-and-so would be a waste of a pick... we don't know, and we CERTAINLY don't know better than the juggernaut scouting system we have in place.
Trust in Murray and ye shall be rewarded. He's done way more research than any of us could ever do. Sit back and enjoy!!!
It definitely would have boosted his value if he was able to win a Gold medal or championship cup but at least he is good with younger players and must have at least learnt from his previous failures.
This might sound optimistic but sometimes you have to lose in order to win.
Kuba gets bought out.
They dont sign back Shannon.
Draft Landeskog.
Sign Leino.
Sign Fleishman.
Sign Conklin. (who I have heard they will pursue)
According to Bob McKenzie(twitte r) This seasons cap is going up to $64 Million with the lower end of the cap being $48 Million. Obviously the idea of spending money unwillingly in a rebuild year is not what we want to do, but for one season to help with the rebuild let's pick up NYR 1st and Chris Drury for Filip Kuba.
Mika Zibanejad - Chris Drury - Daniel Alfredsson
Nick Foligno - Zack Smith - Milian Michalek
Colin Greening - Jesse Winchester - Chris Neil
David Rundblad - Erik Karlsson
Chris Philip - Jared Cowen
Brian Lee - Sergei Gonchar
Craig Anderson
Tomas Vokoun?
i agree, z-berg can = z-jad or z-ban or z-bad
Peter Regin probably won't be playing on the first line. Also, Vokoun as a backup is very wishful thinking. There's no way he comes to Ottawa as a backup.
However Melnyk is BMs boss if he says he would like to see cameron as an assistant, BM has to give it serious consideration and favor making his boss happy if it is not a terrible idea, if it was a terrible idea BM would say no.
Same goes for Mclean BM being his new boss.
to think there is zero influence is just not logical.
BM has the final say I will not argue that.
I also hope KK is in Ottawa this year but I would rather the decision be based on what Mclean needs in an assistant for his program than just because KK is a great coach.
If KK fits Mcleans needs then great deal.
They will get us another great assitant whoever that is.
few more days to the draft, waiting is like watching paint dry.
He's a guy with tons of experience managing young players, the perfect guy for a team like the Sens. I think the MacLean+Cameron coaching combo will be a good one. Would be nice to see who the last guy will be.
Your comment has the same score as Rory McIlroy had when he finished the US Open yesterday, -16.
Tyler Seguin, (arguably better than anyone available this year) is not yet first or second line material.
Taper your expectations. there is a small handful of players undrafted that are ready to step into prominent roles in the NHL.
Mika Zibanejad is not NHL ready and he's committed to playing in Sweden for another 2 years. Dont get me wrong I like the pick because it means we are committed to a proper rebuild. 2-3years from now this kid is probably a top 6 talent and contributing.
I'd pay 3 Mil for a first round pick in a heartbeat.
Thank god you're not our GM then....
Tyler Seguin on most other teams, even on the Sens, is a second line centre though. But with a team as deep as Boston, there isn't any room for him in the top 6.
Boston has such a strong roster, that they can afford to slot their rookies wherever they want, even when their picking prospects in the top ten. We can thank the TML for that.
Is there anything on the Islanders worth trading for besides their 1st pick or Tavares?
Ya this doesn't really make sense. Islanders have plenty of good D prospects, but lack the elite D prospect such as Hamilton. So no need for them to move back in the draft to pick up more picks.
Also, no need for Ottawa to move up that one position, really doesn't serve us much good.
Doesn't make much sense to me, but often the things that don't make much sense is what is really happening.
Grabner, Niederreiter, Moulson, Parrenteau, de Haan, Cizikas.
The Islanders have sick players
imo, if anything, this probably is going to be a smaller trade....could be wrong though, so who knows
That they do. They can never just stay healthy, otherwise I think they would be an amazing team.
There's little doubt that Eugene loves the guy, and if Cameron is to be hired, I'm sure that a lot of people will assume that it was Eugene once again exerting his influence on Senators hockey management.
But if you look at Cameron's resume objectively, it is fairly impressive. He's been a head coach in the OHL and the AHL, and he was good enough for Team Canada. You can definitely make the argument that he hasn't won championships as a coach, but to have taken teams to the Memorial Cup final and to the gold medal game at the World Jr's is no small feat.
Plus he's an assistant, and another maritimer. I think he's a great candidate for the Senators asst coach position, and he'll do well in it.
EVEN on the Sens?? To be fair, you and I are probably second line centre on the sens at the moment.
Are you kidding me? You wouldn't take a guy who will have absolutely NO effect on our team moving forward in order to facilitate our rebuild with another quality first round pick? Not to mention ease the logjam we have on the back end?
no idea just sayin
If we did acquire Drury it would be to take him off the Rangers summer cap.
Once here at training camp, 99.9% positive he will immediately go on LTR and 95% certainty not play at all this year.
Not sure who pays for players who spend all year on LTR? Insurance or The Euge? Anyone know?
Anyway, chances are Drury would waive to go. He is fighting the buyout and at least here he would get all of his cash for not playing instead of only 2/3 of it.
I just don't know what we have that they would need for that 5th (without giving up our own 6th).
- 21st is obvious.
They have a bunch of good but not elite D prospects, so they don't need Wiercioch.
- loading up on additional seconds isn't going to get them that elite talent they need. They have a ton of really good prospects, but only a few elite ones.
It would be great to pull off a similar trade to Rundblad, and trade our 6th + something for Nino.
This allows the Islanders to either take 2 elite D. Or take one elite D and one elite C prospect to go behind Tavares (unless they think Bailey will continue to rise to be an elite 2nd line C, but I don't)
If Chris Drury never plays again that would be a shame. So the trade is a wild card. if the trade was made we'd get rid of one defense men who's role could go to David Rundblad. We'd maybe get a 2nd line center that can play and score 20-30 goals or his injured and that gives us Roster Room. Not to forget NYR 15th Overall Pick. and considering NYR position we maybe able to get something extra out of it.
Glad to see Lindstrom give it one more year. Still the best Puck Moving D-Man (IMO)
EXACTLY. He's a damned good assistant candidate with ties to the organization and the move makes sense. I am often paranoid Melnyk is meddling, however in this case we have no reason to believe so, plus he's a great candidate.
If the Isles are looking at a D-man (which Ottawa doesn't want), Murray might be offering a swap, a depth player (with $ on contract - Kuba please - might have to throw in a 4th liner) and a guarantee not to touch that defender. The Isles don't lose anything and they have to take on about $12M in salary just to reach the projected $48M floor. Not like anybody is going to willingly sign there.
thats an interesting thought.
I was just about to rip into him (PA) for this, but now I don't have to.
Rundblad won't be part of any deal, they would have been much more hush about this if it were the case....which leads me to believe that this deal will not be something major.
That would then allow Murray to use some of the other assets to go after New Jersey's pick.
Jersey's in a bit of cap trouble, needing to fill 3 roster spots and having only $4.5M of cap space (Including Parise to sign - who is being taken to arbitration I think).
If the Isles are looking at a D-man (which Ottawa doesn't want), Murray might be offering a swap, a depth player (with $ on contract - Kubsa please - might have to throw in a 4th liner) and a guarantee not to touch that defender. The Isles don't lose anything and they have to take on about $12M in salary just to reach the projected $48M floor. Not like anybody is going to willingly sign there.
thats an interesting thought.
Ya, that is a fair thought. As long as we aren't giving up someone we will actually get use out of this year. I understand everyone's desire to get rid of Kuba, IF both rundblad and Cowen are ready out of camp, we can sit Kuba out, we don't have cap restraints. Also, injuries do happen, and if he plays, and plays even decent, someone may want him at the deadline even for playoff depth.
I didn't say include Rundblad, I said a "Rundblad type deal" Aka a deal where you trade this years pick for last years pick in a similar position.
I don't want to start a fight, but what makes you think that Peter Regin is a 1st line winger? I don't even think he's a 2nd line player. He's a checker in my opinion, nothing more. Doesn't have the consistency to score at the NHL level.
His best NHL season was 13 goals in 75 games. Those aren't goal scorer stats.
So try to sell me on it. Explain why you think Peter Regin is going to be a top line scoring winger in the NHL.
My opinion is that he's a depth player, nothing more.
With all the picks we have in this draft already we don't need to take any sort of monster salary back to get another pick in the second half of the first round...So feel free to "rip into" me if you want to but I will put $100 down saying we won't take Drury, and if you actually think anyone is gonna take Kuba keep dreaming....
I agree with you PA that it wont happen. However, I do think it is worth it if they could pull off the deal.
The reference to 3M is 7.5M (drury contract) - 3.5 Kuba contract.
Everyone here is anticipating Rundblad and Cowen to be better than Kuba this year (which is fine, I agree) so essentially we would be sitting Kuba on the bench paying him 3.5M to do nothing, or we could pay Drury 7.5M to do nothing + get a 15.
Would you trade 21st and Kuba for Drury and 4th - 7th overall? Because you could probably flip 21 and 15 to NJD or CBJ for their top pick.
Hmm that's more interesting...G etting another pick in that range would be huge, as would getting rid of Kuba, but that kind of trade would take a huge amount of finesse to pull off...I still don't like Drury's cap hit but I suppose if we're rebuilding anyways we have the space...I just can't see EM going for that...
his a power forward that can dangle. he has a wrister just as hard as Regin. the fact that he can play as a checker could also give you some insurance that he won't be taken down easily. he plays big in big games take the 2009-2010 play offs. arguable one of the best players in the first round. there was much smoke about what would regin's year be like last season and obviously it was a bust. playing as a check for the ending half of the season after the first half with all the hype he had from the media can get to a player. sure 13 goals in 75 isn't the best but take a look at his playoffs stat 6 games 3 goals 1 assist. those are big games. he needs to work himself back into goal scoring form.
ps ep. 3 of senate reform is out!
This is assuming that Murray wants to mocw up...Landeskog?
I know alot of you are saying that nobody will take Kuba, but maybe a team that needs to add salary would...
well pa84 it's 6 higher then our 21. no calculator needed. a 15+21 could move us higher or we could have a draft of 3 first overalls in a deep draft pool. take your pick.
Look, I'd love it if the guy proved me wrong, but I doubt he will. Peter Regin, in my opinion, projects to be a 3rd line centre at best, and I think he's draft day trade bait.
I agree that at this stage of his career he has done all he can in junior and ahl and it's time for him to get the shot in the nhl he's worked for. I am glad it's as an assistant and not a head coach, his 3x failures this past year show that with stacked situations he struggles to get them to that next level.
He'll be a good apprentice under the stache, I just hope it was not forced on him, that is the main part that worries me.
The new cap numbers may indeed be a blessing for the sens and the value of a Kuba contract. Hopefully this creates a bit more value/interest in him from those bottom teams. He's a serviceable OFD for a bottom feeding team, just not one of the ones I cheer for ;)
This is what I like about the hiring of MacLean and Cameron. It's the fact that both of these guys are ready to make the jump. MacL was ready to be a HC, and Cameron's time has come to be an assistant.
No, I do not think the Senators have anyone better, and that is exactly what the Senators problem is. They have an abundance of depth forwards, and Regin is one of them.
They have, in my opinion, 4 forwards in their organization that could play on the top 2 lines of a good NHL team.
Those players are Spezza, Alfredsson, Michalek, and Butler.
If DaCosta develops into a 2nd line C, then that's great, but at this point there's no guarantee that will happen, he needs to have a strong rookie camp and a good developmental summer. Playing between Michalek and Alfie is a good position for a young C to be in, but it remains to be seen if DaCosta can be that guy.
So Murray needs to chase a 1st line LW in the offseason, probably through a trade. Regin is not the answer.
Man... the NHL needs to get their heads out their asses and fix their video issues on their web site.
Here is the breakdown briefly:
FORWARDS
Marian Gaborik ($7.500m) / Chris Drury ($7.050m) / Wojtek Wolski ($3.800m)
Derek Stepan ($0.875m) / Brandon Dubinsky ($3.550m) / Erik Christensen ($0.925m)
Artem Anisimov ($2.000m) / Ryan Callahan ($3.000m) / Mats Zuccarello-Aase n ($1.750m)
Sean Avery ($1.937m) / Brandon Prust ($0.800m) / Brian Boyle ($1.825m)
/ Brad Richards ($7.000m)
DEFENSEMEN
Marc Staal ($3.975m) / Daniel Girardi ($3.325m)
Ryan McDonagh ($1.300m) / Michael Del Zotto ($1.087m)
Wade Redden ($6.500m) / Tim Erixon ($1.750m)
Lee Baldwin ($0.900m)
GOALTENDERS
Henrik Lundqvist ($6.875m) / Martin Biron ($0.875m)
SALARY CAP: $64,400,000; CAP PAYROLL: $68,600,000; BONUSES: $2,337,500
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): -$4,200,000
Completely agree, but after looking at their cap breakdown, they really aren't in bad shape at all.
I like the idea, there are going to be a few teams looking to reach the cap floor, if Murray could pull off something like Kuba + 21st overall for 3rd overall we would have to build a shrine out front of SBP for him...
That might be too much to ask, but I see them danglong the 6th plus Kuba for the 3rd...I would do that, if Florida would bite.
I'll say one thing.... Kovalev. We all know he is not a Murray type of player... so why was he signed?
Yeah his Spezza to LA rumours are up again for Doughty or not for Doughty.
Oh and if Stamkos does not sign in Tampa... he's going to the Leafs in an offer sheet.
GONCHAR to Detroit
Not this year... but what about next year and the new CBA. These teams may lock themselves against the cap.. but who knows what happens in the new CBA?
That's when some teams are really going to have to scramble to get under the cap. Make some tough decisions. That's when re-building teams like Ottawa, Edmonton, Florida, Winnipeg.. step in and take good advantage of them.
They would have to include a lot more than that to move up to 3rd...