You gotta love free WiFi in airports.
Figured I would make a quick post from here at the airport in Halifax. Going to be away from Ottawa for the next few days but I should be able to keep the site updated during that time. Obviously we have entered a bit of a lull in Sens news but there are still plenty of topics to discuss.
One decision that will have to be made in the next few days it what to do with 6th overall draft pick, Mika Zibanejad. According to multiple reports, the Sens have until Friday at 5:00 PM to sign him to an entry level contract. Otherwise he spends another season in the SEL.
Now obviously the Sens don't wanna rush the kid but I get the sense that they will have him signed before that deadline.
There is a glaring hole in the Sens line up in that second line centre position and the club has indicated that if Zibanejad can get a little stronger this summer, he would have a chance to grab that spot in the line up.
His competition will come from Peter Regin, Stephane Da Costa and potentially Nick Foligno, should the Sens decide to switch Foligno to his natural position.
If you haven't had a chance yet, I highly recommend you check out the latest 6th Sens podcast which includes an interview with Zibanejad. Really seems like a well spoken kid that is going out of his way to connect with the fan base. You can also follow him on Twitter, here.
HUH???
"Today, another reward arrived for Butler and this one is anything but minor. The native of Marlborough, Mass., inked a two-year, one-way contract that ensures he'll start the 2010-11 campaign in Ottawa"
Your quote mention a one-way contract... I think you misread
Yeah, I was too quick on the trigger and actually changed my post... but you replied before I could. Damn!!! lol
haha gotta be a little quicker lol
Goaltending will be an issue for them for sure. I still can't believe Caps took Vokoun for 1.5 Mil. That's 0.5 mil over Auld... They sure did spend a lot on those players. I don't think they are worth 4 mil but they will be some added depth for the Cats. They may not be 15 in the conf, still bottom 5 anyway.
the panthers have a good young goalie in Markstrom coming up might surprise a few people. not sure if hes ready just yet tho
My preliminary bottom half would look like this. I think 8-11 maybe even 12 would be pretty competitive though and any of those teams could grab the last playoff spot.
8. Ottawa
9. Buffalo
10. Carolina
11. Montreal
12. Winnipeg
13. Toronto
14. Islanders
15. Panthers
please provide your eastern conference predictions
for mine i said in an earlier post that i see (in no order)
flyers,caps,penguins, sabres, bruins,lightnin g, hurricanes and rangers definitely finishing above the sens - i can however see the flyers and hurricanes dropping
the devils, canadiens and leafs probably finishing above us
and the islanders, jets, panthers and us figthing it out for the rest
if we have a good year I think we finish 9th or 10th - if we have a really good year I think we could scrape 7th or 8th
i agree with JABS that 8-12 is pretty interchangable
regardless of where we finish I'm looking forward to a good year with a team of players that cares and wants to work hard and a coach who is innovative and doesn't take shit from his players, rooki or veteran
Is there any way that you can run a competition next season where the week before the season starts those that wish to play predict the eastern conference. You file everything away and we give a prize to the winner.
The prize could be home tickets for the first sens playoff game if you are an optimist - a decent tee-time at the Ottawa golf club if you are a pessimist and a pair of tickets for the leafs first play off game if you're a mentalist.
You understand right that he signed there that cheap for a shot at a cup? Not like many teams could have got him signed for that. It would have taken $5M or more to get him to sign on a rebuilding team - not that I'd want him anyway.
And yeah, I don't see Florida finishing last next year. They've added some good pieces to crack the top 10.
I had them ranked 13th in the East but in all fairness they could be 8th to 13th. Like Jabs said its gonna be a logjam from 8th to 12th.
30. Winnipeg
29. Florida
28. Edmonton
27. Ottawa
26. NYI
The second page and refresh back to the first page sucks.
please provide your eastern conference predictions
for mine i said in an earlier post that i see (in no order)
flyers,caps,penguins, sabres, bruins,lightnin g, hurricanes and rangers definitely finishing above the sens - i can however see the flyers and hurricanes dropping
the devils, canadiens and leafs probably finishing above us
I dont like to make predictions anything can happen in a season.I think we are better then the flyers,sabres,h urricanes,habs and the leafs
Forgetting all the other teams, can you please explain your perspective on the Islanders finishing ahead of the Sens? Are you expecting a full season from Dipietro, or a breakout campaign from Okposo & Tavares ... I'm just interested to hear your reasoning if you're willing to share.
But Leafs bottom 3 because it feels so good
I'm glad you agree that they have made steps to have a better chance at moving up in the standings. May not be top 10, but it's possible.
I'm also well aware that Vokoun's discount price was so he had the chance to go to a team that has the possibility for a cup next season. I still thought the discount was huge though (All the Caps were offering). He also indicated in an interview that he was shocked and disappointed in his market this free agency.
I dont like to make predictions anything can happen in a season.I think we are better then the flyers,sabres,h urricanes,habs and the leafs
so what you are saying is that you'll happily crap on other people's predictions but haven't got the stones to make your own?
AND then go and make a prediction anyway.
Special.
Problems still there when refreshing comments from 301,
as it takes us back to beginning again, and we have to move up to get to page 2 or 301!
Hope your WorkLabs guys are able to repair ongoing problem .
I do feel the Sens should have a young goalie (US college grad maybe) at Elmira. 3 goalies injured last year and could happen again.
Thought Murray might draft a goalie this past draft, but it was the worst goalie crop in a long time -likely next year, a goalie in round 2 or 3.
How is it that people are thinking the Devils won't be in the bottom 5, yet the Sens will be?
Is it because NJ got rid of their coach and turned their fortunes around??? Humm???
AND then go and make a prediction anyway.
Special.[/q
Tell me what i said to offend you and your little predictions.I dont think i craped on anybodys predictions but im sorry if i did hurt your feelings there little girl
To make a prediction you need to do your research on the other teams and not everyone as the time to do that like tookie. give im that it takes a lot of time to know as much as he does.
hmm. I have to say i disagree completely. The flyers and sabres are going to be in the top 5 in the east this season for sure. Look at who they brought in this off season (or lost in philies case) and I think they're still better than Ottawa.
If i had to predict i'd say
1. Washington
2. Pittsburgh
3. Buffalo
4. Tampa
5. Boston
6. Philly
7. NYR
8. Montreal
9. Florida
10. New Jersey
11. Ottawa
12. Carolina
13. Winnipeg
14. Toronto
15. NYI
I know you didn't mean it this way, but I think the worst thing that could happen would be to finish 9th or 10th. I'm thrilled if we finish 8th and make the playoffs since that would/should mean our young core is coming together nicely so a mid-round draft position isn't a problem. But if we're going to miss the playoffs I hope we finish in the lottery.
Way too soon to think about that I guess though.
I find it kind of funny that you say the Flyers will finish in the Top5 and then rank them 6th. Yes Florida will score more goals this year, but they will give up a hell of a lot more with the Theodore/Clemme nsen..So I don't see them finishing 9th. I do not see Florida as being better than Ottawa. They have Jovo on the back end who in 16 year has only had a "plus" rating 3 times! Their best D-men are Campbell and Kulikov...but you know what, IF we traded them Kuba, he would probably be in their top pairing (well definitely Top 3). So I guess my point is...no I don't think Florida is going to finish higher than Ottawa in the standings.
2)Boston
3)Pittsburgh
4)Tampa
5)New York Rangers
6)Philadelphia
7)New Jersey
8)Buffalo
_____________
9)Montreal
10)Carolina
11)Ottawa
12)Toronto
13)Winnipeg
14)New York Islanders
15)Florida
i think they have a good enough team.
LOL come on reed your post and tell me that is not bitching and whining
Way too soon to think about that I guess though.
i agree with what you are saying that 9th or 10th wouldn't be a good year from a rebuilding perspective - i just can't come to terms with the concept of hoping we finish as low as possible
hmm. I have to say i disagree completely. The flyers and sabres are going to be in the top 5 in the east this season for sure. Look at who they brought in this off season (or lost in philies case) and I think they're still better than Ottawa.
If i had to predict i'd say
1. Washington
2. Pittsburgh
3. Buffalo
4. Tampa
5. Boston
6. Philly
7. NYR
8. Montreal
9. Florida
10. New Jersey
11. Ottawa
12. Carolina
13. Winnipeg
14. Toronto
15. NYI
Buffalo ahead of Boston? Absolutely not... The rest I probably agree with for the most part.