Home
Publications
http://www.crashthecrease.com/2009/11/15/the-sens-decision-2010-on-the-blueline/
Now’s the time for Bryan Murray and his scouts to make a major decision – and time’s ticking down on them to make it. They have to huddle around and decide if this is the time to attempt to acquire that elusive number one D-man or risk this being the second consecutive season they miss the playoffs. What decision, right? Just do it, get yourself a D-man who can make an impact in all three situations: even strength, power play and penalty kill. Give up what you need to give up – get a guy who can bolster your blueline, bring in some skill and most importantly be a guy who can pass the puck up to the considerable talent up front.However, it’s far from being that easy. The question that the Sens need to answer is: do we wait for the Big 3 coming up and hope for the best in two or three years? Jared Cowen should make the team next year barring a set back, Erik Karlsson will also make the team – again, barring a set back and Patrick Wiercioch – who might be the most talented of the three – is two years away. Do you risk giving up draft picks this year and possibly younger players as well, to try to pry away a D-man from someone who can propel this team into the playoffs, or do you practice patience and wait for young help to arrive?
Do you dangle Anton Volchenkov in a effort to land that big D-man, or do you trade him at the deadline for a blue chip forward prospect or two? Or do you make every effort to re-sign him so that he can help the young bucks in their transition to the NHL next year and beyond? That theory is perhaps the best one of all that I’ve heard. Having Phillips, Volchenkov and Kuba around while the 3 prospects are finding their feet might be the very best in accelerating their development.
So there’s the dilemma for the Sens. Are they a playoff team? Possibly. Are they going to make the playoffs without a number one D-man? No. Should they mortgage a bit of their future to snag that guy that can play in all situations and make their back end a little more dangerous? No one reading this can answer that in all honestly. Bryan Murray made a small mistake (or a big one, depending on who you talk to) in going after Chris Campoli and giving up a late 1st rounder to get him. That’s a Ryan O’Reilly or a Carl Klingberg right there, two skilled forwards that would make the Sens stronger in the long run. Now, in Campoli and Murray’s defense, Campoli had an impact on the Sens last year and helped to turn around their transition game. However, this year, Campoli’s been average at the best of times, and downright bad in the others.
Alex Picard has had his struggles, he’s a nice 6th D-man to have, same with Carkner, same with Brian Lee. Yet, at any given time, one of these guys are playing top 4 minutes with top 4 responsibilities. If the Sens think they’re going to make the playoffs with this current squad, they’re wrong.
Now the question is: If Murray decides to make a big move for a D-man, where does he find him? Brian Campbell might be the tonic for this D to start clicking, but his cap hit is tremendous – and really, Chicago doesn’t even need to bother moving him until the summer if they don’t want. Shea Weber or Ryan Suter? Ha ha. No chance. Dan Hamhuis? Is that really a guy who will make the D that much better? He’s good, but is he that good? Ed Jovonoski? But that cap hit is as bad as Campbell’s – and again, frankly the Yotes don’t need to trade him theoretically. Scott Neidermayer? Ha ha again. Unless you want to see the Sens give up Erik Karlsson and a 1st Round Pick, you can forget about that.
Hard to find a fit, isn’t it? Maybe the choice has already been made for Murray with the lack of a true number one out there.
Now’s the time for Bryan Murray and his scouts to make a major decision – and time’s ticking down on them to make it. They have to huddle around and decide if this is the time to attempt to acquire that elusive number one D-man or risk this being the second consecutive season they miss the playoffs. What decision, right? Just do it, get yourself a D-man who can make an impact in all three situations: even strength, power play and penalty kill. Give up what you need to give up – get a guy who can bolster your blueline, bring in some skill and most importantly be a guy who can pass the puck up to the considerable talent up front.However, it’s far from being that easy. The question that the Sens need to answer is: do we wait for the Big 3 coming up and hope for the best in two or three years? Jared Cowen should make the team next year barring a set back, Erik Karlsson will also make the team – again, barring a set back and Patrick Wiercioch – who might be the most talented of the three – is two years away. Do you risk giving up draft picks this year and possibly younger players as well, to try to pry away a D-man from someone who can propel this team into the playoffs, or do you practice patience and wait for young help to arrive?
Do you dangle Anton Volchenkov in a effort to land that big D-man, or do you trade him at the deadline for a blue chip forward prospect or two? Or do you make every effort to re-sign him so that he can help the young bucks in their transition to the NHL next year and beyond? That theory is perhaps the best one of all that I’ve heard. Having Phillips, Volchenkov and Kuba around while the 3 prospects are finding their feet might be the very best in accelerating their development.
So there’s the dilemma for the Sens. Are they a playoff team? Possibly. Are they going to make the playoffs without a number one D-man? No. Should they mortgage a bit of their future to snag that guy that can play in all situations and make their back end a little more dangerous? No one reading this can answer that in all honestly. Bryan Murray made a small mistake (or a big one, depending on who you talk to) in going after Chris Campoli and giving up a late 1st rounder to get him. That’s a Ryan O’Reilly or a Carl Klingberg right there, two skilled forwards that would make the Sens stronger in the long run. Now, in Campoli and Murray’s defense, Campoli had an impact on the Sens last year and helped to turn around their transition game. However, this year, Campoli’s been average at the best of times, and downright bad in the others.
Alex Picard has had his struggles, he’s a nice 6th D-man to have, same with Carkner, same with Brian Lee. Yet, at any given time, one of these guys are playing top 4 minutes with top 4 responsibilities. If the Sens think they’re going to make the playoffs with this current squad, they’re wrong.
Now the question is: If Murray decides to make a big move for a D-man, where does he find him? Brian Campbell might be the tonic for this D to start clicking, but his cap hit is tremendous – and really, Chicago doesn’t even need to bother moving him until the summer if they don’t want. Shea Weber or Ryan Suter? Ha ha. No chance. Dan Hamhuis? Is that really a guy who will make the D that much better? He’s good, but is he that good? Ed Jovonoski? But that cap hit is as bad as Campbell’s – and again, frankly the Yotes don’t need to trade him theoretically. Scott Neidermayer? Ha ha again. Unless you want to see the Sens give up Erik Karlsson and a 1st Round Pick, you can forget about that.
Hard to find a fit, isn’t it? Maybe the choice has already been made for Murray with the lack of a true number one out there.
I'm just getting comfortable with SD.
