Ottawa's top six D for 2012/13?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

Michallica wrote:Ideally...

Phillips-Karlsson
Cowen-Rundblad
Gonchar-Weircioch

A best case scenario would put Cowen, Rundblad and Weircioch as second year NHLers. More than likely we'll see Cowen as the only 2nd year player in that bunch so you'll have Weircioch and Rundblad as rookies. Not liking that scenario at all.

Nor do I like our $5.5 million defenceman as the 5th defenceman.

Cowen-Karlsson
Phillips-Gonchar
Rundblad-Gryba

There's a lot of buzz about Stoa I think his name is. When drafted, I recall hearing that the Sens hoped he could one day be a Phillips style player (or even a replacement). 12/13 might be a little early, but he's on the radar IMO.

Are you talking about Michael Sdao?? He's a defenceman for Princeton. A fighter, who's putting up decent numbers too.

Bass Destruction wrote:Are you talking about Michael Sdao?? He's a defenceman for Princeton. A fighter, who's putting up decent numbers too.

Sounds right, yeah.

Although I also remember them saying stuff like that about Ben Blood.

Bass Destruction wrote:Although I also remember them saying stuff like that about Ben Blood.

Yeah, I like Blood as well. Another year to go in North Dakota before he hits the pros, but he'll hopefully be a nasty SOB as well.

That's Gryba, Stoa and Blood - each of them @ 6'3" or bigger and all of them well over 200 pounds.

Yeah they are huge. The ND website has Ben Blood at 6'4, 235lbs. The Princeton website has Michael Sdao at 6'4, 220lbs. And he actually has 6pts in 11G, not too shabby.

Bass Destruction wrote:Yeah they are huge. The ND website has Ben Blood at 6'4, 235lbs. The Princeton website has Michael Sdao at 6'4, 220lbs. And he actually has 6pts in 11G, not too shabby.

Yeah, I noticed he was starting to put up some points. Probably just becoming really familiar with Uni. hockey, but still, can't be a bad thing!

Definitely lots of depth on D. Now it's time to get some top end forward prospects.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Definitely lots of depth on D. Now it's time to get some top end forward prospects.

You got that Cussing right. Like it's going out of style. I think this will be Murray's downfall... we're very shallow at forward due to his focus on D, which is understandable considering what he's had to do and that he's building from the back-end out, but people get impatient and want flashy forwards to cheer for and see goals going in.

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Definitely lots of depth on D. Now it's time to get some top end forward prospects.

You got that Cussing right. Like it's going out of style. I think this will be Murray's downfall... we're very shallow at forward due to his focus on D, which is understandable considering what he's had to do and that he's building from the back-end out, but people get impatient and want flashy forwards to cheer for and see goals going in.

Bobby Butler was a big pickup though, people forget that.

So was Winchester and look how that turned out.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Definitely lots of depth on D. Now it's time to get some top end forward prospects.

You got that Cussing right. Like it's going out of style. I think this will be Murray's downfall... we're very shallow at forward due to his focus on D, which is understandable considering what he's had to do and that he's building from the back-end out, but people get impatient and want flashy forwards to cheer for and see goals going in.

Bobby Butler was a big pickup though, people forget that.

Agreed, and he looks promising. And we have Silfverberg in the mix as well. Hopefully they work out.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So was Winchester and look how that turned out.

Nah. Winchester never had the whole league trying to sign him, nor did he come with the hype of leading the NCAA in goals, nor was he nominated for the Hobey Baker, nor was he a finalist for the Hobey Baker.

I'd say Butler is much closer to Bozak than Winchester.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

Michallica wrote:Ideally...

Phillips-Karlsson
Cowen-Rundblad
Gonchar-Weircioch

A best case scenario would put Cowen, Rundblad and Weircioch as second year NHLers. More than likely we'll see Cowen as the only 2nd year player in that bunch so you'll have Weircioch and Rundblad as rookies. Not liking that scenario at all.

This might be the first year that weircioch and rundblad are regulars, but they'll have plenty of experience from the season before (Rundblad mostly) as first call-ups. It depends on the development but in this scenario, I think the ONLY wildcard is Weircioch....but I don't think the senators hesitate to put two rookies as d-men. Look at Karlsson and Carkner last season....and both Weir/Rundblad will have enough pro-experience under their belts.

As for Gonchar on the 3rd pairing, he's going to be in his final year, and I'd expect his skill to deteriorate a bunch when year 3 of the contract rolls around. That said, it doesn't mean he won't be efficient but it'll be a good balance, as Gonch will be a good mentor to the 4 young d-men. People forget that in the new NHL, young guys are given chances to become regulars much sooner than before. This is the only way to rebuild the Senators d-core....do people really still envision Matt Carkner and/or Campoli being here two years from now?

shabbs wrote:Agreed, and he looks promising. And we have Silfverberg in the mix as well. Hopefully they work out.

Yeah, Silfverberg's a big one - especially right now, he's playing excellent hockey and has 18 points in 28 games (last year he had 16 points in 48 games) and is the fourth on the team in scoring behind seasoned vets. The only young player who's close (tied actually) is Jarnkrok (but Jarn's a year younger). As we all know, prospects are just that until they make it, but Silfverberg looks promising.

Sorensen had 23 points in 16 games before he made the jump to the SEL where he had 2 points in 3 games before getting an impromptu invite to the Swedish WJC selection camp.

The biggest one still might be Mark Stone who's playing in the WHL with Scott Glennie and has 18 goals, 25 assists and 43 points in 34 games to lead the team (as an 18 year old!)

SpezDispenser wrote:
The biggest one still might be Mark Stone who's playing in the WHL with Scott Glennie and has 18 goals, 25 assists and 43 points in 34 games to lead the team (as an 18 year old!)

Yeah about that, why doesn't he get any attention from Team Canada? Maybe next year I guess

Michallica wrote:
Yeah about that, why doesn't he get any attention from Team Canada? Maybe next year I guess

I have no idea. And why aren't we more excited as an organization about him? I'll have to post the question on HF - although I'm not fond of that place anymore.