Which rookie (or non-established player) will have the biggest impact for the Sens next year?

Not counting the 1st round pick right now:


Colin Greening
Erik Condra
Bobby Butler
Zack Smith
Stephan Da Costa
Jared Cowen
David Rundblad
Jakob Silfverberg
Eric Gryba
Patrick Wiercioch
Roman Wick
Other!

Butler or Cowen...tough call.


I think Butler is gonna be a 25 goal guy IF he gets stronger over the summer and busts his Donkey. He certainly demonstrated an ability to put pucks in nets and I think that'll continue.

I expect Cowen to come in (possibly mid-season) and, while there will be an adjustment period, I think he'll be a stabilizing force.

I think Greening and Condra will both have Kelly-esque impacts. That is, they'll both play hard, solid defensive games. I think they both have slightly higher point production potential, so we'll see.

Smith will do what he does best. He'll come in as a 3rd or 4th line center and continue to play a physical game. I hope he opens up a bit and scores a few goals cause I think he has the ability.

Da Costa is a bit of a wild card. He seems to have the skill, but I think he needs to get stronger over the summer. He may or may not start with the big club. I think he needs to be consistent to stick around and he may not.

Rundblad is a wild card too. He may start in the AHL as well. He can't be as dominating (right away at least) in the NHL as he was in the SEL, but I think he'll have a solid season.

Silfverberg, IMO, will come in and play well. I think we can expect decent numbers. Dorion sounded confident that he'd come in and perform.

Gryba/Wick/Wiercioch will all start in the AHL and be high on the callup list.

Butler...

spader wrote:Butler or Cowen...tough call.


I think Butler is gonna be a 25 goal guy IF he gets stronger over the summer and busts his Donkey. He certainly demonstrated an ability to put pucks in nets and I think that'll continue.

I expect Cowen to come in (possibly mid-season) and, while there will be an adjustment period, I think he'll be a stabilizing force.

I think Greening and Condra will both have Kelly-esque impacts. That is, they'll both play hard, solid defensive games. I think they both have slightly higher point production potential, so we'll see.

Smith will do what he does best. He'll come in as a 3rd or 4th line center and continue to play a physical game. I hope he opens up a bit and scores a few goals cause I think he has the ability.

Da Costa is a bit of a wild card. He seems to have the skill, but I think he needs to get stronger over the summer. He may or may not start with the big club. I think he needs to be consistent to stick around and he may not.

Rundblad is a wild card too. He may start in the AHL as well. He can't be as dominating (right away at least) in the NHL as he was in the SEL, but I think he'll have a solid season.

Silfverberg, IMO, will come in and play well. I think we can expect decent numbers. Dorion sounded confident that he'd come in and perform.

Gryba/Wick/Wiercioch will all start in the AHL and be high on the callup list.

Sounds pretty fair. I'll say Butler or Rundblad, but Butler has some experience now, so if he builds his core a bit, I think he can score 20+.

SpezDispenser wrote:Sounds pretty fair. I'll say Butler or Rundblad, but Butler has some experience now, so if he builds his core a bit, I think he can score 20+.

Agreed. I think (HOPE) that he'll be a 20-goal guy. I think he has potential to be a 30-goal guy, but I can't imagine him realizing it right away.

Butler - no contest

Greening. 15-20 goal guy who plays 3rd line minutes. He's the man.

tim1_2 wrote:Greening. 15-20 goal guy who plays 3rd line minutes. He's the man.

Love the 'Newfie Flash'... but for skill I'd say Butler will have the better year. After all, he will be (or should be) the one playing with Spezza.

Ruslan Bashkirov

Sadly my first thought was Butler but in a negative way. He could be put in a role he is not ready for and buckle under the pressure that comes early in a season. He could require a stretch in the minors to regain confidence like so many in their first full year.

I still think he is a good prospect but he is far from a lock at as a 25 goal man at this point of his career.

Cowen, if he makes the roster out of camp.

dennycrane wrote:Sadly my first thought was Butler but in a negative way. He could be put in a role he is not ready for and buckle under the pressure that comes early in a season. He could require a stretch in the minors to regain confidence like so many in their first full year.

I still think he is a good prospect but he is far from a lock at as a 25 goal man at this point of his career.

It's totally possible that he Regins a bit. I certainly hope not.

tim1_2 wrote:Greening. 15-20 goal guy who plays 3rd line minutes. He's the man.

He was on pace for 20 goals or whatever, but he was playing top 6 minutes. If he plays 3rd line minutes we'll have to temper our expectations in a big way offensively.

I'm a big fan of Greening's though, I think he could become the best NHLer out of all the youngsters - perhaps minus Silfverberg and perhaps Butler, but he brings a mix of skill, size, smarts and speed that make him quite tantalizing.

SpezDispenser wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Greening. 15-20 goal guy who plays 3rd line minutes. He's the man.

He was on pace for 20 goals or whatever, but he was playing top 6 minutes. If he plays 3rd line minutes we'll have to temper our expectations in a big way offensively.

I'm a big fan of Greening's though, I think he could become the best NHLer out of all the youngsters - perhaps minus Silfverberg and perhaps Butler, but he brings a mix of skill, size, smarts and speed that make him quite tantalizing.

Size and speed. Not sure what you mean by smarts -- what has he done to show it? Also, how is his skill? Speed and size is certainly great, plus he's got a booming shot, I think. But how's his skill (skating agility, stick handling, shot accuracy)?

wprager wrote:
Size and speed. Not sure what you mean by smarts -- what has he done to show it? Also, how is his skill? Speed and size is certainly great, plus he's got a booming shot, I think. But how's his skill (skating agility, stick handling, shot accuracy)?

I equate smarts to being at the right place at the right time and making good, solid plays - and I can't recall Greening having too many turnovers or being in the wrong place too much.

His skill is probably middle of the road, but when combined with the size, speed and smarts, you get a 15-20 goal guy eventually (hopefully).