Chris Neil's agent speaks

strachattack wrote:Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

We don't need an enforcer. These scripted fights are for the birds anyway. We've got guys that will drop the mitts in the heat of battle. In those instances, I'd say that winning and losing isn't as important as standing up for yourself or a teammate. We've got that already. Neil will be a Maple Leaf on July 1, for some ungodly amount like $2.5 I think.

hemlock wrote:

strachattack wrote:Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

We don't need an enforcer. These scripted fights are for the birds anyway. We've got guys that will drop the mitts in the heat of battle. In those instances, I'd say that winning and losing isn't as important as standing up for yourself or a teammate. We've got that already. Neil will be a Maple Leaf on July 1, for some ungodly amount like $2.5 I think.

Good, they can add him to the Jeff Finger rolodex of overpaid players.

504Heater wrote:Good news. So...1.4 X 4 years? I'm totally down with that. We need all the hitting and rough guys we can get our mitts on.

I re-iterate that I'm interested in Neil, but will NOT go a red-diddling penny over 1.5 per year.

I agree Heater. Bass can't fight as well as Neil. Hell, no one can on our roster. We need a fighter who can play 3rd or 4th line minutes. I also think Neil can attain more points if he's used effectively.

I just don't think Bass can handle the load of fighting. Neil's game picked up when McGratton started playing a few more games. The onus wasn't always on Neil to fight because he could rely on someone else and focus on playing hockey.

Carolina won the Cup without an enforcer and they've brought the Devils to a game 7 without one as well. I think the enforcer roll is over rated. What we need is Lucic, Getzlaf, Perry types. Big bodies that have skill and aren't afraid to knock you around. Imagine Mike Fisher with soft hands and you've got the type of player you want.

Edit: Perhaps we can give Fisher Zap Brannigan's supply of Pert and Popular? (Futurama reference)

Everything that you are all saying is very true. There really isn't much room for anyone left on the team. Neil however, is a tough customer, and we don't have anyone like him at the moment. Bass will eventually take his spot, but I'm not sure he has the strength to fight like Neil at this point in his career. He keeps getting hurt, he absolutely needs to get stronger before he can replace Neiler.

But, again, there really doesn't seem to be room on the team with at least 3 of our Bingo guys that will be seriously fighting for a spot ont he team, and 2 of those are almost sure bets to make it.

So at the moment we have signed and ready:

F
Heater-Spezza-Alfie
Foligno-Fisher-Shannon
Ruutu-Kelly-__________
Donovan-Winchester-Schubert or Guy X

D
Volchenkov-Phillips
Kuba-Campoli
Lee-Smith

Extras
Picard
Bell

Possible to land a spot

Zubov
Bass
Regin
Z. Smith (With a great pre-season, doubtful)
Mauldin? Is this a possibility?

And, of course, there are the whisperings of E. Karlsson making his way in...AND, whoever we draft in the 1st round.

hemlock wrote:Not interested. I'd rather have a hungry Bass for a fraction of that. $2+ on Neil could be better spent methinks.

I echo these comments whole heartedly. If last year showed anything, is Neil lost a step or two after the knee injury, not that he had speed before. His hit totals, offensive totals are all down and will stay that way I'm afraid.

THanks for the serivce Neiler! You're a great guy, but it's time for us to get better, not stay on course.

hemlock wrote:

strachattack wrote:Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

We don't need an enforcer. These scripted fights are for the birds anyway. We've got guys that will drop the mitts in the heat of battle. In those instances, I'd say that winning and losing isn't as important as standing up for yourself or a teammate. We've got that already. Neil will be a Maple Leaf on July 1, for some ungodly amount like $2.5 I think.

I agree. I'm no fan of the scripted fights and it's not worth having a guy sit on the bench and playing only 2mins a game. However, I don't think we've got many guys who WILL drop the gloves on a semi-regular basis and can play the game. Without Neil we have Bass. Some would say that doesn't make a tough team. For instance, how many guys on Boston are willing and able? Thornton, Chara and Lucic.

SensGirl11 wrote:Everything that you are all saying is very true. There really isn't much room for anyone left on the team. Neil however, is a tough customer, and we don't have anyone like him at the moment. Bass will eventually take his spot, but I'm not sure he has the strength to fight like Neil at this point in his career. He keeps getting hurt, he absolutely needs to get stronger before he can replace Neiler.

But, again, there really doesn't seem to be room on the team with at least 3 of our Bingo guys that will be seriously fighting for a spot ont he team, and 2 of those are almost sure bets to make it.

So at the moment we have signed and ready:

F
Heater-Spezza-Alfie
Foligno-Fisher-Shannon
Ruutu-Kelly-__________
Donovan-Winchester-Schubert or Guy X

D
Volchenkov-Phillips
Kuba-Campoli
Lee-Smith

Extras
Picard
Bell

Possible to land a spot

Zubov
Bass
Regin
Z. Smith (With a great pre-season, doubtful)
Mauldin? Is this a possibility?

And, of course, there are the whisperings of E. Karlsson making his way in...AND, whoever we draft in the 1st round.

Something tells me you'll see Smith most of the year on the IR

strachattack wrote:

hemlock wrote:

strachattack wrote:Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

We don't need an enforcer. These scripted fights are for the birds anyway. We've got guys that will drop the mitts in the heat of battle. In those instances, I'd say that winning and losing isn't as important as standing up for yourself or a teammate. We've got that already. Neil will be a Maple Leaf on July 1, for some ungodly amount like $2.5 I think.

I agree. I'm no fan of the scripted fights and it's not worth having a guy sit on the bench and playing only 2mins a game. However, I don't think we've got many guys who WILL drop the gloves on a semi-regular basis and can play the game. Without Neil we have Bass. Some would say that doesn't make a tough team. For instance, how many guys on Boston are willing and able? Thornton, Chara and Lucic.

Fisher and Ruutu both fight if the situation calls for it. Hell, Spezza has thrown down on a couple of occasions. This team isn't as soft as some would suggest. They just have to come together more and play for each other and not just with each other.

Is anyone else worried Neil might panic and Murray will in fact sign him at a hometown discount; thereby taking a roster spot from a foaming-at-the-mouth-youngun eager to show his worth!?

While I like Neil VERY much and he is a great fella, both on and off the ice, I think he's of more use to another org; and with the direction the Sens are or NEED to go do NOT mix with Neil being within.

Time to go our seperate ways and hope that Bass heals up nicely from his shoulder surgery and is just itchin' to show us ALL what he's made of.

EDIT: THANK YOU HEMLOCK!! Your last point is something I've been saying for a while; so I'm SO glad it's not just me, someone else agrees and sees it too!

The thing with having Bass replace Neil is that he can tilt when he needs to AND he can play a big role on the penalty kill as well. Something Chris Neil never does. Chris Neil is the most one-dimensional player at this point on the Ottawa Senators -- he doesn't contribute points, he doesn't contribute defensively, he doesn't have speed to use to draw penalties and he's a liability on most of the ice; the only thing he can do is body check people and fight occasionally...and people want to throw almost $2-million per season at this guy to be a fourth line grinder...simply stunning.

hemlock wrote:

strachattack wrote:

hemlock wrote:

strachattack wrote:Can Bass fight well though? Could he survive a bout with some of the heavy weights around the league? Do we need anyone on the roster who can do this anymore? If Bass can't effectively fill that fighter role don't we run the risk of getting our stars knocked around with ease?

I like Bass but I don't know if he can effectively fulfill that role. I realize some think the role of fighting isn't as important anymore but outside of Neil we're a pretty soft team. It would bug me if players started taking liberties against our top players without fear of revenge. As a team they might not perform as intensely without knowing they have a guy who can back them up and drop the gloves regularly.

Now, having mentioned that, I don't think we should sign Neil for anything above 2+. At that price we'll have to go without but at 1.5 and a 4yr deal it might be worth it.

We don't need an enforcer. These scripted fights are for the birds anyway. We've got guys that will drop the mitts in the heat of battle. In those instances, I'd say that winning and losing isn't as important as standing up for yourself or a teammate. We've got that already. Neil will be a Maple Leaf on July 1, for some ungodly amount like $2.5 I think.

I agree. I'm no fan of the scripted fights and it's not worth having a guy sit on the bench and playing only 2mins a game. However, I don't think we've got many guys who WILL drop the gloves on a semi-regular basis and can play the game. Without Neil we have Bass. Some would say that doesn't make a tough team. For instance, how many guys on Boston are willing and able? Thornton, Chara and Lucic.

Fisher and Ruutu both fight if the situation calls for it. Hell, Spezza has thrown down on a couple of occasions. This team isn't as soft as some would suggest. They just have to come together more and play for each other and not just with each other.

I think Fish can hold his own in any kind of fight, with whomever feels the need to fight him. He's a sneek attack kind of fighter. People don't quite know yet just how strong this guy is. He could probably rag-doll a guy or two.

Phillips could probably demolish a few guys too if need be. And, well, J. Smith is a freaking monster. (Please be healthy!!!)

Bass and Neil aren't even close to being the same player IMO. Bass hits like the wind and is aggressive etc., but he isn't close to the fighter, he isn't the leader that Neil is (yet). Having Neil around will help form the bond of comradeship that wins you championships - plus, guys like Bass and Z.Smith will learn what it takes - and WHEN you drop the gloves.

Toughness...you need it to win championships. Neil is a great complimentary player.

BUT...only for 1.5 or less - not a diddling penny more!!!!

However...

There is a HUGE however, but I'm not sure it belongs in this thread...

If Neil is willing to take less than originally asked for or thought (1.5 or less) long term for a guy willing to do anything to stay in Ottawa, you do it.

What Neil has isnt "easily" replaced by Bass (who I love) or Smith. Neil had an off year like everyone else the only difference is he was in a contract year and that hurt him in that aspect. Neil as the ability to play a regular shift, put up a goal here and there, bring energy, and has tons of expierence both in the regualr season and playoffs.

If Sens fans want a playoff spot next year you need Neil like it or not, thats where it will hurt the most especially with a younger team coming in.

Actually, it probably does. What Chris Neil takes up is not only 1.5 million, but a roster spot. For a kid? Not so much, for a big, burly dude who can score that we acquire via trade or UFA.

This is one piece that's missing. Foligno - Fisher - BIG DUDE, allowing Shannon to shift down and help Kelly and Regin out.

That's my however.

504Heater wrote:However...

There is a HUGE however, but I'm not sure it belongs in this thread...

Do tell, please.

SensGirl11 wrote:

504Heater wrote:However...

There is a HUGE however, but I'm not sure it belongs in this thread...

Do tell, please.

That probably sounded more dramatic than it should have. It was about the roster spot that he takes away from a big dude that can score. Something we'll need going forward - especially with the maturation of Foligno.