POLL: Who Gets the 'A'?

SpezDispenser wrote:

caissie_1 wrote:Mike Fisher is deserving... It will be interesting to see if there is another off the board choice like Heathly was last year...

Like Spezza?

Assuming it's Clouston's un-influenced decision then I'd feel 10 times better about Spezza getting the "A" than I do right now.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:Three Kuba's and not one Smith, that is a shocker. I am not sure who started the rumour that Smith is done but it was an effective rumour....

I think the problem is there's uncertainty over whether or not he even makes it to the end of next season with the Sens. I would pick Smith if I knew he'd be around but, as a sixth D man, even if he's healthy, at that cap hit, I don't want him around.

I know he's a warrior and a leader and blocks shots and he's the kind of guy you want on your team but not at that cap hit for that roll.

Even if you feel he's worth the money it still doesn't change the fact that he's only got one year left. Too much uncertainty for me to pick him.

For me it is the opposite. If he is healthy, he is the playoff warrior you need. He can still play an effective 17 minutes a night. He can shut down the best players in the league. He is never out of position and is still THE best shot blocker in the league. (I think Volchie is great but is second to Smith.) He is truly intimidating and has the respect of the entire league. He is great in the room... I say this same argument too much. I guess I am alone on this. I hope we are a playoff team next year and Gator is on our blue line. Then the haters will come around. He is a special player, not in terms of stats but certainly worth the money when healthy.

MurderOnIce wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:Three Kuba's and not one Smith, that is a shocker. I am not sure who started the rumour that Smith is done but it was an effective rumour....

I think the problem is there's uncertainty over whether or not he even makes it to the end of next season with the Sens. I would pick Smith if I knew he'd be around but, as a sixth D man, even if he's healthy, at that cap hit, I don't want him around.

I know he's a warrior and a leader and blocks shots and he's the kind of guy you want on your team but not at that cap hit for that roll.

Even if you feel he's worth the money it still doesn't change the fact that he's only got one year left. Too much uncertainty for me to pick him.

For me it is the opposite. If he is healthy, he is the playoff warrior you need. He can still play an effective 17 minutes a night. He can shut down the best players in the league. He is never out of position and is still THE best shot blocker in the league. (I think Volchie is great but is second to Smith.) He is truly intimidating and has the respect of the entire league. He is great in the room... I say this same argument too much. I guess I am alone on this. I hope we are a playoff team next year and Gator is on our blue line. Then the haters will come around. He is a special player, not in terms of stats but certainly worth the money when healthy.

Then I'll be happy to have him around and even without the "A" he'll have a great influence on the team then right?

A-Train

A-Train already has an 'A', and not just the one in his nickname.

Jason Smith, he has the pedigree to do the job right!

wprager wrote:A-Train already has an 'A', and not just the one in his nickname.

i was pretty sure ottawa only has 2 A one was with phillips and one was heatley last year

No letter for Volchenkov. He may have worn a letter when another player was hurt.

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

wprager wrote:A-Train already has an 'A', and not just the one in his nickname.

i was pretty sure ottawa only has 2 A one was with phillips and one was heatley last year

And before that Wade Redden.

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

wprager wrote:A-Train already has an 'A', and not just the one in his nickname.

i was pretty sure ottawa only has 2 A one was with phillips and one was heatley last year

My bad. Sorry, I was thinking of the Big Rig, of course.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

wprager wrote:A-Train already has an 'A', and not just the one in his nickname.

i was pretty sure ottawa only has 2 A one was with phillips and one was heatley last year

And before that Wade Redden.

Redden!

Lucky Day wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

wprager wrote:A-Train already has an 'A', and not just the one in his nickname.

i was pretty sure ottawa only has 2 A one was with phillips and one was heatley last year

And before that Wade Redden.

Redden!

So the last two recipients either asked, or were asked to be traded. Maybe we should give the 'A' to Schubert and Kelly.

wprager wrote:

Lucky Day wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

wprager wrote:A-Train already has an 'A', and not just the one in his nickname.

i was pretty sure ottawa only has 2 A one was with phillips and one was heatley last year

And before that Wade Redden.

Redden!

So the last two recipients wither asked, or were asked to be traded. Maybe we should give the 'A' to Schubert and Kelly.

wanting Schubert and Kelly out of here I assume?

Schubert? I love him as a 4th liner who fills in on defense when asked. I can't stand him whining about getting a full-time D job. Seems he is no longer willing to do the former.

Kelly? Him I don't mind, but his contract is too much.

wprager wrote:Schubert? I love him as a 4th liner who fills in on defense when asked. I can't stand him whining about getting a full-time D job. Seems he is no longer willing to do the former.

Kelly? Him I don't mind, but his contract is too much.

meh, Schubert is expendable, we have 4th line grinders galore and a log jam on D (not that he plays like you pointed out)

Kelly, one hell of a pker, but hands of stone.

SensFan71 wrote:

wprager wrote:Schubert? I love him as a 4th liner who fills in on defense when asked. I can't stand him whining about getting a full-time D job. Seems he is no longer willing to do the former.

Kelly? Him I don't mind, but his contract is too much.

meh, Schubert is expendable, we have 4th line grinders galore and a log jam on D (not that he plays like you pointed out)

Kelly, one hell of a pker, but hands of stone.

Schubert is a very, very good grinder. He's got size, speed and a bit of a mean streak. At nearly $1M, though, he is a little on the high end of the scale. When he was a swing-man and filled in (fairly well, I might add) as a PK-ing D-man, he was worth that contract. With the cap going down, and with his attitude about playing D or nothing, I'm no longer crazy about him.

Kelly? Wow, what else can you say? He had enough chances to get 20+ goals last year, which would make him comparable to a John Madden type player. Without the goals, though, woof.

wprager wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

wprager wrote:Schubert? I love him as a 4th liner who fills in on defense when asked. I can't stand him whining about getting a full-time D job. Seems he is no longer willing to do the former.

Kelly? Him I don't mind, but his contract is too much.

meh, Schubert is expendable, we have 4th line grinders galore and a log jam on D (not that he plays like you pointed out)

Kelly, one hell of a pker, but hands of stone.

Schubert is a very, very good grinder. He's got size, speed and a bit of a mean streak. At nearly $1M, though, he is a little on the high end of the scale. When he was a swing-man and filled in (fairly well, I might add) as a PK-ing D-man, he was worth that contract. With the cap going down, and with his attitude about playing D or nothing, I'm no longer crazy about him.

Kelly? Wow, what else can you say? He had enough chances to get 20+ goals last year, which would make him comparable to a John Madden type player. Without the goals, though, woof.

we have enough guys with attitude problems we are trying to get rid of, as much as Schubie hits like a mack truck, he whines much more, time to clear out the past problems of the team and head in a fresh direction, sans Schubert, sans Heatley, Kelly, well, will have to wait and see, he is one that has never complained to my knowledge, just needs to put the puck in the net more, like Fisher needs to as well, sheesh.

Number Twenty Nine wrote:Jason Smith, he has the pedigree to do the job right!

Good for you! I was going to log in as a guest and put Smith in there. He is the RIGHT guy for the job. I keep hearing unsubstantiated rumours about whether or not he will play again, that is why I voted differently. The closer we get to the season without confirmation, the more I think he will be in our lineup. I for one am damn happy about it.