Erik Condra signs

asq2 wrote:
:^^^^: Don't be absurd. Regin's going to be playing in Ottawa this season.

In all seriousness: where? Where does he fit now that we re-signed Neil?

SpezDispenser wrote:

asq2 wrote:
:^^^^: Don't be absurd. Regin's going to be playing in Ottawa this season.

In all seriousness: where? Where does he fit now that we re-signed Neil?

He doesn't. Murray seems adamant about keeping the Sens a one-line team offensively.

I had hoped that we could keep the FFS line together, lose Neil, deal Kelly and then build one offensive line around Spezza and Alfredsson, and another around Regin and the return for Heatley, signing lower-tier UFA scoring forwards to fill the holes.

I really dislike the Neil contract, not so much because of the player we re-signed or the money, but because it prohibits scoring depth. Regin should not be playing between Neil/Kelly/Ruutu/Winchester/our other gazillion bottom-6 players.

That said, Regin is a better player than almost everyone in our bottom 6.

asq2 wrote:

marakh wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Bingo's gonna be really good next year. Brodeur, St.Pierre, Condra, that D-man we signed a while ago.

Obrien, Regin, Heatley...

:^^^^: Don't be absurd. Regin's going to be playing in Ottawa this season.

Oops my bad. Replace it with Zubov then.

asq2 wrote:That said, Regin is a better player than almost everyone in our bottom 6.

I think we need to a third line with a little scoring. Go for a top-nine/bottom-three approach rather than top/bottom-six. This likely means we have too many bottom-six players: Neil, Kelly, Bass, Winchester, Ruutu, Donovan, Schubert. We can keep one extra as a spare, maybe even one more as a healthy scratch, but two of the names listed above have got to go.

Neil just signed a new contract, so he's not moving. Kelly would be hard to move and, besides, he's probably a good guy to keep on the third line to teach the kids the defensive side; however if there is deal to move him (possibly as part of a Heatley trade) then we have to move him. I like Bass and he can possibly be our next Neil, but Neil's here for another 4 years which makes Bass expendable. Donovan is cheap and works hard, but at some point you may have to make a choice -- Donovan or a young kid like Bass or Wichester; just a numbers game. Schubert can play a swing role and if his mind's in it I'd still like to keep him for that reason. If not, he needs to be moved.

We have 4 top-sixers in Alfie, Spezza, Fisher and Foligno (yeah, a bit early for Foligno, but what can you do). If the FFS line is kept intact then move Shannon there as well, however if Heatley is gone I really, really want to see Fisher as a winger on the top line; in which case Shannon is probably playing on the third line and we need two UFAs or returns in the Heatley trade to fill out the second line.

Ah, who am I kidding, we will probably play this year with a top line, two third lines and the energy line. That said, we could have two third lines made up of skilled, if inexperienced, players, rather than two checking lines who cannot score.

Bass and Neil are not exactly the same player. Bass isn't quite the physical presence that Neil is, but he's a better skater and better shut-down player.

IMO Bass is the perfect 4th line centre in the making, and although he may be "expendable," I'd rather not deal him because his value isn't particularly high to other teams right now IMO.

I share your dream of a top-9, by the way. My dream was that we would acquire Frolov and the 5th over-all pick (Schenn, bolstering our forward prospect group) for Heatley, and then build a line around Spezza/Alfredsson and another around Regin/Frolov, with FFS as the 2nd/3rd as well.

Letting Neil walk, and trading Kelly/Smith, we would then have the money to sign two lower-tier scoring forwards (Sullivan, Recchi, Cole, Knuble, Antropov) etc. to fill out the other two scoring lines.

Then we'd have a fourth line of Winchester - Bass - Ruutu, with Donovan as the extra skater.

Alas, it was not to be. Instead, we have a combined $11 million locked up in Fisher, Neil, Kelly and Smith.

that's something that i've also been wandering, with donovan and shubby's contracts both over at the end of the season you have to expect both not coming bac, but with practicaly no interest out there in trades out there(well at least in shubby) what's bryan to do? bench them? the way i see it there's no room on the current roster to be able to move anybody up from bingo. and btw if keller is impressive at camp, where do you see him in the team?

to be honest i'd see winchester, kelly, donovan and shubby as possible trade bait. and in bingo zubov, hennessy and Bass as possibly on the way out(too bad cuz i really liked bass).

Ummm, how the hell did you come to the conclussion that Bass is on his way out, same with Winchester? They are both guys who have showed they can play at the NHL level, on entry level deals and play specific roles on the Sens. Not going anywhere, bud.

asq2 wrote:Bass and Neil are not exactly the same player. Bass isn't quite the physical presence that Neil is, but he's a better skater and better shut-down player.

IMO Bass is the perfect 4th line centre in the making, and although he may be "expendable," I'd rather not deal him because his value isn't particularly high to other teams right now IMO.

I share your dream of a top-9, by the way. My dream was that we would acquire Frolov and the 5th over-all pick (Schenn, bolstering our forward prospect group) for Heatley, and then build a line around Spezza/Alfredsson and another around Regin/Frolov, with FFS as the 2nd/3rd as well.

Letting Neil walk, and trading Kelly/Smith, we would then have the money to sign two lower-tier scoring forwards (Sullivan, Recchi, Cole, Knuble, Antropov) etc. to fill out the other two scoring lines.

Then we'd have a fourth line of Winchester - Bass - Ruutu, with Donovan as the extra skater.

Alas, it was not to be. Instead, we have a combined $11 million locked up in Fisher, Neil, Kelly and Smith.

Vomit inducing.

Neely4Life wrote:Ummm, how the hell did you come to the conclussion that Bass is on his way out, same with Winchester? They are both guys who have showed they can play at the NHL level, on entry level deals and play specific roles on the Sens. Not going anywhere, bud.

not saying they are on their way out but if we are to bring any top 6ers they could be part of a deal. there are to many bottom 6ers in ottawa and in the farm system.

asq2 wrote:That said, Regin is a better player than almost everyone in our bottom 6.

Now might be the time to offer Kelly and Heatley to SJ and clear Kelly off the books. We all like his character, but I want Regin in the top 9 as a center.

Flo The Action wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Ummm, how the hell did you come to the conclussion that Bass is on his way out, same with Winchester? They are both guys who have showed they can play at the NHL level, on entry level deals and play specific roles on the Sens. Not going anywhere, bud.

not saying they are on their way out but if we are to bring any top 6ers they could be part of a deal. there are to many bottom 6ers in ottawa and in the farm system.

Wont be those 2, especially when 1 is on a two way deal.

I fear Bass might start in the AHL again. It's the only way to get Regin onto this team in any kind of capacity.

SpezDispenser wrote:

asq2 wrote:That said, Regin is a better player than almost everyone in our bottom 6.

Now might be the time to offer Kelly and Heatley to SJ and clear Kelly off the books. We all like his character, but I want Regin in the top 9 as a center.

I will never "get" the Kelly hatred.

No hatred, but his salary is tangible and he seems to prevent the lines he's on from being a scoring threat.

Except for that time he centred Heatley.

I dont either so... I like Kelly and at 2.1 mil a season he isnt that bad. He's a solid player.

Neely4Life wrote:I dont either so... I like Kelly and at 2.1 mil a season he isnt that bad. He's a solid player.

Kelly is a phenomenal third line centre. Plus since Vermette was traded, he's Ottawa's best penalty killer.

He is, all of this "we gotta trade Kelly" BS gets kind of annoying. I'm not gonna cry if he gets deal to open up a roster spot, w/e, but he doesnt have to go, he doesnt need to be dealt.