2009/10 Sens Roster predictions

rooneypoo wrote:
Trust me, I hear you. I've made the argument a number of times on this site already, in fact.

The fact is, however, it's pretty much impossible to make 3 scoring lines when Kelly is on one of them. Every time you pair a guy with Kelly, people understandably cry foul: "player x won't survive in that kind of environment, he needs offensive players to complement him." My whole point is that if you take Kelly out of the picture, your options for offensive lines expand dramatically.

I'm very wary of breaking up the Foligno-Fisher-Shannon line, which was pretty much as our 5-on-5 line for the last half of last season. At this point, I'd say keep those guys together as line 2A or 2B. Then, make your top two lines out of whatever return you get on Heatley + Alfie, Spezza, Kovalev, and a young guy like Regin or Zubov (if needed).

As you can see, Kelly just doesn't fit there. He's not a top 6er in that arrangement. With the FFS line, he's not a top 9er either. That means there's not a lot of room for him on this team.

We can work on the PK. After Alfie, Fisher, and Ruutu, we have prospects who should be able to help fill that need. Winchester looks ready to kill penalties. Regin might be, too. Plus, who knows, maybe whoever we get back in the Heatley deal will be able to PK, too.

Interesting points. Although I'm not sure Murray is particularly interested in sort of "hoping for the best" for his penalty kill.

The fact is, this team doesn't have a clear direction in terms of style. Does the club want to be a defense-first team? An offensive juggernaut capable of rolling three dangerous scoring lines? A counter-punch team that relies on speed to create scoring chances?

"What does this team want to be?" should be the first question GMHockey members think of. Once that is answered, I think it will be MUCH easier to figure out who will almost definitively be on the roster come September.

Also, on another note, if Regin is being slotted in on the roster already, does that pretty much mean Ilja Zubov is never going to play for the Senators? And if so, why not try to sweeten a deal for Heatley by adding him to it?

Neil's new contract makes Kelly look like more of a bargain but I believe his PKing isn't enough to keep him in Ottawa.

I'd be inclined to trade him for a pick to make room for a Top 6 forward in a Heatley trade.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Neil's new contract makes Kelly look like more of a bargain but I believe his PKing isn't enough to keep him in Ottawa.

I'd be inclined to trade him for a pick to make room for a Top 6 forward in a Heatley trade.

as much as Kelly is a nice guy, this might have to be more of an option if he doesn't fit into the teams plans, there will be a few tough decisions like this over the next few years.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Neil's new contract makes Kelly look like more of a bargain but I believe his PKing isn't enough to keep him in Ottawa.

I'd be inclined to trade him for a pick to make room for a Top 6 forward in a Heatley trade.

I can't believe that talentless ape's 200% raise is going to force a guy like Chris Kelly to be traded. Just stupid management right there...I stand behind everything Murray has done except this. Excessive money for a waste of a player and more importantly, waste of a roster spot.

I like what I saw from Winchester and Ruutu on the PK last year. I understand Kelly is better but when you consider that Smith is un-moveable and Schubert isn't making that much anyway...

Bottom line when you stack up Neil's contract against Kelly's you must reluctantly agree that one of them's gotta go.

I like Neil but I have to say it would have been better for our salary structure to lose him for nothing.

PKC wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Neil's new contract makes Kelly look like more of a bargain but I believe his PKing isn't enough to keep him in Ottawa.

I'd be inclined to trade him for a pick to make room for a Top 6 forward in a Heatley trade.

I can't believe that talentless ape's 200% raise is going to force a guy like Chris Kelly to be traded. Just stupid management right there...I stand behind everything Murray has done except this. Excessive money for a waste of a player and more importantly, waste of a roster spot.

Sadly I have to agree.

Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Heatley - Fisher - Kovalev
Kelly - Regin - Shannon
Ruutu - Winchester - Neil

spares: Donovan
first call up: Bass, Zubov depending on where the injury is

Kuba - Campoli
Volchenkov - Phillips
Lee - Picard/Smith

spare: Smith, Picard

Leclaire
Elliott

Really nice lineup. Not sure if the D will be able to weather the storm though, but still, pretty nice, balanced attack up front.

PKC wrote:I can't believe that talentless ape's 200% raise is going to force a guy like Chris Kelly to be traded. Just stupid management right there...I stand behind everything Murray has done except this. Excessive money for a waste of a player and more importantly, waste of a roster spot.

He only got a 100% raise.



Heh heh.

SpezDispenser wrote:Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Heatley - Fisher - Kovalev
Kelly - Regin - Shannon
Ruutu - Winchester - Neil

spares: Donovan
first call up: Bass, Zubov depending on where the injury is

Kuba - Campoli
Volchenkov - Phillips
Lee - Picard/Smith

spare: Smith, Picard

Leclaire
Elliott

Really nice lineup. Not sure if the D will be able to weather the storm though, but still, pretty nice, balanced attack up front.

So Kelly and Schubert are traded/waived and Heatley is still here?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So Kelly and Schubert are traded/waived and Heatley is still here?

Kelly's flanking Regin on line 3 with Shannon.

Schubert will be waived if we can't find him a home. Simply no room IMO.

SpezDispenser wrote:Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Heatley - Fisher - Kovalev
Kelly - Regin - Shannon
Ruutu - Winchester - Neil

spares: Donovan
first call up: Bass, Zubov depending on where the injury is

Kuba - Campoli
Volchenkov - Phillips
Lee - Picard/Smith

spare: Smith, Picard

Leclaire
Elliott

Really nice lineup. Not sure if the D will be able to weather the storm though, but still, pretty nice, balanced attack up front.

I don't see any Shannon either, pretty sure he signed a one way deal.

SensFan71 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Heatley - Fisher - Kovalev
Kelly - Regin - Shannon
Ruutu - Winchester - Neil

spares: Donovan
first call up: Bass, Zubov depending on where the injury is

Kuba - Campoli
Volchenkov - Phillips
Lee - Picard/Smith

spare: Smith, Picard

Leclaire
Elliott

Really nice lineup. Not sure if the D will be able to weather the storm though, but still, pretty nice, balanced attack up front.

I don't see any Shannon either, pretty sure he signed a one way deal.

Shannon? He's on line 3 with Kelly on LW and Regin centering.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Foligno - Spezza - Alfredsson
Heatley - Fisher - Kovalev
Kelly - Regin - Shannon
Ruutu - Winchester - Neil

spares: Donovan
first call up: Bass, Zubov depending on where the injury is

Kuba - Campoli
Volchenkov - Phillips
Lee - Picard/Smith

spare: Smith, Picard

Leclaire
Elliott

Really nice lineup. Not sure if the D will be able to weather the storm though, but still, pretty nice, balanced attack up front.

I don't see any Shannon either, pretty sure he signed a one way deal.

Shannon? He's on line 3 with Kelly on LW and Regin centering.

nm me, I am not that bright today.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:So Kelly and Schubert are traded/waived and Heatley is still here?

Kelly's flanking Regin on line 3 with Shannon.

Schubert will be waived if we can't find him a home. Simply no room IMO.

So you speculate that other than Schubert being waived our roster will stay exactly as is when the season starts?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
So you speculate that other than Schubert being waived our roster will stay exactly as is when the season starts?

I think we're getting close, yeah.

The only move I can see is potentially Smith being moved, but I guarantee Murray would love to keep him for this year. There's almost no way around either him or Kelly moving, but there are options once the dust settles.

I wouldn't be inclined to believe that Heatley will be moved until next summer. The Sens will want to ride full value out of Heatley - and as mentioned, he's got A LOT to play for. Next summer we should be able to get a high pick or prospect or a #1 D-man for him.

Now? We're settling for a potpourri of players.

Edmonton wants Heatley and they have lots of bodies they need to move. With the signing of Kovalev I think Murray would be more focused on getting a quality Dman from Edmonton if they can rework and complete the deal. I'm guessing something along the lines of Heater, Kelly, and Schubert for Gilbert, Cogs, Stortini, and Schremp. If a pick could be squeezed out I'd be all for it but not holding my breath.

I know some argue Kelly cant go but if you look at the team we need to clear space to give one of our young players some playing time and to further develop. We do have others who can step in and play on the PK, players who would benefit from the extra playing time.

Edmonton wants Heater and needs a guy like Kelly. Its the one thing that was on the air waves a lot last year was the need for a quality PK player.

Schubert adds depth to the team for 1 year. Schremp is skilled and with a return east and in a new enviroment could be a good addition to the baby Sens. Stortini also adds size and can play in the 13th spot.

To make room for a starting top 4 d like Gilbert would require Lee being placed in the minors. Moving Smith through trade, retirement, or LITR is another option. My hopes would be that if Smith is truely injuried and needs more time is to place him on LITR until mid season and then bring him in for the stretch drive, if in a playoff hunt and he is ready. Too many if's so the best bet is to place Lee in the minors or carry him as your 7th. Getting Gilbert gives Murray the option to move Kuba next season to free up a space for one of the young Dmen ready to step in.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
So you speculate that other than Schubert being waived our roster will stay exactly as is when the season starts?

I think we're getting close, yeah.

The only move I can see is potentially Smith being moved, but I guarantee Murray would love to keep him for this year. There's almost no way around either him or Kelly moving, but there are options once the dust settles.

I wouldn't be inclined to believe that Heatley will be moved until next summer. The Sens will want to ride full value out of Heatley - and as mentioned, he's got A LOT to play for. Next summer we should be able to get a high pick or prospect or a #1 D-man for him.

Now? We're settling for a potpourri of players.

# 1 pick perhaps, welcome to Ottawa Taylor Hall if that is the case

Okay Phoenix, that's better.

Stortini can stay in Edmonton, so can Shremp and I want next years 1st rounder to go with Gilbert and Cogliano.

No? Diddle you then.