UPDATE: Jason Smith retires; door open for Erik Karlsson?

SensFan71 wrote:

shabbs wrote:If Regin, Karlsson and Lee make the line-up... and we move Schubie for a pick or prospect... our 22-man roster has $1.19M in cap space. Not much of a difference.

well then my plan wasn't thought through very well, that means we might have to look at moving a guy like Kelly (gasp) to get more cap space and move a guy like Smith in his spot. Bass can go back to bingo as someone corrected me and told me he is on a 2 way.

Not sure what Murray's gonna do... if we move Kelly and Schubert for picks/prospects and assume Regin, Z. Smith, Lee and Karlsson all make the line-up, a 22-man roster ends up with $2.761M in cap space and looks like this. But what are the chances of all that happening...?

SeawaySensFan wrote:

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Again, it's time that things should be earned in Ottawa, not given to them like Spezza and Meszaros were. There is absolutly nothing wrong with a guy like Regin working his way up the ladder.

Meszaros definitely earned his spot on the roster that first season. Don't forget, he ended up part of an all-rookie team featuring Ovechkin, Crosby, Lundqvist and Phaneuf.

I'd say he earned it more than Karlsson appears to be.

There's been an increase in blaspheming here lately.

All I'll say is that I've watched Karlsson pretty extensively in the WJC and in the SEL, and while there are aspects of his game that are pretty damn impressive, I don't anticipate he'll be as good as Meszaros was in his rookie season.

Now, granted, he may have taken many steps forward this off-season (which is hard to tell until he starts playing again) but I'd be lying if I said that when I last saw him (SEL playoffs) he didn't have a lot of work to do defensively.

On another note, is anyone concerned that we just lost quite a bit of leadership in the locker-room?

Especially with Heatley potentially returning, is this going to be a good environment for youngsters like Karlsson?

shabbs wrote:

SensFan71 wrote:

shabbs wrote:If Regin, Karlsson and Lee make the line-up... and we move Schubie for a pick or prospect... our 22-man roster has $1.19M in cap space. Not much of a difference.

well then my plan wasn't thought through very well, that means we might have to look at moving a guy like Kelly (gasp) to get more cap space and move a guy like Smith in his spot. Bass can go back to bingo as someone corrected me and told me he is on a 2 way.

Not sure what Murray's gonna do... if we move Kelly and Schubert for picks/prospects and assume Regin, Z. Smith, Lee and Karlsson all make the line-up, a 22-man roster ends up with $2.761M in cap space and looks like this. But what are the chances of all that happening...?

I guess the only one that knows that is Murray, he already has a plan in place I am sure, and it may be totally different than what we are suggesting here, or maybe we will give him the idea as I am sure he is an avid GM hockey guest that reads, but does not contribute.

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:Right on...Duncan Keith, for example, isn't exactly The Incredible Hulk...Karlsson's a VERY smart and smooth d-man.

Right now, though, Keith is several levels above Karlsson defensively.

Mr. Keith, the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Club, and I thank you for the compliment.

davetherave wrote:

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:Right on...Duncan Keith, for example, isn't exactly The Incredible Hulk...Karlsson's a VERY smart and smooth d-man.

Right now, though, Keith is several levels above Karlsson defensively.

Mr. Keith, the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Club, and I thank you for the compliment.

Duncan Keith right now should be used as an ideal for Karlsson, not a comparable (although I think Karlsson will eventually put up bigger numbers, and still be lesser defensively).

What effect does Smith's retiring have on him in the sim?

Bleh...can we not compare Duncan Keith to Erik Karlsson right now. Or anyone for that matter. He'll get 21 points - if he's lucky - and provide a glimpse into what he can be (Kronwall), but please, no one get carried away. It'll lead to sadness.

asq2 wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Again, it's time that things should be earned in Ottawa, not given to them like Spezza and Meszaros were. There is absolutly nothing wrong with a guy like Regin working his way up the ladder.

Meszaros definitely earned his spot on the roster that first season. Don't forget, he ended up part of an all-rookie team featuring Ovechkin, Crosby, Lundqvist and Phaneuf.

I'd say he earned it more than Karlsson appears to be.

There's been an increase in blaspheming here lately.

All I'll say is that I've watched Karlsson pretty extensively in the WJC and in the SEL, and while there are aspects of his game that are pretty damn impressive, I don't anticipate he'll be as good as Meszaros was in his rookie season.

Now, granted, he may have taken many steps forward this off-season (which is hard to tell until he starts playing again) but I'd be lying if I said that when I last saw him (SEL playoffs) he didn't have a lot of work to do defensively.

Somethings you cant learn without expierence. As far as his defensive play, in his own age group he was dominate there as well. At the WJC's he didnt get beat, he didnt get out muscled, and in fact was perhaps the most physical player on that Swedish team.

Meszaros absolutly was handed a lot of things after that rookie season. I'm not talking about just in their rookie year, I'm talking about getting their spots handed to them on a silver platter the years after. Meszaros was 100% a product of the most dominate defence in the game at that time in Redden, Chara, Phillips. Karlsson should and probably will have a very similar year as Mesaros did with more PP time I would imagine.

Dash wrote:What effect does Smith's retiring have on him in the sim?

None at all. He retired after Sept.1st. Nothing that happened(s) from Sept 1st on matters in the sim.

You guys love to set yourself up for disappointment don't you. Remember that very few rookie defensemen stand out in their first foray into the NHL...just something to keep in mind for anyone with illusions of Karlsson being a Norris-calibre defenseman in his first year.

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:Right on...Duncan Keith, for example, isn't exactly The Incredible Hulk...Karlsson's a VERY smart and smooth d-man.

Right now, though, Keith is several levels above Karlsson defensively.

Mr. Keith, the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Club, and I thank you for the compliment.

Duncan Keith right now should be used as an ideal for Karlsson, not a comparable (although I think Karlsson will eventually put up bigger numbers, and still be lesser defensively).

I dont know where you get this "lesser defensivly" thing from. Honestly, there wasnt a more well rounded player on that Swedish team last year then Karlsson. He was better in his own end then Hedman by a larage margin who should be used as a comparable because of the age and the fact they are both entering thier rookie years.

Karlsson will be as reliable as anyone in the league over time defensivly. I look at him as a Scott Niedamayer in the making. I think he is absolutly that good and that well rounded for his age.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:What effect does Smith's retiring have on him in the sim?

None at all. He retired after Sept.1st. Nothing that happened(s) from Sept 1st on matters in the sim.

Really? So if Heatley and Leclaire are traded to Vancouver for Luongo and Kesler (hypothetical situation of a big hockey deal) then that won't be mirrored in the SIM?

PKC wrote:You guys love to set yourself up for disappointment don't you. Remember that very few rookie defensemen stand out in their first foray into the NHL...just something to keep in mind for anyone with illusions of Karlsson being a Norris-calibre defenseman in his first year.

No one is expecting that, Im not even expecting him to be in the Calder discussion for the simple reason that rookie d men are hardly ever noticed. That's not to say that he wont have a great year though.

The big thing now is that the Sens aren't handcuffed. I realize the player that was lost in Smith, but he wasn't exactly a permanent fixture. He played 63 games in the first year of his contract, then retired. Without question we lose his voice in the locker room, but I think the Sens will grow through the ranks this year.

Personally, I'm excited to see Karlsson develop in the big show, Campoli man the point for a full season, and Picard show us why BM insisted on getting him in the Meszaros deal.

This is not an attack on Smith, I just don't think he was overly established as a Senator.

PKC wrote:
Really? So if Heatley and Leclaire are traded to Vancouver for Luongo and Kesler (hypothetical situation of a big hockey deal) then that won't be mirrored in the SIM?

Not after Sept.1, no.

Now to ship Donovan to the Sharks for a 5th and we're getting somewhere.

N4L wrote:

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:

asq2 wrote:

davetherave wrote:Right on...Duncan Keith, for example, isn't exactly The Incredible Hulk...Karlsson's a VERY smart and smooth d-man.

Right now, though, Keith is several levels above Karlsson defensively.

Mr. Keith, the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Club, and I thank you for the compliment.

Duncan Keith right now should be used as an ideal for Karlsson, not a comparable (although I think Karlsson will eventually put up bigger numbers, and still be lesser defensively).

I dont know where you get this "lesser defensivly" thing from. Honestly, there wasnt a more well rounded player on that Swedish team last year then Karlsson. He was better in his own end then Hedman by a larage margin who should be used as a comparable because of the age and the fact they are both entering thier rookie years.

Karlsson will be as reliable as anyone in the league over time defensivly. I look at him as a Scott Niedamayer in the making. I think he is absolutly that good and that well rounded for his age.

He did get beaten defensively in the WJC, and he got beaten frequently in the SEL, sometimes because he couldn't keep up with the players (like Tedenby, hell Tavares skated around him in one of the Canada-Sweden games) and sometimes because of lack of strength or poor positioning.

Duncan Keith is an absolute rock. I think Karlsson can and probably should end up very respectable defensively, but don't forget he was drafted as a long-term project. Personally, I don't think he'll mirror Meszaros rookie season. 10 goals, ~40 points, +34 and very strong play on defence?

Hedman was playing that tournament with an injury. He's much bigger, probably a better skater, has more professional experience and had a better showing in the SEL both offensively and defensively. Karlsson could end up being better than he is this season, but basically every SEL fan I've talked to states that Hedman is significantly more developed in everything except offence (and without as much mental aggressiveness as Karlsson has).

Anyway, I'd love to be proven wrong here, but I have my doubts. Karlsson was drafted for what he'd be at 25 and beyond, not what he'd be at 19.