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

asq2 wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I think he may be as good as Soupy in two years.

I think he'll be better defensively though (albeit perhaps not in 2 years). Campbell's a better skater, however.

Yeah, Soupy just popped into my head since Karlsson's skating keeps coming up in glowing terms. To me, Soupy is the best skater I have seen since I started caring about these things.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Let's say Murray did push him somewhat, I say "so?". Good on Murray to have the stones to do it and better on Smith to accept that he was done.

umm no. First of all he didn't. Thats "challenged." Murray is old school and doesn't Diddle around like that. I wasn't there but I guarantee this was Smith's decision. Why would Murray force him to retire when he could just trade him? Why would Murray hold onto him last year so he could honour him and his career, just to force him to retire. This is news to Garrioche because Garrioche isn't privy to any inside info. People in the know Diddle with him to see if he'll actually print the Dung they tell him. Thats all there is to this.

I don't know about you guys but I'm still waiting on Malkin to the Kings

PKC wrote:I love how Garrioch, in all his infinite non-partisanship as a reporter, drops this gem without substantiating it:

"Smith faced the real possibility of spending the year with the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton."

Diddle pathetic publication. Can't believe this piece of Dung "media outlet" is allowed to display their garbage product all over the city. What a Diddle joke...

I would love to see Murray go all 'Jimmy Fox' on Garrioch. That would be sweet. I could sleep into the cold embrace of death with a smile on my face...

asq2 wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:I think the sooner the better for Karlsson. He needs to get into the North American lifestyle and start grinding out an 82 game season. Hopefully he has the success that Meszaros had without the dropoff and inevitable contract whining...

Meszaros has probably more physical tools than Karlsson (if only because of size) but the mental angle isn't close IMO. Karlsson's more poised, confident, aggressive and determined than Meszaros probably ever will be.

If he does indeed play the year in Ottawa, that's what's going to help him survive, probably even more than his offensive talent.

I would agree with the assessment of their styles and potential. I think what I was getting at was success in terms of realizing a great deal of their potential early. I don't think Mesz has been better than his first year yet. He was real good that year.

Meszaros was on a great team with a thin blueline after the top 4. I put Alex Picard on the same level as Meszaros.

Meszaros is one of the most over rated players in the league, at least he was at one point.

Meszaros played with Chara, did he not? Now I can't even remember, but he benefited from his partner, that much is for sure.

Pretty sure it was a Chara/Phillips pairing but the fact of the matter is he had more support than anyone could have wanted along with an almost unstopable offense.

SpezDispenser wrote:Meszaros played with Chara, did he not? Now I can't even remember, but he benefited from his partner, that much is for sure.

He did for a bit, but IIRC the pairings were:

Phillips - Chara
Redden - Volchenkov
Pothier - Meszaros

That team was unbelievable on paper.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000542006.html

Actually Karlsson, at 178 lbs, is no-longer small. For someone 5'10" (is he, really?) that's pretty solid. Alfie may be tipping the scales at 202 lbs now, but he certainly wasn't that big when he won rookie of the year.

Granted, defense is a different position, but so long as they pair him up with someone who can use either strength or a long reach to force forwards to take the long way round, he should be safe when retrieving dump-ins.

wprager wrote:Actually Karlsson, at 178 lbs, is no-longer small. For someone 5'10" (is he, really?) that's pretty solid. Alfie may be tipping the scales at 202 lbs now, but he certainly wasn't that big when he won rookie of the year.

Granted, defense is a different position, but so long as they pair him up with someone who can use either strength or a long reach to force forwards to take the long way round, he should be safe when retrieving dump-ins.

This kid has already proven he can play with men. Sure he's gonna get smacked the odd time, but who isn't. The hockey sense on this kid is bar none, he is going to be just fine. I think Phillips is th eperfect guy to team him up with.

http://senators.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=497504&page=NewsPage&service=page

jamvan wrote:

wprager wrote:Actually Karlsson, at 178 lbs, is no-longer small. For someone 5'10" (is he, really?) that's pretty solid. Alfie may be tipping the scales at 202 lbs now, but he certainly wasn't that big when he won rookie of the year.

Granted, defense is a different position, but so long as they pair him up with someone who can use either strength or a long reach to force forwards to take the long way round, he should be safe when retrieving dump-ins.

This kid has already proven he can play with men. Sure he's gonna get smacked the odd time, but who isn't. The hockey sense on this kid is bar none, he is going to be just fine. I think Phillips is th eperfect guy to team him up with.

Karlsson and Phillips...sounds about right. :___:

Of course, that means giving Karlsson big minutes, Phillips little minutes, or switching up the pairings frequently in-game.

EDIT: But yeah, defencemen seem to shine opposite Phillips (Chara, Volchenkov, Meszaros, Lee, even Schubert).

I think you are more likely to see Karlsson paired with Kuba eventually. Two guys who can move the puck, read the play well, great instincts, LH/RH shot, and Kuba is just as good if not a better D man then Phillips. That's who I think his partner will/should be.

It's an interesting situation. I agree that Kuba would be a good parner -- nice and big with a long reach, doesn't panic, very steady and a good passer. On the other hand, didn't Kuba lead our D in ice time last year? Can Karlsson really play that much? Of course if he doesn't play on the PK, that will shave about 3-4 minutes.

What about putting him with Lee or Picard? Both are pretty big, mobile. The only problem is having a pairing with so little experience, but if they match lines and put them out against the 3rd line they'd do fine.

wprager wrote:It's an interesting situation. I agree that Kuba would be a good parner -- nice and big with a long reach, doesn't panic, very steady and a good passer. On the other hand, didn't Kuba lead our D in ice time last year? Can Karlsson really play that much? Of course if he doesn't play on the PK, that will shave about 3-4 minutes.

What about putting him with Lee or Picard? Both are pretty big, mobile. The only problem is having a pairing with so little experience, but if they match lines and put them out against the 3rd line they'd do fine.

I said this earlier in the thread, I think he will be paired wiht Picard to start the year, at least 5 on 5, and by years end I would be willing to bet he is pair with Kuba logging more ice then most people thought he would see this year.

Also, if Lee does make this team, I wouldnt have the only 2 right handed shots playing with each other, way more likely to see him paired with Kuba. He was last year for the last bit of the season.

N4L wrote:I think you are more likely to see Karlsson paired with Kuba eventually. Two guys who can move the puck, read the play well, great instincts, LH/RH shot, and Kuba is just as good if not a better D man then Phillips. That's who I think his partner will/should be.

Yeah, N4L, I see your logic, but don't you think it's better to pair one d-man who is the slick playmaker with the other who beats the crap out of the opposition?
:n:

davetherave wrote:

N4L wrote:I think you are more likely to see Karlsson paired with Kuba eventually. Two guys who can move the puck, read the play well, great instincts, LH/RH shot, and Kuba is just as good if not a better D man then Phillips. That's who I think his partner will/should be.

Yeah, N4L, I see your logic, but don't you think it's better to pair one d-man who is the slick playmaker with the other who beats the crap out of the opposition?
:n:

I think Kuba is about as well rounded a D man as you will find. A little soft but he makes up for that. I think he would be a great partner for Karlsson. Plus, Karlsson has a cannon of a shot, as does Kuba. Both can pass the puck, opposite shots... works for me, on every level.