Schneider was almost a Sen?

504Heater wrote:

dennycrane wrote:Schneider is breaking down - he won't play 60 games wherever he ends up.

Still, sending Neil out would be great. I do expect Neil to have a good year as he is the sort of guy that will be great in a contract year. After 08-09, Neil's agent will ask for 2.5 mil/year. The collective roar of Sens fans laughter will be deafening.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1831&hubname=nhl-senators

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1585&hubname=nhl-senators

I wish I could do a blind taste test here so you could tell me who's who. Neil is the exact same player as Ruutu. Neil is better at dropping his gloves, Ruutu is better at knowing his role.

Neil can ask for 2.5 until he's blue in the face, but you know as well as I that the minute Murray sits down with 3 years/4.5 million (exactly like Laraque, who is better as well) and Neil and his agent say no, he's gonzo. Deadline, Xmas, pick your moment, but he's gone.

Sign the deal, or you're out of here. And if you're good with that, then more power to you. But unless you have a light's out year, 2.5 is murder, it just won't happen.

As for Schneider. Let's say he plays 55 games with the Sens on PP 1. Would he still lead Sens D-men in scoring by about 10 points?

The answer is...yes indeed.

cash wrote:Serious question: Lee for Pronger - Would you do it?

Just think about the size of our D-corps...not to mention reuniting Smith and Pronger...

504Heater wrote:http://www.hockeyleaks.com/index.php?page=rumors

Take that for what it's worth (hockeyleaks my arse), but this makes a lot of sense. The Sens would be over the cap though and they would be forced to make another move in order to keep Schneider.

I'm sure Burke was unhappy with Murray if this is indeed the case. I would be. It would hamper any further deals we made.

Son of a ****, how close did we come to becoming legitimate contenders there? Diddle.

Now Burke may be forced to take a lesser value from a team in the East. I can see this stinging us very badly...Tampa is said to have interest. That would make them a lot better.

Pronger may be on the table - apparently. That would be a massive trade.

cash wrote:Serious question: Lee for Pronger - Would you do it?

Just think about the size of our D-corps...not to mention reuniting Smith and Pronger...

cash wrote:Serious question: Lee for Pronger - Would you do it?

Just think about the size of our D-corps...not to mention reuniting Smith and Pronger...

504Heater wrote:

cash wrote:Serious question: Lee for Pronger - Would you do it?

Just think about the size of our D-corps...not to mention reuniting Smith and Pronger...

Oh hell yes. No hesitation whatsoever...wait...that would help their cap problem, wouldn't it? :afro:

Phoenix30 wrote:
So if Murray is still looking for that D-man and had the choice between Pronger and Bouwmeester who would he pick? I'm stuck because I like what both bring to the table. Youth and potential in Bouwmeester and Pronger is experienced and nasty. In either case I suspect a large salary would have to go the other way.

MurderOnIce wrote:

Neil may drop them more but watch some of Ruutu's fights on You Tube. Dude can chuck 'em. He seems to have a Barnaby type fighting style as I heard one of the commentators describe it. He goes in wth a dodge the barrage style and lets the guy tire out then he starts. It is beauty to watch. Neil is better at goading another player into a fight and taking the guy with him for a 5 minute sit down. Althoug last year, not so much. The thing I like about both guys is they have 'heat of the battle fights' not those stupid big dummy vs. big dummy match ups.. oh sorry Grats...

MurderOnIce wrote:

If I was Murray I would do it, although I am starting to like having Bass, Neil and Ruutu in the line up. We are going to be the most irritating team to play in the NHL, bar none. I do not see a better set of agitators out there. That doesn't brush the surface of how tough it will be to play down low against our d. Seriously You go out and get punded around by Philly and Volchie. Then you get away from those guys and you get SMith? Yeah that's a break. Maybe we don't have offense from the backend but our goals against will drop by 30 to 40 this year.

All that said Schnieder would be a nice player to add. He would certainly answer the PP question and you could put him in the second or third pairing at even strength to keep him fresh.

504Heater wrote:

Phoenix30 wrote:
So if Murray is still looking for that D-man and had the choice between Pronger and Bouwmeester who would he pick? I'm stuck because I like what both bring to the table. Youth and potential in Bouwmeester and Pronger is experienced and nasty. In either case I suspect a large salary would have to go the other way.

Pfft. Imagine having the choice? I...would go with...whew...tough one.

In Bou you've got this young stud who can play 27+ minutes, score 50 points eventually, big dude, doesn't use his size properly though.

In Pronger, you've got a nastier Chara. I'm all over it. Plus he can score at close to a point a game.

I'll choose Pronger. Gimme.

504Heater wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:

Neil may drop them more but watch some of Ruutu's fights on You Tube. Dude can chuck 'em. He seems to have a Barnaby type fighting style as I heard one of the commentators describe it. He goes in wth a dodge the barrage style and lets the guy tire out then he starts. It is beauty to watch. Neil is better at goading another player into a fight and taking the guy with him for a 5 minute sit down. Althoug last year, not so much. The thing I like about both guys is they have 'heat of the battle fights' not those stupid big dummy vs. big dummy match ups.. oh sorry Grats...

Awesome! I had no idea he had fighting skillz.

504Heater wrote:If we were assured at a shot at Bow, I would say wait, but how can anyone be assured he won't re-sign when Florida is closing in on a playoff spot in January or next summer even? I dunno, I'd love to know that for the first time in franchise history we're going after the big prize free agent - and that's not to say that it's particularily the smartest move, but we all agree that landing the stud D-man will pave the road to a stud goalie and then...

MurderOnIce wrote:

504Heater wrote:

MurderOnIce wrote:

Neil may drop them more but watch some of Ruutu's fights on You Tube. Dude can chuck 'em. He seems to have a Barnaby type fighting style as I heard one of the commentators describe it. He goes in wth a dodge the barrage style and lets the guy tire out then he starts. It is beauty to watch. Neil is better at goading another player into a fight and taking the guy with him for a 5 minute sit down. Althoug last year, not so much. The thing I like about both guys is they have 'heat of the battle fights' not those stupid big dummy vs. big dummy match ups.. oh sorry Grats...

Awesome! I had no idea he had fighting skillz.

Have you seen his tilt with Tucker...

MurderOnIce wrote:

Awesome! I had no idea he had fighting skillz.

rooneypoo wrote:Another possible target for us might be... wait for it...

Tomas Kaberle.

The guy is an elite player on a good deal, stuck on a crap team re-building after management flushed all his buddies down the toilet. I'm betting he's not exactly thrilled with his new situation. Best of all, he is in control of his destiny. If we want him and if he wants to bolt, we might be able to do business with *gasp* TO. We'd have a 1st rounder to spare for such a deal, too.

Just thinking out loud.