Trades in the East 2009-10: Who Pulls the Trigger Next?

Whatever, we need a defenseman, not whitney.

Naw, a team that is looking for a short term fix or competing for a cup needs Whitney... Ottawa is about the last place I would expect Whitney to land.

Fair enough, he's probably worth a 1st - which we'd be stupid to give.

I've been saying Sopel for a while now and it seems to be picking up steam. It's really an easy call, since the guy is an average player, basically a PP specialist, and a RH shot, which for many teams, is a huge need. He's a journeyman player, having been dealt many times at the deadline and throughout the season. He's also making more than most teams can afford to pay such a guy. However, for a team needing a veteran player, an offensive player, he is the guy that they can likely get for a lot less than what a top 4 guy would get, plus a guy who is expendable in Chicago.

Dash wrote:I've been saying Sopel for a while now and it seems to be picking up steam. It's really an easy call, since the guy is an average player, basically a PP specialist, and a RH shot, which for many teams, is a huge need. He's a journeyman player, having been dealt many times at the deadline and throughout the season. He's also making more than most teams can afford to pay such a guy. However, for a team needing a veteran player, an offensive player, he is the guy that they can likely get for a lot less than what a top 4 guy would get, plus a guy who is expendable in Chicago.

2.3 million next year as well though. I really don't think we need him personally - especially with Cowen and Karlsson here full time and possibly Lee as well. However, if Murray acquires him, I'll assume he knows what he's doing.

At the time Murray said he wanted to make a tweak, I said Sopel would fit the bill as a d-man he could and would likely get... but I don't think Ottawa will make a move like that, as it really isn't much of an upgrade right now.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Dash wrote:I've been saying Sopel for a while now and it seems to be picking up steam. It's really an easy call, since the guy is an average player, basically a PP specialist, and a RH shot, which for many teams, is a huge need. He's a journeyman player, having been dealt many times at the deadline and throughout the season. He's also making more than most teams can afford to pay such a guy. However, for a team needing a veteran player, an offensive player, he is the guy that they can likely get for a lot less than what a top 4 guy would get, plus a guy who is expendable in Chicago.

2.3 million next year as well though. I really don't think we need him personally - especially with Cowen and Karlsson here full time and possibly Lee as well. However, if Murray acquires him, I'll assume he knows what he's doing.

After having seen the ups and downs (mainly downs lately) that Luke Schenn has gone through, I'm not sure I want to see Cowen come up and play full time that soon.

I think the Sens have the luxury of developing him properly which might mean an extra year in the A to learn the ins and outs of the professional game.

But who else do the Leafs have on D? Schenn is being asked to do more than he's capable of bringing at this point in his development. Cowen will not be asked to be the shut-down guy because that will still be Phillips/Volchenkov (and even if there are injuries or PK opportunities when one of those takes a minor you already have Carkner that has filled in that spot in the past). And he won't be asked to be an offensive force since we'll still have Kuba and Karlsson will have nearly a full season under his belt.

Cowen will likely be playing 3rd pairing in at least his first season. His ice time and responsibilities will increase along with his development.

wprager wrote:But who else do the Leafs have on D? Schenn is being asked to do more than he's capable of bringing at this point in his development. Cowen will not be asked to be the shut-down guy because that will still be Phillips/Volchenkov (and even if there are injuries or PK opportunities when one of those takes a minor you already have Carkner that has filled in that spot in the past). And he won't be asked to be an offensive force since we'll still have Kuba and Karlsson will have nearly a full season under his belt.

Cowen will likely be playing 3rd pairing in at least his first season. His ice time and responsibilities will increase along with his development.

You're kidding, right? On paper, the Leafs have a much better defense than the Sens do. Much better. Kaberle, Komisarek, Beauchemin, White, Gunnarsson, Exelby and Finger. Sure the last three guys aren't exactly elite calibre players, but they are no better or worse than our bottom three.

I just don't want to see the guy (Cowen) come in and lose his confidence because he's not ready for the game yet.

He's on the same kind of level as Hedman, Bogosian, in terms of being ready for The NHL. Now, they might just want to ease him in to the pro game by putting him in The AHL, but if he does make the team out of camp next year it wont hurt him or his developement.

Add these impending UFAs in the Eastern Conference to your list of potential trade candidates (cap hit in brackets) who could be considered 'tweaks'--or maybe more than tweaks--for teams who are shopping:

ATL: Kubina (5MM), Kozlov (3.8), Armstrong (2.4), Schubert (.439)
BOS: Recchi (1MM), Begin (.850), Morris (3.3), Ference (1.4)
BUF: Grier (1.2MM), Ludman (2.875), Tallinder (2.56)
CAR: Cullen (2.87), Corvo (2.62), Ward (2.5), Ray Whitney (3.5)
FLA: Moore (1MM), Seidenberg (2.25), Leopold (1.75)
MTL: Plekanec (2.75MM), Mara (1.67)
NJD: Rob Niedermeyer (1MM), McAmmond (.500)
NY Islanders: Weight (2.2MM), Sutton (3MM)
NY Rangers: Higgins (2.25MM)
OTT: Volchenkov (2.5MM)
PHI: Betts (.550MM)
PIT: Gonchar (5MM), Fedotenko (1.8)
TBL: Tanguay (2.5MM), Halpern (2MM), Konopka (.487), Krajicek (1.475), Foster (.600)
WAS: Morrison (1.5MM), Steckel (.725), Pothier (2.5) Jurcina (1.375)

Sens fans will note the Panthers' Jordan Leopold has been mentioned in the past by Bryan Murray as a player of interest to Ottawa.

Complete list of pending UFAs here:
http://nhlnumbers.com/freeagents.php?team=none&pos=none&summer=2010&status=ufa&type=capnumber

For a while I've wanted to have Kurtis Foster - wasn't sure why we didn't sign him in the off-season.

I like the toughness of the guy, I like that he's from close to here, I like his character and I think his offensive upside is quite underrated.

Pothier was a guy who I thought was effective as a 5-6 defenceman for us, and who seems to have recovered nicely from his injuries.

In a jam, I'd be alright with re-signing him (for a reduced price), but it's definitely not the top-4 defenceman we need.

PKC wrote:
After having seen the ups and downs (mainly downs lately) that Luke Schenn has gone through, I'm not sure I want to see Cowen come up and play full time that soon.

I think the Sens have the luxury of developing him properly which might mean an extra year in the A to learn the ins and outs of the professional game.

Yeah, that's quite true. Although Schenn didn't go back to his junior team or AHL team like Cowen, so Cowen's getting an extra year as 'the man' on his team. This is going to be hotly debated in the coming months and especially into the summer. Should Cowen play NHL hockey next year or would the Sens be rushing him a little? No one on here can answer that, we can guess - and I think he could be really effective now personally, but no one can say for sure.

asq2 wrote:Pothier was a guy who I thought was effective as a 5-6 defenceman for us, and who seems to have recovered nicely from his injuries.

In a jam, I'd be alright with re-signing him (for a reduced price), but it's definitely not the top-4 defenceman we need.

Same problem with Pothier as Foster in reality. We have a nice 5, 6 combo, can he play top 4? Probably not.

SpezDispenser wrote:

asq2 wrote:Pothier was a guy who I thought was effective as a 5-6 defenceman for us, and who seems to have recovered nicely from his injuries.

In a jam, I'd be alright with re-signing him (for a reduced price), but it's definitely not the top-4 defenceman we need.

Same problem with Pothier as Foster in reality. We have a nice 5, 6 combo, can he play top 4? Probably not.

@Spez> if you're looking at a 'tweak' specifically for the Senators, when looking at this list, you're probably not looking for a Top 4 guy...rather someone to stabilize the 5/6 pairing or add something to special teams and who doesn't tie you up long term.

davetherave wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

asq2 wrote:Pothier was a guy who I thought was effective as a 5-6 defenceman for us, and who seems to have recovered nicely from his injuries.

In a jam, I'd be alright with re-signing him (for a reduced price), but it's definitely not the top-4 defenceman we need.

Same problem with Pothier as Foster in reality. We have a nice 5, 6 combo, can he play top 4? Probably not.

@Spez> if you're looking at a 'tweak' specifically for the Senators, when looking at this list, you're probably not looking for a Top 4 guy...rather someone to stabilize the 5/6 pairing or add something to special teams and who doesn't tie you up long term.

Then it's got to be a forward as Murray originally suggested IF he actually means a tweak because our 5/6 pairing is rock solid with Carkner and Picard. Carkner fills in admirably on the PK with A-Train out and is not a liability defensively. Picard has 2 goals and 10 assists on the bottom pair and has looked quite good paired with Carkner.

SpezDispenser wrote:

PKC wrote:
After having seen the ups and downs (mainly downs lately) that Luke Schenn has gone through, I'm not sure I want to see Cowen come up and play full time that soon.

I think the Sens have the luxury of developing him properly which might mean an extra year in the A to learn the ins and outs of the professional game.

Yeah, that's quite true. Although Schenn didn't go back to his junior team or AHL team like Cowen, so Cowen's getting an extra year as 'the man' on his team. This is going to be hotly debated in the coming months and especially into the summer. Should Cowen play NHL hockey next year or would the Sens be rushing him a little? No one on here can answer that, we can guess - and I think he could be really effective now personally, but no one can say for sure.

If we resign VOlchenkov I would be comfortable giving Cowen another year. It`s not like we are short on D, they will probably resign Picard and Karlsson will be here full time.