GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Edmonton Oilers - 9:30PM EST. Tuesday, March 10, 2010

Kovalfie wrote:He could very well be a great partner for Karlsson while being a mentor for Cowen. Hopefully Cowen develops more of an offensive upside than Sutton but would anyone be that mad if Cowen turns into a premier shutdown guy with Karlsson and Wiercioch providing the offense from the back-end?

Of course not but this team is a going concern not a rebuilding team or perennial basement dweller. It's nice to imagine what this team will look like in 2 or 3 years, but it's important to ensure that the team get the most bang for the buck as they continue to strive to be a contender.

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Of course not but this team is a going concern not a rebuilding team or perennial basement dweller. It's nice to imagine what this team will look like in 2 or 3 years, but it's important to ensure that the team get the most bang for the buck as they continue to strive to be a contender.

This is what makes Bryan Murray's job amongst the hardest in the league.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Of course not but this team is a going concern not a rebuilding team or perennial basement dweller. It's nice to imagine what this team will look like in 2 or 3 years, but it's important to ensure that the team get the most bang for the buck as they continue to strive to be a contender.

This is what makes Bryan Murray's job amongst the hardest in the league.

How is BM's job harder than anyone else's? Look at San Jose-- they HAVE to win a cup this year. Look at Chicago-- they HAVE to get under the cap somehow for next year. Look at Toronto-- they HAVE to start contending right awa. While yes, BM is a GM in the Canadian hockey market, I think he has one of the easier jobs in the league. He's got some decent players in the minors, his core is signed for years, he's got a very competitive team without the same pressure as Wash, Pitts, SJ, Chicago, etc to win, and some wiggle room cap-wise to play with for next season. The only decision left for him to make is Volchenkov and a couple of RFAs/UFAs this summer. He's going to get a mid-level draft pick so the pressure isn't mounting to draft a top 10 pick. I think BM's job is one of the easiest in the league...

hemlock wrote:Wow, I can't believe the love Sutton is getting after what...3 games? When he is sucking, and I assure everyone he will have his stretches, will everyone be so quick to annoint him the replacement for Volchenkov, who given his all for this franchise?

Given is all yes, over rated though? Big TIme. Phillips made this guy and should actually get a commission from his next contract.

I like A Train as much as the next person but fact of the matter is he is a 3.5 per year D man that is going to get a huge raise based on his play with one of the best defenseman in The NHL. Markov did the same thing for Komiserek. Hope for Volchankov's sake it's worth it because he isnt getting 5 plus mil/multi tear from Murray.

Maybe a team like Edmonton throughs him a ton of cash but there are not a lot of teams that are goign to handcuff themselves for a strickly defensive D man.

As for Sutton, the guy has shown he can play top mins and has actually never had a chance to play on a team with a real shot at going anywhere, Im sure he wants that trend to stop. He always gets to play on expansion teams and they really dont make much noise, NYI might as well be one. Him and Karlsson could very well be one of the best pairs in the league for a couple years while some other guys get their feet wet on Ottawa's blueline.

Next year's blueline would be just fine IMO if it looked like this

Karlsson/Sutton
Kuba/Cowen
Lee & Carkner/Phillips (not an indiction of what # pairing they actually are)

That's pretty solid.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Bastard.

And my 18 month old is quietly sleeping on the couch beside me 28 degree not humid and not a cloud to see anywhere.

And you're inside your room because...

I wasn't in my room. She was sleeping peacefully on a hotel lobby couch while we enjoyed the weather in the open air lobby protected with shade so our daughter didn't get a sun burn.

Kovalfie wrote:
How is BM's job harder than anyone else's? Look at San Jose-- they HAVE to win a cup this year. Look at Chicago-- they HAVE to get under the cap somehow for next year. Look at Toronto-- they HAVE to start contending right awa. While yes, BM is a GM in the Canadian hockey market, I think he has one of the easier jobs in the league. He's got some decent players in the minors, his core is signed for years, he's got a very competitive team without the same pressure as Wash, Pitts, SJ, Chicago, etc to win, and some wiggle room cap-wise to play with for next season. The only decision left for him to make is Volchenkov and a couple of RFAs/UFAs this summer. He's going to get a mid-level draft pick so the pressure isn't mounting to draft a top 10 pick. I think BM's job is one of the easiest in the league...

That's the thing though, Murray never had the proper players in the minors to compete, he needed to be bang on at the draft table in order to keep this franchise healthy. Add to that that he can spend money, but the team had better not miss the playoffs. He missed once, and he'd be relieved if he ever missed again.

Same as most of the teams in you mention. Chicago sucked so badly for so long, the fans have learned to deal with it though. Washington, Pittsburgh have never had much pressure to win because they've sucked for so long. SJ is well run, but the pressure wouldn't exactly be 'intense'.

Remember, this team hadn't missed the playoffs for 11 years before we missed last year. That means you had better manage this team properly, better not Diddle up too much. Pressure is awesome in Ottawa, awesome.