POLL: Zbynek Michalek or Anton Volchenkov

111519 wrote:or you sign neither and waive cheechoo

sign cullen, sutton and afinogenov.

michalek spezza afinogenov
alfie cullen fisher
foligno regin kovalev
rutuu kelly neil

phillips karlsson
kuba cowen
sutton carkner

It would be extremely hard for any team to match up against those 4 lines.

That blue-line is terrible though. Karlsson's getting matched up against the top players from the other team at 20 when he'll likely only be weighing in at around 185lbs, Cowen's on the second pairing as a rookie when he needs another year in Junior, and Sutton and Carkner, while physical, would be so slow and impotent offensively that they'd suck the life out of our forwards.

I'd take Michalek, but it really depends on what you want to do with the blue-line and with the team in general. He's not as man-beast as Volchenkov but he's much more suited to a puck-possession game, which I'd rather see. He's sort of like a cross between Volchenkov and Phillips.

Tuk Tuk wrote:Michalek, not even close. Michalek is almost as good a shot blocker as Volchie, a better hitter, a smarter player, and much more talented offensively.

If we can afford him and he wants to be here, go for it.

Not to mention you should attempt to surround your stars with good playes, friends, family and fellow countrymen.

asq2 wrote:
That blue-line is terrible though. Karlsson's getting matched up against the top players from the other team at 20 when he'll likely only be weighing in at around 185lbs, Cowen's on the second pairing as a rookie when he needs another year in Junior, and Sutton and Carkner, while physical, would be so slow and impotent offensively that they'd suck the life out of our forwards.

I'd take Michalek, but it really depends on what you want to do with the blue-line and with the team in general. He's not as man-beast as Volchenkov but he's much more suited to a puck-possession game, which I'd rather see. He's sort of like a cross between Volchenkov and Phillips.

Yeah, I see this team as a puck-possession team the year after next and beyond, that's why I was going toward Michalek as well - plus he's a righty, plus he's tough and a great D. But Volchenkov is a better defensive D-man, he just doesn't possess any of the passing ability that Michalek does - and that leads to a puck-possession game, which I'm sure we're going towards.

Like I've said before, I think The Sens will build from the rookies moving forward. I have no doubt in my mind that Gryba, Cowen, and Wiercoich all see time next year. People are going to say that blueline is too you and inexpierenced, well our best D man right now is 19 and looks poised beyond his years.

Michalek would be nice but the guy they have to sign is Cullen. Also with a young blueline Kuba becomes that much more important.

neither at this point. for that i think sutton can be had 3y x 2mill.
he liked it here andwould probably take a discount for longuer term. as for cullen he's looking for a 3-4 year contract but i heard he might take a pay cut with a longuer term(was it TSN?) so 4 x 2.7? (2.5? )
in any case i doubt volchie or michalek are here next year,volchie is looking for 5mill, way to high.

what is regin going to get next year?

asq2 wrote:

111519 wrote:or you sign neither and waive cheechoo

sign cullen, sutton and afinogenov.

michalek spezza afinogenov
alfie cullen fisher
foligno regin kovalev
rutuu kelly neil

phillips karlsson
kuba cowen
sutton carkner

It would be extremely hard for any team to match up against those 4 lines.

That blue-line is terrible though. Karlsson's getting matched up against the top players from the other team at 20 when he'll likely only be weighing in at around 185lbs, Cowen's on the second pairing as a rookie when he needs another year in Junior, and Sutton and Carkner, while physical, would be so slow and impotent offensively that they'd suck the life out of our forwards.

I'd take Michalek, but it really depends on what you want to do with the blue-line and with the team in general. He's not as man-beast as Volchenkov but he's much more suited to a puck-possession game, which I'd rather see. He's sort of like a cross between Volchenkov and Phillips.

It's true. Offensively we look great but I expect Z. Smith and one of Keller/St Pierre to push for a spot as well. Our fourth line isn't going anywhere and I don't think we're going after Afinogenov any time soon. I'd much prefer Regin to play with Michalek and Spezza, move Kovie up to the second line with Cullen and Alfie (assuming Kovie is still with us) and move Fisher down to center the third line with Z. Smith and Foligno/Winchester. IMO I think Foligno should be packaged with Lee in a trade. Don't know for who, don't know for what (probably a 2nd, 3rd and a legit prospect), but I think he's running out of chances and our blueline is already crowded.

As for the D, I rather sign stop-gap vets to one year deals and have their leadership to help the younger guys develop and adjust. With Cowen, Wiercioch, and Gyrba in the wings we may as well sign one or two vets (a la Kay McKee, Hnidy, Foster, O'Donnell) to fill in for now. That is unless we move Kuba which could be a possibility too. If we move Kuba I have no problem signing Z. Michalek to a contract. Volch just isn't worth the money given his limited skill-set. You could pay me $2 million a year to stand in front of pucks. Is his lack of offense really worth an additional $3 million?

Michalek-Spezza-Regin
Alfie-Cullen-Kovalev (if he retires a UFA. I'd personally love to see S. Gagne on this team)
Z.Smith-Fisher-Winchester
Ruutu-Kelly-Neil
Keller

Philips-Michalek
Karlsson-K. Foster
Carkner-Wiercioch
Campoli
Cowen

Now that's a hell of a hockey team.

N4L wrote:Like I've said before, I think The Sens will build from the rookies moving forward. I have no doubt in my mind that Gryba, Cowen, and Wiercoich all see time next year. People are going to say that blueline is too you and inexpierenced, well our best D man right now is 19 and looks poised beyond his years.

Michalek would be nice but the guy they have to sign is Cullen. Also with a young blueline Kuba becomes that much more important.

agreed, lets just hope they do half as good as Karlsson's done.

I think we all got used to watching the sens without Kuba, when he is healthy he is a top 4 d-man. Combine him with Phillips, Sutton, Carkner, and Karlsson, and thats a better D-unit then people think-add another big body back there like Cowen or Grybra and forwards better keep there head up.

I find it interesting that so many scenarios do not include Campoli. He will be a big piece of this team going forward.

People reaaaaally need to start throwing Gryba into these discussions. The guy is just as close to being an NHLer inthe role he will play as Cowen and Wiercoich, maybe more ready.

The thing is as well, The Sens may need the role he plays on the backend more then Wiercoich and Cowen right now.

N4L wrote:People reaaaaally need to start throwing Gryba into these discussions. The guy is just as close to being an NHLer inthe role he will play as Cowen and Wiercoich, maybe more ready.

The thing is as well, The Sens may need the role he plays on the backend more then Wiercoich and Cowen right now.

Wiercioch and Cowen simply need someone to hold their places for a year or two, respectively.

Wiercoich will be full time by the end of next year if I had to guess.

Flo The Action wrote:neither at this point. for that i think sutton can be had 3y x 2mill.
he liked it here andwould probably take a discount for longuer term. as for cullen he's looking for a 3-4 year contract but i heard he might take a pay cut with a longuer term(was it TSN?) so 4 x 2.7? (2.5? )
in any case i doubt volchie or michalek are here next year,volchie is looking for 5mill, way to high.

what is regin going to get next year?

I like your enthusiasm, I really do.

The problem is sometimes that dudes who are pending UFAs really have this opportunity to cash in. And we might all like to say Player X should take a discount to stay here - or Player X played so well here, why wouldn't he stay! But the reality is, Sutton is coming off a most impressive playoffs - and teams all know about him. He'll get a raise, probably in the 3.25-3.4 million range X 4 years.

Sutton needs to cash in as well. He'll need a 3 X 3 to even contemplate staying.

That's my opinion.

SeawaySensFan wrote:I find it interesting that so many scenarios do not include Campoli. He will be a big piece of this team going forward.

true, and with all our young D poised to making the jump it makes kuba a rather interesting trade option. we could possibly trade kuba and foligno for a top 6 forward, trade lee for a second rounder in this year draft

I don't know, I just dont see Winchester on this team next year and by the looks of it Shannon is gone too. A guy like Afinegenov would be a cheap pick-up, and is a legitimate threat every time he is out there kinda like kovalev, and you can only cover so many players at once.

N4L wrote:Wiercoich will be full time by the end of next year if I had to guess.

Yep.

111519 wrote:I don't know, I just dont see Winchester on this team next year and by the looks of it Shannon is gone too. A guy like Afinegenov would be a cheap pick-up, and is a legitimate threat every time he is out there kinda like kovalev, and you can only cover so many players at once.

Afiniganov has an amazing year. 4 million bare minimum a year.

Winchester is here for sure next year. He's a solid player and does a lot of little things well, works the PK, can take a regular shift if need be.