Ottawa Senators off-season talk

How can you possibly bank on Eric Gryba playing with Chris Phillips? We're talking about 20 minutes a night against the top lines in the NHL. He'll be eaten alive, am I wrong?

Gryba's a great piece, very important to us, but if anything happens, I would see him as a guy to play with Kuba/Campbell, while Karlsson moves up with Phillips.

But, bottom line, we have to find someone to play 20+ minutes a night as a quasi-shutdown guy with Phillips. Or go the other way and get a veteran who can play huge minutes and is an offensive D-man.

Also, the lack of right-handed D-men who can play 20+ minutes is killing us. Or guys who can play on the right side anyway, this is a major concern for us. Major. To the point where I'd say drop whatever Z.Michalek wants. He's the only righty out there who fits our needs (I guess Kubina as well).

Unless people think Gryba or Lee is up to the task...

SpezDispenser wrote:How can you possibly bank on Eric Gryba playing with Chris Phillips? We're talking about 20 minutes a night against the top lines in the NHL. He'll be eaten alive, am I wrong?

Gryba's a great piece, very important to us, but if anything happens, I would see him as a guy to play with Kuba/Campbell, while Karlsson moves up with Phillips.

But, bottom line, we have to find someone to play 20+ minutes a night as a quasi-shutdown guy with Phillips. Or go the other way and get a veteran who can play huge minutes and is an offensive D-man.

Also, the lack of right-handed D-men who can play 20+ minutes is killing us. Or guys who can play on the right side anyway, this is a major concern for us. Major. To the point where I'd say drop whatever Z.Michalek wants. He's the only righty out there who fits our needs (I guess Kubina as well).

Unless people think Gryba or Lee is up to the task...

I think you are because he is the type of player that will keep things simple and use his assets to best serve the team. There will be a learning curve but unless that defensive role is going to be filled via Z.Michalek and for under 4 mil a season, Gryba is going to be playing that right side, well him or Lee and I dont think Lee even makes it past the draft.

You look at guys coming into the league that have played a ton of mins, it isnt a rarity. Gryba is mature, developed, and is pretty much what Ottawa is looking for to play beside Phillips.

Im just saying if Murray doesnt get that RH shot to play with Phillips, it will be Gryba. He is def more ready then the other two and personally, based on what I have seen, read, and hear out of people mouths including Murray, he will challenge for a spot. Lee has absolutely no place on the team because they have their RH offensive D (Karlsson) and thir RH shut down, mean and nasty D (Gryba) and the bottom pairing (Carkner).

The only conversation that should be had about Lee is how many draft positions can he move Ottawa up or is he worth a 3rd or a 4th. My guess is 2 or 3 positions. Hopefully MTL wins so we can use that albino ferry to move into 13th or 14th.

kinda sad, 2006 Lee, 2007 foligno, 2008 o'brien... 3 years of first round picks and these are some of the names we are hoping we can trade by draft day... can we get another Hossa please?

Flo The Action wrote:kinda sad, 2006 Lee, 2007 foligno, 2008 o'brien... 3 years of first round picks and these are some of the names we are hoping we can trade by draft day... can we get another Hossa please?

Moral of the story is dont draft American? Eaves didnt do much in 2003 either.

Bramlet07 wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:kinda sad, 2006 Lee, 2007 foligno, 2008 o'brien... 3 years of first round picks and these are some of the names we are hoping we can trade by draft day... can we get another Hossa please?

Moral of the story is dont draft American? Eaves didnt do much in 2003 either.

Yes...I want some stud Canadian prospects in our system.

N4L wrote:
I think you are because he is the type of player that will keep things simple and use his assets to best serve the team. There will be a learning curve but unless that defensive role is going to be filled via Z.Michalek and for under 4 mil a season, Gryba is going to be playing that right side, well him or Lee and I dont think Lee even makes it past the draft.

You look at guys coming into the league that have played a ton of mins, it isnt a rarity. Gryba is mature, developed, and is pretty much what Ottawa is looking for to play beside Phillips.

Im just saying if Murray doesnt get that RH shot to play with Phillips, it will be Gryba. He is def more ready then the other two and personally, based on what I have seen, read, and hear out of people mouths including Murray, he will challenge for a spot. Lee has absolutely no place on the team because they have their RH offensive D (Karlsson) and thir RH shut down, mean and nasty D (Gryba) and the bottom pairing (Carkner).

The only conversation that should be had about Lee is how many draft positions can he move Ottawa up or is he worth a 3rd or a 4th. My guess is 2 or 3 positions. Hopefully MTL wins so we can use that albino ferry to move into 13th or 14th.

Huh. I won't lie, it will be most intriguing to see if Gryba can make this team as Phillips right hand man, that would be amazing - horrifying, but amazing. His game is simple, it's true, he's a right handed Andy Sutton - without the crisp outlets and the years of NHL experience. That's both exciting and nerve racking at the same time. Not to mention that that's a pretty green right side you're icing.

That said, I've heard the same things as I'm sure all of us have by now: Gryba really doesn't give a Dung, he's a mean, nasty, aggressive player who won't hesitate to Sutton guys - exactly like Sutton too, he throws a mean hip check.

If he can limit the number of mistakes he makes to 2 a game - including one glaring one - he'll be alright I guess. Better sign Cullen with that money though.

Flo The Action wrote:kinda sad, 2006 Lee, 2007 foligno, 2008 o'brien... 3 years of first round picks and these are some of the names we are hoping we can trade by draft day... can we get another Hossa please?

Lee was a devastating mistake, I get what they were going for, but it didn't work.

Foligno's good though, you can put him down for 20 goals next year depending on injuries.

O'Brien is a shame as well. All the tools, can't put it together.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:kinda sad, 2006 Lee, 2007 foligno, 2008 o'brien... 3 years of first round picks and these are some of the names we are hoping we can trade by draft day... can we get another Hossa please?

Lee was a devastating mistake, I get what they were going for, but it didn't work.

Foligno's good though, you can put him down for 20 goals next year depending on injuries.

O'Brien is a shame as well. All the tools, can't put it together.

i don't know about 20 goals.... i think that's a bit of wishful thinking. i uesed to think he had more potential but now IMO he can't even take a hit. he spens more time falling on the ice then making plays. i think some day he might get 20 goals but i'm not holding my breath.

Bramlet07 wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:kinda sad, 2006 Lee, 2007 foligno, 2008 o'brien... 3 years of first round picks and these are some of the names we are hoping we can trade by draft day... can we get another Hossa please?

Moral of the story is dont draft American? Eaves didnt do much in 2003 either.

Why stop there? 2002 -- Jakub Klepis. Sure, he's not American but that's a 16th overall pick, with names like Cam Ward, Dan Paille, Sean Bergenheim, Ben Eager, Anton Babchuk, Alex Steen and Denis Grebeshkov all still available.

how about the last 2 years though... almost makes up for those muck ups...

2009
1 - Cowen (I would have perfered MPS)
2 - Silverberg
2 - Lehner
4 - Wideman
5 - Hoffman - what's wrong with this kid? why did he go so low?
6 - Cowick

2008
1 - Karlsson
2 - Wiercioch
3 - Smith
4 - Petersson

wprager wrote:

Bramlet07 wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:kinda sad, 2006 Lee, 2007 foligno, 2008 o'brien... 3 years of first round picks and these are some of the names we are hoping we can trade by draft day... can we get another Hossa please?

Moral of the story is dont draft American? Eaves didnt do much in 2003 either.

Why stop there? 2002 -- Jakub Klepis. Sure, he's not American but that's a 16th overall pick, with names like Cam Ward, Dan Paille, Sean Bergenheim, Ben Eager, Anton Babchuk, Alex Steen and Denis Grebeshkov all still available.

Muckler was perhaps the worst drafting GM in hockey the last 10 years. He was just brutal. Thank God we have Murray because I cant even imagine what it would be like in Ottawa without him.

DirtyDave wrote:how about the last 2 years though... almost makes up for those muck ups...

2009
1 - Cowen (I would have perfered MPS)
2 - Silverberg
2 - Lehner
4 - Wideman
5 - Hoffman - what's wrong with this kid? why did he go so low?
6 - Cowick

2008
1 - Karlsson
2 - Wiercioch
3 - Smith
4 - Petersson

Almost but years of prospect neglect caught up with The Sens.

one more good drafting year will help...

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
I think you are because he is the type of player that will keep things simple and use his assets to best serve the team. There will be a learning curve but unless that defensive role is going to be filled via Z.Michalek and for under 4 mil a season, Gryba is going to be playing that right side, well him or Lee and I dont think Lee even makes it past the draft.

You look at guys coming into the league that have played a ton of mins, it isnt a rarity. Gryba is mature, developed, and is pretty much what Ottawa is looking for to play beside Phillips.

Im just saying if Murray doesnt get that RH shot to play with Phillips, it will be Gryba. He is def more ready then the other two and personally, based on what I have seen, read, and hear out of people mouths including Murray, he will challenge for a spot. Lee has absolutely no place on the team because they have their RH offensive D (Karlsson) and thir RH shut down, mean and nasty D (Gryba) and the bottom pairing (Carkner).

The only conversation that should be had about Lee is how many draft positions can he move Ottawa up or is he worth a 3rd or a 4th. My guess is 2 or 3 positions. Hopefully MTL wins so we can use that albino ferry to move into 13th or 14th.

Huh. I won't lie, it will be most intriguing to see if Gryba can make this team as Phillips right hand man, that would be amazing - horrifying, but amazing. His game is simple, it's true, he's a right handed Andy Sutton - without the crisp outlets and the years of NHL experience. That's both exciting and nerve racking at the same time. Not to mention that that's a pretty green right side you're icing.

That said, I've heard the same things as I'm sure all of us have by now: Gryba really doesn't give a Dung, he's a mean, nasty, aggressive player who won't hesitate to Sutton guys - exactly like Sutton too, he throws a mean hip check.

If he can limit the number of mistakes he makes to 2 a game - including one glaring one - he'll be alright I guess. Better sign Cullen with that money though.

Gryba will obviously have to learn the game and we'll see what happens when someone just as big pushes back, but I have never heard anything that says he wont be able to skate at The NHL level or be able to move the puck either. Obviously we have to see more of him, everyone including The Sens and Murray, but he has the best shot at cracking theline up if The Sens do go out and get Michalek.

N4L wrote:
Gryba will obviously have to learn the game and we'll see what happens when someone just as big pushes back, but I have never heard anything that says he wont be able to skate at The NHL level or be able to move the puck either. Obviously we have to see more of him, everyone including The Sens and Murray, but he has the best shot at cracking theline up if The Sens do go out and get Michalek.

Hmm, apparently he rushes the puck up ice from time to time and has a very underrated first pass.

Perhaps this really is a right handed Sutton.

Flo The Action wrote:i don't know about 20 goals.... i think that's a bit of wishful thinking. i uesed to think he had more potential but now IMO he can't even take a hit. he spens more time falling on the ice then making plays. i think some day he might get 20 goals but i'm not holding my breath.

It's a catch-22 IMO. IF Foligno could play on the left wing with Fisher and Kovalev, then he'd be a lock for 20 IMO. We wouldn't re-sign Cullen for the points, we sign him for his versatility at forward, PP, PK and playoffs, but the collateral damage would be Foligno getting 3rd line time.

If there's an injury Foligno might get his chance, otherwise, I agree, on line 3, it's hard to see him potting 20.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:i don't know about 20 goals.... i think that's a bit of wishful thinking. i uesed to think he had more potential but now IMO he can't even take a hit. he spens more time falling on the ice then making plays. i think some day he might get 20 goals but i'm not holding my breath.

It's a catch-22 IMO. IF Foligno could play on the left wing with Fisher and Kovalev, then he'd be a lock for 20 IMO. We wouldn't re-sign Cullen for the points, we sign him for his versatility at forward, PP, PK and playoffs, but the collateral damage would be Foligno getting 3rd line time.

If there's an injury Foligno might get his chance, otherwise, I agree, on line 3, it's hard to see him potting 20.

So, if Foligno plays on the left of Fisher, and Michalek plays on the left of Spezza, where does that leave Regin?

Intriguing.

i think it's: spezza with Regin and Alfie. Fisher with Michalek and Cullen..

where does that leave foligno and Kovalev?