Ottawa Senators off-season talk

SpezDispenser wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
doesn't anybody realize that there would be a big hole without a guy who can do what volchie and sutton can do hit wise? those hits put players out of comission and put the fear of god in players. that is going to be sorely missed next year if it's not adressed.

I would argue that you have to be patient on that side of it and wait for Cowen and Gryba to come into the lineup - which I would assume won't be more than a year for either - and put the $3 million into a true top pairing D-man like Michalek who can block shots like A-Train, move the puck reasonably well and dish out some hits as well.

I'd rather upgrade A-Train's spot and re-sign Cullen, then insert Cowen and Gryba, but with that said I understand your concern, we lose some snarl on the backend in the shortterm.

I think we should also consider the fact that, with all that 'big hit' power, it didn't really pan out for us in the end either way. Shot blocking, now that's something we would miss with both of them gone.

big open ice hit is overrated in the playoffs. you need to shut down guys like pronger and COburn and not like VOlchenkov and Sutton.

Michallica wrote:
I think we should also consider the fact that, with all that 'big hit' power, it didn't really pan out for us in the end either way. Shot blocking, now that's something we would miss with both of them gone.

Not if we got Z.Michalek though, he's very close to A-Train's level in shot-blocking, but he's more creative at moving the puck out, so I think personally he might be even better. He's definitely better for Clouston's game than A-Train is/was.

Michalek is becoming one of the new shot-blocking kings of the NHL. I think he's top 10 since the lockout without looking it up. Problem is...will his body stand up? We talk about A-Train potentially getting damaged blocking shots, Michalek blocks as many.

Michalek is more in the Phillips mold then A Train, good at everything, great at nothing (except shot blocking). He's a RH shot as well which is a better fit the A Train.

Michalek is a better player then A Train. Smarter, better skater, better with the puck, and solid defensivly. He makes his partners better, A Trains partner made him better then he actually is. Who ever signs him for 5 mil plus will soon find that out.

marakh wrote:big open ice hit is overrated in the playoffs. you need to shut down guys like pronger and COburn and not like VOlchenkov and Sutton.

Regular season, I would rather have a guy like Sutton with Karlsson then Kuba if we are being honest here. There are 82 games that need to be played before the playoffs and Sutton on the PK while playing that 5, 6 role in the playoffs isnt all that bad.

Id rather have him then Kuba and I like Kuba. It's a long season and you need a guy like that who helps others play bigger then they truly are. IMO it's very important but that's just how I view it.

I wish I hadn't gotten slightly emotionally invested in Z.Michalek. I tried not to...

I can't see the Sens getting Michalek. Don't forget A-Train's cap hit was 2.5. Michalek will get at least 1.5-2.5 more than that.

I think Karlsson plays with Phillips this year as the top tandem. This means Murray will look for someone new to play with Kuba, or resign Sutton, who is excellent at blocking shots.

Murray is going to be getting a new D man be it a UFA or through a trade. There is no way they go into the season with the status quo minus A Train, no shot.

Brian Lee isnt going to be playing top mins or a signifigent role at all in Ottawa. Lee is at the very best a number 6 D man on a playoff team and MAYBE a number 4 or 5 guy on a basement team.

N4L wrote:

marakh wrote:big open ice hit is overrated in the playoffs. you need to shut down guys like pronger and COburn and not like VOlchenkov and Sutton.

Regular season, I would rather have a guy like Sutton with Karlsson then Kuba if we are being honest here. There are 82 games that need to be played before the playoffs and Sutton on the PK while playing that 5, 6 role in the playoffs isnt all that bad.
Id rather have him then Kuba and I like Kuba. It's a long season and you need a guy like that who helps others play bigger then they truly are. IMO it's very important but that's just how I view it.

that's exactly what i mean. it is a long season and if we have a guy that in ther players mind can end their season if they're not careful. that goes a long way in the respect they will give on the ice to the sens.
sutton was good with karlsson and will block shots and hit like thunder. and yes once w reach the playoffs he takes on a minor role if he doesn't work out.

i don't think people give the fact he didn't play within the sens system long enough to really mold into it. i liked what i saw, i think we can get more out of him, and if gryba and/or Cowen come in and do as well sutton is a guy i don't think would be hard to move.
sutton can probably sign for 2 maybe 3 years for 2-2,5. if traded he could again bring in a 2nd.
Kuba could bring us back a second round pick (and maybe a prospect) in the draft.
i still hope we can land campbell but if we don't this is a solid line up

AUTO-GENERATED CAPGEEK.COM LINES
FORWARDS
Jason Spezza ($7.000m) / Alexei Kovalev ($5.000m) / Daniel Alfredsson ($4.875m)
Milan Michalek ($4.333m) / Mike Fisher ($4.200m) / * Matt Cullen ($2.875m)
Chris Kelly ($2.125m) / Chris Neil ($2.000m) / Jarkko Ruutu ($1.300m)
* Nick Foligno ($1.200m) / * Peter Regin ($1.200m) / * Jesse Winchester ($0.750m)
Ryan Shannon ($0.625m) / Zack Smith ($0.583m)
DEFENSEMEN
* z michaleck ($4.500m) / Chris Phillips ($3.500m)
* Andy Sutton ($2.500m) / Erik Karlsson ($1.300m)
* Chris Campoli ($1.000m) / Brian Lee ($0.875m)
Matt Carkner ($0.700m)
GOALTENDERS
Pascal Leclaire ($3.800m) / Brian Elliott ($0.850m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
(these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion)
ROSTER: 23; CAP: $56.8m; PAYROLL: $58.354m;

cap as per bettman going up by 2 mill... fits exactly in. and that's if foligno is in there PS:capgeek line ups, not mine)

^^^^
wow i actually think this could be a good line-up(not in that order) with some good call ups if we get some injuries and we could make room for further improvements by trading Lee, foligno and shannon.


(hey BM, i'll work for seasons tickets and a bowl of water)

I like that as well, but Kuba is gone completely?

Kuba > Sutton

but

Michalek + Sutton > Kuba + Lee

It's all about cap management and if trading Kuba is the only way we can fit Michalek in then BMurr's gotta pull the trigger.

stempniaksen wrote:Kuba > Sutton

but

Michalek + Sutton > Kuba + Lee

It's all about cap management and if trading Kuba is the only way we can fit Michalek in then BMurr's gotta pull the trigger.

Adding Michalek and Sutton would be awesome, but finding a home for Kuba where we don't have to take on salary would be hard I would imagine.

SpezDispenser wrote:I like that as well, but Kuba is gone completely?

Yep. if we could get a 2nd and say a 4rth we could get a pretty good forward back in the draft from the BM drafting. i know this isn't the greatest year accorading to analysts but BM will find us something in the 2nd round(which as of now we don't even have a pick).
did we really miss kuba when he was gone this year? not that much. even less when sutton came here.

SpezDispenser wrote:

stempniaksen wrote:Kuba > Sutton

but

Michalek + Sutton > Kuba + Lee

It's all about cap management and if trading Kuba is the only way we can fit Michalek in then BMurr's gotta pull the trigger.

Adding Michalek and Sutton would be awesome, but finding a home for Kuba where we don't have to take on salary would be hard I would imagine.

I don't think it would be that tough, I just imagine it would need to be after free agency. A team like New Jersey could use him, especially if they lose Martin. Another example would be the Blues or maybe the Avalanche, but both those teams have a ton of cap space to make noise.

SpezDispenser wrote:

stempniaksen wrote:Kuba > Sutton

but

Michalek + Sutton > Kuba + Lee

It's all about cap management and if trading Kuba is the only way we can fit Michalek in then BMurr's gotta pull the trigger.

Adding Michalek and Sutton would be awesome, but finding a home for Kuba where we don't have to take on salary would be hard I would imagine.

the style of play that kuba can play for his cap hit(not much IMO) won't be to hard to find takers.

thrashers, pheonix even Tampa might want him back.

stempniaksen wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

stempniaksen wrote:Kuba > Sutton

but

Michalek + Sutton > Kuba + Lee

It's all about cap management and if trading Kuba is the only way we can fit Michalek in then BMurr's gotta pull the trigger.

Adding Michalek and Sutton would be awesome, but finding a home for Kuba where we don't have to take on salary would be hard I would imagine.

I don't think it would be that tough, I just imagine it would need to be after free agency. A team like New Jersey could use him, especially if they lose Martin. Another example would be the Blues or maybe the Avalanche, but both those teams have a ton of cap space to make noise.

good call. he's not the as good but he'd be a nice fit for that team.