2010 IIHF World Hockey Tournament

SensGal wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I don't even feel like typing this, but...apparently the Danish broadcasters have said that Murray offered Regin a 4 year, 12 million dollar contract.

I don't know where they got that, that's ludicrous, but I thought I'd pass it along.

What I heard was a 4 year, 3 million deal (not 12 million).

I doubt Regin takes a 4 year deal worth 750,000 per year.

Both seem really really bizarre. I do agree. 12 million seems way too much for a fairly short term, and I think he would want more. But really, who knows. I'd be completely happy with that! hahaha.... wouldn't anyone?? Can't you give bonuses anyways?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:The main question isn't Cullen or Foligno, it's Cullen or Z.Michalek. That's how I think it's break down.

Matt Cullen or Z.Michalek. Which fits a better need for this team?

Michalek is on a long term deal with a great cap hit (assuming he can do what he did in the first 20-30 games more consistently). Cullen and Foligno are the decisions because neither one is signed for next year.

Frankly, all this gushing for Cullen, while fully deserved, needs to be tempered somewhat. He's had many seasons in this league and this is the first time he's had some playoff success. His career playoff stats aren't fantastic, but you can bet his performance from this year will get him a nice little bump somewhere. Basically, I don't think we can afford him and, frankly, I don't think we need him.

Now, when March rolls around, who knows, but we got to the off-season fine without him, really.

He was talking about Z. not M. Michalek.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SensGal wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I don't even feel like typing this, but...apparently the Danish broadcasters have said that Murray offered Regin a 4 year, 12 million dollar contract.

I don't know where they got that, that's ludicrous, but I thought I'd pass it along.

What I heard was a 4 year, 3 million deal (not 12 million).

I doubt Regin takes a 4 year deal worth 750,000 per year.

How about a 7 year deal worth 450,000 per year?

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:The main question isn't Cullen or Foligno, it's Cullen or Z.Michalek. That's how I think it's break down.

Matt Cullen or Z.Michalek. Which fits a better need for this team?

Michalek is on a long term deal with a great cap hit (assuming he can do what he did in the first 20-30 games more consistently). Cullen and Foligno are the decisions because neither one is signed for next year.

Frankly, all this gushing for Cullen, while fully deserved, needs to be tempered somewhat. He's had many seasons in this league and this is the first time he's had some playoff success. His career playoff stats aren't fantastic, but you can bet his performance from this year will get him a nice little bump somewhere. Basically, I don't think we can afford him and, frankly, I don't think we need him.

Now, when March rolls around, who knows, but we got to the off-season fine without him, really.

Just that little ring on his finger. The Sens need Cullen, there isnt a player on the team, even Alfi, who is as versitile as Cullen.

Again, stop looking at the stats, you concentrate on them waaaaaaaaay too much. If you're picking a fantasy hockey team, yes, stay away from Cullen. If you are trying to build a deep team that can win a couple rounds and perhaps surprise, then you want Cullen.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SensGal wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I don't even feel like typing this, but...apparently the Danish broadcasters have said that Murray offered Regin a 4 year, 12 million dollar contract.

I don't know where they got that, that's ludicrous, but I thought I'd pass it along.

What I heard was a 4 year, 3 million deal (not 12 million).

I doubt Regin takes a 4 year deal worth 750,000 per year.

How about a 7 year deal worth 450,000 per year?

Yes Please!

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SensGal wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I don't even feel like typing this, but...apparently the Danish broadcasters have said that Murray offered Regin a 4 year, 12 million dollar contract.

I don't know where they got that, that's ludicrous, but I thought I'd pass it along.

What I heard was a 4 year, 3 million deal (not 12 million).

I doubt Regin takes a 4 year deal worth 750,000 per year.

How about a 7 year deal worth 450,000 per year?

Intriguing. Perhaps we can rely on dislexia in order to get a good deal?

Maybe we offer him 4 year deal at 2 Million per year but he reads it and signs it thinking it's a 2 year deal worth 4 Million per year?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:The main question isn't Cullen or Foligno, it's Cullen or Z.Michalek. That's how I think it's break down.

Matt Cullen or Z.Michalek. Which fits a better need for this team?

Michalek is on a long term deal with a great cap hit (assuming he can do what he did in the first 20-30 games more consistently). Cullen and Foligno are the decisions because neither one is signed for next year.

Frankly, all this gushing for Cullen, while fully deserved, needs to be tempered somewhat. He's had many seasons in this league and this is the first time he's had some playoff success. His career playoff stats aren't fantastic, but you can bet his performance from this year will get him a nice little bump somewhere. Basically, I don't think we can afford him and, frankly, I don't think we need him.

Now, when March rolls around, who knows, but we got to the off-season fine without him, really.

He was talking about Z. not M. Michalek.

Even Homer (the author, not the character) nods, as they say.

Regin (1.2) - Spezza (7) - Alfie (5.6)
Michalek (4.3) - Fisher (4.2) - Kovalev (5)
Ruutu (1.3) - Kelly (2.1) - Neil (2)
Winchester (1) - Z.Smith (0.6) - Butler (0.9)

Out: Shannon, Foligno

Phillips (3.5) - Lee (0.9)
Kuba (3.7) - Karlsson (1.3)
Campoli (1.5) - Carkner (0.7)

Elliott (0.9)
Leclaire (3.8)

51.5 million - in desperate need of a 1A D-man and Cullen.

Cullen = 3.5

so, the total jumps to 55

Leaves pretty much exactly 2 million for injuries and callups. But, no 1A D-man.

Or you can flip the situation and have Z.Michalek for 4 million, but no Cullen.

Neely says go Cullen, I frankly don't see how we survive without a 1A D-man.

SpezDispenser wrote:Regin (1.2) - Spezza (7) - Alfie (5.6)
Michalek (4.3) - Fisher (4.2) - Kovalev (5)
Ruutu (1.3) - Kelly (2.1) - Neil (2)
Winchester (1) - Z.Smith (0.6) - Butler (0.9)

Out: Shannon, Foligno

Phillips (3.5) - Lee (0.9)
Kuba (3.7) - Karlsson (1.3)
Campoli (1.5) - Carkner (0.7)

Elliott (0.9)
Leclaire (3.8)

51.5 million - in desperate need of a 1A D-man and Cullen.

Cullen = 3.5

so, the total jumps to 55

Leaves pretty much exactly 2 million for injuries and callups. But, no 1A D-man.

Or you can flip the situation and have Z.Michalek for 4 million, but no Cullen.

Neely says go Cullen, I frankly don't see how we survive without a 1A D-man.

Yikes. I'm scared for that D as is. Lee as a #2 guy.... eep...

Anyway, don't forget about the Emery buyout ($562K). And Cheechoo ($3 mil), or his buyout ($1 mil), unless Melnyk's gonna take one for the team. And I think you have to pencil in a 13th forward and 7th D at this point... so, Shannon and Gryba ($605K + $622.5) -- another $1.272 mil. All that presses us up against the cap again... and we haven't even mentioned the Regin's pricing here.

Still, yeah, I think what you have there is pretty much the barebones of your team next year. The thing is, what can you do with / get back for Foligno, Shannon, and maybe Lee? Can you get a cheap but significant upgrade on D for that?

The other thing is, I look up and down that line up, and I don't see a lot of deadweight. Kovalev, you needed at the time of signing and like it or not, you're stuck with him. Kuba is largely worth the money he makes (I'm assuming this year had a lot to do with injury). Leclaire, well, I don't think we're anywhere near done with him. And then there's Spezza...

SpezDispenser wrote:Regin (1.2) - Spezza (7) - Alfie (5.6)
Michalek (4.3) - Fisher (4.2) - Kovalev (5)
Ruutu (1.3) - Kelly (2.1) - Neil (2)
Winchester (1) - Z.Smith (0.6) - Butler (0.9)

Out: Shannon, Foligno

Phillips (3.5) - Lee (0.9)
Kuba (3.7) - Karlsson (1.3)
Campoli (1.5) - Carkner (0.7)

Elliott (0.9)
Leclaire (3.8)

51.5 million - in desperate need of a 1A D-man and Cullen.

Cullen = 3.5

so, the total jumps to 55

Leaves pretty much exactly 2 million for injuries and callups. But, no 1A D-man.

Or you can flip the situation and have Z.Michalek for 4 million, but no Cullen.

Neely says go Cullen, I frankly don't see how we survive without a 1A D-man.

Campoli isnt getting 1.5, maybe 1, tops. If they sign Cullen for 4 years, no way he gets more then 3 either. Winchester at 1 mil? Ummmm, no shot. Maybe what Carkner is making.

Anyways, you can defently fit Michalek and Cullen into a lineup, you guys crunch numbers all you want but Murray always makes it work.

Also, when in the hell has there ever been 2 million going spare for injuries?

so the americans are 0-2 after losing to the germans and the danes

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:so the americans are 0-2 after losing to the germans and the danes

N4L wrote:Campoli isnt getting 1.5, maybe 1, tops. If they sign Cullen for 4 years, no way he gets more then 3 either. Winchester at 1 mil? Ummmm, no shot. Maybe what Carkner is making.

Anyways, you can defently fit Michalek and Cullen into a lineup, you guys crunch numbers all you want but Murray always makes it work.

Also, when in the hell has there ever been 2 million going spare for injuries?

As Rooney pointed out there's other factors that I forgot as well, like Emery's buyout and Cheechoo's pending buyout. It would be tough to impossible to fit them both in.

I hope we can though, if you can juggle it out and get Cullen and Michalek, then you're going into next season in GREAT shape.

Cheechoo wont be bought out, I think Murray made that pretty clear already.

Anyways, we'll see what happens but this team will be in trouble without Cullen.

Also, it would be great to have a crystal ball to figure out just how good Regin is. Is he legit top line? Is he a 2nd line center? Will he buck the trend and explode in his sophomore year?

A lot depends on that as well I would imagine.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=teamreports-2010-nhl-ott

More fuel to the fire that Sutton and Volchenkov are gone and Cowen and Wiercioch will replace them for the 2nd half of the season (I don't really know what that means - we'll rent someone for half the season?)

Murray wants Cullen back, but Cullen himself might be the obstacle there.



INSIDE SHOTS


The Senators are expected to have two or three big holes to fill in
the offseason.

It’s unlikely they’ll be able to afford physical defensemen Anton
Volchenkov(notes)
and Andy
Sutton(notes),
both of who are eligible to test the unrestricted free agent market
July 1. Versatile forward Matt
Cullen(notes)
will probably follow the same path out of town, but finding someone to
fill his role should be a little easier.
GM Bryan Murray says he expects prospects Patrick Wiercioch and Jared
Cowen(notes),
a pair of 19-year-olds, to be capable of playing with Ottawa by the
second half of next season. That’s a little ambitious. Either way, he’ll
have to find a couple of blue liners off the free agent heap to bridge
the gap until Wiercioch and Cowen are ready. At least one of them has to
be a bruiser, because without Sutton and Volchenkov the Senators’
defense becomes very soft.

Murray also wants to add an offensive-minded defenseman to the mix.
He already has Erik
Karlsson(notes),
who gave indications as a 19-year-old rookie that he’s going to turn
into a star. But Murray wants another of Karlsson’s ilk.

Meanwhile, the Senators should have a remarkably similar look at the
forward positions when camp opens. Cullen might be re-signed—his
versatility was invaluable, and he tied for the team scoring lead in the
playoffs. But whether he truly wants to return is another matter.

Having available cap space by not signing Volchenkov and Sutton, the
Senators need to pursue a forward who can help their attack. If Alex
Kovalev(notes),
37, doesn’t return from knee surgery, it might not be the worst news.
Minus Kovalev, they’d have $5 million more to work with, plus a job
opening for a more consistent, reliable winger.

Their goaltending will again be in the hands of Pascal
Leclaire(notes)
and Brian
Elliott(notes),
partly because they’d be unable to find a taker for Leclaire’s $4.8
million salary. If he can stay healthy, they’ll be fine at the position.
But staying healthy has been a big problem for Leclaire, and so it is
that the biggest concern heading into camp will be the area between the
two goalposts.

Season Highlight: A 6-1 loss in Atlanta Jan. 12 was the
team’s fifth consecutive setback, and bad turned to worse when No. 1
goalie Pascal Leclaire suffered a concussion when he was hit by a Mike
Fisher(notes)
shot during the morning skate hours before the next game, Jan. 14 at
Madison Square Garden. The Senators, who had enjoyed a team bonding
session in Central Park the previous day, recalled goalie Mike
Brodeur(notes)
from their AHL affiliate in Binghamton to replace Leclaire. Brodeur
arrive in New York shortly before game time and surprisingly was given
his first NHL start, which he turned into a 32-save shutout. The win was
the first of a franchise record 11 in a row, a streak that put them in
position to grab a playoff spot.

Turning Point: The Olympic break was not kind to the
Senators. They headed into the midseason holiday having won 12 of 14
games and challenging for the top spot in the division. After they
returned, they won just eight of 19 games. During the swoon, they lost
two top-six forwards—Milan
Michalek(notes)
and Alex Kovalev—and top-four defenseman Filip
Kuba(notes)
to injuries that kept those players in the playoffs. Pulling goalie
Pascal Leclaire six minutes into his first start in almost two months,
March 2 in Carolina, was a colossal mistake. His confidence shaken,
Leclaire was given only spot starts afterward, until coach Cory Clouston
turned to him with the Senators facing playoff elimination. Leclaire
responded with two strong playoff games, but his arrival on the scene
was too late to save Ottawa.
NOTES, QUOTES


• C Jason
Spezza(notes)
continues to be the lightning rod for criticism in Ottawa, where fans
are anxious for the team to return to the Cup final. Spezza re-injured
his back during training camp and had a terrible start to the season,
but after coming back from a knee injury in January he was one of the
Senators’ most consistent players. He finished second on the team in
points despite missing 22 games to injury, then had six points in six
playoff games. He was also guilty of a costly turnover—his biggest
fault—that led to a Sidney
Crosby(notes)
goal in the Senators’ 7-4 loss in Game 4. Spezza still has five years
left on a contact that has an annual cap hit of $7 million, with a
no-movement clause to kick in July 1. He’s aware fans are making him a
scapegoat and admits it’s “definitely trying at times,” but he’s not
currently interested in being traded. “I’ve persevered my whole career,”
Spezza said. “I’ll always continue to do the same.”

• As it turns out, the Senators survived the summer of 2009
and the unenviable position one-time 50-goal scorer Dany
Heatley(notes)
put them in when he demanded a trade. In dealing Heatley to San Jose,
they received in return LW Milan Michalek, LW Jonathan
Cheechoo(notes)
and a second-round pick they wound up using to acquire D Andy Sutton at
the trade deadline. Now, Michalek was injured and missed the playoffs,
and Cheechoo wound up in the minors, but Sutton played on their second
defensive pairing as the Senators gave the Pittsburgh Penguins a scare
in the first round. They didn’t make the playoffs the season before with
Heatley in the lineup. Also, Senators president Cyril Leeder says the
season-ticket renewal has already reached an all-time high of 90 percent
and that, with 10,000 current season-ticket holders, the goal is to
reach 11,000 over the summer.

Quote To Note: “Overall, I think a lot of encouraging things
happened this year. Obviously we’re much better situated going into
next year with the team we have. I’ll be back next year to try to get
into the playoffs and to try to play for the Stanley Cup.”—RW Daniel
Alfredsson(notes)
ROSTER REPORT


Most Valuable Player: Daniel Alfredsson played his 1,000th
career game, all with the Senators, during the last week of the regular
season. In that game, and the 20 or so before it, he was dealing with a
torn abdominal muscle. Nobody knew about the injury until after the last
game of the playoffs. Down the stretch, the Senators captain missed
just one game, and that was because of the flu. The Senators’ oldest
player at 37, Alfredsson remains the team’s best all-round player. He
led the way in scoring with 71 points during the season and finished
tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with eight more.

Most Disappointing Player: Alex Kovalev was playing his best
hockey of the season with three goals and four assists in four games
heading into the Olympic break. But when the games resumed a little more
than two weeks later, he was not the same. In his last 17 games,
Kovalev had one goal and one assist and was a minus-15. He was signed to
give the team some leadership and experience heading into the playoffs,
but his season ended in the second-to-last game when he tore the
anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Biggest Needs: The Senators could use some scoring. Their
minus-13 in goal differential was the worst of the top nine teams in the
Eastern Conference. If they lose two of their better defensive
defensemen to unrestricted free agency, as expected, it figures they’ll
have an even bigger need for offense. GM Bryan Murray said he’d like to
add some offense on the back end to complement that provided by Erik
Karlsson.

Free Agent Focus: Defensemen Anton Volchenkov and Andy
Sutton and forward Matt Cullen are the team’s unrestricted free agents.
Volchenkov balked at the club’s last offer, a $20 million contract over
five years, and he is almost certainly headed for greener pastures.
Whether the Senators will give Sutton the raise or years he desires is
doubtful; team officials believe prospects Patrick Wiercioch and Jared
Cowen could be ready to play in the second half of next season. GM Bryan
Murray liked Cullen’s play and “professionalism” and is interested in
re-signing him, but the versatile American will weigh options that could
include going back to Carolina, where his wife and kids stayed even
after he was traded at the deadline. Donovan, a healthy scratch much of
the season, will likely retire. Restricted free agents include forwards Peter
Regin(notes),
Nick
Foligno(notes)
and Jesse
Winchester(notes)
and defenseman Chris
Campoli(notes).
The Senators want them all back.

Player Notes:

• Rookie LW Peter Regin was spending most of his time on the
team’s fourth line before he was called upon to take a shift alongside
Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson, in the spot Milan Michalek worked
before he was injured, during a March 22 game in Montreal. Regin, a good
skater and smart player, scored in the victory and stayed on the first
line the rest of the season, finishing with 13 goals and 16 assists. In
the playoffs, he scored three goals and was one of the Senators’ best
players.

• D Erik Karlsson’s improvement was dramatic. The 19-year-old
rookie was sent to the minors for a month early in the season, and by
the last few weeks he was leading the team in ice time. Karlsson evolved
into the puck-moving power play quarterback the Senators hoped he’d
become, and he did so even before they expected.

• G Pascal Leclaire will be the most closely watched player on
the team when camp starts in September. Fighting injury problems and
then inconsistency during the season, he lost his No. 1 job to Brian
Elliott. But when the Senators were down to one life in the playoffs,
they turned to Leclaire, and he did not disappoint. He made 56 stops in
Ottawa’s triple-overtime victory in Game 5, then another 39 in a losing
effort in Game 6.

Medical Watch:

• LW Milan Michalek (left knee) is expected to be ready for
training camp after offseason surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate
ligament.

• RW Alex Kovalev (left knee) is expected to be ready for
training camp after offseason surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate
ligament.

• D Filip Kuba (back) had surgery in April to repair a
herniated disk. He’s expected to be ready for training camp.

• RW Daniel Alfredsson (sports hernia) was anticipating
surgery after the playoffs for an injury he had been dealing with since
before the Olympics. Recovery time is expected to be 4-6 weeks.

• D Chris
Phillips(notes)
(feet) was to have minor surgery to remove bunions that made it
uncomfortable to wear skates. Recovery time is expected to be 3-4 weeks.

Better hope Butler becomes a legit top 6 guy if Cullen doesnt resign. Greening will make a serious push as well.

If they know Cullen isnt going to resign, Foligno might be back.