Rookie Practice - September 10th

Michallica wrote:Good article on Cowen, and includes comments on his WHL coach claiming he's ready for the nhl.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=333884

I suspect they'll send him to Spokane (they may/may not give him a 9-game Karlsson-like stint 1st). If Spokane gets eliminated he may join the team for the remainded of the season.

Wiercioch, Gryba, lee would be the call-ups from Bingo (not necessarily in that order).

I don't know if Hoffman is eligible for Junior. He will be 21 in November, so he would technically be 20 when the QMJHL season started, and right now I could not find the specifics of the rule, other than no team is permitted to have more than 3 overage players (20 years old) on their team. So if the rule is you have to be 20 as of the seasons commencement, he will be fine.

He's no worse off in size than many of the other smaller stature NHLers, so I seen no reason why he couldn't play in Binghamton.

Hoags wrote:

Michallica wrote:Good article on Cowen, and includes comments on his WHL coach claiming he's ready for the nhl.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=333884

I suspect they'll send him to Spokane (they may/may not give him a 9-game Karlsson-like stint 1st). If Spokane gets eliminated he may join the team for the remainded of the season.

Wiercioch, Gryba, lee would be the call-ups from Bingo (not necessarily in that order).

I think he'll make it. He might not play 82 games this season, but he'll be there. He's at the point in his development where he's just better off playing against NHL calibre competition and getting the rookie mistakes out of the way.

Plus, Murray's huge on the guy in the same way that he was with Karlsson. And Cowen has the advantage of being more physically developed than Erik.

Hoags wrote:

Michallica wrote:Good article on Cowen, and includes comments on his WHL coach claiming he's ready for the nhl.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=333884

I suspect they'll send him to Spokane (they may/may not give him a 9-game Karlsson-like stint 1st). If Spokane gets eliminated he may join the team for the remainded of the season.

Wiercioch, Gryba, lee would be the call-ups from Bingo (not necessarily in that order).

Lee is on a 1-way, there'll be no AHL for him.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Lee is on a 1-way, there'll be no AHL for him.

So's Campoli. Cowen would have to beat both of them out.

And unless injuries happen, which they will the only spot is on the 3rd pairing with Carkner.

Lee can play in Bingo, just so long as he clears waivers. I was looking at the waiver exemption eligibility, and found this on NHLSCAP.com:

AGE	Years from signing 1st NHL contract	NHL Games Played
20	3	160

So for a skater, in this case Brian Lee, who was 20 years old (b: 1987/03/26) when he signed his ELC (2007/07/03 - Signed by the Ottawa Senators to an entry-level contract), he is/was exempt from waivers until 3 years after signing his ELC; and/or played 160 NHL games.

So, he is no longer exempt from waivers, as he has already finished his ELC.

we're forgetting that Matt Carkner may be converted back to a forward, leaving the door wide open for Cowen.

Michallica wrote:we're forgetting that Matt Carkner may be converted back to a forward, leaving the door wide open for Cowen.

I guess that depends on how on our forwards do. we've got good competion for forward positions as well.

IMHO there might simply not be room for Cowen with Campoli and Lee. Campoli's a big player - again, I've gone back and watched some games from last year and I feel big things are coming for him.

Cowen also doesn't have the luxury of waiting for an injury like the MUCH more NHL ready Gryba. I think no matter what Murray says, it'll be Spokane for Cowen - and that's a good thing now that we've got a full slate of decent D-men. It can only improve his game in the long run.

SpezDispenser wrote:IMHO there might simply not be room for Cowen with Campoli and Lee. Campoli's a big player - again, I've gone back and watched some games from last year and I feel big things are coming for him.

Cowen also doesn't have the luxury of waiting for an injury like the MUCH more NHL ready Gryba. I think no matter what Murray says, it'll be Spokane for Cowen - and that's a good thing now that we've got a full slate of decent D-men. It can only improve his game in the long run.

Now if only you could equate those same philosophies when it comes to sending Lehner back to the Greyhounds. Haha

CockRoche wrote:
Now if only you could equate those same philosophies when it comes to sending Lehner back to the Greyhounds. Haha

I guess he could, but he's been under intense tutelage for a long time now - and I think he's a cut above most prospects in maturity and athleticism and composure etc. I wouldn't be as opposed as I once was to sending him back to the Soo, but I'm also eager to see what he can do in the pros.

SpezDispenser wrote:IMHO there might simply not be room for Cowen with Campoli and Lee. Campoli's a big player - again, I've gone back and watched some games from last year and I feel big things are coming for him.

Cowen also doesn't have the luxury of waiting for an injury like the MUCH more NHL ready Gryba. I think no matter what Murray says, it'll be Spokane for Cowen - and that's a good thing now that we've got a full slate of decent D-men. It can only improve his game in the long run.

Cowen has absolutely nothing to learn in juniors. His career there should be finished.

Hoags wrote:

Michallica wrote:we're forgetting that Matt Carkner may be converted back to a forward, leaving the door wide open for Cowen.

I guess that depends on how on our forwards do. we've got good competion for forward positions as well.

Do you think? I really only see a battle for the 13th forward spot.

SpezDispenser wrote:

CockRoche wrote:
Now if only you could equate those same philosophies when it comes to sending Lehner back to the Greyhounds. Haha

I guess he could, but he's been under intense tutelage for a long time now - and I think he's a cut above most prospects in maturity and athleticism and composure etc. I wouldn't be as opposed as I once was to sending him back to the Soo, but I'm also eager to see what he can do in the pros.

As we all are, but let's not ruin or stunt the long-term potential of him. Let's mold him into the goalie we all hope and pray he can be.

I was in touch with Robin about another interview, should get working on that sometime around pre-season.

I have no problems with doing the same format as last time with taking questions and sending them in to him.

SpezDispenser wrote:

CockRoche wrote:
Now if only you could equate those same philosophies when it comes to sending Lehner back to the Greyhounds. Haha

I guess he could, but he's been under intense tutelage for a long time now - and I think he's a cut above most prospects in maturity and athleticism and composure etc. I wouldn't be as opposed as I once was to sending him back to the Soo, but I'm also eager to see what he can do in the pros.

I think so to. But you can't compare goalies to skaters if that is indeed who you are thinking of (skaters) in your comparision to Lehner.

Goalies need waaaayyyy more time to adjust to the speed of the game. Lehner looked horrible all game against Pittsburgh (veteran rookie team) in the London. Did you watch that game? That is just a small sample size of the problems a goalie faces when jumping to the pro level.

I am leaving huge gaps and pieces out of my post that are in my mind, but I hope it still makes sense.

CockRoche wrote:
Do you think? I really only see a battle for the 13th forward spot.

Yeah worded it badly, I meant I don't really see any roster positions at forward (unless someone is horrible in camp), so I doubt Carker will move to wing and there's Hoffman, Wick and Butler pushing for a spot as well.

If any prospects make it in it'll be on D and it's between Gryba and Cowen.

Hoags wrote:

CockRoche wrote:
Do you think? I really only see a battle for the 13th forward spot.

Yeah worded it badly, I meant I don't really see any roster positions at forward (unless someone is horrible in camp), so I doubt Carker will move to wing.

If any prospects make it in it'll be on D and it's between Gryba and Cowen.

That is my take on it as well. Although Butler may earn a spot and force Ottawa to go with something like this:

FORWARDS
Peter Regin ($1.000m) / Jason Spezza ($7.000m) / Alexei Kovalev ($5.000m)
Milan Michalek ($4.333m) / Mike Fisher ($4.200m) / Daniel Alfredsson ($4.875m)
Jarkko Ruutu ($1.300m) / Chris Kelly ($2.125m) / Chris Neil ($2.000m)
Nick Foligno ($1.200m) / Jesse Winchester ($0.750m) / Zack Smith ($0.583m)
Ryan Shannon ($0.625m) / Bobby Butler ($0.900m)

DEFENSEMEN
Chris Phillips ($3.500m) / Sergei Gonchar ($5.500m)
Filip Kuba ($3.700m) / Erik Karlsson ($1.300m)
Chris Campoli ($1.400m) / Matt Carkner ($0.700m)
Brian Lee ($0.875m)

GOALTENDERS
Pascal Leclaire ($3.800m) /Brian Elliott ($0.850m)

BUYOUTS: Daniel Alfredsson ($0.700m) / Jonathan Cheechoo ($0.666m) / Ray Emery ($0.562m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS(these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $59,400,000; CAP PAYROLL: $59,445,833; BONUSES: $425,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $379,167

I left Shannon in the calculations because until something happens with him and his one-way contract, he will be on this team. As I have layed it out, it's a full 23 man roster with very little wiggle room in the cap. Having Shannon hurts our flexibility within the cap with injury callups. I think Butler forces his way onto the team though. One thing working against Butler is his salary; that may say AHL in itself.