The Future of the Ottawa Senators

SpezDispenser wrote:

Straight Shooter wrote:the future is still bright thanks to murray. this years product has a lot of underperforming players but the future is still bright starting on defense and then forward and then in goal.

It is, he did an amazing job. He still needs to be re-assigned to head of scouting and let someone with a fresh take come in and dissassemble what Murray did in terms of the old guard, lack of scoring talent, lack of skill, lack of leadership, lack of toughness in the top 6, lack of a proper shutdown D-man, lack of leadership, overpaid complimentary players (hello Fisher), declining players (hello Alfie, Phillips, Gonchar), unstable goaltending, poor coaching.

Interesting that you mention this twice.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Straight Shooter wrote:the future is still bright thanks to murray. this years product has a lot of underperforming players but the future is still bright starting on defense and then forward and then in goal.

It is, he did an amazing job. He still needs to be re-assigned to head of scouting and let someone with a fresh take come in and dissassemble what Murray did in terms of the old guard, lack of scoring talent, lack of skill, lack of leadership, lack of toughness in the top 6, lack of a proper shutdown D-man, lack of leadership, overpaid complimentary players (hello Fisher), declining players (hello Alfie, Phillips, Gonchar), unstable goaltending, poor coaching.

Interesting that you mention this twice.

Messier for GM. He is the Hostess/FritoLay/Pepsi/Dorito Leader of the Millenium after all!

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
Interesting that you mention this twice.

Making sure people were paying attention, good job.

This team's leadership is bottom 5 in the NHL IMO.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Straight Shooter wrote:the future is still bright thanks to murray. this years product has a lot of underperforming players but the future is still bright starting on defense and then forward and then in goal.

It is, he did an amazing job. He still needs to be re-assigned to head of scouting and let someone with a fresh take come in and dissassemble what Murray did in terms of the old guard, lack of scoring talent, lack of skill, lack of leadership, lack of toughness in the top 6, lack of a proper shutdown D-man, lack of leadership, overpaid complimentary players (hello Fisher), declining players (hello Alfie, Phillips, Gonchar), unstable goaltending, poor coaching.

Interesting that you mention this twice.

Messier for GM. He is the Hostess/FritoLay/Pepsi/Dorito Leader of the Millenium after all!

Bet you can't have just one.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Straight Shooter wrote:the future is still bright thanks to murray. this years product has a lot of underperforming players but the future is still bright starting on defense and then forward and then in goal.

It is, he did an amazing job. He still needs to be re-assigned to head of scouting and let someone with a fresh take come in and dissassemble what Murray did in terms of the old guard, lack of scoring talent, lack of skill, lack of leadership, lack of toughness in the top 6, lack of a proper shutdown D-man, lack of leadership, overpaid complimentary players (hello Fisher), declining players (hello Alfie, Phillips, Gonchar), unstable goaltending, poor coaching.

i like the option of keeping BM in charge of scouting, whether that's realistically possible is another thing entirely. i agree that there we're a few decision that in retrospect were questionable.

but it brings me to a point that everyone refuse to look at. Alfie.
the man can no longer lead the team on his shoulders anymore. i doubt he's got more then a few years left in him also. this goes against everything my heart tells me but is probably the move that would yield us the best return.
for teams like detroit, philly or even LA, adding a guy like alfie would improve the chances of a cup. alfie wouldn't have to carry the team and therefore probably improve his game even more so. the return could go a long, long way into helping the sens.

alfie's jersey will be retired, his accomplishments will no doubt be all remembered in ottawa. he'll more then likely get a job offered in ottawa once he retires. but if we're thinking of improving the team for the future, maybe it's what's best for the team.


ok, now you can all hate me.

I don't think the return will be all that high for Alfie anymore. It's not worth it.

What can a 38 year old, with 22 points in 38 games, playing first line and first unit PP, with a cap hit of almost 5M for another two seasons, get you?

No, I think all level headed fans would agree that it's either: 1)we keep Alfie as mentor to the young kids coming up or 2) he's traded for a nice package.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I don't think the return will be all that high for Alfie anymore. It's not worth it.

What can a 38 year old, with 22 points in 38 games, playing first line and first unit PP, with a cap hit of almost 5M for another two seasons, get you?

I personally think it would be a big package. Alfie can't be a top line player anymore, but he can be one of the best complimentary players in the league to a team with an awesome top line and a very good 2nd line.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I don't think the return will be all that high for Alfie anymore. It's not worth it.

What can a 38 year old, with 22 points in 38 games, playing first line and first unit PP, with a cap hit of almost 5M for another two seasons, get you?

I personally think it would be a big package. Alfie can't be a top line player anymore, but he can be one of the best complimentary players in the league to a team with an awesome top line and a very good 2nd line.

What would you see us getting? I don't see it being much personally.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I personally think it would be a big package. Alfie can't be a top line player anymore, but he can be one of the best complimentary players in the league to a team with an awesome top line and a very good 2nd line.

What would you see us getting? I don't see it being much personally.[/quote]

B.Schenn + pick for example. LA needs a guy like Alfie - or even better, like Iginla.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I personally think it would be a big package. Alfie can't be a top line player anymore, but he can be one of the best complimentary players in the league to a team with an awesome top line and a very good 2nd line.

What would you see us getting? I don't see it being much personally.

B.Schenn + pick for example. LA needs a guy like Alfie - or even better, like Iginla.[/quote]

Yeah, especially with that trigger-finger Lombardi at the helm...

ddt wrote:
Yeah, especially with that trigger-finger Lombardi at the helm...

True dat.

Doubt anyone will take Alfie.

2 more years at $5M that stays on the books regardless if he retires.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I personally think it would be a big package. Alfie can't be a top line player anymore, but he can be one of the best complimentary players in the league to a team with an awesome top line and a very good 2nd line.

What would you see us getting? I don't see it being much personally.

B.Schenn + pick for example. LA needs a guy like Alfie - or even better, like Iginla.[/quote]
that's exactly who i thought for LA but they might package it with a 1st rounder.
Alfie is a leader/warrior and he' dgive it his all going into the playoffs. i agree he wouldn't be on the first line but on special teams and on the second line(or third making for 3 awesome lines).
i think if it got creative within the cap we could land Van Riemsdyk +.
(personaly i'd love giroux but i don't know what kind of trade would get him here.)

Hoags wrote:Doubt anyone will take Alfie.

2 more years at $5M that stays on the books regardless if he retires.

I don't think he'll retire, especially if he's on a competitive team. I think he's fine, not only that, I think he'd be awesome on LA or one of those powerhouses. Heck, he'll be fine here once we get some top 6 players that aren't named Alfredsson or Spezza.

My asking price from LA would be B.Schenn + 1st. End of story. If Lombardi doesn't like it, he can eat it.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Hoags wrote:Doubt anyone will take Alfie.

2 more years at $5M that stays on the books regardless if he retires.

I don't think he'll retire, especially if he's on a competitive team. I think he's fine, not only that, I think he'd be awesome on LA or one of those powerhouses. Heck, he'll be fine here once we get some top 6 players that aren't named Alfredsson or Spezza.

My asking price from LA would be B.Schenn + 1st. End of story. If Lombardi doesn't like it, he can eat it.

well anyways i don't think he's being shopped. my gut says BM will never pull the trigger on alfie. BM is very loyal for better or worse. but if another GM were to step in all bets are off.

for some reason i thought he only had another year remaining.


fisher won't get us that much but might get us a decent prospect and a second rounder.(maybe)

Cap'n Clutch wrote:There's a very real risk of wrecking these guys if they're brought up too early though isn't there? Especially in Lehner's case right?

I know I will be shouted down for saying this, but I really don't think so. Lehner has a solid head on his shoulders. He's going to make mistakes but he knows that that's what it takes to learn. This team will still be struggling to get above .500 next season, but if Lehner is the backup, and he gets the weaker teams in back-to-back situations then he'll be fine. I said it in another thread -- he is getting very little playing time in Bingo and that's not going to change; he'd probably get more playing time backing up Elliott. If only Leclaire would break down for good and not these 3-5 game minjuries.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:There's a very real risk of wrecking these guys if they're brought up too early though isn't there? Especially in Lehner's case right?

Besides, even if this season is lost, the mandate next year will be to make the playoffs.

I would argue the mandate for next season would be to play exciting hockey and get experience for the youngsters. If -- *IF* -- they somehow manage to be close to a playoff spot then you have a decision to make in March.

Seriously, think about it this way. If we only win half our games, but the ones we lose it's a 5-3 loss with an empty-netter to seal it, with the lead changing times once or twice, isn't that better than scoring 3 goals in the first 21 minutes and then hanging on like the '90s Devils?