GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ New York Islanders - 7:00pm ET - THU. Jan. 13 2011

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:

Hoags wrote:

shabbs wrote:
Pierre must have been brushing up on his GM knowledge... hmmmm....

He was uncharacteristically nice to the Sens last night ....

He was... surprised he didn't sneak in a comment regarding Elliott's rebound control...

His rebound control was excellent last night. I didn't see a single puck bounce off him.

Heh heh.

Hoags wrote:McGuire said it's perfectly OK to make any sort of verbal agreement with Philips as long as he is a Senator. I imagine teams would have conditional picks in the deal to protect themselves anyway. I imagine it's no secret in the NHL he likes it here and wants to stay anyway.

The only no no is making deals with Philips if he's no longer a Senator.

I tried to say that awhile ago when - I forget who it was - mentioned the Blues and their dealings with Tkachuk back in 2005 I think. This sort of things happen all the time and that is where the term "rental" comes from. Conditional picks are absolutely, a way the renting team can feel better about acquiring the services of a rental player.

Only thing you need to worry about if you are Ottawa, is trading Philips away to greener pastures. The Sens would need to be very smart in who they think about trading Philips to. Players like winning and that feeling is like a heroin to a junkie. Philips may agree to waive his NTC with the pre-arranged intention of signing back with Ottawa in the offseason; but the taste of a great dressing room, a winning attitude, success and sunshine can change your original UFA thoughts upside down.

And additional concerns about renting Phillips is if we have a new GM after this season... Murray may have set the wheels in motion for a re-signing of Phillips, but the new GM may not agree with the plan... unless it's Tim Murray...

shabbs wrote:And additional concerns about renting Phillips is if we have a new GM after this season... Murray may have set the wheels in motion for a re-signing of Phillips, but the new GM may not agree with the plan... unless it's Tim Murray...

I pray it's not Tim Murray. If this team really does take a new direction, it needs a fresh GM.

hemlock wrote:

shabbs wrote:And additional concerns about renting Phillips is if we have a new GM after this season... Murray may have set the wheels in motion for a re-signing of Phillips, but the new GM may not agree with the plan... unless it's Tim Murray...

I pray it's not Tim Murray. If this team really does take a new direction, it needs a fresh GM.

My concern is a new GM brings a new scouting staff which is fine as far as pro scouting because I think my 5 month old could do a better job but the amateur scouting staff is at risk and they've been stellar have they not? I'd hate to see a GM come in and completely clean house just so he can say it's his team, his staff and blah blah blah.

I'm all for a new GM and a new direction just please keep the amateur drafting core in tact.

CockRoche wrote:

Hoags wrote:McGuire said it's perfectly OK to make any sort of verbal agreement with Philips as long as he is a Senator. I imagine teams would have conditional picks in the deal to protect themselves anyway. I imagine it's no secret in the NHL he likes it here and wants to stay anyway.

The only no no is making deals with Philips if he's no longer a Senator.

I tried to say that awhile ago when - I forget who it was - mentioned the Blues and their dealings with Tkachuk back in 2005 I think. This sort of things happen all the time and that is where the term "rental" comes from. Conditional picks are absolutely, a way the renting team can feel better about acquiring the services of a rental player.

Only thing you need to worry about if you are Ottawa, is trading Philips away to greener pastures. The Sens would need to be very smart in who they think about trading Philips to. Players like winning and that feeling is like a heroin to a junkie. Philips may agree to waive his NTC with the pre-arranged intention of signing back with Ottawa in the offseason; but the taste of a great dressing room, a winning attitude, success and sunshine can change your original UFA thoughts upside down.

Also, as former players have said after you've been traded once; it's a lot less scary and he may not be all that concerned about making his way back to Ottawa once he's left.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
My concern is a new GM brings a new scouting staff which is fine as far as pro scouting because I think my 5 month old could do a better job but the amateur scouting staff is at risk and they've been stellar have they not? I'd hate to see a GM come in and completely clean house just so he can say it's his team, his staff and blah blah blah.

I'm all for a new GM and a new direction just please keep the amateur drafting core in tact.

That's my fear as well as incoming GMs almost never keep old staff on.