Melnyk Speaks/Globe says Rebuild is coming

Assuming this article is accurate, this could be a very exciting trade deadline, draft and off-season.

We've all had our opinions on this, a lot of us thought around the beginning of December (I think), that there was something incredibly wrong with this picture. It's not just this year though - and we all know it. It started the instant the puck dropped on the Cup Finals vs Anaheim. I remember how amazingly frustrating a feeling it was to watch those games, knowing full well that Anaheim was bigger, faster and better and wondering secretly if we'd make it back. But of course we would, right? All those young piece, Spezza, Heatley, Alfie still plays like a 29 year old!

That didn't last long obviously and soon things started to grind to a halt with the Senators. Suddenly as other teams drafted elite young talent, the Sens were stuck in a position where they could never push Mike Fisher to 3rd line center by inserting a young phenom in the top 6, Karlsson seems to be 5 years too late - or right on time depending on which way you're looking at it. It's also time to admit that this team has a problem with goaltenders, no matter who, we seem to have bad luck.

Time to start fresh I guess, keep Michalek, Alfie (presumably), Spezza, Foligno, Regin, Karlsson + prospects and put a for sale sign on everyone else. Still don't see them moving Fisher, but we'll see I guess...

BigRig geta movin....slow Murray get ta steppin'

Rollin'

Rollin'

Rollin' on the rebuild.....

Big Ev wrote:
Oh, in that sense yeah. I think he's just an emotional guy, and like I said he's getting up their in age, so he's probably frustrated that he still hasn't won a Cup in his entire career. You watch him up in the pressbox during games and he looks pissed off an uncomfortable.

Muckler used to look pissed off, too. Every once in a while I'd get tickets to the Alcatel level-400 box which was right next to the one where Mucks sat. I think in his case he was pissed off because they would stop serving Ovaltine in the third, which is when he needed it most.

SpezDispenser wrote:Assuming this article is accurate, this could be a very exciting trade deadline, draft and off-season.

We've all had our opinions on this, a lot of us thought around the beginning of December (I think), that there was something incredibly wrong with this picture. It's not just this year though - and we all know it. It started the instant the puck dropped on the Cup Finals vs Anaheim. I remember how amazingly frustrating a feeling it was to watch those games, knowing full well that Anaheim was bigger, faster and better and wondering secretly if we'd make it back. But of course we would, right? All those young piece, Spezza, Heatley, Alfie still plays like a 29 year old!

That didn't last long obviously and soon things started to grind to a halt with the Senators. Suddenly as other teams drafted elite young talent, the Sens were stuck in a position where they could never push Mike Fisher to 3rd line center by inserting a young phenom in the top 6, Karlsson seems to be 5 years too late - or right on time depending on which way you're looking at it. It's also time to admit that this team has a problem with goaltenders, no matter who, we seem to have bad luck.

Time to start fresh I guess, keep Michalek, Alfie (presumably), Spezza, Foligno, Regin, Karlsson + prospects and put a for sale sign on everyone else. Still don't see them moving Fisher, but we'll see I guess...

I would honestly not feel bad about dealing Michalek (if he continues to improve, his stock will rise) and even one of Regin and Foligno. Frankly, Regin should have been sent to Bingo, one-way or not; should have been done a couple months ago. I *would* put Kely into the core, though, and I would surely try to get Phillips back in the Summer.

wprager wrote:
I would honestly not feel bad about dealing Michalek (if he continues to improve, his stock will rise) and even one of Regin and Foligno. Frankly, Regin should have been sent to Bingo, one-way or not; should have been done a couple months ago. I *would* put Kely into the core, though, and I would surely try to get Phillips back in the Summer.

It depends on what Michalek would bring back I guess, but if we get low-balled, I think you treat his as a piece of the core. I agree with Kelly too, and Neil. Regin or Foligno are only if we're getting something far superior back in a package.

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:
I would honestly not feel bad about dealing Michalek (if he continues to improve, his stock will rise) and even one of Regin and Foligno. Frankly, Regin should have been sent to Bingo, one-way or not; should have been done a couple months ago. I *would* put Kely into the core, though, and I would surely try to get Phillips back in the Summer.

It depends on what Michalek would bring back I guess, but if we get low-balled, I think you treat his as a piece of the core. I agree with Kelly too, and Neil. Regin or Foligno are only if we're getting something far superior back in a package.

I would definitely keep Kelly. There is no one on the Sens or in Bingo that can take his place. He is a good defensive forward. Can play any forward position. No to trading Foligno... he won't be a superstar.. but he is a hard worker that you need on your team. He is only 22. Michalek is starting to play much better since his knee is healed. He's only around 24 -- so he is worth keeping around. I just hate getting rid of younger players. Muckler's way.. which as you can see is why Sens are where they are now.
But if you have to include one (not a key one) in a trade to get a great prospect back -- a la Brayden Schenn then I would do that.

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:
I would honestly not feel bad about dealing Michalek (if he continues to improve, his stock will rise) and even one of Regin and Foligno. Frankly, Regin should have been sent to Bingo, one-way or not; should have been done a couple months ago. I *would* put Kely into the core, though, and I would surely try to get Phillips back in the Summer.

It depends on what Michalek would bring back I guess, but if we get low-balled, I think you treat his as a piece of the core. I agree with Kelly too, and Neil. Regin or Foligno are only if we're getting something far superior back in a package.

You don't get "superior" in a trade, unless you are thinking of dealing the two for a single player coming back. "Superior" to Regin also is not a lot.

Exciting times actually!!

Trade deadline.....

Ott trades Fisher and Shannon to Vancouver for Schneider and Bieksa
Ott trades Phillips and Smith to San Jose for Setoguchi
Ott trades Kuba to Edmn for 2nd round pick
Ott trades Kovalev to LA for 3rd round pick
Ott trades Rutuu to Pitts for 3rd round pick

Free agents.....

Ott signs Connolly
Ott signs Frolov
Ott signs Obrien


2011/12 Senators

Michalek Spezza Frolov
Alfredsson Connolley Setuguchi
Regin Kelly Foligno
Neil Winchester Couturier/Butler

Gonchar Bieksa
Karlsson Cowen
Carkner Obrien

Schneider
Eliott

What do you think?

Wow, where to begin...

Sens won't trade Smith and they are also getting ripped off in that trade.

Why would Edmonton trade a 2nd for Kuba when they aren't much better off than Ottawa is?

And rebuilding usually means from within and not by signing FAs.

I'm sorry 111519 but some of those are just brutal.

Vancouver is getting ripped off HARD in that Fisher deal. Fisher + Shannon for Schneider wouldn't even cut it, now you're adding Bieksa?!?!

Frolov isn't a guy you want to have in a rebuild (or in any situation). He's useless now.

Connolly is the same type of player whom we have a bunch of. Talented but injury prone. Pass.

Shane O'Brien is a headcase. He's a decent d-man though.

Nice summary of today's news with reaction from players...

http://scoreottawa.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/sens-practice-jan-23/

shabbs wrote:Nice summary of today's news with reaction from players...

http://scoreottawa.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/sens-practice-jan-23/

In that first video, as Phillips and Alfie are talking, Garrioch is standing there wearing what might be the nicest sweater I've ever seen.

hemlock wrote:

shabbs wrote:Nice summary of today's news with reaction from players...

http://scoreottawa.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/sens-practice-jan-23/

In that first video, as Phillips and Alfie are talking, Garrioch is standing there wearing what might be the nicest sweater I've ever seen.

Heh. Argyle sweaters never go out of style... do they?



It almost looks like he's checking out Alfie's ass and giving him a look up and down... WTF?

Dash wrote:Wow, where to begin...

Sens won't trade Smith and they are also getting ripped off in that trade.

Why would Edmonton trade a 2nd for Kuba when they aren't much better off than Ottawa is?

And rebuilding usually means from within and not by signing FAs.

smith and an ufa phillips for setuguchi is in no way a rip off, and edmonton needs vetran defencemen since their rebuild is now 2 years in and ours is just starting.

Any mention of blowing ourselves up?

Big Ev wrote:I'm sorry 111519 but some of those are just brutal.

Vancouver is getting ripped off HARD in that Fisher deal. Fisher + Shannon for Schneider wouldn't even cut it, now you're adding Bieksa?!?!

Frolov isn't a guy you want to have in a rebuild (or in any situation). He's useless now.

Connolly is the same type of player whom we have a bunch of. Talented but injury prone. Pass.

Shane O'Brien is a headcase. He's a decent d-man though.

Schneider is an ufa afternext year and is not going to sign to be vancouvers back up for the next 5-6 years. He will want to be a number one somewher-Fisher and shannon add more grit to their forward ranks which you need for a cup run. Schneider is going to be available and ottawa needs to make an attempt to get him. Bieksa is an ufa next year and i would rather have him than phillips-if vancouver doesn't think they can keep him he will be available as they have depth on defence.

frolov is a chance i agree, but when he is on he can put on a show and you have to sell tickets even in a rebuild

obrien is a shot blocker and will fight. If we are doing a rebuild and bringing in youth you need someone to protec them other than Carkner.

Thanks for posting that link, Shabbs.

Wow, Phillips and Alfredsson are on opposite side of the same question. Does this announcement make a difference? Phillips says, no, it's still business as usual, you go out and practice hard, play and try to win. Alfredsson says it'll make a difference because people can now relax (my word) and not worry about what might or might not happen.

Yeah, easy for you to say, with $4M+ coming in for another two years after this one.

I've seen this before, earlier in the season, where Clouston would say one thing and Alfredsson would disagree -- publiclly, I might add. For the record, Clouston also mentioned that this will not affect how he acts (at least now he won't need to wonder if today's going to be the day, I guess); but at least he said he didn't know how the players would react.

Alfie's been on a different page from Clouston on a couple of occasions already, and now he's also disagreeing (not the best word) with Phillips.

If we have a problem at the core -- as we've been saying for quite a while -- is it possible that the problem lies with Alfie?

wprager wrote:Thanks for posting that link, Shabbs.

Wow, Phillips and Alfredsson are on opposite side of the same question. Does this announcement make a difference? Phillips says, no, it's still business as usual, you go out and practice hard, play and try to win. Alfredsson says it'll make a difference because people can now relax (my word) and not worry about what might or might not happen.

Yeah, easy for you to say, with $4M+ coming in for another two years after this one.

I've seen this before, earlier in the season, where Clouston would say one thing and Alfredsson would disagree -- publiclly, I might add. For the record, Clouston also mentioned that this will not affect how he acts (at least now he won't need to wonder if today's going to be the day, I guess); but at least he said he didn't know how the players would react.

Alfie's been on a different page from Clouston on a couple of occasions already, and now he's also disagreeing (not the best word) with Phillips.

If we have a problem at the core -- as we've been saying for quite a while -- is it possible that the problem lies with Alfie?

Fire Alfie?!?