Chris Kelly Traded to Boston for 2nd Round Draft Pick

Murray:
“I just traded one of the good guys and most respected players on this hockey team,” said Murray. “These are difficult deals for someone like myself to make because was Chris was such a good player when I coached and followed directions so well."

ZING

I'm all for this.

Are we rebuilding or not ? If we want a new, younger team we're going to need new younger leaders.

I find it interesting that Murray is trading the so-called leaders on this team (Alfie not included). It wouldn't surprise me if he's had talks with players and coaching staff and determined the core of this team must change.

I'd imagine the 2 Chris's are left, Neil and Philips. LeBrun tweeted this morning that Murray expects one or 2 more trades and I'd bet that's who he is thinking of.

I do not want to see Neil traded, but it would make sense in some respects. We all assume that a guy like Kovalev will be traded, but that’s only possible if there is a team willing to take him. Neil is a guy with real value, who we KNOW some teams would want. He would likely fetch a similar return to Kelly.

Neil is a great team player. Tough guys that can take a regular shift don’t grow on trees, but it’s not like they really win you games either. They are normally complimentary players on successful teams. BM is serious about changing the team’s core pronto, and this is another guy who could be considered part of the core. I would never suggest that Neil is part of the problem in Ottawa, but that doesn’t mean that trading him wouldn’t be part of the solution. All these picks Ottawa is stockpiling can always be used in other trades to bring in roster players.

Brian Murray said himself that the only untouchables were Alfie and Karlsson, and now he’s walking the walk. It’s kind of refreshing.

I'll lose a little respect for Phillips, if he's being told he's not coming back next season, and still invokes his NTC and walks for nothing this summer.

The way I see it is Murray is ridding the team of all of it's long time core leadership which to me means Phillips, Neil, Kelly, Fisher and Alfie (Alfie is obviously the only piece deemed untouchable). I don't see any way Phillips sticks around unless of course Murray has determined Phillips won't budge on his NTC and Chris is someone Management wants here to help with the re-build.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I'll lose a little respect for Phillips, if he's being told he's not coming back next season, and still invokes his NTC and walks for nothing this summer.

The way I see it is Murray is ridding the team of all of it's long time core leadership which to me means Phillips, Neil, Kelly, Fisher and Alfie (Alfie is obviously the only piece deemed untouchable). I don't see any way Phillips sticks around unless of course Murray has determined Phillips won't budge on his NTC and Chris is someone Management wants here to help with the re-build.

You can't get rid of all your core leadership. Not if you don't want another Toronto here in Ottawa. You need to keep 2 or 3 players who will be the voice and leadership moving forward for the young guys. Alfie obviously, and now Spezza are 2 of the 3, but I totally expect them to keep Neil. Carkner has shown he can't play every day. I love the guy and while he's a true heavyweight he just can't keep up skating and play wise with some of the better teams. Neil is the perfect fit for the team moving forward. He's a voice in the room, he's a presence on the ice, and he's a guy whose heart and love for this team is out there for everyone to see.

Ruutu and Phillips are the two I believe are going now, maybe Kovalev if a GM has a stroke but aside from that. I don't see Phillips going to Boston now. If it were to happen then it likely would have been a package deal that would have happened last night...Kelly, Phillips, Nashville'st 1st, for Toronto's 1st, a 3rd and a prospect or current roster player to make room...

Someone will take Kovalev. The stroke is required for someone to take Kuba.

If someone makes an offer you can't refuse for Neil (top prospect or a 1st) then off he goes.

hemlock wrote:

Michallica wrote:Anyone notice how the third alternate captain always leaves/gets traded? First chara left, then redden, then heatley, then fisher, then Kelly...

Does that mean Phillips and Spezza are next to go?

That depends on when alfie gets back....I wonder if they suddenly give Kovalev the next 'A'

Number Twenty Nine wrote:Murray:
“I just traded one of the good guys and most respected players on this hockey team,” said Murray. “These are difficult deals for someone like myself to make because was Chris was such a good player when I coached and followed directions so well."

ZING

ZING?

hemlock wrote:

Number Twenty Nine wrote:Murray:
“I just traded one of the good guys and most respected players on this hockey team,” said Murray. “These are difficult deals for someone like myself to make because was Chris was such a good player when I coached and followed directions so well."

ZING

ZING?

I believe it was a zing directed at Clouston.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

hemlock wrote:

Number Twenty Nine wrote:Murray:
“I just traded one of the good guys and most respected players on this hockey team,” said Murray. “These are difficult deals for someone like myself to make because was Chris was such a good player when I coached and followed directions so well."

ZING

ZING?

I believe it was a zing directed at Clouston.

Meh. I don't see how that's a shot at Clouston. Kelly has been the same player more or less since he got here.

Michallica wrote:

hemlock wrote:

Michallica wrote:Anyone notice how the third alternate captain always leaves/gets traded? First chara left, then redden, then heatley, then fisher, then Kelly...

Does that mean Phillips and Spezza are next to go?

That depends on when alfie gets back....I wonder if they suddenly give Kovalev the next 'A'

Him, Gonchar and Kuba for the "A" please. Let's do this tank job right.

dennycrane wrote:Someone will take Kovalev. The stroke is required for someone to take Kuba.

If someone makes an offer you can't refuse for Neil (top prospect or a 1st) then off he goes.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

hemlock wrote:

Number Twenty Nine wrote:Murray:
“I just traded one of the good guys and most respected players on this hockey team,” said Murray. “These are difficult deals for someone like myself to make because was Chris was such a good player when I coached and followed directions so well."

ZING

ZING?

I believe it was a zing directed at Clouston.

same ZING he made when Fisher left

I think people are reading too much into that.

Murray is simply recalling his coaching experiences and that Chris followed directions well then.

It doesn't mean he does not do that now.

hemlock wrote:

Michallica wrote:

hemlock wrote:

Michallica wrote:Anyone notice how the third alternate captain always leaves/gets traded? First chara left, then redden, then heatley, then fisher, then Kelly...

Does that mean Phillips and Spezza are next to go?

That depends on when alfie gets back....I wonder if they suddenly give Kovalev the next 'A'

Him, Gonchar and Kuba for the "A" please. Let's do this tank job right.

if "A" now means "available", then lets pin two on just to make sure

Hoags wrote:I think people are reading too much into that.

Murray is simply recalling his coaching experiences and that Chris followed directions well then.

It doesn't mean he does not do that now.

yes, but it's fun to quote him well out of context....

Where were all the other GMs when this went down? San Jose? Montreal? Pittsburgh? And on and on and on - so many teams could have used Kelly going into the playoffs - or even a playoff run - PLUS, they have him under contract next year as well and they let the Bs have him for a 2nd? That's crazy.

Right now, those same teams that lost out, should be ready with a serious offer for Phillips and Neil to begin. Montreal would probably be best to do something, lest they want to be destroyed in the POs (it'll happen anyway, but the GM might want to give the team a fighting chance).

If I was a Montreal fan, I'd be yelling for Gauthier to acquire Neil - right now - for a 2nd or prospect. And if they can get Phillips in there as well for a 1st + prospect, then you do both - and you do it NOW - of course, Murray will make them sweat, but it sure seemed easy for th Bs to acquire a great character guy like Kelly last night - other GMs might want to wake up.

As for the trade itself, I'm mixed on it.

I like it because: there are guys who can do Kelly's job, both in the system and available every year (Madden, Pandolfo, Pahlsson etc. etc.), and as they get into their 30s, they get less $$, for example: Madden getting 1.2. Plus, as we sign a UFA like Madden, we also get a 2nd round pick - which with our scouts have recently yielded guys like Lehner, Silfverberg and Wiercioch.

I dislike it because: Kelly's a great player, the ultimate utility player who can play top 6 or bottom 6, PK with the best of them, is a hard worker, and finally, is someone who fit in PERFECTLY for Fisher as the bonafide 3rd line C on this team. I understand the move from a pick + Kelly's value will never be higher, but at the same time, it's a tough one to swallow right now.

in other news, scouts for Pittsburgh and Montreal at the game last night