Sens Roster 2011/12

rooneypoo wrote:
One thing I don't get with our current line configurations is the constant punishment of Winchester. Why is that guy stuck with Lessard & Potulny? It better be because he's just getting over that last injury. Because, seriously, Winchester has been one of the only bright spots on this team all year long, and I don't understand why he isn't getting more of an opportunity to play down the stretch.

I think we're all looking at the team the same way now, because I kept thinking that to myself last night and the game before. Is it a punishment, or is it to get Winchester back in the flow of the game (which I think is the case)? I think as the game progresses, Lessard takes a seat and they start double shifting the best players with Winchester, but still...as you said, before he got injured, Winchester was doing what Condra/Greening/Smith are doing now, you can't just turn your back on that.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:
Hard to imagine with all the movement we've had, there will still be some fights for spots. Especially on D.

As in you don't think there's be fights for spots, or that you think it's great that with all the movement we're still gonna have major battles?

I think it's great, and a promising sign for our depth. I wish there were more spots up for grabs (ie: Kuba's).

shabbs wrote:
I think it's great, and a promising sign for our depth. I wish there were more spots up for grabs (ie: Kuba's).

Okay, the wording could have gone either way. I agree, the dogfight will be at forward, but the D battle should be amazing as well - especially if Kuba is still in the mix. And the way he's playing right now, perhaps he should be.

Perhaps Murray doesn't think the D was as bad as it's been made out to be? I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens over the off season but as it stands we lost Campoli and...?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Perhaps Murray doesn't think the D was as bad as it's been made out to be? I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens over the off season but as it stands we lost Campoli and...?

Carkner is in real tough.

A lot of factors to try to figure out, like for example, who's the 2nd line C? Regin? Not sure if that'll work, he should probably start on one of the bottom 2 lines and work his way up from there. Similarly Foligno needs to either find some consistency or forge out a career in the bottom 6 as well.

Michalek - Spezza - Butler
_______- Landeskog/RNH - Alfredsson
Foligno/Regin - Z.Smith - Neil
Greening - Winchester - Condra

extra:
Shannon

The battle will be for the 2nd line LW position, or the 2nd line C position, depending on who we take. If the training camp battles are good enough, then one of Foligno or Regin or even someone like Greening could make it in that spot, but it's possible it goes to a UFA signing or trade.

I'm sure the entire organization will be watching Regin's progression this summer very closely. Schwartz will have to make him twice as strong in the core and work his upper body when he's healed. The guy I can't see making the top 6 is Foligno, unless he magically becomes more consistent that is.

I'd be surprised if they don't pick up at least one FA winger to make it a real battle for the top six rather than risking being forced to hand that job to someone.

If you throw in the FA winger then you've got a pretty solid top six and I wouldn't anoint Butler the first line wing position just yet so it could be an all out battle for one top six position between Regin, Foligno, Greening, Butler and maybe even Condra. Also if the FA falters a bit then you may have some decent options to put up there.

Another factor will be if Silfverberg comes over or not, that could change things as well.

- Trade for David Clarkson and Dainius Zubrus at the draft (NJ cap trouble, Murray said one of the picks will be used to get players)
- Draft RNH/Strome (8 game stint)

Michalek - Spezza - Butler
Regin/Siflverberg - Zubrus - Alfie
Clarkson - Regin - Foligno
Smith - Winchester- Neil

Philips - Rundblad
Cowen - Gonchar
Kuba - Karlsson
Lee - Carkner (can't have too many Ds, Rundblad and Cowen going to Bingo from time to time)

Anderson
McElhinney.

Callups: Condra, Greening, OBrien, D.Smith, Wiercioch etc.

I don't think they will be trading any assets or filling holes that can be filled by some youth within the organization.

Guys like Condra and Greening will have a real shot going into next year, not the training camp where there is no chance of any rookie making it that people are used to and sick of seeing.

Also where is the draft pick Dorion said would be on the roster and making an impact? I don't think an 8 game stint qualifies.

It's one of 3 guys to be sure, Strome, RNH, or Landeskog. I think people can say with a fair amount of collective certainty those are the 3 guys are who The Sens are targetting.

That said, all 3 are probably close to NHL ready, if not they already are. I think there are certain guys that they want in the lineup next year in Greening, Condra, and Butler, a guy like SIlfverberg who they hope will come over and he can make the team, and their draft pick(s) who can make an impression.

Well of course all 3 can play in the league, but I can tell you if they struggle at the beginning and the Sens have a pretty good first 10 games I'm not a big fan of developping them in a pressure atmosphere wher ethey don't have the stamina to keep that up for 82 games and we see what happened to Josh Bailey and Peter Regin in his sophomore year where they were expected to get top 6 minutes. Unless Clouston gets nominated for coach of the year.. if he even stays.
In a no pressure environment though, like say the same as the last 15 games here, no question they will play the full year here.
So the line up I m ade was not really final. Anything can change.

I'd have to agree not to spend too much on FAs or on trades.

The thing that has to be assessed by the organization is:

Is Greening ready for the NHL on a full time basis?

Is Condra ready for the NHL on a full time basis?

Is Butler ready for the NHL on a full time basis? (I hate asking this one, it's obvious to me he is, but still...)

Is Regin/Foligno going to challenge for a top 6, or are they 'tweeners'?

Foligno is a 3rd line winger to be sure, maybe 2nd line with a little luck and a couple more years in the league. Regin is a tweener in the sense he's a tweener between the AHl and NHL. He's going to get every chance to succeed next year but there is going to be 3 or 4 guys ready to take his spot if he slips up.

The college kids can play 3rd and 4th line roles in The NHL and probably will. You can move those guys all around the bottom 6 and they will contribute.

NEELY wrote:Foligno is a 3rd line winger to be sure, maybe 2nd line with a little luck and a couple more years in the league. Regin is a tweener in the sense he's a tweener between the AHl and NHL. He's going to get every chance to succeed next year but there is going to be 3 or 4 guys ready to take his spot if he slips up.

The college kids can play 3rd and 4th line roles in The NHL and probably will. You can move those guys all around the bottom 6 and they will contribute.

Like you have your favourite in Condra, I have a favourite in Greening. I think he can be a 2nd line player on this team, but I'm not in a position to assess him the way Murray and co. can. I think if you can put a line out there of Greening/Landeskog or RNH/Alfredsson, you can have some success. The issue is, will Greening provide enough offense considering we're thin on that to begin with? If the answer is no, then let him play on line 3 or 4 and move him up when/if injuries occur and sign 1 player: Brooks Laich. If he's off the market, then you re-assess, but that's the type of player that could play with either RNH or Landeskog and Alfie and have instant success IMO.

I still have hopes for Regin he can contribute well if he is put in the situation like Butler, greening and COndra, played a speedy transition game. Problem was Kovalev was too inconsistant and FIsher had no vision.
After what happened this year, I ll wait til all these young guys are put in pressure environment to get excited.

marakh wrote:I still have hopes for Regin he can contribute well if he is put in the situation like Butler, greening and COndra, played a speedy transition game. Problem was Kovalev was too inconsistant and FIsher had no vision.
After what happened this year, I ll wait til all these young guys are put in pressure environment to get excited.

I still have faith in Regin as well, he had a rough year, but through it all I still found he battled well and played a responsible game. He'll need to find offense in a hurry right out of camp though, too many players coming up through the ranks who'll want his job badly.