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It’s been a long time since I’ve sat down to write a hockey blog, at least two years since the last one.
So why I’m I writing again? Well for starters I have the time again, and to be honest I really just miss it. Also the frustration of writing on a previous site has worn off and I have the desire to write again.
So lets shake off some rust and start this up again…
This first one will be a lot less Sens than usual, but it's a starting point.
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Columbus just can’t seem to win….
I’ve been a big fan of Columbus since their inception, and have stayed a fan because of players like Nash, and Brassard. But in recent seasons, I’ve just lost the passion to cheer them on.
The franchise seems to be falling apart…
The franchise has a terrible track record for developing drafted talent, and no one with-in the franchise seems to either a) care or b) know what to do
This past weekend has put Columbus’ failure in this field on full display, and I’m not referring to Filatov as that’s a whole other issue.
Jeff Carter is extremely talented, no question. He’s among the best goal scoring centers in the league, and he’s only 26. But Columbus’ biggest issue has been a center to play with Nash, so lining up a goal-scoring center with a goal-scoring winger likely won’t improve on that situation.
So the Jackets have now put all their eggs into the Carter basket, and have built a line of goal-scorers, with no real set-up guy. And in turn has shipped off a quality goal scorer in Voracek, Sean Couturier (which I’m not sold on yet, but is a playmaking center) and Nick Cousins. Realistically it’ll take a couple seasons to get a real sense of whether this trade was bad or not but at face value I’m saying it was a poor trade, based on what Columbus’ needs most.
The move is a pure desperation move by Howson to save his job, a job he probably should be relived of right way, in fact it’s safe to assume Howson’s whole weekend was based on desperation. Why else would you trade 3 1st rounders in one weekend?
This Franchise desperately needs brighter days, so hopefully Carter and Nash find a way to score 35-40 goals each, Ryan Johansen plays himself into a Jeff Skinner type role and hope that Savard and Moore are ready on the backend.
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Filatov
This has been two years in the making.
Right after I quit Hockeybuzz the Sens went to work trying to acquire young Nikita, however back then the price was higher, much higher. Names like Foligno, Kelly, and Lee were tossed around, along with a pick that would turn into Jakob Silfverberg was the base of discussion.
In the end a 3rd round pick was the cost for a kid that undoubtedly has the skill set, but had lost his way after Hitchcock crushed his self-esteem and then Columbus as an organization couldn’t figure out how to handle him, which you think they would have considering they’ve dealt with Zherdev in the past.
From everything I’ve read, 29 teams think Ottawa made off like bandits in the trade and Columbus feels they got better by moving him.
29:1
I like those odds and I assure you lessons learned from Emery, Heatley and Yashin will be front and center from the moment Filatov lands in Ottawa, and hearing talk of Gonchar being asked to house Filatov could not only turn Filatov into the top-line scorer he was once projected but will also make Gonchar’s 5.5 hit well worth it.
Honestly every time I see the trade on paper, all I can think is Spezza/Chara/Muckalt for Yashin.
Time will tell, but Ottawa literally has nothing to lose on this trade.
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Buy low/Sell High (Going to be a regular column with the sole purpose of using common-sense to refute ridiculous trade rumors.)
Steve Stamkos won’t be traded, I’d be shocked if Tampa even lets it get to July 1st and into offer sheet territory. So incase you were thinking about it, I wouldn’t buy into the insane belief that Stamkos won’t be a lighting after July 1st.
Stamkos and Yzerman have both come out and said they are very close to a deal, and Stamkos legitimately likes the city and the organization. Tampa has the money, the cap-space and the teammates, Stamkos is staying put.
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And quickly these are my 5 (well 7) steals of the draft: (Not including trades, strictly drafted players)
5: 29th Van - Nicklas Jensen
4: 35th Det – Tomas Jurco and 196th Pho – Zac Larraza
3: 43rd Chi – Brandon Saad
2: 82nd LA – Nicholas Shore and 76th Flo - Logan Shaw
1: 4th NJD – Adam Larrson
I’ll post a daily update on the Sens Dev. Camp this week from Tuesday to Friday, as I fly back to Alberta on Saturday so I’ll miss the backend of the Camp
Mark
So why I’m I writing again? Well for starters I have the time again, and to be honest I really just miss it. Also the frustration of writing on a previous site has worn off and I have the desire to write again.
So lets shake off some rust and start this up again…
This first one will be a lot less Sens than usual, but it's a starting point.
-------------------------------------------------
Columbus just can’t seem to win….
I’ve been a big fan of Columbus since their inception, and have stayed a fan because of players like Nash, and Brassard. But in recent seasons, I’ve just lost the passion to cheer them on.
The franchise seems to be falling apart…
The franchise has a terrible track record for developing drafted talent, and no one with-in the franchise seems to either a) care or b) know what to do
This past weekend has put Columbus’ failure in this field on full display, and I’m not referring to Filatov as that’s a whole other issue.
Jeff Carter is extremely talented, no question. He’s among the best goal scoring centers in the league, and he’s only 26. But Columbus’ biggest issue has been a center to play with Nash, so lining up a goal-scoring center with a goal-scoring winger likely won’t improve on that situation.
So the Jackets have now put all their eggs into the Carter basket, and have built a line of goal-scorers, with no real set-up guy. And in turn has shipped off a quality goal scorer in Voracek, Sean Couturier (which I’m not sold on yet, but is a playmaking center) and Nick Cousins. Realistically it’ll take a couple seasons to get a real sense of whether this trade was bad or not but at face value I’m saying it was a poor trade, based on what Columbus’ needs most.
The move is a pure desperation move by Howson to save his job, a job he probably should be relived of right way, in fact it’s safe to assume Howson’s whole weekend was based on desperation. Why else would you trade 3 1st rounders in one weekend?
This Franchise desperately needs brighter days, so hopefully Carter and Nash find a way to score 35-40 goals each, Ryan Johansen plays himself into a Jeff Skinner type role and hope that Savard and Moore are ready on the backend.
-------------------------------------------------
Filatov
This has been two years in the making.
Right after I quit Hockeybuzz the Sens went to work trying to acquire young Nikita, however back then the price was higher, much higher. Names like Foligno, Kelly, and Lee were tossed around, along with a pick that would turn into Jakob Silfverberg was the base of discussion.
In the end a 3rd round pick was the cost for a kid that undoubtedly has the skill set, but had lost his way after Hitchcock crushed his self-esteem and then Columbus as an organization couldn’t figure out how to handle him, which you think they would have considering they’ve dealt with Zherdev in the past.
From everything I’ve read, 29 teams think Ottawa made off like bandits in the trade and Columbus feels they got better by moving him.
29:1
I like those odds and I assure you lessons learned from Emery, Heatley and Yashin will be front and center from the moment Filatov lands in Ottawa, and hearing talk of Gonchar being asked to house Filatov could not only turn Filatov into the top-line scorer he was once projected but will also make Gonchar’s 5.5 hit well worth it.
Honestly every time I see the trade on paper, all I can think is Spezza/Chara/Muckalt for Yashin.
Time will tell, but Ottawa literally has nothing to lose on this trade.
-------------------------------------------------
Buy low/Sell High (Going to be a regular column with the sole purpose of using common-sense to refute ridiculous trade rumors.)
Steve Stamkos won’t be traded, I’d be shocked if Tampa even lets it get to July 1st and into offer sheet territory. So incase you were thinking about it, I wouldn’t buy into the insane belief that Stamkos won’t be a lighting after July 1st.
Stamkos and Yzerman have both come out and said they are very close to a deal, and Stamkos legitimately likes the city and the organization. Tampa has the money, the cap-space and the teammates, Stamkos is staying put.
------------------------------------------
And quickly these are my 5 (well 7) steals of the draft: (Not including trades, strictly drafted players)
5: 29th Van - Nicklas Jensen
4: 35th Det – Tomas Jurco and 196th Pho – Zac Larraza
3: 43rd Chi – Brandon Saad
2: 82nd LA – Nicholas Shore and 76th Flo - Logan Shaw
1: 4th NJD – Adam Larrson
I’ll post a daily update on the Sens Dev. Camp this week from Tuesday to Friday, as I fly back to Alberta on Saturday so I’ll miss the backend of the Camp
Mark
