SENS OFF-SEASON TALK 2013

What moves should be made? Who should be kept? Who should be traded? Will alfie be back? Gonchar? Who do we draft? Plenty of questions to answer in this short summer.

I gotta think alfie's decision to come back or not will influence everything. I gotta believe if he comes back, the sens gotta go for a long playoff run. Our young'ns are still too raw for the stiff competition they'll face from pens, bruins. So what do we aim for. Skill? Or sandpaper?

I'm back and forth on whether they'll keep Gonch or not. I think it all depends on what he wants. If he'll take a one-year, they probably keep him. If he insists on term, he probably walks.

While I think gonchar helped save our season, I think the sens need to look elsewhere now, and it all comes down to being able to nab another veteran dman in dan Boyle now more than ever. He will cost a young piece though, but I think he's the better playoff performer.

As has been said by a few others, it's time to step away from the 'pesky' crap. It was fun but it's not an ideal situation. How many come from behind victories can u pull? Sens were down after 2 in 8 out 10 playoff games. That needs to change for next season.

I think we should look at stalberg. Really like his game.

My thoughts (some have already been expressed in other threads):

1. Alfie: He'll be back, since it's an Olympic year. But I hope they give him some linemates to play with such that he doesn't have to do all the hitting.

2. Gonchar: It's been both good and bad, but I really think we need a RHS to play the in all situations. Gryba can't play the full two minutes of a PK, Karlsson's ice time is better spent ES or PP, and also on the offensive side of things how do we have on the right side beside Kalrsson.

3. I could see one of Conacher/Pageau (likely Conacher) and/or one of Greening/Smith being moved as part of a trade to bring in a legit top-six forward.

4. Silfverberg and Zibanejad need to have a lot more push-back, especially in the post-season. They did OK against the Habs, but to get out of the East you have to go through bigger teams (primarily Pittsburgh and Boston, but Philly, NY Rangers, Leafs, Capitals -- none of them are small; plus we have the Wings to contend with as will next year). Silfverberg and Zibanejad have size but need to get faster and meaner.

5. Actually, the whole team needs to learn to finish their checks every time. I'd like Neil to hit less (too many of his hits happen when he goes out of his way looking for someone); be opportunistic, but take advantage of opportunities presented. Same for the others, except in their case it would be *more* hits.

6. The forward we get *has to be* great on the PP. Our PP was pathetic us (not that we got that many opportunities); the Penguins could take liberties with immunity -- on the off-chance that the refs arm went up, big deal.

So, to sum it up, we are set in goal, center, 4th line and depth. We need a RHS defenseman that can play the PK but also contribute offensively. We desperately need a top-six winger who can score goals and improve our power play.

wprager wrote:My thoughts (some have already been expressed in other threads):

1. Alfie: He'll be back, since it's an Olympic year. But I hope they give him some linemates to play with such that he doesn't have to do all the hitting.

2. Gonchar: It's been both good and bad, but I really think we need a RHS to play the in all situations. Gryba can't play the full two minutes of a PK, Karlsson's ice time is better spent ES or PP, and also on the offensive side of things how do we have on the right side beside Kalrsson.

3. I could see one of Conacher/Pageau (likely Conacher) and/or one of Greening/Smith being moved as part of a trade to bring in a legit top-six forward.

4. Silfverberg and Zibanejad need to have a lot more push-back, especially in the post-season. They did OK against the Habs, but to get out of the East you have to go through bigger teams (primarily Pittsburgh and Boston, but Philly, NY Rangers, Leafs, Capitals -- none of them are small; plus we have the Wings to contend with as will next year). Silfverberg and Zibanejad have size but need to get faster and meaner.

5. Actually, the whole team needs to learn to finish their checks every time. I'd like Neil to hit less (too many of his hits happen when he goes out of his way looking for someone); be opportunistic, but take advantage of opportunities presented. Same for the others, except in their case it would be *more* hits.

6. The forward we get *has to be* great on the PP. Our PP was pathetic us (not that we got that many opportunities); the Penguins could take liberties with immunity -- on the off-chance that the refs arm went up, big deal.

So, to sum it up, we are set in goal, center, 4th line and depth. We need a RHS defenseman that can play the PK but also contribute offensively. We desperately need a top-six winger who can score goals and improve our power play.

by the sounds of it we need to make a big trade for bogosian. RHD. our 1st, stone or conacher and smith or greening?

as for a top 6 forward well big Ev had some interesting options listed but again it's via trade.

Gotta get a first line winger. That is pretty much it.

tim1_2 wrote:Gotta get a first line winger. That is pretty much it.

What does it take to get a bobby Ryan out of Anaheim? Additions of him and briere would really solidify our forward ranks.

To get any elite talent, Murray will have to look at tabling this years first rounder. Others IMO include:

- puempel
- da costa
- dziurzinky, grant
- job
- noesen
- weircioch / ceci?
- greening?
- Michalek?
- conacher?
- z smith?

Briere has more playoff points than Alfie. Clutch.

Michallica wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Gotta get a first line winger. That is pretty much it.

What does it take to get a bobby Ryan out of Anaheim? Additions of him and briere would really solidify our forward ranks.

To get any elite talent, Murray will have to look at tabling this years first rounder. Others IMO include:

- puempel
- da costa
- dziurzinky, grant
- job
- noesen
- weircioch / ceci?
- greening?
- Michalek?
- conacher?
- z smith?

fixed that for you

Noesen hasn't played a shift in Bingo yet. How can anyone say he is untouchable? Not that I am suggesting trading him or keeping him, wouldn't give him up for a rental or older player, but too early to say he is untouchable.

Completely forgot we had Ceci. Any chance he could be a 6/7 this coming season? Playing behind Karlsson/Gryba on the right side, will help with offense, nice size although he's not very hard on the opposition. Can we really afford to have both Wiercioch and Ceci in the lineup, though, when we also have Karlsson? I guess if our forwards were tougher on the back-check.

I think toughness on the back-end is an issue. Phillips is getting old (and not hitting like he used to), we have Cowen and Gryba and that's it. I realize we have other D prospects, but Karlsson plays half the game, and our top D prospects are Wiercioch on the left and Ceci on the right.

Need someone like Bogo. Even more than a top-six winger, I think.

Hopefully with the Ducks crashing out, maybe they'll want to mix up their roster a bit. Probably our 1st + Wiercioch + Greening? Is that too much? Not enough? I guess it depends if the Ducks are interested in more of a "hockey trade" where they get a top notch player coming back too...in which case, what if they ask for our 1st + Cowen?

I think Zack Smith is gonzo.
Spezza
Turris
Pageau
ZIbanejad

Ev wrote:Briere has more playoff points than Alfie. Clutch.

I feel that's our guy.