SENS OFF-SEASON TALK 2013

Diddle it, I'm ready to be fine with our D, just get me a top line forward.

I think they are for sure going with the same group of D than ended the season minus Gonchar.

NEELY wrote:I think they are for sure going with the same group of D than ended the season minus Gonchar.

Do we get a forward still?

I don't know what is truth and what isn't.

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:The Sens have 19 players and are about $3.5 from the salary floor.  Wiercioch is likely to fill that 6th spot on D to make it a full roster, and I'm guessing we'd still be $2M under.  Give Alfie $5M and we have 21  (JOB is the healthy scratch up -front) and safely over the floor.

So what did Murray mean -- 2 UFAs (assuming one LHS winger and one RHS D-man) at $5M apiece is not going to happen.  Maybe just one @ $5M?

Again, I hope there are moves to be made that Melynk is okay with, otherwise he's doing us a disservice.  Especially if Murray has guys in mind that mesh with Mac's system.

Look at it this way -- a season ago, without injuries, we were #4 in the league in goals scored. Since that time we lost:

Foligno (47 points), Gonchar (37), KUba (32), Butler (16) Daug (11), Winch (8), Lee (8), DaCosta (5), Konopka (5), Regin(4) plus others (Rundblad, Gilroy, Carkner, Klink) that will not move those point totals.

I think it's fair to say that only the first three would matter much in the long run. Wiercioch produced at the same rate as Kuba (very slightly higher, actually, and on a team without a 1st line center and scoring leader for much of the year -- to say nothing of Karlsson). Gonchar will be hard to replace, no doubt. Foligno's output will be easily matched by the upgrades across all the lines (e.g. Silfverberg over Butler, Zibanejad over DaCosta, Conacher over Konopka, Pageau over Winchester, Turris over Turris).

We need to replace Gonchar -- his minutes and his points. We would *like to* add a scoring winger, true, but maybe Euge said he has $5M to replace Gonchar, and the rest would be trade-deadline pickups.

NEELY wrote:I think they are for sure going with the same group of D than ended the season minus Gonchar.

Gotta replace those minutes.

wait so Alfie needs $5 mill? if he wants the team to be competitive he will take less

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

wprager wrote:The Sens have 19 players and are about $3.5 from the salary floor.  Wiercioch is likely to fill that 6th spot on D to make it a full roster, and I'm guessing we'd still be $2M under.  Give Alfie $5M and we have 21  (JOB is the healthy scratch up -front) and safely over the floor.

So what did Murray mean -- 2 UFAs (assuming one LHS winger and one RHS D-man) at $5M apiece is not going to happen.  Maybe just one @ $5M?

Again, I hope there are moves to be made that Melynk is okay with, otherwise he's doing us a disservice.  Especially if Murray has guys in mind that mesh with Mac's system.

Look at it this way -- a season ago, without injuries, we were #4 in the league in goals scored.  Since that time we lost:

Foligno (47 points), Gonchar (37), KUba (32), Butler  (16) Daug (11), Winch (8), Lee (8), DaCosta (5), Konopka (5), Regin(4) plus others (Rundblad, Gilroy, Carkner, Klink) that will not move those point totals.

I think it's fair to say that only the first three would matter much in the long run.  Wiercioch produced at the same rate as Kuba (very slightly higher, actually, and on a team without a 1st line center and scoring leader for much of the year -- to say nothing of Karlsson).  Gonchar will be hard to replace, no doubt.  Foligno's output will be easily matched by the upgrades across all the lines (e.g. Silfverberg over Butler, Zibanejad over DaCosta, Conacher over Konopka, Pageau over Winchester, Turris over Turris).

We need to replace Gonchar -- his minutes and his points.  We would *like to* add a scoring winger, true, but maybe Euge said he has $5M to replace Gonchar, and the rest would be trade-deadline pickups.

If they really want to be cheap here, I think they'll replace those minutes by committee - which scares the piss out of me actually, but I think you'll see Wiercioch with Phillips or Wiercioch with Cowen and that's that. Then you'll have Ceci as a possible call up and Borowiecki as a middle of the year call up if need be.

It's not optimum, but it'll do. Unless they go out and try to sign or trade for a cheap veteran who can be serviceable if need be.

If that's what it takes to get a Hossa/Briere/top line F, then so be it, but it's a dangerous game to play. But then I think to myself, who am I to question any decisions Murray and co. make.

Ev wrote:wait so Alfie needs $5 mill? if he wants the team to be competitive he will take less

Seriosuly... if Alfi is playing it won't be to break the bank. He's rich and has a job for life in Ottawa if he wants it. I think the next 2 weeks have to play out for Alfi to sign his deal, they just need an answer before they go out and shop or trade.

NEELY wrote:

Ev wrote:wait so Alfie needs $5 mill? if he wants the team to be competitive he will take less

Seriosuly... if Alfi is playing it won't be to break the bank.  He's rich and has a job for life in Ottawa if he wants it.  I think the next 2 weeks have to play out for Alfi to sign his deal, they just need an answer before they go out and shop or trade.

They said they'd know by Friday or before the draft at the latest. Sure...I'll play along, if Alfie can sign for less, then sign for less so we can add a top line winger and a proper right handed 2nd pairing D.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

NEELY wrote:Having all RH shots on the PP makes it easy on the other team... you can set up for the one timer on both sides, you can't move the puck with the same effectiveness.  It's not an easy fix at all and down playing that fact is just ignoring a big problem up front.  This has nothing to do with Perron because you add him no matter what if you can but you need a LH shot out there besides Michalek.  Cowen and Wiercioch are going to be leaned on in a big way this coming season on the PP for sure... and Michalek needs to stay healthy other wise they are in trouble.  Gotta hope Conacher jumps into that role as well.

I don't entirely disagree but you adapt with what you have. There's some systemic issues that have nothing to do with LH/RH that need to be sorted out. Shooters have to be more disciplined and there have to be consequences, like coming off the PP, if you don't hit the net or create traffic.

That and there's no substitute for talent.

To me the biggest problem is the failed zone entries. They always look like they don't know what to do once they get to the line. If they can enter the zone with regularity, they'll score goals.

spader wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

NEELY wrote:Having all RH shots on the PP makes it easy on the other team... you can set up for the one timer on both sides, you can't move the puck with the same effectiveness.  It's not an easy fix at all and down playing that fact is just ignoring a big problem up front.  This has nothing to do with Perron because you add him no matter what if you can but you need a LH shot out there besides Michalek.  Cowen and Wiercioch are going to be leaned on in a big way this coming season on the PP for sure... and Michalek needs to stay healthy other wise they are in trouble.  Gotta hope Conacher jumps into that role as well.

I don't entirely disagree but you adapt with what you have. There's some systemic issues that have nothing to do with LH/RH that need to be sorted out. Shooters have to be more disciplined and there have to be consequences, like coming off the PP, if you don't hit the net or create traffic.

That and there's no substitute for talent.

To me the biggest problem is the failed zone entries. They always look like they don't know what to do once they get to the line. If they can enter the zone with regularity, they'll score goals.

Again, all RH shots, lol. You think they are going to force guys to their forehand or back hand when entering the zone? You need to have some sort of balance.

just heard that the caps were looking at using a compliance buyout on Brooks laich last 4 years between 15-20 goals and 40-60 points shoots left could be had for a decent price if he is bought out

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:just heard that the caps were looking at using a compliance buyout on Brooks laich last 4 years between 15-20 goals and 40-60 points shoots left could be had for a decent price if he is bought out

What the...Diddle?

SpezDispenser wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:just heard that the caps were looking at using a compliance buyout on Brooks laich last 4 years between 15-20 goals and 40-60 points shoots left could be had for a decent price if he is bought out

What the...Diddle?

I thought it weird as well he is one of 4 names being considered but the only one i would want he missed most of last year but other than that usually plays a whole season

Laich might be a little passed his due date...

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:just heard that the caps were looking at using a compliance buyout on Brooks laich last 4 years between 15-20 goals and 40-60 points shoots left could be had for a decent price if he is bought out

What the...Diddle?

I thought it weird as well he is one of 4 names being considered but the only one i would want he missed most of last year but other than that usually plays a whole season

I don't see anyone on that team that has an awful enough deal to buy out.

NEELY wrote:
Again, all RH shots, lol.  You think they are going to force guys to their forehand or back hand when entering the zone?  You need to have some sort of balance.

We have all these RHS forwards and we need a LHS. We have all these LHS defensemen and we need RHS. There's a solution there, I swear.