Preseason #2: Sens vs Flamers - Saskatoon Edition

NEELY wrote:Was not impressed with Robinson in the rookie tourny but apparently he is impressing in a big way right now.  Might be getting the Bochenski award this year.

Yeah, but Buddy is so much more than Bochenski ever was. Like at least 40-45 lbs more.

Hope so. If he steals a spot out of camp and can actually do something with it when the season starts then the Sens are laughing all the way to the bank the next 5, 6 years. Guys like Michalek will be moved out fairly quickly and the money spent on players like Karlsson, Spezza, Ryan, and Cowen. Hope Robinson makes it in a big way but this is only pre-season and a spot on the opening night roster could be had but keeping it is a totally different thing.

Really hoping Peterson can show what he's made of as well coming out of camp. That's a guy that just needs a chance/break if he has truly changed his work habits and attitude.

NEELY wrote:Hope so.  If he steals a spot out of camp and can actually do something with it when the season starts then the Sens are laughing all the way to the bank the next 5, 6 years.  Guys like Michalek will be moved out fairly quickly and the money spent on players like Karlsson, Spezza, Ryan, and Cowen.  Hope Robinson makes it in a big way but this is only pre-season and a spot on the opening night roster could be had but keeping it is a totally different thing.

Really hoping Peterson can show what he's made of as well coming out of camp.  That's a guy that just needs a chance/break if he has truly changed his work habits and attitude.

hoping they throw him in the line-up for the next game.

I like how Robinson gets himself to the front of the net. At his size, that'll be a major component of his game for sure, along with using his size to win puck battles. I saw a little bit of that in the rookie tourney, but not enough to make me think he has any kind of shot to make the NHL roster right now. A year in Bingo with Richardson and co. will make him a much more complete player - and with the way things are right now, there's 100% no rush.

Hoffman might be the guy who ultimately plays himself into the lineup though. Sounded like he and MacArthur had some real chemistry going - he must have set Mac up 3 or 4 times in the third period of that last pre-season game alone.

It's obviously really, really hard to tell right now, but clear winners thus far in terms of what we've seen and heard are: Da Costa, Hoffman, Boro, Sdao, Hammond (in a big way), Rutowski and I guess Robinson. Probably missing a few, but now it's time to see Ceci, Pageau, Prince, Lazar etc.

Yah, I don't think there is anyway they leave Hoffman off the roster after investing so much time, effort, and cash into that player. It might be as the 13th forward, might be as the 2nd line winger, but I can't see a scenario where they leave him out of the lineup at all. Da Costa is another story.

They will have to make some room by waiving JOB (and they will) and perhaps moving another player somewhere down the line. To me, this is Michalek's last season no matter what. He won't be worth the money he's going to ask for and receive and his career is only going to go downhill from here. There are guys that will be able to step into his spot next year for sure, a handful of them too.

Yeah, probably. Tough to put any kind of ultimatums on Michalek right now. If the operation was a true success, then he might be 're-born' as a player. Right now, the table is set for him to have a huge amount of success with Spezza and Ryan - and he might settle for a 5 X 5 from the Sens (below market value if he pots 30+). Hard to say, although I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him leave as a UFA.

JOB they might waive, but I doubt anyone picks him up. I believe you can bury up to 900K in the minors, so I guess we could do that, but that's a waste of $$ and a big waste of a roster spot there too. Sticky and odd situation with him.

Da Costa we'll lose in a couple of weeks when we waive him and someone grabs him (Calgary). Which is fine, I wish him the best. He has a ton of talent, whether he can put it together during NHL games when it matters will be interesting to watch.

I would be surprised if Michalek is a Senator next year or not. You can put a lot of guys on a line beside Ryan and Spezza and they would score between 25-30. I wouldn't be shocked to see Hoffman.

I'm not sure Michalek isn't worth the money honestly. the question that really has to be answered is can he stay healthy? because if he can put 30 plus goals this year and stay healthy there's not saying you've got a rookie coming up that can do that. i guess this season will be giving us that sort of answer. obviously it will also depend on the "internal" pocket book.

as for Da Costa there's no two way about it. he can't be sent down to Bingo without having to go thru waivers so really either he makes the team, either he gets traded after camp to a team that liked what they saw either he gets waived. whatever happens we'll know by the first few games of the season.

in the same respect, how long does Hoffman have till he has to go through waivers?

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a lot of JOB in the pre-season. sort of a showcase to other teams. I could see Edm trading for him.

NEELY wrote:I would be surprised if Michalek is a Senator next year or not.  You can put a lot of guys on a line beside Ryan and Spezza and they would score between 25-30.  I wouldn't be shocked to see Hoffman.

or Petersson? 

3 righties on one line s tough... need a lefty there. But yah, someone like Peterson for sure.

Michalek either scores himself a great contract that Ottawa won't give him or he doesn't do enough on the top line and Ottawa gets rid of him. Either way, I don't think they resign him after this season based on injuries, depth, and money being better spent elsewhere.

On the other hand, if Michalek, Spezza and Ryan kill it together, Ottawa might stop their search for his replacement with....him.

And what? Pay him 6 million a year for 5 years? No chance.

NEELY wrote:And what?  Pay him 6 million a year for 5 years?  No chance.  

How about 5 million for 6 years?

Done

5 million X 5 years would be my guess if he does well.

Yeah.. Sdao had to fight twice for delivering a clean hit.

Got to get that fighting after a clean hit out of the game.. or give a 10 Min misconduct on top of the fighing major. It's just stupid.

I'm sure Neil & Kassian are pretty ticked at what he did. Look for a beat down or a big slugfest when the Sens meet Calgary next.. which I think isn't until Jan.

SpezDispenser wrote:5 million X 5 years would be my guess if he does well.

Way too much for a guy that might play 75% of the games in that contract if they are lucky. Michalek is on his last legs both literally and figuratively.

NEELY wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:5 million X 5 years would be my guess if he does well.

Way too much for a guy that might play 75% of the games in that contract if they are lucky.  Michalek is on his last legs both literally and figuratively.

well I guess this is what this season will show. if that treatment in germany was successful then it might not be an issue anymore. we'll see I guess but 5x5 might be what it is. my fear is that after a good season(30+goals & no injuries) he'd probably get a bigger offer on the FA market.