Trade Deadline BONANZA 2014

TheAvatar wrote:Why hasn't this happened yet?

I'm telling you, they're talking about a bigger deal than just Stewart. The longer it goes, the more likely there will be more pieces. Stafford as well perhaps? Ehrhoff? Myers? Tallinder? Who knows.

NEELY wrote:2, 28 goal seasons and last year, LAST YEAR was on pace for 29-31 goals and he's only 26... those are basically top line winger numbers on most teams in the NHL.

He's like Chris Neil, but bigger, better hands, able to actually play 15-18 minutes in the top-six.  He'd be a crowd favorite, for sure.  Why would Buffalo (who will have a young team with all the picks and prospects) ever want to move him?

SpezDispenser wrote:

TheAvatar wrote:Why hasn't this happened yet?

I'm telling you, they're talking about a bigger deal than just Stewart.   The longer it goes, the more likely there will be more pieces.  Stafford as well perhaps?  Ehrhoff?  Myers?  Tallinder?   Who knows.  

I'm leaning towards "nothing happens."

seems like there's smoke out there of a talk between murrays

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm leaning towards "nothing happens."

I agree. I don' t think this is going to happen either. Its a tough trade. You aren't sneaking anything by Tim Murray. He knows our prospects better than anyone. Its going to take some pieces that are valuable to this organization, and really, we are only a couple years ahead of Buffalo in the rebuild. Stewart is only 26. That fits any team in rebuild.

Also, how can Brian Murray be high on Chris Stewart, and Tim Murray not be high on Chris Stewart.....

One doesn't need him right now, one does. Why did he deal ott when he would have signed an extension?

Flo The Action wrote:seems like there's smoke out there of a talk between murrays

Swirlings to ensue? Followed by...

... RUMBLINGS?!?!?!     

SpezDispenser wrote:One doesn't need him right now, one does.  Why did he deal ott when he would have signed an extension?

Steve Ott is 31. Chris Stewart is 26. Big difference to a team rebuilding.

If this happens, I don't think we are gonna like the price tag.

Still...he's a big asset. Someone who can accelerate the rebuild if you get a 2nd and a prospect you like.

asq2 wrote:It's an issue, but the biggest issue is definitely that they can't defend as a team. I can't remember the last season the Sens were good defensively. Even last year they benefitted from a shortened schedule and all-world goal-tending.

Stewart has great potential but he has question-marks and if he gets moved that'll be his 4th team (granted Buffalo doesn't really count at this point). The criticisms I've heard is that he's streaky, takes nights off, and sometimes makes bad decisions. Of course we heard that about Turris and it worked out. But if he does play that way, even if he adds offence, our team defence will continue to let us down.

In terms of the core, I think Karlsson is just about the only piece I would confidently list right now. Lehner isn't proven yet, and Turris and Ryan have to take the next step to be core pieces on a Cup team. At this point they're more like the really good complementary guys you mention good teams bringing in (and I guess Ottawa did trade for both). I don't think Ottawa should be looking to trade either, but I don't think Turris is a franchise-calibre talent a la Kane or Kopitar or Doughty or Toews. I like him a lot though.

Anyway Rome wasn't built in a day and I've had fun as a fan the last two years. I just disagree with your assessment that Murray has done well bringing in the right pieces. I think he's brought in good pieces, and he's probably suffered in that regard from the internal budget limitations Ottawa has. But I don't feel like we've got an identity, and I don't see why fans say things like "well this is year 3 of the rebuild" because it seems like we're just treading water basically. Maybe it's because he wanted to build from the back-end out but Wiercioch and Cowen are lagging so far behind Karlsson. But then invest in the damn blue-line in the mean-time! No, we brought in Joe ****ing Corvo.

Corvo was a mistake, or perhaps the mistake was getting Corvo and then sitting him. Playing Cowen according to his contract vs. according to his level of play was another mistake. He may be 23 but having missed two years of his development, think of him more like a 21 year old; and we all know defensemen and big players take longer to develop so that's a triple or even a quadruple whammy. He will get better, relax, be mad at PMac for playing him, or BMurr for forcing him to play him, or Melnyk for, well, just being Melnyk.

We have Karlsson-Methot as the first pairing. More than solid. Ceci came in as a 1st year pro and has played easily at the level of a 3rd pairing guy on a competing team. Asking him to be a 2nd pairing guy is a bit too much, but if Karlsson/Methot can play 25+ minutes then there's little difference between your 2nd and 3rd pairing. Biggest concern, of course, is that sophomore slump. And also let's not forget that Anderson was pretty brutal at the start of the season and PMac continued to play him even as Lehner showed over and over that he was the better goalie. Now, of course, Lehner has regressed -- shaken confidence or just lack of play, not sure.

So there are plenty of issues they've gone through this year that don't need to be repeated next year.

The top pairing is set. Have a bunch of still-too-young players to fill out the bottom four. If Cowen gets his sh*t together in the off-season and works on his strength and conditioning, then Cowen-Ceci could be a very good second pairing. But I'd prefer a veteran there, like a Phillips. For the first time in a long time we have plenty of RHS with Karlsson, Ceci and Gryba all able to play at the NHL level. Borowiecki played the right side when called up, didn't he? Then on the right we have Methot, Phillips (?), Wiercioch, Cowen, Borowiecki with Claesson perhaps pushing for a roster spot next year.

So, big question marks on Phillips and Cowen. If Phillips gets moved we need a vet LHD to replace him. Cowen won't be there for at least 1-2 years. If both Phillips and Cowen get moved then it really depends on what the return is but there better be a veteran D-man coming back. If Cowen stays he has to play his way up from the third pairing.

NEELY wrote:Sens for sure don't have an identity and that's a problem.

They are a budget team. That's their identity, unfortunately.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:seems like there's smoke out there of a talk between murrays

Swirlings to ensue? Followed by...

... RUMBLINGS?!?!?!     

I'm hearing that telephones are being used in the process and possible deals are being thought of and possibly being mentioned. the craziness of the trade deadline  

Something will happen. They know each other too well and Murray wants to help out his nephew and likewise him wants to thank his uncle.

Buffalo doesn't need Stewart as much since they are rebuilding and he probably wouldn't resign there.

NEELY wrote:He scored 28 goals in back to back years and was on pace for 30 last year... wtf are you talking about?

As for the PIM's, the type of penalties he takes are those of a physical player and a guy that will throw down.  Again, I like the 20-25 goals, 100 PIM guys because I think hockey should be played that way and Boston, LA, and St.Louis all have guys who play that brand of hockey.  Ottawa doesn't.

I guess the split year where he scored 13 for Colorado and 15 for St. Louis is tripping REDACTED up. Not sure why he's not seeing the previous year's 28.

Ev wrote:

Fulcrum wrote:I would say poor defensive play is likely why Hitch and him didn't work.
I think he could really explode offensively in Ottawa as well under MacLeans system after being shackled in Hitchcocks system.

Maclean preaches defence before anything else though.

He does? Have you seen our GAA?

NEELY wrote:
"If he didn't have a 9' d*ck he wouldn't be a porn star".  Yah well he has a 9' d*ck so it doesn't matter.

9 foot d*ck? Is he a whale?

I am supposed to be installing a new dishwasher and all I can do is keep checking my phone and computer. GAWD!!!

Ev wrote:And calling a guy a 25 goal scorer when he has done it twice is literally a weak argument. He's not proven yet.

Rookie year, 11 goals in 53 games
Sophomore year, 28 goals in 77
3rd year (split between two teams): 28 in 72 games
4th year: 15 in 79 games
- tough time adjusting to Hitchcock, relegated to checking role
- also his PIMs more than doubled from previous year -- looking for other ways to contribute?
5th year: 18 in 48 (a 30 goal pace)
6th year: 15 in 58 (21 goal pace)

Those are pretty decent numbers, but other than the shortened season last year it looks like he didn't adjust to Hitch's style.
Not getting along with the coach will surely reduce your ice time and linemates.