DEADLINE 2015: Value of Sens Players

and Bishop has already fallen back to earth

Bishop is solid but there is more of a book out on him now and while he's still a legit #1 guy he's no better then the 2 guys Ottawa has now.

After last night's Dallas game, I've come up with some thoughts:

1) I am cool trading Lehner. 4+ goals in 5 straight games or something. Granted, he's only 23 but Andy is miles ahead of him and I think we can add a back up goalie for cheapers, and Lehner's trade value is still pretty high.

2) Can't blame Hoffman for the 4-3 goal. Yes, he turned over the puck but Phillips has to know his responsibilities and where he needs to be on the ice.

3) Neil and Phillips need to go. Yes, they're long time Sens and do a lot for the community. But Ottawa is not a playoff team and these guys deserve a chance to win, and are preventing the next generation of players from cracking the roster.

4) I'd be cool giving Christ Stewart a test run. At this point he's worth a 3rd or 4th rd draft pick at the deadline. I would make the trade, try him out with Turris and MacArthur, and if the chemistry isn't there don't re-sign him. You don't want to sign him in the off-season and be stuck with that contract if things don't work out.

5) Mark Stone is awesome. He will be a top-six player in this league for many years to come. Just not sure he's there yet. Try Stewart with Mac and Turris and if he flops, that's Stone's spot for next year.

6) BFR and Mika are showing a ton of chemistry. If we do make that BFR type trade, I do hope it's for Hall and they put him on what is now Ottawa's top line. I'd be okay giving up Lehner, Lazar, Wiercioch and Ottawa's first for Hall and Fasth.

7) Hoffman will be elite. I think he comes back after this off-season (and a new contract) more focused. He's shown that he can play the 200 ft game. He just needs to find some consistency. Putting him with Stone and Da Costa next season I think will result in three really good offensive lines, with Michalek-Pageau-Chiasson adding some grit and toughness.

8) Prince/Puempel. One of these guys will be on the Sens roster next season, meaning Ottawa will need to make room. Lots of players to clear out at the deadline this year (Smith, Legwand, Phillips, Neil)

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:After last night's Dallas game, I've come up with some thoughts:

1) I am cool trading Lehner. 4+ goals in 5 straight games or something. Granted, he's only 23 but Andy is miles ahead of him and I think we can add a back up goalie for cheapers, and Lehner's trade value is still pretty high.

3) Neil and Phillips need to go. Yes, they're long time Sens and do a lot for the community. But Ottawa is not a playoff team and these guys deserve a chance to win, and are preventing the next generation of players from cracking the roster.

5) Mark Stone is awesome. He will be a top-six player in this league for many years to come. Just not sure he's there yet. Try Stewart with Mac and Turris and if he flops, that's Stone's spot for next year.

1) Don't be so quick to give up on a young goalie that plays once every couple of weeks. He has very high potential, and could be the LONG term answer here. A trade would have to net a huge return.

3) As I've mentioned many times here, I don't think Phillips is going anywhere unless it's next year at the deadline. He won't leave his family here, and he won't uproot them from Ottawa. Also, he's heavily invested here now with his restaurant. Do not see him leaving. Same with Neil.

5) Yes, Stone is awesome. He's a very smart hockey player.

I think now is the time to trade Mike Hoffman. I don't see him being anything more than he already is. Package Hoffman and Lehner for a solid forward

Think Ev is trolling this morning.

My response:

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:After last night's Dallas game, I've come up with some thoughts:

1) I am cool trading Lehner. 4+ goals in 5 straight games or something. Granted, he's only 23 but Andy is miles ahead of him and I think we can add a back up goalie for cheapers, and Lehner's trade value is still pretty high.

All you have to do is look at Lehner's GAA to know going in that you have to score at least 4 to have a chance. Not much different last night. I don't think his value is high enough to get anything of value without making him part of a package but we'll see.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:2) Can't blame Hoffman for the 4-3 goal. Yes, he turned over the puck but Phillips has to know his responsibilities and where he needs to be on the ice.

Very good.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:3) Neil and Phillips need to go. Yes, they're long time Sens and do a lot for the community. But Ottawa is not a playoff team and these guys deserve a chance to win, and are preventing the next generation of players from cracking the roster.

They're not preventing anyone from cracking the roster. The roster is full of young players and there's not much more than scraps left in Bingo, with a few exceptions. The only reason they need to go is because we're probably not making the playoffs. Otherwise, a more natural transition would have occured ie. younger players taking their spots when they retire in a couple of years.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:4) I'd be cool giving Christ Stewart a test run. At this point he's worth a 3rd or 4th rd draft pick at the deadline. I would make the trade, try him out with Turris and MacArthur, and if the chemistry isn't there don't re-sign him. You don't want to sign him in the off-season and be stuck with that contract if things don't work out.

5) Mark Stone is awesome. He will be a top-six player in this league for many years to come. Just not sure he's there yet. Try Stewart with Mac and Turris and if he flops, that's Stone's spot for next year.

6) BFR and Mika are showing a ton of chemistry. If we do make that BFR type trade, I do hope it's for Hall and they put him on what is now Ottawa's top line. I'd be okay giving up Lehner, Lazar, Wiercioch and Ottawa's first for Hall and Fasth.

This batch all relates to Turris, AFAIC. 4) Stewart has stunk it up all year and I doubt Turris would change that based on how his linemates seem to flounder. 5) As I said before, Stone should be better off with a finisher or two like Zibanejad and Ryan. Another mismatch with Turris. 6) Zibanejad isn't great but he seems to complement players better than Turris, as evidenced by MacArthur's improved game last night.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:7) Hoffman will be elite. I think he comes back after this off-season (and a new contract) more focused. He's shown that he can play the 200 ft game. He just needs to find some consistency. Putting him with Stone and Da Costa next season I think will result in three really good offensive lines, with Michalek-Pageau-Chiasson adding some grit and toughness.

Elite is a little strong but he's a legit 2nd line player all day, every day.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:8) Prince/Puempel. One of these guys will be on the Sens roster next season, meaning Ottawa will need to make room. Lots of players to clear out at the deadline this year (Smith, Legwand, Phillips, Neil)

Prince might end up in Buffalo, he's local to that market and that might be attractive to the Sabres. I'm not sure moving 4th liners and healthy scratches makes room for anyone.

I don't see how that is trolling. I think you can get a much bigger forward piece using Hoffman given his hot-ish season rather than some of our other young pieces.

Ev makes very little sense some days. I think it's his salty diet.

it doesn't make sense to capitalize on a young player's good rookie season to get a star player in return?

Propose a trade scenario. Yes, if we can trade Hoffman for a "star" player, that'd be grand??

Ev wrote:it doesn't make sense to capitalize on a young player's good rookie season to get a star player in return?

Depends on your opinion of Hoffman. He's shown way too much this season to move him and he's basically the only LH shot on the wing other than MacArthur who can score. You look at his history and he has a slow start everywhere he does whether that's the CHL, AHL, or NHL. It's a trend. I questioned more than anyone if he could actually play in the NHL but it's clear he can so ignoring his previous experiences or ignoring his trend would be extremely short sighted based on what's happened this year.

It might just be a hot start and a fluke but there's no way I take a chance on that by trading him even if it's for a star. There are other area's where the Sens are much deeper than the wing where you can move some assets and draft picks for that star. I'm not saying Hoffman is untouchable but he's not the player to be moving to land a star, neither is Stone.

Ev wrote:it doesn't make sense to capitalize on a young player's good rookie season to get a star player in return?

On pace for 25 goals+ in his rookie season and you want to get rid of him? Speed to burn, oozes skill. Who are you theoretically trading him for?

Holy Dung, ssf made a long post that all made sense!

SpezDispensed wrote:

Ev wrote:it doesn't make sense to capitalize on a young player's good rookie season to get a star player in return?

On pace for 25 goals+ in his rookie season and you want to get rid of him?   Speed to burn, oozes skill.  Who are you theoretically trading him for?

A guy like Evander Kane.

Do you remember when Michael Grabner scored 34 goals for the Islanders four years ago, as a rookie, at age 24? He's a good player but hasn't lived up to his expectations. I'd say they are almost identical players as well.

The point is if you can get a star for a guy who you don't know will be a star, you should do it, IMO.

Hoffman plus what for Kane though?

SpezDispensed wrote:Holy Dung, ssf made a long post that all made sense!

This is why he is our Director of Social Media.

SpezDispensed wrote:Hoffman plus what for Kane though?

I'd me more inclined to think that Winnipeg would have to add to Kane to compensate for the lack of maturity.