How do we fix the Senators

This may be too much musing but in the eventuality that the team right now doesn't think they can resign Hoffman, do they trade him to Anaheim for a package including one of their young blue liners and then flip Ceci for drouin?
That's a lot of moving parts but yeah.... Anaheim needs this kind of deal and Hoffman is at an all time high.

Edit: the advantage with having phaneuf now is we could ideally trade Ceci and whoever we could trade Hoffman for is either a LEfty or a righty as phaneuf can play both sides.

The D is set. Let's not mess around with it.
TBH I don't even have an issue with the lineup right now. They just need to tighten up their defensive game.

LeCaptain wrote:The D is set. Let's not mess around with it.
TBH I don't even have an issue with the lineup right now. They just need to tighten up their defensive game.

You may not have a prob with the line-up but it may not be able to stay that way. We might not be able to retain Hoff. We could use an upgrade over Zib. And we need help on the LW.(which is debatable how we get there)

Might be an off-season topic, but there's no way with the cap reducing the Blackhawks can keep the lineup they have. The obvious casualty this time has to be Marian Hossa...$5.25M on the cap hit but only $4M salary next season, followed by 4 seasons of $1M annual.

With the price Patrick Sharp was shipped out for, I can't see it being too much more for a 37 year old. Question is, would Hoss, after numerous Stanley Cup Championships and lots of cash, be willing to waive to come back to Ottawa....

Why so much worry about re-signing Hoff. He will get his money and stay.

Another major fix would be having a healthy macarthur. Hopefully he can come back next year ready to go - he's apparently taken part in battle drills and was targeting a return in 2 weeks or so, but might now shut it down because the Sens will likely miss the playoffs.

Oglethorpe wrote:Why so much worry about re-signing Hoff.  He will get his money and stay.  

Because it's such a question mark. That's what you hope for. But if not he becomes a problem. It's like having a guy a year away from UFA.

Flo The Action wrote:

Oglethorpe wrote:Why so much worry about re-signing Hoff.  He will get his money and stay.  

Because it's such a question mark. That's what you hope for. But if not he becomes a problem. It's like having a guy a year away from UFA.

He is a year away from UFA. He has not made a lot of cash so far and he is 26, he will take 25M and say thank you.

Oglethorpe wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

Oglethorpe wrote:Why so much worry about re-signing Hoff.  He will get his money and stay.  

Because it's such a question mark. That's what you hope for. But if not he becomes a problem. It's like having a guy a year away from UFA.

He is a year away from UFA.  He has not made a lot of cash so far and he is 26, he will take 25M and say thank you.  

I truly freaking hope so!

Oglethorpe wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

Oglethorpe wrote:Why so much worry about re-signing Hoff.  He will get his money and stay.  

Because it's such a question mark. That's what you hope for. But if not he becomes a problem. It's like having a guy a year away from UFA.

He is a year away from UFA.  He has not made a lot of cash so far and he is 26, he will take 25M and say thank you.  

I've stated all over these forums why it might be hard to sign Hoffman long-term.

It's hard to sign anyone, these days. Chiasson took the Sens to arbitration, for pete's sake. Chiasson! At least a guy who's led your team in scoring each of his first two full seasons is worth going after. A guy you drafted and developed. Do you pay a bit more to keep him? I would. Encourages everyone through the ranks to try harder.

wprager wrote:It's hard to sign anyone, these days.  Chiasson took the Sens to arbitration, for pete's sake.  Chiasson!  At least a guy who's led your team in scoring each of his first two full seasons is worth going after.  A guy you drafted and developed.  Do you pay a bit more to keep him?  I would.  Encourages everyone through the ranks to try harder.  

Totally agree. You run the risk of someone getting injured as well. DiPietro is an extreme case but look what happened there. And if you sign someone to a 1-2 year deal you run the risk of them signing elsewhere for more money. Turris contract is probably the best contract in the NHL. Hoffman will probably get a 5x5 contract. It's good market value assuming he keeps up his production, great value if he can score 35+ consistently, and terrible if he's a 20 goal player.

I think we'll be a much different team next year. Personally I'd try to get rid of Zib but it's likely not going to happen.

Mac-Turris-Stone
Hoffman-Zib-Ryan
Drouin-Pageau-Lazar
Dzingel-Smith-McCormick

Methot-Karlsson
Phaneuf-Ceci
Claesson-Boro
Wideman

hoffman turris stone
MacArthur white Ryan
drouin zibanejad lazar
Smith Pageau Dzingel or McCormick

Does anyone believe that if we keep the current group of players together for a few years, that we'll be Cup contenders?

tim1_2 wrote:Does anyone believe that if we keep the current group of players together for a few years, that we'll be Cup contenders?

Maybe about half the current group with a few outsiders and a couple of prospects that are yet to make the team or even be drafted.

I'll play.

hoffman turris stone
Drouin zib Ryan
macarthur/Prince pageau/white lazar
Pumpel Pageau/white Dzingel/McCormick

Methot karlsson
Phaneuf Ceci
Boro wideman
Claesson

Hard to predict right now what lands drouin.

tim1_2 wrote:Does anyone believe that if we keep the current group of players together for a few years, that we'll be Cup contenders?

Yes if get another veteran forward and a better goalie

They need help everywhere. I would address it in this order:

1. Center
2. D
3. Goalie

Teams do not win without an elite center. Ottawa does not have one. They have some good 2C's. That is good enough to win a round or 2 but not go all the way.

The D is now middle of the road over the course of a full season. Will be interested to see it tonight though.

The goalie will have to be addressed after next season. Anderson has been full value. The team in front of him has been atrocious.