Off Season Rumours

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:What happened to vrbata last season?  Was it injury or was it that huge a decline?

He's getting up there in the years. Plus I don't think he was paired with the Sedins.

That's one massive drop off though.

Vrbata is notorious for having better results in a contract year. Since he failed to replicate that in the latest instance, he may be truly done.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Vrbata is notorious for having better results in a contract year. Since he failed to replicate that in the latest instance, he may be truly done.

Which likely means the sens will pick him up?

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Vrbata is notorious for having better results in a contract year. Since he failed to replicate that in the latest instance, he may be truly done.

Which likely means the sens will pick him up?

I'd have been all over that a few years ago. I'm less interested now. By "less," I mean "not at all."

spader wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Vrbata is notorious for having better results in a contract year. Since he failed to replicate that in the latest instance, he may be truly done.

Which likely means the sens will pick him up?

I'd have been all over that a few years ago. I'm less interested now. By "less," I mean "not at all."

Yes yes, but this is the senators we're talking about here. Not the New York Rangers. We're getting option H way behind option abcdefg... Tis the way it's been for a long time...

Flo The Action wrote:

spader wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Vrbata is notorious for having better results in a contract year. Since he failed to replicate that in the latest instance, he may be truly done.

Which likely means the sens will pick him up?

I'd have been all over that a few years ago. I'm less interested now. By "less," I mean "not at all."

Yes yes, but this is the senators we're talking about here. Not the New York Rangers. We're getting option H way behind option abcdefg... Tis the way it's been for a long time...

I hear you, but I think they'd go for a guy like Purcell long before Vrbata. I don't think he makes it on their list.

spader wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

spader wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Vrbata is notorious for having better results in a contract year. Since he failed to replicate that in the latest instance, he may be truly done.

Which likely means the sens will pick him up?

I'd have been all over that a few years ago. I'm less interested now. By "less," I mean "not at all."

Yes yes, but this is the senators we're talking about here. Not the New York Rangers. We're getting option H way behind option abcdefg... Tis the way it's been for a long time...

I hear you, but I think they'd go for a guy like Purcell long before Vrbata. I don't think he makes it on their list.

I actually hope not. I know, blah blah Boucher but there's a chance he can get him going but he's not the type of player we definitely need. There much better players out there to get.

Flo The Action wrote:
Yes yes, but this is the senators we're talking about here. Not the New York Rangers. We're getting option H way behind option abcdefg... Tis the way it's been for a long time...

"Option H" -- is that anything like "Preparation H"?

wprager wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
Yes yes, but this is the senators we're talking about here. Not the New York Rangers. We're getting option H way behind option abcdefg... Tis the way it's been for a long time...

"Option H" -- is that anything like "Preparation H"?

Yes it's made to sooth the pain you feel down there but really it's usually a much bigger problem.

Flo The Action wrote:

wprager wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:
Yes yes, but this is the senators we're talking about here. Not the New York Rangers. We're getting option H way behind option abcdefg... Tis the way it's been for a long time...

"Option H" -- is that anything like "Preparation H"?

Yes it's made to sooth the pain you feel down there but really it's usually a much bigger problem.

I hated what I read somewhere, I think it was in the Dung by Warren when he listed the possible targets for Ottawa to go after and said, 'they're nowhere near winning a Cup, so forget about targets like Backes and Stamkos.

Why are we that far away from contending?  We need exactly that, a top line player to go with Ryan/Stone and Turris, while keeping the depth of Hoffman, MacArthur, Pageau etc.  Not to mention we have a solid top 4 D.  We need another vet, but with Anderson being a still solid #1 option who beasts in the playoffs, why are we so far away from other teams?

That's a loser mentality IMO. Dorion appears not to think like that, we'll see what he does.

SpezDispensed wrote:I hated what I read somewhere, I think it was in the Dung by Warren when he listed the possible targets for Ottawa to go after and said, 'they're nowhere near winning a Cup, so forget about targets like Backes and Stamkos.

Why are we that far away from contending?  We need exactly that, a top line player to go with Ryan/Stone and Turris, while keeping the depth of Hoffman, MacArthur, Pageau etc.  Not to mention we have a solid top 4 D.  We need another vet, but with Anderson being a still solid #1 option who beasts in the playoffs, why are we so far away from other teams?

That's a loser mentality IMO.  Dorion appears not to think like that, we'll see what he does.

we aren't that far off.

What we need is another top LW a top 9 RW and a bottom pairing Dman that is borderline top 4. I mean that's no small order but it's doable.
A lot of sports writers don't know what to write so they go straight for the reactionary article. It gets a reaction and it generates a reaction from fans that demand even more action and when it doesn't happen it gives them fuel.

The truth is we can't get a stamkos because there are better landing spots for him.

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I hated what I read somewhere, I think it was in the Dung by Warren when he listed the possible targets for Ottawa to go after and said, 'they're nowhere near winning a Cup, so forget about targets like Backes and Stamkos.

Why are we that far away from contending?  We need exactly that, a top line player to go with Ryan/Stone and Turris, while keeping the depth of Hoffman, MacArthur, Pageau etc.  Not to mention we have a solid top 4 D.  We need another vet, but with Anderson being a still solid #1 option who beasts in the playoffs, why are we so far away from other teams?

That's a loser mentality IMO.  Dorion appears not to think like that, we'll see what he does.

we aren't that far off.

What we need is another top LW a top 9 RW and a bottom pairing Dman that is borderline top 4. I mean that's no small order but it's doable.
A lot of sports writers don't know what to write so they go straight for the reactionary article. It gets a reaction and it generates a reaction from fans that demand even more action and when it doesn't happen it gives them fuel.

The truth is we can't get a stamkos because there are better landing spots for him.

I'd go with a top line RW and call it a day. Down the left you have Hoffman, MacArthur and Smith, with Dzingel waiting in the wings. Down the right you have Stone, Ryan and...

SpezDispensed wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I hated what I read somewhere, I think it was in the Dung by Warren when he listed the possible targets for Ottawa to go after and said, 'they're nowhere near winning a Cup, so forget about targets like Backes and Stamkos.

Why are we that far away from contending?  We need exactly that, a top line player to go with Ryan/Stone and Turris, while keeping the depth of Hoffman, MacArthur, Pageau etc.  Not to mention we have a solid top 4 D.  We need another vet, but with Anderson being a still solid #1 option who beasts in the playoffs, why are we so far away from other teams?

That's a loser mentality IMO.  Dorion appears not to think like that, we'll see what he does.

we aren't that far off.

What we need is another top LW a top 9 RW and a bottom pairing Dman that is borderline top 4. I mean that's no small order but it's doable.
A lot of sports writers don't know what to write so they go straight for the reactionary article. It gets a reaction and it generates a reaction from fans that demand even more action and when it doesn't happen it gives them fuel.

The truth is we can't get a stamkos because there are better landing spots for him.

I'd go with a top line RW and call it a day.  Down the left you have Hoffman, MacArthur and Smith, with Dzingel waiting in the wings.  Down the right you have Stone, Ryan and...

Stone/Ryan is pretty good. You bring someone it it's to fill the 3rd line or you move a 4x30 goal scorer and your highest paid forward down to the 3rd line.

If Ryan is not moved he is not getting out of the top 6, so:

You don't bring in Eriksson to play on the third line. Or anyone in that salary range, for that matter. Eaves scored 11 goals in 54 games -- he could get 15-20 playing a full season, which is a definite upgrade over Chiasson. That's the kind of move it will have to be. But is an extra 5-10 goals from your third line winger enough of an improvement?

I think the biggest improvement will have to be organic. Better communication of players' roles, better defensive structure to cut down on the shots/goals against, better special teams performance.

I'd personally love to see them trade Mac and get a more bonafide top 6 LW.

spader wrote:I'd personally love to see them trade Mac and get a more bonafide top 6 LW.

Hoffman scored 27 and 29 goals in his first two years, improved his assists from one year to the next, and he wasn't getting the ice time his numbers warranted. So can we agree that Hoffman is a legit top-line winger (provided he plays with a center that is defensively responsible). That means you have CMac playing on the 2nd line (or third, if Smith is still here and still scoring).

Again, where is the upgrade? You are not going to just get a 30-goal winger. There are not many of them and so they cost a lot and get to decide where they want to go. Ottawa is *not* a "destination" for the discerning NHL star. So you get a 2LW who can score 20-25 goals. Smith is a stretch to reach that level, but CMac is not. You are talking about 3-5 goals more. And at what cost?

wprager wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I hated what I read somewhere, I think it was in the Dung by Warren when he listed the possible targets for Ottawa to go after and said, 'they're nowhere near winning a Cup, so forget about targets like Backes and Stamkos.

Why are we that far away from contending?  We need exactly that, a top line player to go with Ryan/Stone and Turris, while keeping the depth of Hoffman, MacArthur, Pageau etc.  Not to mention we have a solid top 4 D.  We need another vet, but with Anderson being a still solid #1 option who beasts in the playoffs, why are we so far away from other teams?

That's a loser mentality IMO.  Dorion appears not to think like that, we'll see what he does.

we aren't that far off.

What we need is another top LW a top 9 RW and a bottom pairing Dman that is borderline top 4. I mean that's no small order but it's doable.
A lot of sports writers don't know what to write so they go straight for the reactionary article. It gets a reaction and it generates a reaction from fans that demand even more action and when it doesn't happen it gives them fuel.

The truth is we can't get a stamkos because there are better landing spots for him.

I'd go with a top line RW and call it a day.  Down the left you have Hoffman, MacArthur and Smith, with Dzingel waiting in the wings.  Down the right you have Stone, Ryan and...

Stone/Ryan is pretty good.  You bring someone it it's to fill the 3rd line or you move a 4x30 goal scorer and your highest paid forward down to the 3rd line.

If Ryan is not moved he is not getting out of the top 6, so:

You don't bring in Eriksson to play on the third line.  Or anyone in that salary range, for that matter.  Eaves scored 11 goals in 54 games -- he could get 15-20 playing a full season, which is a definite upgrade over Chiasson.  That's the kind of move it will have to be.  But is an extra 5-10 goals from your third line winger enough of an improvement?

I think the biggest improvement will have to be organic.  Better communication of players' roles, better defensive structure to cut down on the shots/goals against, better special teams performance.

spader wrote:I'd personally love to see them trade Mac and get a more bonafide top 6 LW.

This is what I mean, more or less, but instead of moving MacArthur, I want to move Stone down to the third line. I don't care what anyone says, I want three balanced scoring lines. I've wanted that forever. Last year we came close, but we had that abomination Chiasson on the third line. This year, I want him out and I want another big time top 6 RW so we have:

Hoffman - Turris - Ryan
MacArthur - Zibanejad - ???
Smith - Pageau - Stone
Paul - Lazar - Dzingel
Neil

And...when there are injuries, you can move Stone up on RW and Dzingel up on LW and Pageau/Lazar up at C. Depth, depth, depth. It's NOT about line 1 and 2 and 3 etc., it's about coming together as a team and having the depth to win tight games and be competitive every single night and to come in and replace injured players with players that aren't Alex Cussing Chiasson.

wprager wrote:

spader wrote:I'd personally love to see them trade Mac and get a more bonafide top 6 LW.

Hoffman scored 27 and 29 goals in his first two years, improved his assists from one year to the next, and he wasn't getting the ice time his numbers warranted.  So can we agree that Hoffman is a legit top-line winger (provided he plays with a center that is defensively responsible).  That means you have CMac playing on the 2nd line (or third, if Smith is still here and still scoring).  

Again, where is the upgrade?  You are not going to just get a 30-goal winger.  There are not many of them and so they cost a lot and get to decide where they want to go.  Ottawa is *not* a "destination" for the discerning NHL star.  So you get a 2LW who can score 20-25 goals.  Smith is a stretch to reach that level, but CMac is not.  You are talking about 3-5 goals more.  And at what cost?

i cannot agree that Hoffman is a legit top line winger. We can do a LOT better than Hoffman (Eriksson, etc.). All you're looking at is goal totals which shouldn't be the focus.