Ottawa Senators (present and past) TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

I like the comment that he's going to pursue a bottom pairing D-man. That would mean a lot to us if he was to sign or acquire a veteran bottom pairing guy.

That would leave basically the only big question mark as 3 RW. Can Lazar come in and provide some offence? Big question mark to have going into the season IMO

Hoags wrote:The Phaneuf trade had nothing to do with Dorion as GM.  

Not resigning Wiercioch and trading Zibby are Dorion moves.

For the most part Dorion is running with Murray's team, hiring Boucher is the big decision that Murray would not have done if he had stayed on.

Not re-signing Wiercioch was primarily because of his 2nd year salary, which made his QO too high a price for what he brought. So I wouldn't put that as a Dorion move. The other thing I forgot about was completely replacing the coaching staff. Those were all Dorion moves, and I'd have to think he had to go to convince Melnyk to spend even more on coaches (I guess MacLean's salary came off the books, but we're still paying Cameron).

PTFlea wrote:I like the comment that he's going to pursue a bottom pairing D-man.  That would mean a lot to us if he was to sign or acquire a veteran bottom pairing guy.

That would leave basically the only big question mark as 3 RW.  Can Lazar come in and provide some offence?  Big question mark to have going into the season IMO

I'm expecting Lazar to have a very different season.  His comments in that interview were very intriguing.  If he says he's going to go through people he will go through people.  No more Mr Nice Guy.  You've seen me smile, not watch me scowl.  I'll smile after goals.

My concern is actually the left side.  Hoffman got paid, so I hope the red-light is enough motivation for him going forward.  And CMac is going to remain a question mark until he can play a full season and play at the level he had before the concussions.  Has Kelly ever played wing?

EDIT: The wikipedia page for Kelly says he plays center/left wing. Maybe that's another reason they got him. He may not provide the offense of a top-six NHL player but at least he will fill a hole better than a callup or rookie. OK, Pierre, carry-on, look for that bottom pairing guy who can slide up if necessary.

wprager wrote:

PTFlea wrote:I like the comment that he's going to pursue a bottom pairing D-man.  That would mean a lot to us if he was to sign or acquire a veteran bottom pairing guy.

That would leave basically the only big question mark as 3 RW.  Can Lazar come in and provide some offence?  Big question mark to have going into the season IMO

I'm expecting Lazar to have a very different season.  His comments in that interview were very intriguing.  If he says he's going to go through people he will go through people.  No more Mr Nice Guy.  You've seen me smile, not watch me scowl.  I'll smile after goals.

My concern is actually the left side.  Hoffman got paid, so I hope the red-light is enough motivation for him going forward.  And CMac is going to remain a question mark until he can play a full season and play at the level he had before the concussions.  Has Kelly ever played wing?

EDIT: The wikipedia page for Kelly says he plays center/left wing.  Maybe that's another reason they got him.  He may not provide the offense of a top-six NHL player but at least he will fill a hole better than a callup or rookie.  OK, Pierre, carry-on, look for that bottom pairing guy who can slide up if necessary.

I agree. I think the top 6 LW is not exactly our strongest side. For now anyways. That 3rd line RW also is a question mark but there's enough internal competition for it. Maybe something similar can happen for that LW spot. At any rate if they need someone Dorion might make another move for one.

That's the next answer I'm looking for and that's to the question does Dorion wait too long like BM to make moves during the regular season or will he go fill a need as soon as one is spotted.

Interesting tidbit from Dorion. Nice to see he's looking not only at FA but also inquiring with other GM's as there's probably better names there.

"I've kept making calls to guys who are still on the market who would be very good and capable depth defensemen - guys who have played in this league," said Dorion. "I've talked to quite a few GMs over the past month if they are looking to move pieces on the back end and that's where we might look to add a piece."

http://www.tsn.ca/dorion-confident-on-ceci-contract-negotiations-1.544919

PTFlea wrote:I like the comment that he's going to pursue a bottom pairing D-man.  That would mean a lot to us if he was to sign or acquire a veteran bottom pairing guy.

That would leave basically the only big question mark as 3 RW.  Can Lazar come in and provide some offence?  Big question mark to have going into the season IMO

How is that even a question at this point? The answer is obviously "no."

SeawaySensFan wrote:

PTFlea wrote:I like the comment that he's going to pursue a bottom pairing D-man.  That would mean a lot to us if he was to sign or acquire a veteran bottom pairing guy.

That would leave basically the only big question mark as 3 RW.  Can Lazar come in and provide some offence?  Big question mark to have going into the season IMO

How is that even a question at this point? The answer is obviously "no."

He has provided good offense at lower levels, he has good speed, size and agility, and is not afraid to go to the hard places. And he has come out and said he was going to change how he had been going about things. I'm willing to see how it plays out after 10-15 games, see where his production, shot count and possession stats are at. Until then, well, he's just a 3rd liner anyway.

wprager wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

PTFlea wrote:I like the comment that he's going to pursue a bottom pairing D-man.  That would mean a lot to us if he was to sign or acquire a veteran bottom pairing guy.

That would leave basically the only big question mark as 3 RW.  Can Lazar come in and provide some offence?  Big question mark to have going into the season IMO

How is that even a question at this point? The answer is obviously "no."

He has provided good offense at lower levels, he has good speed, size and agility, and is not afraid to go to the hard places.  And he has come out and said he was going to change how he had been going about things.  I'm willing to see how it plays out after 10-15 games, see where his production, shot count and possession stats are at.  Until then, well, he's just a 3rd liner anyway.

After seeing how it's played out for 2 years? Then what? And he's not a 3rd liner at the level of Pageau or Smith right now so really he's a 4th liner at best.

Look, I am as disappointed in how this highly touted top-20 pick has turned out as you are. All that hype made us forget the simple fact that he is not a top 5 or top 10 or even top-15 pick. He should have remained in Junior, then spent a year dominating in the AHL and then finally gotten his chance as a third line winger. Instead he's spent his development time playing safe hockey on a mediocre team. But there is still a chance that he can start developing into what we were hoping to see. I'm willing to to wait 10-15 games to see if he follows through on what he said.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

PTFlea wrote:I like the comment that he's going to pursue a bottom pairing D-man.  That would mean a lot to us if he was to sign or acquire a veteran bottom pairing guy.

That would leave basically the only big question mark as 3 RW.  Can Lazar come in and provide some offence?  Big question mark to have going into the season IMO

How is that even a question at this point? The answer is obviously "no."

I'm not necessarily disagreeing, but obviously the Sens organization feels differently because they didn't get a third liner and feel Lazar is ready for the next step.

Dorion says he expects to reach a deal with Ceci in the next few weeks. I guess the important part is "expects to reach a deal" but I wonder why that long? He has no arbitration rights. What's taking him so long to understand that he just signs on one of the dotted lines in front of him?

wprager wrote:Dorion says he expects to reach a deal with Ceci in the next few weeks.  I guess the important part is "expects to reach a deal" but I wonder why that long?  He has no arbitration rights.  What's taking him so long to understand that he just signs on one of the dotted lines in front of him?

He won't sign until he squeezes as many dollars out of Dorion as he possibly can.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:Dorion says he expects to reach a deal with Ceci in the next few weeks.  I guess the important part is "expects to reach a deal" but I wonder why that long?  He has no arbitration rights.  What's taking him so long to understand that he just signs on one of the dotted lines in front of him?

He won't sign until he squeezes as many dollars out of Dorion as he possibly can.

How can you squeeze a penny over 2.65? You can wait all you want, but...

I wouldn't mind getting Michalek back...for the third line rw?

I bet Toronto would pay you to take him, basically.

PTFlea wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:Dorion says he expects to reach a deal with Ceci in the next few weeks.  I guess the important part is "expects to reach a deal" but I wonder why that long?  He has no arbitration rights.  What's taking him so long to understand that he just signs on one of the dotted lines in front of him?

He won't sign until he squeezes as many dollars out of Dorion as he possibly can.

How can you squeeze a penny over 2.65?  You can wait all you want, but...

Ask Cowen. He got 3.1

SeawaySensFan wrote:

PTFlea wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:Dorion says he expects to reach a deal with Ceci in the next few weeks.  I guess the important part is "expects to reach a deal" but I wonder why that long?  He has no arbitration rights.  What's taking him so long to understand that he just signs on one of the dotted lines in front of him?

He won't sign until he squeezes as many dollars out of Dorion as he possibly can.

How can you squeeze a penny over 2.65?  You can wait all you want, but...

Ask Cowen. He got 3.1

That was before taking on the Phaneuf contract, Stone's extension, upgrading Zibanejad for Brassard and Hoffman's new deal. Landscape has changed.

Keeping Sens twitter in line:

wprager wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

PTFlea wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:Dorion says he expects to reach a deal with Ceci in the next few weeks.  I guess the important part is "expects to reach a deal" but I wonder why that long?  He has no arbitration rights.  What's taking him so long to understand that he just signs on one of the dotted lines in front of him?

He won't sign until he squeezes as many dollars out of Dorion as he possibly can.

How can you squeeze a penny over 2.65?  You can wait all you want, but...

Ask Cowen. He got 3.1

That was before taking on the Phaneuf contract, Stone's extension, upgrading Zibanejad for Brassard and Hoffman's new deal.  Landscape has changed.  

So Ceci will ask for less because of this? Why didn't you say so in the first place?!