Senators sign Brian Lee (!!) to two year contract
by DarrenM on Mar 8, 2010 1:52 PM EST
28 comments
While everyone was holding their breath to see if Anton Volchenkov will be signed to an extension by the Ottawa Senators, Bryan Murray decided to hand out a deal to another blueliner: Brian Lee. I didn't see it coming either, and I'm sure fellow writer Mark Parisi is even more shocked.
Mark's take: Holy crap!
Lee has been signed to a two-year contract, but there are no details as to whether it's a one-way or two-way deal. He split time between the AHL and NHL this season, playing 18 games with the big club. He was scheduled to be an RFA at the end of the year.
The signing of Lee makes for an interesting fight on the Senators blue line next season. The Senators now have 5 defensemen who have spent time in the NHL this season under contract for next year: Chris Phillips, Filip Kuba, Erik Karlsson, Matt Carkner, and Brian Lee. Chris Campoli will be a Restricted Free Agent on July 1st, while Anton Volchenkov and Andy Sutton are set to become Unrestricted Free Agents. 2009 First Round Draft pick Jared Cowen also recently signed an entry level deal and will be auditioning for a spot on the big club in September.
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Guess Murray wasn't shitting us about Lee
Obviously Murray thinks Lee is going to develop into something. I’m as shocked as the next person, but I suppose there’s no harm if he signed a 2 way contract. Bingo needs d-men too, so if he develops down there into something worthwhile even better.
better be a 2-way
otherwise, what’s the point? go back and sign brendan bell? eep
I was thinking the same thing
Anyway, the bottom line is that you don’t let an asset walk away, especially one you drafted in the first round, ninth overall. Even if the intention is retaining his rights in order to trade him, the contract was going to have to be signed.
by Peter Raaymakers on Mar 8, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
I swear he's alive
But I will check with my sources. They could be holding back so I don’t cry
SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!! - ryanclassic.net
Looks like Campoli is out, especially if Lee has agreed to a two-way deal. One other option is that Lee will be easier to trade with a contract, and that Murray is lining him up to be dealt. Or maybe bargaining tactic with Volchenkov?
Don't be so sure Campoli is gone
He certainly might be, but I think he’s still got a place on the team. He’ll be cheap again, too, so I’m not sure he’s getting lost.
by Peter Raaymakers on Mar 8, 2010 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
oh man
this had better be two-way. lee has looked awwwfffuuuullllllllllll since he came back up to the big club.
Ha, yah this is clearly a calculated move to give Parisi fits
BM must be a fan of the blog
Cannot play with 'em, cannot win with 'em, cannot coach with 'em. Cant do it.
No kidding, I'm dumbfounded by this... especially considering his play recently
I’m really of two minds about this.
First, I’m amazed because he hasn’t taken advantage of any opportunities so far. And I feel the team has bungled his development pretty badly. I’m surprised he’d want to stay in a system where he doesn’t seem to be wanted.
On the other hand, I still think he has the potential to be a top 4 defenseman. It’s interesting to see that the team apparently does as well. Hopefully this vote of confidence will cause him to blossom.
I still don’t see how he makes the team next year. Cowen doesn’t have to be outstanding to beat him, and Campoli has already been able to beat him once.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
I don't think he wants to be here, but he's an RFA
He doesn’t really have any leverage in this situation, and I don’t even know if he has arbitration rights. So whether or not he wants to stick around, he doesn’t really have any choice. He’s not going to get an offer sheet, or anything.
by Peter Raaymakers on Mar 8, 2010 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
What would arbitration even get him?
Arbitration is great for dudes who put up 40-50 points in the NHL. It doesn’t mean anything for someone who is a borderline NHLer and has middling AHL stats.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Kyle Wellwood got a raise through arbitration
I think he’s arbitration-eligible at the end of this year
SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!! - ryanclassic.net
by Ryan Classic on Mar 9, 2010 12:51 AM EST up reply actions
But Murray wasn't forced to give him a one way deal, right?
He must have had some kind of leverage or else he’d be stuck on a two-way again.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Best guess: Lee and Kuba have the same agent who has the same photos...
SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!! - ryanclassic.net
by Ryan Classic on Mar 9, 2010 12:52 AM EST up reply actions
Are we even sure it's a one-way deal yet?
I haven’t heard anyone confidently report whether or not it is. If it is, I don’t really understand it, because where the hell does he fit? I guess maybe it’s a buffer to have an extra defenceman (or two, or even three) like we did to start this season with Schubert, but it doesn’t make sense to me.
Either way, he’d better not have gotten a no-trade clause.
by Peter Raaymakers on Mar 9, 2010 8:14 AM EST up reply actions
Capgeek has it as a one-year deal for $875K/year.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
I really think this is a trade in the making.
But, rumours around the net are saying this was a one-way signing. Hope he was cheap.
If it is, it's not happening until July
I think more likely it signals that Cowen may not make the team next year.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Cowen to Bingo
Given his inconsistent performance this season and his knee rehab, I would think that a year in Binghamton might be the best thing for Cowen over the long term. Obviously, it depends on how he looks next fall, but I think Murray is smart to plan for this possibility.
Lee’s progress has definitely been disappointing, but it feels like to soon to give up on him outright. With Karlsson on the team he is never going to develop into the team’s No. 1 offensive D-man (the way he was sold on draft day), but he could still be a useful puck mover to pair with a Cowen/Carkner/Sutton if he could improve his decision making. At worst, he is an asset that Murray may be able to flip for something else down the road.
Cowen can't go to Bingo
He’s either in WHL or NHL, I believe, due to the CHL’s transfer agreement. Same reason Eberle is in the CHL this year rather than in the AHL.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
I think Lee still has plenty of potential
I mean, just look at how long it took Carkner to make it into the NHL. Still, the Senators are as much to blame for his disappoining development as he is.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Makes sense to me.
First of all, you don’t just give up on such a high draft pick until your absolutely sure he’s hit his ceiling. He certainly can still be a top-6 defenseman, and you never know, he may still develop into a top 4.
Second, he continues to provide some manner of depth, at a cheap price. Should we lose Volchenkov, should Cowen not make the team etc, Lee is there if we need him. Even with Volchenkov and Cowen, he’s down in Bingo in case there’s an injury.
Third, he’s easier to trade if he’s signed.
by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Mar 8, 2010 10:52 PM EST reply actions
Absolutely.
Considering how long we’ve heard his name, it’s easy to forget he’s still just 22. A lot of time left for him to develop into a better blueliner.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Apparently it's one-way at $875k per season
Don’t get it.
by Peter Raaymakers on Mar 9, 2010 8:24 AM EST reply actions
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