Silver Nuggets: Sutton wants to stay, but Holt bolts
by DarrenM on Jun 18, 2010 3:01 PM EDT
in Silver Nuggets
27 comments
Here are some quick links:
- ESPN's Pierre Lebrun has a quote from Andy Sutton's agent, Pat Morris: "He'd like to stay in Ottawa, but talks with them have been slow as they try to sign [Anton] Volchenkov first." Morris is also the agent of Matt Cullen, and he expressed that Ottawa has a great deal of interest in resigning Matt as well. (ESPN)
- Binghamton Senators goalie CHRIS HOLT! has decided to sign with Dynamo Riga of the KHL. He no doubt did this because with Mike Brodeur and Robin Lehner in Bingo, there's not much room for him this season. (Twitter)
- Yahoo! Sports' list of the top 50 unrestricted free agents includes Anton Volchenkov at #3 and Matt Cullen at #32. (Yahoo!)
- The Ottawa Senators have released their preseason schedule (Senators):
Tuesday, Sept. 21, Ottawa at Toronto
Wednesday, Sept. 22, Ottawa at Toronto
Friday, Sept. 24, Ottawa at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25, Montreal at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 28, Kraft Hockeyville, Ottawa vs Buffalo, Dundas, Ont.
Wednesday, Sept. 29, Toronto at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 1, Ottawa at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 2, New York Rangers at Ottawa, 7 p.m. - Our friends at The 6th Sens have a great new podcast up to prepare you for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft that features Pierre Doiron, Director of Player Personnel for the Ottawa Senators. (The 6th Sens)
- Listen to the sweet voice of Ryan Shannon as he talks on the phone about his summer, the World Cup, charity, and more. (Sens TV)
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Wow, I’m surprised by that Yahoo list. I always kinda figured us Sens fans just viewed A-Train as a great asset, but figured he probably wasn’t going to be as hotly sought after as we probably over value him with our homer assessments of him. The fact they have him listed as #3 is pretty eye opening.
A bad sign
The fact that he is overvalued means he will not be coming back to Ottawa. He’s already turned down an 18 mil 4 year deal. If the Sens pay him any more than that they are bankrupting the future. Even that is pretty steep, because it would mean Phillips would expect something close to that next year. Volchenkov’s ego has gotten too big, and his contract will turn into a burden for whoever signs him at 5 mil a year or upwards.
He's also had his house up for sale for at least a month now. He's not coming back.
I like the idea of keeping Sutton. He seemed to really get along with Karlsson on and off the ice. Cullen would be nice, too.
Groundbreaking analysis, this.
A snake in the class - Silver Seven - Cycle Like the Sedins
by Ryan Classic on Jun 19, 2010 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
RYAN!
How is Sutton not on list, Don Cherry said this was the greatest trade of all-time! And Volchenkov is not the 3rd best Free Agent, that’s a gift.
by Crooklyn Banks on Jun 19, 2010 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
A combination of Sutton and Z.Michalek would offset the loss of Android
Though I don’t know how we’d afford Cullen, if that were to happen.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
I agree.
I would rather sign a bunch of players than over pay Volchy (even though he’s awesome). We shouldn’t compromise the future. We have a decent solution that works now.
It makes me happy to hear that Sutton and Cullen would be interested to stay.
by Los Blancos Chicca on Jun 20, 2010 8:26 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not offset, upgrade
Michalek and Sutton both played power play time on their former teams. Not alot, but some. Could Volchenkov play the power play for any team in the league? I don’t think so. He has one of the least accurate shots in Ottawa history, close to Wade Redden. His breakout pass isn’t great. He’s only one guy. Michalek and Sutton both have a decent first pass and provide offence, while at the same time giving our defence the same solid defensive zone coverage Volchenkov provided. Signing two guys instead of just Volchenkov gives us the depth that Ottawa has missed since the Cup final. This idea of having a shut down pairing doesn’t work against good teams, they have more than one line. We need a balanced defensive front where every pair provides a mix of offensive and defensive responsibility.
Of course, we'd have to unload Kuba
That would make our pairings:
Phillips-Michalek
Sutton-Karlsson
Campoli-Lee (I guess)
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
I would need to see how much cap space this takes up to call it a good move
by Crooklyn Banks on Jun 20, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Salary estimate
3.5 for phillips, 1.3 for Karlsson, 3.2 for Sutton, 4 for Michalek, .7 for Carkner, and .7 for Campoli. That is a total of 13.4 mil, which is a 1.1 mil jump from last year’s blue line before our deadline deal for Sutton. Not too bad.
Michalek for 4 Mil?
Weren’t the Sens going to get a discount for him?
by Crooklyn Banks on Jun 20, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I think on the open market with a pretty weak defensive class that’s close to a dicount. He might only get 3, but I don’t see much less than that.Also, when talking about the cap it’s always better to over estimate than under estimate.
Paying 4 Mil for Michalek is too much
by Crooklyn Banks on Jun 20, 2010 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions
At some point, you have to pay talent, though
Guys like Volchenkov and Michalek don’t put up big offensive numbers, but strong defensive play, physical presence, and shot-blocking ability matter too, especially with the way interference rules are interpreted today.
You don’t have to look further than the defensive corps of the Stanley Cup Final teams for proof of that.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Yeah but long term
I know Volchenkov and Michalek have similar numbers and he would be a good replacement, but at 4 mil the value isn’t worth it long term. If Michalek’s discount is 4 Mil, then the Sens are better off with keeping Sutton and Cullen.
by Crooklyn Banks on Jun 20, 2010 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Discount
4 mil might be a bit of a high ball on how much Ottawa will pay Z. Michalek, but I think it’s better to discuss scenarios where people are getting paid more than they will make rather than thinking we’ll sign Michalek, Sutton, and Cullen for 2 mil each. Michalek will probably sign for 3.4 mil for 4 years, but saying 4 mil is the absolute ceiling he could make.
You're probably right
But that scenario involves keeping Kuba, so I like it a lot less.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Jun 20, 2010 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
His ego is too big? Give me a break
This has nothing to do with ego. Volchenkov has sacrificed his body game in and game out for this team—and other teams have noticed. If one of those other teams offers him more money than the Senators will, he has earned it, and we shouldn’t deny him of that.
We can’t take it personally when these decisions are made. They’re all business.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jun 20, 2010 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
But his agent's job is to get him the best deal possible
Volchenkov has also earned the right to see what other teams are willing to offer him by reaching unrestricted free agent status. He may test the waters and decide Ottawa is the best place for him after all.
If his agent feels there is a team out there willing to better Ottawa’s offer (and let’s face it, there probably is) then it’s not ego, it’s doing his job correctly — however much we may not like it as fans.
And I don’t like it one bit, but I don’t blame him.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Yeah, I guess you'd be hard pressed to find an agent that isn't looking for the most cash
It just seems like Volchenkov likes Ottawa, and we like Volchenkov, so there should be a reasonable middle ground that could be reached. The $18 mil 4 year offer seemed reasonable (if not in Volchy’s favour), same as how Kovalchuk’s all-the-money-in-the-world offers from Atlanta seemed reasonable (or, again, in the player’s favour).
Kovalchuk walked, and it seems like Volchenkov will do the same, presumably because the agent believes they will get significantly more money on the free market. Dude might be right, but he also might be talking players out of reasonable deals where (at least for Volchy) they get to stay with the team they like.
Agreed Rob!
When a guy who is coming off 2.5 mil a year deal and hasn’t put up the same kind of numbers since the signing of that deal turns down 4.5 mil a year it would seem to me that he has himself believing his own hype. There is speculation someone will pay him 5 mil, and that is good enough for Vols and his agent to spurn a very generous offer from Ottawa. I think A-Train is a good player, the key word there is good, not great. He is worth 3.5 mil a season, just like Phillips.
Of course, if he's as worn down physically as you think he is, that would just be more incentive to get one last payday, right?
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
I think Carkner is ahead of Lee on the depth chart. Who knows what we could get for Kuba. I’m not sure if Karlsson doesn’t play with Phillips on the top pairing next year. Also, a midseason call up of some of the new talent in the A could be in order. Gryba and Weircoch both could impress enough throughout the season to get a look. Cowen is less likely to get called up from junior, but it could happen.
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