Who was the Senators' last puck-moving defenceman?

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 5, 2010 2:53 PM EDT

On his FOX Sports blog this morning, Spector (aka Lyle Richardson) wrote about the riskiest signings on UFA Day--one of which, obviously, was the Ottawa Senators' signing of Sergei Gonchar to a three-year, $16.5M deal. And he discussed the fact that Gonchar is the Sens' first true puck mover in some time.

Ottawa Senators — Sergei Gonchar. The Senators lacked a skilled puck-moving defenseman since losing Zdeno Chara to free agency four years ago. Gonchar, who had 50 points in 62 games last season (the eighth time in his career he’s reached 50 or more points), should be a good fit there. But he does come with some concerns, one being his age (36), the other his recent injury history (he’s missed 77 games the last two seasons), making his three-year, $5.5 million per season contract a bit of a risk.

While technically true, the Senators didn't lose their last puck-moving defender when they lost Chara--they lost their last puck-moving defenceman when Wade Redden began his plummet into oblivion and started playing like he currently is. That season, Redden had 50 points in 65 games, while Chara had 43 in 71 games.

Seriously, though, does anyone actually consider Chara a puck mover? I never really saw him as that. He can move the puck well enough, he can skate pretty well for a big guy, but that's not his classification--in my mind.

The fact remains: Ottawa desperately needed a puck-mover, and Gonchar is certainly one. Erik Karlsson is turning into one, too. So perhaps we've finally got a couple of round pegs, instead of trying to use a bunch of square ones.

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

22 of Chara's 43 points that year came on the power play

10 goals, 12 assists. I’d be willing to wager that most of those came from forwards scooping up rebounds from his shot, or from pucks deflecting off him as he stood in front of the goal — not exactly moving the puck up the ice quickly.

Take away his power play time and his numbers are similar to Chris Phillips. I wouldn’t call him terrible, but I wouldn’t really consider him a better puck mover than Wade Redden, either.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jul 5, 2010 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

I just thought it was weird

I didn’t know anyone, ever, has considered Chara a puck-mover. It’s funny that the timing happened to be as it was; Ottawa hasn’t had a puck-mover since Chara was in the lineup, but that wasn’t because Chara was that puck-mover. It was because Redden was good then, and has fallen fast since.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 5, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Chara is a jack-of-all-trades

Labeling him as a puck mover is not necessarily inaccurate. But it doesn’t describe Chara’s game in a catch phrase, thats for sure. It’s akin to calling Daniel Alfredsson a sniper. Or a playmaker. Or a defensive forward.. you get my drift.

No, Ottawa hasn’t had a ‘skilled’ puck mover since the Redden we used to know and love. And before that? We’re talking Steve Duchesne and Norm MacIver. Suffice to say, I love the Gonchar acquisition.

by LeTigre on Jul 5, 2010 8:22 PM EDT reply actions

Man, I love Norm Maciver.

One of my favourite all-time Senators. Seriously.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 6, 2010 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions

This may be the year his points record for a defenseman is erased from the books...

Who could top 63 points? Gonchar? Karlsson? Brian Lee if he keeps #55 and forgets he’s Brian Lee?

by LeTigre on Jul 6, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I could see it

The way Karlsson was scoring at the end of last season, it looks like a possibility.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 7, 2010 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

But that's because he took all of Kuba's minutes

Now Gonchar will. Karlsson won’t top 40 points this year. Book it.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jul 7, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't see why...

It’s not like there’s only one defenceman on the ice at any given time; the more points Gonchar gets, the more points Karlsson could get, too, especially if they’re playing together. I think it’d be a disappointment if he doesn’t top 40, after the performance last season—even if he’s the second-best offensive defenceman on the team, behind Gonchar.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 7, 2010 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know, I don't think Karlsson pairs well with other puckmovers

I’m using his performance with Kuba vs. Sutton to make that statement. It will be interesting to see how he does this year, especially since I think he’ll be paired with Kuba again.

But really, it’s not that I think he can’t top 40 points; it’s just that I don’t think he’ll get enough playing time to do so.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jul 7, 2010 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions