Does Ottawa's blueline lack defense?
by DarrenM on Jul 9, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
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Nearly a month ago, I asked what the Senators blueline would look like without Anton Volchenkov and Andy Sutton. Well, with the trade for David Rundblad and the signing of Sergei Gonchar, we have part of the puzzle figured out, but something that worries me is that Ottawa has gone from one extreme (not enough offensive defensemen) to the other (not enough defensemen capable in their own zone).
For the sake of this argument, I'll assume that prospects Jared Cowen and Patrick Wiercioch do not make the big club at the start of the season. As it stands, Ottawa has one-way contracts given to Chris Phillips, Sergei Gonchar, Filip Kuba, Matt Carkner, and Brian Lee. That's five out of six spots used up already, but that ignores Erik Karlsson (who is, of course, a lock on the back end) and Chris Campoli (a Restricted Free Agent who is headed to arbitration).
Regardless of which combination of Campoli/Lee/Carkner is playing at a given time, the problems on the blueline become immediately apparent when one thinks about the team's top-four at even strength or the penalty kill pairings.
Looking to the top-four, all of Gonchar, Kuba, and Karlsson can be considered marginal defensive players at this point. Though one can pair up with Phillips to help protect the goaltender, there will always be some combination (Gonchar/Karlsson, Kuba/Gonchar, etc) that has the potential of being eaten alive by other team's top-six forwards. I suppose there is always the option of spreading an offensive defenseman across all pairings (Gonchar on the first, Karlsson the second, Kuba the third), but that still leaves Karlsson or Gonchar playing with Campoli or Lee, neither of whom are known for being strong in front of the goalkeeper.
The same problem is made even more noticeable when you consider the penalty-kill -- Phillips and Carkner are clearly capable of blocking shots and playing a man short, and Kuba is adequate, but I don't feel safe with Karlsson, Campoli, Gonchar or Lee trying to defend that extra attacker.
These concerns about next year only get worse in the near future, as Chris Phillips' contract is set to expire at the end of the season Though the Senators will certainly be inclined to sign him again (and I sincerely hope they do), they'll also have David Rundblad and Patrick Wiercioch who are both expected to be ready for the big league, and both bring a decidedly offensive outlook to the team. Gonchar, Karlsson, Wiercioch, Rundblad, Kuba, Lee, Campoli... thank goodness that Jared Cowen and Eric Gryba are prospects that could prove to be strong bodies on the backend, because otherwise Pascal Leclaire Brian Elliott Robin Lehner is liable to have players run him over every shift.
I like that GM Bryan Murray is trying to address the team's lack of mobility on the back end, however I'm not sure it should come at the expense of solid defensive play. Yes, the Penguins won the Cup with Gonchar, but they also had Gill and Scuderi. Sure, the Hawks won in part because of excellent puckmoving defensemen, but Keith and Seabrook are just as capable in their own zone. Let's hope that the Senators manage to take a decidedly offensive-minded crop of defensemen and develop some effective defensive skills, or this could be a team that allows as many goals as it puts up.
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Cowen
I think that Murray will make some moves to give Cowen a shot, I can’t see the current mix starting the season. Much as I like Carkner relying on him too much is not a recipe for success.
We need a good nickname for Rundblad.
We’ve gotta be able to parlay that into something funny.
Rundblood. Sounds like Ben blood…..that’s terrible.
Best one I’ve heard on this site is Alchomichalek for sure.
He was being called Mecha Karlsson earlier
because he was being touted as a bigger karlsson.
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Earlier/Still
I’m open to alternatives. It’s not set in stone like Rusty Campoli or Not Martin.
A snake in the class - Silver Seven - Cycle Like the Sedins
by Ryan Classic on Jul 11, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I just love this site, great looks at different angles of the Sens organization.
The thing you have to take into account is Cloustons style of couching which will bring forth a team unit that will play as a 5 man unit. If you can teach the guys positioning then you have most of the battle won. What is left is individual talent, and I believe we have talented enough guys that will figure it out. I think Lee and Campoli should be traded. I think Lee will develop into a solid stay at home defensman, it’s going to take a few years for that to happen though. Trade these guys for picks only so we have a full selection in the next couple of years while Murrays mandate is being fulfilled.
Maybe, but that could be trouble
Without Lee and Campoli, we’re left to playing our untried prospects as, say, a third pairing. Maybe at the trade deadline one or the other could be moved once the Sens are comfy with guys like Cowen or Wiercioch (sp?). I wouldn’t want to see both Lee and Campoli gone so soon.
Not to mention Campoli was becoming an effective, if not great, defenseman toward the end of the season. If he can keep that up, he may alleviate some of our worries.
You're right -- Campoli was very good at the end of the season.
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Yeah, I really liked his game
He’s not a big kid so he’s not going to push people around in front of the net, but he was playing a smart, positional game, taking angles away and forcing oncoming skaters to the outside. If he builds on that improvement, he could certainly become a good 4-5 defenceman—perhaps not as the offensive guy he was brought in as, but certainly as a consistent, reliable provider.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 9, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Camps and Carks are a good 3rd pair
Obivously they will be the first people shuffled out of the organisation as younger guys come up, but for this season and maybe next I’m more than happy with them pairing together. I am looking forward a few years and I don’t understand how Phillips is going to fit into the blueline. Karlsson is already a top pairing guy, Cowen and Weircoch will probably be in the top four in two years, Murray loves Gryba from what I’ve read, Rundblad will be looking at a top four spot, and then Gonchar will still be under contract another year. Where does Phillips fit in that blueline? Maybe ahead of Wiercoch and Gryba, but not ahead of Karlsson, Cowen, Rundblad, and Gonchar. So, do we have a guy who’ll be making 3.5 playing on our third pairing? I hope not. Unless we deal some of our defensive prospects for forwards, Big Rig is going to be in tough to get a new deal next year.
by ojc on Jul 9, 2010 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
That's too bad
I like Phillips and would hate to see him go. I would rate him ahead of Gonchar, especially in a couple of years.
Agreed
This site is far and away more interesting as a starting point for considering the Sens’ as players, as a team and as an organization. It is consistently more interesting than either of the mainstream media outlets. When the Team has guests of some merit, it can also be useful, but for consistency this is my first stop of the day.
I also agree that the Clouston style, when adhered to, can compensate for individual weaknesses. And that’s the hallmark of a good overall gameplan. But when you have individuals who don’t stick to it, you end up relying on others to bail you out. A-Train had to block a ton of shots. Some were because we couldn’t move the puck effectively out of our end, but I think more came from turnovers in the offensive zone and lacklustre backchecking. Having a balanced back end with the classic offensive/defensive setup for each pairing would be ideal and would ensure the right posture when defending a PP.
I think he was mainly referrring to Ryan, Peter, and Mark
but you can jump in on this too, if you want (I kid, I kid).
Defense!
Karlsson, I hope, is young enough that were he to be paired with Phillips he would learn to be defensively responsible, even if he’s not going to be able to outmuscle guys.
But as you say, there’s no possible combination of pairings that doesn’t result in one which isn’t going to be pretty.
Karlsson is key
He has shown at least the desire to play defense. He’s limited by his size, but he uses angles to separate players from the puck. He’s never going to be a shutdown guy, but there still remains a chance that he’ll not be a liability in his own end.
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He was actually looking decent physically last season—he was more prone to use his body to know the opponent off the puck than even Kuba, despite the serious size disadvantage he has compared to his one-time partner.
The thing with Karlsson is that he’s got to be careful with that physicality. If he tries to separate someone like, say, Byfuglien from the puck, he’ll get run over.
I’m also nervous that if we push the defense too much in his formative years, it might cost us some offensive development. That might just be silliness on my part, especially since he obviously has some very good offensive abilities, but it’s still a concern.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 9, 2010 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think it's silly
He’s a smart kid, but we can’t throw everything on his plate at once. His game skyrocketed once he had Sutton to watch his back.
And you’re absolutely right about the physicality. He’s going to have to pick his shots and let his partner do most of the hitting. Still, hitting a guy isn’t the only way to separate the puck.
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Andy Sutton
anyway we can squeeze Sutton in? He really gave the team some added toughness. Between Carkner, Neil and Sutton, the Sens had a strong physical presence on the ice last year – something that had been missing for awhile.
I agree with Sensguy about a trade involving Lee and/or Campoli – although the latter has been a strong Sen. If nothing else, this could help the Sens rebuild lost draft momentum due to deadline trades made this year.
Sutton doesn’t seem to be generating much interest from other teams. At 35 he’s probably looking for something more than a one-two year deal, but if he gets desperate perhaps he’d be willing to come back to the Sens on a one year / $2M contract. That would be ideal. Though it’s hard to tell if Murray will go that direction if he can get another top 6 forward before the season starts. (Frolov?)
I’m still hoping that Kuba gets traded at some point. With Gonchar in and Karlsson having another season’s development, his puckmoving is redundant.
Last season the goaltending was inconsistent enough that even with Phillips / Volchenkov (and later Sutton) the Sens had a pretty terrible goal differential. Maybe Murray figures the team will get lit up anyway, so may as well improve the scoring.
by Conrad Amenta on Jul 9, 2010 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed that Kuba should be moved
But I don’t think it will happen until Murray is convinced one of the prospects is ready to play full time.
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Or to make room for Sutton...
I would even be willing to pay him 3 million on a ne year deal. We need that physical defensive presence.
by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Jul 9, 2010 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Offence from the defence!!!
To get through the season, a team needs eight or nine defencemen. Depending on how much success the Sens have with this new wave of offence from the defence, Murray and Clouston will ease Cowen into the lineup and maybe even Wiercoch if there are injuries.
An offence first defence needs top line goaltending to succeed, and the Sens have not shown any signs of having that consistently yet… but who knows what this year will bring? If Leclair doesn’t trip on any banana peels on his way out of the rink, he may turn into a real goalie this year.
An important key will be the Power Play success rate. Bryan is betting that with Gonchar, Karlsson, Kovalev, Spezza and Alfy our PP will carry us.
I’m not a real fan of all out offence, because you can succeed with this approach during the regular season… but it doesn’t work in the playoffs unless the offence gets incredibly hot. Time will tell, and it will be fascinating to watch the Sens develop this year.
I agree. As Darren pointed out in the article, the Pens won their Cup with effective defensive defensemen, and the ‘Hawks’ Keith and Seabrook were as good in their end as they were in Philly’s. The Senators won’t go far in the play-offs if they don’t play well defensively, and the current group of guys on the back end does not necessarily instil confidence that this will be the case, Clouston’s system or no.
If Cowen doesn't make the team from the start, I don't see him playing much
He’ll probably get at least 9 games to start the season, but if they’re not going to keep him after that he’ll go to the WHL again. And I do not think the Senators will ease him in gradually from the WHL, just because it wouldn’t make as much sense as a guy like Wiercioch, who will be AHL-eligible.
Still, I think Cowen makes this team this season. Time will tell, but things are sounding positive.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 9, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Murray has said he expects Gryba to be this year's Carkner
Murray said in february that he expects Gryba to get a roster spot this year. With a strong posuh from Cowen and Wiercoch, it’s going to be a crazy training camp. I would not be so sure that Phillips will be brought back after next year. As much as he’s a leader of the team, he will no longer fit into Ottawa’s plans. Rundblad, Cowen, and Wiercoch all expect to make the team this year or next. Add in Karlsson, Gonchar, and what Murray has said about Gyrba and there’s our top six. I realise that it is unlikely that all of these guys will get a shot at once, but how long can we hold them down? We’ve seen what happens when we bring guys up and send them down again and again (Brian Lee?), it derails their development. It will be interesting to see what is done with the blueline next off season. There might be even more change over than this year.
Phillips Will be a Sen to the end!
The only thing I disagree with is the Phillips not being here. He is like Alfie, he will retire a Sen and I will be very upset if they trade him. The same goes for Fisher. He to will be a lifetime Sen.
I agree
I don’t think Phillips will move after this season. The Senators have identified him as a core player, and I think he wants to stay here; I’d like to see him sign a career contract after this season, and hopefully it includes a hometown discount—but still takes care of Phillips financially.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 9, 2010 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think the Senators organization is blameless there
I don’t think either side has handled Lee’s development well.
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Yeah, the Senators and Lee are both to blame.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
agreed
But unless I’m mistaken… Muckler drafted Lee, and Murray probably wouldn’t have.
by High Priest of Alfie on Jul 10, 2010 1:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hence, the mishandlement.
New word…?
by High Priest of Alfie on Jul 10, 2010 1:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Phillips
I’m not saying that I want Phillips to leave, but I think it will be hard for Murray to find 3.5 mil to pay him a season. Unless Phillips is willing to take smaller pay and a diminishing role, he just doesn’t fit in the Sens defence. I mean, in two seasons he will be a 5th or 6th defenceman for Ottawa. I doubt he wants that. It just doesn’t look like it will be meant to be. And I’m waiting for Fisher to get traded any day.
Wow! Fisher traded...hmm, ya think?
I don’t know how you trade him, given his connection to the team and community. I know he makes alot of money but his next contract won’t be that high. I don’t think he wants the scrutiny of that a large contract brings, and will settle for less to be here. I guess anything is possible but he does bring alot more than scoring to the team.
Plus, he's got a Bryan Murray Special
Hard to see him going anywhere.
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Phillips is a must-have mentor for Gryba, Cowen.
Ottawa should keep him until retirement. Someone’s gotta teach this young crop of defensemen how to play in their own zone (and it’s not going to be Gonchar)
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
This.
I see no sense in trading him. His standing in this organization and community, and his family’s entrenchment in this community, makes me think he’ll stick around. It will be a long-term deal, I’d guess, with some years tailing off: $4M, $4M, $2M, $1M, $700k, $700k; six years long, $12.4M, cap hit of just over $2M per season.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 9, 2010 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
From 3.5 to 2?
I just don’t think anyone wants to admit they’re going down hill. If Phillips is fine with being a sixth defenceman in three years, then I’m all for him staying. I just don’t believe that most hockey players are willing to be “that old guy” on the team. Maybe Phillips is an exeption, but it would be tough for anyone to see a 22 year old pass you on the depth chart.
by ojc on Jul 9, 2010 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe it is tough to see younger players play better than yourself, but it happens all the time. Phillips is only at the top of the heap because d-men like Chara left and Redden self-destructed and then left. He must know he won’t be on the top pair forever, or even for long.
Besides, so long as Gonchar is here, I would rate Phillips higher on the defensive depth chart. And there is no telling what will happen to all of the team’s defensive prospects: some might be traded, some might not work out, &c.
All I was agreeing with was Darren’s remark that the team needs Phillips to stick around as a player-mentor; if anything, with regard to Peter’s suggested contract, I think Phillips could be paid another $2.5 or even $3.5 million altogether, so long as the contract remained long-term and the cap hit relatively low.
I definately think it is time to move some of our defensive depth. That’s why the Rundblad trade was a bit puzzling. The Murrays have been saying you can have enough young d-men. I think we’ve officially hit the “more than enough” point. I would not be surprised to see Wiercoch or Cowen shipped out for some help up front. Cowen is obviously less likely, but he could yield quite bounty. I think the largest problem we’re facing is that all of our prospects are developing at the same time. Cowen, Weircoch, Karlsson, Gryba, and Rundblad will all be ready in a three year span. As much as it’s tough to tell if these guys will be good NHLers, all of them have certainly proved they deserve a shot this year or next. Maybe Gryba or Weircoch can be made to wait, maybe Rundblad can stay another year in the SEL or take a year in the AHL, but even that doesn’t buy us much time. I have a feeling that when Gonchar’s contract is done, we will be the stronger for it on the back end.
Nashville has done well stockpiling young d-men over the years. Obviously they haven’t had the playoff success, but it has given them a measure of stability and being able to trade young stud defensemen usually will yield a good return on investment.
by modsuperstar on Jul 10, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I think when it comes to Campoli and Lee, I for one would let Lee go. Campoli really showed what he could do defensively near the end of the season and I think that he could keep that going into this year. Lee has a lot more growth to go through before he could have a solid role on the team, but with the defencemen coming up I don’t think the team can develop him like he needs. I would like to see Murray trade Lee for a 2nd rounder, if possible. He might hold onto him, hoping lee plays better to his potential and get a little better return, but as of now, Lee’s return is slowly declining.
As for the defence as a whole, I’m pretty happy with what we have. Kuba is not a completely one-dimensional player, and neither is Gonchar. Karlsson has growth to go through before he can be considered a two-dimensional player, however, I’m not concerned about him (considering his offensive skill it’s worth it). Add in Phillips and Carkner, and Campoli when/if he’s signed. That gives us one too many defencemen, something Murray will have to deal with (if he has to), but I think compared to many of the other teams in the league I think our D can stand up quite well to all of them.
Agreed that I prefer Campoli to Lee
But I think you’re mistaken that Lee could fetch a 2nd round pick in return. His original draft position only counts for so much.
I think if Lee had any trade value at all, he would have been traded already.
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Agreed, a 2nd rounder is hopeful, however, I think if it were a really low 2nd like in the 50-60 position then it would makes sense for another team, but 3rd I think isn’t off the mark. Brian Lee isn’t a bust just yet and I’m sure some teams would take the risk with a third.
I for sure think he’s got trade value. Not to say it’s high, but I can’t see why a GM that needs defensive depth wouldn’t want to take a chance on him, being a pretty low risk move. The question is of course the price.
I see Murray keeping Lee on the roster as a 7th D and then maybe see what he does (his cap hit eludes me but I don’t think it’s too much), but if he isn’t looking good then I’d ship him out quick.
You know who might like Brian Lee? Chicago
They’ve only got 4 defencemen under contract right now, and I don’t see how they’ll be able to match the offer sheet tendered for Hjalmarsson. Lee is a serviceable young defenceman with reasonable potential—even though we in Ottawa (myself included) have largely thrown in the towel on him.
Since they’ve got some extra first-round picks now… there’s your asking price.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 9, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
This sounds way too good to be true, amigo
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They'd probably want to trade us Jack Skille for him.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Is there something wrong with Skille?
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 10, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
He seems to be the Blackhawks' own Lee.
Right down to the “WE COULD HAVE HAD KOPITAR!” complaints about when he was picked.
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Talking Defence
Sorry in advance for the long post!
First off, having alot of good prospects at one position is not a bad thing espcially when most teams build from the goalie out. I for one say it is about time that we have that kind of depth and that is thanks to the last few years of drafting under Murray.
I know it is always interesting to look ahead but for now I’ll look at this season. I love the Gonchar signing mostly because of his shot presence. We have had puck movers before but he is in a league by himself for what he is capable of doing on the PP. Obviously we took a chance by giving him 3 years but it is a great sign to the players and fans that this team wants to win by signing him. He will also be a great mentor for Karlsson.
Assuming Sutton is not coming back, I believe Phillips might be the best fit to play beside Karlsson. He has size and is physical and complements Karlsson well. After that there is Gonchar, Kuba and Carkner to me that are locks at this point. In saying that, I was very intrigued by the article I read today talking about the possibility of trading Kuba + some other contracts to Edmonton for Souray. If Souray still has anything left in the tank I would do that move because of his shot and the fact that he is hard to play against. Having Phillips, Souray and Carkner would provide that presence needed on any D. For that last pairing with Carkner I truly believe that the Sens will give Cowen every chance to play his way on to the team. Seeing him live at the developmental camp he is a monster and was hitting everything in sight. His quickness looked good but I’d have to see him against better competition. If he doesn’t make the big club another year in junior wouldn’t be the worst thing as I think he could still use some work on his puck skills.
With regards to Campoli and Lee it probably comes down to money but I like Campoli over Lee if you are keeping one. It is also good insurance if after 9 regular season games you decide Cowen isn’t ready.
As for a couple of other prospects that were mentioned:
Weircoch – I really liked what I saw with regards to his puck skills and his ability to rush the puck. I don’t however see him making the big club since he definitely needs to get bigger and stronger for the NHL (he is very tall and lanky). It will be interesting to see how he develops in the AHL.
Gyrba – Did not impress me. Was physical at times but I found his skating and mobility to be weak and his puck skills to be below average. Unless there is alot of improvement I see him as a career AHL player.
One guy who really did impress me was Micheal Sdao. I went to the camp knowing that his is a “killer” (check him out on youtube) but having never seen him play. For a big man (I believe 6’4 220) he can really move. He is very athletic, competitive and determined. He never seemed to slow down during the 3 on 3 tourney when many guys showed fatigue. I liked his mobility for a big man and his puck skills were pretty decent. Just a guy to keep an eye on especially since he was a 7th rounder and has 3 years of college elegibility left!
Again my apologies for the long post!
Thanks for all the info JVT, especially your personal observations.
Personally, I am a big fan of sending guys back to junior/AHL if they need it. 9 times out of 10 they come back with better skills, better physical development and more confidence(Redden, Phillips, Spezza, with maybe Lee as the exception). In Cowen’s case, I would lean towards sending him back to junior unless he is 100% ready and same for Wiercioch with the AHL.
I like the Rundblad acquisition from a “best player available” point-of-view. He may or may not fit with the Sens down the road, but he will have the most value as a trade chip if it comes to that.
I’m with you DW19 on sending guys back when they are not ready. I was a huge proponent of sending Karlsson to Bingo last year after his 9 games. I was actually shocked when they recalled him but I give the Sens a tone of credit because they obviously saw that he could help and made the right decision.
Right now from what I saw if Cowen makes the team he will be more of shutdown guy but perhaps with another year running a PP and playing in the world juniors he might be a better overall player.
I also really like the Runblad move. I watched him when Sweden played Carleton U. when they were here. I don’t remember him in particular but I do remember being extremely impressed with Sweden’s D as a whole. Their mobility definitely stood out. If he is anything close to Karlsson that will be one hell of a trade.
The reason that I think the Sens will give Cowen every chance to make the team is I don’t see them wanting to break in two rookie Dmen next year (Cowen & Runblad). As I said before, all this depth is a good thing and gives the team options!
Thanks for posting, this... really good stuff!
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by Mark Parisi on Jul 12, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I've heard Sdao is a force on the ice
Jeff Costello played against him in the USHL, and said he’s a really punishing defender. Which is good for the Senators, for sure. Hopefully his development continues and he can make an impact on the Senators’ blue line.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 12, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey Sens fans
First time commentor here as I am a Devils fan. But reading this post and the following comments, it seems our teams could be good trade partners. The Devils have too many defensive defenseman, and by the looks of your lineup, the Senators have too many offensive defenseman. What do you guys think of a Chris Campoli for Bryce Salvador trade?
What do you guys think Campoli will get in arbitration? Are we talking $1MM, or will he get more like $2MM?
Salvador makes $2.9MM with two years remaining on his contract.
"What in tarnation's goin' on 'round here?!?" - Yosemite Sam in reference to Ilya Kovalchuk not yet signing
Hi Skuba
Having not seen Salvador play much I have to comment mostly based on his stats. At 34 he wouldn’t offer much of a long term solution compared to Campoli who is 26. Salvador has size and experience going for him, but Campoli has youth and likely a more manageable contract.
If the Sens wanted a experienced, physical and defensive defenseman they could also try to bring back Sutton who had good chemistry with Karlsson and seemed to fit the team well.
I’d say the issue with Salvador might be his contract. The Sens don’t have much cap space left and it’s hard to say if they would want to use it on him. Having watched him more what can you say about his skating, positioning, shot blocking, defensive awareness, tendency to take dumb penalties?
Understood
…I figured that could be the issue, salary-cap wise. He is actually a very competent defenseman, 2nd pairing would be best for him. He is sound, if not spectacular, in all those aspects, with his positioning probably being his best attribute. He has never had 100 PIM in the NHL (57PIM in 79 GP last season) and having been in the Devils system for parts of 3 seasons, he does not take dumb penalties at all. He certainly has his limits, as he will not ‘wow’ you. But he is one of those ‘if you don’t notice him, he is playing his best game’ type players.
In watching Sutton in Long Island, I would happily take Salvador over Sutton, although I cannot say I saw him play in the Capital. Did he step his game up, was he better with you than with the Islanders?
Thanks for welcoming me with a reply.
"What in tarnation's goin' on 'round here?!?" - Yosemite Sam in reference to Ilya Kovalchuk not yet signing
What about Kuba?
Is he available, are the Sens trying to ship him out (with Gonchar signing, he seems a bit redundant)?
"What in tarnation's goin' on 'round here?!?" - Yosemite Sam in reference to Ilya Kovalchuk not yet signing
Based on everything Bryan Murray has said, it sounds like Kuba is part of the plan right now
Any trade talk is purely fan speculation, no matter how much sense it makes for us.
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Kuba for Salvador would make more sense, financially speaking
It would clear $800k off our cap for the next two seasons, and would offer that defensive guy—Salvador might look good alongside Phillips. But like Mark said, it sounds like Murray wants to see how the all-offence defence corps will do.
Either way, thanks for coming by! Come back any time.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 13, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks guys!
"What in tarnation's goin' on 'round here?!?" - Yosemite Sam in reference to Ilya Kovalchuk not yet signing
Not keen on "all-offence" defence corps
I would personally welcome a Kuba for Salvador trade to balance out the defence corps. Then you could have something like the following:
Phillips-Gonchar
Salvador-Karlsson
Carkner-Campoli
With Lee, Cowen and maybe Wiercioch as injury replacements. Phillips, Salvador and Carkner would be your main PK guys and Gonchar and Karlsson would run the powerplay. That gives you a balanced group and each pair would have some O and some D.
Whether NJ would be interested in Kuba is another matter. He has played great at times with Ottawa, but last year he was so-so. He can certainly move the puck and make a decent pass. If that is what NJ needs then I am sure they would be happy with him. Age-wise and salary-wise the trade would be more even than Campoli for Salvador. I suppose Kuba also has a bit more size than Campoli, though I have never seen him use it too much.
Skuba you beat me here!!!
ha ha ha
" I don't go to work.... I go to a game" - Bob Sheppard RIP
by RolliePollieKovy on Jul 14, 2010 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
What do you think??
Should Bryan Murray dip back into the Pens free agents and pick up Jay McKee?? He is an excellant shot blocker and defensive defencman and could fill some of the void left by Anton leaving. And at a bargin price of $800k last year. He has a ton of playoff experience and is relatively young and grew up 2 hours from Ottawa.
I’d say pick him up for a year or two.
Thanks for joining!
I’d really like to see Murray stand pat until our RFAs are signed and we get a good look at our prospects in camp. There’s a chance that Cowen could fill that void for cheaper than McKee or Salvador could. I’d like to see him get it, and if he’s not ready, we can still make a move. It’s not like teams are beating down the door to get at either of those guys.
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by Mark Parisi on Jul 16, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
McKee could be a really good depth signing for Ottawa. I’d like to see him as a number 6-7, but that would require some serious movement in Ottawa’s already overloaded D corps, and I wouldn’t want it to come at the expense of giving Cowen, Wiercioch, or Gryba a real shot at sticking in the NHL.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 16, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
McKee is an option
He wouldn’t be a bad guy to have if he was signed to a reasonable contract. I’d be worried that he duplicates Carkner to a certain degree(defensive d-man, ideally playing in the 3rd pairing, not a ton of speed).
Yeah, but he'd be a good mentor for Carkner, too
If Carkner can turn into a McKee, that would be great. And if McKee’s guidance helps him get there, then all the better. But the deal won’t work at this juncture, unless McKee wants to take a two-way deal with an understanding that he will get time in the NHL, and will be on the roster, if not on the ice, for the playoffs.
by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 16, 2010 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
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