Senators for Sale: Brian Lee

by Mark Parisi on Jan 28, 2011 7:00 AM EST in Analysis

Brian Lee doesn't have much trade value right now. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

(This is the first post in a look at who the Senators might potentially trade in the coming days, and what a realistic expected return for them might be.)

Brian Lee

(Photo via binghamtonsenators.com.ismmedia.com)

#5 / Defenseman / Ottawa Senators

Height: 6-3

Weight: 208

Born: Mar 26, 1987

Contract Status

In the first year of a two-year, $1.75M contract ($875,000 per year) signed March 8th, 2010. Will be a Restricted Free Agent as of the 2012-13 season.

Pros

Lee's positives in the eyes of another team are limited to his age and his contract size. He looked very poised while playing against Pittsburgh in the 2007-08 playoffs -- his first experience in the NHL postseason -- though he had just one point and Ottawa was swept in that series. He has showed similar poise in limited action this year. Although it has not been reached, Lee's potential might be attractive to other teams (he was selected to the 2005 USA WJC team as a high school player ahead of Jack Johnson, who is now playing for the Los Angles Kings). Though he has not lived up to that potential since, Lee's youth means he is by no means a lost cause, and his cap hit is in line with a third pairing defenseman.

Cons

As stated above, Lee has not lived up to his potential. Then-GM John Muckler expressed a belief that Lee would be ready to play in the NHL in two years, but that was not the case. He also failed to build upon a strong showing in the 2007-08 playoffs, and was unable to secure a roster spot with the Senators in 2008-09. The same thing was true the next season, as he was beaten out for a spot by AHL journeyman Matt Carkner and rookie Erik Karlsson. Lee does not seem to have a good sense of what kind of game he's going to play in the NHL: he has the size to be physical, but rarely is, and has yet to show the same offensive instincts that got him drafted so highly by the team. His generic skill set doesn't distinguish him from any other unremarkable defenseman in any other NHL team's own farm system.

Trade Value

Nil. Lee was placed on waivers earlier this season and was not claimed. There remains an extremely small chance that Lee could be included as part of some other trade, but the value he would add to any trade is so small that he wouldn't be considered more than a warm body.

Trade Likelihood

Nil. See above. It seems extremely unlikely that another team would be willing to give up a draft pick or prospect for a player they had passed on before.

Realistic Return

At this point in his career, Brian Lee cannot get the Senators even a low draft pick or prospect in return.

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Comments

I'm of the opinion

Ottawa should keep Lee. Ideally, Kuba and Phillips will be gone for next season. Cowen and Rundblad will be on the verge of making the team, but will likely need a season in the AHL. With Ottawa rebuilding, I don’t see why keeping Lee for another year and seeing if he can develop into something more is a bad idea. It’s all upside for a non-contender.

by TheGuineaPig on Jan 28, 2011 10:25 AM EST reply actions

I agree.

Since, if Mark’s assessment is correct (it is at any rate the most probable result), the team’s most likely to keep Lee, they might as well groom him to be a better player.

by JonathanA on Jan 28, 2011 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

Murray has stated pretty explicitly that Cowen and Rundblad will be on the team next year. I realize that he won’t be in the position to determine that, but I’d imagine at least one would be on the team.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Jan 28, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

Good stuff, Mark

I agree that Lee won’t get much — sure, he’s played very well as of late, but he was scratched for too many games and teams don’t want to risk taking on a two-year, one-way deal over $1M for a guy who may be a healthy scratch.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Jan 28, 2011 11:43 AM EST reply actions

Yep

He might have value in the future, but it’s just not there right now.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jan 28, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

I think his style and demeanor make him appear to be not roster worthy.

I for one was down on him at first but as time goes by I see improved confidence and game play and what type of player he will be. He is one of those defence men that take time to mature and develop. I think he will be a solid shut down, somewhat physical, steady defence say at the 4-5 spot. He will take another 2-3 years to develop into that but is showing signs of that progression. I for one am glad (now) that he was resigned and given more time. I am also of the belief that we need to keep our picks and develop them, even if it takes a little longer. Our franchise will be a much more solid entity.

GO SENS GO GO TEXANS GO

by SENSGUY1 on Jan 28, 2011 12:16 PM EST reply actions

I agree, BUT...

Looking back, we could have said much of the same stuff by the end of the last few seasons…

“I for one was down on him at first but as time goes by I see improved confidence and game play and what type of player he will be. He is one of those defence men that take time to mature and develop. I think he will be a solid shut down, somewhat physical, steady defence say at the 4-5 spot. He will take another 2-3 years to develop into that but is showing signs of that progression.”

I could have said that after his good performance in the 2006-07 playoffs, after his ‘big shot’ in 2007-08 (he played 53 games that year), after he came up and played alright towards the end of last season, or at this point this year. My concern is that he doesn’t prepare himself thoroughly in the off-season, so it takes an extended period beyond training camp for him to get his timing and fitness back to regular-season form.

Of course, the summer that he does prepare himself properly will be the year we’re glad we gave him that shot. I just hope that it’s this summer.

An Ottawa Senators fan blogging at www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 28, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

I think there's more to it than that

I mean, fitness doesn’t have much to do with being able to read a play correctly. He was dominant at the high school level, but it hasn’t translated. My sense is that he doesn’t have the work ethic to cut it at the pro level, because he never learned it at junior levels — things came too easily for him there.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jan 28, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

You're right

I don’t just mean physical fitness, either. I mean getting his mind in the right place, getting ready for what is going to be a grinding, grueling run through the season; 20 years ago players maybe could have taken a dozen games or so to get back into form, but these days, with all the competition, it’s not going to work. Especially for a player like Lee, who hasn’t earned anything yet in this league.

It might be a work ethic thing, it might be a physical training thing, but it’s something. The one good thing is that it seems, by all accounts, that Lee isn’t a whiner. He seems pretty happy-go-lucky, so as long as he takes criticism to heart and changes his approach to improve, he’ll turn into an NHLer some day.

An Ottawa Senators fan blogging at www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Jan 28, 2011 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

Keep him...

…give him a legit shot next year then either move on or resign him in 2012-13.

by Czar123 on Jan 28, 2011 12:43 PM EST reply actions

he has been a disappointment too many times

with the many oppurtunities to PROVE he can play in the big league. There’s only so much failure we can deal with. He is playing mediocre right now considering the rest of the team is playing like crap. But I don’t see a future with Lee like how Muckler invisioned.

by AAZZ on Jan 28, 2011 1:30 PM EST reply actions

He's been playing better on a team that is playing like crap

I realize (I think) that you’re trying to say Lee’s play is mediocre at best but looks good compared to the rest of the team, but I see it in a different way: the fact that Lee is playing better than other players on a crap team suggests to me that if properly motivated, Lee can be a bright light in a very dim situation.

I think it ups his trade value.

Of course, upped trade value could also mean Lee and a 7th for a 6th-round pick.

A snake in the tank - Silver Seven - The Classic Blog

by Ryan Classic on Jan 28, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions

There's still time

i don’t think he’s going anywhere by the trade deadline (or after for that matter) but he’s got a few games in the season to show some consistency, so we’ll see where he’s at.

And the dynamic going into next season should be very different. He might have thought he was biding his time earlier in his career and the chance would come. BUT now he’s got to be seriously looking over his shoulder. If that’s not motivation, he’ll be a depth defenseman until his contract runs out, imo.

by west-sider on Jan 28, 2011 8:27 PM EST up reply actions

He's cheap

This is why he will play for this team next year. If we lose a defensemen or two at the trade deadline he will be needed on a very young inexperienced squad next year. He will not need to be flashy that will be for Rundblad and Karlsson to take care of. To me it’s the fact that he played university hockey that makes the huge difference. CHL hockey has more games and is much tougher than university hockey with fewer games and far less checking. The NHL schedule has probably overwhelmed him and he’s still adjusting.

by Hockey Playoff Run SensFan on Jan 29, 2011 4:49 PM EST reply actions