Linus Omark for Brian Lee ?? Why Not...

by Donny1619 on Nov 2, 2011 8:51 PM EDT

This came from one of my co-workers recently, and I thought I would open it for discussion. We all know the young and hot Edmonton Oilers have a huge logjam up front, with Ales Hemsky due to come back. This has catapulted young and fruitful Omark down to Oklahoma City, in a league where he has already dominated for the majority of last season. Yet, with the emergence of guys like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Anton Lander, and Lennart Petrell, Omark is expandable.

The Ottawa Senators on the other end, have a logjam on the backend. Brian Lee is toiling away in the press box, and I really can't believe he has not snapped on this organization. Kudos to him, because I definitely would have. Lee will never live up to his 9th overall slot, but he has the makings of a solid 2nd-pairing defenseman, with good skating andawareness in his own zone. However, it's clear that he has been passed on the depth chart, and I currently see no way he gets back into the lineup barring injury. I know people will point at David Rundblad, but right now I think it is more appropriate to keep him in the NHL, as his development so far has been stark and devoid of his pre-season play indicated. Imagine when Matt Carkner returns in about a week or so. Carkner doesn't get you much return, but Lee does. It's clear that he needs a chance to play, and Ottawa won't give him that. At this point if he stays in the Capital his tour of duty in the press box will last longer than Kim Kardashian's marriage.

So bring in Omark, a winger who has plenty to prove in the Land of Swedes, and give the Oilers Lee who can provide defensive relief for Edmonton, and possibly down the road becoem a solid defenseman. One problem that could arise withthis trade would be an impending logjam up front for Ottawa. However, I think if you send down Kaspars Daugavins (sorry, but he's stuck down) and scratch someone like Zenon Konopka(useless signing IMO), maybe even send a guy like Nikita Filatov or Stephane Da Costa back Binghamton, Omark can fit here. The biggest thing is that you want him to play, and when he plays, he can bring a whole new dimension to the game.

Poll

Would you trade for Linus Omark (and send Brian Lee the other way?)

Hell yes, GOTTA CATCH ALL THE SWEDES!!!

70 votes

Ummm, ew. Flashy players are not my thing.

4 votes

Not for Brian Lee. Let them eat cake!

16 votes

Who is this Kim Kardashian you speak of?

16 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I would be okay with this.

Only caveat is that Carkner only has this year left (likely not gonna be resigned), and Kuba is gone. That gives Rundblad and one of Lee/Cowen a permanent spot. So if you can ride out this year, then our D-pairings shape up as:

Karlsson – Gonchar
Phillips – Rundblad
Lee – Cowen

Spares would be Borowieki etc. And after THAT year, both Phillips and Gonchar are done. So we’re down two more guys.

So, in retrospect, I think I’d keep Lee. Rotate him in and out with Cowen this year so they both get experience, then next year he’ll have a regular spot.

by The Tif on Nov 2, 2011 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Also injury

Phillips Kuba and Gonch are healthy now but I doubt all of them will play 82 Lee and Carkner will be needed

by Beanster on Nov 2, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Well it's not certain Carkner will be gone...

His defensive play is as solid as Brian Lee’s, although Lee has a bit more of an offensive oomph to his game. I agree that depth on defense is crucial, yet it seems to me Lee keeps getting slighted on the dpeth chart and it’s not too long that guys like Borwiecki, Wiercioch, and Gryba wave by as they climb above him. So sell high now that it seems like his value will be good.

If Charlie Sheen played for the Leafs, the Leafs would be #winning. If LeBron James played for the Cavs, oh wait, he already did that.

by Donny1619 on Nov 2, 2011 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think we can justify keeping Lee around for when we need him 1 or 2 years down the road.

So for that reason, I’d consider it. Problem is, we have too many forwards already. In my opinion, it will soon be time to trade quantity for quality there. See if we can package some B level forwards for an A level forward/prospect.

by Sports Fan! on Nov 2, 2011 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

And also, I forgot this.

Who’s to say we won’t sign a defenseman on the market in next summer’s free agency? I think if Murray dealt away Lee at good value and is able to sign a cheap defenseman off the market who has the same defensive skills of Lee, I think it would be a win for the Sens. Problem is, this is Bryan Murray we are talking about.

If Charlie Sheen played for the Leafs, the Leafs would be #winning. If LeBron James played for the Cavs, oh wait, he already did that.

by Donny1619 on Nov 2, 2011 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Gonchar will be done after next season,

but Philips just signed a 3 year deal, so he will be here for two more seasons after this one. As much as I would like to keep Lee, if we can get someone we can use now, I would do it. We can always go out and sign a UFA or trade for anyone if necessary.

by whatsinaname on Nov 2, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

If this trade happened, I wouldn't hate it

But I think we’d still have some problems. At this point in their careers, what’s the difference between Omark and Filatov? We already don’t have room for one… where are we magically fitting Omark?

Obviously, I’m all for bringing in top-six guys. But we already have enough potential top-six players. I’d be hesitant to make a trade for anyone who wasn’t a proven, surefire improvement over Foligno, Regin, or Da Costa. At some point, we have to let the guys we have develop or we’ll never know exactly what it is we have.

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by Mark Parisi on Nov 2, 2011 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly, I don't see it happening

I don’t think Edmonton would do this, even if they’re in a tight spot with Andy Sutton now out for five games. The Oilers have been patient in the past, I don’t think they’re in a hurry to give up on Omark.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 3, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe... Would rather Gagner

I’m just not sure how much value Lee has around the league. For Edmonton, it might be tough to give up a high-level prospect for a D that doesn’t play regularly. Playing as they are this year (so far), though, they just might make this kind of a trade. From the Sens perspective, though, I would want Gagner (rumored to be available). He’s also being passed over by all the Oiler prospects, and he plays C, a position we are in much greater need of than W. Maybe he could be a 2nd line C this year and possibly next, until Da Costa and Zibanejad are truly ready to play 2nd line minutes. I can definitely see him performing better with Alfie and Foligno or Butler on his wings. How about Lee, Regin, and Wideman for Gagner and Tyler Bunz?

by Phx Sens Fan on Nov 2, 2011 11:45 PM EDT reply actions

Me too... Gagner

Gagner would be a better risk but he’ll probably cost more than Lee. Straight up Lee for Omark anyday. It’ll make for entertaining shootouts. I don’t see how he’ll fit in , but nothing lost, and Bingo gets better if he doesn’t make it.

by Marvellous on Nov 3, 2011 7:48 AM EDT reply actions

I'd rather see Lee packaged for someone more valuable

Toss in Foligno alongside Lee and see if that takes you into legitimate top six land.

Omark… he doesn’t come with a guarantee that he’ll crack the lineup. Why bring in a forward version of Brian Lee, for Brian Lee? Because he did a spinorama at centre ice once that you saw on youtube?

by LeTigre on Nov 3, 2011 7:58 AM EDT reply actions

I'd rather do that kind of deal

Packaging Lee and Foligno for a legit top-sixer makes a lot of sense for the Ottawa Senators. The trick is convincing another team that it makes sense for them…

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by Mark Parisi on Nov 3, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Trick... or treat?

Yeah, could be a trick. There’s always Nashville’s 3rd rounder to add, if we want to begin looking into adding picks.

by LeTigre on Nov 3, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Throw in Teubert

I like Teubert. He was a first overall pick into the WHL… a hard hitter who can move the puck… and I believe a victim of being in an organization that doesn’t know how to develop young Dmen. Have him thrown in and then the risk of acquiring any of these guys lessens alot.

by Marvellous on Nov 3, 2011 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

Nah

To me this sounds too easy. Usually when you mention a trade and you say you’d take that deal in a heartbeat is because you’re not paying enough. I think we’d have a tough time marketing Lee given how little he’s played the last 2 seasons. Being the swing guy for a d-corps is great and all, but I don’t think it brings much value to the table. Maybe I’m overvaluing Omark, but I think straight up for Lee would be an underpayment.

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by modsuperstar on Nov 3, 2011 3:49 PM EDT reply actions