Silver Nuggets: Can Kuba/Phillips bounce back; Lee hopes to cement place

by Adnan on Jul 25, 2011 1:01 PM EDT in Silver Nuggets

Bonjour! Il fait pleut! Woo hoo! July is almost done, so we are slowly inching closer to a return to hockey. Very, very slowly.

Here are today's links:

Senshot takes a look at whether Filip Kuba can bounce back. I am not sure whether I agree with Kuba being on a continuous decline, as his 28 points in 53 games in 2009-2010 was at a 43 points pace. Still, Senshot thinks Kuba is less likely to bounce back than Chris Phillips. With Erik Karlsson, Sergei Gonchar and David Rundblad in the lineup, Kuba's power play time should certainly decrease. (Senshot)
Brian Lee hopes that he can finally pick up where he finished a season off, and cement a permanent NHL spot. (WDAY AM 970)
Binghamton is going to have a new look roster next year, and like any AHL club, the decision was the parent club's. (WBNG)
Here is a podcast that takes a look at the David Rundblad/Vladimir Tarasenko trade among other topics. Yes, technically the trade was for a draft pick used to draft Tarasenko. (Dobber Hockey)
The Hockey News points out that the Senators second line might resemble an AHL line, which is pretty fair. Still, there is a some potential and a lot of upside in some of our top six candidates. (The Hockey News)
The OHL had another strong draft, having a total of 46 players selected in the 2011 draft, including 10 of the top 30. (Hockeys Future)

Poll

Will Filip Kuba and Chris Phillips bounce back next season from terrible seasons?

Only Phillips will

114 votes

Only Kuba will

6 votes

Both will

101 votes

Neither will

166 votes

387 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 36 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Moronic media question about the Sens of the season

It’s going to be some variation of “Will Alfie be traded for a shot at the cup”. Calling it now.

by B_T on Jul 25, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

That's every year though.

Same as trading Spezza after he has a giveaway for the #1 pick in 2012.

by The Tif on Jul 25, 2011 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I know everyone thinks this is Alfie’s last year, but he has 2 years left! He’s not getting traded with 1.5 years left on his contract.

by Sports Fan! on Jul 25, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Kuba might be picked up at the trade deadline.

But I can imagine him playing out the year here.

by The Tif on Jul 25, 2011 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Colorado made the playoffs in 2010 in a better western conference defying all odds personally I think Ottawa’s team this year is better than Colorado’s team in 2010 does anyone think Ottawa can make a similar run? Also im sure all the players in Ottawa even the veterans no matter what anybody else say’s have the same goal in mind like always playoffs.

by Senator26 on Jul 25, 2011 3:10 PM EDT reply actions

I could see Ottawa doing it but the odds are definitely against us.

On paper we shouldn’t make the playoffs. But I wouldn’t rule out a surprise season! I don’t consider us one of the teams who ABSOLUTELY won’t make the playoffs (Florida, Winnipeg, Edmonton, NY Islanders in my opinion).

by Sports Fan! on Jul 25, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

But that’s one huge IF.

IF Phillips/Gonchar returns to form.
IF Kuba has a contract year.
IF Regin busts out of his sophomore slump.
IF …. you get the idea.

If that all happens, then yeah – we can definitely make the playoffs.

by The Tif on Jul 25, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, it's possible

The odds are definitely very long, but they are still > 0

I wouldn’t put money on it though.

by B_T on Jul 25, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Can? Perhaps

But there’s no good reason to predict the Senators will make the playoffs this year—and there are few reasons to think they’ll even do much better than last year.

The teams ahead of Ottawa pretty much all improved. The teams in Ottawa’s division are all as good or better than they were last season.

The Sens are taking the slow approach to rebuilding. I have no problem with that, but I sure hope it works out in the long run and that the commitment to drafting and development continues so that once the Senators have the organizational depth to compete, they find ways to retain it so that the team can continue competing for a long time.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 25, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say there’s a case to be made that Montreal hasn’t really improved. But yeah, hard to argue that this off-season for Ottawa hasn’t been a case of getting worse by standing still.

Not that I’d have it otherwise, though.

by dzuunmod on Jul 25, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

All due respect to Bryzgalov, but I think Philly has taken a step back. There’s also Florida, which almost has to be better, although it just feels like they took anyone expensive without considering specific needs. I also can’t think of how the Islanders or Buffalo have improved…
But either way there are always surprises every year. We’ll need near-Vezina calibre goaltending; which I’m not expecting, but wouldn’t be all that suprised to get.

by Pmoron on Jul 25, 2011 6:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Neither Montreal or Philly were between Ottawa and a playoff spot though.

If anything, their lack of improvement/step backwards put them between Ottawa and a playoff spot.

by B_T on Jul 25, 2011 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Has Montreal lost anything?

They gained Cole, who isn’t bad at all. They lost… Hamrlik? A loss, but nothing outlandish.

I see only the Islanders, Avalanche, and maybe Stars as finishing lower than the Senators. That’s a quick pre-season prediction based on paper, but… realistically, this should be a tough season for the Sens and for fans.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 25, 2011 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I look forward to our horrible season of horribleness

followed by drafting Nail Yakupov.

Space for rent.

by awr.campbell on Jul 25, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

bail for nail!

by Buz Killington on Jul 25, 2011 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't count Edmonton out!

They SHOULD be better than they have been, kind of like the Islanders. Hard to say if they’ll break their funk.

Also difficult to say how Winnipeg will adjust to all of the changes as well, and they were only 6 points up on Ottawa.

And hey, never count the Leafs out of being bad. If Reimer has a sophomore slump, look out below.

by B_T on Jul 25, 2011 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course

It’s entirely possible all three of those teams could be worse than Ottawa this season. But looking at it on paper and making predictions based on current rosters, I’d guess they’ll finish higher than Ottawa.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 26, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn't they lose Wisnewski?

I know they have PK and a kinda healthy Markov but he was still a good D-man. Montreal needs Price to be stellar again this year. Also the major IF forgotten is that IF Anderson is the Senators version and the not the 2010-2011 Avs version.

by Beanster on Jul 26, 2011 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess you're right...

…other than, as mentioned below, Wisnewski. I guess I just feel like, 7 games against the Bruins notwithstanding, they weren’t scaring anybody last year. I think both them and the Leafs will be lucky to make the playoffs this year out of our division.

by dzuunmod on Jul 26, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

BREAKING NEWS

EK65 has a twitter account!

by Senator26 on Jul 25, 2011 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

Adnan's a follower, right?

Or whatever it is you are on Twitter?

The Marginal Virtues

by JonathanA on Jul 25, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Damn right :D

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Jul 25, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Puck Daddy's 25 top centres in 2011-12

Spezza gets an honourable mention?
That’s nice, I guess..

Space for rent.

by awr.campbell on Jul 25, 2011 8:07 PM EDT reply actions

Bolland, Plekanec and Backes?

Give me a break.

by Mike Hurley on Jul 25, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

What a joke

Whatever. It’s little more than Bleacher Report-calibre summer filler.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 25, 2011 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Honorable Mention?

Was he watching the latter part of last year?
For the last 25 games or so, after he came back from injury, Spezza was scoring at 1.2-1.3 PPG (on a weak team with anemic offence), and he was more defensively responsible than many of those on the list.

by Acrobat on Jul 25, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Dream along

Any dreams of tanking for offensive help are not worth it IMO. This years draft is very strong on defence, and after Yakapov VERY weak for gunners. This will drive the price of FAs up beyond the ridiculous.

The best of a very thin group of forwards coming in the draft are Russian, and when was the last time we drafted a Russian scorer that worked out?

It’s time for building from within… finding the gems we already have and using our development skills to turn them into scorers.

We can dream about the playoffs, but in the end we won’t score enough goals to get there. Anderson would have to win the Vezina for us to have any kind of a shot. At least 3 of 4 out of Foligno, Regin, Michalek and Butler would have to be 25 – 30 goal scorers. Karlsson would have to win the Rocket Richard…. and Spezza stay healthy all year and be top ten in scoring. And Alfy would have to morph into a 28 year old body… not to mention Kuba and Lee becoming stars. or that one of the GMs has a brain cramp and gives us one of their stars for Kuba.

So let’s just content ourselves to watching the young guys develop, and if we win a game now and then, then great.

by Marvellous on Jul 26, 2011 7:45 AM EDT reply actions

The top two players are forwards I thought

I know they are big, bad, evil Russians, but still from what I have heard, both are top players. Just because there are good defencemen available, doesn’t mean we can’t pick up good forwards. Besides, after finally picking a ton of forwards this year, I would be fine with another great defenceman if it happens.

I am not sure why you are so suspicious of everything. Let’s not expect the playoffs, but let’s not expect a good draft pick either, nor expect a lot of current prospects either.

This seems like a pretty depressing way to be a fan, without much hope.

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Jul 26, 2011 8:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Just realistic

I’m not depressed at all… optomistic about this team developing in the next few years, and realistic about this year.

I am also surprised that with all of the reports of the wonderful draft that is coming, when I looked at the preview list, the top of the first round is loaded with just dmen.

by Marvellous on Jul 26, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Are those two russians not slated to go 1-2

Last time that happened were two big bad evil forwards named Alex and Evgeni can someone remind me how that turned out?

Point is superstar quality Russians still want to play in the NHL if they can make the big bucks they want to do it…Its the 2nd -3rd -4th round guys who don’t want to do time in the AHL before earning a spot on a roster. I can senators do pick up one of these guys they will likely hop into the roster immediately

by Beanster on Jul 26, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

*I can suspect if the Sens

typing fail!

by Beanster on Jul 26, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah exactly

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Jul 26, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Filatov

I feel this was a mixed case for Filatov he felt he was superstar quality and tried to make the jump right away then ran back to Russia once things were not working out for him….but hopefully he has figured things out by now and will be the star people were predicting him to be

by Beanster on Jul 26, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

But also Columbus does a terrible job of developing players, while the Sens are much better at that.

by The Tif on Jul 26, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Russians galore

The two Russians Grigorenko and Galchenyuk are near the top along with Yakapov (all playing in the OHL already) , Fiip Forsberg and nine dmen… including alot of right handed dmen which is great if that’s what we are looking for.

Perhaps a part of our defensive depth can be turned into some scoring.

I think last year we heaped way too much expectation on Regin and Foligno, especially Regin… and look at where that got us. Hopefully the new coaches will bring out the best in these guys and the guys from Bingo.

As it turns out the top six guy that BM promised is Filatov. He’s definitely the best skater in the whole prospect pool. Does he finally have his head screwed on properly or not? We’ll see how that goes. The development of the second line will be one of the the most intriguing stories to follow.

by Marvellous on Jul 26, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions