Si j'étais Bryan Murray

by Bikini Cowboy on Jul 25, 2011 12:54 PM EDT

Okay! I am frustated with a slow summer and i can't wait for Hockey to start up again, so...

Let's start with wild speculation. Looking at the team, i see that Filip Kuba is on his last year with the senators. Let me put My GM hat. Since I would not keep him, i would try to trade him for some value. I see two possiblility. 1. Trade him to a team that is shallow on offensive defensemen for a prospect. 2. keep him until the trade deadline for depth and possible injuries and hopefully he raises his value with a bounce back season for a pick.

I want to explain what i was looking for: Kuba for a prospect that might have some value for us but seems to be buried in another team that would need immediate help offensively on the blue line.

Wild conjectures after the jump

My preference would be to trade him now (with the right deal in place). We run the risk of shallowing our defense if injuries become a problem. I see an advantage to give some good time (15-18 minutes a game) to either of David Rundblad, Jared Cowen or Patrick Wiercioch instead of Kuba.

I identified Los Angeles and Minnesota as potential partners. The Los Angeles Kings seem like a very good partner, Western division + need to win sooner then later. If they would give us Tyler Toffoli as Hockey News has him lower in the prospects + we would have another 67's player and a linemate of Shane Prince.

The other potential is Minnesota Wild (also Western). They do not have the drive to win it all next year but they are looking for offense (Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi). Their defense is very low offensively, Marek Zidlicky is their most offensive D-man with 7 goals and 24 points. Ideally, i would like to see Mikael Granlund come back our way. He seems to have stalled but here's what i wrote last year before the draft.

Mikael Granlund: Center. A playmaker, as we have Jason Spezza, he would ideally help make a good one-two punch of good playmaker centers, like Crosby-Malkin, Gomez-Drury. We have a lot a centermen (Spezza, Fisher, Regin, Kelly, *Cullen*, Winchester, ect.), this is not a positional need but he is ranked as the best European skater and he has played with Pulkkinen. He would not be a slam dunk (no way we could get one at the 16th position), but him and Spezza would set us at the centre position for years. He is another pick that we should think of getting if he is still available and who else is still available in the first round. In the second round, he would be a steal.

Poll

What would you do with Kuba in these possible Cases?

Trade with Minnesota for Mikael Granlund

21 votes

Trade with Los Angeles for Tyler Toffoli

11 votes

Keep him until draft deadline and trade for pick

26 votes

Keep him for Stanley Cup run

6 votes

Two words: Tanya Harding = LTIR

4 votes

68 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a member of the Silver Seven community, and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of the site managers, editors, or Sports Blogs Nation, Inc.

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Comments

Kuba for Granlund would never happen

Granlund is a top 10 prospect.

Minnesota would be fools to part with him. Trading him for Kuba would be positively Milburyesque.

A trade that I would like to see, however, is Kuba for Rolston.

by TheGuineaPig on Jul 25, 2011 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

Oui, moi aussi.

The problem i see from Minnesota’s perspective is one we are familliar with. No offensive help from the back end. I was looking at Hockey News and they rate Minnessota’s depth at center as Mikko Koivu, Matt Cullen, Kyle Brodziak, Darroll Powe, Cody Almond, Carson McMillan*, Jeff Taffe, David McIntyre*, Chad Rau*, Joel Broda*, Zack Phillips*, Tyler Graovac*, then Mikael Granlund. That’s 12 bodies ahead of him. I don’t know Minnesota that much but looking at the depth chart of Ottawa, they seem very much on the ball with how players are right now and not how they will be in the future. Usually most teams would like to see a progression from their 19 year old forward prospect, yet Granlund has -5 goals, +1 ass. last year from the year before. Not every prospect will pan out. I think for Minn., Kuba would benefit their offense now, Apart from Zidlicki none of their Dmen have more then 5 goals.

by Bikini Cowboy on Jul 25, 2011 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

As TGP noted, Granlund is one of best prospects in the world and Minnesota’s best.

How about you check out all of Granlund’s stats? He scored close to a PGP in the regular season, finished tied for first in playoff scoring, HIFK (his team) is league champion and he finished tied for third in WC scoring where Finland (again Granlund’s team) was champion.

I expect Granlund to come over to NA in 2012-13 (after military service) and compete for a roster spot with the Wild.
-
Kuba isn’t worth much if he plays like this season. I expect a 3rd rounder (because the draft is excellent) for him or a mid range prospect, if he a decent season.

by Acer9 on Jul 25, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Je l'ai fait

Did you see the same stats that i did. I was noting the progression of Granlund, which i stand by as saying it has remained at the same level as last year.

2009-10 HIFK Helsinki SM-liiga 43 13 27 40
2010-11 HIFK Helsinki SM-liiga 39 8 28 36

Again, i am not saying that Granlung is not going to be a great player. Just stating the facts that he has scored 5 less goals and 4 less points then last year. I am not making an in depth study of Granlund or Toffoli, just stating what partners might be interested in Kuba as a offensive Dman and what we might try to get from them. If you have another better candidate please feel free to say so.

by Bikini Cowboy on Jul 25, 2011 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Kuba for Toffoli would be a coup. He had some huge numbers last year and looks to be have gotten much bigger/stronger.

by ojc on Jul 25, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

But it ain't happeing

so store that in an Indiana Jones warehouse and forget ’bout it.

by whatsinaname on Jul 26, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Je donnerais ma démission, ou du moins...

I would step up to the podium and admit that I have made mistakes in overevaluating the past core, that I gave away bad contracts and have put too much blame on the previous management when I have been here for closing on five years as GM. I would accept responsibility for every decision made and would set clear expectations…ah, this isn’t what this article was about.

Just waive or buy our Kuba, we probably aren’t getting first round pick back for him…

by Quizzical Quorum on Jul 25, 2011 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

Comme tu le dis ce n'est pas le point.

If BM trades him at the deadline then it will be for a pick. How high will depend on several factors that we are too far away to speculate on.

by Bikini Cowboy on Jul 25, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the problem with trying to trade Kuba right now is that he just doesn't have any value

If he returns to his previous ~40-point form, he’d hopefully be moveable at the deadline, but only for a mid-round pick, which is still better than nothing.

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by Mark Parisi on Jul 25, 2011 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

Yep

Kuba can’t be traded unless he drives up his value with a good first half to the season.

Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.

by DarrenM on Jul 25, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Kuba going to be moved at deadline

I don’t think Kuba is going to be moved any sooner than the trade deadline and for a later round draft pick (or not moved at all if he stinks again). Even if he has a solid season, his play has really hurt his value and I don’t think he will be able to make up for it by having a good 3/4 of a season. Ottawa will need him in case Cowan and Rundblad aren’t ready.

I see Kuba being moved for a 4th round pick at the deadline, or even a 5th. I think Kuba right now is an investment in a draft pick. We’ll use him for what we need until we trade him and then his salary will be justified (somewhat) by acquiring a pick.

by Captain11 on Jul 25, 2011 8:52 PM EDT reply actions

That's probably the long and the short of it

The Senators will probably have to keep Kuba, and keep playing him, until the trade deadline rolls around. At that point, potential trade partners will have seen whether or not he can put up points like he used to be able to, and the Senators will have paid most of his salary. The best-case scenario is I see him traded for a second-round pick, but that might not happen.

The only other possibility I could see is if a playoff-contending team sees an injury among their top defencemen, and needs to pick up someone who wouldn’t force them to pay too much in terms of trade or salary. Teams that may fall into this category include Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, the Rangers, and Montreal. Each have suspect defence groups as it is, and one injury in their top four would make the situation even uglier.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 26, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions

en plus...

As much as we poke on the guy. If injuries pile up then we will be happy to have him until the deadline. I just hope that BM trades him no matter what.

by Bikini Cowboy on Jul 28, 2011 7:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Dream along

Either of those GMs would lose their jobs for making either of those trades. The most we’d ever get for Kuba would be a 7th rounder or a possible Bingo 4th liner… or a big salary guy that they’ve given up on.

We are stuck with Kuba until the trade deadline if there are any team who have lost most of their regular dmen to injury and are VERY desperate. Hopefully he bounces back and raises his trade value.

Kuba is another example of a player who was overevaluated based on a few good months where he caught fire on the PP. Then they gave him a big contract and watched as he returned to his normal not so good self. He was slow to start with and injuries slowed him down to becoming a pokey skater. The NHL is now a game of speed and slow dmen get left in the dust.

by Marvellous on Jul 26, 2011 8:03 AM EDT reply actions

Pick it is

As you say, imagining that the Senators will be able to get a prospect like Granlund or Toffoli for Kuba is wild conjecture.

The Senators will be lucky, in my view, to get a pick for Kuba, because it will depend on his having a ‘bounce-back’ season.

The Marginal Virtues

by JonathanA on Jul 26, 2011 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

Waitasec

like Malkin/Crosby…and Gomez/Drury?

Kuba has no value right now. He is aging, soft, and overpaid. To get value, he needs to played in a top 4 role, but to look good, he may need to be protected in the bottom pair.

If we got a 2nd for useful guys like Campoli or Kelly,
and only 6ths and 7ths for Ruutu and Kovalev,

I see us getting a 6th-7th round pick. If he improves, maybe a 4th-5th.

Which is useful, but at that low rent yield we may as well have bought the guy out and have the most deserving one of Cowen/Rundblad/Gryba/Wiercioch/Borowiecki take his spot….

Gonchar-Karlsson
Phillips-one of the rookies
Lee-Carkner

and then call up the best trending youth from the A in an injury pinch.

by DontfeedtheBelak on Jul 26, 2011 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

I am loving all the French in this post, rec'd!

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

by Adnan on Jul 26, 2011 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

I also love it

It helps me learn a little bit!

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by Peter Raaymakers on Jul 26, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

merci

I appreciate the thumbs up.

by Bikini Cowboy on Jul 26, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

How about some Mandarin next time "Nee how mah"

that means “dude, what’s happening!”

Do you suppose Kuba’s ears’ burning?

by whatsinaname on Jul 26, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Kuba

Is going to surprise a lot of people next year…by having a very productive season and establishing himself as a top 4 guy with the Sens.

Lots of variables involved in having a bad season and he had a bunch of them add up.

by OD99 on Jul 27, 2011 1:14 AM EDT reply actions

Kuba's future

I have a tough time believing a team would give up any asset to pickup Kuba. In all likelihood to other teams Kuba would be nothing more than a rental player. Giving up a decent pick makes no sense either given he’s a guy who probably won’t be re-upped by the team that trades for him. He’ll be 35 by the trade deadline, so my guess is he’s probably a pretty good candidate to be playing in the KHL next season. Giving up an asset for a player who viably may have no future in the NHL makes little sense.

modsuperstar dot ca | SlideawayMedia

by modsuperstar on Jul 29, 2011 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

To be fair, most of the moves on deadline day make little sense

That said, I agree: Kuba would be a rental for a team looking for defensive depth, not the last piece of a Cup puzzle.

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by Mark Parisi on Jul 29, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

… unless defensive depth is the last piece of a Cup puzzle!

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by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 1, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactement.

A team going in the playoffs will probably like to have a Kuba as a 7th defenseman in case of injury. Another bonus is that his cap hit is not coming in next season. Does anybody know what Kuba’s cap hit would be at the trade deadline for a team picking him up?

I also agree that no team will pick him up on a +35 contract.

by Bikini Cowboy on Aug 4, 2011 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions