Silver Nuggets: Making room for Rundblad; Value of Lee and Kuba

by Adnan on Aug 31, 2011 1:01 PM EDT in Silver Nuggets

It is the last day of August! Tomorrow is September and there is preseason hockey (and a rookie tournament) in September. The rookie tournament runs from the 10th to the 13th, and preseason starts on the 19th. Before then, the US Open lasts until the 11th. Everything's coming up Adnan!

Also, both Silver Seven fantasy leagues are now filled up with twenty people in each league for a total of 39 different people (I am in both :P). Thanks to everyone for their interest!

Here are today's links:

James Mirtle notes that the Senators rebuild is centred around the club's Swedish prospects, including a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy, David Rundblad. In addition to Rundblad, the Senators future roster should include all-star defenceman Erik Karlsson, as well as goaltender Robin Lehner and forward Jakob Silfverberg. He did forget Mika Zibanejad though. Mirtle mentions that the Senators might have to trade a player to make room for Rundblad on the roster. (Globe and Mail)
James Gordon also feels that the Senators should try to make room for Rundblad. He thinks Brian Lee provides excellent value given his young age and low salary, and thinks the Senators should trade Filip Kuba to make room, because even if Kuba improves, at best he will fetch a second or third round pick later in the year. (Senators Extra)
Nichols, however, doesn't believe the Senators should try and make room for Rundblad and would rather he start the season in the AHL feeling he could use some time in Binghamton like Erik Karlsson. I do want to point out though, that Karlsson only played 10 games down there so I am not sure how much that helped him. Rundblad is also older than Karlsson was at the time. (The 6th Sens)
Jared over at Sens Shot got some insight into Senators prospect Shane Prince via an interview with Shane's sister, Olivia, who is a competitive gymnast. (Sens Shot)
Pascal Leclaire still isn't fully healthy yet and has had a couple other set backs over the summer. If there is ever a guy who is injury prone, it's this guy. It's a shame though, because the guy is talented when healthy. (Ottawa Citizen)
The Senators have announced a three-year extension with The Team 1200 to broadcast their games on radio. (Ottawa Senators)

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I don't know how much those 10 games helped Karlsson in terms of his skills

But he looked like a much more patient, confident player after he was called up. There’s quite a bit to acclimate to at the pro level, and while I don’t doubt MechaKarlsson’s talent, I could see him struggling to pick it up over the first few games. I wouldn’t mind seeing him spend some time in the AHL to get his bearings.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 31, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Didn't it take him a while even after that?

I might not remember clearly, but even after he came back, he wasn’t that good. It was only after struggling through NHL experience that later in the year he became much more useful.

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

by Adnan on Aug 31, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, there was still a big difference between the second half of his rookie year and last year

He continued to improve as his confidence grew. But I think it was his time in the AHL that kind of gave him the confidence boost to get the ball rolling.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 31, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I think with Paul MacLean coming from Detroit, and the Red Wings history of keeping players developing in the AHL longer than most other teams, it would not suprise me to see Cowen & Runblad play a few games in the NHL to start the season & give them a taste, then to send them down to the AHL until a Kuba/Gonchar trade market opens up or injuries require a recall of one or both of them. I don’t think extra time in the AHL will hamper their development any. Unless either one of them can actually crack the top 4, I think they are better off playing top 2 minutes in Binghamton than playing 5/6 minutes in Ottawa.

I also think that Phillips, Gonchar & Kuba’s salaries make top 4 positions their’s to lose. Not to say that the positions are rightfully theirs, however, I think they deserve a chance to show last season was an aberration before giving those spots to rookies.

That being said, if any of those guys don’t perform to the level of their salaries, I have no problem giving Runblad or Cowen a chance and putting whoever isn’t performing in the press box.

I reserve the right to change my opinion. After all, it belongs to me.

by havey03 on Aug 31, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Didn’t forget Zibanejad — was just interested in the impact Forsberg made with the team and he wasn’t part of that pick.

Blogging on hockey at The Globe and Mail

by James Mirtle on Aug 31, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

Ah okay fair enough!

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

by Adnan on Aug 31, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

And the Senators are advertising Open Tryouts for a "Loud Crowd" cheer team.

… The ushers will just tell them to sit down and keep quiet anyways.

A Goal Horn Haiku

Hoooonk hoooonk honk honk hooooonk
That's the sound the train horn makes
Suck it, Toronto

by Nightbreak on Aug 31, 2011 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

ZING!

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 31, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Shane Prince

I watched quite a bit of Shane Prince playing for the 67s and was thrilled when we landed him. He does everything with so much speed and he’s such a great team player.

My only fear with him is that even though it says he’s 5’11 and weighs 185, he looks like he’s 5’10 and 170, which means he’s possibly vulnerable to the Matt Cookes’s of the world. He’s already had at least one concussion combined with whiplash. I’d like to see him at least 200 pounds before he turns pro, and I believe he will prove to be a steal.

by Marvellous on Sep 1, 2011 8:03 AM EDT reply actions

Decisions, decisions

It’s not a problem starting training camp with a glut of defencemen. It’s a problem starting the regular season with a glut of signed defencemen. Some teams come out of TC with the newfound realization that their defence corps isn’t what they had hoped for for one reason or another… and they want to make some moves… especially teams that have one or two injuries to key dmen.

So during that shuffling period as TC ends, that’s the time to move players if we need to move them.

The way I see it, the road to creating a team that is in contention is to build on the strength we have on the back end and create depth and strength in scoring and between the pipes…. and just allow players to develop.

Once the development has proceded enough that we’re in contention, then we can move players to add the missing pieces.

That plan means hang onto players until we see how and if they fit in. I’ve never been a Brian Lee fan, cause I was yelling in front of the screen on that eventful draft day for Kopitar. Then Lee showed up and played like he was 5’10" instead of 6’3"… but who knows which Lee will show up this year with the new coaching regime and everything.

Kuba, well, blablabla blablabla, we made a mistake… we’re stuck with him so live with it. Too bad so sad, Milbury is no longer around, so moving him to the Islanders for a 7th rounder in the year 2016 (joke) won’t happen. That rumour was probably started by one of Eklund’s fantasies.

by Marvellous on Sep 1, 2011 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

I expect both Cowen and Rundblad to play in the AHL as well as the NHL this season.

It’s never a bad idea to start in the AHL. I do think, however, that Cowen would be brought up to the NHL before Rundblad.

by Los Blancos Chicca on Sep 1, 2011 10:15 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

Personally, I think Rundblad would play before Cowen

On another note, hey you are back!

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

by Adnan on Sep 1, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Cowmen's played in North America..

I would think Rundblad could use more time in the AHL to adjust.

by Los Blancos Chicca on Sep 1, 2011 11:09 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Hahahahahahahaha cowmen!!! Stupid iPhone!!

by Los Blancos Chicca on Sep 1, 2011 11:11 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

A couple of unrelated comments:

I’m shocked that it’s taking this long to lock up Doughty.

Also RIP Belak. What a sad summer for the NHL. They really need to study the issues surrounding these deaths. Unfortunately I am on of the fans that cheer when players fight. I admittedly never thought further than “hey it’s a fight and my man’s winning”. I feel bad about that and hope the NHL takes action. It’s enough these guys put their bodies in harms way for the game, they shouldn’t also have to suffer mentally/emotionally for it.

by Los Blancos Chicca on Sep 1, 2011 10:21 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

Trouble is, even if this is a pattern for tough guys... all three deaths have been 'different'

Accidental – Boogard, Suicide – Rypien, and Undetermined – Belak. Some will still say there’s no connection.

But this is very, very bad for the NHL. Someone has got to be thinking hard in the head offices now.

Other leagues have their tragedies, but other than the NFL, it’s harder to blame the game. We lost ex-Jay Mike Flanagan to suicide earlier this week. NFL lost Forrest Blue to dementia in July. NBA is less physical, true, so it doesn’t seem like deaths of former basketball players can be blamed on the play.

A Goal Horn Haiku

Hoooonk hoooonk honk honk hooooonk
That's the sound the train horn makes
Suck it, Toronto

by Nightbreak on Sep 1, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions