Do it for ALFIE!
by DA SENS on Jan 18, 2012 1:07 AM EST
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PrintWith the Sens surprising year thus far and with the playoffs a realistic outcome at the end of the season, is it time for the Senators organization to reward their captain by loading up for a shot at the Cup?
Time after time, the Sens have picked up role players and "B" level talent at the trade deadline with not much to show for it. With this probably (hopefully not) Alfie's last kick at the can, I think the Sens should swing for the fences and land one of the prized superstars available and take a serious run at the cup.
Let's take a look at a few of the reasons why this may be the year Ottawa should "Do it for ALFIE!!"
The East is open this year as I see only three teams that may get in our way to the Cup Finals. Boston, Philadelphia and the Rangers are the top teams in the East and are all Cup favorites this year. The Rangers are led by King Henrik and are a strong defensive team. However, they are in the bottom half in the league scoring despite the offensive weapons they have. The Flyers are an offensive powerhouse but are not the same team with Pronger out of their line-up. With the Flyers goaltending still an issue, the Sens who are tied for third in league scoring, should be able to hang with both teams in a seven game series.
The Bruins are another story. Boston is the highest scoring team in the league as well as having the lowest goals against. They are also the most intimidating team in the league which won them a Cup last year. In terms of goal scoring, Ottawa can hang with the Bruins. Defensively, the Sens aren't in the same class as the Bruins as they are first in goals against while the Sens rank 28th. However, I believe the Sens can match up pretty well physically against the Bruins which will help them in a seven game series.
Looking at the teams in the Eastern Conference, the only thing I can see holding Ottawa back right now is their defensive game. With our defensive unit playing better of late, I still think we need to add to our D if we want to take a serious run at the Cup this season. The one stud that may be available (for a huge cost) is Nashville's Ryan Suter.
Suter is a stud D-man who has a big shot from the point, can lay the body and can play a shutdown or puck-mover role. He is the complete defenseman who's skill set is built for the playoffs. If the Sens were able to land Suter, a top six of Karlsson, Suter, Cowen, Kuba, Gonchar and Phillips would have the right mix to take a deep run into the playoffs.
Suter is on pace for almost 50 points this year on the offensively challenged Predators and is a plus 7 currently. Being able to help on the penalty kill and power play, Suter could be that impact player we need to take a serious run at the Cup this year.
But the bounty for Suter would be great. As a starting point Ottawa's 2012 first round draft pick would have to be included. Next would be a young NHLer, probably Nick Foligno who has raised his stock around the league this year as a griddy, two-way potential 20 goal, 40 point guy. And the last part of the package would be a high-end prospect.
In my opinion, Ottawa has three untouchable prospects in Zibanejad, Silfverberg and Lehner. The rest are in play. Any one of Stone, Puempel, Da Costa and Noesen have the potential to be solid NHLer's in the future. I think a package of a 1st round pick, Foligno, Stone or Puempel, and a conditional pick would be enough to land Suter.
Some of you will say that there is no way that Nashville will trade Suter if they are in a playoff position come the trade deadline. And this may be true. But there is no way Nashville can afford to let Suter walk away for nothing in the off-season. And if Ottawa can put together an enticing package for him, maybe the Preds move him.
Is Suter the player that can put Ottawa over the top and get Alfie his Cup?
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Stone
… is more valuable than the other prospects. rookie of the year, 100 point season potential. he will play on the 1st line.
That's a pretty big extrapolation for a guy who hasn't even played against AHL competition yet, much less NHL competition
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Jan 18, 2012 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
No one on Finland's roster is currently playing in the AHL or NHL
So I don’t know what your point was. I’m aware that Stone has excelled against other prospects. That doesn’t mean he’ll put up 100 points on Spezza’s wing next year.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Jan 18, 2012 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
One of many highlights
And he lit it up against some great competition. I also wasn’t saying he’ll put up 100 next year, just saying that it’s not out of the realm of possibilities for him to put up 100 at SOME point in his career. I also doubt he’ll play on the top line at all next year, in the little time he gets with the big boys. He’ll probably spend most of the year in the AHL. I just don’t think we should waste a prospect like him for Bobby Ryan, Ryan Suter, or any other rental player we’d get. It’s not worth it.
Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!
Bobby Ryan has 3 more years after this at $5.1 million
He’s also scored 30+ goals for the last 3 seasons and is on pace for 32 this season. He’s also only 24.
Definitely not a rental player.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Didn't realize he still had 3 years left.
Kinda lessens my hate of giving up Stone for him.
Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!
Well, look, he can have 300 highlights
It doesn’t mean he’s going to be a good player. Dr. Zee said Stone’s potential is a rookie of the year, 1st line winger who could put up 100 points. I’m saying that statement is a huge reach considering that Stone hasn’t played AHL-level competition yet, much less NHL-level ones. And you are arguing against that with some WJC clips.
The leap from the world juniors to 100-point NHL seasons is so massive that no amount of highlight-reel plays demonstrate any kind of “surefire” NHL player. That’s just not the way player development works.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Fair enough. I wasn’t trying to argue that he would be an immediate stat monster. I’m saying, based on what we saw from him on a large stage, against fairly solid competition, he could turn into a damn fine first line winger.
Mark Ingram-OROY
Cam Jordan-DROY
New Orleans Saints-2012 Super Bowl Champs
TOP IS GAWD!
On that, we definitely agree
I love his potential. I think he will turn out to be a great NHLer, I just don’t want to write it in stone (HIYO!) just yet.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
This is definitely an interesting idea.
I agree that the East is potentially wide open, depending on who we draw in the first round (Jersey? Could probly take ‘em. Philly?…It’d be tight).
Suter would bring a big frame and shutdown abilities to the D corps, and is also way younger than I realized. And I think everyone wants to see something special happen for Alfie this year.
However, I don’t love the high cost associated with him, especially condiering he’s a free agent in the summer. It’d suck to give up everything you mentioned only to have him walk. Even if he does sign, his contract next year will likely be in the $5.5-$6M range. I’m not saying I wouldn’t be all over that if I were Bryan Murray, but money could be tied up with a Karlsson deal and a Cowen deal waiting in the wings.
But I like the idea you’ve presented here. You’re right, and I don’t wanna jinx anything, but this is almost certainly Alfie’s final shot at taking a long playoff run. What are we gonna do about it?
It’s Philly, we have a vex over them like the Leafs had with the Sens. We’d always beat the Flyers, even when we were underdogs in the series.
by modsuperstar on Jan 19, 2012 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
I don't think Ottawa has any untouchable prospects except Lehner
I think Murray would trade Zibanejad and Silfverberg for the right offer i.e. Bobby Ryan. Even Lehner could be dealt by adding first rounders or whatever to get Schneider. If Turris ends up working out, you could even argue Zibanejad is expendable.
If Murray would trade Rundblad, he could trade any of those.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
I think he'd probably be less likely to trade Zibanejad or Silvferberg
If only because we have less guaranteed depth at forward. I know we have a lot of great prospects, but I don’t know that we’ve had anyone emerge at the NHL level to make him feel someone was expendable, like what happened with Rundblad. If The Bust were at 15 goals, for example, I could see Murray more willing to trade a forward.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Jan 18, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
Well James Gordon asked on twitter the other day, would you do Zibanejad + 1st rounder for Bobby Ryan? He’d be getting a pretty guaranteed young forward back too.
I think Murray would be willing to do that.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
That's a good point
Getting a legit top-six forward back probably makes the deal more palatable.
I think I’d be willing to do that deal, though I have to believe the Ducks would be looking for more.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Jan 18, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
I think the organization should do something for Alfie.
As long as they don’t lose sight of the rebuild. They should aim for young guys who could help now and in the future.
A deal for Ryan Suter would be nice, but I feel like that is a little too much given he is 27 and he is going to be a free agent. I don’t see any other young AND stud defensemen that they could make a deal for especially as many are on teams fighting for a playoff spot, or with very large contracts. We can’t forget that Karlsson’s deal is coming up, and Cowen too. But there are some servicable guys they could go for.
I think almost any of the prospects are expendable in Murrays eyes at this point.
by Los Blancos Chicca on Jan 18, 2012 11:01 AM EST reply actions
I would agree with this
Maybe not give Alfie a cup run, but I would hate to see a firesale of both Kuba and Gonchar at the deadline and kill everything.
I am certain that won’t happen.
Alfie is not going to win a Stanley Cup most likely, but one last playoff season would still be a nice send off.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
l'envers de la médaille
What about: We have a good team going right now and let’s not mess with it too much.
I agree on one point. Boston is too deep and strong to try and match them on paper. Any team can ride a hot streak and win a cup (look at Patrick Roy’s two stanley cup rings blocking his ears). But to try to add to match up to the best team in the East: impossible.
Do it for Alfie should be for the players in the playoffs.
Small note althought: If we could get Suter with an extension to his contract, then there would not be many untouchable prospects in the Sens. Even a straight trade of Lehner for Suter (never going to happen) i would trade away. If we end up with the best player in the trade then make it. The problem with potential is that almost no player can reach it.
Zibanejad should go before Puempel or Stone
Mika was a high riser in the draft due to his man possessed streak of play prior to last year’s draft. Since then the physical style that garnered so much attention has largely fallen by the wayside to the offence first approach we saw him exhibit at the WJC. He has a ceiling of a second line centre, with all likelihood of him being a third line centre. But wait, we already have an excellent third line centre who can put up 20 goals, Z Smith. This, along with Turris’ performance thus far and Paularus’ assertation that they believe Turris is capable of more with a full training camp, makes ZIbanejad’s value to the Sens plummet. Puemel and Stone are high skill players. They project as first/second liners or bust, potentially Stone could be a bottom six guy, but it seems unlikely. That type of high end talent has much more value to the Sens as Murray has found a way to plug holes with late round picks and college free agents. For these reasons I would strongly advocate the trading of Zibanejad before Puempel, Stone, or our first rounder this year (hopefully Cody Ceci). If we can land a reasonably good defensive defenceman for Zibanejad straight up Murray should jump at that opportunity. Maybe something would have to be added to that package to get Suter, but not too much, Zibanejad is a top 10 pick from only a year ago.
Personally I think a defensive defenceman for Zibanejad is a terrible return.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
Karlsson, Kuba, Gonchar, Weircoich, and Ceci (hopefully) aren’t enough offence from the back end for you?
I don’t know Ceci is, but only Karlsson and GOnchar are offensive. Gonchar will likely be gone after next season.
But even if we had more, you need to get more value from a 6th overall pick from just a few months ago than just a defensive defenceman.
I love soft players (especially Europeans) that play on the perimeter. Enigmas are awesome. Grit and heart-and-soul are red flags.
Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan
I see your point
When I say defensive defenceman I don’t mean someone who can only contribute defensively. I do mean someone who is more than above average defensively though. I don’t know who is on the market, but a player in the mold of Mark Giordano or Niklas Kronwall would be a welcome addition.
The part you forget about Smith is that his contract clock is well more advanced than Z-Bad’s. Who’s to say he’s NHL ready next year? If he isn’t then You have Smith. If he is I could easily see Smith sliding down to a 4th line role.
by modsuperstar on Jan 19, 2012 9:26 AM EST up reply actions
It’s true, but Smith was an overage pick who doesn’t seem to have any fantasies about being a top 6 guy. It will be a few years before Smith even makes as much as Zibanejad’s entry level deal. Also, sliding Smith into a fourth line role is such a waste. The guy put up solid points during the Calder Cup run and is doing it again this year. If we’re worried about the advancement of his contract clock sliding him to the fourth line after he’s earned his third line job is a good way for us to solve the problem, because Smith will just go somewhere else.
I voted that the Preds won't trade
I believe they know they’re losing Weber, and so will turn their sights towards Suter and locking him up long-term. My belief is that Weber gets traded at the deadline for a king’s ransom.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Not as a rental
It would be great to get Suter if we could resign him. What an addition he would be… but not at huge cost if he’s just a rental player… even if they would trade him… which they won’t.
They will resign him for multi-years at almost mega-dollars. This kind of dman (just turned 27 years old) doesn’t grow on trees.
Nashville is a team that values it’s defencemen, as they draft a good one every year, and generally have at least one NHL-ready dman every year. Last year it was Blum… this year Ellis.
But what do I know of their inner workings? Maybe they figure that their D will be strong enough with Blum and Ellis.
I would be interested, but have a conditional clause.
Like a 2nd, but a 1st if he resigns here. Something along those lines would make it palatable. I do think we need some more defensive experience for when Kuba leaves, but I’m not averse to the idea either. Anderson can steal games, and as was said above, depending on who we draw in the first round, we could sneak in.
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