Should the Ottawa Senators Look at Acquiring Jeff Carter?

Proven goal scorer, good size, good cap hit. As you pointed out so well, there is a hole in our top six. A 27 year proven scorer is something that should be at least looked at. And let’s face it, with all our kids coming, there some roster players that can be given up, Foligno a good example.

As for the attitude, I think almost every young player goes through it, going to parties and clubs. That’s no secret. In a market like Philly, it gets blown out of proportion.

From Columbus’ point of view dealing with us makes alot of sens. A package of offensive potential and a first round pick in return for Carter is IMO what they need.

But since when can Columbus management ever be accused of knowing what it is doing?

From a Sens point of view what is a big physical center (27 years old) who has averaged 36 goals and 30 assists the last 4 years before this one worth? Would he fit as a 1 and 1a with Spezza or would there be ego issues? Spezza seems to be relishing his role, and this has become his team.

On the other hand, there is no such thing as having too many great centers, because the good ones are hockey players first, so they can play on the wing. This move would solve the problem of whenever Alfy decides to hang it up because we have lots of right-handed shot players… Turris… Z’jad…

Carter has a NTC and is signed until 2022 at $5.2 mill. Also is whatever got him traded out of Phily resolved or is he just a wild man waiting for a party to happen? Having anyone under contract for 10 years is risky. It doesn’t bode too well that bringing Carter into Columbus didn’t have much impact on them in the win / loss column. We’d need to do our homework to figure out if he’d fit into this dressing room or not.

This trade would be the biggest blockbuster in our history. It’s certainly worth discussing to find out what they would want in return.

On one hand, a 27-year-old scoring centre/winger would look pretty good on this roster right about now. On the other hand, that is a scary contract to bite into. Not dollar-wise, because I don’t see the cap hit as a problem with our payroll… but 10 years? Yikes!

I think Carter needs a hockey market to really thrive… I mean, look at his numbers in Columbus, when compared to his numbers in Philly. Ottawa IS a hockey market, and it seems like players want to be here. (see Turris)

One question that I’m sure someone on here will know the answer to: Does his NTC last the entire length of his contract? That’s the only thing that worries me about it. I’m reluctant to sign anyone to ten years, but if we can get out from under it in four or five years, then it might not be so bad.

He’s young enough to fit in with our current plans, yet old enough and experienced enough to deal with media in a hockey market, and how to help the younger guys.

I’d say go for it, if BM can swing it. I’m not TOO worried about the first rounder… Carter makes an immediate impact (hopefully) whereas the first round kid won’t be ready for three or four years. So the trade (right away) looks like Foligno for Carter, and that, my friends is a no-brainer.

It doesn’t hurt to kick the tires (as BM puts it) and find out if they are interested and what they would want. Then we are in a position to see if it’s worth the risk or not.

Signing a guy to a lifetime contract like that and then even entertaining letting him go shortly afterwards would smell of something bad. If he “needs a hockey market” to thrive, that smells bad too… personality issues is not what we need to inject into this team that is on the rise… there’s work to be done, because 10 years is a long time to have a Yashin-like contract hanging around the neck of any organization (as the Islanders found out).

And there is no harm in kicking the tires.

I’m always wary of giving up a first round pick, but that’s the asking price. I would sooner wait for the off season, make an offer on Parise and keep the first rounder than go for Carter to be honest. But there’s probably a good reason why I’m not the GM of an NHL team.

Now if you could package some of our guys ie two of Foligno, Butler, Winchester, Regin and a late pick, I’d be okay with that. But there’s no reason why Columbus would take that deal.

Howsan will be looking to try to save his ass, so if they decide to deal Carter, it’ll be for a king’s ransom… multiple picks and multiple prospects.

I’m almost never in favour of giving up a first rounder, as teams that deal their first rounders generally end up with Cap issues long before they have a good enough team to get deep into the playoffs (like the Leafs).

This team is scoring enough goals to win games, and Z’jad and Silfverberg are on the way and maybe even Stone… so we’re just going to get better offensively.

A couple of moves on the defensive side of things, and we could vault ourselves into the elite team category. Easier said than done… yes.

Moving Richards in here would be tantamount to blowing it all up offensively, which would be understandable if we were in trouble scoring goals… and we’re not.

If the Sens were not having such an outstanding year, but were, say, 4-5 points out of playoff position, everyone would freak at the possibility of giving up any piece of the “future” for a player (like Carter and otherwise).

If you can get Carter without giving up ANYTHING like Zibanejad, Stone, a 1st Rounder this year then, sure, do it. It has to be a steal (which it likley won’t be).

But having Carter this year doesn’t make us better than the Rangers and Bruins in my opinion.

Going for deal like this to squeak into the playoffs and likely lose in first round is foolhardy.

I’d sooner add an FA in the off-season than give up assets.

There is no such thing as a friendly 10 year contract. That is a lifetime for a franchise.

But you know what? I like this conversation. It shows that we know something about this game that we’re not all frothing at the mouth wanting this guy. Just adding another offensive guy may not make us better. When I watch this team, that’s not the place we are wanting.

In the end if Richards is fueled by alcohol, or if he’s bad in the dressing room, that wouldn’t be too hard to figure out. It’s certainly a red flag that the Flyers chose to make place for Giroux by dealing him. Are the Flyers any better now. With Coutourier, I think so… We’ll see if they are playoff better.

I just like our team offensively. What’s wrong with Turris as the second line center for now, and we’ll see next year if Z’jad is ready or not. Alfy doesn’t seem to be suffering with Turris as his center.

Too much risk. As I have stated before, I am all about adding at the deadline but hit plus cancer risk, locker room that is, is too high on this one. We need an expiring contract at the deadline. One that we can option into a new contract or cast off at year end. I hate the idea of giving up Foligno. He is blossoming into a more crash and bang version of C. Kelly who can play on lines from top to bottom.

BM could make a case that we’re the ones that got fleeced. Vermette turned out OK for them whereas Leclaire… well, we won’t dredge that up.

What we did with Leclaire had nothing to do with Columbus.

Oh yeah right, we got that 2nd pick that we turned into Lehner…

There is something about a long term contract for a player that I haven’t seen much that scares me.

I am not against long term deals in general, just for these kinds.

Reading the comments that Gautier is looking for a centre, and this the kind of deal he needs to do to keep his job.

I am going on yet another Filatov rant here… no I am not, but he might have a future on 2nd line wing.
Zibanejad will want that spot next season and Senators will give it to him, with Alfie staying one more season, there is just no need to do anything there.
Why Foligno is not good enough?
Murray should pull a trigger on Carter if he is available as long as we do not ship the future, Foligno and 1st is ok, but will not be enough. Carter is a big question mark too. I vote stay the course and let guys play their way out/into the roster.

trade Gonchar for Sutter (nashvills dman). Then sign him to an extention. Once this happens hopefully sign Z. Parise (apperantly Sutters best bud) in the offseason. I understand it doesnt help much this season, but that what i would like.