In the last article I mentioned that the Senators should still be looking to add another top six forward if possible. I can tell you that right now anyway, all seems quiet on that front.
They would love to get involved in the Bobby Ryan sweepstakes but may not have the pieces required to make that deal happen. The Ducks would like to bring back a number two centre in the deal and the Sens obviously don’t want to move Turris in a deal for Ryan.
Bruce Garrioch speculated over the weekend that Mika Zibanejad and Robin Lehner might be a good place to start in talks with the Ducks.
There will be a handful of teams lining up to make a pitch for Ryan with the Philadelphia Flyers believed to be the favourites. Obviously Murray will keep an eye on that situation but I think it's fair to call the Senators long shots at this point.
The other option that seems to be gaining traction among fans and media types lately is Alex Semin. Can tell you that right now anyway, there appears to be limited interest from the Senators. Semin scored 21 goals last season and buried 40 back in 2009.
Despite the very public claims that they are no longer involved in the Rick Nash process, I do expect the Senators to keep a close eye on the situation moving forward. It has been well documented that the Sens were the team furthest along in talks with the Jackets before Murray made the decision to back off.
With that said, you would have to think one of the teams actually on his preferred destination list will step up.
Aside from the need for another top six forward, the Sens continue to wait confirmation from Daniel Alfredsson on his plans for next season. Over a week ago, the club reached out to Alfie’s agent and from what I’m told, actually presented a new contract for the Captain to consider.
The Senators have been operating under the assumption that Alfie will return next season but a public declaration would certainly help ease the uncertainty some fans still have.
- As we enter a bit of a downtime in the NHL’s off season, I’d like to revisit a feature that seemed to work well in the past. Once or twice a week, I want to give you the reader, an opportunity to have your work featured here on the site. Chirp of the Week- you choose the topic, you write the article, and I post it here on the site. All entries should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and be less than 1,000 words. Look forward to seeing what the readers come up with!
deal done...good signing at good price.
Quoting oakster15:
Love you neiler!
What a huge move by our Sens!!! Probably the hugest one since Mike Lundin!!!
Is it me or i would like to be a Wild's fan today???
Probably only because i am so dissapointed about july 1st.
So,
Forget Nash (don't want to come in Ottawa)
Forget Ryan (price too high)
Forget Semin (russian player who wants big $$$)
Forget Doan ( no interest from him)
Forget Morrow ( price too high)
Is it the big splash we were supposed to make this summer????
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Explain to me when Murray said the Sens were going to make a big splash this summer.
He said they wanted to get a top 4 defensive defenseman... which he did get. Not the star-studded D you were probably hoping for... but a decent one in Methot.
He also said they wanted a top 6 forward.. which they have yet to require. Nash was an option -- at a cost of the future if Lehner was going the other way... but thankfully for this Sens fan -- he would not waive his NTC to come to Ottawa.
You know what... the Sens are in year 2 of a re-build. There is no Stanley Cup run this year.. but if Murray and his management remain patient for the next couple of years and give the young guys time to develop.. you never know.
I got an idea.. you like what the Wild did.. then go cheer for them. After all signing Parise & Suter make them Stanley Cup favourites in your mind.. right? Guess again?
Michalek - Spezza - Silfverburg
Latendresse - Turris - Alfie
Greening - Smith - Neil
Regin - O'Brien - Condra
Butler/Daugavins
Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Gonchar
Phillips - Borowiecki
Lundin
Anderson
Bishop
What do people think our AHL lineup will look like this year? Seems like we already have too many players signed for bingo. I believe Noesen, Puempel and Pageau have to go back to CHL, and Prince could go back as an overager, is that correct?
Petersson - Da Costa - Stone
Hoffman - Prince - Zibanejad
Schneider - Cannone - Grant
Dziurzynski - Jessiman - Cowick
Hamilton/Kramer/Culek/Caporruso
Benoit - Wiercioch
Gryba - Claesson
Eckford - Wideman
Blood
Lehner
?
Plenty of options that's for sure! Does anyone who watched Bingo play a bit more last year have any lines or combos they liked the chemistry of?
"I think at the end of the day, hopefully, with Ryan and I coming here, good players want to play with good players," Parise said Monday when he was introduced along with Suter at a press conference. "Hopefully that helps influence some people if they need some and we have a lot of friends around the league so hopefully that will help, too."
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8144783/new-wild-players-zach-parise-ryan-suter-want-make-minnesota-place-be
We've gotta keep hoping. If stars want to come here, it's up to Murray and Co., as well as former players, to convince them to come here. A good way to start is by drafting, and developing stars (i.e Karlsson, MZ, Lehner), and retaining them.
That or prying former 67 players *cough* Logan Couture *cough* away!
None of us know how Zibanejad will end up. He may become a Henrik Zetterberg or he may be the next Mike Fisher/Chris Kelly. Anything came happen.
He's going to be a good NHLer either way, and he has a hell of a lot more skill than Tookie gives him credit for.
Yes he's had 2 concussions, but so what, concussions are made to be a much bigger deal today than they were in years past. Minor concussions like the ones Zibby has suffered recently aren't much of a big deal at all.
I think Pageau is eligible for the AHL this year.. just like Prince.
and 4years is perfect time for him to pave the road for kramer one day!
Myself, I will let him prove himself before I start going on a rant about his political views.
I am ecstatic, what great news! Very reasonable deal for one of the biggest character guys in the history of our franchise.
Nice to know I can continue to proudly don my NEIL jersey for a few more years!
Michalek-Spezza-Silfverberg
Latendresse-Turris-Alfie
But the third line would have to be something like
Greening-Regin-Hoffman(or Zibby)
Condra-Smith-Neil
I really don't think that O'Brien will be there - maybe 13th forward(him or butler)
SENS still need to dump some quantity for slightly beter serviceability.
I still think a multiple player deal has to be made. There will be a logjam in Bingo otherwise. And this might mean you'd have a decent prospect playing the ECL - not what you'd really want for his development.
It's called a salary cap. Any more 'big names' going to Minny will make them a top heavy team.. with little room to fill the lineup, which really doesn't work. They need spots for those really good young prospects they have. Most, if not all, Stanley Cup winning teams have balance in all positions...
I read somewhere that Minny lost over 6M last season. But I guess they signed up 2,000 more season ticket holders.
Wonder what happens if this team does not make the playoffs.. in a very tight and very good Western Conference..
i understand and agree with you but honestly. i hope we wait atleast 10games and see if both regin and latendresse are still healthy.
and PM is way too high on JOB, and i personally really like him, think he is a lock for that 4th line.
Gee yeah forgot about him. I guess I just don't think he will fit in the top 6. The thing is.. he is not a player that works out in the off-season.
If he comes into camp not in shape.. the injuries will follow. That's what happened in Minny 2 seasons ago. He came into camp overweight.
If he wants a future in the NHL this would be the year to show what he has. Will benefit him and will benefit the Sens.
They both are but the Sens have never sent an AHL-eligible player back to junior (that I'm aware of). So this year would be a first. But maybe that's exactly what they plan to do since there's too many forwards by about 5-6 at the moment.
Talking about retirement wait till you hear Alfies decision ... frustrated is a understatement
Going through the comments some of your are hard up on that kool aid
congrats kyle on passing that 200lbs mark.
now i hope weirdo has had similar success since he was also working on size this summer.
Agreed Hax, it might be their only option on a couple of them, which is too bad as they're the higher end prospects and Binghamton could really benefit from their inclusion.