that's WAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY too much for evander kane. MAYBE, and i mean MAYBE, i give that package up for kane AND a d-man (byfuglien or bogosian)
- sensarmy_11

I still don't give up our 2015 first, under any circumstances. Way too much talent available if we tank, you do NOT want to miss a shot at McDavid if things go wrong.

And Murray knows it.

Murray will try to pick up one hard forward for L2, hopefully it is a guy as good as Kane, but that's a hard deal to swing.

Ideally, we move Spezza/Methot for Shattenkirk and a prospect, then move a couple assets to buy low on a forward from someone.

I'd like to snag Charlie Coyle out of Minny, but that's probably a pipe dream. Chances are you'll see something like

Macarthur-Turris-Ryan
UFA/Trade-Zibanejad-Stone
Hoffman-Smith-Lazar
Greening-Grant/Pageau-Condra
Nel

for forward lines

agreed, but when Datsyuk and Zetterbrg and the gang were 30, they didn't trade them away simply because they were on the crrest of the hill and at their peak trading value.

I'm not advocating keeping the likes Spezza and Hemsky as part of the top six until they're 40, but 3-5 more years would fit well as the younger guys amture enough to replace them.
- GadesnSens

not really a good comparison, IMO.

1. neither had the injury history and concerns that spezza does

2. both too friendly home town discounts to make it affordable for the team to keep them...........all indications point to the fact that spezza won't do that.

3. both were EXCELLENT all around players, helping their team in all zones and aspects of the game. spezza, as we've all concluded, is pretty one-dimensional.

i think if you want to compare spezza to other players, it's to guys like thornton, richards, lecavalier, etc.

these are all players who were/are elite offensively, were given MASSIVE long term deals by their clubs, and have all either been bought out, traded, or both.

agreed, but when Datsyuk and Zetterbrg and the gang were 30, they didn't trade them away simply because they were on the crrest of the hill and at their peak trading value.

I'm not advocating keeping the likes Spezza and Hemsky as part of the top six until they're 40, but 3-5 more years would fit well as the younger guys amture enough to replace them.
- GadesnSens

Datsyuk and Zetterberg are better players than Spezza. They didn't have a history of recurring injuries, and they took paycuts to stay in a place where they have won championships.

Spezza/Hemsky are not going to be taking 3-5 year deals from anyone except maybe a cup contender.

agreed, but when Datsyuk and Zetterbrg and the gang were 30, they didn't trade them away simply because they were on the crrest of the hill and at their peak trading value.

I'm not advocating keeping the likes Spezza and Hemsky as part of the top six until they're 40, but 3-5 more years would fit well as the younger guys amture enough to replace them.
- GadesnSens

(double post)

not really a good comparison, IMO.

1. neither had the injury history and concerns that spezza does

2. both too friendly home town discounts to make it affordable for the team to keep them...........all indications point to the fact that spezza won't do that.

3. both were EXCELLENT all around players, helping their team in all zones and aspects of the game. spezza, as we've all concluded, is pretty one-dimensional.

i think if you want to compare spezza to other players, it's to guys like thornton, richards, lecavalier, etc.

these are all players who were/are elite offensively, were given MASSIVE long term deals by their clubs, and have all either been bought out, traded, or both.
- sensarmy_11

Beat me to all three points, then added in the best three comparisons to Spezza to boot.

Damn you, Army.

Beat me to all three points, then added in the best three comparisons to Spezza to boot.

Damn you, Army.

- TommyDeVito

agreed, but when Datsyuk and Zetterbrg and the gang were 30, they didn't trade them away simply because they were on the crrest of the hill and at their peak trading value.

I'm not advocating keeping the likes Spezza and Hemsky as part of the top six until they're 40, but 3-5 more years would fit well as the younger guys amture enough to replace them.
- GadesnSens

Actually, they didn't trade Datsyuk and Zetterberg when they were approaching 30, or reaching 30, because they won the Stanley Cup that year. The Senators missed the playoffs. Kind of a different situation right?

agreed, but when Datsyuk and Zetterbrg and the gang were 30, they didn't trade them away simply because they were on the crrest of the hill and at their peak trading value.

I'm not advocating keeping the likes Spezza and Hemsky as part of the top six until they're 40, but 3-5 more years would fit well as the younger guys amture enough to replace them.
- GadesnSens

In fact, I'll go one step further. If, when Datsyuk was turning 30, they were coming off of a season where they missed the playoffs, immediately preceded two seasons of early round exits from the playoffs which were also immediately preceded by another year of missing the playoffs...I absolutely think that Detroit would have thought long and hard about trading him, and if they got the right offer they would have done it.

The difference between Detroit and Ottawa is that Detroit won a championship with their leadership group in it's prime, and Ottawa missed the playoffs. Apples and oranges.

agreed, but when Datsyuk and Zetterbrg and the gang were 30, they didn't trade them away simply because they were on the crrest of the hill and at their peak trading value.

I'm not advocating keeping the likes Spezza and Hemsky as part of the top six until they're 40, but 3-5 more years would fit well as the younger guys amture enough to replace them.
- GadesnSens

I don't think anyone is going to argue against this, except for maybe Spezza and Hemsky. They're likely looking for long term deals, and we might want to be thankful that Murray isn't prepared to give them 7/8 yrs.

Your GW2.0 random hot girl of the day!

for looking at acquiring what's basically a free asset, that several scouts have probably reported has the potential to crack an NHL lineup................
- sensarmy_11

Yea, lets GET EXCITED about a guy that 'has the potential to crack an NHL lineup'. That sure sounds like a game changer.

Our team is full of bottom 6 players already

I don't think anyone is going to argue against this, except for maybe Spezza and Hemsky. They're likely looking for long term deals, and we might want to be thankful that Murray isn't prepared to give them 7/8 yrs.
- Stringer74

Amen!

Yea, lets GET EXCITED about a guy that 'has the potential to crack an NHL lineup'. That sure sounds like a game changer.

Our team is full of bottom 6 players already
- skelly96

who said get excited?

you said it was embarassing for our organization to go after the guy..............i fail to see why it's embarassing

Yea, lets GET EXCITED about a guy that 'has the potential to crack an NHL lineup'. That sure sounds like a game changer.

Our team is full of bottom 6 players already
- skelly96

According to what I read today, he's up from 165lbs to 186lbs this year. He's 6'2".

But all that said, size doesn't matter that much, as long as the skill is there.

Would you rather have a team that takes a shot at a guy who has the potential to become a top-6 forward, or would you rather have a team that sits back and does nothing to address obvious holes in their lineup?

I think you need to reassess what embarrassment actually is.

not really a good comparison, IMO.

1. neither had the injury history and concerns that spezza does

2. both too friendly home town discounts to make it affordable for the team to keep them...........all indications point to the fact that spezza won't do that.

3. both were EXCELLENT all around players, helping their team in all zones and aspects of the game. spezza, as we've all concluded, is pretty one-dimensional.

i think if you want to compare spezza to other players, it's to guys like thornton, richards, lecavalier, etc.

these are all players who were/are elite offensively, were given MASSIVE long term deals by their clubs, and have all either been bought out, traded, or both.
- sensarmy_11

I wasn't comparing the players, but the philosophy of retaining core players versus trading them when thy hit their maximum trade value.

and I realize that we missed our shot, which is the reason for the purge of Kelly, Fisher and the rest.

I also agree that Spezza at 7-8 years does not make sense, but I don't believe he'll get an offer like that either. Any sane GM is going to offer him 3-4 and that's it.

Anyone else feel that a deal for Spezza has already been agreed on?

Anyone else feel that a deal for Spezza has already been agreed on?
- top shelf 15

As sure as I am that the Kings are going to win the Stanley Cup. Murray has a reputation of taking care of the guys who cooperate with him. He sent Fisher to Nashville. Kelly went to Boston and a ride to the Stanley Cup.

I have heard Murray say over and over again he wants a "hard" player added to his top 6. I think he pretty well knows the assets he will be getting back for Spezza and possibly Hemsky. I think he also knows who the "hard" player is that he wants and what he needs to pay to get him.

I think fans are going to be very pleased with the composition of the team that comes to training camp.

Anyone else feel that a deal for Spezza has already been agreed on?
- top shelf 15

I have the same feeling, and everyone on tsn keeps saying they want to trade him before the draft. I really hope we get a fair value for him

pretty kool video to watch... I'm young so alot of this I don't remember per say..

love the sens being the underdog and coming from the bottom.

I have the same feeling, and everyone on tsn keeps saying they want to trade him before the draft. I really hope we get a fair value for him
- sensfanpei

The key is understanding what fair value is.

No matter what the trade ends up being, there will be a group of people who love the return, and there will be a group of pessimists who hate it, and let's face it, this fanbase has a lot of pessimists. If Murray traded Spezza for Crosby and Pittsburgh's next 10 first round picks, you can absolutely count on there being a group of scaly curmudgeons who are going to come out and say that Crosby is done because of his concussions and that the picks won't even be good because we just handed Pittsburgh a #1 centre and now they'll win the Stanley Cup every year.

All that matters is whether or not the team is improved. I'll reserve my judgment until the trade is done. But fair value, in hockey terms, I think will be met. Just make up your own mind about it and don't listen to the army of haters that populate the bowels of the internet, they'll be out in full force when the trade goes down, that's a guarantee.

And yes, I think the trade is probably already done in principle.

Anyone else feel that a deal for Spezza has already been agreed on?
- top shelf 15

Yep, most pieces are in place, most trades sit on the table for sometime.

By all accounts the team is confident it will get the return they seek. Now it's a matter of leverage and timing to close the deal.

I agree completely. There's quite a few players on the farm that are probably ready to play in the NHL. I'd agree that this group includes Lazar and Stone and Hoffman. Maybe Da Costa, Pageau, and Puempel. There's no question that the Senators still need to find a partner for Karlsson, although I still believe that they'll get that player back in the Spezza trade, and I still believe that this player will be Kevin Shattenkirk.

Regardless, whether it is or isn't, Spezza/Michalek/Hemsky are gone. This means to me that they're going into camp with the following group of forwards that have all got a legitimate claim at a NHL spot in some capacity:

Condra, Greening, Hoffman, MacArthur, Neil, Pageau, Ryan, Smith, Stone, Turris, Zibanejad, Da Costa, Grant, Lazar, Prince, Puempel.

That's 16 guys playing for 12 spots, and you can rest assured at at minimum, 8 or 9 of those spots are already spoken for. Then figure into that equation that they might get a NHL forward back for Spezza, which eats up another spot. I don't think signing Sekac, if they got him, would be an awful thing. But I do think that with this many players that could be on a NHL team now, the time has come for Murray to package 1-2 of them up to shore up his roster where it is deficient, likely on the blueline and adding another legitimate top 6 guy.
- the_terror

STL - Spezza(1.5 mill Retained) , Methot

OTT - Shattenkirk , Berglund

STL - Spezza(1.5 mill Retained) , Methot

OTT - Shattenkirk , Berglund





- Erik6Karlsson5

i think st louis would need to add a prospect to that or something, i think that deal is slanted a little too much in their favour.

i think st louis would need to add a prospect to that or something, i think that deal is slanted a little too much in their favour.
- sensarmy_11

Agreed. To be honest, all I know of the STL guys is what I've read here. Stattenkirk seems like the real deal, while Bergland is going to top out as a 3LC/2LC fill in.

So, if Ottawa is expecting three pieces for Spezza, I would think that either STL has to add, or Methot is switched for Gryba/Boro

i think st louis would need to add a prospect to that or something, i think that deal is slanted a little too much in their favour.
- sensarmy_11

Yep, they would have to add a prospect to that deal, and a top notch one at that. Jaskin or Rattie.

I might even suggest that they would have to add a pick as well, although maybe not a first.