top 6 in the AHL is different than top 6 in the NHL
- GardinerExpress

You'll see next season.

Sens think Stastny is going to the Blues. Avs,Hawks,Rangers and Stars should still be in the Spezza bidding.
- Cup 06

i think thats good news for us.

1. the players st louis were making available were not gonna make this team better, compared to what we might be able to get from some of the other teams.

2. lots of those western teams are gonna be desperate now, seeing kesler and stastny go to a rival

I actually think MacArthur and stone play with Turris, and Ryan and new acquisition play with zibby.....spreads the offense out a bit

That's the reason I just named 4, as I don't think it's clear who's 1st and who's 2nd line
- sensarmy_11

You don't split up Ryan-Turris-MacArthur. Spreading out offence is a dumb idea. Instead, how about you count on your other 3 lines to chip in.

Pouliot will likely sign, but he'll be a 3rd liner, I think with Condra and either Smith or Lazar. Yes, yes, I know, I know, someone in Ottawa management said they see Lazar on the wing. Yawn....I don't.

As for that L2 LW slot, it either goes to Hoffman and you're playing with an untested L2, which would be Hoffman-Zibanejad-Stone, or it goes to whomever comes back in the Spezza trade, assuming it's a winger.

You don't split up Ryan-Turris-MacArthur. Spreading out offence is a dumb idea. Instead, how about you count on your other 3 lines to chip in.

Pouliot will likely sign, but he'll be a 3rd liner, I think with Condra and either Smith or Lazar. Yes, yes, I know, I know, someone in Ottawa management said they see Lazar on the wing. Yawn....I don't.

As for that L2 LW slot, it either goes to Hoffman and you're playing with an untested L2, which would be Hoffman-Zibanejad-Stone, or it goes to whomever comes back in the Spezza trade, assuming it's a winger.
- the_terror

i think that works too......i just think zibby and ryan would look good together. also, murray talks about zibby as though they plan on making him top line center, so one assumes that they want to give him some good wingers. now that could have been him talking about the future, or maybe they start easing him in this year......who knows.

What do you guys think of a Brassard + Skjei + 2nd for Spezza deal?

So the guy that has 8 points in 23 nhl games is easily a top 6 forward? Not saying he won't be but just wondering what makes you so sure he is a for sure top 6 guy?
- ClarksonDavid

Nobody knows for sure, and he really hasn't proven anything. Anyone who is saying they're sure that Stone will be a bonafide top-6 winger is speculating.

But Ottawa is counting on him to be one, and he'll be played like one, at least to start. So it's up to him.

The skating is improving. He's a giant. His shot is world class. He's scored at every level he's played at. I tend to agree with people that his peak at a 2RW, which is fine because with Ryan being the 1RW for the foreseeable future, Stone slotting in at the 2RW spot makes a ton of sense, and he's likely to thrive in that situation. I'd say that when he hits his stride, he could be a 30/30 guy on a 2nd like with Zibanejad. Give him 2-3yrs to get there. I'd bet he'll get 20 goals this year though.

thought of as a draft bust. Still considered a valuable player. Coming off his best season and a strong deep playoff run performance.

macarthur was misused in TOR, and thus undervalued for the player he really was. Pouliot is not undervalued for the player he is
- TheNugeIsHuge

He actually is. People see drafted 4th overall and they come to expect an 80pt player. He's only 27, he's just entered the prime of his career, and he'll be there for the next 3-5 seasons. He might yet hit 20 goals. If you're paying him 2.5mm/per, and he gets you 20 goals, then he's a bargain. No guarantee he gets there mind you, he's never done it before, but the potential is there.

Sens think Stastny is going to the Blues. Avs,Hawks,Rangers and Stars should still be in the Spezza bidding.
- Cup 06

No Nashville?

The Rangers make so much sense.

Ugliest cap profile than any team except for about 5 or 6 other teams.

But on the right deal with Ottawa taking on 1/2 the hit. Ranger could clear about $5m.

top 6 in the AHL is different than top 6 in the NHL
- GardinerExpress

Not entirely. Being able to produce at the AHL level is typically seen as a precursor to being able to produce at the NHL.

And the guy was better than a PPG AVG in the AHL as a 21yr old, and close to it as a 20yr old.

There's no reason to doubt Mark Stone until he proves otherwise, just like there's no reason to anoint him either. But I do think there is top-6 potential there for the guy, and we'll definitely find out this year cuz that's where he's gonna start the season.

What do you guys think of a Brassard + Skjei + 2nd for Spezza deal?
- rangerdanger94

i think

i think
- sensarmy_11

You would've preferred Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling?

i think that works too......i just think zibby and ryan would look good together. also, murray talks about zibby as though they plan on making him top line center, so one assumes that they want to give him some good wingers. now that could have been him talking about the future, or maybe they start easing him in this year......who knows.
- sensarmy_11

1) You think Zibanejad and Ryan would look good together. You KNOW that Turris and Ryan look good together. Don't mess with a good thing. Let Zibanejad find chemistry with his own group of guys, but that MacArthur-Turris-Ryan line should not be touched from the time the puck drops in game 1 until the season is over.

2) Murray has talked about making Zibanejad into the 1C....fine, then it's up to Zibanejad to do that. He hasn't done it yet, Turris is the 1C right now because he's earned that right. You don't start lobbing high hanging fastballs at Mika Zibanejad at this point in his career, you challenge the kid. Let him play with Stone on the right side. They're the same age. They're both physically imposing and they can both finish. Whoever gets the opportunity to play LW on that line is going to have a fun year.

You would've preferred Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling?
- rangerdanger94

and the 11th overall pick........absolutely

and the 11th overall pick........absolutely
- sensarmy_11

Didn't think the 11th overall pick was included in the proposal.

To be fair, I'd offer our 1st round pick instead of the 2nd...if we had one.

No Nashville?

The Rangers make so much sense.

Ugliest cap profile than any team except for about 5 or 6 other teams.

But on the right deal with Ottawa taking on 1/2 the hit. Ranger could clear about $5m.
- spatso

I think our cap profile is pretty good. Granted we only have 5 forwards and 4 defensemen, but nobody is really overpaid. You could make an argument for nash but he's overpaid by 1M or so...not 3M like a guy like clarkson or phaneuf.

What do you guys think of a Brassard + Skjei + 2nd for Spezza deal?
- rangerdanger94

Like Brassard. Like Zuccarello.

Spezza for Brassard and Zuccarello with Ottawa taking back 1/2 of Spezza's cap hit.

If you assume Brassard would sign for $4.5m and Zuccarello for $2m, Rangers gain $3m on the cap and one more year to try and fix the mess.

Rangers have to move quickly. They are dead in the water with their current salary structure. All of their RFAs including Krieder are open to relatively inexpensive (in terms of draft compensation) offers that are almost impossible for the Rangers to match (they will be able to sign some but not all).

Rangers really need to move out a big contract. They need to sign 11 players on a team that went to the SCF.

Like Brassard. Like Zuccarello.

Spezza for Brassard and Zuccarello with Ottawa taking back 1/2 of Spezza's cap hit.

If you assume Brassard would sign for $4.5m and Zuccarello for $2m, Rangers gain $3m on the cap and one more year to try and fix the mess.

Rangers have to move quickly. They are dead in the water with their current salary structure. All of their RFAs including Krieder are open to relatively inexpensive (in terms of draft compensation) offers that are almost impossible for the Rangers to match (they will be able to sign some but not all).

Rangers really need to move out a big contract. They need to sign 11 players on a team that went to the SCF.
- spatso

Zuccarello will make closer to 4M. He was also our best forward last year so I'm not comfortable moving him and brassard for spezza.

Stralman is gone. So is boyle and pouliot. Gotta hope kids like miller and fast can fill in for them on offense with cheap options like jay mcclement, tj galiardi, etc. rounding out the top 12.

On defense, klein will be moved up to play with staal and then either a kid or diaz will get the final spot. We're fine capwise...but we'll also be a worse team overall than last year.

You don't split up Ryan-Turris-MacArthur. Spreading out offence is a dumb idea. Instead, how about you count on your other 3 lines to chip in.

Pouliot will likely sign, but he'll be a 3rd liner, I think with Condra and either Smith or Lazar. Yes, yes, I know, I know, someone in Ottawa management said they see Lazar on the wing. Yawn....I don't.

As for that L2 LW slot, it either goes to Hoffman and you're playing with an untested L2, which would be Hoffman-Zibanejad-Stone, or it goes to whomever comes back in the Spezza trade, assuming it's a winger.
- the_terror

I think Peumple will get a long look on Zibby's wing. He's big, strong, can put the puck in the net and can chuck 'em a bit too.

Of course my preference would be for that to be our 3rd line, but my dream of Hemsky, Spezza and Michalek staying is fading......

I think Peumple will get a long look on Zibby's wing. He's big, strong, can put the puck in the net and can chuck 'em a bit too.

Of course my preference would be for that to be our 3rd line, but my dream of Hemsky, Spezza and Michalek staying is fading......
- GadesnSens

By Christmas you will be more than content with a young roster. No guarantee on playoff success, but they will play a very strong game.

Zuccarello will make closer to 4M. He was also our best forward last year so I'm not comfortable moving him and brassard for spezza.

Stralman is gone. So is boyle and pouliot. Gotta hope kids like miller and fast can fill in for them on offense with cheap options like jay mcclement, tj galiardi, etc. rounding out the top 12.

On defense, klein will be moved up to play with staal and then either a kid or diaz will get the final spot. We're fine capwise...but we'll also be a worse team overall than last year.
- rangerdanger94

If you use reasonable increases for signing all the Ranger RFAs you bring the contracted salary cap total up to $60m for 15 players. Not anything even close to okay.

Didn't think the 11th overall pick was included in the proposal.

To be fair, I'd offer our 1st round pick instead of the 2nd...if we had one.
- rangerdanger94

I'd expect Stepan and another piece back.

By Christmas you will be more than content with a young roster. No guarantee on playoff success, but they will play a very strong game.
- spatso

And entertaining. I think, above all else, fans of hockey teams can appreciate effort in the absence of winning. I don't personally think the Senators are going to be a bad team. Far from it in fact, I do think they'll be in the mix for a 5-8 spot at the end of the season. They'll make mistakes, but those mistakes will be youthful ones, and I don't suspect that they'll be complacent about them. On paper at least, there doesn't appear to be any passengers on this roster.

I'd expect Stepan and another piece back.
- Cup 06

Geez! I just don't believe he could be available in this kind of deal. He is certainly the kind of player Murray loves.

Anyone know the answer to this . . . . . fill in the blanks . . .

2005 NHL top 5 picks:

1.
2.
3.
4. Benoit Pouliot
5.
- AlfieisKing

Crosby,Ryan,Johnson,Pouliot...Price

Crosby,Ryan,Johnson,Pouliot...Price
- GardinerExpress

wow jack johnson was 3rd overal?

that was a weird top 5 after crosby and ryan...