Travis Yost: Negotiations

Please can you slow down on your kind words towards the Leafs. That's two positives in less than a week. It's sickening. Thanks.

Edit: When you say MacArthur is a great player, how great are you talking? Like one of the all-time greats? Or like Getzlaf great?

Please can you slow down on your kind words towards the Leafs. That's two positives in less than a week. It's sickening. Thanks.

Edit: When you say MacArthur is a great player, how great are you talking? Like one of the all-time greats? Or like Getzlaf great?
- walshyleafsfan

First ballot.

It's in Ryan's and Macarthur's best interest to wait on signing a new deal. Both have great opportunities to increase their point production with Spezza gone and Michalek seeing less ice time. In turn, that makes it in the Sens best interest to try and get something done now. I have a feeling both will remain with the Sens this time next year. If Ryan is not a Senator next year, poop will fly in Ottawa. Methot should be an easy signing. Good all around guy on and off the ice.

Is it just me or every time a USA born player is in a contract year people lead speculation with "he'll follow the money" and with Canadian born players we talk more about their desire to have a nice quality of life?

Is it just me or every time a USA born player is in a contract year people lead speculation with "he'll follow the money" and with Canadian born players we talk more about their desire to have a nice quality of life?
- tuna99

GOOD OLE CANADIAN BOYS DON"T CARE ABOUT THE MONEY JUST LIKE JONNHY TOWES AND MIMICO"S FINEST DAVEY BOLLAND (thumbs up)

GOOD OLE CANADIAN BOYS DON"T CARE ABOUT THE MONEY JUST LIKE JONNHY TOWES AND MIMICO"S FINEST DAVEY BOLLAND (thumbs up)
- Talkshowhost

Yes terrible deployment in Toronto.. Where he was performing like a 3rd liner but they were supposed to give him 1st line minutes? last year was his second good season and it was he was playing on a first line... one of the only teams in the league where he will get those mins. Prior to the leafs not developing him where was he? oh yeah being tendered an offer by the Atlanta Thrashers after being traded for a 3rd and 4th round pick... Relax, you obviously didnt see this guys complete tenure in Toronto. He played his ass of and was great and then by the end of his last season he was barely even skating after loose pucks and did NOT earn 2nd line ice time. Be careful what you wish for in Ottawa, I hope you sign him to a big deal, seems to be when he starts to get a little too comfortable. even in his second year after getting extended he put up decent points but was frustrating to watch

Yes terrible deployment in Toronto.. Where he was performing like a 3rd liner but they were supposed to give him 1st line minutes? last year was his second good season and it was he was playing on a first line... one of the only teams in the league where he will get those mins. Prior to the leafs not developing him where was he? oh yeah being tendered an offer by the Atlanta Thrashers after being traded for a 3rd and 4th round pick... Relax, you obviously didnt see this guys complete tenure in Toronto. He played his ass of and was great and then by the end of his last season he was barely even skating after loose pucks and did NOT earn 2nd line ice time. Be careful what you wish for in Ottawa, I hope you sign him to a big deal, seems to be when he starts to get a little too comfortable. even in his second year after getting extended he put up decent points but was frustrating to watch

It's in Ryan's and Macarthur's best interest to wait on signing a new deal. Both have great opportunities to increase their point production with Spezza gone and Michalek seeing less ice time. In turn, that makes it in the Sens best interest to try and get something done now. I have a feeling both will remain with the Sens this time next year. If Ryan is not a Senator next year, poop will fly in Ottawa. Methot should be an easy signing. Good all around guy on and off the ice.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think you could easily serve up an enticing enough offer for both of these guys to stay pretty easily.

7 for 8 for Ryan would be a hard deal to turn down when it's 56 milly being thrown at you after one good, not great, season with a new team.

Another important factor for both of these guys is stability, you offer Ryan some sort of clause where we won't trade him for at least the first 4 years of his deal and he'd probably take it, and Macarthur would probably be happy to take a little more money than he has now but with term involved.

Give Mac a 5 year, 20 million dollar deal and he signs, I guarantee it. 4 Mill is fine for any guy who can slot into a top 6 role.

Yes terrible deployment in Toronto.. Where he was performing like a 3rd liner but they were supposed to give him 1st line minutes? last year was his second good season and it was he was playing on a first line... one of the only teams in the league where he will get those mins. Prior to the leafs not developing him where was he? oh yeah being tendered an offer by the Atlanta Thrashers after being traded for a 3rd and 4th round pick... Relax, you obviously didnt see this guys complete tenure in Toronto. He played his ass of and was great and then by the end of his last season he was barely even skating after loose pucks and did NOT earn 2nd line ice time. Be careful what you wish for in Ottawa, I hope you sign him to a big deal, seems to be when he starts to get a little too comfortable. even in his second year after getting extended he put up decent points but was frustrating to watch
- lewi96

Everyone is frustrating to watch in a piss poor system.

I'll never understand why Toronto fans defend not only their team at present, but also the past administrations, and always claim everyone that leaves sucked.

Look, it's just following the pattern - everyone who sucks in Toronto and goes elsewhere ends up being much better (Macarthur, Grabo, MacCauley, Sullivan, etc), and everyone who plays well for the leafs and gets traded away turns into poop (McCabe, Kaberle, etc).

Good to see the team wanting to re sign these guys sooner then later , curious to see what happens with bobby ryan .. Even if he decides he wants to be a ufa trade him
Now and I'm sure the package would be golden .. And is there any truth to these jumbo joe getting traded to the sens or is Eklund just making it up

I think you could easily serve up an enticing enough offer for both of these guys to stay pretty easily.

7 for 8 for Ryan would be a hard deal to turn down when it's 56 milly being thrown at you after one good, not great, season with a new team.

Another important factor for both of these guys is stability, you offer Ryan some sort of clause where we won't trade him for at least the first 4 years of his deal and he'd probably take it, and Macarthur would probably be happy to take a little more money than he has now but with term involved.

Give Mac a 5 year, 20 million dollar deal and he signs, I guarantee it. 4 Mill is fine for any guy who can slot into a top 6 role.
- TommyDeVito

I think Mac is easier to get done than Ryan. If Ryan were to become a UFA, he'd be getting some ridiculous offers. I think that's playing a role in negotiations. Why sign for 7 mill per now, when you could potentially get 8-9 mill per in the summer? I want Ryan signed now like every Sen fan and I hope it gets done. I just see us waiting until midway through the year to see something happen. Loads of extensions happen before the trade deadline.

Good to see the team wanting to re sign these guys sooner then later , curious to see what happens with bobby ryan .. Even if he decides he wants to be a ufa trade him
Now and I'm sure the package would be golden .. And is there any truth to these jumbo joe getting traded to the sens or is Eklund just making it up
- Gosensgo89

In my opinion, if Ryan walks or is dealt, people in Ottawa and around the NHL may finally wake up and realize something is wrong with the ownership of this team and try to push some change. Getting pretty tiring talking about players being moved with money being one of the main issues.

I think Bobby Ryan is the easiest to do. He will want max term (8 years) and he will likely want more than Karlsson at $6.5m. So Sens have to decide if they want to go that high.

No doubt San Jose would be a great fit for Ryan. They are very weak on the wing but strong down the center. I would do Bobby Ryan for Logan Couture.

Thornton could work in Ottawa, not sure what Ottawa would offer up (Greening, Smith)?

I think Bobby Ryan is the easiest to do. He will want max term (8 years) and he will likely want more than Karlsson at $6.5m. So Sens have to decide if they want to go that high.

No doubt San Jose would be a great fit for Ryan. They are very weak on the wing but strong down the center. I would do Bobby Ryan for Logan Couture.

Thornton could work in Ottawa, not sure what Ottawa would offer up (Greening, Smith)?
- spatso

Couture > Ryan all day. We would have to add more.

We aren't getting Thorton for Greening and Smith, although it would be nice. Not sure why Ottawa are in the Thorton rumours.

In my opinion, if Ryan walks or is dealt, people in Ottawa and around the NHL may finally wake up and realize something is wrong with the ownership of this team and try to push some change. Getting pretty tiring talking about players being moved with money being one of the main issues.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Yesterday Leeder was on the Team 1200 and was pretty direct in saying people are taking a wait and see look on season tickets. I know some guys involved with boxes that are just fed up with what is going on.

I think Ryan signs or they move him very quickly. Ticket price are very high in Ottawa and people will not tolerate top prices with pauper budgets.

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I really do believe Ryan will sign here and I think the fact that the city is such a great spot will go a long way. If you stop and think about it, the guy is getting married soon and likely gonna start a family, perhaps he sees Ottawa as a desirable place to raise his family. Maybe not. Who knows.

I find it odd for a player to say he's ready to talk if he has no intention of talking. If he wasn't at least interested, I think he would've given some other cliche answer, along the lines of a "wait and see" etc etc.
He just strikes me as the kind of guy who is loyal to a team who believes in him and gives him a chance. Time will tell.

Yesterday Leeder was on the Team 1200 and was pretty direct in saying people are taking a wait and see look on season tickets. I know some guys involved with boxes that are just fed up with what is going on.

I think Ryan signs or they move him very quickly. Ticket price are very high in Ottawa and people will not tolerate top prices with pauper budgets.
- spatso

I don't blame those people. Since the lockout, I've taken a stance on not purchasing tickets through the organization until owners clean up their own mess. Call it not supporting the team or whatever, but it's hard to justify paying an expensive ticket price to cover owners asses for not being able to pay the players they agreed to pay.

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I really do believe Ryan will sign here and I think the fact that the city is such a great spot will go a long way. If you stop and think about it, the guy is getting married soon and likely gonna start a family, perhaps he sees Ottawa as a desirable place to raise his family. Maybe not. Who knows.

I find it odd for a player to say he's ready to talk if he has no intention of talking. If he wasn't at least interested, I think he would've given some other cliche answer, along the lines of a "wait and see" etc etc.
He just strikes me as the kind of guy who is loyal to a team who believes in him and gives him a chance. Time will tell.
- BodyCheckRadio

To me, this is why you give him the C if he agrees to resign. He would be an excellent building block. He isn't super young like most of our roster but young enough to grow with them at 27 years old. I think this would entice him to stay. He would not get that opportunity anywhere else.

I think it all comes down to what the Sens are willing to do. He can want to play here all he wants, but if the Sens don't give him what he thinks is fair, he'll walk. Alfie is a prime example of this.

I think Bobby Ryan is the easiest to do. He will want max term (8 years) and he will likely want more than Karlsson at $6.5m. So Sens have to decide if they want to go that high.

No doubt San Jose would be a great fit for Ryan. They are very weak on the wing but strong down the center. I would do Bobby Ryan for Logan Couture.

Thornton could work in Ottawa, not sure what Ottawa would offer up (Greening, Smith)?
- spatso

You can't sign a guy who has 34 goals in the last two seasons to an 8 year 6.5-7.0 mil contract. That's nuts. Trust me, this is coming from a guy whose team signed Clarkson.

You can't sign a guy who has 34 goals in the last two seasons to an 8 year 6.5-7.0 mil contract. That's nuts. Trust me, this is coming from a guy whose team signed Clarkson.
- walshyleafsfan

I don't disagree. But, if he goes to UFA he will get that kind of money. So, you have to decide to play and pay him or trade him. Exactly the same dilemma that faced the Leafs with Phaneuf. Takes a lot of moxy to allow a player to walk away or to deal him early. Sometimes a big dollar long term deal is a huge mistake.

You can't sign a guy who has 34 goals in the last two seasons to an 8 year 6.5-7.0 mil contract. That's nuts. Trust me, this is coming from a guy whose team signed Clarkson.
- walshyleafsfan

Except that Ryan has proven that he can produce well in the past, and that production dropped due to injury. Like, it wouldn't be the best deal, but it's not a stab in the dark or anything.

I don't disagree. But, if he goes to UFA he will get that kind of money. So, you have to decide to play and pay him or trade him. Exactly the same dilemma that faced the Leafs with Phaneuf. Takes a lot of moxy to allow a player to walk away or to deal him early. Sometimes a big dollar long term deal is a huge mistake.
- spatso

Get ready for a lot of abuse by opposing fans/some of your own fan base/any media outlet in N.A. then.

Get ready for a lot of abuse by opposing fans/some of your own fan base/any media outlet in N.A. then.
- walshyleafsfan

I tend to agree. Nobody has really figured out the impact of 7 and 8 year deals on guys who are not franchise players. Giving Kane and Toews $10.5 m changes the mindset of a lot of agents. Ryan is a very good player but 8 years is a very long time. I don't know what is the right answer.