This comment is all over the place. I don't know where to begin.
1. That Spezza trade is going to be a steal in a few seasons (1-2). I say 1, because Spezza might not even sign with Dallas next season.
2. This team is better than most fringe teams. They just need a bit of a push. The term "pesky" is very sought after by low-achieving teams and many elite teams have that characteristic. Ottawa with how they played in the last 10 (minus vs. Boston) were pesky. All they need is confidence, and that's Maclean's job.
- TheCalSen

take a breath .......
1. I have said in the past that they could have kept both Spezza and Hemsky and been a better team this season ..... but I've moved on from there. I didn't say I dis-liked the return, just that it was a continuation of the re-build.

2. I think Ottawa is dangerously close to where TO was last year - relying on hot goaltending to get us into the play-offs. Our d is young and inexperienced ..... eventually it will catch up with the team. I do think that in another year, or two this D Core, with the addition of a T4 will be great.

Again, I love where the team is at, I just don't think they are a play-off team this year. I thikn witha continued rebuild they will be set for the long term.

If Phoenix is going to blow it up Vermette would be an awesome addition to Ottawa - his faceoff percentage and speed is exactly what we need.

Phoenix: Smith, Hoffman, 2nd 2015
Ott: Vermette
- tuna99

this is one of the most ridiculous trade offers i've ever seen..............and i say that knowing that i read THIS website almost every day.

that is absolutely terrible. not sure i'd trade a single one of those assets straight up for vermette, let alone all 3 together.

Sekera is a 5-6-7 blueliner on a good team (not to mention 28 yrs old and a pending UFA). Ottawa already has too many of those and bringing in another one, who has a lower ceiling than Wiercioch and/or Cowen, would be luancy in a 1 for 1 deal, let alone giving up 4 assets for him.

"Spare parts", such as they are, are still assets and if the right deal were to come along then make the trade, but dumping those assets, (even as over-paid as someone like Greening might be for what he brings) for nothing isn't the smart way to do things. This isn't the 1992 Rangers or Maple Leafs that can just toss their mistakes overboard and bring in more high-priced talent because money isn't an option.
- JaredCrozier

Have to assume this is sarcasm because Sekera would be our #2 and is a bonafide top 4 on most teams.

this is one of the most ridiculous trade offers i've ever seen..............and i say that knowing that i read THIS website almost every day.

that is absolutely terrible. not sure i'd trade a single one of those assets straight up for vermette, let alone all 3 together.
- sensarmy_11

You really wouldn't trade smith for vermette?

this is one of the most ridiculous trade offers i've ever seen..............and i say that knowing that i read THIS website almost every day.

that is absolutely terrible. not sure i'd trade a single one of those assets straight up for vermette, let alone all 3 together.
- sensarmy_11

Maybe keep Hoffman and throw in a lesser prospect - Ottawa is getting killed in the face-ogg circle, adding Vermette would balance out our lines and give us a Center who can win faceoffs in the D-zone and give our team a shot at controlling play and winning faceoffs on the PK and late in games.

Ott: Vermette
Phe: Smith, 2nd rounder 2015

Mac -Turris - Ryan
Zibby -Vermette - Chiasson
Hoff - Lazar - Stone
9MM - Leggy - Neil

Not bad dude...pretty much what I think. No need to rush things. I can't wait for that day where players will ask to come to Ottawa for their chance for a cup. 4...maybe 5 years from no?
- SENSpatriot

Wishful thinking

You really wouldn't trade smith for vermette?
- karlsson

I would. But wouldn't include Hoff. Too much potential at this point. I want to give him a full season and let him spread his wings a bit.

Maybe keep Hoffman and throw in a lesser prospect - Ottawa is getting killed in the face-ogg circle, adding Vermette would balance out our lines and give us a Center who can win faceoffs in the D-zone and give our team a shot at controlling play and winning faceoffs on the PK and late in games.

Ott: Vermette
Phe: Smith, 2nd rounder 2015

Mac -Turris - Ryan
Zibby -Vermette - Chiasson
Hoff - Lazar - Stone
9MM - Leggy - Neil
- tuna99

Nope, try again. That 2nd rounder can easily be a top-6 forward. We don't need another center. All we need is a veteran defensive defenseman. Looking back at it, Volchenkov would have been a good addition as a fa.

You really wouldn't trade smith for vermette?
- karlsson

Arizona wouldn't.

.... All we need is a veteran defensive defenseman. Looking back at it, Volchenkov would have been a good addition as a fa.
- TheCalSen

kind of ... what Ottawa needs is the Volchenkov just before he left here the last time. We need a solid 28ish year old defensive guy to play in the T4 alongside either Karlsson, or Ceci.

I love A-Train, but he's too old and slow for the future of this team. He is best suited for a contenda!

kind of ... what Ottawa needs is the Volchenkov just before he left here the last time. We need a solid 28ish year old defensive guy to play in the T4 alongside either Karlsson, or Ceci.

I love A-Train, but he's too old and slow for the future of this team. He is best suited for a contenda!
- SensnRBs

Methot, hopefully that stabilizes the D.

Chris Wideman has 13 points and 42 shots on goal after 10 games, 7 goals - the guy is a freak, give him a game or two and see if he can get the puck up ice for us.

Freddy Claessen is -7 after 10 games = what happened?

Maybe keep Hoffman and throw in a lesser prospect - Ottawa is getting killed in the face-ogg circle, adding Vermette would balance out our lines and give us a Center who can win faceoffs in the D-zone and give our team a shot at controlling play and winning faceoffs on the PK and late in games.

Ott: Vermette
Phe: Smith, 2nd rounder 2015

Mac -Turris - Ryan
Zibby -Vermette - Chiasson
Hoff - Lazar - Stone
9MM - Leggy - Neil
- tuna99

Make it a third rounder, and I'd do it!

In my opinion, the Sens best lineup with the current pieces they have are this:

Ryan - Turris - MacArthur
Michalek - Zibanejad - Chiasson
Hoffman- Lazar - Stone
Smith - Legwand - Neil

Karlsson - Methot
Phillips - Ceci
Boro - Gryba



Meaning the spare pieces are Condra and Greening at Forward and Cowen and Wiercioch on D.

We need to cut this dead weight. Cowen's been given a long enough leash and hasn't shown any signs of real improvement. In my opinion, you try and package him with some of the other spare parts and get a #4-5 veteran defenseman for him, hoping that someone takes a flyer on him.

With all of this talk about Dallas being interested in Myers, do you think they're making similar calls on Cowen? The two are pretty comparable at this juncture in their career. That being said, I'd be hoping for a vet defenseman back, and I'm not sure they're prepared to give that up/ have that to give up.

Make it a third rounder, and I'd do it!
- Mr_Clean

I'm not sure why people are entertaining the notion of bringing Vermette back. I always liked him as a player, but his best years are behind him- and Ottawa is pretty solid down the middle.

Chris Wideman has 13 points and 42 shots on goal after 10 games, 7 goals - the guy is a freak, give him a game or two and see if he can get the puck up ice for us.

Freddy Claessen is -7 after 10 games = what happened?
- tuna99

Plus minus is silly.

I'm not sure why people are entertaining the notion of bringing Vermette back. I always liked him as a player, but his best years are behind him- and Ottawa is pretty solid down the middle.
- Jordo

Well, that'd be part of trading Smith for him... A veteran, non penalty-taking, good-at-faceoffs centre to be in the short term plans as a bottom-six centre, to be replaced by a graduate or other signing in a couple years' time

(mostly I'm just not crazy about Smith as a centre, or as a player in general...)

Plus minus is silly.
- ClarksonDavid

I was going to say he was trying to emulate his fellow Swede, but that would seem like piling on

I was going to say he was trying to emulate his fellow Swede, but that would seem like piling on
- Mr_Clean

How's that Swedish dman Sens drafted doing in the SHL? I can't rermember his name, I think he was a second rounder.

How's that Swedish dman Sens drafted doing in the SHL? I can't rermember his name, I think he was a second rounder.
- ClarksonDavid

I don't think he's lighting anything up but he is a young Dman in the Select League - we had Rundblad win Dman of the year in that league and be the #1 prospect in hockey and outside of his games in Ottawa when they were showcasing him he's played 36 NHL games in 5 years and has Zero goals.

Jacob Silfverberg as well has 5 assists this season, he's playing about 13-14 minutes a night and I think he was Selects player of the year the year after Rundblad. They even had a chant for him.

No point to this other then Ottawa sells Select MVP's very high and ges better assets in return and Select league success means nothing in the NHL.

You really wouldn't trade smith for vermette?
- karlsson

smith is a valuable asset......based on what he brings to the team, plus his salary. i'm in no way saying i wouldn't move him, but if we're going to move him, i'd rather it be in a package for a player that actually helps our team. vermette doesn't help this team.

vermette is a 32 year old, pending UFA, who's already played here and shown the same inconsistency here as he has everywhere else. plus, he's likely going to want a relatively large contract in the offseason, so we won't keep him.

i'd MUCH rather let turris/zibby/lazar develop as centers then to waste assets on 60 or so games of vermette.

i'm not saying smith isn't worth vermette, i'm saying it's a ridiculous trade for ottawa to make at this point.

smith is a valuable asset......based on what he brings to the team, plus his salary. i'm in no way saying i wouldn't move him, but if we're going to move him, i'd rather it be in a package for a player that actually helps our team. vermette doesn't help this team.

vermette is a 32 year old, pending UFA, who's already played here and shown the same inconsistency here as he has everywhere else. plus, he's likely going to want a relatively large contract in the offseason, so we won't keep him.

i'd MUCH rather let turris/zibby/lazar develop as centers then to waste assets on 60 or so games of vermette.

i'm not saying smith isn't worth vermette, i'm saying it's a ridiculous trade for ottawa to make at this point.
- sensarmy_11

If it gets us to the playoffs is it a bad move?

Chris Wideman has 13 points and 42 shots on goal after 10 games, 7 goals - the guy is a freak, give him a game or two and see if he can get the puck up ice for us.

Freddy Claessen is -7 after 10 games = what happened?
- tuna99

he plays on a bad AHL team.....simple as that.

If it gets us to the playoffs is it a bad move?
- tuna99

you really think vermette is what's missing on this team? it's an incredibly short sighted move. this team is MUCH MUCH MUCH better served long term riding with turris and zibby as their top six centers.

ottawa would be incredibly stupid to make desperate moves simply to qualify for the playoffs this year, especially if they have to give up good young assets to do it.

In my opinion, the Sens best lineup with the current pieces they have are this:

Ryan - Turris - MacArthur
Michalek - Zibanejad - Chiasson
Hoffman- Lazar - Stone
Smith - Legwand - Neil

Karlsson - Methot
Phillips - Ceci
Boro - Gryba




- Jordo

swap out condra for neil, and i agree. i still think cowen can and will be better than boro and gryba......but if we're just going with how they're playing right now, can't really argue.