I was not aware they brought in Del Zotto and Holden. I dont know how you could call my proposal lame when you yourself stated in a previous post of Brown "It's just historically past the point of getting good value in return." Since you don't want Pettersson and his contract, then Brown for a 3rd round pick it is!
- sjfpp

So you missed their biggest UFA signing, and biggest off-season trade? Thanks for at least owning the fact that you put no thought whatsoever into your trade proposal before just posting it randomly. I'd just add that there's a big difference between diminished value, and negative value. Pettersson playing 16min/GP at $4.0Mx4yrs has negative value, because he's not even a top-4 d-man. If you don't understand that, well then I guess you'll just have to continue not understanding why the answer is no.

I'm not sure why people aren't paying more attention to Tkachuk's comments of being interested in a long-term deal ONLY if the same competitive commitment is made by ownership. That would be the same ownership that is currently $3.2M below the salary floor, and $1M below any other team in the NHL. It's not just about $$$, Tkachuk can get his $$$ now or later. It's about giving up UFA rights, and ensuring his prime years are played in a competitive environment. And without question, this is a team heading into training camp with major roster holes, with the most unspent cap space in the league, coming off 4 straight years of bottom-dwelling.

This is why his agents said no legitimate offer had been received, despite rumors of a $7M x 6yrs offer... because anything in the 6yr-8yr range is just ignoring the reality that Tkachuk doesn't want to give up his prime UFA years at this point.

Expect something like $5M x 2yrs or $6M x 3yrs.
- khawk

Fair point .... about Thachuk wanting to keep his UFA years

Brady Thachuk and the Ottawa Senators are discussing a signing around 8-8.5 million range

don't know if it takes until next weekend but it's likely IF a deal is signed for 7-8 years it won't be less than Chabot

Sorry folks, blog will be up in the morning now that work and family commitments has got back to normal after the first week of school!

This was just posted on twitter from NewEraSens -

#BREAKING - per Source, Brady is coming back to Ottawa early NEXT week regardless of having a contract or not. Oster is in Toronto, him and Dorion will have the opportunity to negotiate face to face next week! The hope obviously is that this weekend the deal will be agreed and he’d be in town with a deal in place, next week will be big one though!

Brady Thachuk and the Ottawa Senators are discussing a signing around 8-8.5 million range

don't know if it takes until next weekend but it's likely IF a deal is signed for 7-8 years it won't be less than Chabot
- AlfieisKing

After seeing the tweet that I just posted in my blog, it looks like things are heating up!!

Fair point .... about Thachuk wanting to keep his UFA years
- AlfieisKing

Well, I'm sure he wants to retain UFA years... but they may have convinced Tkachuk that in order for the organization to make the investments in improving the team, they need to have guys like him and Chabot showing their commitment as team leaders. I really didn't think he would entertain a max-term deal like Chabot, but most accounts seem to be suggesting it's quite a strong possibility... so I guess we'll see what happens.

Well, I'm sure he wants to retain UFA years... but they may have convinced Tkachuk that in order for the organization to make the investments in improving the team, they need to have guys like him and Chabot showing their commitment as team leaders. I really didn't think he would entertain a max-term deal like Chabot, but most accounts seem to be suggesting it's quite a strong possibility... so I guess we'll see what happens.
- khawk

Big mistake if he signs longer than 3-4 years because this team is going in another rebuild in 3-4 years.

Brady Thachuk and the Ottawa Senators are discussing a signing around 8-8.5 million range

don't know if it takes until next weekend but it's likely IF a deal is signed for 7-8 years it won't be less than Chabot
- AlfieisKing

Am I the only one who thinks that salary is crazy for What Brady has done so far. ANd I say that as a fan who loves Tkachuk on this team.

Am I the only one who thinks that salary is crazy for What Brady has done so far. ANd I say that as a fan who loves Tkachuk on this team.
- david22

It's 100% crazy for a guy who's never scored 25G or 50Pts... with no assurance that he'll ever have a more capable C than Norris to play with for nearly a decade. Then again, how could a pair of big-body-obsessed guys like Dorion/Smith not be gonzo for a power forward like Tkachuk? They obviously view him as the icon of the rebuild, and are willing to pay him top dollar regardless of actual performance.

It's 100% crazy for a guy who's never scored 25G or 50Pts... with no assurance that he'll ever have a more capable C than Norris to play with for nearly a decade. Then again, how could a pair of big-body-obsessed guys like Dorion/Smith not be gonzo for a power forward like Tkachuk? They obviously view him as the icon of the rebuild, and are willing to pay him top dollar regardless of actual performance.
- khawk

It has way more to do with optics to the fanbase than actually ppg or per season stats. His value lies in the on ice intangibles, leadership , sandpaper etc, and the signing of his contract has to send the right message to the younger players coming up.
Season ticket sales depend on the right product more than boxscore.

With Brady its a solid bet on what he will be . Its the 1 contract im not worried of regression.

With Brady its a solid bet on what he will be . Its the 1 contract im not worried of regression.
- spazzbot

If Brady gets 8m a season but fails to score more than 1 goal in a playoff serious, I have a hard time believing most, if not all of us would be dumping on him. He needs to produce AS WELL AS bring all those intangibles. Otherwise give him 3 year bridge and make him earn it like Point

If Brady gets 8m a season but fails to score more than 1 goal in a playoff serious, I have a hard time believing most, if not all of us would be dumping on him. He needs to produce AS WELL AS bring all those intangibles. Otherwise give him 3 year bridge and make him earn it like Point
- AlfieisKing

I agree with you. The team needs a healthy mix of tangibles to go along with all those intangibles if they are to be serious Cup contenders.

It's nice to say he racked up a lot of shots on goal but I could have stopped a lot of them without even bending over.

I like Brady a lot but I like the team more.
A bridge deal might be the best option for both sides. I'm perfectly fine with Chabot wearing the C.

It has way more to do with optics to the fanbase than actually ppg or per season stats. His value lies in the on ice intangibles, leadership , sandpaper etc, and the signing of his contract has to send the right message to the younger players coming up.
Season ticket sales depend on the right product more than boxscore.
- ktownfan

Name me another NHL player who makes $8M/yr for providing intangibles, who doesn't also back it up with high-end production.

If Brady gets 8m a season but fails to score more than 1 goal in a playoff serious, I have a hard time believing most, if not all of us would be dumping on him. He needs to produce AS WELL AS bring all those intangibles. Otherwise give him 3 year bridge and make him earn it like Point
- AlfieisKing

I agree performance is the key to a earned contract.
By your metrics though no one on the team should be signed for more then 2-3 years due to lack of performace driven data. Wich i agree with again . But at some point long term contracts have to be dealt out before performace. Otherwise they run the huge risk of losing the best of their draft picks.
And i still believe Brady is a solid bet. Dont expect less or more. What ever that is worth to the Sens.

So, have we successfully dispatched another promising blogger?
The bodies of long departed writers are piling up.

Let's move on then to the topic of our prospects at camp with Garrioch reporting that Sokolov was the best player there and might get a serious look at RW. I have him penciled in for the Calder..
What say you?

So, have we successfully dispatched another promising blogger?
The bodies of long departed writers are piling up.

Let's move on then to the topic of our prospects at camp with Garrioch reporting that Sokolov was the best player there and might get a serious look at RW. I have him penciled in for the Calder..
What say you?
- ktownfan

I've always been intrigued by Sokolov. My initial thought was that he'd need a second year of development in the AHL before making an impact at camp, but others have pointed out that he has improved in big ways year over year.

Since he was an overager, he's not a typical second year prospect either.

I agree performance is the key to a earned contract.
By your metrics though no one on the team should be signed for more then 2-3 years due to lack of performace driven data. Wich i agree with again . But at some point long term contracts have to be dealt out before performace. Otherwise they run the huge risk of losing the best of their draft picks.
And i still believe Brady is a solid bet. Dont expect less or more. What ever that is worth to the Sens.
- spazzbot

I see what you're saying. I get your point - I would just add that with Brady, how much more will an 8 year extension be if he signed it in say in 2-3 summers? MAYBE it would be $9m? I don't see it being much more because he won't be scoring 35 goals or 80 points. His brother wasn't able to do that playing on a team that had 3 34+ goal scorers (Johnny G had 99 points).

I would say to him - 3 year bridge @7m, then 8 years @8.75m

OR we will offer you 8.125M x 8 years right now. Otherwise if he wants less term then it has to be less than Chabot