Why?

Have you seen him play?
- prock

Nope. But using a top-10 pick on a guy who can't hit ppg, when he's usually one of the biggest guys out there seems ridiculous. Lots of teams/scouts see guys with that size and think it'll overcome the lack of offense... And then you get the Zachary Kassians, Kyle Beaches, and Tyler Biggseses. These guys should be dominating with their size.

Plus, I'd rather get a potential top pairing dman than a winger. More important, especially since dmen develop slower, and this rebuild will take a few years.

this is when some no-name Goalie comes out of no-where to lead the sens to a few wins in a row..to solidify that 8-10 pick
- senstroll

bump

bump
- senstroll

He's their Gerber/Aubin!

Nope. But using a top-10 pick on a guy who can't hit ppg, when he's usually one of the biggest guys out there seems ridiculous. Lots of teams/scouts see guys with that size and think it'll overcome the lack of offense... And then you get the Zachary Kassians, Kyle Beaches, and Tyler Biggseses. These guys should be dominating with their size.

Plus, I'd rather get a potential top pairing dman than a winger. More important, especially since dmen develop slower, and this rebuild will take a few years.
- Feeling Glucky?

Okay, but there aren't too many guys ranked behind him that are ppg, and they're all under 6 foot (mostly, anyway). I went into the World Juniors not knowing much about him, but I'm telling you, he was one of the more skilled kids out there. Dismissing him because he's big is silly.

Okay, but there aren't too many guys ranked behind him that are ppg, and they're all under 6 foot (mostly, anyway). I went into the World Juniors not knowing much about him, but I'm telling you, he was one of the more skilled kids out there. Dismissing him because he's big is silly.
- prock

I'm not dismissing him because he's big. I'm dismissing him because of the combination of a lack of production and size.

If the goal is to build a team that will be mediocre for a long time, I believe you are correct. The senators are doing everything in their power to make sure this happens while the Leafs are going the route of trying to build a team that might one day win a cup.



I suppose it's not even worth comparing the two teams, as their goals are so fundamentally different.
- Feeling Glucky?

First of all there is no way you can make the claim that the Senators will be " mediocre for a long time" as you cannot predict the future.

Same goes for your prediction the leafs are going to build a team to win the Cup, one day.

Total speculation and wishful thinking on your part.

First of all there is no way you can make the claim that the Senators will be " mediocre for a long time" as you cannot predict the future.

Same goes for your prediction the leafs are going to build a team to win the Cup, one day.

Total speculation and wishful thinking on your part.
- Doppleganger

I'm saying what the apparent goals are, not that they'll succeed at them.

I'm not dismissing him because he's big. I'm dismissing him because of the combination of a lack of production and size.
- Feeling Glucky?

So, if he were small and producing at the same rate, it would be okay?

It should probably also be noted that he’s leading his team in scoring, it’s not a very good team, and they play a defensive system.

Mark this thread, I’m telling you, in a year or two, you’ll be retracting your words.

So, if he were small and producing at the same rate, it would be okay?

It should probably also be noted that he’s leading his team in scoring, it’s not a very good team, and they play a defensive system.

Mark this thread, I’m telling you, in a year or two, you’ll be retracting your words.
- prock

Lots of people said similar things about Kassian and Beach... Myself included.

And no, it wouldn't be better if they were small. But at least they'd have an excuse

Lots of people said similar things about Kassian and Beach... Myself included.

And no, it wouldn't be better if they were small. But at least they'd have an excuse
- Feeling Glucky?

Neither of these guys were leading their team as a 17 year old. Beach is small. Neither of these guys showed a pile of skill in the world juniors at 17. Beach never even made the team, and Kassian only made the team as a grinder at the age of 19. It’s not remotely close to the same thing.

He doesn’t impress by being a bulldozer/meathead, like the two guys you mention. He’s got a lot of skill. A LOT of it. He moved the puck among some of the better players at the juniors.

No worries though, I’m telling you, just bookmark it.

Neither of these guys were leading their team as a 17 year old. Beach is small. Neither of these guys showed a pile of skill in the world juniors at 17. Beach never even made the team, and Kassian only made the team as a grinder at the age of 19. It’s not remotely close to the same thing.

He doesn’t impress by being a bulldozer/meathead, like the two guys you mention. He’s got a lot of skill. A LOT of it. He moved the puck among some of the better players at the juniors.

No worries though, I’m telling you, just bookmark it.
- prock

We shall see. I'm just going with my gut on this, so I cant realy argue.


Leafs started moving out long term cap hits. Smart move to get rid of Clarkson's deal.

Benefits of being able to spend lots of non-cap dollars.

We shall see. I'm just going with my gut on this, so I cant realy argue.


Leafs started moving out long term cap hits. Smart move to get rid of Clarkson's deal.

Benefits of being able to spend lots of non-cap dollars.
- Feeling Glucky?

That was a great move, I think we can now agree?

Money does talk... another week, then run out this season and you'll finally have that tear-down rebuild you guys have wanted for quite awhile!

That was a great move, I think we can now agree?

Money does talk... another week, then run out this season and you'll finally have that tear-down rebuild you guys have wanted for quite awhile!
- Mr_Squeaks

It seems having available Cap space, on re-building team is desirable, even by Nonis.

He pulled of a trade that may very well keep him in place a the leaf GM.


WOW, Senators beat the LA Kings, in LA for only the second time since the Senators were welcomed back to the NHL.

It seems having available Cap space, on re-building team is desirable, even by Nonis.

He pulled of a trade that may very well keep him in place a the leaf GM.


WOW, Senators beat the LA Kings, in LA for only the second time since the Senators were welcomed back to the NHL.
- Doppleganger

We know cap space doesn't matter to Melnyk, since he just brags about how cheap his team is, not about how much cap they've got.

We know cap space doesn't matter to Melnyk, since he just brags about how cheap his team is, not about how much cap they've got.
- Feeling Glucky?

So I guess he's instructed Murray to trade all the impending RFAs, so he won't have to raise the payroll for next season.


You just don't get it do you?

So I guess he's instructed Murray to trade all the impending RFAs, so he won't have to raise the payroll for next season.


You just don't get it do you?
- Doppleganger

Who knows what happens next, but raising the payroll of a cash strapped team just to keep the same mediocre at best collection together doesn't seem all that great of a plan.... Unless the goal is perpetual mediocrity.

It seems having available Cap space, on re-building team is desirable, even by Nonis.

He pulled of a trade that may very well keep him in place a the leaf GM.


WOW, Senators beat the LA Kings, in LA for only the second time since the Senators were welcomed back to the NHL.
- Doppleganger

I wouldn't say it's cap space specifically. Its dollars to spend. Whether its the cap, or budget limitations, the inability to spend is a bad thing.

You see, that's why this trade happened. The cap space doesn't matter to the blue jackets. They can't spend that high anyway. They'd rather have a 5 mil third liner than a 5 mil no cap space bench warmer. The salary cap is irrelevant to have not teams. Teams like Columbus and Ottawa.

You recognize that if a trade like this went down involving the sens, the sens would almost certainly be the one taking a guy like clarkson, right?

I wouldn't say it's cap space specifically. Its dollars to spend. Whether its the cap, or budget limitations, the inability to spend is a bad thing.

You see, that's why this trade happened. The cap space doesn't matter to the blue jackets. They can't spend that high anyway. They'd rather have a 5 mil third liner than a 5 mil no cap space bench warmer. The salary cap is irrelevant to have not teams. Teams like Columbus and Ottawa.

You recognize that if a trade like this went down involving the sens, the sens would almost certainly be the one taking a guy like clarkson, right?
- prock

I wonder if Dopps will recognize this as an example of how having more money to spend is a good thing, even with the cap in place.



Probably not.

Apparently Ottawa wanted to trade for Clarkson... despite his contract, and knowing just how bad he's been.


What a poop show.

Apparently Ottawa wanted to trade for Clarkson... despite his contract, and knowing just how bad he's been.


What a poop show.
- Feeling Glucky?

Yep sure at half his salary and you take greening and legwand, iam sure we could have used him .In his proper role as a 4th line enforcer that can play very limited mins

Who knows what happens next, but raising the payroll of a cash strapped team just to keep the same mediocre at best collection together doesn't seem all that great of a plan.... Unless the goal is perpetual mediocrity.
- Feeling Glucky?

That's your plan, not the Senators plan.

Have you totally bought into the myth that the Senators are a cash strapped team? You should know that the team and the building (both owned and operated By EM) are run as separate entities, with the Team paying rent to the CTC. The total value of the franchise has more than doubles since EG bought both the team and the CTC.


As much you would like to see the Senators packing up and leaving for Kansas City or wherever, it's not going to happen. The only place the Senators will be relocated to is LeBreton Flats in about ten years or so, from now.

That's your plan, not the Senators plan.

Have you totally bought into the myth that the Senators are a cash strapped team? You should know that the team and the building (both owned and operated By EM) are run as separate entities, with the Team paying rent to the CTC. The total value of the franchise has more than doubles since EG bought both the team and the CTC.


As much you would like to see the Senators packing up and leaving for Kansas City or wherever, it's not going to happen. The only place the Senators will be relocated to is LeBreton Flats in about ten years or so, from now.
- Doppleganger

So you think assembling a team without any top-end talent represents a plan for anything other than mediocrity?


Interesting.


I don't think the team will move, but the team is cash strapped, simply because the owner uses them as his piggy bank to fund his extended Caribbean vacation... and brags to others around the league about how cheap he can run a team.

He's from Toronto... maybe he's just doing it to keep senators fans suffering? I'm sure at some point, when the locals realize that they're cheering for a team that's never won the cup, and isn't in a position to do so for the next decade or so, he'll have to start spending, if just to give the illusion of trying.

I wouldn't say it's cap space specifically. Its dollars to spend. Whether its the cap, or budget limitations, the inability to spend is a bad thing.

You see, that's why this trade happened. The cap space doesn't matter to the blue jackets. They can't spend that high anyway. They'd rather have a 5 mil third liner than a 5 mil no cap space bench warmer. The salary cap is irrelevant to have not teams. Teams like Columbus and Ottawa.

You recognize that if a trade like this went down involving the sens, the sens would almost certainly be the one taking a guy like clarkson, right?
- prock

There are rumours (being talked about right now on the local sports radio station) that Clarkson was offered to the Senators by Nonis, but those talks did not go to far.


Don't worry, there are no restrictions on spending for B Murray, he's just a lot smarter than Nonis, who acquiesced to all of Clarkson's contract demands that was in part the reason the leafs product on the ice is so bad that it now has to be blown completely up, to start from scratch. The Senators payroll will rise as the team evolves into a playoff team, and then again when it becomes a Cup contender.

Yep sure at half his salary and you take greening and legwand, iam sure we could have used him .In his proper role as a 4th line enforcer that can play very limited mins

- top shelf 15

Do you find it concerning that a highly sought after UFA like him turned down more money to play for your rival, and the only chance you had at him was after we realized he sucked? And even then, you would have had to give up assets for that awful contract?

There are rumours (being talked about right now on the local sports radio station) that Clarkson was offered to the Senators by Nonis, but those talks did not go to far.


Don't worry, there are no restrictions on spending for B Murray, he's just a lot smarter than Nonis, who acquiesced to all of Clarkson's contract demands that was in part the reason the leafs product on the ice is so bad that it now has to be blown completely up, to start from scratch. The Senators payroll will rise as the team evolves into a playoff team, and then again when it becomes a Cup contender.
- Doppleganger

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...-about-obtaining-clarkson

Sounds like it was the Senators initiating the talks, perhaps still infatuated with the idea of Clarkson after he played hard to get with them?