Jared Crozier: Widemand Re-Signs 2-Way Contract, Free Agency Thoughts

Good signing for Wideman.

I'd like to see Ehrhoff be signed.

I'd give Richards a PTO if he'd agree to it. Can't hurt to have centre depth for cheap.

One name not to overlook on that blueline is Mikael Wikstrand. He's younger than the other two guys on the bubble (Claesson, Wideman), but by all accounts he might be closer than either of them. Factor in the potential for Phillips to retire (I still think this is the direction he'll be leaning in), and you've still got 9 guys there for 6 NHL spots. I just don't think Phillips will be in the mix come September/October.

One name not to overlook on that blueline is Mikael Wikstrand. He's younger than the other two guys on the bubble (Claesson, Wideman), but by all accounts he might be closer than either of them. Factor in the potential for Phillips to retire (I still think this is the direction he'll be leaning in), and you've still got 9 guys there for 6 NHL spots. I just don't think Phillips will be in the mix come September/October.
- the_terror

He won't be stepping right into the mix though. Will need some seasoning. Could be better than the other two for sure in the end.

Dumb questions...

What would the Sens have to pay Philips/Neil if he chooses (or is eased into) retirement? Would a player lose a huge chunk of revenue if they retire instead of playing (sitting) out their contract?

Wouldn't it be cheaper for the team to buy out Greening rather than pay him millions to sit in the press box? Is it EM that's going to stop this from happening even though it's the sensible thing to do?

I presume that Condra, Chiasson and Hoffman can start entertaining 'offer sheets' starting on the 1st. Are there any implications to the latter two being 'restricted' free agents. Will we lose any of them to counter-offers?

Thanks.

Nothing might definitely be the right thing especially where the forwards are concerned. The emergence, albeit in limited capacity, of Shane Prince should make things competitive enough without taking on more salary. Picking up a top four defenseman will be on most team's to do list so from a cost perspective the Sens are out. Perhaps signing Hoffman and unloading the perpetual press box fodder should be a great place to begin.

Dumb questions...

What would the Sens have to pay Philips/Neil if he chooses (or is eased into) retirement? Would a player lose a huge chunk of revenue if they retire instead of playing (sitting) out their contract?

Wouldn't it be cheaper for the team to buy out Greening rather than pay him millions to sit in the press box? Is it EM that's going to stop this from happening even though it's the sensible thing to do?

I presume that Condra, Chiasson and Hoffman can start entertaining 'offer sheets' starting on the 1st. Are there any implications to the latter two being 'restricted' free agents. Will we lose any of them to counter-offers?

Thanks.
- sgoodwin

1. Phillips is an over 35 so his cap hit counts whether he plays or not, but if he retires he won't get paid. That is why he won't likely retire.

2. Greening's buyout would have cap implications for the next 4 years. They are better off to live with it for the 2 years and then get him off the books. ( I wrote about that a couple of weeks ago http://www.hockeybuzz.com...idering-Buyouts/215/69320

3. Teams can already talk to them, and even offer contracts as of last Thursday. Offer sheets aren't likely, and the Senators have the resources to match for Hoffman if they need to (Legwand, Lehner and Gryba off the books they now have $11M in space with just Hoff and Chiasson as RFA). As for compensation, depending on the AAV of the contract Hoffman wold likely get either a 2nd rd pick back ($1.8 - 3.662M AAAV) or a 1st & 3rd ($3.653-$5.47M)

I'm not sure who was speaking on TSN1200 , but I assumed it was Dorion, and they said don't expect much when it comes to FAs on Wednesday.

Thanks Jared!

What are the chances Lindberg makes this team out of training camp? Guy had a great playoff run and seems poised to make the Ben Bishop deal all worth it.

Condra and Chiasson will be back but they could still use some forward depth.

an interesting side note on cap mgt. ...... I like how the team has been structured wrt RFA/UFA deadlines.....

2015/16
the fab-five - with only 3 left to resign (hopefully the can get a deal done with Condra).

2016/17
there are 2 UFAs next year that will not be resigned in Phillips/Neil
there are 2 RFAs that they will resign in Weircioch / Ceci

2017/18
there are 3 UFAs that will not be resigned in Michalek/Smith/Greening
there are 4 RFAs that they will most likley resign in Z-Bad/Lazar/JGP/Cowen
- with there being an opportunity to deal those that are not reaching their potential.

2018/19
just Turris and Stone to resign - which should be no brainers...


They are set for relatively clear sailing for the next four seasons with a limited number of re-signings to make each year with plenty of cap space to do so.

The cap space also allows for the possibility of adding UFAs when the time is right to make a cup run.

What are the chances Lindberg makes this team out of training camp? Guy had a great playoff run and seems poised to make the Ben Bishop deal all worth it.

Condra and Chiasson will be back but they could still use some forward depth.
- tunmasterflex

There is no need to rush him along. He has played just 1 year in NA

Just added to the post, but Wideman's AHL salary is a very healthy $400K, so that is great for him ($600K NHL salary) and that is why he signed a 2-way deal.

If Cowen doesn't get it together this year he's done.

i would say there is zero chance.

he definitely had a nice run in the playoffs, but is still probably a long way off from being NHL ready. he'll likely have to jump ahead of 4-5 prospects.

he has the potential, and could salvage that deal, but he still has a long way to go

If Cowen doesn't get it together this year he's done.
- Mikelly_18

I think you're probably right. I think he does deserve this last shot though. A lot of his issues have really been injury based. He was so good in 2011-2012, so we know he can play. However, missing basically the entire 2012-2013 season really hurt his development, and he might have been able to play well this year but again, injury.

So if Cowen comes in next year and is healthy, then he might end up surprising a lot of people.

What sucks for the guy is that he could come out next year and be a solid 3-4, but certain folks have already made up their minds about him, so regardless of performance, he'll be a scapegoat, and every mistake he makes will be loudly amplified by those same people.

I also would definitely like to see the Sens make an offer to Ehrhoff. I think he could thrive playing with any of our 3 younger defensemen. He could what Methot is to Karlsson if he plays with Ceci or Wiercoch and he could be the puck-moving defenseman if he's matched with Cowen. I think most teams are going to offer a 1year deal to Ehrhoff, but I wouldn't mind the Sens offering 2Y / 8M salary to him.

I believe in developpment, and there aren't enough defensemen with ALOT of experience on our team. Just by himself, he has played roughly 200 more games than Ceci, Cowen, Wiercoch and Borowiecki together. That's really something to consider. Our blue line is extremely, extremely young and uneperienced.

I think you're probably right. I think he does deserve this last shot though. A lot of his issues have really been injury based. He was so good in 2011-2012, so we know he can play. However, missing basically the entire 2012-2013 season really hurt his development, and he might have been able to play well this year but again, injury.

So if Cowen comes in next year and is healthy, then he might end up surprising a lot of people.

What sucks for the guy is that he could come out next year and be a solid 3-4, but certain folks have already made up their minds about him, so regardless of performance, he'll be a scapegoat, and every mistake he makes will be loudly amplified by those same people.
- the_terror

not attacking your opinion, but i have 2 "retorts".

1. cowen's season in 11/12 wasn't "so good", it was "good for a rookie". he played like a decent 2nd pairing guy. people act like he had some kind of all star season, which is far from the truth.

2. peoples minds are made up about cowen because 200 or so games into his career, and he's played much more "bad hockey' than he has "good hockey". he was drafted high, and given a relatively big contract, and has poop the bed ever since. he's not going to be scapegoated for every mistake, unless like in the past 2 seasons, his mistakes largely outnumber his good play.

just my opinion

If I was coach:

Mark Stone - Mika Zibanejad - Bobby Ryan
Clarke MacArthur - Kyle Turris - Mike Hoffman
Matt Puempel - Zack Smith - Milan Michalek
Erik Condra - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Curtis Lazar
Alex Chiasson - Shane Prince - Chris Neil

Erik Karlsson - Marc Methot
Cody Ceci - Patrick Wiercioch
Mark Borowiecki - Jared Cowen

Craig Anderson
Andrew Hammond

Chris Phillips Chris Wideman Colin Greening

Where does Nick Paul fit in? Isn't he our top forward prospect?

Nick Paul fits in the AHL for a season

Nick Paul fits in the AHL for a season
- corbechev

yep ... on a line with Lindberg......

I would be quite happy if the Sens just stuck with their current roster. There seems to be enough space to get Chiasson and Hoffman back on board. If Hoffman can develop some consistency to his game, he could be a very effective sniper. Chiasson, I'd like to see work on his hands, and I'd like to see him more gritty and aggressive. He is a big guy and may have just had a rough year last year. Definitely worth another shot.

I'm interested to see what happens with Wideman. He is VERY undersized for a D-man. Karlsson is listed at 6foot, and he is looked at as small. Wideman is 3 inches shorter. He is also a right hand shot, which means he will probably play behind Karlsson and Ceci on the bottom pairing. He will see time with Cowen and Borowiecki. Probably more Cowen to start as it seems clear they want him to develop into the big solid Dman he was predicted to be a few years back.

If Cowen doesn't work out, Claesson and Wikstrand are both Left hand shooters. Claesson seems to be in the process of being groomed to be a Methot replacement later. He's a stay at home guy who could fill in when Methot is a bit older. Though Wikstrand is younger I'd bet he is more NHL ready. He's listed at 6'2 and just under 200lbs. He's already playing against men in then Swedish league. If he sees some sheltered minute on the bottom pairing he could be a nice addition to the sens blue line. He's pretty balanced in both offense and defense.

Things seems okay, I'd think.

yep ... on a line with Lindberg......
- SensnRBs

I was reading the roster for next week's camp and looking at the sizes of some of the kids Ottawa is bringing to camp. How about a line of Paul 6'2" Lindberg 6'2"and Gagne 6'5". Good size also with Harpur 6'6" and Englund 6'3" on D. Ottawa prospects looking very good.

not attacking your opinion, but i have 2 "retorts".

1. cowen's season in 11/12 wasn't "so good", it was "good for a rookie". he played like a decent 2nd pairing guy. people act like he had some kind of all star season, which is far from the truth.

2. peoples minds are made up about cowen because 200 or so games into his career, and he's played much more "bad hockey' than he has "good hockey". he was drafted high, and given a relatively big contract, and has poop the bed ever since. he's not going to be scapegoated for every mistake, unless like in the past 2 seasons, his mistakes largely outnumber his good play.

just my opinion
- sensarmy_11

Two retorts to your retorts:

1) that good season, he was 20 for half the year, and 21 for the other half. Playing 82 games on the 2nd pair of an average team, 17pts and a -4, for a guy his age, that's an outstanding season.

2) I disagree with the concept that he's played more bad games than good games. I firmly believe that the knock on Cowen is that people in Ottawa need a scapegoat. If the 82 game season was largely good, and he had 15 good games this past season, and half of the previous season was good, then mathematically he's played more good games than bad ones. He's really not nearly as terrible as people think. It feels like he's been around forever, but he's only 24, and since Spokane, he's missed 2.5 full seasons due to injury. So, instead of thinking of him as a guy who is 24, think of him as a guy who is just about to turn 22. Cut him some slack. He's better than Gryba and Borowiecki and Phillips. If he has a good summer, I'm betting on Cowen surprising everyone next year, and I'm betting on haters still hating him

And I'll add this:

3) he was so good in that first Montreal series. When he beat White up, he showed what he can be. So give him time. You won't regret having him here.