Trevor Shackles: Cheap Free Agent Targets: Forwards Looking at some cheap free agent forwards that the Senators could or should be looking at

Rieder or Czarnik would be nice.

Still hope we buy out MacArthur and Gaborik (maybe). We need the money right? So why not save some? We won't be spending to the cap the next few years anyways so better to buy them out. Or do they think Gaborik will be worth something when he hits a hot streak??

I also rather buy out or keep Ryan than move him. Will cost too many future assets to move him.

Rieder or Czarnik would be nice.

Still hope we buy out MacArthur and Gaborik (maybe). We need the money right? So why not save some? We won't be spending to the cap the next few years anyways so better to buy them out. Or do they think Gaborik will be worth something when he hits a hot streak??

I also rather buy out or keep Ryan than move him. Will cost too many future assets to move him.
- DutchSenators

I don’t think Ottawa will want to add many UFAs.

White, Chaplik and Formenton all play good D. I expect all three to be in the line up opening night.

I see Brown and Batherson starting the season in Belleville with call ups as season progresses.

Also, if the Sens do trade Karlsson I expect one good young forward coming back that would be expecting playing time as well.

I do agree on your Bobby Ryan point. He is great in the dressing room. Well liked by young players and he is a good fit for a few more years.

Formenton is only 70 hours older than Tkachuck despite being from different draft years.

Still not sure about the Tkachuck selection.

What pieces will be needed to acquire EK? I know a deal probably couldnt be reached between Ottawa and NJ but i am curious to see what it would take and what the team looks like after a deal is made. Would a first round pick, a young top 4 D and young top 9 f be enough to get the convo started ? Or would one more significant piece need to be included ?

What pieces will be needed to acquire EK? I know a deal probably couldnt be reached between Ottawa and NJ but i am curious to see what it would take and what the team looks like after a deal is made. Would a first round pick, a young top 4 D and young top 9 f be enough to get the convo started ? Or would one more significant piece need to be included ?
- Shampoo

At the deadline last year it was rumoured that Las Vegas had offered up Cody Glass (a very good prospect) and Shea Theodore (young Dman). Plus they agreed to take back Bobby Ryan’s salary.

i don’t think Ryan matters now as other Sens salaries are crashihg. A top prospect, a good young player and a pick probably works....if a trade is in the works.

Formenton is only 70 hours older than Tkachuck despite being from different draft years.

Still not sure about the Tkachuck selection.
- spatso

This post is disturbing.

This post is disturbing.
- Aetherial

With his default position of fawning over every other prospect in the Sens' system in years past, I too find it disturbing that he has the same doubts that many realistic hockey fans have concerning the Tkachuk pick.

I don’t think Ottawa will want to add many UFAs.

White, Chaplik and Formenton all play good D. I expect all three to be in the line up opening night.

I see Brown and Batherson starting the season in Belleville with call ups as season progresses.

Also, if the Sens do trade Karlsson I expect one good young forward coming back that would be expecting playing time as well.

I do agree on your Bobby Ryan point. He is great in the dressing room. Well liked by young players and he is a good fit for a few more years.
- spatso

lol

but who in a better situation? The Leafs or Sens?

Formenton is only 70 hours older than Tkachuck despite being from different draft years.

Still not sure about the Tkachuck selection.
- spatso

Tkachuk and formenton have a lot in common.

Neither will score many nhl goals.

I don’t think Ottawa will want to add many UFAs.

White, Chaplik and Formenton all play good D. I expect all three to be in the line up opening night.

I see Brown and Batherson starting the season in Belleville with call ups as season progresses.

Also, if the Sens do trade Karlsson I expect one good young forward coming back that would be expecting playing time as well.

I do agree on your Bobby Ryan point. He is great in the dressing room. Well liked by young players and he is a good fit for a few more years.
- spatso

I see a red kool aid over dose got the sens summer talk going.

Formenton is only 70 hours older than Tkachuck despite being from different draft years.

Still not sure about the Tkachuck selection.
- spatso

Agreed, but it's quintessential of this organization to take Tkachuck over the omre skilled Zadina.

I've mentioned before how I really like Matt in Calgary, so I'm remaining optimistic we'll be eating our words after this.

Tkachuk and formenton have a lot in common.

Neither will score many nhl goals.
- Tumbleweed

Look, I think the rules are fairly explicit. This is a team thread with a new writer trying to create a base of followers. This is not a place where individual trolling is appropriate.

Open discussion is more than appropriate for the forum. So, perhaps, you need to restrain your comment or move on.

I wonder if they'll bring guys up from Bingo over some UFA signings.

Paul's been in the org for a while now, although I feel like this is the third year I've been wondering this.

Agreed, but it's quintessential of this organization to take Tkachuck over the omre skilled Zadina.

I've mentioned before how I really like Matt in Calgary, so I'm remaining optimistic we'll be eating our words after this.
- david22

Matt is an excellent player and super pest. If Brady is even half the player Matt is, then he will be a solid contributor...but Brady is supposed to be better than Matt, so I would hold on suggesting Ottawa blew this pick...Matt was a great pick up for 6th overall just like Monahan...Bennett was a 4th overall just like Brady...uh oh...

Look, I think the rules are fairly explicit. This is a team thread with a new writer trying to create a base of followers. This is not a place where individual trolling is appropriate.

Open discussion is more than appropriate for the forum. So, perhaps, you need to restrain your comment or move on.
- spatso

It's a blog...open forum...open discussion as you said...trolling is encouraged, and on some threads the reason this website gets hits. I can send you some tissue to alleviate your tears.

Wow no love for Jurco.

Pierre Mcguire said on the radio this morning that Colin white projects out as a 60-70 point player.. so things are looking up

Look, I think the rules are fairly explicit. This is a team thread with a new writer trying to create a base of followers. This is not a place where individual trolling is appropriate.

Open discussion is more than appropriate for the forum. So, perhaps, you need to restrain your comment or move on.
- spatso

He offered an opinion about 2 Senators prospects in the Sens thread. Maybe the blogger, being new, appreciates the traffic. Perhaps you should present some empirical data to refute his position. Maybe you'll convince him to change his stance. Makes for great summer talk.

I don't think he's going to abandon a conversation/topic he's interested in and has every right to participate in simply because someone asked him to. Only a total wussy would do that.

It's a blog...open forum...open discussion as you said...trolling is encouraged, and on some threads the reason this website gets hits. I can send you some tissue to alleviate your tears.
- Smells Like Jagr

You misunderstand. These guys are trolling me personally while I am trying to support this particular thread. I am more than content with what they send my way. It is not just fair for the regulars on this thread to be distracted by the rough and tumble of the forum debates.

Pierre Mcguire said on the radio this morning that Colin white projects out as a 60-70 point player.. so things are looking up
- senstroll

Did he really say that? He hasn't really looked like that kind of player in an albeit limited sample size.

What was his argument, and how many times was the word Monster used in his analysis?

You misunderstand. These guys are trolling me personally while I am trying to support this particular thread. I am more than content with what they send my way. It is not just fair for the regulars on this thread to be distracted by the rough and tumble of the forum debates.
- spatso

Its just summer talk

He offered an opinion about 2 Senators prospects in the Sens thread. Maybe the blogger, being new, appreciates the traffic. Perhaps you should present some empirical data to refute his position. Maybe you'll convince him to change his stance.

I don't think he's going to abandon a conversation/topic he's interested in and has every right to participate in simply because someone asked him to. Only a total wussy would do that.
- BlueBallz

Two years ago I was asked to put my negative comments about the Leafs on the forum threads. Specifically I was asked not to engage in trolling discussions that used the words Leafs and choke in the same sentence. Now, I suppose, I should not say Matthews and no heart in the same sentence.

You misunderstand. These guys are trolling me personally while I am trying to support this particular thread. I am more than content with what they send my way. It is not just fair for the regulars on this thread to be distracted by the rough and tumble of the forum debates.
- spatso

Most of the regulars on this thread are more firmly grounded in reality than you've ever shown and are able to either fend for themselves or ignore any posters they don't want to read.

Stop hiding behind your false white knight routine in order to protect your own delicate sensibilities which took such an epic pummelling in the forums which you ran from after years of embarrassing yourself.

Matt is an excellent player and super pest. If Brady is even half the player Matt is, then he will be a solid contributor...but Brady is supposed to be better than Matt, so I would hold on suggesting Ottawa blew this pick...Matt was a great pick up for 6th overall just like Monahan...Bennett was a 4th overall just like Brady...uh oh...
- Smells Like Jagr

It's great to say that Brady is "supposed" to be better then Matt, but there is simply no evidence to support this fact. Matt outscored Brady at every stage of their development...

16 years old:
both played for USNDT U-17 - Matt (35 5-12-17), Brady (32 4-4-8)

17 years old:
both played for USNDT U-18 - Matt (24 13-20-33), Brady (24 12-11-23)
both played for US at World U-18s - Matt (7 2-10-12), Brady (7 1-6-7)

18 years old:
both played for US at World U-20s - Matt (7 4-7-11), Brady (7 3-6-9)

Hard to compare Matt's OHL season against boys to Brady's NCAA season, but Brady does not compare favourably to other recent 18 year old NCAA first rounders (Luke Kunin and Tage Thompson both outscored him in their 18 year old seasons and were picked significantly later in the 1st round)

Bottom line is Tkachuk will very likely be a good-to-great player, maybe even a first line talent, but the problem is, as is almost everything else with this organization, that the decision was poorly made.

Dorion decided to prioritize character and goal scoring with his pick. Tkachuk was definitely not the best goal scorer available, so there goes that argument and while having a poor character can disqualify you (see one Filatov, Nikita) having "strong character" should not be enough to be a deciding factor to select him over a more talented alternative (like Zadina).

I think Sens fan's attitude over the pick has less to do with Tkachuk than and more to do with a lack of faith in the team's management.