Speculation: 2013 Offseason: UFAs, Trades, What's Next? | Part VI

[Micklebot]

You must be a recent fan then

He's a turn over machine but he's also very good offensively and him being right handed is a big deal for our team

As long as he paired with a good and quick defensive minded partner it will be fine

He's the author of the only goal to ever get us a 2-0 lead in a series against the Sabres in 2007

It was a GLORIOUS day and while Corvo will give us fits and will undoubtedly lead to some epic goals against he remains a hero of mine

It's also a one year deal for a player who will likely be the 7th dman and a PP specialist

I'm very happy with the signing

He hasn't lead his teams D in give aways in three years, so that's a start

 

[holden57]

Leafs fan here with a couple questions. Let me first say your top 6 looks pretty solid with the addition of Bobby Ryan and Clarke MacArthur. Would much rather have my team with these guys than Bozak and Clarkson...

So how do you guys feel going into the season with one of Wiercioch/Gryba/Corvo being on your 2nd d pair?

Also, any thoughts on Pageau? Do you see him as a lock to make the team? If so, at center or on the wing?

 

[Slack]

Barring a sophomore slump I'd be content with Wier on the second pairing (despite being LHD). I'm hoping Corvo is no more than a 3rd pairing guy who gets PP time.

As for Pageau he looks to have a solid chance, but that sample size is just too short to be a lock. He's been so effective at centre that I would hate to see him be forceded to the wing simply out of depth issues. Not to mention Zibby is already showing promise as a winger, so it eases the logjam at C a little.

But that line of Greening - Pageau - Condra was among the best 4th lines in the league after it was assembled.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Leafs fan here with a couple questions. Let me first say your top 6 looks pretty solid with the addition of Bobby Ryan and Clarke MacArthur. Would much rather have my team with these guys than Bozak and Clarkson...

So how do you guys feel going into the season with one of Wiercioch/Gryba/Corvo being on your 2nd d pair?

Also, any thoughts on Pageau? Do you see him as a lock to make the team? If so, at center or on the wing?

we have a tier 1 defense . Thats right we have an ahl tier one defense with 3rd pairing defensemen throughout the line up . Saying that im a pessimist . Pageau will probably stay on the team starting on the third line and being shuffled around depending on his play and the play of his teammates . Hes looked good every where ive seen him so far but he is playing above his mean imo

 

[Slack]

we have a tier 1 defense . Thats right we have an ahl tier one defense with 3rd pairing defensemen throughout the line up . Saying that im a pessimist . Pageau will probably stay on the team starting on the third line and being shuffled around depending on his play and the play of his teammates . Hes looked good every where ive seen him so far but he is playing above his mean imo

Hey props to you Vesa for calling the Corvo move yesterday.

I'm not thrilled about it but I don't see it as necessarily a bad move, either.

 

[Korpse]

I love the people who say Conacher hasn't done much with the sens... when he's played a whopping 12 games at the end of a condensed 48 game schedule with the Sens...

Plus 8 playoff games. Guy couldn't keep his spot in the lineup come playoff time. Was rearly visible. I'm not saying give up on the guy, I just don't get how everyone loves this guy. He did little in Ottawa.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Hey props to you Vesa for calling the Corvo move yesterday.

I'm not thrilled about it but I don't see it as necessarily a bad move, either.

Thanks but to be fair after someone told me he beat up a woman i back tracked a little . Still RHD with a great shot and a track record of pp success i thought it made a nice fit .

 

[Sens Rule]

Is anyone nervous about corvo? All i have been hearing is that he sucks. He is getting so much hate on the thread that was posted in the free agency frenzy forum.

We signed him for $900K. These are his stats since the last lockout:

2006 81gm 14g 40p +16 Tied for 11th in NHL in goals 29th in points among Dmen
2007 76gm 8g 37p +8 Tied for 34th in goals 33rd in points
2008 74gm 13g 48p +17 Tied for 8th in goals 12th in points
2009 81gm 14g 38p -1 Tied for 12th in goals 33rd in points
2010 52gm 6g 18p -10 Tied for 48th in goals 101st in points
2011 82gm 11g 40p -14 Tied for 12th in goals 24th in points
2012 75gm 4g 25p +10 Tied for 77th in goals 57th in points
2013 40gm 6g 17p -3 Tied for 19th in goals 46th in points

Last 8 seasons:

Totals:
561gm 76g 263p +23

Per 82g
11g 27a 38p +3

Now he can basically play 16-18 mins a night on the first PP and as a bottom pairing guy at ES and put up 8-10 goals and 30ish points. For $900K it is an incredible bargain.

Like the movie and book MONEY BALL!

 

[Slack]

Thanks but to be fair after someone told me he beat up a woman i back tracked a little . Still RHD with a great shot and a track record of pp success i thought it made a nice fit .

That was me actually

From what (little) I know of Joe as a person I'm not a big fan, but on the ice he certainly adds some serious offense to our back end.

 

[Iconoclast]

I'd rather move Zibby to wing than anyone else, simply because if he stays centre there's that big logjam and we might see that Smith - Zibby - Neil line again. I NEVER want to see that again in my life. I don't want zibanejad playing with grinders, he needs an an offensive role to grow the parts of his game that'll get him on the score sheet.

 

[Tampacuseforever]

I'd rather move Zibby to wing than anyone else, simply because if he stays centre there's that big logjam and we might see that Smith - Zibby - Neil line again. I NEVER want to see that again in my life. I don't want zibanejad playing with grinders, he needs an an offensive role to grow the parts of his game that'll get him on the score sheet.

I think Zibanejad should be kept as our third line center for another year. He is still very much a work in progress and would hate to move him to the wing this early in his career. When he becomes the beast we are all expecting then the sens should decide there options. He's only 20 years old and the playoffs showed he still has a lot of work to do before he becomes elite.

 

[Stylizer1]

Murray should try and have a serious discussion with Teemu Selanne. Bring him in on a 1 year 4 million dollar deal;.

 

[Fandlauer]

Murray should try and have a serious discussion with Teemu Selanne. Bring him in on a 1 year 4 million dollar deal;.

I could see us making a serious pitch for him or Jagr. Never underestimate the pride of eccentric billionaires, I can see EM wanting to pick up another big name after the Alfredsson ordeal.

 

[BonkTastic]

Also a possibility?

Conacher - Spezza - Ryan
Michalek - Turris - Zibanejad
MacArthur - Pageau - Lazar
Greening - Smith - Neil

Any objections?

Yes. I object.

No 18 year olds, please. Let Lazar develop at his own pace. Rushing 18 year olds into the NHL is possibly the worst asset management failure I can think of.

 

[Sens Rule]

Murray should try and have a serious discussion with Teemu Selanne. Bring him in on a 1 year 4 million dollar deal;.

Selanne finally slowed down this past season. I think he is done or near done. He is 43! If I go for a half-octagenarian to replace Alfie's spot it is Jagr. But with the Senators internal cap that is near impossible to imagine. If we did get Jagr I would want him to mentor Zibanejad and play on a line with him. Teach him some sick puck possession moves! Imagine the talent and uniqueness of a Pageau-Zibanejad-Jagr 3rd line. Pageau could take faceoffs if Zibby proves not able to improve his. Jagr could control the play down low and pass to both of the linemates. Pageau is a fast scatter-bug and reads when to get back on defence well. His lack of size is not exposed with his hulking teammates. It is a 3rd line so the scoring they do is a bonus. Jagr has shown dedication for 200 feet of the rink since returning from the KHL and he scored at a near 30 goal 60 pt pace last year. And he is a vet and has been praised in all the organizations he has been in recently for his leadership and dedication and holding midnight practices! What he could do on the ice and teach to everyone on the team is immense. Plus it takes pressure off of Spezza, Ryan and Karlsson to replace the 40 years of experience and leadership Gonchar and Alfredsson leaving represents. You get a HHOFer who is one of the best to EVER play. Even Spezza and Karlsson would be awed by the presence he represents. Plus he makes one of our PP units much better.

Forwards:

Conacher Spezza Ryan
MacArthur Turris Michalek
Pageau Zibanejad Jagr
Greening Smith Neil
Hoffman Kassian
Callups: Stone, Prince, Puempel
Wild card: Lazar (does he impress in camp to get 9 game tryout? Does he impress in tryout and stick? Unlikely but if he does we likely deal another LWer)

Trade Condra, O'Brien, DaCosta for future considerations/picks/younger prospects

Defence:
Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Corvo
Wiercioch-Gryba
Phillips
Cal-ups: Borowiecki, Ceci, Claessen, Sado

Phillips is not going to healthy scratch often. Inuries will tell the tale. All of Corvo, Wiercioch, Gryba and Phillips could sit some games if all healthy. Even Cowen maybe if he struggles for periods.

PK1
Phillips-Cowen
Pageau-Smith

PK2
Methot-Karlsson
Turris-Michalek
(this unit becomes a true offensive threat)

PK3
Doubleshifted Cowen/Phillips/Methot/Gryba
Spezza-Greening/Ryan
(Maclean has used Spezza to PK before and with Alfie gone he will more. Ryan does not PK much but I could see at times Maclean using him with Spezza to get Ryan going and into a game. To also give him a larger role on the team.

PP1
Corvo Karlsson
Ryan-Spezza-Turris

PP2
Wiercioch Cowen
Jagr Zibanejad Michalek

Sometimes on PP as well: MacArthur, Pageau, Greening, Neil

 

[Super Cake]

Selanne finally slowed down this past season. I think he is done or near done. He is 43! If I go for a half-octagenarian to replace Alfie's spot it is Jagr. But with the Senators internal cap that is near impossible to imagine. If we did get Jagr I would want him to mentor Zibanejad and play on a line with him. Teach him some sick puck possession moves! Imagine the talent and uniqueness of a Pageau-Zibanejad-Jagr 3rd line. Pageau could take faceoffs if Zibby proves not able to improve his. Jagr could control the play down low and pass to both of the linemates. Pageau is a fast scatter-bug and reads when to get back on defence well. His lack of size is not exposed with his hulking teammates. It is a 3rd line so the scoring they do is a bonus. Jagr has shown dedication for 200 feet of the rink since returning from the KHL and he scored at a near 30 goal 60 pt pace last year. And he is a vet and has been praised in all the organizations he has been in recently for his leadership and dedication and holding midnight practices! What he could do on the ice and teach to everyone on the team is immense. Plus it takes pressure off of Spezza, Ryan and Karlsson to replace the 40 years of experience and leadership Gonchar and Alfredsson leaving represents. You get a HHOFer who is one of the best to EVER play. Even Spezza and Karlsson would be awed by the presence he represents. Plus he makes one of our PP units much better.

Forwards:

Conacher Spezza Ryan
MacArthur Turris Michalek
Pageau Zibanejad Jagr
Greening Smith Neil
Hoffman Kassian
Callups: Stone, Prince, Puempel
Wild card: Lazar (does he impress in camp to get 9 game tryout? Does he impress in tryout and stick? Unlikely but if he does we likely deal another LWer)

Trade Condra, O'Brien, DaCosta for future considerations/picks/younger prospects

Defence:
Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Corvo
Wiercioch-Gryba
Phillips
Cal-ups: Borowiecki, Ceci, Claessen, Sado

Phillips is not going to healthy scratch often. Inuries will tell the tale. All of Corvo, Wiercioch, Gryba and Phillips could sit some games if all healthy. Even Cowen maybe if he struggles for periods.

PK1
Phillips-Cowen
Pageau-Smith

PK2
Methot-Karlsson
Turris-Michalek
(this unit becomes a true offensive threat)

PK3
Doubleshifted Cowen/Phillips/Methot/Gryba
Spezza-Greening/Ryan
(Maclean has used Spezza to PK before and with Alfie gone he will more. Ryan does not PK much but I could see at times Maclean using him with Spezza to get Ryan going and into a game. To also give him a larger role on the team.

PP1
Corvo Karlsson
Ryan-Spezza-Turris

PP2
Wiercioch Cowen
Jagr Zibanejad Michalek

Sometimes on PP as well: MacArthur, Pageau, Greening, Neil

Why are you putting conacher on the first line? He has not really shown to me that he is first liner as of now. He needs to player more games under macleans system and prove that he can put up the points and goals before i would even consider him to be a first liner.

 

[Answer]

OMG!! Peter Mueller is a UFA. Murray please sign him!!!! He would fit in great with us and he is only 25!

 

[Benjamin]

Why are you putting conacher on the first line? He has not really shown to me that he is first liner as of now. He needs to player more games under macleans system and prove that he can put up the points and goals before i would even consider him to be a first liner.

Not everyone that plays on the 1st line is a 1st liner.

 

[Super Cake]

Not everyone that plays on the 1st line is a 1st liner.

I know, it is just that i do not really see conacher placed on the first line. Don't get me wrong, i like him and i think he will be an amazing player for us. I just don't think he is ready to be placed on the first line yet. I would just like to see how a michalek-spezza-ryan line turns out at the beginning. Put conacher on the second line. If michalek is not working out and conacher is excelling, then by all means put conacher on the first line.

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Not everyone that plays on the 1st line is a 1st liner.

Look at Michalek.

 

[Karlssonlee]

Would love to sign Jagr or Penner. One other experience player in our top 6 would be really valuable for our inexperience team.

Penner - Spezza - Ryan
MacArthur - Turris - Michalek

or

Michalek - Spezza - Ryan
MacArthur - Turris - Jagr

 

[Tampacuseforever]

I know, it is just that i do not really see conacher placed on the first line. Don't get me wrong, i like him and i think he will be an amazing player for us. I just don't think he is ready to be placed on the first line yet. I would just like to see how a michalek-spezza-ryan line turns out at the beginning. Put conacher on the second line. If michalek is not working out and conacher is excelling, then by all means put conacher on the first line.

Yes I see what your saying but Mac with Turris and Conacher is too small of a line. Put Conacher with Spezza and Ryan, Mihalek with Mac and Turris and you've got good balance. People get too wrapped up in first line, second line tags. To me it's more mixing and matching and what fits better. It is not necessarily your three best players that are on the top line.

 

[Tampacuseforever]

Would love to sign Jagr or Penner. One other experience player in our top 6 would be really valuable for our inexperience team.

Penner - Spezza - Ryan
MacArthur - Turris - Michalek

or

Michalek - Spezza - Ryan
MacArthur - Turris - Jagr

But it's also one less spot for our young players, and a lot of ice time being wasted on a guy that won't be with us when we are in contention. We really need to give the opportunity to our prospects.

 

[Ahnotamoose]

No way Selanne leaves Anaheim, he's won a Cup, and loves the city he plays in. Not an Alfredsson situation at all.

Jagr I would like, mostly because I think he'd be a terrific influence on Zibanejad and some of the other youngsters. Teach them how to play a power game. I credit quite a bit of Voracek's breakout year to Jagr's mentoring from his year in Philly.

Thing is, I think Jagr wants to play top 6 and not sure he'd be that in Ottawa.

 

[harrisb]

Zib-spezza-Ryan
Michalek-turris-MacArthur
Greening-pageau-conacher
Neil-smith-condra

Maybe swap condra and conacher or greening and zib