Are we a cap team next year?

[Sens Rule]

I think the oldest UFAs could be the best for us. Less likely to be overpriced in $$$$$. Also gives us the chance for our prospects in a year

Patrik Elias - 2 year as LW $5.5m
Jarome Iginla - 4 years
Vinny Prospal - 1 year
Pascal Dupuis - 4 year
Sergei Gonchar 2 year

 

[MtRundle]

That's not a good way to build a team.


Trade established players, say Michalek, for good futures. Then sign someone in free agency to replace Michalek. Bam, you get the best of both worlds.


With your way the Sens just lose assets.

They also gain a player under contract who can slide in and play now. The Murrays have done the hard lifting to stockpile picks, we have some young guys coming up. Lets use some of the pics to grab someone who can helps us win in the next 2-3 years.

We don't have top high end talent save maybe Zibanejad on the front end. We'll need to trade for that; lets say no thanks for an aging or 2nd line ufa player we have to pay like a 1st line star.

 

[Micklebot]

I think we're more in a position to move prospects/picks for players on contract.

That's not a good way to build a team.


Trade established players, say Michalek, for good futures. Then sign someone in free agency to replace Michalek. Bam, you get the best of both worlds.


With your way the Sens just lose assets.

Yeah, I mean it's not like L.A. made moves for established players that transformed them from a playoff afterthought to SC champs.

There are plenty of good ways to build a team. Trades get you player on fair contracts, UFA signings generally don't. Both strategies have their merits and risks.

Not to mention by including trades as an option you increase the options, and the likelihood of finding the right fit.

 

[Sun God Nika]

I don't know if this is wierd or not, but could we sign pascal dupuis? scored alot of goals this season, and he wouldn't look too shabby next to spezza. Pittsburgh doesnt have the space most likely to to resign him, and we have lots of money with a bright future

Michalek - Spezza - Dupuis
Conacher - Turris - Silfverberg
Greening - Pageau - Zibanejad
Condra - Smith - Niel

Alfie would be a 13th forward.... Come on hes gonna be 41 nex year, let him switch in and out with smith, greening , pageau, conacher, and sometimes zibby , when there having bad games or god forbid an injury.

I would probably try trading michalek for a 1st and second/third in the off season

Thats a dangerous top 9 if you think about all the development , Silfy, Zibby, Turris, Joe, and somewhat greening and smitty and condra all ready got,

 

[Stonewall]

I like the idea of signing Briere once he is bought out.

 

[Wondercarrot]

I don't know if this is wierd or not, but could we sign pascal dupuis? scored alot of goals this season, and he wouldn't look too shabby next to spezza. Pittsburgh doesnt have the space most likely to to resign him, and we have lots of money with a bright future

Michalek - Spezza - Dupuis
Conacher - Turris - Silfverberg
Greening - Pageau - Zibanejad
Condra - Smith - Niel

Alfie would be a 13th forward.... Come on hes gonna be 41 nex year, let him switch in and out with smith, greening , pageau, conacher, and sometimes zibby , when there having bad games or god forbid an injury.

I would probably try trading michalek for a 1st and second/third in the off season

Thats a dangerous top 9 if you think about all the development , Silfy, Zibby, Turris, Joe, and somewhat greening and smitty and condra all ready got,

our 13th forward?
you actually think alfie is going to go out as a spare part?
do you know who he is? what he is?

you're lucky he doesnt reach out through the internet and slap you across the face through your computer screen.

 

[sens4life]

What makes anyone think uncle Eug will spend more next year??

 

[StefanW]

If we can make it to the second round with the tiny payroll we now have, adding an expensive piece means we may have to make it to the third round to be equally profitable. I still remember Eugene discussing, after the team was partially blown up a couple of years back, the insanity of spending to the cap at the time and how the Sens had to make the second round of the playoffs just to break even. The business of the game dictates that if you have cheap players who get the job done it is foolish to pay full price for expensive ones.

 

[Karl Cowensson]

Ideally we bring in a UFA Dman and a top six to replace Alfie if he retires. Our biggest weakness IMO is inexperience. Stick with what we have and see how the kids develop.

I really can't see why Alfie would retire, especially at the level he is playing at right now.

 

[GreatStateofHockey]

Do you all think Kelly is an option this off-season? Boston will need to get rid of some salary and he looks like a potential target. Most of the older guys were very fond of Kelly, and I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to waive his NMC to come back. Right now we have a log jam at center, but i don't see how Zibanejad doesn't get moved to the wing permanently. I also think that the scoring lines should be built from within, with secondary help being the main target for adding veterans for a cup run. It leaves the interesting question of how our center depth would look.

Currentely

Spezza
Turris
Pageau
Smith

If we took a look at Kelly would he play a wing, our bump someone above to the wing?

 

[sens4life]

If we can make it to the second round with the tiny payroll we now have, adding an expensive piece means we may have to make it to the third round to be equally profitable. I still remember Eugene discussing, after the team was partially blown up a couple of years back, the insanity of spending to the cap at the time and how the Sens had to make the second round of the playoffs just to break even. The business of the game dictates that if you have cheap players who get the job done it is foolish to pay full price for expensive ones.

Agreed. But there is also a glass ceiling that can't be broken. No one expects the Sens to win this series vs the Pens, and if the Sens make the deadline deals of adding Iginla and Morrow, how different would this series be?

All I'm saying is, I want the Sens to spend more and hope they will....as we will only be able to progress so far without doing so.

 

[Micklebot]

What makes anyone think uncle Eug will spend more next year??

Well, he probably saved some money with all the injuries (insurance covers it I believe) and the extra playoff round brought in more than they likely budgeted for. We were a 53 million dollar cap hit team this year, new cap is 64, so I could see us getting closer to that number, but I doubt we get all the way up to it unless there are some back loaded contracts involved.

My expectation is that there will be a fair bit of cap space left over until the deadline; who our team is looking will decide if we move any closer to the cap, but we won't be a cap team per say.

 

[Holdurbreathe]

Agreed. But there is also a glass ceiling that can't be broken. No one expects the Sens to win this series vs the Pens, and if the Sens make the deadline deals of adding Iginla and Morrow, how different would this series be?

All I'm saying is, I want the Sens to spend more and hope they will....as we will only be able to progress so far without doing so.

Not sure Morrow or Iginla fit with the future Sens.

The Senators decided to rebuild this franchise through the draft and develop model. Trades are made keeping the principles of youth with potential/experience at the forefront by acquiring Turris and Conacher.

Murray has shown a willingness to accelerating the rebuild with his interest in Nash and O'Reilly, but again with the key principles being upheld. This also is an indication that Melnyk is willing to spend for assets that fit the criteria.

Of course Murray will be interested in moving redundant assets, like Foligno, to fill a need which he clearly did obtaining a young D with experience like Methot. IMO this type of trade is the most likely to occur prior to next season given the current numbers.

It would be ideal if Murray could acquire a young power forward to play on Spezza's left wing. However the likelyhood of a young experienced player becoming available are pretty slim, so players like Hoffman, Prince and Noesen, and Stone will probably get to audition for the opening.

Fans need to realize the Senators are a very young and developing team, with only five players over 30 years of age. The unexpected success the team has realized over the rebuild doesn't indicate or warrant a sudden shift in philosphy. It actually indicates Melnyk/Murray should stay the course, let the kids develop and make the future even brighter.

 

[Holdurbreathe]

What makes anyone think uncle Eug will spend more next year??

Melnyk has spent and will spend given it is for the type of player that fits the current franchise model.

However he has seen the light and finally realizes spending in and of itself does NOT equal winning.

 

[Stylizer1]

We need a scorer. Plain and simple. Someone who makes their linemates better. Michalek doesn't do this. Turris doesn't do this.

 

[Stylizer1]

Not sure Morrow or Iginla fit with the future Sens.

The Senators decided to rebuild this franchise through the draft and develop model. Trades are made keeping the principles of youth with potential/experience at the forefront by acquiring Turris and Conacher.

Murray has shown a willingness to accelerating the rebuild with his interest in Nash and O'Reilly, but again with the key principles being upheld. This also is an indication that Melnyk is willing to spend for assets that fit the criteria.

Of course Murray will be interested in moving redundant assets, like Foligno, to fill a need which he clearly did obtaining a young D with experience like Methot. IMO this type of trade is the most likely to occur prior to next season given the current numbers.

It would be ideal if Murray could acquire a young power forward to play on Spezza's left wing. However the likelyhood of a young experienced player becoming available are pretty slim, so players like Hoffman, Prince and Noesen, and Stone will probably get to audition for the opening.

Fans need to realize the Senators are a very young and developing team, with only five players over 30 years of age. The unexpected success the team has realized over the rebuild doesn't indicate or warrant a sudden shift in philosphy. It actually indicates Melnyk/Murray should stay the course, let the kids develop and make the future even brighter.

Spezza is in his prime and I don't think waiting for the youth to get better is the right thing to count on. We need a proven scorer who can solidify our top 6 now and a good veteran presence when Alfie retires. If spezza was 2-3 years younger goo the youth route makes complete sense.

 

[Holdurbreathe]

We need a scorer. Plain and simple. Someone who makes their linemates better. Michalek doesn't do this. Turris doesn't do this.

Would be ideal, but identifying a need and acquiring the asset are worlds apart.

 

[salomonster]

I don't see Eug' getting off his wallet anymore than necessary... Nor should he.

Sure teams like Pitt will be forced to dump as will some others but I just don't see Ott picking up contracts just cause they are 16M under the cap.

If anything in the coming future I see BM trying to figure out things relating to:

Gonchar - re up with shorter term or out.

Michalek - same or trade him out. Only due to injury concerns.

Anderson - although I would likely resign him at the moment...

Alfie - is the one case where I would go the UFA route to replace him with a franchise winger who plays well with and without the puck and also fits in the mix for the team.