Around the NHL — Episode XLXVI

[YouGotAStuGoing]

To me, ring of honour is for guys in the conversation for a retired jersey but just don't quite meet the threshold. Turris while a good soldier for the team while here isn't really on that level.

I can understand this perspective for sure, even if I don't personally agree. I see a Ring of Honour as honouring players who left an impact on the team, and I see Turris fitting that mold.

Big time overkill and would cheapen the RoH.

Love Kyle and all he brought on and off the ice but he isn't in that sphere of player.

That said he should be brought back in to fold if possible and hopefully the young ladies can find a way to recognize his time here.

Cheapen the RoH? The only member is Bryan Murray and it's been more or less dormant since its inception in 2016. It's already plenty cheap, I don't see a new induction doing that at all.

 

[benjiv1]

Not sure why anyone would think that the Redblacks should fold.

Prior to the pandemic, the attendance was great. The cost to operate the team is minimal compared to the revenue they earn. (From my understanding, the TV contract alone pays for the player’s salaries).

All that being said, the team is absolute horse shit. Last year was complicated with a bunch of players retiring right before camp after realizing the year off from Covid essentially ended their career, and the Coach banked on absolutely the wrong QB.

This year, the team loaded up and looked competitive through 2 games against the “best” team in the league, and then lost their legitimate QB1 and haven’t recovered.

Typically, you can turn it around pretty quickly in the CFL, and considering the team has a “new GM” and a coach he didn’t hire, you have to think Lapolice is done after this year.

Not sure why anyone would be in support of losing a professional team. What harm is it doing?

 

[OD99]

I can understand this perspective for sure, even if I don't personally agree. I see a Ring of Honour as honouring players who left an impact on the team, and I see Turris fitting that mold.

Cheapen the RoH? The only member is Bryan Murray and it's been more or less dormant since its inception in 2016. It's already plenty cheap, I don't see a new induction doing that at all.

That was too harsh of a comment on my part as I wasn't trying to slag Turris.

Just mean the RoH should be for truly impactful persons with a long legacy who don't quite make number retiring status.

However are you saying BM shouldn't be up there? "Plenty cheap"?

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

That was too harsh of a comment on my part as I wasn't trying to slag Turris.

Just mean the RoH should be for truly impactful persons with a long legacy who don't quite make number retiring status.

However are you saying BM shouldn't be up there? "Plenty cheap"?

Not at all! Bryan Murray is a very deserving member of the RoH, apologies if I came across any differently. What I'm saying is that, for a ring that was introduced six years ago, for there to be only one member indicates it was more cheap gimmick when introduced than anything with any kind of meaning yet. I'm not sure naming a guy like Turris to the RoH does nearly as much to cheapen it when we consider the fact that there are plenty of names that should be up there but aren't — Redden, Phillips, Spezza, Alfredsson, to name a few.

As it stands, the Ring of Honour is ill-defined and thoroughly lacking for the kind of history we have. That's what I was trying to get across.

 

[God Says No]

Not sure why anyone would think that the Redblacks should fold.

Prior to the pandemic, the attendance was great. The cost to operate the team is minimal compared to the revenue they earn. (From my understanding, the TV contract alone pays for the player’s salaries).

All that being said, the team is absolute horse shit. Last year was complicated with a bunch of players retiring right before camp after realizing the year off from Covid essentially ended their career, and the Coach banked on absolutely the wrong QB.

This year, the team loaded up and looked competitive through 2 games against the “best” team in the league, and then lost their legitimate QB1 and haven’t recovered.

Typically, you can turn it around pretty quickly in the CFL, and considering the team has a “new GM” and a coach he didn’t hire, you have to think Lapolice is done after this year.

Not sure why anyone would be in support of losing a professional team. What harm is it doing?

LaPolice needs to go. That was a bad hire.

 

[OD99]

Not at all! Bryan Murray is a very deserving member of the RoH, apologies if I came across any differently. What I'm saying is that, for a ring that was introduced six years ago, for there to be only one member indicates it was more cheap gimmick when introduced than anything with any kind of meaning yet. I'm not sure naming a guy like Turris to the RoH does nearly as much to cheapen it when we consider the fact that there are plenty of names that should be up there but aren't — Redden, Phillips, Spezza, Alfredsson, to name a few.

As it stands, the Ring of Honour is ill-defined and thoroughly lacking for the kind of history we have. That's what I was trying to get across.

Alfie is in the rafters and Spezza just retired a few months ago.

Not sure I agree on Redden either.

Maybe it is ill defined as wide range of opinions on who should or shouldn't be there.

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

Alfie is in the rafters and Spezza just retired a few months ago.

Not sure I agree on Redden either.

Maybe it is ill defined as wide range of opinions on who should or shouldn't be there.

Who would you have in the Sens Ring of Honour?

 

[Tragedy]

Who would you have in the Sens Ring of Honour?

Yashin

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Who would you have in the Sens Ring of Honour?

Karlsson obviously, but we'll have to wait for him to retire first.

 

[NyQuil]

Karlsson obviously, but we'll have to wait for him to retire first.

I wonder if the Sens will consider retiring his number after he's retired.

He probably had the highest peak as an individual player, he had a pretty decent Cup run where he played a major role, and his number #65 is relatively unique and not exactly prime real estate among NHL teams, so it's not like retiring #9.

 

[playasRus]

Feel like team is storied enough that they could basically have a RoH induction for 1 player every two seasons and they'll never run out of quality guys.

Would people here argue that Neil/Fisher should hold a spot in the RoH? If so those guys are no where near HoF but definitely will always have left a mark and be part of Senators history.

Personally, my opinion is that off ice impact matters as much as on ice. Turris was a big part of several key moments and playoff runs but also a vital member of philanthropy in Ottawa (as was his wife). Same could be said about Neil and Fisher.

Redden remains a part of the community even and he was a big part of CHEO and still is. Hell they have a mural they've kept up for him.

 

[Cosmix]

I can understand this perspective for sure, even if I don't personally agree. I see a Ring of Honour as honouring players who left an impact on the team, and I see Turris fitting that mold.

Cheapen the RoH? The only member is Bryan Murray and it's been more or less dormant since its inception in 2016. It's already plenty cheap, I don't see a new induction doing that at all.

I would like to see the team put up pictures of all players in the past around the arena corridor walls. Don't have to call it something pretentious such as RoH. Special Retired Players who get honored should have their names & numbers hoisted into the rafters and that should be a scarce honour. Perhaps voted on by the season ticket holders once a year wih nominations by a committee that has to defend their nominations with "facts" related to hockey performance. Perhaps limited to 1 player per year.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I wonder if the Sens will consider retiring his number after he's retired.

He probably had the highest peak as an individual player, he had a pretty decent Cup run where he played a major role, and his number #65 is relatively unique and not exactly prime real estate among NHL teams, so it's not like retiring #9.

I assume they will, but I guess we'll see. I won't call it a slam dunk at this point, but he will obviously be honored in some fashion. Good point that the odd number makes it easier too, I wonder if that would ever actually factor in or is just a bonus.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I'll throw in my list of guys I'd consider for the Ring of Honour:

Locks:
1. Chris Neil
2. Erik Karlsson
3. Jason Spezza
4. Craig Anderson
5. Jacques Martin

Next Tier:
6. Wade Redden
7. Mike Fisher

Fringe:
8. Radek Bonk
9. Marian Hossa
10. Alexei Yashin
11. Dany Heatley
12. Zdeno Chara
13. Patrick Lalime
14. Marshall Johnston
15. John Muckler

I only included active players if I felt they were locks. Redden was a fringe lock... clear tier above Fisher. Realistically, I would probably just include those first 6 names. I would also consider retiring the #'s of Neil and/or Anderson.

 

[Xspyrit]

He was a good player with us for a good time, was responsible for a couple of big and memorable moments, and repairing the bridge there would be an optics slam dunk.

if he could have done what he did for like 10+ years I would agree but his career got cut short by injuries. He had like 5 good seasons with Ottawa then hit a quick decline

 

[playasRus]

Yes they need a lot more pieces still but they literally started their rebuild a few months ago. What I don't like as a rival is that they have already accumulated a lot of draft capital and a lot of quality prospects too. Keep in mind, they didn't have prime assets like Karlsson, Duchene and Stone for trade. But I want you to be right on Gorton. Another thing that worries me as a rival is all the people they have added, people like St. Louis and Lecavalier, Hughes, Machabée, Bobrov...

...

Asset management is crucial. Considering their best assets FT have been Lehkonen, Toffoli and Ben freaking Chiarot, this is highly impressive

Worth noting team mentality also though.
Ottawa tried to keep gate revenue afloat by icing semi-competitive teams by adding what their scouts thought would be "impact players," and gave up a handful of 2nd-5th round picks.
Montreal traded for/signed multiple "impact players," they they then flipped now that they're rebuilding.

Ottawa sold picks/prospects/assets from 2017-2021 (return):
Dahlen (Burrows)
2017 OTT 3rd (Stalberg)
Bowers (Duchene)
2019 OTT 1st (Duchene)
2019 OTT 3rd (Duchene)
Turris (Duchene)
2018 OTT 3rd (Cole)
2020 OTT 5th (Boedker)
2019 PIT 3rd (moving up 7 spots in 2nd)
Ceci (C. Brown + Zaitsev)
2020 CBJ 3rd (C. Brown + Zaitsev)
2021 OTT 4th (Namestnikov)
2021 OTT 5th (Reilly)
2021 OTT 4th (J. Brown)
2020 OTT 2nd (Murray)
2020 OTT 3rd (move up 15 spots in 2nd round)
2021 EDM 5th (Gudbranson)
2021 COL 4th (Watson)
2021 CBJ 2nd (Stepan)
Paquette (reaquire Dzingle)

Ottawa acquired picks/prospects from 2017-2021 (return):
2017 CGY 2nd (Lazar)
2018 PIT 1st (Brassard)
2018 PIT 3rd (Brassard)
Gustavsson (Brassard)
2020 CBJ 3rd (Cole)
2020 SJS 6th (Hoffman)
2018 NJD 2nd (trading 1st down 4 spots)
2020 SJS 1st (Karlsson)
2021 SJS 2nd (Karlsson)
2021 SJS FLA (Karlsson)
2019 CBJ 1st (Duchene)
2020 CBJ 1st (Duchene)
Duclair (Dzingel; subsequently walked)
2020 CBJ 2nd (Dzingel)
2021 CBJ 2nd (Dzingel)
Brannstrom (Stone)
2020 DAL 2nd (Stone)
2020 TBL 5th (Condon)
2020 WPG 3rd (DeMelo)
2021 COL 4th (Namestnikov)
2020 NYI 1st (JPG)
2020 NYI 2nd (JPG)
2022 NYI 3rd (JPG)
2021 EDM 5th (Ennis)
2022 TBL 2nd (cap dump)
Paquette (cap dump)

Asides from a couple bad trades (Stone) we sold a lot of assets to try and stay competitive by getting Duchene, Stepan, Cole, Boedker, J. Brown, Reilly, Gudbranson, Murray. Some of these cost even more to get rid of (Murray), while some we recouped assets (Duchene). Others were just wasted assets (Paquette, Hoffman, trade ups)

 

[bicboi64]

Not sure why anyone would think that the Redblacks should fold.

Prior to the pandemic, the attendance was great. The cost to operate the team is minimal compared to the revenue they earn. (From my understanding, the TV contract alone pays for the player’s salaries).

All that being said, the team is absolute horse shit. Last year was complicated with a bunch of players retiring right before camp after realizing the year off from Covid essentially ended their career, and the Coach banked on absolutely the wrong QB.

This year, the team loaded up and looked competitive through 2 games against the “best” team in the league, and then lost their legitimate QB1 and haven’t recovered.

Typically, you can turn it around pretty quickly in the CFL, and considering the team has a “new GM” and a coach he didn’t hire, you have to think Lapolice is done after this year.

Not sure why anyone would be in support of losing a professional team. What harm is it doing?

Not to mention the importance of the team to the city.

I worked in Old Ottawa South and the Glebe, with youth, when they came back, the amount of kids that had merch from the RedBlacks, the community events involving football and the overall atmosphere during games was phenomenal. I think American Football is one of the dumbest sports ever, but I'd never want the league to fold lol

I don't think Turris should be a RoH guy for us. That ought to be or players who aren't HoF, but a tier below. Aside from that, it needs to be particular players that had a special role in the Sens.

Neil, Phillips, Spezza, Karlsson, Anderson, Alfie, heck even Yashin, but guys like Turris I don't think were good enough to cut it.

 

[dumbdick]

Sorry for the self/cross post, but I really want the team to do this for its RoH, either in a new rink or the existing one.

I'd be a fan of creating a really nice tribute for our best players. Make a big deal about it and put it somewhere visible.

Play up the roman senators theme. Make a fancy Roman themed hallway/room adourned with fancy curtains, marble floors, roman columns and 8-foot tall white statues of guys like Neil, Alfie, etc. Have the players walk through it as they're coming out onto the ice every game. Televise the walkout on every broadcast.

Roman gladiators going out to battle.

Basically have them go out on the ice to start every game through this room below, surrounded by screaming rowdy fans on either side. Offer it as a perk for STH, or for the occasional minor hockey team, costumed fans on halloween, cowboy hatted fans on country night, etc.
It can be Ottawa's signature thing.

 

[DrEasy]

I'll throw in my list of guys I'd consider for the Ring of Honour:

Locks:
1. Chris Neil
2. Erik Karlsson
3. Jason Spezza
4. Craig Anderson
5. Jacques Martin

Next Tier:
6. Wade Redden
7. Mike Fisher

Fringe:
8. Radek Bonk
9. Marian Hossa
10. Alexei Yashin
11. Dany Heatley
12. Zdeno Chara
13. Patrick Lalime
14. Marshall Johnston
15. John Muckler

I only included active players if I felt they were locks. Redden was a fringe lock... clear tier above Fisher. Realistically, I would probably just include those first 6 names. I would also consider retiring the #'s of Neil and/or Anderson.

I agree with your list, and I think Chris Phillips was a better fit for the Ring of Honour. Chris Neil and Chris Phillips are in the same tier.

 

[dumbdick]

Worth noting team mentality also though.
Ottawa tried to keep gate revenue afloat by icing semi-competitive teams by adding what their scouts thought would be "impact players," and gave up a handful of 2nd-5th round picks.
Montreal traded for/signed multiple "impact players," they they then flipped now that they're rebuilding.

Ottawa sold picks/prospects/assets from 2017-2021 (return):
Dahlen (Burrows)
2017 OTT 3rd (Stalberg)
Bowers (Duchene)
2019 OTT 1st (Duchene)
2019 OTT 3rd (Duchene)
Turris (Duchene)
2018 OTT 3rd (Cole)
2020 OTT 5th (Boedker)
2019 PIT 3rd (moving up 7 spots in 2nd)
Ceci (C. Brown + Zaitsev)
2020 CBJ 3rd (C. Brown + Zaitsev)
2021 OTT 4th (Namestnikov)
2021 OTT 5th (Reilly)
2021 OTT 4th (J. Brown)
2020 OTT 2nd (Murray)
2020 OTT 3rd (move up 15 spots in 2nd round)
2021 EDM 5th (Gudbranson)
2021 COL 4th (Watson)
2021 CBJ 2nd (Stepan)
Paquette (reaquire Dzingle)

Ottawa acquired picks/prospects from 2017-2021 (return):
2017 CGY 2nd (Lazar)
2018 PIT 1st (Brassard)
2018 PIT 3rd (Brassard)
Gustavsson (Brassard)
2020 CBJ 3rd (Cole)
2020 SJS 6th (Hoffman)
2018 NJD 2nd (trading 1st down 4 spots)
2020 SJS 1st (Karlsson)
2021 SJS 2nd (Karlsson)
2021 SJS FLA (Karlsson)
2019 CBJ 1st (Duchene)
2020 CBJ 1st (Duchene)
Duclair (Dzingel; subsequently walked)
2020 CBJ 2nd (Dzingel)
2021 CBJ 2nd (Dzingel)
Brannstrom (Stone)
2020 DAL 2nd (Stone)
2020 TBL 5th (Condon)
2020 WPG 3rd (DeMelo)
2021 COL 4th (Namestnikov)
2020 NYI 1st (JPG)
2020 NYI 2nd (JPG)
2022 NYI 3rd (JPG)
2021 EDM 5th (Ennis)
2022 TBL 2nd (cap dump)
Paquette (cap dump)

Asides from a couple bad trades (Stone) we sold a lot of assets to try and stay competitive by getting Duchene, Stepan, Cole, Boedker, J. Brown, Reilly, Gudbranson, Murray. Some of these cost even more to get rid of (Murray), while some we recouped assets (Duchene). Others were just wasted assets (Paquette, Hoffman, trade ups)

This is a great post. Funny how few of these trades actually mattered one way or the other.

More and more I'm convinced that success in this league hinges almost exclusively on controlling top-50 active players and acquiring top-10 draft picks.

Everything else feels like a lot of effort and moves to barely move the needle.

 

[OD99]

Would have CP4 & Neiler as my 2 current RoH players.

Longevity with team counts to me and both are well know, heart and soul guys.

 

[JD1]

Feel like team is storied enough that they could basically have a RoH induction for 1 player every two seasons and they'll never run out of quality guys.

Would people here argue that Neil/Fisher should hold a spot in the RoH? If so those guys are no where near HoF but definitely will always have left a mark and be part of Senators history.

Personally, my opinion is that off ice impact matters as much as on ice. Turris was a big part of several key moments and playoff runs but also a vital member of philanthropy in Ottawa (as was his wife). Same could be said about Neil and Fisher.

Redden remains a part of the community even and he was a big part of CHEO and still is. Hell they have a mural they've kept up for him.

I kinda feel that a player had to make a considerable on ice contribution to be in a ring of honour

Points aren't the end all be all, but does 500 points (for a forward) seem unreasonable?

How about 500 games? 750 games?

Turris doesn't really hit any major check marks in terms of all time franchise numbers in my books

 

[JD1]

This is a great post. Funny how few of these trades actually mattered one way or the other.

More and more I'm convinced that success in this league hinges almost exclusively on controlling top-50 active players and acquiring top-10 draft picks.

Everything else feels like a lot of effort and moves to barely move the needle.

Something I've posted a number of times over the years is go back and look at cup winners. Very few cup winners don't have 2 HoF players on the roster that were in their prime.

 

[thinkwild]

I'll throw in my list of guys I'd consider for the Ring of Honour:

Locks:
1. Chris Neil
2. Erik Karlsson
3. Jason Spezza
4. Craig Anderson
5. Jacques Martin

Next Tier:
6. Wade Redden
7. Mike Fisher

Fringe:
8. Radek Bonk
9. Marian Hossa
10. Alexei Yashin
11. Dany Heatley
12. Zdeno Chara
13. Patrick Lalime
14. Marshall Johnston
15. John Muckler

I only included active players if I felt they were locks. Redden was a fringe lock... clear tier above Fisher. Realistically, I would probably just include those first 6 names. I would also consider retiring the #'s of Neil and/or Anderson.

Wow tough crowd. I guess i was thinking of a much more expansive RoH as everyone of those i would've thought of as locks. Except maybe Mucks would be iffy, and yashin would only be begrudgingly.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Worth noting team mentality also though.
Ottawa tried to keep gate revenue afloat by icing semi-competitive teams by adding what their scouts thought would be "impact players," and gave up a handful of 2nd-5th round picks.
Montreal traded for/signed multiple "impact players," they they then flipped now that they're rebuilding.

Ottawa sold picks/prospects/assets from 2017-2021 (return):
Dahlen (Burrows)
2017 OTT 3rd (Stalberg)
Bowers (Duchene)
2019 OTT 1st (Duchene)
2019 OTT 3rd (Duchene)
Turris (Duchene)
2018 OTT 3rd (Cole)
2020 OTT 5th (Boedker)
2019 PIT 3rd (moving up 7 spots in 2nd)
Ceci (C. Brown + Zaitsev)
2020 CBJ 3rd (C. Brown + Zaitsev)
2021 OTT 4th (Namestnikov)
2021 OTT 5th (Reilly)
2021 OTT 4th (J. Brown)
2020 OTT 2nd (Murray)
2020 OTT 3rd (move up 15 spots in 2nd round)
2021 EDM 5th (Gudbranson)
2021 COL 4th (Watson)
2021 CBJ 2nd (Stepan)
Paquette (reaquire Dzingle)

Ottawa acquired picks/prospects from 2017-2021 (return):
2017 CGY 2nd (Lazar)
2018 PIT 1st (Brassard)
2018 PIT 3rd (Brassard)
Gustavsson (Brassard)
2020 CBJ 3rd (Cole)
2020 SJS 6th (Hoffman)
2018 NJD 2nd (trading 1st down 4 spots)
2020 SJS 1st (Karlsson)
2021 SJS 2nd (Karlsson)
2021 SJS FLA (Karlsson)
2019 CBJ 1st (Duchene)
2020 CBJ 1st (Duchene)
Duclair (Dzingel; subsequently walked)
2020 CBJ 2nd (Dzingel)
2021 CBJ 2nd (Dzingel)
Brannstrom (Stone)
2020 DAL 2nd (Stone)
2020 TBL 5th (Condon)
2020 WPG 3rd (DeMelo)
2021 COL 4th (Namestnikov)
2020 NYI 1st (JPG)
2020 NYI 2nd (JPG)
2022 NYI 3rd (JPG)
2021 EDM 5th (Ennis)
2022 TBL 2nd (cap dump)
Paquette (cap dump)

Asides from a couple bad trades (Stone) we sold a lot of assets to try and stay competitive by getting Duchene, Stepan, Cole, Boedker, J. Brown, Reilly, Gudbranson, Murray. Some of these cost even more to get rid of (Murray), while some we recouped assets (Duchene). Others were just wasted assets (Paquette, Hoffman, trade ups)

Paquette wasn’t a waste, we got a 2nd to take him and Cobourne off TBay, and then flipped him for what’s his name for a feel good moment.

I would like to see Neil’s number retired. 1000 games, and hard games at that, does it for me.