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G Matt O'Connor (2010 undrafted; 2015 signed, OTT)

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I think it would be a huge mistake for him to just start in the NHL, especially if it is Buffalo or Edmonton who signs him.
 
Edmonton..............???

XX said:
Arizona has serious interest, and can burn a year off his ELC like he wants. Great goalie coach. Opportunity is there.

Said he likes Andrew Ference in FW so maybe Edmonton is a wildcard.
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Edmonton is the perfect team for O'Connor........(not with standing Ference) the Oilers have an opening for an goaltender because Fasth is a UFA at the end of this
season.

I know all the naysayers are saying about Edmonton but have you seen the team play in the last 20 or 25 games since Nelson took over?

This team is on the up and up and with a top four pick this June and a decent signing of a couple of free agent Defensemen.......the Oilers could be good for many years to come.

Add in a new arena..............Matt C this is the perfect choice for a goaltender!
 
Nalyd Psycho said:
Justin Schultz all over again. I get why it's enticing, but he needs someone to get him to focus on the longer term.
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Yup. I am not buying the hype this time.

The only reason so many teams are interested is because he is essentially a free prospect.

If he is honestly demanding playing time I hope the Oilers stay away and sign Niemi.
 
Nalyd Psycho said:
Justin Schultz all over again. I get why it's enticing, but he needs someone to get him to focus on the longer term.
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It's not comparable. Opportunity is always there in time for a skater. Opportunities are limited over the course of most goalies' careers. Going somewhere with less competition is focusing on the longer term, whether it's a bad team or a good team that happens to not have goaltending depth.

Aceonfire said:
Yup. I am not buying the hype this time.

The only reason so many teams are interested is because he is essentially a free prospect.

If he is honestly demanding playing time I hope the Oilers stay away and sign Niemi.
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Well yeah... no one's acting like O'Connor is an NHL goalie. He's just another goalie prospect.

Senators65 said:
I think it would be a huge mistake for him to just start in the NHL, especially if it is Buffalo or Edmonton who signs him.
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He only needs to dress to burn a year off his ELC. It's not like any team is going to make him the starter. Playing 3 or 4 NHL games isn't going to hurt him. He'll be in the AHL next year wherever he goes.
 
Paxon said:
It's not comparable. Opportunity is always there in time for a skater. Opportunities are limited over the course of most goalies' careers. Going somewhere with less competition is focusing on the longer term, whether it's a bad team or a good team that happens to not have goaltending depth.
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Less competition, sure. If he was demanding an AHL spot, I wouldn't blink. But an NHL spot, that is not thinking things through and not showing strong priorities.
 
Nalyd Psycho said:
Less competition, sure. If he was demanding an AHL spot, I wouldn't blink. But an NHL spot, that is not thinking things through and not showing strong priorities.
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Yeah but you have to keep in mind it's not like he's demanding an NHL spot next year. Basically he'll sit on the bench, maybe get a couple games, burning year one of his ELC. Then he goes to the AHL next season. That's not going to hurt his development. This happens fairly frequently not only with UDFAs but also as a way of enticing drafted players to go pro. Just with the Sabres they did this with Ruhwedel at the end of the 2012-2013 season and with their draftee McCabe at the end of last season. Both are in the AHL right now. These guys were defensemen so they did play but getting a few NHL games didn't hurt them. Would it hurt the team? Sure, if it's a team in a playoff race.

It's a smart move for his career because it gets him closer to a non-ELC contract. Goaltending careers are made or unmade by opportunity when we're talking about marginal guys. I'm sure there are plenty of goalies who could've carved out a decent career if they had more opportunities. Going to a team with poor depth means opportunity. Even if it's a bad team it still make sense, though it'd obviously be more ideal if it's a good team with poor depth.
 
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RyanBostonRedsox said:
I understand that, but on the Boston University Men's Hockey team page, it states that there are no "future events".

I don't follow college hockey so I'm not aware or knowledgable on all of the college tournaments and how the process works. I just want to know when the earliest he could sign is, and the latest (as in the last BU game possible).
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They didn't announce the NCAA tournament teams yet. Could be eliminated next week. Could play until the Championship game on April 11th-last day of the NHL regular season.
 
well the Hawks always seem to be in on these kids hence Baun and TVR and Carey and Lebanc...etc... we could use another goalie in the AHL as I really don't think we will keep Raanta around..
 
Mark Spector mentioned during the intermission of the Oilers game that there were initially 15 teams in on O'Connor, but that he's narrowed it down to 4 - Buffalo, Edmonton, New York Rangers, and Ottawa. The last 2 don't make a whole lot of sense considering the goaltending depth they have.

Take it for what it's worth, but Spector does quite a bit of work for Sportsnet and doesn't tend to float random rumors out there.
 
Roof Daddy said:
Mark Spector mentioned during the intermission of the Oilers game that there were initially 15 teams in on O'Connor, but that he's narrowed it down to 4 - Buffalo, Edmonton, New York Rangers, and Ottawa. The last 2 don't make a whole lot of sense considering the goaltending depth they have.

Take it for what it's worth, but Spector does quite a bit of work for Sportsnet and doesn't tend to float random rumors out there.
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Umm Ottawa doesn't have goaltending depth at all. A month ago Hammond wasn't even an NHL prospect but he was all we had and well the rest is history. O'Connor would without a doubt be a No 1 AHL guy next year. And if he develops then we have a trade chip in Anderson/Lehner/ Hammond (if he doesnt go to UFA).

O'Connor also attended a Sens development camp a few years back, so theres that connection too
 
rosemount289 said:
Edmonton is the perfect team for O'Connor........(not with standing Ference) the Oilers have an opening for an goaltender because Fasth is a UFA at the end of this
season.

I know all the naysayers are saying about Edmonton but have you seen the team play in the last 20 or 25 games since Nelson took over?

This team is on the up and up and with a top four pick this June and a decent signing of a couple of free agent Defensemen.......the Oilers could be good for many years to come.

Add in a new arena..............Matt C this is the perfect choice for a goaltender!
Click to expand...

I think he like all rookies have to earn their way to a roster spot and not be given one just because there is a loophole to sign him for free.
 
dmarc said:
Umm Ottawa doesn't have goaltending depth at all. A month ago Hammond wasn't even an NHL prospect but he was all we had and well the rest is history. O'Connor would without a doubt be a No 1 AHL guy next year. And if he develops then we have a trade chip in Anderson/Lehner/ Hammond (if he doesnt go to UFA).

O'Connor also attended a Sens development camp a few years back, so theres that connection too
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Well, let me put it this way, if you think you're ready for an NHL job and want a situation where you've got a legit shot to earn a job, which scenario looks more appealing?

OTT - need to beat out Anderson, Lehner, and (possibly) Hammond

or

EDM - need to beat out Scrivens, Brossoit

I think it's Buffalo or Edmonton. Supposedly he's a big fan of Andrew Ference, so that could give us a boost, but if Buffalo gets bumped back to the 2nd pick, he may prefer the idea of playing with Eichel.
 
Roof Daddy said:
Well, let me put it this way, if you think you're ready for an NHL job and want a situation where you've got a legit shot to earn a job, which scenario looks more appealing?

OTT - need to beat out Anderson, Lehner, and (possibly) Hammond

or

EDM - need to beat out Scrivens, Brossoit

I think it's Buffalo or Edmonton. Supposedly he's a big fan of Andrew Ference, so that could give us a boost, but if Buffalo gets bumped back to the 2nd pick, he may prefer the idea of playing with Eichel.
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Lehner likely traded, Hammond a flash in the pan, and Anderson is aging.

O"Connor likely needs AHL, there is a better chance for success within a year in Ottawa than Buffalo and Edmonton.
 
Sens Mile said:
Lehner likely traded, Hammond a flash in the pan, and Anderson is aging.

O"Connor likely needs AHL, there is a better chance for success within a year in Ottawa than Buffalo and Edmonton.
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I can't argue any of those points, but it doesn't change the fact that if he wants a shot to play in the bigs next year, its unlikely Ottawa is his choice.
 
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