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Flash back to the end of the 2007-2008 Season. The Sens were in a spot. They had what most agreed to be the most dominant defensive duo in Redden and Chara, but with Spezza, Alfie, and Heatley contracts on the horizon it was decided that both couldn't be kept.
The Sens kept Redden. A choice that was pretty much a toss up at the time, and yet I would venture to say that most of the NHL team folks I talked to at the time agreed with that decision.
Last season, Redden's game started to slip a bit...or should I say his consistency slipped? Most people close to the scene will tell you that he was at times every bit as good as ever, and had a tendency to come up big whenever his game was called into question.
This summer the rumours surrounding Redden were increasing. Since then, depending on who you listen to, Wade has refused to "be open to the possibility of waiving" his No-Trade anywhere from two to five times. I have heard Edmonton, Los Angeles and San Jose twice.
I was told that Wade each time said no and said he wanted to play for a Championship, feeling that his best shot was in the capital city of the north.
While this is every bit Wade's right, having earned that no-trade from his excellent past performance, it is rare that a player will choose to stay in a city where he has been asked to leave a few times.
It looks as though Wade Redden feels a need to stay in Ottawa, and win a Cup there.
So now, fast forward to this coming summer.
As of July 1 Wade will be UFA.
The question is "What will Wade and the Sens do?"
I continue to hear murmurs that Wade's desire to remain a Senator stretches past this contract and he will be willing to take a serious discount.
But what is Wade worth, and what discount will he give?
A few weeks back there were three top line puck moving d-men on the coming UFA market: Campbell, Boyle, and Redden. Now we know that Boyle has set the mark with his 6.66 million per. This was about 1 million more than most of the pundits saw Boyle getting and sent a shock wave through the hockey world that essentially sent Brian Campbell packing.
This also took a big player off the market and the prices for Campbell and Redden went up.
The Sens aren't likely going to give Redden his current 6.5. Neither is anyone else, but it is safe to say that a few teams may give him 15M over 3.
Teams known to have interest in Redden include San Jose (should they not re-sign Campbell), LA, Edmonton, Columbus, Buffalo, New Jersey, and Washington.
With that much interest 5.5 per isn't out of the question.
"At what price will Ottawa retain him?" is probably the bigger question, since that looks to be what Wade wants..$4M?
My prediction is that Wade will re-sign a two year deal in Ottawa for around 7.5.
Tomorrow, I will discuss the #1 pending RFA defenseman, Shea Webber.
THE EK FACTORS FOR THE "CAN'T MISS PUCK" OF THE NIGHT: OTTAWA AT SAN JOSE
1. Last Game Carry-Over:
Sharks +3, Sens 0
2. Revenge Factor:
Senators +3
Still smarting from the Anaheim game where their coach got tossed, if the Sens don't come out angry something is wrong with them that can not be fixed.
3. Style Versus Opponent:
Sharks +3, Sens +2
4. Faith in Goaltending:
Sharks +3, Sens +1
The Sharks need to attack the goal and they should see results
5. Experience:
Sharks +3, Sens +4
6. Confidence vs. Frustration (negative numbers are frustration, positive are confidence):
Sharks +5, Sens +1
7. Aggressiveness:
Sharks +3, Sens +2
8. Desperation Factor:
Sharks +1, Sens +5
9. Special Teams
Sharks +1, Sens +2
10. Below, Meeting, or Beyond Expectations this Season (zero is meeting)
Sharks +2, Sens 0
11. Let Down/ Fatigue Factor
Sharks, -1, Sens +2
12. Key Injuries
Sharks 0, Sens 0
13. Fan Factor
Sharks +4 (rocked versus Montreal)
Totals
Sharks 30
Sens 22
My Prediction:
My prediction doesn't always follow the Ek factors, just takes them into account. Tonight I am going against the Ek factors in what I feel will be a tight match.
Sharks 6
Senators 4
Year to date
Ek Factors 1-0
My Predictions 0-1
What is your prediction?
From Earlier Today
Our Search for the "Next Great Blogger."
I am amazed by the hockey bloggers out there. There is no question that the quality of hockey writing in the "My Hockeybuzz" section of this site is fantastic. I also get emails everyday from people wanting to break into the hockey world by having a blog on Hockeybuzz. Hockeybuzz has opened some doors for quite a few of our bloggers, who have gone onto to work for TSN, XM, Sportstalk Radio, even become a team's In-Game Announcer as Paul McCann has in Nashville.
We thought it would be fun to have a contest to find the next great hockey blogger.
To enter it is simple. E-mail me at eklund (at) hockeybuzz.com or private message me on the site with either a link to one of your current blogs that you feel is your best work, or just write me a new blog.
Entrants will be judged by myself and the other top bloggers here on Hockeybuzz and then put into brackets. You will then be given the date by which your blog must be submitted, and we will post your blog along with your competitor's blog for all to see in the middle column. The winner of each week's contest will be judge by the reader's comments and our staff.
This process will continue until we have a big showdown where the winner will be voted on by everyone.
So bring it on!
The Sens kept Redden. A choice that was pretty much a toss up at the time, and yet I would venture to say that most of the NHL team folks I talked to at the time agreed with that decision.
Last season, Redden's game started to slip a bit...or should I say his consistency slipped? Most people close to the scene will tell you that he was at times every bit as good as ever, and had a tendency to come up big whenever his game was called into question.
This summer the rumours surrounding Redden were increasing. Since then, depending on who you listen to, Wade has refused to "be open to the possibility of waiving" his No-Trade anywhere from two to five times. I have heard Edmonton, Los Angeles and San Jose twice.
I was told that Wade each time said no and said he wanted to play for a Championship, feeling that his best shot was in the capital city of the north.
While this is every bit Wade's right, having earned that no-trade from his excellent past performance, it is rare that a player will choose to stay in a city where he has been asked to leave a few times.
It looks as though Wade Redden feels a need to stay in Ottawa, and win a Cup there.
So now, fast forward to this coming summer.
As of July 1 Wade will be UFA.
The question is "What will Wade and the Sens do?"
I continue to hear murmurs that Wade's desire to remain a Senator stretches past this contract and he will be willing to take a serious discount.
But what is Wade worth, and what discount will he give?
A few weeks back there were three top line puck moving d-men on the coming UFA market: Campbell, Boyle, and Redden. Now we know that Boyle has set the mark with his 6.66 million per. This was about 1 million more than most of the pundits saw Boyle getting and sent a shock wave through the hockey world that essentially sent Brian Campbell packing.
This also took a big player off the market and the prices for Campbell and Redden went up.
The Sens aren't likely going to give Redden his current 6.5. Neither is anyone else, but it is safe to say that a few teams may give him 15M over 3.
Teams known to have interest in Redden include San Jose (should they not re-sign Campbell), LA, Edmonton, Columbus, Buffalo, New Jersey, and Washington.
With that much interest 5.5 per isn't out of the question.
"At what price will Ottawa retain him?" is probably the bigger question, since that looks to be what Wade wants..$4M?
My prediction is that Wade will re-sign a two year deal in Ottawa for around 7.5.
Tomorrow, I will discuss the #1 pending RFA defenseman, Shea Webber.
THE EK FACTORS FOR THE "CAN'T MISS PUCK" OF THE NIGHT: OTTAWA AT SAN JOSE
1. Last Game Carry-Over:
Sharks +3, Sens 0
2. Revenge Factor:
Senators +3
Still smarting from the Anaheim game where their coach got tossed, if the Sens don't come out angry something is wrong with them that can not be fixed.
3. Style Versus Opponent:
Sharks +3, Sens +2
4. Faith in Goaltending:
Sharks +3, Sens +1
The Sharks need to attack the goal and they should see results
5. Experience:
Sharks +3, Sens +4
6. Confidence vs. Frustration (negative numbers are frustration, positive are confidence):
Sharks +5, Sens +1
7. Aggressiveness:
Sharks +3, Sens +2
8. Desperation Factor:
Sharks +1, Sens +5
9. Special Teams
Sharks +1, Sens +2
10. Below, Meeting, or Beyond Expectations this Season (zero is meeting)
Sharks +2, Sens 0
11. Let Down/ Fatigue Factor
Sharks, -1, Sens +2
12. Key Injuries
Sharks 0, Sens 0
13. Fan Factor
Sharks +4 (rocked versus Montreal)
Totals
Sharks 30
Sens 22
My Prediction:
My prediction doesn't always follow the Ek factors, just takes them into account. Tonight I am going against the Ek factors in what I feel will be a tight match.
Sharks 6
Senators 4
Year to date
Ek Factors 1-0
My Predictions 0-1
What is your prediction?
From Earlier Today
Our Search for the "Next Great Blogger."
I am amazed by the hockey bloggers out there. There is no question that the quality of hockey writing in the "My Hockeybuzz" section of this site is fantastic. I also get emails everyday from people wanting to break into the hockey world by having a blog on Hockeybuzz. Hockeybuzz has opened some doors for quite a few of our bloggers, who have gone onto to work for TSN, XM, Sportstalk Radio, even become a team's In-Game Announcer as Paul McCann has in Nashville.
We thought it would be fun to have a contest to find the next great hockey blogger.
To enter it is simple. E-mail me at eklund (at) hockeybuzz.com or private message me on the site with either a link to one of your current blogs that you feel is your best work, or just write me a new blog.
Entrants will be judged by myself and the other top bloggers here on Hockeybuzz and then put into brackets. You will then be given the date by which your blog must be submitted, and we will post your blog along with your competitor's blog for all to see in the middle column. The winner of each week's contest will be judge by the reader's comments and our staff.
This process will continue until we have a big showdown where the winner will be voted on by everyone.
So bring it on!
Join the Discussion:
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