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Thursday Question: Erik Karlsson and the First Pairing

July 5, 2012, 5:46 PM ET [31 Comments]
Travis Yost
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Much ado has been made about the Ottawa Senators organization -- specifically prospect talent and potential -- over the past year and a half. Bryan Murray and comany have full faith in a number of said prospects to deliver at the NHL level, but know that winning -- above all else -- remains the priority in Ottawa.

The "Three Year Rebuild" phraseology tossed out by the Ottawa Sneators brass after last year's debacle acxtually made a ton of sense. The team looked awful in 2010-2011, and rather than chase dreams in the following year, the club made a number of salary dumps and trades to reacquire value with only the long-run in mind.

The above-mentioned never really panned out as planned, if only because individually and collectively, units played at or above their natural mean last season. Pieced together by talented bench boss Paul MacLean in his first season, the club looked every bit the part of a playoff brawler, and they proved as much when they locked up a playoff berth in the first year of an alleged rebuild.

Like it not, expectations have been raised a bit in a year where they're fresh off of a showing in the post-season. The front office now knows that many of their assets fit well into the Ottawa Senators machine -- Craig Anderson's proven to be the number one goaltender this team needs, Erik Karlsson's arguably the most dynamic defenseman in the game, and the club still has veteran scorers in the top-six, specifically Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson.

One interesting development, though, is the loss of Filip Kuba to free agency and subsequent hole left on the first-pairing alongside Erik Karlsson. Many thought this need would be addressed through free agency or trade(the latter is always still possible), but as of right now, it looks like the team will try to fill internally. Veteran or prospect? Well, that's the question.

Two likely candidates include Marc Methot and Jared Cowen, both possessing strengths and weaknesses. Methot was acquired in the swap for Nick Foligno on July 1st, and looks every bit the part of a stay-at-home blue liner that can balance out the ultra-aggrssive Erik Karlsson. The front office was adamant about acquiring a top-four player cut from Methot's cloth, and considering how badly (and for how long) they've wanted him out of the Columbus organization, the trade really didn't come as a surprise.

Still, some reservations should be held about Methot as a first-line guy, especially because he doesn't offer the offensive upside you'd like to see from a name playing with the likes of Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza, et al., and even in the Blue Jackets organization, he usually picked up average minutes -- not the #1, rock-solid guy you leaned on.

Another option for Paul MacLean? Jared Cowen -- the young, physical, and skilled Ottawa Senators rearguard who has long held in the shadows of Erik Karlsson. I imagined about a month ago that Cowen would be moved -- or, developed -- into a more defensive-oriented role should the organization acquire a top-four name with more offensive upside, but without any move so far, it's a possibility the team looks here. Cowen's certainly with more upside and potential as a younger name, and skills wise, I have more faith here than in Methot. And yet, becse of how he was used in fairly sheltered minutes last year, I wonder just where the organization has him pegged right now.

Before anyone brings up the name, I don't think Chris Phillips is a viable option anymore. His resurgency last year was due in large part to the protected ice time he played on a game-to-game basis; it works for all parties involved, and I don't see any reason why Ottawa would want to disrupt that, especially when no signs indicate Phillips has underwent some fluky second-wind and is now capable again of playing tough TOI against the best of the best.

My question to you: If you're the head coach, who do you roll out with Erik Karlsson next season? Methot? Cowen? Or, does this organization truly need to find another body?

Back with more on Saturday.

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