Getting a 3rd round pick vs losing a guy on waivers is huge! Go have a look at the last 7 or 8 drafts and you might be very surprised at some of the players that were picked in the 3rd round or later.

A 3rd round pick is a very valuable asset. Losing a player on waivers is a wasted asset.
- maaddmike

You're joking right? A 3rd rounder has about a 15% chance of making the NHL. Those odds go up because Ottawa has a great scouting staff, but still.

Also, 'making the NHL' could mean anything from playing a few games to being a star. Chances are, we are talking about injury call-ups or bottom 6 guys here.

You're telling me that those odds are worth alienating our 6th overall selection from a few years back?

If Melnyk is that cheap and it was between waiving DaCosta and sending Zibby down, then just waive him for god sakes.

I dont see ur owner cutting a kid on ELC to save money when he considers ur team to be Stanley Cup contenders. Just my opinion.
- rangerdanger94

One problem with this line of thinking: the team is way, way under the cap ... if Melnyk considered this team a contender, Alfie would still be here. But he nickle-and-dimed him to try and save money. Melnyk needs to go.

I guess this is all part of Melnyk's ongoing plan to do "whatever it takes" to win. This approach includes: letting your captain and best player in franchise history to leave, when they had no need to; spending way under the cap; carrying less players than allowed (really, this alone makes this seem like nothing more than an attempt to save money); sending Mika down, even though his development in the AHL was terrible when compared to his development in the NHL.

"Whatever it takes", eh Melnyk?

So I am left asking if we are paying JOB his full NHL salary to play in the AHL why just not keep him around as a 14th forward, at least for the long road trip, if it won't have any effect on our bottom line?

So I am left asking if we are paying JOB his full NHL salary to play in the AHL why just not keep him around as a 14th forward, at least for the long road trip, if it won't have any effect on our bottom line?
- sensfan77

May as well let him help out the boys on the farm.

Plus, if you asked O'Brien, I'm sure he'd rather be playing. The more he sits around, the less chance someone else will give him a chance in the NHL because he won't be improving from the press box.

You're joking right? A 3rd rounder has about a 15% chance of making the NHL. Those odds go up because Ottawa has a great scouting staff, but still.

Also, 'making the NHL' could mean anything from playing a few games to being a star. Chances are, we are talking about injury call-ups or bottom 6 guys here.

You're telling me that those odds are worth alienating our 6th overall selection from a few years back?

If Melnyk is that cheap and it was between waiving DaCosta and sending Zibby down, they just waive him for god sakes.
- Charliebox

If you didn't know he was our 6th overall pick, would you be that upset with this move? He's a professional who was outplayed and the organization made a tough decision. He can go down to the minors and learn from this and improve or he can sulk and alienate himself. It's not as if he has 100+ games on Pageau and Dacosta. Based on performance (and not projections), Pageau and DaCosta deserve to be there on opening night.

Yep ,just under 52 mil in actual dollars .27th in the league so yeah we are spending like a bottom feeder.Maybe not Clarkson but a certain number 11 in the t6 would have been nice
- top shelf 15

He wanted to leave, let that ship sail

You know, looking back with Spezza out and them planting Da Costa on the first line the conventional wisdom was " Ah clearly they are showing him off for trade!" and yes, that's probably paritally true. But now with Murray's comments it's pretty clear they put him there because he was playing well.

If I was Zibanejad I'd be pissed right now. His upside is way higher than Pageau's, they should be giving him every opportunity to succeed.

You know, looking back with Spezza out and them planting Da Costa on the first line the conventional wisdom was " Ah clearly they are showing him off for trade!" and yes, that's probably paritally true. But now with Murray's comments it's pretty clear they put him there because he was playing well.
- Talkshowhost

And they might need him up front for some offensive production. The Spezza "groin" issue has me a tad worried.

Here's my question.

If this is really all about 'showcasing' DaCosta..

Let's say he plays great and we are able to trade him. What are the Sens, realistically, going to get for him? A 3rd rounder, at BEST?

Murray, himself, said they were hoping to get a 'soft' draft pick for some of our guys that won't make the team.

Is it really worth alienating our 6th overall pick, who projects out to be a top 6 player in the future over a freakin 3rd round pick?

I just can't see Murray being that stupid.

On top of that, is playing DaCosta with any combination of Neil, Greening, Condra, Smith or Kassian really going to 'showcase' him that well?

This reeks of Melnyk.
- Charliebox

I dont think its money here. Well, maybe a little, but I think its plain and simple. Murray said it best, two guys beat him out. End of story.

He wanted to leave, let that ship sail
- Cup 06

No, he didn't. He wanted to play for a team that was serious about contending this year. Ottawa, with it's bullsh!t internal budget that puts us among the bottom feeders, wasn't willing to do "whatever it takes". Alfie would still be here if he was told the team would make the moves they did this summer in addition to signing him (as opposed to saying his signing meant the team could do little else).

His preference was to stay; the team's preference was to reward him and the fanbase's unquestioned dedication with a welfare budget.

And they might need him up front for some offensive production. The Spezza "groin" issue has me a tad worried.
- van halen

Yeah, but they could have easily put Zinebanjad there for that game. And they didn't they chose Da Costa.

"The best players play", Paul Mclean has said that countless times.

He wanted to leave, let that ship sail
- Cup 06

Thank God. The voice of reason.

It will have to be money in for money out though,so color me unimpressed
- top shelf 15

No, Melnyk said that if there was a player available to get that would help them and if that meant going over the budget he would do so.

If I was Zibanejad I'd be pissed right now. His upside is way higher than Pageau's, they should be giving him every opportunity to succeed.
- Jeffmt

They did, he had to outplay two guys without an full NHL season under their belts and he failed to do so...

Don't forget Conacher could have been sent down without having to clear wavers as well. Sometimes there is no story behind the story. It is entirely possible that Pageau, Conacher and da Costa simply outplayed Zibanebad. And, as you suggest, the story is exactly what the Senators say it is.
- spatso

Thank you, thank you. There is no story here besides the team on the ice. If Zibanejad had played well enough to make the team over the guys he was competing with, which was Da Costa and Pageau, then he wouldn't have got cut. That didn't happen.

And to be fair to Da Costa, no one knows what he'll be this year. Apparently he committed to fitness this summer, he packed on 10lbs of muscle, so he might end up being a good complimentary possession player for the 3rd line. Greening can finish when he gets golden opportunities, and if Da Costa and Condra create those opportunities for him, then the Senators are that much deadlier with him in the lineup. Having a third line that can chip in more than the average third line is better for the team. You win games by scoring goals, Ottawa struggled with that last year, and if having Da Costa and Pageau in the lineup improves the scoring over having Zibanejad in there, then they made the right choice.

Won't know until they play some games.

But be realistic too. Zibanejad will be back without being butthurt over this, and he'll end up having a role on the team.

No, he didn't. He wanted to play for a team that was serious about contending this year. Ottawa, with it's bullsh!t internal budget that puts us among the bottom feeders, wasn't willing to do "whatever it takes". Alfie would still be here if he was told the team would make the moves they did this summer in addition to signing him (as opposed to saying his signing meant the team could do little else).

His preference was to stay; the team's preference was to reward him and the fanbase's unquestioned dedication with a welfare budget.
- TreeSens

Not accurate

May as well let him help out the boys on the farm.

Plus, if you asked O'Brien, I'm sure he'd rather be playing. The more he sits around, the less chance someone else will give him a chance in the NHL because he won't be improving from the press box.
- Charliebox

I get that. It wouldn't be the first time management has been very respectful towards a player to continue his career, but the Mika move aside, it doesn't seem like the best move for the NHL team. We don't have a shortage of capable players in Bingo. They still need to demote some to Elmira.

Sure, this isn't a big deal and he's never going to make much of an impact here. I just thought it would be the safe move for the trip out west. Hell, maybe he gets picked up when sent down again.

Here's my question.

If this is really all about 'showcasing' DaCosta..

Let's say he plays great and we are able to trade him. What are the Sens, realistically, going to get for him? A 3rd rounder, at BEST?

Murray, himself, said they were hoping to get a 'soft' draft pick for some of our guys that won't make the team.

Is it really worth alienating our 6th overall pick, who projects out to be a top 6 player in the future over a freakin 3rd round pick?

I just can't see Murray being that stupid.

On top of that, is playing DaCosta with any combination of Neil, Greening, Condra, Smith or Kassian really going to 'showcase' him that well?

This reeks of Melnyk.
- Charliebox

Showcasing is kind of a myth in my opinion. I don't think anyone really does it, it's a media invention.

Thank you, thank you. There is no story here besides the team on the ice. If Zibanejad had played well enough to make the team over the guys he was competing with, which was Da Costa and Pageau, then he wouldn't have got cut. That didn't happen.

And to be fair to Da Costa, no one knows what he'll be this year. Apparently he committed to fitness this summer, he packed on 10lbs of muscle, so he might end up being a good complimentary possession player for the 3rd line. Greening can finish when he gets golden opportunities, and if Da Costa and Condra create those opportunities for him, then the Senators are that much deadlier with him in the lineup. Having a third line that can chip in more than the average third line is better for the team. You win games by scoring goals, Ottawa struggled with that last year, and if having Da Costa and Pageau in the lineup improves the scoring over having Zibanejad in there, then they made the right choice.

Won't know until they play some games.

But be realistic too. Zibanejad will be back without being butthurt over this, and he'll end up having a role on the team.
- the_terror

You, my friend, are a welcome addition to reason. Not everything is a conspiracy theory involving money. Sometimes, it's about icing the best product. After every game Pageau, Conacher and Da Costa played, they were mentioned as being standouts. The same cannot be said for Zibanejad.

From Bryan Murray:

@SunGarrioch: Murray said he told Zibanejad "he let two guys come in and take his job." #Sens


You don't say this if it is just about the money

Not accurate
- Cup 06

Please, I'd love to know what's wrong with what I wrote. Do tell.

They did, he had to outplay two guys without an full NHL season under their belts and he failed to do so...
- Talkshowhost

Might it be possible though that the 4th round pick with all of 19 games in the NHL is a flash in the pan? Is it worth alienating a 6th overall pick with tons of upside to give Pageau a spot? I'm not saying this as a Leafs fan or a Sens hater but I really hope this comes back to bite Ottawa because it's a weird way of doing things.

You, my friend, are a welcome addition to reason. Not everything is a conspiracy theory involving money. Sometimes, it's about icing the best product. After every game Pageau, Conacher and Da Costa played, they were mentioned as being standouts. The same cannot be said for Zibanejad.
- van halen

Absolutely true. Those three guys were the best three forwards for the Senators in every single preseason game, and that even includes the veterans. They KNEW they were playing for their lives, and to their credit, they killed it.

Zibanejad may have thought that he was a lock, and by the looks of things, so did a lot of people. I'll admit I was surprised when I read that he got cut, but in retrospect, after seeing what Da Costa and Pageau in particular did through the preseason, I'm not.

Zibanejad should take this for what it is: a wake up call. He has more talent and potential than Pageau and Da Costa combined. But so did Nikita Filatov and we all know what happened to him. Zibanejad needs to go to Binghamton and work his tail off there. The Senators will absolutely make room for him when he EARNS his roster spot. They would cast off Pageau and/or Da Costa in a heartbeat for Zibanejad if he was playing to his potential.

Might it be possible though that the 4th round pick with all of 19 games in the NHL is a flash in the pan? Is it worth alienating a 6th overall pick with tons of upside to give Pageau a spot? I'm not saying this as a Leafs fan or a Sens hater but I really hope this comes back to bite Ottawa because it's a weird way of doing things.
- Jeffmt

But it's not alienation. It's not that at all. The NHL, as with all pro sports, is driven by results. You give better prospects more chances, but you don't make a team based on potential. Zibanejad will hopefully get some good advice from management, coaching, his agent, and his family, and use this as motivation to get better. This isn't the first time he's had a 'lazy' knock against him.

What also needs to be remembered is that he's still only 20, and not fully mature yet. It's not like they cut Michalek or something like that. It is initially surprising, but not completely shocking in retrospect when you look at the events of the entire training camp.