I understand your frustrations about Melnyk. However, in this case, I really do think it's about a player being outplayed by three others. No more, no less. Yet, with the events which have transpired in the last few months, your point of view is more than understandable. And I am not entirely opposed to an internal budget. Nashville and Edmonton have higher budgets than we do, yet I don't consider them better teams. We're a young team whose management has drafted extremely well which affords us the luxury of being more economical with our budget. Not necessarily cheap but economical. I would rather keep what we have now then bring in a "Ville Leino" type player just so we can say we "dipped" into the free agent market. People forget we also traded for Bobby Ryan this summer because we had the assets to do so. In the end, that move might be remembered as the best of the summer of 2013.
- van halen[

To your point about the value of an internal budget, I agree. I would guess there was an internal budget the past 2 years as well, which during a rebuild, is a great thing. So, I agree 100% with that viewpoint. I guess where my frustrations really come from is the fact that this team is bordering on contender status - the rebuild is over.

Going into the past offseason, I thought the main focus of the team should be: adding a top-6 winger and a top-4 dman (and I should add that this line of thinking assumed Alfredsson resigned). What happened? They get that top-6 forward (a deal I really like), but jettison an existing forward that didn't need to go. Oh, and they brought back Corvo ... this is where I get frustrated with Melnyk: Murray is too good of a GM to think that his defense is contender worthy as is, or that Corvo was a missing piece back there.

He's no Bozak, that's for sure.
- Talkshowhost

True

Bozak wins 52% of his faceoffs.

This is because people were calling, cancelling their seasons tickets en masse when they found out about Alfie signing elsewhere.

There has always been an over-the-top, unhealthy love for Alfie around here. Sure, love the guy and all, but people were very pissed. We are talking about a fanbase that has a hard time mustering up a 'go sens go' chant in a reagular season game, yet can scream 'alfie, alfie, alfie' at the top of their lungs at the 11 min mark of every period.

In some people's eyes, Alfie was bigger than the team.

The Bobby Ryan deal was reactionary. I still think the Sens gave up too much, but Murray had to do something and they could have done a lot worse (ie traded for someone else or overpaid a free agent). At that point, the 1M in extra salary was a better option than losing that many season's ticket holders.
- Charliebox

Uh, no it had been in the works for a while.

This is because people were calling, cancelling their seasons tickets en masse when they found out about Alfie signing elsewhere.

There has always been an over-the-top, unhealthy love for Alfie around here. Sure, love the guy and all, but people were very pissed. We are talking about a fanbase that has a hard time mustering up a 'go sens go' chant in a reagular season game, yet can scream 'alfie, alfie, alfie' at the top of their lungs at the 11 min mark of every period.

In some people's eyes, Alfie was bigger than the team.

The Bobby Ryan deal was reactionary. I still think the Sens gave up too much, but Murray had to do something and they could have done a lot worse (ie traded for someone else or overpaid a free agent). At that point, the 1M in extra salary was a better option than losing that many season's ticket holders.
- Charliebox

Oh come now. Reactionary? You think that trade was put together in a matter of hours? Highly, highly unlikely.

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

Yup. Sens lines right now are as follows:

Michalek-Spezza-Ryan
MacArthur-Turris-Conacher
Pageau-DaCosta-Condra
Greening-Smith-Neil

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Weircioch
Phillips-Corvo

as far as i can see, ryan (the guy who replaced alfie) makes more money than alfredsson does, so that makes no sense to me. alfie isn't here because alfie wanted to change teams/got bored of ottawa/felt like it got stale here, and because your GM didn't think he was worth the money at his age (age catches up to everyone eventually).

ryan makes over $1 million more than alfie.
- rangerdanger94

But given the cap and Ottawa's payroll, there is no reason both can't be here. I think Alfredsson made it clear he wanted to contend, but didn't have faith after talking with management that they were willing to do what it takes. As recently as last May, Alfredsson said he wasn't interested in moving to chase a Cup - something changed his mind, and it seems clear that it was management's decision-making.

This is genius. Mika was invited in BM office. He's been informed of the plan and was sent down to further develop under Luke. In the meantime, DaCosta could be lost on waiver so they will showcase him to other teams (Oilers or other in need of a young center) and when the trade is made, he comes back. This is temporary

Uh, no it had been in the works for a while.
- Talkshowhost

They had been taking for awhile, but nothing was 'in the works'. Ottawa has wanted Ryan for a long time now, but so have many other teams. Murray talked on the radio shortly after the trade and said the return (Silf, Noeson and a 1st), was only agreed upon that day.

If Alfie stayed, the Sens would have never gone after Ryan. So nothing was 'in the works', because the Sens had only found out about Alfie the night before.

This is because people were calling, cancelling their seasons tickets en masse when they found out about Alfie signing elsewhere.

There has always been an over-the-top, unhealthy love for Alfie around here. Sure, love the guy and all, but people were very pissed. We are talking about a fanbase that has a hard time mustering up a 'go sens go' chant in a reagular season game, yet can scream 'alfie, alfie, alfie' at the top of their lungs at the 11 min mark of every period.

In some people's eyes, Alfie was bigger than the team.

The Bobby Ryan deal was reactionary. I still think the Sens gave up too much, but Murray had to do something and they could have done a lot worse (ie traded for someone else or overpaid a free agent). At that point, the 1M in extra salary was a better option than losing that many season's ticket holders.
- Charliebox

it was said that the two teams were talking since the last trade deadline and that alfie leaving raised your offer from a 2nd rounder to a 1st rounder which pushed it over the edge. not very reactionary, but alfie leaving did push the deal to be completed.

with that said, anything that is written here is strictly assumptions and speculation. only the GM and coach know exactly why alfie left and why Zbad was sent down.

But given the cap and Ottawa's payroll, there is no reason both can't be here. I think Alfredsson made it clear he wanted to contend, but didn't have faith after talking with management that they were willing to do what it takes. As recently as last May, Alfredsson said he wasn't interested in moving to chase a Cup - something changed his mind, and it seems clear that it was management's decision-making.
- TreeSens

didn't alfie poop on the team in the playoffs once in a postgame interview? he said something like "this team is done and we have zero chance of winning this round?"

idk sounds like he might've just gotten bored of ottawa and wanted a change.

Oh come now. Reactionary? You think that trade was put together in a matter of hours? Highly, highly unlikely.
- the_terror

Do you think they would have brought in Ryan if Alfie signed?

What if this is what they're doing? They traded Silfverberg last year, who despite not being a first round pick, was thought of as being a solid top 6 player. Zibanejad isn't anywhere close to usurping Spezza or Turris, and even though Da Costa isn't either, he's perhaps better suited to playing behind those guys, and of course at 24 years old, you have a better idea of what he's going to be.

And just to play devil's advocate, what about trading Zibanejad? What if moving him out could get you the winger that MacArthur and Turris need? Someone superior to Conacher? What if a package featuring Zibanejad and Conacher could bring back someone like Yakupov or Evander Kane or something like that? Da Costa and Pageau doesn't seem like a bad way to fill out your C position if you're solid everywhere else.

I don't buy this whole 'showcase' deal. Those guys made the team, they earned their spots.
- the_terror

didn't alfie poop on the team in the playoffs once in a postgame interview? he said something like "this team is done and we have zero chance of winning this round?"

idk sounds like he might've just gotten bored of ottawa and wanted a change.
- rangerdanger94

Context is important. Alfie was always a foot-in-his-mouth type of guy. What he meant was that with the way they were playing as a team at that point in the series, there was no way they could come back. He was right - and I think it was meant as a kick in the pants to the team.

Do you think they would have brought in Ryan if Alfie signed?
- Charliebox

Yes.

The Bobby Ryan deal was reactionary. I still think the Sens gave up too much, but Murray had to do something and they could have done a lot worse (ie traded for someone else or overpaid a free agent). At that point, the 1M in extra salary was a better option than losing that many season's ticket holders.
- Charliebox

You know what I actually f**kin agree with the guy. Sure the deal was in the works for a while but the trade was for a 2nd. Murray had to upgrade it to a 1st. Also I bet 90% of people on this site, and sens fan in general, if they were offered Bobby Ryan 4 months ago for Silfverberg, Noesen, and our 1st most people would of said no. Ya you over pay for a star blah blah blah---lets face it. It was a PR move (as well at the very least) and it saved all the focus being on the fact that they low balled alfie after being underpaid for years

- magmoo

Easy tiger. I just threw names out there. Gotta read the whole thing.

To your point about the value of an internal budget, I agree. I would guess there was an internal budget the past 2 years as well, which during a rebuild, is a great thing. So, I agree 100% with that viewpoint. I guess where my frustrations really come from is the fact that this team is bordering on contender status - the rebuild is over.

Going into the past offseason, I thought the main focus of the team should be: adding a top-6 winger and a top-4 dman (and I should add that this line of thinking assumed Alfredsson resigned). What happened? They get that top-6 forward (a deal I really like), but jettison an existing forward that didn't need to go. Oh, and they brought back Corvo ... this is where I get frustrated with Melnyk: Murray is too good of a GM to think that his defense is contender worthy as is, or that Corvo was a missing piece back there.
- TreeSens

I don't want to commit treason, but personally, and sentiment aside, I think we are a better team without Alfredsson today than we were at the beginning of August. I like the acquisitions of Ryan and MacArthur. Having said that, Alfredsson would be nice but as someone said earlier, that ship has sailed. I don't think we brought in Corvo to anchor our dcorps. It would equal to complaining about bringing in Lundin last year. It's a depth move.

They had been taking for awhile, but nothing was 'in the works'. Ottawa has wanted Ryan for a long time now, but so have many other teams. Murray talked on the radio shortly after the trade and said the return (Silf, Noeson and a 1st), was only agreed upon that day.

If Alfie stayed, the Sens would have never gone after Ryan. So nothing was 'in the works', because the Sens had only found out about Alfie the night before.
- Charliebox

Talking about a trade doesn't equal not in the works? Teams talk trades for fun?

Bryan Murray was quoted as saying to Alfie, that they were working on aquiring Ryan, when trying to convince Alfie to stay.

The Bobby Ryan deal was reactionary. I still think the Sens gave up too much, but Murray had to do something and they could have done a lot worse (ie traded for someone else or overpaid a free agent). At that point, the 1M in extra salary was a better option than losing that many season's ticket holders.
- Charliebox

You know what I actually f**kin agree with the guy. Sure the deal was in the works for a while but the trade was for a 2nd. Murray had to upgrade it to a 1st. Also I bet 90% of people on this site, and sens fan in general, if they were offered Bobby Ryan 4 months ago for Silfverberg, Noesen, and our 1st most people would of said no. Ya you over pay for a star blah blah blah---lets face it. It was a PR move (as well at the very least) and it saved all the focus being on the fact that they low balled alfie after being underpaid for years
- AlfieisKing

Adding a 26 year old 30goal scorer is a PR move more than significantly upgrading your top line...

Context is important. Alfie was always a foot-in-his-mouth type of guy. What he meant was that with the way they were playing as a team at that point in the series, there was no way they could come back. He was right - and I think it was meant as a kick in the pants to the team.
- TreeSens

And they came out the next game and got crushed. The team reflects the leadership they have. The time was right for a change, and the Senators got better without him.

Yes.
- the_terror

Then you haven't been listening to Melnyk for the past 6 months.

If you guys don't wanna pay him, send him our way.

Then you haven't been listening to Melnyk for the past 6 months.
- Charliebox

Well I freely admit that I don't go out for dinner with him very often, so I have to go on what gets said by people in the know.

And on the day that Alfie left, Murray had a presser where he said that he told Alfie about the Ryan trade before he went and signed in Detroit.

They were independent of one another. Find me a quote from Eugene or Murray stating the opposite, and I'll buy your argument.

And no, commitment to an internal cap is not that argument. Eugene also said that he would go out and get players, spend the money necessary to do so, so the man contradicts himself. The only NON-contradictory statement I can find is that Murray told Alfie about the Ryan trade before he went to Detroit.

Find the contrary statement, send it over.

Talking about a trade doesn't equal not in the works? Teams talk trades for fun?

Bryan Murray was quoted as saying to Alfie, that they were working on aquiring Ryan, when trying to convince Alfie to stay.

Adding a 26 year old 30goal scorer is a PR move more than significantly upgrading your top line...
- Talkshowhost

See, I think that part where he told Alfie about Ryan was either
1. Total BS
or
2. too late (they weren't planning on it, and it was a last-ditch effort to see if Alfie would have taken less to come back).

There's no way Melnyk would have paid 4-5M for Alfie and then 5M for Ryan + resigning Cowen.

Unless he's totally full of poop and you can't trust anything he says.

Also, I didn't say that the Ryan trade was a PR move. It was reactionary because of the way Alfie left. I think the Sens still could have got Ryan for less a few weeks later, but by then the damage would have been done with season's ticket holders.

See, I think that part where he told Alfie about Ryan was either
1. Total BS
or
2. too late (they weren't planning on it, and it was a last-ditch effort to see if Alfie would have taken less to come back).

There's no way Melnyk would have paid 4-5M for Alfie and then 5M for Ryan + resigning Cowen.

Unless he's totally full of poop and you can't trust anything he says.

Also, I didn't say that the Ryan trade was a PR move. It was reactionary because of the way Alfie left. I think the Sens still could have got Ryan for less a few weeks later, but by then the damage would have been done with season's ticket holders.
- Charliebox

And THERE ya go. That is the absolute truth of the matter.

Talking about a trade doesn't equal not in the works? Teams talk trades for fun?

Bryan Murray was quoted as saying to Alfie, that they were working on aquiring Ryan, when trying to convince Alfie to stay.

Adding a 26 year old 30goal scorer is a PR move more than significantly upgrading your top line...
- Talkshowhost

Yes. But Murray was "playing" with that idea. He had other things going on (Clarkson signing).

AND.... a 26 year 30 goal scorer is great (clap clap) but we gave up a lot --silfverberg a younger top 6 forward-- and not signing Alfie-- a top 6 forward-- we haven't significantly improved like many people think.