unless there is a trade, I expect Ceci to be in Bingo. While he may be better than some who are going to stay in Ottawa, they do have eight defensemen.

Ceci could benefit from being the #1 guy in Bingo - at least until an injury pops up, or a trade takes place.

I'd love to see Cowen/Karlsson, but I'm not sure Cowen is ready.

Weircoch could benefit on being paired with Steady-Eddie Methot.

Boro/Gryba/Phillips on the bottom pairing......

What I would do is trade Jared Cowen (or Marc Methot) + Patrick Weircioch in a package to Vancouver for Alex Edler (Karlsson's left side pairing partner all the way to the gold medal game in the Olympics)

Maybe Jared Cowen, Colin Greening+ for Alex Edler

how do you like that?

I wrote this on Erik Karlsson and the Senators, if anyone's interested.

http://www.sportingnews.c...reliant-on-erik-karlsson?

Cowen, Weircioch would do it for sure

Sens D

Yandle - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Boroweici - Phillips
- AlfieisKing

I would make that trade as of today, after pre season might be different...
After the Turris trade do you think the Coyotes would make that deal?

To answer your question about who has the most to prove?

Bobby Ryan is on a contract year so will be extra motivated
Anderson will want to prove he's still a 1A tender on an expiring contract
Cowen/Greening/Philips need to pull their weight/earn their pay checks/Prove their haters wrong

Biggest growth?
In order most to least: (My wishful thinking mostly... with a little bit of reality)
+++Lehner/Weircioch
++Zbad/Stone/Chiasson/Ceci
+ Hoffman/Cowen

As a side note, Anderson I think can go either way, although I think he may lose his starting job to Lehner at some point and get traded if they can't make the playoffs.
MacArthur I hope can repeat the year he had last year (along with the rest of his line)
I feel its a delicate situation with Ryan. He wants to be THE GUY. If they put him on the second line it might make him angry enough to go elsewhere next year, but if he scores 40 goals this year with MacArthur on his wing he could ask for 8 mil/year and we could very well end up losing 2/3 of our top line (again)
Having said that I hope to see Stone on the second scoring line, however putting him with Zbad makes me a little nervous as they are both still young -- they need a babysitter haha but would be an interesting experiment.
Not going to break up Turris and MacArthur so Michalek on that line ? meh...
Sort of wish we hadn't re signed Michalek and had been able to keep Hemsky instead but it seemed as though he didn't want Eugene's money (i.e. he wants to win)

What I would do is trade Jared Cowen (or Marc Methot) + Patrick Weircioch in a package to Vancouver for Alex Edler (Karlsson's left side pairing partner all the way to the gold medal game in the Olympics)

Maybe Jared Cowen, Colin Greening+ for Alex Edler

how do you like that?
- AlfieisKing

I think for this trade to work Van would need picks coming back or prospects.
Weircioch + Prince OR Puempel and a pick?
Would love to ship Cowen out instead but he's too expensive for what he produces.
Van would have to really like him
Van is 1.4 under the cap right now and have to extend Tanev at some point from 2m/yr also

Which Senator do you think has the most to prove this season?

a) Bobby Ryan b) Jared Cowen c) Colin Greening d) Erik Karlsson
e) Craig Anderson f) Chris Phillips g) Other:

Which Senator do you think has the biggest growth season (from last year)?

a) Mika Zibanejad b) Robin Lehner c) Jared Cowen d) Mark Stone
e) Alex Chiasson f) Mike Hoffman g) Other:

Which Senator do you think will surprise people the most?

a) Mika Zibanejad b) Mark Stone c) Alex Chiasson d) Curits Lazar
e) Mike Hoffman f) Mark Boroweici g) Other:
- AlfieisKing

I wrote this on Erik Karlsson and the Senators, if anyone's interested.

http://www.sportingnews.c...reliant-on-erik-karlsson?
- Travis Yost

Great piece. Always love conclusions postured as questions.

Strongly believe Ottawa needs to be built around Karlsson's game. Turris and MacArthur are great fits. I think Legwand will thrive in the time he gets with Karlsson. He attacks with speed and comes back hard on defense. Zibanejad should be okay.

Missing power forward with big wheels. Would take Evander Kane over just about any guy that might come available. Patrick Sharp would be wickedly dangerous playing with Karlsson as would Joe Thornton but they are probably not realistic options. I believe Kane is doable.

- TommyDeVito

agree with you on all... cowen has to step it up; zibanejad is ready to take off; hoffman I would agree. I also have a feeling someone is going to have a big year; but it's not someone that played well last year. Lazar?

Which Senator do you think has the most to prove this season?

a) Bobby Ryan b) Jared Cowen c) Colin Greening d) Erik Karlsson
e) Craig Anderson f) Chris Phillips g) Other:

Which Senator do you think has the biggest growth season (from last year)?

a) Mika Zibanejad b) Robin Lehner c) Jared Cowen d) Mark Stone
e) Alex Chiasson f) Mike Hoffman g) Other:

Which Senator do you think will surprise people the most?

a) Mika Zibanejad b) Mark Stone c) Alex Chiasson d) Curits Lazar
e) Mike Hoffman f) Mark Boroweici g) Other:
- AlfieisKing

1. Cowen - signed big contract then had the worst year he possibly could.......he has a TON to prove.

2. Zibby - will get lots of top six mins and PP time......will take a big step forward IMO

3. Chiasson - nobody knows much about him, but he should get top six mins with some quality linemates.....should have a good year

What I would do is trade Jared Cowen (or Marc Methot) + Patrick Weircioch in a package to Vancouver for Alex Edler (Karlsson's left side pairing partner all the way to the gold medal game in the Olympics)

Maybe Jared Cowen, Colin Greening+ for Alex Edler

how do you like that?
- AlfieisKing

Karlsson played with OEL in the Olympics until the last game or two.......but I like the Idea of elder. Don't think the Canucks move him though

Karlsson played with OEL in the Olympics until the last game or two.......but I like the Idea of elder. Don't think the Canucks move him though
- sensarmy_11

Oh I see. Ya I met to say only in the gold medal game (I just watched alot of it this afternoon). Canucks are in a rebuild/retool and with Hamhuis, Sbisa, and Alberts they could use him to get some young assets.

Prince, Hoffman, Stone, Weircioch, Cowen would all be on the table. PW is from Burnaby. Cowen played for Spokane (not far from VAN). Stone played in the WHL so he's familiar with the west coast. It could be a good option for both teams. Edler would fit like a glove

Oh I see. Ya I met to say only in the gold medal game (I just watched alot of it this afternoon). Canucks are in a rebuild/retool and with Hamhuis, Sbisa, and Alberts they could use him to get some young assets.

Prince, Hoffman, Stone, Weircioch, Cowen would all be on the table. PW is from Burnaby. Cowen played for Spokane (not far from VAN). Stone played in the WHL so he's familiar with the west coast. It could be a good option for both teams. Edler would fit like a glove
- AlfieisKing

I think they're just retooling, and elder is still only 26 or 27 I believe.....I can't see them moving him, unless someone overpays

I wrote this on Erik Karlsson and the Senators, if anyone's interested.

http://www.sportingnews.c...reliant-on-erik-karlsson?
- Travis Yost

Nice piece Yost, covers the bases pretty well. As much as I like seeing EK dominate, I would like to see the loa eased on him, hopefully by newer or younger guys like Zibby, Legwand, Chiasson, Hoffman, or even Turris (though he's already very good at it) stepping up more and being able to drive the play up ice more often.

Did you see the piece in the Sun by the mouthpiece himself? I don't like that that's about the third or fourth article where he drops a "weircioch is being shopped" hint.

@AJonSports: Two shorties, a hat trick & 4 points for Curtis Lazar in a 6-3 win over Russia. Wouldn't bet on him playing in the WJC come December. #Sens

@AJonSports: Two shorties, a hat trick & 4 points for Curtis Lazar in a 6-3 win over Russia. Wouldn't bet on him playing in the WJC come December. #Sens


- sensarmy_11

Peumple is on the prospect no trade list.

@AJonSports: Two shorties, a hat trick & 4 points for Curtis Lazar in a 6-3 win over Russia. Wouldn't bet on him playing in the WJC come December. #Sens


- sensarmy_11

I haven't been this stoked on a prospect since Karlsson. Lazar is going to make it hard for Sens management & MacLean's coaching staff to not have him up with the big club this upcoming season.

So many young forwards looking to make the jump though.
I liked the idea of making a quality for quantity trade with a team that has a weak farm system like Vancouver. NHL roster player + prospect (not named Lazar) & a draft pick for a good D-Man or scoring left winger.

All these trade proposals and this and that. Bryan already said they plan on building this team through draft and development. The only thing we have to offer is the second round pick we got from dallas, shane prince and colling greening. Don't expect too much to happen. Peumple, Pague and Lazar aren't far off from being full times Sens. Patience and at the same time enjoy having a team. Our Defence will be good, im more worried about the goalies getting there poop together and Paul putting the right players on the ice.

I haven't been this stoked on a prospect since Karlsson. Lazar is going to make it hard for Sens management & MacLean's coaching staff to not have him up with the big club this upcoming season.

So many young forwards looking to make the jump though.
I liked the idea of making a quality for quantity trade with a team that has a weak farm system like Vancouver. NHL roster player + prospect (not named Lazar) & a draft pick for a good D-Man or scoring left winger.
- Erik6Karlsson5

This is really difficult for me. I am a huge Lazar fan and expect he will easily make the NHL this year. He can play bottom 6, special teams and make a solid contribution playing 12 minutes a night. Scouts and coaches love his game.

Love Evander Kane. When he is on his game he can dominate. A 50 goal scorer if playing with Turris and Karlsson.

Always believed Murray had the inside track in getting Kane. He was the one player that might cause you to give up Lazar. And, I have no doubt Winnipeg does the deal if Lazar is included in the offer.

I would do the deal, I think. But there has always been a lingering and growing doubt in my mind. Do you give up a kid of impeccable character and determination for a player who sometimes strains the patience of his coaches.

Maybe not.

All these trade proposals and this and that. Bryan already said they plan on building this team through draft and development. The only thing we have to offer is the second round pick we got from dallas, shane prince and colling greening. Don't expect too much to happen. Peumple, Pague and Lazar aren't far off from being full times Sens. Patience and at the same time enjoy having a team. Our Defence will be good, im more worried about the goalies getting there poop together and Paul putting the right players on the ice.
- JS_19

you say that......and yet they traded away 3 higher end futures for bobby ryan just last year. if the right deal comes along, i can't believer there are more than 2-3 real untouchables on this team

@AJonSports: Two shorties, a hat trick & 4 points for Curtis Lazar in a 6-3 win over Russia. Wouldn't bet on him playing in the WJC come December. #Sens


- sensarmy_11

The Canadian side of me really wants him to be the top line guy for canada at the WJHC, he would give us a way better chance at that gold.

The senators side of me is pretty damn interested in his NHL game, but he will in tough to get a spot this year. I think the management is trying to see what they have in 5 or 6 guys before they move on the younger set of guys like Lazar, Puempel, Pageau, Prince, Claesson, and wideman.

What's the problem... we ice a sh1tty D next season and if everything falls apart then we have a legit shot at McDavid... Maybe the 'plan' all along for the organization was to be as bad as possible next year and really hit a home run in the draft a la Pittsburgh in the early 2000's.

Would any of you trade 2-3 seasons of crap teams spending near the bottom of the NHL salary cap for a legit shot at being a top contender in 5 years with another one of the faces of the NHL on your roster?

Which Senator do you think has the most to prove this season?

a) Bobby Ryan b) Jared Cowen c) Colin Greening d) Erik Karlsson
e) Craig Anderson f) Chris Phillips g) Other:

Which Senator do you think has the biggest growth season (from last year)?

a) Mika Zibanejad b) Robin Lehner c) Jared Cowen d) Mark Stone
e) Alex Chiasson f) Mike Hoffman g) Other:

Which Senator do you think will surprise people the most?

a) Mika Zibanejad b) Mark Stone c) Alex Chiasson d) Curits Lazar
e) Mike Hoffman f) Mark Boroweici g) Other:
- AlfieisKing

1. Bobby Ryan.... He's in a contract year and coming off an injury. He needs to get paid!

2. Cowen.... I think he will actually really come into his own this year and establish himself as a legit T4 D man.

3. Hoffman.... I think he will grab a spot on L2 and pop in 20 goals and also be on the point for the PP and use his quick feet and decent shot to help run it with EK.

What's the problem... we ice a sh1tty D next season and if everything falls apart then we have a legit shot at McDavid... Maybe the 'plan' all along for the organization was to be as bad as possible next year and really hit a home run in the draft a la Pittsburgh in the early 2000's.

Would any of you trade 2-3 seasons of crap teams spending near the bottom of the NHL salary cap for a legit shot at being a top contender in 5 years with another one of the faces of the NHL on your roster?
- riceroni

I think this is a really important question. Teams don't need more than one franchise player. Teams with more than one (Pittsburgh) often have difficulty competing long term and in the playoffs because the bottom of their line up has to be filled with minimum wage AHL players.

Boston on the other hand has built around one franchise player (Chara) and some really good players (Bergeron et. al.,) spread throughout their line up.

Ottawa has their franchise player Karlsson. The team needs to be built around his game, his speed and creativity. These guys are coming to prime time age. Future is now. Need another Turris (is it Lazar or Zibanejad). Would take another MacArthur type player. Also agree with those who think a "perfect" defensive partner for Karlsson might be a good acquisition. But, maybe the perfect partner for Karlsson is like the perfect winger for Crosby. Maybe it does not exist.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
My Sens roster
FORWARDS
Patrick Sharp ($5.900m) / Kyle Turris ($3.500m) / Bobby Ryan ($5.100m)
Clarke MacArthur ($3.250m) / Mika Zibanejad ($0.894m) / Alex Chiasson ($0.867m)
Milan Michalek ($4.000m) / David Legwand ($3.000m) / Curtis Lazar ($0.894m)
Mark Stone ($0.603m) / Zack Smith ($1.888m) / Erik Condra ($1.250m)
Chris Neil ($1.900m) / Mike Hoffman ($0.750m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Jared Cowen ($3.100m) / Erik Karlsson ($6.500m)
Marc Methot ($3.000m) / Cody Ceci ($0.894m)
Patrick Wiercioch ($2.000m) / Eric Gryba ($1.250m)
Mark Borowiecki ($0.575m)
GOALTENDERS
Craig Anderson ($3.188m)
Robin Lehner ($2.225m)
BONUS OVERAGE
$0
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $69,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $56,527,500; BONUSES: $1,988,333
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $12,472,500

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Here's the roster I'd do if possible...

I traded Phillips to EDM, Greening to NSH and got Sharp for Dal 2nd, Wilkstrad and Prince