there is an interesting article in the Sun today by Brennan ..... I know what you're thinking, but this one is actually pretty good.

it's about the merits of signing Methot and making him Captain - and it kind of makes sense :

- he's only 29 and entering the prime of his career versus the likes of Phillips/Neil
- a local boy, who really wants to stay and play for his home town team
- he's bilingual, which can only help in trying to lure a few Habs fans from Gatineau over to Ottawa, or simply address the Francophone community that does cheer for Ottawa

There has been a lot of talk about Karlsson taking the C, but until he returns to his game of two years ago and shows consistency with it, he should have an A.

Not every team has a young player with the leadership qualities in the early stages of their career that are required to lead a team. Just because Chicago and Pittsburg do, doesn't mean that everybody has to follow suit.
- GadesnSens

This is a good summary of why Methot is so important to this team right now and doesn't even touch what he provides on ice. Would I make him captain? Probably not, but I wouldn't be disappointed if he was. He should be wearing an A for sure. He was a great pick up and want to see him on this team longterm and part of the new leadership group.

This is a good summary of why Methot is so important to this team right now and doesn't even touch what he provides on ice. Would I make him captain? Probably not, but I wouldn't be disappointed if he was. He should be wearing an A for sure. He was a great pick up and want to see him on this team longterm and part of the new leadership group.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Yeah, I dint say I agree 100% with him being Captain, but it would be a mistake to not resign him.

Personally, I'd prefer that they go without a captain for at least one year, maybe even two until someone steps up and takes the reigns - the players/coaches know who the leaders are in the room far more than we do.

Better to have someone take it, rather than have it forced on them before they are ready.

Take it easy. About half the names you listed were listed...

I'm just saying everyone here goes on and on about how great our prospects are when in actuality how many are actually going to become effective/important players for us? Just because your favourite NHL team drafted/picked up a guy doesn't mean he is going to amount to anything significant. Sometimes you have to step back at take off the Sens goggles and look objectively.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Agreed, but also... just because a guy doesn't play on the 1st or 2nd line or is a T4 D doesn't mean he's a bust.

Just making the NHL and playing 25 games for guys drafted from rd 3 onwards is a huge success.

Other than the Yashin for 2nd overall (Spezza) and Chara, the Turris trade was the biggest steal in Senators franchise history.

I would even go as far as to say it's probably one of the top 5 'steals' in the NHL in the past decade.

Mac is right. Turris can play any role and with any type of player. He really is just that good. Mac got the money he did directly because of playing with Kyle Turris.

The only knock on Turris is that he is a bit soft and can get pushed off the puck a bit too easy at times. Hopefully, he gets stronger as he gets older.

I remember when we traded for him, Pierre McGuire went on Ottawa radio and was shocked. He told Sens fans that this was going to go down as a massive steal. Not a huge fan of the man, but was he ever right.

Say what you will about Bryan Murray and some of the poor trades he has made (Bishop as a prime example), the man has been able to turn over the entire Sens roster (outside Phillips and Neil) without missing the playoffs two years in a row during that span. He also did it without getting a top 5 draft pick over that time.

Not only that, but he has massive budget restraints, and a small market that struggles to attract quality free agents, to go along with it.

The man is easily a top 5 GM in the NHL.

No, sorry, that's all complete horsepoop.
- TommyDeVito

what, that Brennan could write something that has some semblance of merit??

This is a good summary of why Methot is so important to this team right now and doesn't even touch what he provides on ice. Would I make him captain? Probably not, but I wouldn't be disappointed if he was. He should be wearing an A for sure. He was a great pick up and want to see him on this team longterm and part of the new leadership group.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Forgot the most important part, Methot likely has not realized Don Brennan is a piece of human garbage, and thus probably does not avoid him like the rest of the player's who have been around for ahwile.

Other than the Yashin for 2nd overall (Spezza) and Chara, the Turris trade was the biggest steal in Senators franchise history.

I would even go as far as to say it's probably one of the top 5 'steals' in the NHL in the past decade.

Mac is right. Turris can play any role and with any type of player. He really is just that good. Mac got the money he did directly because of playing with Kyle Turris.

The only knock on Turris is that he is a bit soft and can get pushed off the puck a bit too easy at times. Hopefully, he gets stronger as he gets older.

I remember when we traded for him, Pierre McGuire went on Ottawa radio and was shocked. He told Sens fans that this was going to go down as a massive steal. Not a huge fan of the man, but was he ever right.

Say what you will about Bryan Murray and some of the poor trades he has made (Bishop as a prime example), the man has been able to turn over the entire Sens roster (outside Phillips and Neil) without missing the playoffs two years in a row during that span. He also did it without getting a top 5 draft pick over that time.

Not only that, but he has massive budget restraints, and a small market that struggles to attract quality free agents, to go along with it.

The man is easily a top 5 GM in the NHL.
- Charliebox

top 5 gm? then why are the sens poised to finish with a lottery pick next season?

so much love for turris and he hasnt even proved he can be a #1. lets see how he does next season with no spezza.

Other than the Yashin for 2nd overall (Spezza) and Chara, the Turris trade was the biggest steal in Senators franchise history.

I would even go as far as to say it's probably one of the top 5 'steals' in the NHL in the past decade.

Mac is right. Turris can play any role and with any type of player. He really is just that good. Mac got the money he did directly because of playing with Kyle Turris.

The only knock on Turris is that he is a bit soft and can get pushed off the puck a bit too easy at times. Hopefully, he gets stronger as he gets older.

I remember when we traded for him, Pierre McGuire went on Ottawa radio and was shocked. He told Sens fans that this was going to go down as a massive steal. Not a huge fan of the man, but was he ever right.

Say what you will about Bryan Murray and some of the poor trades he has made (Bishop as a prime example), the man has been able to turn over the entire Sens roster (outside Phillips and Neil) without missing the playoffs two years in a row during that span. He also did it without getting a top 5 draft pick over that time.

Not only that, but he has massive budget restraints, and a small market that struggles to attract quality free agents, to go along with it.

The man is easily a top 5 GM in the NHL.
- Charliebox

I love the boasting today. I think Murray has done a good job with this franchise, especially given the circumstances of the last season or two. However, he has made just as many bad deals/signings as good ones. Macarthur was a brilliant signing, but Gerber and Kovalev were not. The Turris trade ended up well for us, but the Bishop trade did not. Trading for Ryan was brilliant, but loosing Heatley, Spezza, and Alfie for scraps was not. For every great move he has made, there has been a bad move as well. We have not reached the success we once had since he has become GM. Is that on him or is that simply how long a rebuild takes? We will find out in a year or two I guess. I think he is a good GM, but his reign in Ottawa has yet to equal what he did in Florida and Anaheim.

I love the boasting today. I think Murray has done a good job with this franchise, especially given the circumstances of the last season or two. However, he has made just as many bad deals/signings as good ones. Macarthur was a brilliant signing, but Gerber and Kovalev were not. The Turris trade ended up well for us, but the Bishop trade did not. Trading for Ryan was brilliant, but loosing Heatley, Spezza, and Alfie for scraps was not. For every great move he has made, there has been a bad move as well. We have not reached the success we once had since he has become GM. Is that on him or is that simply how long a rebuild takes? We will find out in a year or two I guess. I think he is a good GM, but his reign in Ottawa has yet to equal what he did in Florida and Anaheim.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Muckler not BM,
One good season in which we make the playoffs,he helped.The other not so much moved for a 7th rounder.Not really that bad.
Had the foresight to move out a following years second on a 25 year old netminder when teams like EDM,Nyi ,phi etc. did not.
Packaged him off for a calder trophy candidate and a 4th ,not too bad for a then 27 year old goalie with 30 nhl games played.
Demanded trade got cheaper better younger two way winger in return

,Injury issues due for a expensive long term contract ,wasnt going to resign here .recieved 4 potential players for 1

.Alfie well cant say thats his fault EM rears his ugly head into the picture on that one .So what moves has he done not to be considered a top 5 gm in the league again ??

Muckler not BM,
One good season in which we make the playoffs,he helped.The other not so much moved for a 7th rounder.Not really that bad.
Had the foresight to move out a following years second on a 25 year old netminder when teams like EDM,Nyi ,phi etc. did not.
Packaged him off for a calder trophy candidate and a 4th ,not too bad for a then 27 year old goalie with 30 nhl games played.
Demanded trade got cheaper better younger two way winger in return

,Injury issues due for a expensive long term contract ,wasnt going to resign here .recieved 4 potential players for 1

.Alfie well cant say thats his fault EM rears his ugly head into the picture on that one .So what moves has he done not to be considered a top 5 gm in the league again ??
- top shelf 15

A quick google search tells me that Murray was GM starting June 2007.

Kovalev and Gerber were signed in 2009. Heatley was 09, if I misunderstood and you were referring to that.

Muckler not BM,
One good season in which we make the playoffs,he helped.The other not so much moved for a 7th rounder.Not really that bad.
Had the foresight to move out a following years second on a 25 year old netminder when teams like EDM,Nyi ,phi etc. did not.
Packaged him off for a calder trophy candidate and a 4th ,not too bad for a then 27 year old goalie with 30 nhl games played.
Demanded trade got cheaper better younger two way winger in return

,Injury issues due for a expensive long term contract ,wasnt going to resign here .recieved 4 potential players for 1

.Alfie well cant say thats his fault EM rears his ugly head into the picture on that one .So what moves has he done not to be considered a top 5 gm in the league again ??
- top shelf 15

Umm. These were all Murray's moves. Nice try trying to blame Mucklar though?

Hard to blame Murray for the fact Spezza, Heatley, and Alfie all wanted new beginnings, but it happened on his watch. Those were arguably our best 3 players in franchise history and what do we have to show for them? Michalek, Chaisson, a couple of picks, a couple of mid-tier prospects, and a bought out player? People love to twist those deals around to make Ottawa look better, but it hurt the team with their departures.

Murray has made some good deals. However, it's naive to try and twist every deal/signing he has made into a good one. Ya Conacher was 4th in the Calder race (for his T-Bay time), but the next season was put on waivers and Bishop was a finalist for the Vezina. You win some and you loose some. So does Bryan Murray. Anyone who can't see that is wearing the Sens goggles too tightly.

I like the direction this team is going and frankly, I'm glad Murray is at the helm. I think he has a brilliant eye for young talent. However, he isn't immune from making a bad decision. We would be challenging for the Cup right now if he was. But we aren't, rather we are trying to massage the perception of this team that it's not a lottery pick contender.

Umm. These were all Murray's moves. Nice try trying to blame Mucklar though?

Hard to blame Murray for the fact Spezza, Heatley, and Alfie all wanted new beginnings, but it happened on his watch. Those were arguably our best 3 players in franchise history and what do we have to show for them? Michalek, Chaisson, a couple of picks, a couple of mid-tier prospects, and a bought out player? People love to twist those deals around to make Ottawa look better, but it hurt the team with their departures.

Murray has made some good deals. However, it's naive to try and twist every deal/signing he has made into a good one. Ya Conacher was 4th in the Calder race (for his T-Bay time), but the next season was put on waivers and Bishop was a finalist for the Vezina. You win some and you loose some. So does Bryan Murray. Anyone who can't see that is wearing the Sens goggles too tightly.

I like the direction this team is going and frankly, I'm glad Murray is at the helm. I think he has a brilliant eye for young talent. However, he isn't immune from making a bad decision. We would be challenging for the Cup right now if he was. But we aren't, rather we are trying to massage the perception of this team that it's not a lottery pick contender.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Gerber was muckler signing dude ask anyone , him and corvo after chara walked remember .BM was the coach .As for the rest .I stand by what i said ,its no homerism all of those things i posted are fact .

Gerber was muckler signing dude ask anyone , him and corvo after chara walked remember .BM was the coach .As for the rest .I stand by what i said ,its no homerism all of those things i posted are fact .
- top shelf 15

I was more dumbfounded that you bolded Bishop, Heatley, Spezza, and Kovalev, then mentioned Mucklar.

Buuuuuttt. Now realize you highlighted them all because you were talking about them. My bad there I guess. You're posts are always a bit more difficult to read fluently. No harm done. I assume your posting from a phone?

I was more dumbfounded that you bolded Bishop, Heatley, Spezza, and Kovalev, then mentioned Mucklar.

Buuuuuttt. Now realize you highlighted them all because you were talking about them. My bad there I guess.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

None of the deals you mentioned where ground breaking really ,Ottawa needed a rebuild after our cup loss ,we did it slowley and tried to stay competitive .But now if you look at our team ,you can see a brand new core all while still making the playoffs a couple of times

Edit sentence structure and punctuation, arent really a strong thing for me.My 10 year old daughter usually corrects my stuff

None of the deals you mentioned where ground breaking really ,Ottawa needed a rebuild after our cup loss ,we did it slowley and tried to stay competitive .But now if you look at our team ,you can see a brand new core all while still making the playoffs a couple of times

- top shelf 15

I get the praise Murray is getting from people, and really, it's quite deserving. There have been some bumps in the road during his reign. That's all I'm saying. It hasn't been all home runs. Reading some of the things people write here, you'd think we have won the Cup the last 2 years. Objectivity is important when looking at a team, especially entering a rebuilding phase. I do like where we have this team going generally. There are some things that should have been done differently and I'm sure if you asked Murray himself, he would say the same thing. Let's be honest, this "rebuild" was supposed to be over by now according to the "plan", but we are entering another phase of it.

I get the praise Murray is getting from people, and really, it's quite deserving. There have been some bumps in the road during his reign. That's all I'm saying. It hasn't been all home runs. Reading some of the things people write here, you'd think we have won the Cup the last 2 years. Objectivity is important when looking at a team, especially entering a rebuilding phase. I do like where we have this team going generally. There are some things that should have been done differently and I'm sure if you asked Murray himself, he would say the same thing. Let's be honest, this "rebuild" was supposed to be over by now according to the "plan", but we are entering another phase of it.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think this going to be the case for our team moving forward,drafting and development is where EM put dollars into .

It allows him to keep refreshing the roster, as players get older and more importantly for him start demanding more money

Umm. These were all Murray's moves. Nice try trying to blame Mucklar though?

Hard to blame Murray for the fact Spezza, Heatley, and Alfie all wanted new beginnings, but it happened on his watch. Those were arguably our best 3 players in franchise history and what do we have to show for them? Michalek, Chaisson, a couple of picks, a couple of mid-tier prospects, and a bought out player? People love to twist those deals around to make Ottawa look better, but it hurt the team with their departures.

Murray has made some good deals. However, it's naive to try and twist every deal/signing he has made into a good one. Ya Conacher was 4th in the Calder race (for his T-Bay time), but the next season was put on waivers and Bishop was a finalist for the Vezina. You win some and you loose some. So does Bryan Murray. Anyone who can't see that is wearing the Sens goggles too tightly.

I like the direction this team is going and frankly, I'm glad Murray is at the helm. I think he has a brilliant eye for young talent. However, he isn't immune from making a bad decision. We would be challenging for the Cup right now if he was. But we aren't, rather we are trying to massage the perception of this team that it's not a lottery pick contender.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

On point 1), I would argue that we basically used up most of those players best years - Alfie is now considering retiring after an underwhelming season in Detroit, Heatley was poop 8 months after we dealt him, and while Spezza probably has a few good years in him, he'll be an albatross by 2017 for whoever signs him to a deal. I don't have any problem with any of those players leaving when they did, and I don't believe any of them will prove to be big mistakes - point being, don't discount the fact that we got a ton of production out of them before they left.

On the second bolded point, sure, but did literally anyone see that coming? I mean, the two players career paths basically changed course dramatically the season after the deal - poop happens.

On point 1), I would argue that we basically used up most of those players best years - Alfie is now considering retiring after an underwhelming season in Detroit, Heatley was poop 8 months after we dealt him, and while Spezza probably has a few good years in him, he'll be an albatross by 2017 for whoever signs him to a deal. I don't have any problem with any of those players leaving when they did, and I don't believe any of them will prove to be big mistakes - point being, don't discount the fact that we got a ton of production out of them before they left.

On the second bolded point, sure, but did literally anyone see that coming? I mean, the two players career paths basically changed course dramatically the season after the deal - poop happens.
- TommyDeVito

This is pretty much supports what I am trying to say. I think you're the one discounting the amount of production we got from some of the players who left. Should that not help in a trade? 3 of the best forwards this team has ever had and a goalie who became a Vezina finalist leave the team for virtually very little in return, and it's simply swept under the rug or twisted in a way that makes it seem like we are better off. Murray has done a lot of good things, but has lost along the way here and there. Just like all GMs.

I think this going to be the case for our team moving forward,drafting and development is where EM put dollars into .

It allows him to keep refreshing the roster, as players get older and more importantly for him start demanding more money

- top shelf 15

Ya. I think this is a fine way to go considering our situation. I just hope we can sign guys when we need to, starting with Ryan and Methot.

On the second bolded point, sure, but did literally anyone see that coming? I mean, the two players career paths basically changed course dramatically the season after the deal - poop happens.
- TommyDeVito

Very true, but let's see how Conacher fares on NYI... their left side looks weak. If he pairs with Grabo and Kulemin, could be dangerous. Maybe he pots 20g this year. He should get a shot at ample ice time.

Point being, he's still young and will be playing on a team that will give him every opportunity to succeed. Not that it matters to Sens fan.

waivers...

Very true, but let's see how Conacher fares on NYI... their left side looks weak. If he pairs with Grabo and Kulemin, could be dangerous. Maybe he pots 20g this year. He should get a shot at ample ice time.

Point being, he's still young and will be playing on a team that will give him every opportunity to succeed. Not that it matters to Sens fan.

waivers...
- KarlKarlsson

It would just make it look even worse from an Ottawa perspective...

Very true, but let's see how Conacher fares on NYI... their left side looks weak. If he pairs with Grabo and Kulemin, could be dangerous. Maybe he pots 20g this year. He should get a shot at ample ice time.

Point being, he's still young and will be playing on a team that will give him every opportunity to succeed. Not that it matters to Sens fan.

waivers...
- KarlKarlsson

the only way conacher is making the isles is if lee gets sent down, bailey gets moved and/or injuries.

Nelson's playing first line with JT and KO, Kulemin is on the second line and right now Bailey would like start on the third line next to Nielson, but I'd rather see him moved and Anders Lee given that spot. Means conacher is looking at healthy scratch or the ahl. He's not going to play on the fourth line, Martin's in that spot.

I just don't see a spot for him, but that could change quickly if a trade involving one of our forwards goes through.

Jared Cowen should be traded if he doesn't have a huge first half of the season.

He is a borderline bust

Jared Cowen should be traded if he doesn't have a huge first half of the season.

He is a borderline bust
- AlfieisKing

Cowen's a late bloomer.

Cowen's a late bloomer.
- TheCalSen

My personal opinion would be that 23 is way too early to give up on a defenseman like cowen. He may take another year or two to get used to the NHL speed, but I can already tell you it sucked ass watching chara get moved. Milbury is a tool.