Tommy, can I quote you on that 100% thing?

Twitter is waiting.
- hereticpride

Feel free.

As long as I don't have to hear about it one more time until the matter is resolved.

Aside from the MacArthur/Lehner/Legwand signings I am scratching my head.
Why do we need so many average players?
Maybe I am ignorant to the "master plan"??
I don't see Phillips/Anderson/Michalek being revelations this year
(and all may just take a step back)
This hockey team is the equivalent of having 5 sh!tty cars in the driveway instead of 2 nice ones -- drives me nuts!
Sorry, guys but I needed to vent...
- JN1980

Are they better than the vets we had before in their respective positions??.Is this team actually expecting their big time players to come from within,Stone ,Lazar,Zibby Lehner ETC.??If you answer those two questions truthfully you will have your answer

Did Melnyk get pre-approved for a new line of credit or something? Apparently the money is officially now rolling.

I know there will be a lot of people who won't like this deal, mostly because they believe that Lehner is ready to evolve as the team's #1... but I'm not quite so sure that he's as close as some believe. In fact, the relative values of the Anderson and Lehner deals suggest quite clearly that the team feels the same way. Regardless, I don't think having viable goaltending depth is a bad investment - particularly when there's nobody in the prospect who's likely to impact the NHL for at least 2 or 3 years. And the trend of players actively wanting to stay in Ottawa can only be a positive one in terms of hoping to see Ryan do the same.

Jesus Christ, will you shut the (frank) up?

You are totally getting Bobby Ryan on the flyers next year. 100%

There, happy? Now go away with your constant, unrelenting, thinly veiled hints, as if you can somehow convince Bobby Ryan not to sign in Ottawa through the hockeybuzz forums.


- TommyDeVito

Aside from the MacArthur/Lehner/Legwand signings I am scratching my head.
Why do we need so many average players?
Maybe I am ignorant to the "master plan"??
I don't see Phillips/Anderson/Michalek being revelations this year
(and all may just take a step back)
This hockey team is the equivalent of having 5 sh!tty cars in the driveway instead of 2 nice ones -- drives me nuts!
Sorry, guys but I needed to vent...
- JN1980

the only deal that's really a head scratcher, while probably hurting the team at the same time, is phillips.

michalek is still a good player, who will slot into the 2nd or 3rd line, can put up some goals, and is a solid vet and lockerroom presence. cant' have nothing but kids......pretty sure edmonton has shown us that.

boro....m'eh, whatever, they're paying him 1 million. easy contract to move if need be.

macarthur....love the deal

anderson......good deal

greening was an abomination, but it was done after he came off a good year. murray gambled that he'd improve, and he went the other way. oh well.

how many players are actually available in UFA that aren't duds - Brad Richards, that guy Toronto signed last year for way to much money, - you don't see elite players hit FA. They know they are getting paid so why risk going to FA, it's the players who's teams don't want them because they overvalue themselves that go to FA - Pouliot etc.

the real players get signed, they don't go to FA
- tuna99

I really just don't think Ryan will be worth the amount he gets. He's not an elite player, he's a good player but I don't think he's worth 7plus IMO.

Fair deal. If both play well, I could see a trade happening. They'll get a better return for a goalie with a reasonable contract than a pending UFA goalie.

I really just don't think Ryan will be worth the amount he gets. He's not an elite player, he's a good player but I don't think he's worth 7plus IMO.
- ClarksonDavid

Elite players are getting paid $10.5M a year nowadays. Players like Stastny and Ryan get paid $7M.

Elite players are getting paid $10.5M a year nowadays. Players like Stastny and Ryan get paid $7M.
- rangerdanger94

I know but Ryan hasn't been on a 60 point pace once in the last 3 seasons.

Just bothers me to get (last year) Andre Pavelek numbers out of our tandem and be paying Jonathan Quick/Carey Price money (this year/next year)
Michalek is a decent second line forward when he has a good year, 4 mil/yr is wayy too much for a third line forward on a team that doesn't make the playoffs.
We will see... for the record I hope all of these players prove me wrong.
I hope Phillips wins the Norris
I hope Eugene is visited by 3 spirits well before Christmas and buys me a Turkey
I hope Michalek wins the Rocket Richard
And I hope Greening gets bought out...

I know but Ryan hasn't been on a 60 point pace once in the last 3 seasons.
- ClarksonDavid

That makes it sound worse than it really was...he got 57 points 3 years ago, was on pace for 56 last year, and was on pace for 54 the lockout year. Pretty consistent numbers throughout his career. If you lock him up for 6 or 7 years it would be a safe bet he scores 30+ in at least half those years.

how many players are actually available in UFA that aren't duds - Brad Richards, that guy Toronto signed last year for way to much money, - you don't see elite players hit FA. They know they are getting paid so why risk going to FA, it's the players who's teams don't want them because they overvalue themselves that go to FA - Pouliot etc.

the real players get signed, they don't go to FA
- tuna99

That guy Toronto signed?! Clarkson was definitely an annomoly, but I think history has shown plenty of evidence that when any player of value (elite or not) wants a change of venue or can get more money on the free market he opts for free agency. Vanek and Stastny just to name two of the bigger names in the current off season. Two players that ulitmately had the power to choose where they wanted to play.

Here's just a few of last seasons UFA signings; Daniel Alfredsson, Andrew Ferrence, Nathan Horton, Rob Scuderi, Clark MacArthur, Stephen Weiss etc... etc...

Year before that you might remember a few names like Jaromir Jagr, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Matt Carle, Alexander Semin etc.. etc..

So you're theory doesn't exactly hold water.

That guy Toronto signed?! Clarkson was definitely an annomoly, but I think history has shown plenty of evidence that when any player of value (elite or not) wants a change of venue or can get more money on the free market he opts for free agency. Vanek and Stastny just to name two of the bigger names in the current off season. Two players that ulitmately had the power to choose where they wanted to play.

Here's just a few of last seasons UFA signings; Daniel Alfredsson, Andrew Ferrence, Nathan Horton, Rob Scuderi, Clark MacArthur, Stephen Weiss etc... etc...

Year before that you might remember a few names like Jaromir Jagr, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Matt Carle, Alexander Semin etc.. etc..

So you're theory doesn't exactly hold water.
- MnGump

Chara...

how many players are actually available in UFA that aren't duds - Brad Richards, that guy Toronto signed last year for way to much money, - you don't see elite players hit FA. They know they are getting paid so why risk going to FA, it's the players who's teams don't want them because they overvalue themselves that go to FA - Pouliot etc.

the real players get signed, they don't go to FA
- tuna99

That's a very valid point, as there's a certain quality of player that's literally never made available as a free agent. And when players approaching that quality actually do hit the UFA market, that's when you get crazy things like the Suter/Parise contract offers. But the real question isn't whether he'll get paid a lot of money, it's where he wants to play - and by all accounts, he's surprisingly happy to be playing in Ottawa right now. I think this is a more important factor than some people realize, particularly given how the last few years went for him in Anaheim.

That makes it sound worse than it really was...he got 57 points 3 years ago, was on pace for 56 last year, and was on pace for 54 the lockout year. Pretty consistent numbers throughout his career. If you lock him up for 6 or 7 years it would be a safe bet he scores 30+ in at least half those years.
- rangerdanger94

But is 55-60 points worth 7-8 million a year?

Here's just a few of last seasons UFA signings; Daniel Alfredsson, Andrew Ferrence, Nathan Horton, Rob Scuderi, Clark MacArthur, Stephen Weiss etc... etc...
Year before that you might remember a few names like Jaromir Jagr, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Matt Carle, Alexander Semin etc.. etc..
So you're theory doesn't exactly hold water.
- MnGump

Actually, it holds a lot of water because it's not a theory - the fact is, most of the best players in the NHL were never available as free agents, at least not in their prime years. Parise and Suter were the only 'top-line' quality players in their prime on that list, and they got two of the most insane contracts in the history of the league. The rest are either secondary players, or well past their prime. Now compare that list with the names of high-end players who have signed major long-term extensions and given up many of their best UFA years in the process, and you'll understand the difference in quality that's being alluded to.

That guy Toronto signed?! Clarkson was definitely an annomoly, but I think history has shown plenty of evidence that when any player of value (elite or not) wants a change of venue or can get more money on the free market he opts for free agency. Vanek and Stastny just to name two of the bigger names in the current off season. Two players that ulitmately had the power to choose where they wanted to play.

Here's just a few of last seasons UFA signings; Daniel Alfredsson, Andrew Ferrence, Nathan Horton, Rob Scuderi, Clark MacArthur, Stephen Weiss etc... etc...

Year before that you might remember a few names like Jaromir Jagr, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Matt Carle, Alexander Semin etc.. etc..

So you're theory doesn't exactly hold water.
- MnGump

i'm pretty sure his point was that VERY LARGE majority of star players, or even really good players, never hit UFA status. hell, you named only 2 star players IMO (parise and suter) and the rest are either old, overrated, or just that good to begin with. i think it would be more telling if you included the list of star players that COULD have hit free agency in those seasons, and chose to re-sign. that list would be HUGE. The only time big name players, in their prime, aren't extended is if they want to play somewhere else, or else their team doesn't want them anymore.

that's obviously a possibility with ryan. he may very well want to play for a different team. but i very much doubt it will be because he thinks he'll get much more than what ottawa is offering.

But is 55-60 points worth 7-8 million a year?
- ClarksonDavid

In today's NHL, yes.

In today's NHL, yes. Look at what Callahan, Dubinsky, Pouliot, Kulemin, Grabovski, etc. all signed for. Ryan is better than all of them.

Surprised nobody has raised the possibility that either Anderson or Lehner is traded before the deadline.

I would include Lehner in a deal for Evander Kane.

Mast people think he is the goaltender of the future for Ottawa. I am not nearly as confident.

But is 55-60 points worth 7-8 million a year?
- ClarksonDavid

points aren't everything. toews is a 65pt player, who makes 10.5mil. not saying ryan is as good as toews, he obviously isn't. but if toews can make 10.5, then ryan can make 7.

also important to note that ryan played most of the season with a friggin hernia. he's a legit top line winger, and will be paid like one.......and by that i mean a top line winger, signing under the new CBA with a rising salary cap.

points aren't everything. toews is a 65pt player, who makes 10.5mil. not saying ryan is as good as toews, he obviously isn't. but if toews can make 10.5, then ryan can make 7.

also important to note that ryan played most of the season with a friggin hernia. he's a legit top line winger, and will be paid like one.......and by that i mean a top line winger, signing under the new CBA with a rising salary cap.
- sensarmy_11

Good point.

I have no difficulty with Bobby Ryan getting big dollars. My problem is term. 8 years is a long time. I would be happy to see them give him $10.5m for three years. But players want the term.

But is 55-60 points worth 7-8 million a year?
- ClarksonDavid

I think it is if the team isn't winning.
Let me rephrase that: I agree with you but...
Players generally take pay cuts to win and charge more to lose...
Couple that with a cheapskate owner = not looking good

Travis Yost: Anderson Extended
- Travis Yost

Another great Signing/extension by the Sens! First MacArthur, now Anderson. Next up is Mark Methot & Bobby Ryan

Anderson who turned 33 early this summer still has lots left in the tank. He is the ideal candidate to mentor Robin Lehner who will eventually take over the #1 starting job from Andy.

I think Sens Managment made it loud & clear that they want strength in the goaltending depatment moving forward with a #1A - #1B goalie tandem.

In his 4 seasons here he's went .939, .914, .941, .911. quite impressive bargain for a $3.1 mill cap hit.

I see him coming in around .920 this season playing around 50 games IMO..

With Ottawa/Melnyk showing they are willing to retain quality assets this summer, It's looking more promising that we will re-up Ryan to a long term deal. hopefully before training camp.

That guy Toronto signed?! Clarkson was definitely an annomoly, but I think history has shown plenty of evidence that when any player of value (elite or not) wants a change of venue or can get more money on the free market he opts for free agency. Vanek and Stastny just to name two of the bigger names in the current off season. Two players that ulitmately had the power to choose where they wanted to play.

Here's just a few of last seasons UFA signings; Daniel Alfredsson, Andrew Ferrence, Nathan Horton, Rob Scuderi, Clark MacArthur, Stephen Weiss etc... etc...

Year before that you might remember a few names like Jaromir Jagr, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Matt Carle, Alexander Semin etc.. etc..

So you're theory doesn't exactly hold water.
- MnGump

Out of all of these names there is only 1 elite player - Ryan Suter. Zach Parise is another good player but for all 350 players in the league you have 1 name in the last 5 years who was worth signing - Suter.

The rest are just names - guys who are old, overvalued or completely useless. Semin - this guy is maybe the owrst FA signing in the last 5 years. Rob Scuderi is still in the league?

So my theory holds true - maybe 1 elite player every 5 years

points aren't everything. toews is a 65pt player, who makes 10.5mil. not saying ryan is as good as toews, he obviously isn't. but if toews can make 10.5, then ryan can make 7.

also important to note that ryan played most of the season with a friggin hernia. he's a legit top line winger, and will be paid like one.......and by that i mean a top line winger, signing under the new CBA with a rising salary cap.
- sensarmy_11

I agree with your general point about Ryan, but Toews is not a 65pt player. He has 440pts in 484GP in his career, which works out to just under 75pts/year, he's never had a year where he wasn't on pace for at least 69pts, and the only 2 years it was that low were years he couldn't legally drink in the United States.

Which leads to the obvious conclusion that alcohol makes you score more points.