I agree with everything about both points (the d and league expansion) made here, but I think the point about the league suffering from expansion through talent dilution is not about whether current roster players on other teams are given up, but more about what happens in future draft years.

Imagine if the year of the Crosby draft there were 2 teams that entered the league (say Sacramento and Cleveland as examples, both have arenas, NBA teams to partner with and decent fanbase sizes). What would have happened to Pittsburgh if Crosby had gone to the Cleveland team instead? Would we consider him as elite as we do today after he did not get surrounded by players like Malkin, Fleury and Letang and would of had to do it all himself for the first few years?

The similar concern could play out next year with the McDavid draft. What if Ottawa craps the bed this year and decides to tank to get him, and we finish in dead last, but then Buttman decides to announce that instead of us getting the #1 pick under the lottery, we and Buffalo forfeit the top two picks to Seattle and Vegas. The competitiveness of our team gets affected for years to come as not only do we lose a future franchise player, but also the team we lost him to will continue to be a cellar dweller for years before rising up to be a hyper competitive team when the bulk of their prospects mature. Ottawa used this playbook throughout the mid 90s, picking up some pretty good NHL talent along the way when looked back on from their total time spent in Ottawa (Yashin and his trade return of Spezza, Chara, Daigle, Bonk, Berard/Redden, Phillips, Hossa, Havlat, Volchenkov).

I think the draft impacts are more where the concern comes from as a result.

Trade Weircioch, Gryba a few forward prospects (not lazar, zibanejad) and our 2015 1st (top 10 protected; becomes 2nd + 3rd then) for Alex Edler

Edler - Karlsson
Cowen - Methot
Phillips - Ceci

Something fishy is going on with this club. Check twitter for the latest. Could be looking like Euge bit the bullet and took on a partner.

That being said we all know what Twitter is like. Draw your own conclusions.

That being said we all know what Twitter is like. Draw your own conclusions.
- SeNsFaN0903

@allenpanzeri2: Here's the page from Frank Magazine on Ottawa Senators' owner Eugene Melnyk's new partner. http://t.co/7tYMsMphVY

I've never heard of that magazine...but Greenberg is pretty super loaded..so it's at least feasible from a money standpoint

otherwise who knows...probably crap...but would be nice to have some actual money...

Any rumours of Sens camp invites?

@allenpanzeri2: Here's the page from Frank Magazine on Ottawa Senators' owner Eugene Melnyk's new partner. http://t.co/7tYMsMphVY

I've never heard of that magazine...but Greenberg is pretty super loaded..so it's at least feasible from a money standpoint

otherwise who knows...probably crap...but would be nice to have some actual money...
- TheMike12

My exact thoughts. Would love for an injection of funds into the team but at this point feels too good to be true.

My exact thoughts. Would love for an injection of funds into the team but at this point feels too good to be true.
- SeNsFaN0903

The story was initially reported by Don Campbell (former reporter in Ottawa), and within about 30 minutes, Melnyk was on twitter making sarcastic comments and calling the rumours B.S., and calling Campbell out.

I think it's very telling that Melnyk got so defensive about the rumour. You'd think that if it was a baseless rumour, Melnyk would have just ignored it.

The story was initially reported by Don Campbell (former reporter in Ottawa), and within about 30 minutes, Melnyk was on twitter making sarcastic comments and calling the rumours B.S., and calling Campbell out.

I think it's very telling that Melnyk got so defensive about the rumour. You'd think that if it was a baseless rumour, Melnyk would have just ignored it.
- haywoodjablome

And yet if he would have ignored it completely and never responded then you would think there must be some truth to it otherwise he would have dismissed it.

Methot has also turned down an initial offer of 4 yrs, 18 million. Player and team still far apart.

Initial sticking point on Anderson deal was his request for a NTC, Sens weren't going to move on that, so Andy asked for money up front essentially securing his place with Sens for the first 2 years. The 3rd year with the lower salary would possibly entice a team to take a chance on him if the Sens were interested in moving him at that time.

SO if I am thinking about it with the guys we have...

I start with the bottom up...

so that means my two worst players are Phillips and Boro and they are both riding the pine in the press box...

My third pairing would be Cowen-Ceci. I still have faith in Cowen and think this will be a great year for him. Ceci I am still hesitant about. I mean he's only 20. It's going to be really difficult for his this season and probably the next one too. So I'd give him about 10-12 mins a night (or a little more if you give him PP time).

My second pairing I'd like to have two guys that punish the top line of the opposition so I'd go with Methot-Gryba and let them kill every forward that enters our zone.

My first pairing would be the one I would let loose and allow them to terrorize oppositions. That's why it'd have to be Weircioch-Karlsson. They may not be the greatest in their own zone I agree but they will more than make up for it in the neutral zone and the offensive zone and I think that will be a pairing that can really set the tone for the rest of the guys.

Just my $0.02

I am terrified of losing up and coming prospects and current roster players that may not be so easily replaced..

I don't remember how many of each position can be protected but you know they will want to protect at least

Lehner
Karlsson
Turris
MacArthur
Ryan
Zibanejad
Ceci
Lazar


If you have 2-4 teams drawing on expansion draft there are a lot of players that could disapear from the senators..
- corbechev

And Stone

Trade Weircioch, Gryba a few forward prospects (not lazar, zibanejad) and our 2015 1st (top 10 protected; becomes 2nd + 3rd then) for Alex Edler

Edler - Karlsson
Cowen - Methot
Phillips - Ceci
- AlfieisKing

Edler is good, but hes not worth Weircioch, Gryba, a few forward prospects plus a 2015 first round pick. Senators alone would have to think twice about trading their first round for Edler, espcially since they traded their first round pick 2014 to the Ducks.

And yet if he would have ignored it completely and never responded then you would think there must be some truth to it otherwise he would have dismissed it.
- SensHero

not at all.................someone who has as many followers and gets as many tweets sent to him as i'm sure melnyk does, probably ignores all the falsehoods and garbage, and probably only takes notice of tweets that hit close to home in terms of truth and relevance.

it's the same as when travis was writing blogs about melnyk's financial problems............melnyk denied it, called travis out personally, and it all ended up being true.

Methot has also turned down an initial offer of 4 yrs, 18 million. Player and team still far apart.

Initial sticking point on Anderson deal was his request for a NTC, Sens weren't going to move on that, so Andy asked for money up front essentially securing his place with Sens for the first 2 years. The 3rd year with the lower salary would possibly entice a team to take a chance on him if the Sens were interested in moving him at that time.
- SensHero

source?

Agreed, there would be no appreciable dilution of talent. There are a lot of NHL caliber players in the AHL right now, and also a large number of NHL caliber players in Europe playing on teams where they would fit a niche in the NHL, such as a 2LW or 2RW, but can't find a team because they wouldn't fit as a 3rd or 4th liner etc, etc....the last thing anyone needs to concern themselves with related to expansion is having the quality of hockey drop off.

Trade Weircioch, Gryba a few forward prospects (not lazar, zibanejad) and our 2015 1st (top 10 protected; becomes 2nd + 3rd then) for Alex Edler

Edler - Karlsson
Cowen - Methot
Phillips - Ceci
- AlfieisKing

in principal I agree with the notion of getting another top 2-3 defenseman, but we cannot give up the 1st rounder......

in principal I agree with the notion of getting another top 2-3 defenseman, but we cannot give up the 1st rounder......
- GadesnSens

Agreed. I'm not sure i'd even want to offer the 1st alone for Edler, let alone throw in Wiercioch (who is incredibly underrated on these boards), gryba, and a couple of other assets.

That's a massive overpayment for a guy coming off a terrible year.

The story was initially reported by Don Campbell (former reporter in Ottawa), and within about 30 minutes, Melnyk was on twitter making sarcastic comments and calling the rumours B.S., and calling Campbell out.

I think it's very telling that Melnyk got so defensive about the rumour. You'd think that if it was a baseless rumour, Melnyk would have just ignored it.
- haywoodjablome

Melnyk would not allow a story to perculate, whereby his cash flow is called into question. He's a competitive guy, with money being his gig.

That said, as I left TD Place last weekend after the RedBlacks game, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if OESG was involved with, or outright owned the Sens.

Based on what they have done with the RBs and Lansdowne park - I think it would be great

Melnyk would not allow a story to perculate, whereby his cash flow is called into question. He's a competitive guy, with money being his gig.

That said, as I left TD Place last weekend after the RedBlacks game, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if OESG was involved with, or outright owned the Sens.

Based on what they have done with the RBs and Lansdowne park - I think it would be great
- GadesnSens

At this point anyone with money is a step up from Melnyk. Hell, i think i'd even prefer that old guy who just sold the clippers.

I don't mind an owner being eccentric, beligerant, or even a giant bumhole, so long as he has money that he's willing to invest in the team.

been some good news around Ottawa so I;m happy Melnyk put this story to rest ASAP - let's try and enjoy this summer, it;s been pretty good so far and when Ryan and Methot get signed it'll be even better.

Actually, I would think it would help it...more local competition could drive better engagement for fans.
- PtotheY

That is one side of the coin.. The other, Ottawa losses some fan base to Quebec City.

You can protect 1 G, 5 D, and 9 F from your team, so we could protect (guessing at guys on 2017 roster):

Lehner

Karlsson Ceci
Weircioch Cowen
Claesson

Mac Turris Ryan
Stone Zibby Hoffman
Puempel Lazar Paul

which would likely be more than enough to keep the core together.
- TommyDeVito

I realize this is a speculative list, but I'm really at a loss as to why Alex Chiasson seems to be so consistently disrespected. I'd say it was because people haven't really gotten a real sense of the trade return for Spezza, but you're apparently already set to protect Nick Paul. Also, if there's a young defenceman not currently on the roster that's likely to be protected by then, I'd say Andreas Englund would be the most probable. The team already considers him to be a 1st round player they were able to pick up in the 2nd round, and even if Claesson makes the NHL it likely won't be as more than a #6/7 support defenceman.

I realize this is a speculative list, but I'm really at a loss as to why Alex Chiasson seems to be so consistently disrespected. I'd say it was because people haven't really gotten a real sense of the trade return for Spezza, but you're apparently already set to protect Nick Paul. Also, if there's a young defenceman not currently on the roster that's likely to be protected by then, I'd say Andreas Englund would be the most probable. The team already considers him to be a 1st round player they were able to pick up in the 2nd round, and even if Claesson makes the NHL it likely won't be as more than a #6/7 support defenceman.
- khawk

This was simply a accident on my part, he would definitely be in there over a few names on the list.

I don't agree on Claesson though, I think he's shown a lot in just one season here in the AHL - for a young player to put up the point totals he did and play shutdown defence in the AHL bodes extremely well for his NHL career - I don't think he'll be the next big thing, but he could well be a great replacement for Chris Phillips on the second pairing.

I don't agree on Claesson though, I think he's shown a lot in just one season here in the AHL - for a young player to put up the point totals he did and play shutdown defence in the AHL bodes extremely well for his NHL career - I don't think he'll be the next big thing, but he could well be a great replacement for Chris Phillips on the second pairing.
- TommyDeVito

Claesson's actually had two full AHL seasons, plus he and Wideman were the only defenceman to have played more than 70 games last year on the highest scoring team in the AHL... and Wideman had 51pts, while Claesson still only had 3 goals. Defensive defenceman can put up points (especially assists) in the AHL on a high-scoring team without it meaning much at the NHL level - case in point, Volchenkov scored 45pts in the AHL but is about as defensive-minded a player as they come. Even Gryba and Borowiecki have recently had 20pts seasons on less offensive-minded versions of the B-Sens, and that certainly hasn't made them any less one-dimensional at the NHL level. Claesson seems like a very responsible, defensively-aware player with a lot of maturity to his game - but without any kind of dynamic quality, he's far more likely to be little more than a supporting depth player.