|
For some reason my post didn't go through from my phone.
Essentially – good points raised in this thread – with respect team spending, the goaltending, and ofcourse the team’s lack of star power. The rebuild started in 2011 – which saw Fisher, Kovalev, Kelly, Ruutu, traded – all for picks, but Elliot was traded for Anderson. The Sens actually had a winning record with Anderson which would be the start of a common theme for the Sens; overachievement.
Instead of falling to the bottom and drafting a Landeskog or Huberdeau the got Zibanejad; not a bad piece but again a theme of drafting outside the top 5 (something the Sens will do for the 15th straight season this year). Making the playoffs in years 1, 2, & 4 of the 5 year rebuild was something few would have predicted. It also results in the Sens lacking any star forward and a #1 goalie that hits 35 in a month.
Team spending isn’t the issue in my opinion; but rather where the money is being spent. Ryan a 7.25M cap hit; only 21 bigger cap hits in the NHL. Ryan is not the 22nd best in the NHL; ironically he scored 22 goals this season (also his average in Ottawa); he hasn’t hit 25 goals with us yet. Zack Smith, a 1.9M cap hit, just did. Phanuef has now been added, which you can say is a great hockey deal, but it’s still 7M of cap space for a guy who is 31.5 when the season starts; with 5 more years! Add MacArthur, that’s $19M for a 2nd line RW, Top 4D, and a questionable 2nd line LW.
What’s the solution? This team talks the talk of building a contender but walks the walk of a team looking to make the playoffs and collect the revenue. When you look at the deals that have gone since 2012 the results look really odd – OUT – Spezza, Greening, Michalek, Bishop, Rundbland, Cowen, Lehner, 10th overall, Noesen, Silfverberg, 2nd rounder – IN – Paul, 2nd rounder, Chiasson, Ryan, Phanuef, Turris, 21st overall. I think overall I’d take our package but only because of what the picks turned out to be. They solution is looking at moving Ryan. I'd lean towards resigning Hoffman but only if you believe he's committed; only can tell from inside. Need upgrade through trade; Chabot or White on table |
