would have made a lot more sense to do before the expansion draft.

at least they would still have mehot.
- Tumbleweed

Doubt that Vegas would have taken Dions contract on at 7M. But at 5.25, sure seems a lot more appealing. As for Methot.....He was traded for just a 3rd rounder. Ottawa could have stepped up and just given up their 3rd to get him back. Many teams were hit way harder than that at the expansion.

Doubt that Vegas would have taken Dions contract on at 7M. But at 5.25, sure seems a lot more appealing. As for Methot.....He was traded for just a 3rd rounder. Ottawa could have stepped up and just given up their 3rd to get him back. Many teams were hit way harder than that at the expansion.
- bikeguy99

karlsson is sure missing methot

Doubt that Vegas would have taken Dions contract on at 7M. But at 5.25, sure seems a lot more appealing. As for Methot.....He was traded for just a 3rd rounder. Ottawa could have stepped up and just given up their 3rd to get him back. Many teams were hit way harder than that at the expansion.
- bikeguy99

IIRC, that’s what pissed off Sens fans.

If Dion had just agreed to being left exposed, Vegas would have not selected him.

Pha9 said no.

karlsson is sure missing methot
- Tumbleweed

I know there is a lot of talk about Karlsson being meh this year, but the dude is still top 10 in scoring for dmen.

I know there is a lot of talk about Karlsson being meh this year, but the dude is still top 10 in scoring for dmen.
- Atomic Wedgie

i hear ya.

and he was easy to walk around in years past too. i think methot and better goaltending covered that up.

so on a team with actual nhl players, he would flourish again.

It's actually not as tough as you've stated. Already gave my reasoning.

Next year is indeed up in the air, depending on a bunch of factors. Karlsson is at the center of that, and we won't know his likelihood to sign until July. Hope PD refuses to listen to anything but fantastic offers. Otherwise focus should be on signing him, or even a sign-and-trade.
- sportsdataguy

For me, resigning Karlsson is the scariest option. He's been bad this season, let's be honest about that. That's almost certainly a result of his last injury but you have to consider the possibility that his ankle may never be good enough to allow him to play the way he used to. The problem is that if Dorion is going to resign him it probably has to happen before the start of next season, and that's not enough time to know if he can rebound. If this is the Erik Karlsson we're going to see going forward, and Ottawa locks him up for 8 x 11-12M then they're long term (frank)ed. I'd take the best trade available at the draft.

I know there is a lot of talk about Karlsson being meh this year, but the dude is still top 10 in scoring for dmen.
- Atomic Wedgie

Even 70% of Karlsson is still top 10. Still unsure how much of it is the injury vs. lack of effort given the team's state.

Also gotta wonder if that enters discussions this July.

For me, resigning Karlsson is the scariest option. He's been bad this season, let's be honest about that. That's almost certainly a result of his last injury but you have to consider the possibility that his ankle may never be good enough to allow him to play the way he used to. The problem is that if Dorion is going to resign him it probably has to happen before the start of next season, and that's not enough time to know if he can rebound. If this is the Erik Karlsson we're going to see going forward, and Ottawa locks him up for 8 x 11-12M then they're long term (frank)ed. I'd take the best trade available at the draft.
- Jeffmt

It depends. If it's a low-ball deal, I'd sign him anyway. At least then you have more time to get suitable offers.

Very difficult to tell how much is injury vs the rest of the team. He's spent a lot of his TOI defending in his own zone w/o much help.

It depends. If it's a low-ball deal, I'd sign him anyway. At least then you have more time to get suitable offers.

Very difficult to tell how much is injury vs the rest of the team. He's spent a lot of his TOI defending in his own zone w/o much help.
- sportsdataguy

But if you sign him anyway and his play doesn't improve then there's no chance you'll ever move him. The only reason you'll get a decent return now is because some GMs are willing to bet that he's going to rebound. If you're trying to peddle this version of Erik Karlsson next season but with an 8 year mega contract attached, good luck.

But if you sign him anyway and his play doesn't improve then there's no chance you'll ever move him. The only reason you'll get a decent return now is because some GMs are willing to bet that he's going to rebound. If you're trying to peddle this version of Erik Karlsson next season but with an 8 year mega contract attached, good luck.
- Jeffmt

It's somewhat of a gamble, sure. It's why I'd prefer PD had a chance to talk to him first before blindly accepting a lowball offer.

But if you sign him anyway and his play doesn't improve then there's no chance you'll ever move him. The only reason you'll get a decent return now is because some GMs are willing to bet that he's going to rebound. If you're trying to peddle this version of Erik Karlsson next season but with an 8 year mega contract attached, good luck.
- Jeffmt

This whole argument is just plain nuts!




Karlsson should be a Senator for life. Do you trade Sid when he has an off year? Would you trade Matthews if he was down one year?

Let's get real.

They have 4 good to great player(s)....one being great but under performing...or still injured.
Hardly a great team...even on paper.
Leafs werent a great team in 2014 either.
- Fakepartofme

I agree we're still not a great team but I think what he was trying to say is that we have great pieces on paper (i.e. True #1 elite defenceman in Karlsson, true #1 center in Duchene, "elite" scoring winger in Hoffman (notice quotations - case is still out on his elite status) and an elite two way forward in Stone)

Obviously, this can be argued but I do think if they find a way to add a consistent goalie it is a great foundation of a great team

This whole argument is just plain nuts!




Karlsson should be a Senator for life. Do you trade Sid when he has an off year? Would you trade Matthews if he was down one year?

Let's get real.
- Storman

Exactly this is the same as all of the people who said Sid should have been traded after his injury issues around 2010-2013. He came back and has led his team to back to back cups, why would we trade Karlsson when no one knows his potential?

I agree we're still not a great team but I think what he was trying to say is that we have great pieces on paper (i.e. True #1 elite defenceman in Karlsson, true #1 center in Duchene, "elite" scoring winger in Hoffman (notice quotations - case is still out on his elite status) and an elite two way forward in Stone)

Obviously, this can be argued but I do think if they find a way to add a consistent goalie it is a great foundation of a great team
- tryhard

Wouldn't both Anderson and Condon look a lot better if they didn't have to face 40+ shots every game?

This whole argument is just plain nuts!




Karlsson should be a Senator for life. Do you trade Sid when he has an off year? Would you trade Matthews if he was down one year?

Let's get real.
- Storman

The fact that you're willing to bet $100M over 8 years that it's just an off year is what's nuts. Crosby has never been in a situation like this. If Matthews had a bad year following a catastrophic injury with a new contract coming up, you're damn right I'd look at trading him. If Ottawa signs this guy to 8 x 12 and he's never any better than this, they're (frank)ed, that's a fact.

Karlsson himself said that the doctor took out half of his ankle bone and, shocker, he hasn't been able to skate like he used to. How can you possibly know that this is just an off year?

The fact that you're willing to bet $100M over 8 years that it's just an off year is what's nuts. Crosby has never been in a situation like this. If Matthews had a bad year following a catastrophic injury with a new contract coming up, you're damn right I'd look at trading him. If Ottawa signs this guy to 8 x 12 and he's never any better than this, they're (frank)ed, that's a fact.

Karlsson himself said that the doctor took out half of his ankle bone and, shocker, he hasn't been able to skate like he used to. How can you possibly know that this is just an off year?
- Jeffmt

So should the Leafs try to get him if he becomes available?

This whole argument is just plain nuts!




Karlsson should be a Senator for life. Do you trade Sid when he has an off year? Would you trade Matthews if he was down one year?

Let's get real.
- Storman

There's a fairly large section of Kings fans (at least the one active in the blog comments on HB & LAKI) that think that the Kings should trade Doughty this offseason so they don't have to pay him "Kopitar money." I want to reach through the screen and strangle every one of them.

There's a fairly large section of Kings fans (at least the one active in the blog comments on HB & LAKI) that think that the Kings should trade Doughty this offseason so they don't have to pay him "Kopitar money." I want to reach through the screen and strangle every one of them.
- tkecanuck341

I think it's mainly the nature and severity of Karlsson's injury that has some (including me) second-guessing. I'd prefer they sign him, and definitely do NOT want them to just accept a stupid trade out of pressure. But for the right offer ..

So should the Leafs try to get him if he becomes available?
- Storman

Nope

Nope
- Jeffmt

They should just stick with what they've got.

Reading all the posts here inspired me to send this https://youtu.be/xYz_jsk7o14

If the trend sticks, any NHL player unless very elite over the age of 30 is a liability .No team can have them on the books past 30 for more then 2-3 mill per year. What will the result of all this be....time will tell but could result in just a grind factory ,churn them in and out quick

If the trend sticks, any NHL player unless very elite over the age of 30 is a liability .No team can have them on the books past 30 for more then 2-3 mill per year. What will the result of all this be....time will tell but could result in just a grind factory ,churn them in and out quick
- spazzbot

I've said a few times that the NHL should put a limit on max contracts of 3-5 years.

That way...

Owners aren't stuck with bad contracts
Players can make more if they work for it
It would make the trade deadline way more exciting

I've said a few times that the NHL should put a limit on max contracts of 3-5 years.

That way...

Owners aren't stuck with bad contracts
Players can make more if they work for it
It would make the trade deadline way more exciting
- Maverick1818

I think your bang on the money,maybe even 4 years nowadays. I think right now teams can only allocate so much percentage of the entire payroll to 1 player ,so that might need to increase

Since the two groups of people will never agree, I figured I would throw in my two cents as an actual Sens Fan.(Those being the trolls that will trash anything that OTT does regardless of whether it completely contradicts prior opinions), and those who actually care about the team and just want to see them succeed long term)

The Phaneuf trade which brought him to Ottawa was good for TOR and OTT because TOR needed to get worse and complete the tank for Matthews, and OTT wanted to get rid of some plugs and improve. *Mission accomplished, TOR shockingly won the Matthews lottery and has seen an upswing with their high picks, and there is 0% chance that OTT makes it to within 1 goal of the SCF without the Phaneuf trade.

That said, he was a super classy guy that the team and city will miss, it is kind of funny how he went from being "untradeable", "worst contract in the league" to "Ottawa got robbed" etc. OTT needed to move him to get younger and free up some $$ for upcoming raises/resigns (hopefully) I think he will do really well in LA playing with Not-Ceci.
the end result won't be known until we see what happens with Gaborik, but if he gets flipped, LTIR or bought out, than PD gets a checkmark. (Not to mention that he was able to undo his stupid Nate Thompson signing, if he can do it with Burrows he can also be promoted to Head of Ticket Sales, if he is not already being forced to do that job too.