It's funny we didn't hear your negativity very much during the playoffs. You turned a corner? Whether you want to admit it or not, Ellerby does have value around the league and it would be foolish to simply waive him. If he doesn't sign an extension I'm sure another team will send an offer sheet his way, especially with how inexpensive he would be. Tallon is all about acquiring picks so any compensation for losing him as an RFA is better than nothing.
- spiegs13

its funny you werent complaining or saying anything about the refs when they missed or messed up calls for the devils

i mean if your talking about the playoffs and opened up the refs can of worms

*now it doesnt matter

Ellerby won't be waived.. that's stupid. There are plenty of systems in the NHL who would LOVE a 23 year old 6'5 220lb frame like Ellerby's. He just doesn't fit into what we are doing. And if you are all worried about Weaver and Jovo, I say don't be. Via trade or free agency, we can certainly do better. I think Garrison will be re-signed, however I worry about Kulikov not coming back. Think about it, Strachan was signed to a one year deal for a reason. SOMEONE isn't coming back. Kulikov is an RFA, and I think Tallon is banking on a big offer sheet to come his way. When it does, Tallon won't match it, and collect the draft picks and/or money that come along with the offer sheet. It's a smart play. Kulikov's game is full of holes, and Ellerby's is no better. With Gudbranson, Petrovic, Robak, and Strachan still coming up, both Kulikov and Ellerby are expendable.

Tallon will make some smart money moves this off season. We can already rattle off about 5 names of players who won't be back, shedding some good money. A good scorer, maybe a d-man or two depending on what happens with our guys, and we'll be fine.

Ellerby won't be waived.. that's stupid. There are plenty of systems in the NHL who would LOVE a 23 year old 6'5 220lb frame like Ellerby's. He just doesn't fit into what we are doing. And if you are all worried about Weaver and Jovo, I say don't be. Via trade or free agency, we can certainly do better. I think Garrison will be re-signed, however I worry about Kulikov not coming back. Think about it, Strachan was signed to a one year deal for a reason. SOMEONE isn't coming back. Kulikov is an RFA, and I think Tallon is banking on a big offer sheet to come his way. When it does, Tallon won't match it, and collect the draft picks and/or money that come along with the offer sheet. It's a smart play. Kulikov's game is full of holes, and Ellerby's is no better. With Gudbranson, Petrovic, Robak, and Strachan still coming up, both Kulikov and Ellerby are expendable.

Tallon will make some smart money moves this off season. We can already rattle off about 5 names of players who won't be back, shedding some good money. A good scorer, maybe a d-man or two depending on what happens with our guys, and we'll be fine.
- Panthers88

It is rarer than an albino tiger for an NHL GM to give an offer sheet to an RFA and I highly, highly doubt that will occur for Kulikov. As for Garrison, there was an interesting discussion over on the Senators blog about him and whether the Sens were interested (in fact I think you participated there), and the general consensus is that Garrison is going to want a term of years at over 4 million a year, and probably more like 5 million. Now put that together with what we know about Tallon, does he like spending big money and long contracts on unknown commodities? Because with only one great season under him, and much of that admittedly coming from who he was paired with, I don't see Tallon taking a 4+ million dollar gamble there when Kuli will be cheaper and is younger and is scouted as having more upside potential.

I agree, Strachan was signed because one of these guys will be gone, but I don't think it will be Kuli (although he'd bring more return in a trade as other franchises salivate over him). And as for replacing Jovo or Weaver via free agency when the time comes, free agent D-men are vastly overpriced, so Tallon will hold on to all the youth at that position he can get away with. Whether Ellerby is in that equation or not is the question right now, and the answer is all dependent on Garrison and Kulikov.

I'd like to see Ellerby play in Mtl alongside cousin Carey. Wonder if Montreal could part with a disappointing prospect for him?

Keaton Ellerby simply is not all-around quick enough to make defensive plays. When I was a lad, the NHL defenseman like Carl Brewer didn't enter the league as top two pairings until they were 27-29 years old. By that time they had seen lots of attacking forwards and knew how to play plays against them.

The kid wanted to play, and not playing somehwere certainly stifles the chances of experience to improve.

The AHL is there to bring these type guys along slowly, and give them ample opportunity to get better feet. Dylan Olsen of Rockfoird Icehogs is another example where you see a bigger guy that needs to add but instinct and quickness, for all the times in games where turnovers cause quick transitions and the defender must be able to read, react and skate to get in the way/position to defend.