Jared Crozier: Game Day Thoughts - Sens vs Jets; Is 8 D Too Many?; Byran Murray - Genius? Ottawa vs Winnipeg Game Day thoughts; Looking at the glut of blueliners and why Borowiecki's contract extension might have had dual purpose

first .... early bird getas the worm......

I dont think they are trying to suck up to Ryan, rather they want to see how he would work with Zibby and Chiasson. If that can work, they would have a great 1A/1B pair of lines. If not, they revert back to MacArthur/Turris/Ryan .....

WRT the 8 D-men they have ..... well technically 7 with Methot out for the forseeable future ..... While I agree that Ceci should be a really good defenseman, I dont want to see them rush him in too fast. I would hate to see him struggle and then get sent down - that would be a blow to his confidence more so than being sent down now.

I would not be surprised, nor p!ssed off if he goes to Bingo for the start of the season (like Karlsson did) and then comes up part way through. 1L minutes in Bingo where he could excel, rather than 'get by' in the NHL might not be a bad idea.

I agree that 8 is too many.

i think the obvious man out should be gryba. i have nothing against him, he's a serviceable bottom pairing d-man, but the fact is that he'll never be more than that. He's relatively old (27 i believe) so he's not likely to get any better. there are younger guys who bring as much if not more than he does, and who still have room to develop. I think you could waive gryba and someone would take him. he's an nhl calibre d-man, has little to no value in a trade (unless he's packaged with anohter asset), but a team looking for d-men could take him. it doesn't hurt ottawa short or long term to lose him for nothing, they have plenty of other young guys who could come up in case of injury (claessen, sdao, grant, wideman, etc).

at the same time, perhaps it's time to move methot. i think he's a good player, but he's not worth the contract he's asking for, and he seems unwilling to move off of his asking price. he could fetch a decent return in a trade, especially if we add anohter asset (condra, prince or another decent prospect who looks to have no chance of playign here in the near future).

so, move methot for a forward, waive gryba, keep claessen

karlsson - claessen
cowen - weircioch
ceci - phillips
boro

very young, and might have a rough year (probably won't be a great year anyways) but would help with development and probably be beneficial long term.

first .... early bird getas the worm......
- GadesnSens

took me too long to write my post

Have to disagree signing Boro was a "genius" move. He just becomes another mediocre player that is taking ice time away from guys who deserve it more. That notion can be used in the AHL too. Why is it a bad thing he would get claimed by another team through waivers? Tired of this team signing guys that have very little to offer this squad both at the NHL and AHL levels. Guys like Greening, Gryba, Boro, Phillips, etc getting extensions, purely because it's convenient for everyone, is ludicrous.

Have to disagree signing Boro was a "genius" move. He just becomes another mediocre player that is taking ice time away from guys who deserve it more. That notion can be used in the AHL too. Why is it a bad thing he would get claimed by another team through waivers? Tired of this team signing guys that have very little to offer this squad both at the NHL and AHL levels. Guys like Greening, Gryba, Boro, Phillips, etc getting extensions, purely because it's convenient for everyone, is ludicrous.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

He is a solid depth guy who brings something that the team lacks - a mean streak. Is he ready now? I am not sure, and would lean toward "no". He is still a project and having him in the system is a good thing. You can't lose assets for nothing, and if a trade happens it is Boro and Claesson that are the depth that could be needed at any point.

He is a solid depth guy who brings something that the team lacks - a mean streak. Is he ready now? I am not sure, and would lean toward "no". He is still a project and having him in the system is a good thing. You can't lose assets for nothing, and if a trade happens it is Boro and Claesson that are the depth that could be needed at any point.
- JaredCrozier

He has some value, but he is an easily replaceable d-man who doesn't have a high potential ceiling. I can't see the Sens dealing a NHL roster d-man and not getting one back in return. Our forward group is crowed enough as it is. To me, Boro just doesn't have a place on this team going forward. A guy like Claesson who has shown steady improvement the last couple of seasons, has much more usefulness.

I think the Ryan thing is to try him on Zibanejad's left side. He played with this line over the weekend at fanfest and probably wants to see them in game action. If we do go with a 1A/1B format this would be the most blanced line combos I'm thinking:

MacArthur-Turris-Stone
Ryan-Zibanejad-Chiasson
Michalek-Legwand-Lazar (at least for 9 games)
Hoffman-Smith-Neil
ext: Greening, Condra

Also, with Methot currently injured he may start on the IR which means we would keep the 7D we currently have, gives time for Weircioch & Cowen to prove their worth in the NHL. And we can balance out a puck moving D with a shutdown guy, although Phillips might be seeing close to Top 4 minutes.

Cowen-Karlsson
Phillips-Ceci
Weircioch-Gryba
Borowiecki

Unless Cowen & Weircioch improve from last season that looks scary without Methot.

Also, with Methot currently injured he may start on the IR which means we would keep the 7D we currently have, gives time for Weircioch & Cowen to prove their worth in the NHL. And we can balance out a puck moving D with a shutdown guy, although Phillips might be seeing close to Top 4 minutes.

Cowen-Karlsson
Phillips-Ceci
Weircioch-Gryba
Borowiecki

Unless Cowen & Weircioch improve from last season that looks scary without Methot.
- PaskySens

do people not realize that, other than a slow start (first 20-25 games) wiercioch was probably the 3rd best d-man on our team......hell, you could even argue that he might have been better than methot last year.

if wiercioch plays like he did the second half of last year, he'll be more than fine.

do people not realize that, other than a slow start (first 20-25 games) wiercioch was probably the 3rd best d-man on our team......hell, you could even argue that he might have been better than methot last year.

if wiercioch plays like he did the second half of last year, he'll be more than fine.
- sensarmy_11

I legit have trouble remembering his play. Most likely since he spent the majority of the season in the press box

I legit have trouble remembering his play. Most likely since he spent the majority of the season in the press box
- david22

he was in the lineup pretty consistently the second half of the year.....and played very well. ended up with 23pts in 53 games, respectable +/- (given the actual team), and i believe despite a horrible start was actually close to being a positive possession player (he might have actually been a positive player, not 100% sure)

do people not realize that, other than a slow start (first 20-25 games) wiercioch was probably the 3rd best d-man on our team......hell, you could even argue that he might have been better than methot last year.

if wiercioch plays like he did the second half of last year, he'll be more than fine.
- sensarmy_11

stoked for the last 2 preseason games, sens habs. Slowly becoming in the realm of excitement the habs bruins garner! sensarmy, another fun bet this year on who finishes higher in the standings? i think you won last years bet, but im not sure if we bet on subban vs karlsson or whether the habs vs sens who would finish higher in the standings.

That said that d core looks rough. Are people in ott REALLY that stoked on ryan staying long term? With all the great talent in the farm, would it not be logical to part ways with ryan and use the money/ potential trade to acquire a top pairing d for karlsson?

stoked for the last 2 preseason games, sens habs. Slowly becoming in the realm of excitement the habs bruins garner! sensarmy, another fun bet this year on who finishes higher in the standings? i think you won last years bet, but im not sure if we bet on subban vs karlsson or whether the habs vs sens who would finish higher in the standings.

That said that d core looks rough. Are people in ott REALLY that stoked on ryan staying long term? With all the great talent in the farm, would it not be logical to part ways with ryan and use the money/ potential trade to acquire a top pairing d for karlsson?
- munky123

Ryan IS a legitimate goal scorer at the NHL level. Ottawa has nobody else who currently provides that, only guys who have the potential to. ottawa has some guys who can/will develop into potential partners for karlsson (ceci, cowen, claessen), no need to move ryan.

as for a bet, i'm not stupid enough to think the sens will finish ahead of the habs this year. i'm down for a karlsson vs subban bet though

Is the game televised?

Why is everyone in such a rush to ship players out of Ottawa or put them on waivers - our depth is our greatest asset right now (excluding EK)

Ottawa has finally built up it's depth to a point where we can withstand injuries and go an entire season not having to worry about our depth. This has been the Murray's focus since BM took over and now that we are there people want to let these go free on waivers or trade them for low draft picks.

Keep all these players - EK got sent down in his rookie year to Bingo and I imagine at some point Ceci will be reassigned for 1 month to spread the games out between Gryba and Weircoche if there are no injuries. Didn't seem to hurt EK and it won't hurt Ceci either.

It's pre season and already our #2 Dman is injured as is Condra, Ryan had some bumps - let's keep all these players, our depth is our greatest asset.

The game gonna be televised? Anyone know?

Is the game televised?
- david22

lol didnt see this

and it looks as tho i is televised, at least it will be streamed

lol didnt see this

and it looks as tho i is televised, at least it will be streamed
- since93

Dammit Towlie!

Why is everyone in such a rush to ship players out of Ottawa or put them on waivers - our depth is our greatest asset right now (excluding EK)

Ottawa has finally built up it's depth to a point where we can withstand injuries and go an entire season not having to worry about our depth. This has been the Murray's focus since BM took over and now that we are there people want to let these go free on waivers or trade them for low draft picks.

Keep all these players - EK got sent down in his rookie year to Bingo and I imagine at some point Ceci will be reassigned for 1 month to spread the games out between Gryba and Weircoche if there are no injuries. Didn't seem to hurt EK and it won't hurt Ceci either.

It's pre season and already our #2 Dman is injured as is Condra, Ryan had some bumps - let's keep all these players, our depth is our greatest asset.
- tuna99

depth is a good thing, but the problem is that ottawa has too many mediocre/average players on 1-way deals, that are holding back better/younger players from getting the ice time they need and deserve. should greening be playing over hoffman or pageau.....should gryba be playing over weircioch or claessen.....should neil or phillips be playing over ANYONE.

if the players on 1-way deals were better than the "depth" waiting in the wings, then no problem.....but that's not the case here.

Don't understand the logic of breaking up our only good line from last year just to put stone on the top line because frankly he isn't ready for that role.

Isn't that how we lost heatley?

depth is a good thing, but the problem is that ottawa has too many mediocre/average players on 1-way deals, that are holding back better/younger players from getting the ice time they need and deserve. should greening be playing over hoffman or pageau.....should gryba be playing over weircioch or claessen.....should neil or phillips be playing over ANYONE.

if the players on 1-way deals were better than the "depth" waiting in the wings, then no problem.....but that's not the case here.
- sensarmy_11

I think Ottawa is now faced with a challenge regarding Phillips and Neil. They are the only true 'franchise' players that they have. They're important due to their affiliation with the city and franchise, not to the actual team itself. Given the mistakes they made with Alfredsson and to a lesser degree Spezza- I think they need to tread carefully with guys like Neil and Phillips. At least this year.

Your point is well taken though- neither of these guys are big contributors to the team anymore, and their spots could be far more effectively filled with younger, faster, hungrier players.

I think Ottawa is now faced with a challenge regarding Phillips and Neil. They are the only true 'franchise' players that they have. They're important due to their affiliation with the city and franchise, not to the actual team itself. Given the mistakes they made with Alfredsson and to a lesser degree Spezza- I think they need to tread carefully with guys like Neil and Phillips. At least this year.

Your point is well taken though- neither of these guys are big contributors to the team anymore, and their spots could be far more effectively filled with younger, faster, hungrier players.
- Jordo

that, IMO, is the biggest difference between losing spezza and alfi, and the possibility of no longer having neil and phillips.

spezza and alfi were legit top six players, and still brought a ton of production to the team.

neil and phillips are barely NHL calibre players.....in fact you could argue that they aren't NHL calibre anymore, since we EASILY have 6 D and 12 F that are better than they are (and i'm sure 29 other teams do as well).

it's nice that they've been with the team a long time, but ottawa is spending around 5 mil (which is just shy of 10% of their internal budget) on 2 players who, on the ice, are completely useless. that's not acceptable.

Don't understand the logic of breaking up our only good line from last year just to put stone on the top line because frankly he isn't ready for that role.

Isn't that how we lost heatley?
- karlsson

Spread out the offense. Keep the duos together and add complementary pieces. I personally think this is our most effective and potent lineup, given the pieces we currently have:


1A - MacArthur - Turris - Chiasson
1B - Michalek - Zibanejad - Ryan
3 - Puempel / Hoffman - Legwand - Lazar
4 - Stone - Smith - Condra

In the wings: Hoffman/Puempel , Neil, Greening

1- Karlsson, Methot
2- Cowen, Ceci
3- Boro, Wiercioch

In the wings: Phillips, Gryba

Why is everyone in such a rush to ship players out of Ottawa or put them on waivers - our depth is our greatest asset right now (excluding EK)

Ottawa has finally built up it's depth to a point where we can withstand injuries and go an entire season not having to worry about our depth. This has been the Murray's focus since BM took over and now that we are there people want to let these go free on waivers or trade them for low draft picks.

Keep all these players - EK got sent down in his rookie year to Bingo and I imagine at some point Ceci will be reassigned for 1 month to spread the games out between Gryba and Weircoche if there are no injuries. Didn't seem to hurt EK and it won't hurt Ceci either.

It's pre season and already our #2 Dman is injured as is Condra, Ryan had some bumps - let's keep all these players, our depth is our greatest asset.
- tuna99

Having lots of players doesn't mean you have good depth, see : Maple Leafs, Toronto

Im guessing Grbya will get traded and our lines look something like

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Weircioch
Phillips-Ceci

Gryba traded and Borocop as the 7th Dman OR Gryba stays as the 7th Dman while Borocop clears waivers and plays in the AHL until injury an injury call up brings him back.