Jared Crozier: Reflecting On The "Summer Of Pierre"

Brian Murray did the rebuild on a few teams. Shortly after leaving the teams became serious contenders. I think the Sens are in great shape and other than Tampa they will be as strong as any team in the east.

All great points and I agree with you that this team is better than in April.
The usual culprits are the biggest question marks (Bobby Ryan, Mac, depth/health) but I think this is a make or break season for Matt Puempel. He showed real promise as a prospect (ohl rookie of the year, 100 pt season). I think the talent is there and he has shown flashes, but it's at that point where he might be getting passed over. One of the reasons I don't think my they made that depth signing was to see what they have puempel and Paul on that left side. Here's to hoping he can have a Smith type season!

Brian Murray did the rebuild on a few teams. Shortly after leaving the teams became serious contenders. I think the Sens are in great shape and other than Tampa they will be as strong as any team in the east.
- spatso

Florida, Tampa, Washington and Pittsburgh are all in a different class.

And what do you think that Ottawa has added to lift them from 11th?

Florida, Tampa, Washington and Pittsburgh are all in a different class.

And what do you think that Ottawa has added to lift them from 11th?
- lumlums

Dude stop trolling. Ottawa is a contender.

One of the reasons I don't think my they made that depth signing was to see what they have puempel and Paul on that left side.
- toult

In addition to seeing where veterans like MacArthur and Smith are heading into the season, I think Dorion wants to know where the current group of NHL-ready prospects are at in their development. For Puempel this is pretty much his Hoffman/Prince season to prove that he can score consistently at the NHL level. I'd also suggest that Lazar will be given a chance to prove that he can step in and be more of an offensive producer before they go and invest in some kind of a band-aid scoring forward.

Dude stop trolling. Ottawa is a contender.
- Feds91Stammer

Signing Hoffman and Ceci to excellent deals was huge.

Trading Zibanejad was tough to see but watching him play in the junior tournaments and NHL, it's hard to imagine him developing in to a star of any kind. Given that it has been reported that he came into seasons unmotivated or seemingly out of shape more than once I think this trade is a solid bet.

Getting a credible and experienced coaching staff should help this team immensely, and adding Kelly's experience and leadership in Phillips' absence should be helpful.

Florida, Tampa, Washington and Pittsburgh are all in a different class.

And what do you think that Ottawa has added to lift them from 11th?

I think (hopefully) he was talking about the division and not the conference......if not then overlooking the president's trophy winners and cup winners is pretty stupid.

that being said, on paper, tampa is the clear front runner in the division, with montreal, florida, Detroit, and Ottawa being kind of a toss up.....I think whichever of those 3 teams that stays healthiest will emerge as the 2nd place team in the division.

I think buffalo is a wild card.....they have a crap load of talent, but their D is still m'eh and lehner is always a question mark in goal (his health and consistency have always been a concern).

I think the leafs are absolutely heading in the right direction, but I think they'll be out of the playoff race by Christmas.

as for what Ottawa has done to improve...............I think if they stay healthy they improve by default. last year we didn't have methot, turris, macarthur for very long stretches. add to that a full season of phaneuf........who yes is overpaid, but is LIGHT YEARS better than cowen and borowiecki (who were the ones playing in the top 4 before we got phaneuf). Ottawa's lineup for most of last year (with some line juggling)

Hoffman - zibby - ryan
smith - pageau - stone
chiasson - lazar - neil
dzingel - paul - puempel

karlsson - methot/cowen
ceci - boro/cowen
wideman - boro

this year it looks like

Hoffman - brassard - ryan
macarthur - turris - stone
smith - pageau - lazar
puempel - Kelly - neil

karlsson - methot
ceci - phaneuf
wideman - boro/englund

that's a much better looking lineup IMO.

they obviously aren't contenders, but if healthy, there is no reason that isn't a playoff team in the east.

This whole team will largely depend on 5-6 people. in a few years they could be successful, but you need these people to come through...

1/ If Erik Karlsson stays. Period.

2/ How Boucher implements a system that gets them at least as a 'competitive team' that battles for a playoff spot.

3/ Thomas Chabot developing into a bonafide Top 4

4/ Colin White first signing here, then developing into a top 6.

5/ Logan Brown developing into a top 6 player.

If they can get these 5 guys to all work in their favor, this team has a bright future. If not, it could be even darker days ahead. I think they will be in that battle for a 7-11 spot this year. They traded MZ knowing they had depth down the middle coming, so I would think there plan is to lean heavily on these 5 guys over the next several years.

This whole team will largely depend on 5-6 people. in a few years they could be successful, but you need these people to come through...

1/ If Erik Karlsson stays. Period.

2/ How Boucher implements a system that gets them at least as a 'competitive team' that battles for a playoff spot.

3/ Thomas Chabot developing into a bonafide Top 4

4/ Colin White first signing here, then developing into a top 6.

5/ Logan Brown developing into a top 6 player.

If they can get these 5 guys to all work in their favor, this team has a bright future. If not, it could be even darker days ahead. I think they will be in that battle for a 7-11 spot this year. They traded MZ knowing they had depth down the middle coming, so I would think there plan is to lean heavily on these 5 guys over the next several years.
- BodyCheckRadio

That's a lot of iffs. I could see numbers 2,3,4,5 happening, I could also see Karlsson leaving, which is super unfortunate...

I'm not sure how many star players would be willing to play for a GM who's not willing to go 100% all in.

That's a lot of iffs. I could see numbers 2,3,4,5 happening, I could also see Karlsson leaving, which is super unfortunate...

I'm not sure how many star players would be willing to play for a GM who's not willing to go 100% all in.
- DonaldDump

What makes you think that Karlsson would leave? Only based on better potential to win the cup elsewhere? That rarely happens these days because the league is quite competitive and its a crabshoot to guess which teams will be the best only 2 years ahead of time. Also, there is the captaincy lure that should keep him away from most teams that already have an estalblished captain. He's pretty much guaranteed captain material in Ottawa. Money? I don't think it will be an issue for Karlsson to get exactly the number he wants, the team knows they owe him big time.

Karlsson acutally loves the city of Ottawa. It would take something special or something to go horribly wrong for him to request a trade.

Coaching would be the only thing that might get in the way, but by all records, Boucher doesn't have a track record of being rude with his star players and appears to assign on ice time the proper way.

I think (hopefully) he was talking about the division and not the conference......if not then overlooking the president's trophy winners and cup winners is pretty stupid.

that being said, on paper, tampa is the clear front runner in the division, with montreal, florida, Detroit, and Ottawa being kind of a toss up.....I think whichever of those 3 teams that stays healthiest will emerge as the 2nd place team in the division.

I think buffalo is a wild card.....they have a crap load of talent, but their D is still m'eh and lehner is always a question mark in goal (his health and consistency have always been a concern).

I think the leafs are absolutely heading in the right direction, but I think they'll be out of the playoff race by Christmas.

as for what Ottawa has done to improve...............I think if they stay healthy they improve by default. last year we didn't have methot, turris, macarthur for very long stretches. add to that a full season of phaneuf........who yes is overpaid, but is LIGHT YEARS better than cowen and borowiecki (who were the ones playing in the top 4 before we got phaneuf). Ottawa's lineup for most of last year (with some line juggling)

Hoffman - zibby - ryan
smith - pageau - stone
chiasson - lazar - neil
dzingel - paul - puempel

karlsson - methot/cowen
ceci - boro/cowen
wideman - boro

this year it looks like

Hoffman - brassard - ryan
macarthur - turris - stone
smith - pageau - lazar
puempel - Kelly - neil

karlsson - methot
ceci - phaneuf
wideman - boro/englund

that's a much better looking lineup IMO.

they obviously aren't contenders, but if healthy, there is no reason that isn't a playoff team in the east.
- sensarmy_11

Agreed on paper it looks much better this year. And we still have two B prospects coming up in White and Brown. Both are projected to become full NHLers with a lot of potential. I see a need for another top 6 LW for depth in case MacT gets injured and a need for a 3rd pairing defensemen. A veteran stay home defense with grit and good physicality; someone to pair with Wideman.

That's a lot of iffs. I could see numbers 2,3,4,5 happening, I could also see Karlsson leaving, which is super unfortunate...

I'm not sure how many star players would be willing to play for a GM who's not willing to go 100% all in.
- DonaldDump

Dorion has gone all in as much as he can. Melnyk holds him back.

Yes, its a lot of If's but its not just about this season, its about beyond. If those 5 things pan out, I think this will have success going forward. For a team to win, you need a lot of things to go right regardless.

My predicted lineup:

Mac - Turris - Stone
Smith - Brass - Ryan
Hoff - Pageau - Lazar
Paul / Pyatt- Kelly / Dzingel- Neil / Psycho Max

Just feel we can't continue paying Hoff and Ryan together and have them do nothing in their zone, gotta spread the liabilities around, having both of them on the same line won't work anymore. Never did, won't this season no matter how much the coaches want it to.

Brian Murray did the rebuild on a few teams. Shortly after leaving the teams became serious contenders. I think the Sens are in great shape and other than Tampa they will be as strong as any team in the east.
- spatso

This is the overstatement of the decade. Anaheim didn't have Neidermeyer or Pronger - that would be like Ottawa adding Duncan Keith and Asron Eklblad and the Fanbase crediting Muckler. Basically they got the 2 best dman in the game within 2 years.

Not to mention Selanne returned after Murray left for Ottawa.

If ottawa adds Duncan Keith, Aaron Eklblad and Phil Kessel I'll credit Dorion and not Murray

I think Dorion had a pretty good summer.

- Naming a head coach and coaching staff who weren't "promotions" or "friends" was a good start.
- He's made a couple of risky trades with Brassard for Zibby and pick and moving up in the draft for a player (Brown) who probably would have still been available with the existing pick.
- Signing Hoffman and Ceci to legit deals was a staple of the summer for him.

He hasn't really addressed the mess on the 5/6 defence pairing and we still have no real legit 1st line centre, but you can only do so much in a couple of months time. I think we will get a d-man before the start of the season and getting a legit #1 centre is a long term thing.

Brassard is a decent addition in that he brings a playmaking and "clutchness" (according to Ranger folk) that Turris and Zibby don't really possess.

Overall, I think Dorion has had a good summer, but he shouldn't get too comfy. Everyone with half a brain understands this roster is decent right now, but far from complete. A few steps back of being a team that can be considered a contender.

What makes you think that Karlsson would leave? Only based on better potential to win the cup elsewhere? That rarely happens these days because the league is quite competitive and its a crabshoot to guess which teams will be the best only 2 years ahead of time. Also, there is the captaincy lure that should keep him away from most teams that already have an estalblished captain. He's pretty much guaranteed captain material in Ottawa. Money? I don't think it will be an issue for Karlsson to get exactly the number he wants, the team knows they owe him big time.

Karlsson acutally loves the city of Ottawa. It would take something special or something to go horribly wrong for him to request a trade.

Coaching would be the only thing that might get in the way, but by all records, Boucher doesn't have a track record of being rude with his star players and appears to assign on ice time the proper way.
- PtotheY

Dorion has gone all in as much as he can. Melnyk holds him back.

Yes, its a lot of If's but its not just about this season, its about beyond. If those 5 things pan out, I think this will have success going forward. For a team to win, you need a lot of things to go right regardless.
- BodyCheckRadio

First off, my bad. Should have said OWNER, not GM. I think Dorion has done a great job given what he's had to work with so far.

He definitely seems happy for the time being, but I just feel that a player as good as him might eventually become frustrated with the situation, despite loving the city/making good money/captaincy (this is 100% personal opinion lol).

The league is somewhat of a crapshoot in terms of cup contenders, but not being able to spend close to the cap is definitely a handicap. I'm not saying all good teams need to be close to the cap, but I think it's safe to say that if your owner won't allow it, it hurts your odds.

Not to mention that once a team has success, the dollar value of certain players tend to go up as well. If Ottawa starts to have regular success...how long can they sustain it without having to blow up the team?

First off, my bad. Should have said OWNER, not GM. I think Dorion has done a great job given what he's had to work with so far.

He definitely seems happy for the time being, but I just feel that a player as good as him might eventually become frustrated with the situation, despite loving the city/making good money/captaincy (this is 100% personal opinion lol).

The league is somewhat of a crapshoot in terms of cup contenders, but not being able to spend close to the cap is definitely a handicap. I'm not saying all good teams need to be close to the cap, but I think it's safe to say that if your owner won't allow it, it hurts your odds.

Not to mention that once a team has success, the dollar value of certain players tend to go up as well. If Ottawa starts to have regular success...how long can they sustain it without having to blow up the team?
- DonaldDump

Every team is in the same position. Why worry? McDavid could demand a trade. Ovechkin could want off the Ferris wheel of mediocrity.

Agree with splitting hoff and ryan but why not try the same line as last year that worked so well?

CMac-Brassard-Ryan
Hoff-Turris-Lazar
Smith-Pageau-Stone

I know it spreadd the offense but if each line clicks then we can have a 3 line deep team which you need to win a cup now.

Every team is in the same position. Why worry? McDavid could demand a trade. Ovechkin could want off the Ferris wheel of mediocrity.
- tuna99

Why worry?

Because Melnyk doesn't own the Oilers/Capitals lol

Why worry?

Because Melnyk doesn't own the Oilers/Capitals lol
- DonaldDump

Every team has the same issues- Toronto has more money the. Anyone and can't sign a single decent player.

Who cares. You're 3 years to early to worry about this. This is like worrying about who Ottawa will draft in 2020

Dorion has done a good job. He still has a huge trade up his sleeve. And when that drops, Ottawa is going to be a contender this playoffs.

Every team has the same issues- Toronto has more money the. Anyone and can't sign a single decent player.

Who cares. You're 3 years to early to worry about this. This is like worrying about who Ottawa will draft in 2020
- tuna99

Isn't that part of what the site is all about? Predicting what direction teams / players will go? If we only talked about what was happening right now, we'd still be talking about Vessey.

It's ok to talk about the positive predictions going on in an organization, but not the fact that a teams generational/franchise player might get fed up with a cheap and moody owner? Some players just get sick of being losers. Karlsson is a class act and would probably never let on if he was feeling that way, but it's always possible.

Most of the conversations and posts on this site are speculation, which is all my comment was ever meant to be.

If we're not allowed to talk about things 3 years or more down the road, then enlighten me.

8/10