Jared Crozier: Miss a little, miss a...little

yeah, not only did the Sens not addressed replacing Methot or insurance on Mac, Alfie leaves again...this equals me to being so afraid to lose Karlsson if they don't re-sign him in 1 year from now...

This may have already been discussed in here but would Eugene sign off on Karlsson making more than $10M? That seems like the biggest barrier to re-signing EK.

This may have already been discussed in here but would Eugene sign off on Karlsson making more than $10M? That seems like the biggest barrier to re-signing EK.
- magmoo

he better cause EK will definitely make at the very least 10M x 8 years in 2 years...

Alfie got his job during a major transition where leadership was questionable. Now that it seems to be under control and he got the money he felt the organization owed him, he can leave with his legacy intact.

Alfie got his job during a major transition where leadership was questionable. Now that it seems to be under control and he got the money he felt the organization owed him, he can leave with his legacy intact.

Not sure the leadership situation has changed since Alfie came back... Murray is still "special advisor" and Dorion (now with new title but same responsibilities) and Randy Lee (still assistant GM) make up pretty much the whole front office. They've cut both Pro and Amateur scouts to cut costs, and promoted from within to fill open positions. The new president was reportedly brought in because he has experience with building new arenas (whatever that means), though it doesn't seem like the team or city have made any progress whatsoever in development since the Lebreton bid was approved over a year ago...

Same idiot is still owner, same leadership issues will continue to exists. I don't have any proof that Melnyk had anything to do with this, but lets be honest, we all know he had everything to do with it...

We knew the Sens weren't going to do much. Well it would be nice to get a vet dman on a 1 year deal there is no room for any forwards and definitely not for Jagr for 2 years.

Hoffman - Turris - Stone
MacArthur - Brass - Ryan
Smith - Pageau - Pyatt
Dzingel - Thompson -Burrows
Then White and Paul trying to make the team.

Claesson - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Ceci
Boro - Wideman
Chabot and Harpur trying to make it.

We knew the Sens weren't going to do much. Well it would be nice to get a vet dman on a 1 year deal there is no room for any forwards and definitely not for Jagr for 2 years.

Hoffman - Turris - Stone
MacArthur - Brass - Ryan
Smith - Pageau - Pyatt
Dzingel - Thompson -Burrows
Then White and Paul trying to make the team.

Claesson - Karlsson
Phaneuf - Ceci
Boro - Wideman
Chabot and Harpur trying to make it.
- h2owned

The best place for the bolded to start is in Belleville. Spend at least a 1/2 year to a year developing, then come up to the bigs.

I feel like the senators are going to have an uphill battle when it comes to luring free agents. The leadership has a long way to go to prove that they're stable. Also, it's hard to forget that the team was in the ECF and had empty seats. Those things have to weigh on a Free Agent's mind.

I feel like the senators are going to have an uphill battle when it comes to luring free agents. The leadership has a long way to go to prove that they're stable. Also, it's hard to forget that the team was in the ECF and had empty seats. Those things have to weigh on a Free Agent's mind.
- cranktheradio

Nothing new there, we've always mostly built our teams through drafting or trades.

Nothing new there, we've always mostly built our teams through drafting or trades.
- forbetterorWORSE

True. It's just sad. The team has been pretty successful for a while now and has the best defenseman in the game. The leadership/ownership is simply frustrating.

I feel like the senators are going to have an uphill battle when it comes to luring free agents. The leadership has a long way to go to prove that they're stable. Also, it's hard to forget that the team was in the ECF and had empty seats. Those things have to weigh on a Free Agent's mind.
- cranktheradio

History has shown that more often than not, big splash free agents are a mistake. You have to over pay AAV for a longer period of time, ie 5-7 years.

I don't mind that Ottawa doesn't get sucked into these deals. they hurt in the long run, and rarely pay off is the short term.

Case in point last year's top 5 signings;

1. STEVEN STAMKOS, C
SIGNED: Eight years, $68 million with Lightning

2. KYLE OKPOSO, RW
SIGNED: Seven years, $42 million with Sabres

3. DAVID BACKES, C
SIGNED: Five years, $30 million with Bruins

4. MILAN LUCIC, LW
Signed: Seven years, $42 million with Oilers

5. ANDREW LADD, LW
SIGNED: Signed: Seven years, $42 million with Oilers


Honourable Mention
11. ERIC STAAL, C
SIGNED: Three years, $10.5 million with Wild

Lucic may work out in the short term, but the last 4 years are going to be sketchy. I understand the Stamkos deal - you have to make that deal, but his recent health issues may become a huge issue for TB.

So, of the top 11 from last year only one is a good deal (Staal). I'd rather continue drafting well and trading wisely.

History has shown that more often than not, big splash free agents are a mistake. You have to over pay AAV for a longer period of time, ie 5-7 years.

I don't mind that Ottawa doesn't get sucked into these deals. they hurt in the long run, and rarely pay off is the short term.

Case in point last year's top 5 signings;

1. STEVEN STAMKOS, C
SIGNED: Eight years, $68 million with Lightning

2. KYLE OKPOSO, RW
SIGNED: Seven years, $42 million with Sabres

3. DAVID BACKES, C
SIGNED: Five years, $30 million with Bruins

4. MILAN LUCIC, LW
Signed: Seven years, $42 million with Oilers

5. ANDREW LADD, LW
SIGNED: Signed: Seven years, $42 million with Oilers


Honourable Mention
11. ERIC STAAL, C
SIGNED: Three years, $10.5 million with Wild

Lucic may work out in the short term, but the last 4 years are going to be sketchy. I understand the Stamkos deal - you have to make that deal, but his recent health issues may become a huge issue for TB.

So, of the top 11 from last year only one is a good deal (Staal). I'd rather continue drafting well and trading wisely.
- GadesnSens

This is true almost all of the time. The exception would be if the deal was for a purpose and was not going to negatively impact the cap situation or player development going forward.

To comment on the post above (that I can't quote), UFAs don't give a poop about who's in the crowd when they're signing their contract. Most care about money. Some about odds of a Cup, less about who they play with. I assure you nobody is refusing to sign in Ottawa because they were short a few hundred people for a playoff game. It has more to do with pay/taxes, location, coaching/teammates, etc. But let's keep beating a dead horse

History has shown that more often than not, big splash free agents are a mistake. You have to over pay AAV for a longer period of time, ie 5-7 years.

I don't mind that Ottawa doesn't get sucked into these deals. they hurt in the long run, and rarely pay off is the short term.

Case in point last year's top 5 signings;

1. STEVEN STAMKOS, C
SIGNED: Eight years, $68 million with Lightning

2. KYLE OKPOSO, RW
SIGNED: Seven years, $42 million with Sabres

3. DAVID BACKES, C
SIGNED: Five years, $30 million with Bruins

4. MILAN LUCIC, LW
Signed: Seven years, $42 million with Oilers

5. ANDREW LADD, LW
SIGNED: Signed: Seven years, $42 million with Oilers


Honourable Mention
11. ERIC STAAL, C
SIGNED: Three years, $10.5 million with Wild

Lucic may work out in the short term, but the last 4 years are going to be sketchy. I understand the Stamkos deal - you have to make that deal, but his recent health issues may become a huge issue for TB.

So, of the top 11 from last year only one is a good deal (Staal). I'd rather continue drafting well and trading wisely.
- GadesnSens

The problem with that is, we're never going to get the pieces we need staying on the route we are. We're never going to get a #1C who is competitive around the league, We're going to be stuck being an Ok team that has to over achieve but will never be taken seriously as a cup contender.

The mentality has to change right from ownership to top management before anything substantial will build moving forward on the ice.

These next two years are the Sens 'window'.

Who knows what's going to happen after that. If Karlsson leaves, we are rebuilding. If he stays, he will likely get 10-12M and we won't have the money to spend on other people.

These next two years are the time to go all in.

If we had a good owner, he would go all-in, and worry about cap implications after that. That's what all winning teams have done. Look at Chicago, LA, Pitt. They were all in salary cap hell after each of their cup wins and had to sell off pieces. That's what you have to do to win championships in the salary cap era.

The worst thing that ever happened to this team is when the city awarded Melnyk the LeBreton bid.

These next two years are the Sens 'window'.

Who knows what's going to happen after that. If Karlsson leaves, we are rebuilding. If he stays, he will likely get 10-12M and we won't have the money to spend on other people.

These next two years are the time to go all in.

If we had a good owner, he would go all-in, and worry about cap implications after that. That's what all winning teams have done. Look at Chicago, LA, Pitt. They were all in salary cap hell after each of their cup wins and had to sell off pieces. That's what you have to do to win championships in the salary cap era.

The worst thing that ever happened to this team is when the city awarded Melnyk the LeBreton bid.
- Charliebox

I don't think we even have a window now. I think we greatly over achieved in the playoffs this year. But lets be honest, this is a team with a lot of holes, a ownership and management system that isn't willing to be aggressive to get a cup and we struggled to make the playoffs. Now with even more holes, it's a bigger uphill battle

The problem with that is, we're never going to get the pieces we need staying on the route we are. We're never going to get a #1C who is competitive around the league, We're going to be stuck being an Ok team that has to over achieve but will never be taken seriously as a cup contender.

The mentality has to change right from ownership to top management before anything substantial will build moving forward on the ice.
- Maverick1818

Most true #1C's are drafted by the team: Crosby, Malkin, Toews, Tavares, McDavid, Matthews, Backstrom, Kopitar, Stamkos, Bergeron...they are rarely ever traded and very rarely change teams through free-agency anymore. The only name that come to mind are Thornton via trade. Plus, you basically have to hit rock bottom in the standings to have a chance at getting one.

These next two years are the Sens 'window'.

Who knows what's going to happen after that. If Karlsson leaves, we are rebuilding. If he stays, he will likely get 10-12M and we won't have the money to spend on other people.

These next two years are the time to go all in.

If we had a good owner, he would go all-in, and worry about cap implications after that. That's what all winning teams have done. Look at Chicago, LA, Pitt. They were all in salary cap hell after each of their cup wins and had to sell off pieces. That's what you have to do to win championships in the salary cap era.

The worst thing that ever happened to this team is when the city awarded Melnyk the LeBreton bid.
- Charliebox

What would be "going all in" though? Even if PD decided to trade away White, Chabot, and some good picks over the next few years, what could that net him that would really move the needle? Mortgaging the future to add a Duchene type forward and a Dumba/Trouba level D would put us right at the cap, and guarantee nothing.

If 45 point Duchene shows up, that's not much better than anyone in our top 6 and even the Penguins needed insanely good goaltending from Fleury to get by Washington on their run this year , so evn havin two of the top players in the league does not guarantee success

I don't think we even have a window now. I think we greatly over achieved in the playoffs this year. But lets be honest, this is a team with a lot of holes, a ownership and management system that isn't willing to be aggressive to get a cup and we struggled to make the playoffs. Now with even more holes, it's a bigger uphill battle
- Maverick1818

The Sens have a ton of cap space. There are also two rookies coming up who will have an impact, if not this coming year, then by 18-19 season for sure.

They needed to replace Methot. Alzner was a perfect fit. Left shot D. Defensively responsible and a bona-fide top 4. The guy also hasn't missed a game in seven seasons. He immediately fills the hole left by Methot and isn't injury prone like Methot. He signed for cheaper than Methot was making. The term was a bit much, but as I said, go for it now and deal with the consequences later.

The Altantic is going to be a toss up for the next two seasons. After that, Toronto and Boston with both be looking really good with all the young players and prospects they have.

If Ottawa spent to the cap and brought in a guy like Alzner and a forward or two via trade, they could conceivably take the division in at least one of the next two seasons, if not both. Once you are in the final 4, anything can happen.

Most true #1C's are drafted by the team: Crosby, Malkin, Toews, Tavares, McDavid, Matthews, Backstrom, Kopitar, Stamkos, Bergeron...they are rarely ever traded and very rarely change teams through free-agency anymore. The only name that come to mind are Thornton via trade. Plus, you basically have to hit rock bottom in the standings to have a chance at getting one.
- AlfieFever

Turris > Bergeron

Some interesting dialogue. i don't think anyone is wrong or right. Signing free agents to ridiculous deals (i.e. Shattenkirk) is never a great idea. Meanwhile guys like Alzner, Daley, Miller, etc get signed to pretty decent deals. It's a give and take at free agency time.

What sort of grinds my gears is Dorion not even trying to do anything via trade or free agency to make this team better. I assume that is because they are trying to save money for eventual resigning and not incompetence.

It's been said that the division is up for grabs. I'd go even further and say the Eastern Conference is essentially up for grabs. The Sens coming a goal away from going to the final is proof of that. I'm not sure why you wouldn't try to load up, at least a bit, while guys like Karlsson, Stone, Turris, etc are all on cap friendly deals. Instead they sign guys like Burrows (via deadline deal), extend Condon to too much money and term, and sign Thompson, who probably won't bring a whole lot to the table.

I agree with a poster who said the window to win is the next two years, while Karlsson is making chump change for what he is.