Hey guys,

I think next year I am fine with spending around 52-55M on the team. But, starting the year after you gotta think it'll be north of 60 easy...

Not sure if anyone can do the cap calculation but (assuming Spezza is traded for Josi ($4M))

You'll have in 2015-16 (new deals)

- Ryan @ $6.5 for 8 years
- Zibanejad @ $3.0 for 3 years
- Lehner @ 2.25 for 2 years (last year of that contract since it'll be signed this summer)
- Hoffman @1.5 for 2 years (also last year)
- Stone @ 1.75 for 3 years
- MacArthur @ 4.5 for 5 years
- Methot (still not sure he doesn't get traded this summer, especially if we bring in Josi) but if he stays it'll be around $4.5 for 4-5 seasons

And then you have guys like Ceci and Lazar probobally getting new deals in 17-18

I think moving spezza is the only way to address the very obvious problems this team has on the back end. if spezza stays, and the defense stays the same, then this team misses the playoffs again.

we can't go into next season, with basically the same roster, and expect them to be a better team
- sensarmy_11

I think they can make the playoffs with the same team. Spezza,EK65 and Milo were rounding into form. Goaltending can bounce back. Defence should improve(looking at you Cowen).

They were 3 wins short this year, I can see a 7-10 win improvement.

I think moving spezza is the only way to address the very obvious problems this team has on the back end. if spezza stays, and the defense stays the same, then this team misses the playoffs again.

we can't go into next season, with basically the same roster, and expect them to be a better team
- sensarmy_11

This made me chuckle. The problem with this team is the defence, so let's get rid of a forward to compensate for this.

The only way to improve our backend is you know, improving the backend. Getting rid of forward and promoting other forwards will not solve the problem. Our forward situation is absolutely fine. Always has been for the last few seasons. God love Karlsson, but he had a very average "defensive" season. Needs to get back to using his speed to break up plays. Methot was very inconsistent. Cowen, well, was horrific. Ceci was solid, but only 19/20. Phillips was Cowen aged 20 years. Gryba is Gryba. Still don't know why we signed Corvo. And for some reason this team doesn't believe in developing Weircioch. With that said, how the hell does removing Spezza make this group better? The only way they get better is improving themselves. Murray may even have to get a veteran, reliable guy to add in there to help out. I expect bounce back years from Cowen and Methot. I also expect Ceci to make a significant jump in his all around play. Karlsson should be rejuvenated in a new season (won't be mailing it in). I do think Murray will go out and get a reasonable d-man to fill in the 6th position. We are stuck with Phillips for the first bit of the season, but if he sucks, Wiercioch may get more time.

I think they can make the playoffs with the same team. Spezza,EK65 and Milo were rounding into form. Goaltending can bounce back. Defence should improve(looking at you Cowen).

They were 3 wins short this year, I can see a 7-10 win improvement.
- Cup 06

People forget the East is garbage for high quality teams. Easy to make a reasonable jump.

This made me chuckle. The problem with this team is the defence, so let's get rid of a forward to compensate for this.

The only way to improve our backend is you know, improving the backend. Getting rid of forward and promoting other forwards will not solve the problem. Our forward situation is absolutely fine. Always has been for the last few seasons. God love Karlsson, but he had a very average "defensive" season. Needs to get back to using his speed to break up plays. Methot was very inconsistent. Cowen, well, was horrific. Ceci was solid, but only 19/20. Phillips was Cowen aged 20 years. Gryba is Gryba. Still don't know why we signed Corvo. And for some reason this team doesn't believe in developing Weircioch. With that said, how the hell does removing Spezza make this group better? The only way they get better is improving themselves. Murray may even have to get a veteran, reliable guy to add in there to help out. I expect bounce back years from Cowen and Methot. I also expect Ceci to make a significant jump in his all around play. Karlsson should be rejuvenated in a new season (won't be mailing it in). I do think Murray will go out and get a reasonable d-man to fill in the 6th position. We are stuck with Phillips for the first bit of the season, but if he sucks, Wiercioch may get more time.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

my point was not that the defense will play better if spezza is gone. my point was that spezza is the only asset we have to move, that will bring back a good enough player to help shore up the back end.

i thought that was pretty obvious....guess not.

people keep saying they expect bounce back years from methot, cowen, wiercioch, phillips, karlsson, etc, etc, etc.

it seems like a pretty big leap of faith to assume that our D, which was AHL quality last year, will ALL bounce back and turn us into a playoff team this year.

i seem to remember this team, they play in a city that's just down the 401 from ottawa, who thought their defense would grow/bounce back, and be good enough this year.....and they ended up turning in a record breaking season of mediocrity.

say what you guys want about bounce back seasons, but if ottawa goes into the 14/15 season with no changes on their back end, they aren't making the playoffs. there will easily be 8 teams better than them.

People forget the East is garbage for high quality teams. Easy to make a reasonable jump.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

it'll be just as easy for all the other teams, who recognize the weaknesses on their rosters, and try to address them.

my point was not that the defense will play better if spezza is gone. my point was that spezza is the only asset we have to move, that will bring back a good enough player to help shore up the back end.

i thought that was pretty obvious....guess not.

people keep saying they expect bounce back years from methot, cowen, wiercioch, phillips, karlsson, etc, etc, etc.

it seems like a pretty big leap of faith to assume that our D, which was AHL quality last year, will ALL bounce back and turn us into a playoff team this year.

i seem to remember this team, they play in a city that's just down the 401 from ottawa, who thought their defense would grow/bounce back, and be good enough this year.....and they ended up turning in a record breaking season of mediocrity.

say what you guys want about bounce back seasons, but if ottawa goes into the 14/15 season with no changes on their back end, they aren't making the playoffs. there will easily be 8 teams better than them.
- sensarmy_11

I don't know why you think that moving Spezza is the only way to get a defender. That simply isn't the case. There are several other avenues you can go. I don't think it's that big of a leap to expect some bounce back years. I think Karlsson and Methot will for sure get there. Cowen is a bigger question mark, but he has to improve upon last year. Ceci should continue to improve. Bringing in a veteran depth guy who is better than Phillips shouldn't be hard and won't cost you Spezza to get. Will all of them improve to what they should be? That's highly unlikely. Will they improve from last season? Well, that's not really that hard to do. This team won't look like the squad at game 82 this past season. There are always changes. You don't need to trade a star to fill a whole you could fill via free agency or a smaller trade.

I don't know why you think that moving Spezza is the only way to get a defender. That simply isn't the case. There are several other avenues you can go. I don't think it's that big of a leap to expect some bounce back years. I think Karlsson and Methot will for sure get there. Cowen is a bigger question mark, but he has to improve upon last year. Ceci should continue to improve. Bringing in a veteran depth guy who is better than Phillips shouldn't be hard and won't cost you Spezza to get. Will all of them improve to what they should be? That's highly unlikely. Will they improve from last season? Well, that's not really that hard to do. This team won't look like the squad at game 82 this past season. There are always changes. You don't need to trade a star to fill a whole you could fill via free agency or a smaller trade.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

trading spezza is likely the only way you're gonna get a quality partner who can play with karlsson.

i'm not sure why people expect a big bounce back by methot. he looked really good for about 10 games last year (before karlsson was hurt) and other than that, for the rest of his entire career, he's pretty much been an average #3 or #4 dman. He's obviously not terrible, but he isn't a top pairing d-man. cowen, well it's been more than 48 months since he's looked like anything but an ECHL d-man, i'm not holding my breath with him.

this team has 1 top pairing d-man, and then a collecion of 4-5-6-7 guys. they need someone to play on the top pairing. they can either wait a few years, and PRAY that someone develops into that guy, or else they can take the only real tradable asset they have (that they're likely willing to move) and go get one.

the only top 4 d-men who are available as UFAs this year are boyle, markov (who'll likely re-sign with the habs), and niskanen. two of them will likely get paid more than they're worth, which prices ottawa out, and the other will likely re-sign with his current team.

I don't know why you think that moving Spezza is the only way to get a defender. That simply isn't the case. There are several other avenues you can go. I don't think it's that big of a leap to expect some bounce back years. I think Karlsson and Methot will for sure get there. Cowen is a bigger question mark, but he has to improve upon last year. Ceci should continue to improve. Bringing in a veteran depth guy who is better than Phillips shouldn't be hard and won't cost you Spezza to get. Will all of them improve to what they should be? That's highly unlikely. Will they improve from last season? Well, that's not really that hard to do. This team won't look like the squad at game 82 this past season. There are always changes. You don't need to trade a star to fill a whole you could fill via free agency or a smaller trade.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I would not be shocked if Ceci has a sophmore slump. It's all too common.

I'd actually like to see Ceci back in Bingo for the whole season and Gryba traded...

Methot-Karlsson
Weicioch-Letang
Cowen-Phillips
Boro

For Letang we'd have to trade some quality prospects though...

I would not be shocked if Ceci has a sophmore slump. It's all too common.

I'd actually like to see Ceci back in Bingo for the whole season and Gryba traded...

Methot-Karlsson
Weicioch-Letang
Cowen-Phillips
Boro

For Letang we'd have to trade some quality prospects though...
- riceroni

with letang's contract, and his very obvious health concerns, i wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole. it's like my concerns about spezza, multiplied by infinity

with letang's contract, and his very obvious health concerns, i wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole. it's like my concerns about spezza, multiplied by infinity
- sensarmy_11

I think Letang is a guy that can fully bounce back and when he's healthy he can skate as well as EK65. Imagine sending out them shift after shift? It would be exciting hockey. Both in our end and in the other end!

I think Letang is a guy that can fully bounce back and when he's healthy he can skate as well as EK65. Imagine sending out them shift after shift? It would be exciting hockey. Both in our end and in the other end!
- riceroni

no doubt, but isn't his issue heart related? that's scary, not really something you can usually recover from, or atleast recover enough to remain a world class athlete. maybe you can, i'm not sure, but i'd be concerned. certainly not a player i'd give up tons of assets to get.

Cap is going up to what 70 m? So the floor will roughly be 54 m

Sens have a current cap hit of 48m. I think it's fair to say that if ottawas budget was 53m this year it'll be somewhere around 58m. Completely based on guesses and te assumption ownership is pissed the sens didn't make the playoffs.

So 10m to spend. This is what id do:

Send Weirdcock, greening and prince to buffalo for Ehroff. Ship off Gryba or Boro.

Top 3 defence - karlsson, Ehroff, methot
Bottom 3 - Cowen, Ceci and Philips/7th d man

I know methot and Cowen didn't play the same way they did in previous years but is take my chances that they'll be back to the way they played previously

Keep spezza sign hemsky for 6 m. You still have 4 million left to sign Lehner.

I don't think you need to be concerned with having money for Ryan. The cap will increase and Melyck is already paying him 5.1 m I'm assuming he knows the value and need of having a player like that.
- monkhouse

Wow, I don't mean to be rude but this is really uneducated about the Sens situation.

1) We would never get ehrhoff for that, lots of teams want that top pairing defender.

2) Cap floor will be projected around 52 million, and the team has already said they plan to stick with a 54 millio n budget.

3) Gryba likely won't be resigned, as we have 6 one-way contracts this year already (EK65, Methot, Cowen, Weircioch, Phillips, Boro) and They have said Ceci will not be sent down.

4) Our cap hit is irrelevant, our $ spent is what Melnyk is concerned with.

5) Lehner has done nothng to deserve 4 million dollars, at most he will get 1.5 or 2 million per on a bridge deal.

I agree we should keep Spezza and resign Hemsky if possible, but only if Spezza will sign a reasonable extension this offseason.

trading spezza is likely the only way you're gonna get a quality partner who can play with karlsson.

i'm not sure why people expect a big bounce back by methot. he looked really good for about 10 games last year (before karlsson was hurt) and other than that, for the rest of his entire career, he's pretty much been an average #3 or #4 dman. He's obviously not terrible, but he isn't a top pairing d-man. cowen, well it's been more than 48 months since he's looked like anything but an ECHL d-man, i'm not holding my breath with him.

this team has 1 top pairing d-man, and then a collecion of 4-5-6-7 guys. they need someone to play on the top pairing. they can either wait a few years, and PRAY that someone develops into that guy, or else they can take the only real tradable asset they have (that they're likely willing to move) and go get one.

the only top 4 d-men who are available as UFAs this year are boyle, markov (who'll likely re-sign with the habs), and niskanen. two of them will likely get paid more than they're worth, which prices ottawa out, and the other will likely re-sign with his current team.
- sensarmy_11

I think you are taking last season too much into consideration. I'm not saying the group we have now will turn into the NHL's best defensive group, but it's not hard to see the possibility of improvement. I am not sure why we can trust young forwards to develop and improve (Turris, Zibby, Stone, Hoffman, Pag, Da Costa, Lazar *names commonly thrown around*) but when it comes to our defence, apparently the same doesn't apply? I won't go through why I think guys will improve because I think I have exhausted that point.

My main point is that you don't need to move Spezza to address the defence. You may get a defensman in return, but I highly doubt it will be vastly better than a guy who is available on the market (we aren't getting the guys you listed, but there is a collection of solid, reasonable guy available) or via a smaller trade. Let's not forget it sounds like the return for Spezza so far sounds less than desirable. That may or may not change in the next few months.

That's just my opinion. Maybe it's a bit optimistic, but teams have had bounce back years before without making front page trades. I don't think it's unreasonable to say this team has a great core. You simply need to support that core without disturbing it.

I made a roster with a $60 M cap hit... let me know what you think... If only we could spend the money...

http://capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/16812

My trades were,

Trade 1: Spezza for Filip Foresberg and 1st 2015 pick
Trade 2: Methot, Pumpel and Anderson for Letang and Fleury

I think you are taking last season too much into consideration. I'm not saying the group we have now will turn into the NHL's best defensive group, but it's not hard to see the possibility of improvement. I am not sure why we can trust young forwards to develop and improve (Turris, Zibby, Stone, Hoffman, Pag, Da Costa, Lazar *names commonly thrown around*) but when it comes to our defence, apparently the same doesn't apply? I won't go through why I think guys will improve because I think I have exhausted that point.

My main point is that you don't need to move Spezza to address the defence. You may get a defensman in return, but I highly doubt it will be vastly better than a guy who is available on the market (we aren't getting the guys you listed, but there is a collection of solid, reasonable guy available) or via a smaller trade. Let's not forget it sounds like the return for Spezza so far sounds less than desirable. That may or may not change in the next few months.

That's just my opinion. Maybe it's a bit optimistic, but teams have had bounce back years before without making front page trades. I don't think it's unreasonable to say this team has a great core. You simply need to support that core without disturbing it.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

my assumption about our defense is based on a full 82 game bed poopting. your assumption is based on methot playing 10 really good games with karlsson last year, and cowen playing well 2 years ago.

my assumption about turris and zibby is based on the fact that they've been improving every year, and looked really really good this year. i've never said anything about those other forwards, other than that they're probably 4th liners. i said lazar is likely going to be a top six in a few years, but next season, would be a 4th liner.

my assumptions are based on players who have been playing well, and trending in teh right direction. your assumptions are based on players who've looked like they belong in teh ECHL. i think yours is a bit more of a leap of faith than mine.

my assumption about our defense is based on a full 82 game bed poopting. your assumption is based on methot playing 10 really good games with karlsson last year, and cowen playing well 2 years ago.

my assumption about turris and zibby is based on the fact that they've been improving every year, and looked really really good this year. i've never said anything about those other forwards, other than that they're probably 4th liners. i said lazar is likely going to be a top six in a few years, but next season, would be a 4th liner.

my assumptions are based on players who have been playing well, and trending in teh right direction. your assumptions are based on players who've looked like they belong in teh ECHL. i think yours is a bit more of a leap of faith than mine.
- sensarmy_11

I didn't say any of the things you said I said. My assumption is that players have improved from a poor season before. Very well could happen in this situation. I never said you had a leap of faith. I am indeed taking one. I think adding just one reliable guy back there (cheaply) would be a step in the right direction in improving the backend.

I made a roster with a $60 M cap hit... let me know what you think... If only we could spend the money...

http://capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/16812

My trades were,

Trade 1: Spezza for Filip Foresberg and 1st 2015 pick
Trade 2: Methot, Pumpel and Anderson for Letang and Fleury
- riceroni

Pretty wishful thinking roster here. Subtle add of Marian Gaborik as well.

Trade 1: Terrible return and unlikely to find a team willing to trade a 2015 1st rounder so soon as well.
Trade 2: Get the trade call in as soon as possible and run laughing.

I didn't say any of the things you said I said. My assumption is that players have improved from a poor season before. Very well could happen in this situation. I never said you had a leap of faith. I am indeed taking one. I think adding just one reliable guy back there (cheaply) would be a step in the right direction in improving the backend.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

anyone we add "cheaply" isn't going to be a top 4 player, which means we're adding anohter bottom pairing guy, to the already large number of bottom pairing guys we already have.

we have an elite level d-man, who needs a partner. THAT, should be the priority. not adding a cheap piece to match the 4 or 5 other cheap pieces we already have.

anyone we add "cheaply" isn't going to be a top 4 player, which means we're adding anohter bottom pairing guy, to the already large number of bottom pairing guys we already have.

we have an elite level d-man, who needs a partner. THAT, should be the priority. not adding a cheap piece to match the 4 or 5 other cheap pieces we already have.
- sensarmy_11

Perhaps I should have clarified. Cheaply as in not trading a top NHL centre or signing an d-man whose value has been artificially inflated (ex: Matt Niskanen). Loads of middle valued guys.

Murray had a great signing of Macarthur. He could very well do the same with a defensman this offseason. Easier said than done though for sure.

Also, hard to know what players work well prior to bringing them in. Just because you bring in a guy to play with Karlsson, doesn't necessarily mean it will work. When Ryan came to town the writing was on the wall that he was going to be on Spezza's wing. We all know how that turned out.

Wow, I don't mean to be rude but this is really uneducated about the Sens situation.

1) We would never get ehrhoff for that, lots of teams want that top pairing defender.

2) Cap floor will be projected around 52 million, and the team has already said they plan to stick with a 54 millio n budget.

3) Gryba likely won't be resigned, as we have 6 one-way contracts this year already (EK65, Methot, Cowen, Weircioch, Phillips, Boro) and They have said Ceci will not be sent down.

4) Our cap hit is irrelevant, our $ spent is what Melnyk is concerned with.

5) Lehner has done nothng to deserve 4 million dollars, at most he will get 1.5 or 2 million per on a bridge deal.

I agree we should keep Spezza and resign Hemsky if possible, but only if Spezza will sign a reasonable extension this offseason.
- TommyDeVito

The club never said they would be locked in at 54 mil, I wouldn't be shocked if by seasons end they hit the 60 mil mark. With Jim OBrien contract last year the spent around 55 mil last year with callups.

Perhaps I should have clarified. Cheaply as in not trading a top NHL centre or signing an d-man whose value has been artificially inflated (ex: Matt Niskanen). Loads of middle valued guys.

Murray had a great signing of Macarthur. He could very well do the same with a defensman this offseason. Easier said than done though for sure.

Also, hard to know what players work well prior to bringing them in. Just because you bring in a guy to play with Karlsson, doesn't necessarily mean it will work. When Ryan came to town the writing was on the wall that he was going to be on Spezza's wing. We all know how that turned out.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

anything we get "cheaply" will likely only be a temporary solution. WHEN we move spezza, we likely can get a young guy, who is already, or will be a quality top 4 player.....plus maybe another asset or two.

we're never gonna agree on this. the fact is, he's gonna get moved. no matter what cup06 says, the writing is basically on the wall. i think you need to accept it, move on, and realize how this will help the team.

anything we get "cheaply" will likely only be a temporary solution. WHEN we move spezza, we likely can get a young guy, who is already, or will be a quality top 4 player.....plus maybe another asset or two.

we're never gonna agree on this. the fact is, he's gonna get moved. no matter what cup06 says, the writing is basically on the wall. i think you need to accept it, move on, and realize how this will help the team.
- sensarmy_11

I think sometimes you embellish what I (and others) say to try and make your point more "impactful".

I don't agree in moving Spezza, but see the logic behind it. At the same time, early on, it appears (forget what Cup06 says, a few insiders have speculated too) the Sens aren't getting the price they and all of us want. That includes getting a real good d-man. This could very well change by the draft. If we get a solid deal that brings in some quality pieces or a huge piece, then it's a trade that's more worth making in my mind. However, right now, that doesn't seem to be the case. This has always been my number one concern. My secondary concern (which I think gets mistaken as my primary concern) would be replacing what Spezza provides for this team.

I made a roster with a $60 M cap hit... let me know what you think... If only we could spend the money...

http://capgeek.com/armchair-gm/roster/16812

My trades were,

Trade 1: Spezza for Filip Foresberg and 1st 2015 pick
Trade 2: Methot, Pumpel and Anderson for Letang and Fleury
- riceroni

What is your criteria when you choose players that you think should play on the sens?

I think sometimes you embellish what I (and others) say to try and make your point more "impactful".

I don't agree in moving Spezza, but see the logic behind it. At the same time, early on, it appears (forget what Cup06 says, a few insiders have speculated too) the Sens aren't getting the price they and all of us want. That includes getting a real good d-man. This could very well change by the draft. If we get a solid deal that brings in some quality pieces or a huge piece, then it's a trade that's more worth making in my mind. However, right now, that doesn't seem to be the case. This has always been my number one concern. My secondary concern (which I think gets mistaken as my primary concern) would be replacing what Spezza provides for this team.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

i think the return for spezza will be just fine. the rumoured return for kesler is ridiculous, and it's not crazy to think spezza could get close to, or the same as him. yes, kesler is signed for an extra year or two, but spezza is a better player, IMO.

i don't buy the "the return isn't what they're looking for" debate. teams are probably low-balling, trying to see if they can steal him. when push comes to shove, murray will get a good deal for him.