Just wow
- SENS 613

you know whats sad about this.
MOST blues fans are like this.

Just wow
- SENS 613

Leave him alone, St. Louis is going to get robbed after we're done with them.

Leave him alone, St. Louis is going to get robbed after we're done with them.
- TheCalSen

Oshie, Schwartz, and Peitrangelo for Spezza. Done deal.

Oshie, Schwartz, and Peitrangelo for Spezza. Done deal.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Still lopsided in favor of St. Louis, they need to add a 1st.
In all seriousness, I don't see how Shattenkirk, Rattie couldn't go though, maybe add in Prince.

man, if Phoenix is not on his list, I'd like to see a package put together for Keith Yandle and Henrik Samuelsson and possibly Vermette (as a 2LC/3LC).

That would have Phoenix with Spezza, Riberio and Hanzel ..... and Ottawa with Turris, Vermette and Zbad .....

imagine a third line of Samuelsson Zbad and Lazar on sheltered minutes..... fast, hard to play against and all grooming for the second line role that they should evolve into.
- GadesnSens

This would be my ideal scenario too, Yandle or Gormley + Samuelsson for Spezza + one of our D not named Karlsson.

Still lopsided in favor of St. Louis, they need to add a 1st.
In all seriousness, I don't see how Shattenkirk, Rattie couldn't go though, maybe add in Prince.
- TheCalSen

Highly doubtful Blues would trade Shattenkirk for Spezza straight up, let alone give up their top prospect as well, regardless of what minor parts Ottawa adds. Shattenkirk is a young, top pairing defenseman locked into a good contract. I realize most Ottawa fans don't see many Blues games, but Shattenkirk was selected for the US Olympic team over guys like Eric Johnson & Jack Johnson, both number one defensemen on playoff teams, as well as guys like Yandle & Byfuglien, also top pairing guys on their teams. So this isn't just being a homer. Trading Shattenkirk would open a massive hole on our blue line. Blues are better off standing pat, or if we want to give up Shattenkirk, we can get a lot better than one year of Jason Spezza.

Highly doubtful Blues would trade Shattenkirk for Spezza straight up, let alone give up their top prospect as well, regardless of what minor parts Ottawa adds. Shattenkirk is a young, top pairing defenseman locked into a good contract. I realize most Ottawa fans don't see many Blues games, but Shattenkirk was selected for the US Olympic team over guys like Eric Johnson & Jack Johnson, both number one defensemen on playoff teams, as well as guys like Yandle & Byfuglien, also top pairing guys on their teams. So this isn't just being a homer. Trading Shattenkirk would open a massive hole on our blue line. Blues are better off standing pat, or if we want to give up Shattenkirk, we can get a lot better than one year of Jason Spezza.
- Antilles

Come on dude! He's not your #1, he's your #3! He might have top pair skills but he's #3 on your team! You don't have a #1 center. You're telling me that it's more important for you to have a #3 defenseman than a #1 center???

Your team scored 14 goals in the last 10 games of the season, and got shut out 4 times in that period! Then they went to the playoffs and lost 4 straight after going up 2-0, and only scored 6 times over that period! Spezza's 66 points would have led your team in scoring last year! LOL, but you'd rather have a #3 defenseman than a #1 center! Hope you're getting used to those early exits from the playoffs, not gonna go too far if you can't score.

On top of that, on a team full of guys with +/- ratings around 15+, Shattenkirk is a +1. He's not exactly Zdeno Chara, now is he??

Come on dude! He's not your #1, he's your #3! He might have top pair skills but he's #3 on your team! You don't have a #1 center. You're telling me that it's more important for you to have a #3 defenseman than a #1 center???

Your team scored 14 goals in the last 10 games of the season, and got shut out 4 times in that period! Then they went to the playoffs and lost 4 straight after going up 2-0, and only scored 6 times over that period! Spezza's 66 points would have led your team in scoring last year! LOL, but you'd rather have a #3 defenseman than a #1 center! Hope you're getting used to those early exits from the playoffs, not gonna go too far if you can't score.

On top of that, on a team full of guys with +/- ratings around 15+, Shattenkirk is a +1. He's not exactly Zdeno Chara, now is he??
- the_terror

So Malkin is only worth a second line center, because he plays behind Crosby? Stop being obtuse.

Spezza wouldn't be our #1 center. Backes still would be. Spezza would be on the second line, having to be given sheltered minutes because of his deficiencies on defense. And Steen scored at a higher pace than Spezza, he just played fewer games.

Yes, Blues scoring dried up at the end of the season. Is there any team in the league who wouldn't have similar issues if 7 of their top 10 forwards were injured, like Blues had over that period? Blues were 7th in the league in GF. We would like to upgrade Berglund, who fits better on a third line, to someone who fits on a second line. Blues had 4 guys who produced within a couple points of what Spezza put up at even strength, and would have had a 5th if he had stayed healthy. We aren't desperate for offense just because we struggled to score when all of our top guys were injured.

And yes. Having a third top pairing level guy for 3 years is more important than having a second line center for 1 year. And if Blues want to trade Shattenkirk, they can get a lot better than 1 year of Jason Spezza.

So Malkin is only worth a second line center, because he plays behind Crosby? Stop being obtuse.

Spezza wouldn't be our #1 center. Backes still would be. Spezza would be on the second line, having to be given sheltered minutes because of his deficiencies on defense. And Steen scored at a higher pace than Spezza, he just played fewer games.

Yes, Blues scoring dried up at the end of the season. Is there any team in the league who wouldn't have similar issues if 7 of their top 10 forwards were injured, like Blues had over that period? Blues were 7th in the league in GF. We would like to upgrade Berglund, who fits better on a third line, to someone who fits on a second line. Blues had 4 guys who produced within a couple points of what Spezza put up at even strength, and would have had a 5th if he had stayed healthy. We aren't desperate for offense just because we struggled to score when all of our top guys were injured.

And yes. Having a third top pairing level guy for 3 years is more important than having a second line center for 1 year. And if Blues want to trade Shattenkirk, they can get a lot better than 1 year of Jason Spezza.
- Antilles

Malkin isn't a real comparison though. A better comparison is Jordan Staal. Jordan Staal became expendable because he's a #2 center slotted in at #3 because of Crosby and Malkin. So they traded him to a team where he would be a #2C and improved elsewhere. The dropoff from losing him was offset by the net gain at other positions.

If you think Backes is a #1, and if you think Steen can continue to put up numbers like that, and Doug Armstrong thinks the same thing, then they won't trade for Spezza, and they'll still struggle to score next year.

And they're not getting 1 year of Spezza. Everyone seems to think that because his contract expires next year, that you're only getting 1 year of the guy. It is a solid gold guarantee that he signs an extension in the first week of July with whatever team gets him.

And Shattenkirk went to the Olympics to be a power play guy, he got 3 assists in 6 games and the team didn't get a medal. Like I said, he's a good player, but treating him like he's not worth a legitimate #1C in return is a complete overvaluation of your own player, and a complete dismissal of the player you'd be getting back.

Malkin isn't a real comparison though. A better comparison is Jordan Staal. Jordan Staal became expendable because he's a #2 center slotted in at #3 because of Crosby and Malkin. So they traded him to a team where he would be a #2C and improved elsewhere. The dropoff from losing him was offset by the net gain at other positions.

If you think Backes is a #1, and if you think Steen can continue to put up numbers like that, and Doug Armstrong thinks the same thing, then they won't trade for Spezza, and they'll still struggle to score next year.

And they're not getting 1 year of Spezza. Everyone seems to think that because his contract expires next year, that you're only getting 1 year of the guy. It is a solid gold guarantee that he signs an extension in the first week of July with whatever team gets him.

And Shattenkirk went to the Olympics to be a power play guy, he got 3 assists in 6 games and the team didn't get a medal. Like I said, he's a good player, but treating him like he's not worth a legitimate #1C in return is a complete overvaluation of your own player, and a complete dismissal of the player you'd be getting back.
- the_terror

yeah...pretty much this...

Malkin isn't a real comparison though. A better comparison is Jordan Staal. Jordan Staal became expendable because he's a #2 center slotted in at #3 because of Crosby and Malkin. So they traded him to a team where he would be a #2C and improved elsewhere. The dropoff from losing him was offset by the net gain at other positions.

If you think Backes is a #1, and if you think Steen can continue to put up numbers like that, and Doug Armstrong thinks the same thing, then they won't trade for Spezza, and they'll still struggle to score next year.

And they're not getting 1 year of Spezza. Everyone seems to think that because his contract expires next year, that you're only getting 1 year of the guy. It is a solid gold guarantee that he signs an extension in the first week of July with whatever team gets him.

And Shattenkirk went to the Olympics to be a power play guy, he got 3 assists in 6 games and the team didn't get a medal. Like I said, he's a good player, but treating him like he's not worth a legitimate #1C in return is a complete overvaluation of your own player, and a complete dismissal of the player you'd be getting back.
- the_terror

Is this based on anything? It's not like there aren't example of older players chasing cups/success with a new team every year.

I'm not trying to flame, but who's solid guarantee?

Is this based on anything? It's not like there aren't example of older players chasing cups/success with a new team every year.

I'm not trying to flame, but who's solid guarantee?
- Morris

i think guarantee is a bit of a strong word.....but i think given his health concerns, as long as he's with a "good" team, in a place he likes, he'll sign his extension.

if he plays the season, without an extension, and gets hurt....he's (frank)ED.

so maybe not a guarantee, but a pretty damn good chance.

Is this based on anything? It's not like there aren't example of older players chasing cups/success with a new team every year.

I'm not trying to flame, but who's solid guarantee?
- Morris

This is a fair statement, but as the posted below puts it, considering Spezza's rather spotty injury history, he'd be unwise to wait until his UFA year to sign long term. Too much risk associated.

how many times do you talk to your cousins? Me not to often. just because he's his cousin doesn't mean other gms will not talk to him. as for his work I take with a grain of salt, just like Eks rumors du jour.
- zazzle

It's way less awkward to talk to them if you don't sleep with them.

This is a fair statement, but as the posted below puts it, considering Spezza's rather spotty injury history, he'd be unwise to wait until his UFA year to sign long term. Too much risk associated.
- the_terror

If there's so much risk of injury though, we're back to why he'll command the price that some are suggesting.

But that makes more sense.

If there's so much risk of injury though, we're back to why he'll command the price that some are suggesting.

But that makes more sense.
- Morris

i don't think there's "SO MUCH" risk......but realistically, he could easily get 6.5 or 7 on an extension, probably for 6 years ish. if he plays the whole season, and plays great, maybe he gets an extra year and half a million........but if he gets hurt, he could get significantly less.

so even if the risk isn't that high, it's probably higher then it is for most players......and is it really worth it, for a minimal increase in salary and term (relatively speaking ofcourse)

No NYI? Trade him to the Brooklyn Flatbushers instead!

i don't think there's "SO MUCH" risk......but realistically, he could easily get 6.5 or 7 on an extension, probably for 6 years ish. if he plays the whole season, and plays great, maybe he gets an extra year and half a million........but if he gets hurt, he could get significantly less.

so even if the risk isn't that high, it's probably higher then it is for most players......and is it really worth it, for a minimal increase in salary and term (relatively speaking ofcourse)
- sensarmy_11

When I said price I meant Ottawa in a trade, I'm not going to ever try to understand 'market forces'.

But yeah, there's probably a good fit somewhere. I know I'd be very very reluctant to acquire Spezza unless a deal was all but in place.

When I said price I meant Ottawa in a trade, I'm not going to ever try to understand 'market forces'.

But yeah, there's probably a good fit somewhere. I know I'd be very very reluctant to acquire Spezza unless a deal was all but in place.
- Morris

i imagine that spezza and his agent will be involved in the trade process for precisely that reason. having a deal all but in place will increase his value in a trade, so it's in murray's best interest to push towards that goal.

85% Bubba. Still see Thornton as the better offensive player than Spezza....but I didn't look up PPG stats so I could be wrong.
- Jeropotato

Thornton: .99
Spezza: 1.00

Pretty close, but Thornton scores fewer goals.

Thornton: .99
Spezza: 1.00

Pretty close, but Thornton scores fewer goals.
- amanicom

That's one way of looking at it.....

The other way is that Thornton has over 500 more career points than Spezza.

That's one way of looking at it.....

The other way is that Thornton has over 500 more career points than Spezza.
- golfingsince

I'm not really gonna get Into an argument to which player is better...but he has also played 520 more games than spezza...

I'm not really gonna get Into an argument to which player is better...but he has also played 520 more games than spezza...
- TheMike12

In 4 years......there's something to be said about durability.

Senators are about to sign Milan Michalek [Nhl.com source]

Malkin isn't a real comparison though. A better comparison is Jordan Staal. Jordan Staal became expendable because he's a #2 center slotted in at #3 because of Crosby and Malkin. So they traded him to a team where he would be a #2C and improved elsewhere. The dropoff from losing him was offset by the net gain at other positions.

If you think Backes is a #1, and if you think Steen can continue to put up numbers like that, and Doug Armstrong thinks the same thing, then they won't trade for Spezza, and they'll still struggle to score next year.

And they're not getting 1 year of Spezza. Everyone seems to think that because his contract expires next year, that you're only getting 1 year of the guy. It is a solid gold guarantee that he signs an extension in the first week of July with whatever team gets him.

And Shattenkirk went to the Olympics to be a power play guy, he got 3 assists in 6 games and the team didn't get a medal. Like I said, he's a good player, but treating him like he's not worth a legitimate #1C in return is a complete overvaluation of your own player, and a complete dismissal of the player you'd be getting back.
- the_terror

Did he or his agent come out and say this?