[Flexpack]

When you agreed to my post. Quote "This makes sence" but I have a hard time pulling up old posts here.

[MatchesMalone]

Originally Posted by Matt the Aussie

The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to trade him. If he wants to sign here for under $4M, I'd do it...but if it's more than that, we may as well sign Sutton for a couple of years and wait for Cowen.

I agree with this. Except I'd be willing to go for 4 million. 4.1 tops. Only problem is I think Cowen is a little further away than I think a lot of people expect. I definately think he will be a top 3 defenseman someday but hes still pretty raw. I think he will play his last season in junior next year and then a full season with Binghamton before joining the Sens full time in 2012/13. And he won't be a big minute defenseman for another couple years after that.

By the way, I think, as I have since last June, that we drafted Cowen to be essentially Chris Phillip's replacement. So I think he doesn't need to be ready for another 3 or 4 years and I think we need to re-sign Phillips in 2012 because he will make a great mentor to Cowen. Not just in showing him the ropes and the ins and outs of being a shutdown guy at the NHL level, but, perhaps, more importantly, teaching him how to deal with trying to live up to the pressure of being a high draft pick without being flashy or putting up a lot of points.

[Matt the Aussie]

Originally Posted by Innocent_bystander

I agree with this. Except I'd be willing to go for 4 million. 4.1 tops. Only problem is I think Cowen is a little further away than I think a lot of people expect. I definately think he will be a top 3 defenseman someday but hes still pretty raw. I think he will play his last season in junior next year and then a full season with Binghamton before joining the Sens full time in 2012/13. And he won't be a big minute defenseman for another couple years after that.

By the way, I think, as I have since last June, that we drafted Cowen to be essentially Chris Phillip's replacement. So I think he doesn't need to be ready for another 3 or 4 years and I think we need to re-sign Phillips in 2012 because he will make a great mentor to Cowen. Not just in showing him the ropes and the ins and outs of being a shutdown guy at the NHL level, but, perhaps, more importantly, teaching him how to deal with trying to live up to the pressure of being a high draft pick without being flashy or putting up a lot of points.

Very good post.

[Alfie11]

I agree with IB about Cowen. I'd really rather not rush him. I'd rather him play juniors for another year and possibly a year of Binghamton. Next year, assuming he stays in Spokane, he'll get good minutes on Team Canada's blueline. Same with Wiercioch. He was going to make Team Canada's defense, and possibly be a top 4 defenseman (according to Bob McKenzie), but he got injured.

[Erik Karlsson]

Originally Posted by Alfie11

I agree with IB about Cowen. I'd really rather not rush him. I'd rather him play juniors for another year and possibly a year of Binghamton. Next year, assuming he stays in Spokane, he'll get good minutes on Team Canada's blueline. Same with Wiercioch. He was going to make Team Canada's defense, and possibly be a top 4 defenseman (according to Bob McKenzie), but he got injured.

Cowen was supposed to make the NHL/Bingo last year so this year in the WHL is basically a healing/getting used to his injury kind of year.

Next year he will be in Ottawa/Bingo.

As for Wiercioch he had the decision to be in the AHL this year but he chose another year in U. of Denver.

So IMO next year he will be in the NHL/AHL for sure.

[jason1919spezza]

Brunnstrom will not re-sign with Dallas, and likely will leave the team with Mike Modano.

Sens should get this guy...if we have enough cap space

[jason1919spezza]

Volchie will likely leave the team...

Sens have apperantely offered few contracts but the agent regected them all.

Maybe its not about the money, maybe Volchie (or the agent) want to get out of Ottawa...
Oh, I heard that Red Wings are intrested in him...

[Matt the Aussie]

I have a feeling this will turn out like Chris Neil did.

Acting all tough, getting to July and squeezing the Sens for every possible dollar.

And if you think about it, would you really do anything different in their position?

[MatchesMalone]

Originally Posted by PascalLeclaire

Cowen was supposed to make the NHL/Bingo last year so this year in the WHL is basically a healing/getting used to his injury kind of year.

Next year he will be in Ottawa/Bingo.

As for Wiercioch he had the decision to be in the AHL this year but he chose another year in U. of Denver.

So IMO next year he will be in the NHL/AHL for sure.

Actually, Cowen cannot play in the AHL next year. A player cannot play in the AHL until he is 20 years old. The exceptions being European players and players who adhere to the "Jason Spezza rule" (players who have played 4 full seasons of junior). Same reason Kadri, Eberle, Pietrangelo, Hodgson, etc. all played in junior this year. So if Cowen doesn't make the Sens out of camp next year he will have to be returned to Spokane. Because Lee is no longer waiver-exempt next year he will have to be on the Sens active roster. So assuming we re-sign Campoli and one of Volchenkov or Sutton, that gives us 7 roster defensemen. Like I said, Cowen is still pretty raw so unless he has a phenomenal training camp I don't see him forcing Murray to trade any of our current defensemen.

And yes, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe now that Wiercioch has signed a pro contract he loses his NCAA elegibility, so he will spend next year in Binghamton adjusting to the strength and speed of pro forwards and to the length of the pro schedule.

[Alfie11]

Originally Posted by jason1919spezza

Volchie will likely leave the team...

Sens have apperantely offered few contracts but the agent regected them all.

Maybe its not about the money, maybe Volchie (or the agent) want to get out of Ottawa...
Oh, I heard that Red Wings are intrested in him...

I don't see the Red Wings getting Volchenkov. He's going to want more than their willing to pay and Ken Holland only offers big money to defenseman who put up a lot of points.

[Erik Karlsson]

I love Matt Carkner and all but do you guys think Cowen could possibly steal his spot? After all Cowen is much better on the puck and displays better defensive coverage.

Sutton-Karlsson
Phillips-Volchenkov
Campoli-Cowen
Carkner

Also i believe Murray will get rid of Kuba hence leading the cap necessary to sign BOTH Volchenkov and Sutton. Even if Murray has to buy out Kuba i believe he will. Kuba has no place on this team anymore.

[MatchesMalone]

Originally Posted by PascalLeclaire

I love Matt Carkner and all but do you guys think Cowen could possibly steal his spot? After all Cowen is much better on the puck and displays better defensive coverage.

Sutton-Karlsson
Phillips-Volchenkov
Campoli-Cowen
Carkner

Also i believe Murray will get rid of Kuba hence leading the cap necessary to sign BOTH Volchenkov and Sutton. Even if Murray has to buy out Kuba i believe he will. Kuba has no place on this team anymore.

Buy him out? No way man. And take the 1.23 million dollar cap hit for the next 2 seasons? We're tight enough with the cap as it is and almost certain to buy out Cheechoo in the summer already. 2.23 million against the cap for nothing? No way.

If we can trade him, great, but I don't see Murray doing that.

Also, maybe you don't like Lee but Murray just signed him to a two year extension, so I kinda doubt he would suddenly trade him away.

[Erik Karlsson]

Originally Posted by Innocent_bystander

Buy him out? No way man. And take the 1.23 million dollar cap hit for the next 2 seasons? We're tight enough with the cap as it is and almost certain to buy out Cheechoo in the summer already. 2.23 million against the cap for nothing? No way.

If we can trade him, great, but I don't see Murray doing that.

Also, maybe you don't like Lee but Murray just signed him to a two year extension, so I kinda doubt he would suddenly trade him away.

Oh yea i forgot...

Anyway, also with the Lee signing, i believe Kuba's days with Ottawa are numbered.

[Matt the Aussie]

Lee can still be traded.

[Erik Karlsson]

Originally Posted by Matt the Aussie

Lee can still be traded.

Yea but like...

Lee>>>>>>>>>>>Kuba imo.

Of course not as of now but...

[MatchesMalone]

Originally Posted by Matt the Aussie

Lee can still be traded.

Could, but why should he? I'm sure Murray will be entertaining any offer he may get and he may use Lee as a bargaining chip if he has the opportunity to seriously improve the team. But unless Cowen or Wiercioch really wows at training camp, there is no reason for Murray to force a trade and not get maximum value out of Lee.

[MatchesMalone]

Originally Posted by PascalLeclaire

Yea but like...

Lee>>>>>>>>>>>Kuba imo.

Of course not as of now but...

You and me against the world on this one man.

[Matt the Aussie]

Originally Posted by Innocent_bystander

Could, but why should he? I'm sure Murray will be entertaining any offer he may get and he may use Lee as a bargaining chip if he has the opportunity to seriously improve the team. But unless Cowen or Wiercioch really wows at training camp, there is no reason for Murray to force a trade and not get maximum value out of Lee.

As you say in your reply, he may be included in a bigger deal.

People aren't going to take Kovalev for nothing.

[jason1919spezza]

Originally Posted by PascalLeclaire

I love Matt Carkner and all but do you guys think Cowen could possibly steal his spot? After all Cowen is much better on the puck and displays better defensive coverage.

Sutton-Karlsson
Phillips-Volchenkov
Campoli-Cowen
Carkner

Also i believe Murray will get rid of Kuba hence leading the cap necessary to sign BOTH Volchenkov and Sutton. Even if Murray has to buy out Kuba i believe he will. Kuba has no place on this team anymore.

Carkner out?

Meh more like Campoli out. I know that would make Karlsson the only offensive defensemen (oh, you forgot Kuba on your list), but we don't need any more "Filip Kuba/Alex Picard" type of player who will keep on turning pucks over. Campoli has made flash of dominance, but was crappy in majority of the game.

Lee? We don't need this kid IMO.

[Erik Karlsson]

Originally Posted by Matt the Aussie

As you say in your reply, he may be included in a bigger deal.

People aren't going to take Kovalev for nothing.

Get it done.

Originally Posted by jason1919spezza

Carkner out?

Meh more like Campoli out. I know that would make Karlsson the only offensive defensemen (oh, you forgot Kuba on your list), but we don't need any more "Filip Kuba/Alex Picard" type of player who will keep on turning pucks over. Campoli has made flash of dominance, but was crappy in majority of the game.

Lee? We don't need this kid IMO.

As of late, Campoli has shown signs of brilliance on both ends of the ice making him look like the top 4 d-man we so desperately needed, he just needs time imo.