Murray may have knew Volchie wouldn't sign with Ottawa...since the end of the disappointing regular season last year.

Think about how much he added tough, gritty + VERY defensive defencemen over the past 1~2 years.

Not only did he added Cowen at the draft (He could have chosen guys like MSP, Glennie, ...etc.), he also put Carkner in the regulars.

Their defensive depth also include tank defensemens such as Eric Gryba, Kirill Lyamin, Micael Sdao, ...etc. Ben Blood could be one of them, but he is apparently more focusted on being disciplined and not hurting his team with an errant play or missed body check.

Lee could be one of those "tank" defensemen, cause he is pretty big and strong. But he BARELY checks and thats the problem.

And don't forget the acquasion of Sutton.

But man, I REALLY hope he signs Volchie...he will truly be a big loss for us...

And I don't want to see him wearing a jersey that is not the "Senators" (not including "Team Russia" Jerseys).

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The Fourth Period :: Ottawa Senators :: Senators, Volchenkov negotiating deal

Before the season started we needed a tough stay at home defenseman for the third pairing. Carkner impressed everyone at training camp and won the spot. Volchenkov didn't have anything to do with it.

Cowen was ranked as the #3 in the draft before he got his knee injury. The Sens doctores checked out his leg and said he'd go back to his old form eventually. Murray believed he was the best player at the time, so he drafted him. Volchenkov didn't have anything to do with it.

Gryba and Lyamin were drafted in 2006, so they had no influence on Volchenkov. Sdao probably won't ever make the NHL, and if he does, it would be a Carkner-like guy, not a Volchenkov type.

Sutton is a playoff warrior and what we needed for this years playoffs. A defense core with Volchenkov, Phillips, Carkner and Sutton all blocking shots will be hard to get through. He's a rental player, not to replace Volchenkov, but to give us more depth and a big body and gives us a lot of grit and toughness.

I'll be fine with Volchenkov leaving. It obviously means he wants too much money, and I'd rather lose him than overpay to keep him.

cool

But after all they are still "negotiating". It may work out, it may not.

But our defense has bright future...so many great prospects especially offensive wise

I was saying the fact that Murray has been sorta absessed with defensive / tough gritty defensemen.

What about MSP and Glennie who Sens were intrested in (and people in this forum). I NEVER heard a single rumour about Murray intrested in drafting Cowen.

I want Volchie to sign with Ottawa...he would be a big loss. As the Article Choi posted above, I wouldn't mind if he signs with money around 4M-4.5M

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absessed is that Murray on the Left?

Murray likes all his players to be tough, gritty guys. Schaefer for Donovan. Heatley for Michalek and Cheechoo. Eaves (although he was gritty, he was injury prone), Corvo for Stillman, Commodore. I don't think people realize what Murray has done to the team (size wise) since he became GM. We're the biggest team in the Northeast and one of the more physical teams in the league. He's gonna bring in big, tough, gritty guys no matter what the Volchenkov situation is.

I didn't hear any word about MPS or Cowen, but that's probably because they were supposed to be going in the top 7. Glennie wasn't supposed to go until sometime after 11.

Murray likes all his players to be tough, gritty guys. What about #27? Not gritty in my books

He's not gritty but he's a big guy who's strong on the puck and shields it from the defenders. Plus, you've gotta have some guys that are skilled and not just a team of gritty players or you're the Toronto Maple Leafs.

GOTCHA

Kovalev is probably one of the srongest men in the NHL pound for pound

Commodore was a TANK!!!

But I guess your statement makes sense. He did threw a lot of soft players away.

I think your theory made sense, and Murray could have known A-Train wouldn't re-sign, but I think he just went after players we needed. That's just my opinion, anyways.

Great analysis. Murray LOVES big players who can score. Always has.

See the 2003 Draft where he selected both Getzlaf and Perry for the Ducks!

That is exactly what I was referring to.

Also, the failed trade for Dustin Penner and the rumblings of scouting Ryan Malone.

I'm not sure if I'd really put Kovalev (6'2'', 222) in that class. We're talking about much smaller, and seemingly tougher, guys here:

Steve Sullivan - 5'8", 161 lbs.
Brian Gionta - 5'7", 173 lbs.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard - 5'10" - 173 lbs.
Claude Giroux - 5'11", 173 lbs.
Mike Ribeiro - 6'0", 173 lbs.
Patrick Kane - 5'10", 178 lbs.
Saku Koivu - 5'10"", 178 lbs.
Michael Cammalleri - 5'9'', 182 lbs.

Size-wise, Kovalev is in the same category as guys like Kurtis Foster, Vincent Lecavalier, Mike Knuble, Brendan Witt, Andrej Meszaros, George Parros, Colton Orr, Anze Kopitar, Johan Franzen, Chris Pronger, Ryan Malone, Jordan Staal, and Ryan Getzlaf - do you really think he plays as tough as any of them?

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dude hes just as strong as those guys WITH THE PUCK ON HIS STICK, hes really hard to knock off

WAY more stronger than any of those with the puck on his stick.

If I say deke 5 players, he is the guy who will deke 5 players. And he is also impossible to stop, whether you hook him, trip him, ...etc.

But if I say score a goal, thats a different story for Kovalev...

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That's not the point.

Josh was talking about strong players pound for pound.

For his size, Kovalev is to be expected to play strong. What really lets him down is his lack of drive, he prefers to mosey through and deke rather than drive the net or put the shoulder down.

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So true

But you can say the same thing said to Lee, even Spezza, Heatley, Thornton, and Lecavlier (I know he is known as the "complete player", his size, skills, ...etc. But he can be more physical. Talk about Getzlaf for example. If lecavier can be like him...wow, he will be the "REAL tank")

Some players just can't do that...sadly

Can you imagine Kovalev checking / hitting? Nah, never seen him do those stuff, atleast what I've seen so far this season.

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