So answer this :
Which NHL Team doesn't have 13 guys in their system (all ages) that are better than Chris Tierney? The only difference in Ottawa is that those guys are quite young because the team just went into a MASSIVE REBUILD. That's what happens after a major firesale. It seems like Sens fans are really not used to what a full rebuild is. Also, if there's one thing the Sens do well above average, it's drafting and developing good NHL players (since Murray took over Muckler in 2008) :
Ottawa Senators Draft History at hockeydb.com
Yes I know about the bias you can find on here, particularly when a player was involved in a trade but I don't think it applies much here. CHRIS TIERNEY IS JUST NOT A TOP-6 FORWARD, I'm sorry but anyone who thinks that doesn't really understand NHL hockey. It's simple, just look at his abilities and tell me one thing he does above average. Is Zack Smith a top-6 forward because he scored 25 goals that one year? Is Alex Chiasson a top-6 forward because he scored 22 goals in 73 games this season? Was Clarkson a star because of that 30 goals season?
Do you realize that Tierney was 5th in TOI/GP on the Sharks last season before they acquired Evander Kane (17 GP with Sharks). He was even 4th when Joe Thornton was injured. They had serious forward depth problems last year before they acquired Kane and before a few young guys established themselves and made Tierney completely expendable.
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?rep...ilter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=timeOnIcePerGame
Same thing on the Sens this year, Tierney was a great hole patcher. Only Stone, Duchene and Dzingel had more TOI/GP before Pageau came back from injury. Let that sink in. 48 pts is great but seriously I doubt he ever scores as much another time in his career unless he plays under special circumstances where a team seriously lacks depth up front (or has many rookies like the Sens this year)
So yes, theoretically we're in great shape asset wise but the owner remains Eugene Melnyk and we never know how much he is going to invest in the team. One thing that is almost as important as your roster is the coaching staff and as long as they don't invest seriously in that, they won't make much noise.
How quickly people have forgotten that LAST SUMMER, the Sens had Karlsson, Stone, Duchene, Hoffman, Dzingel, Chabot, Tkachuk, White, Wolanin, Batherson, Brown, Bernard-Docker, Formenton, etc already all in the system. I just named 13 guys and quite frankly, who there is not already better than Tierney? Batherson, JBD, Brown and Formenton? Seriously, it's just because they are younger and not proven yet.
I don't see what is so surprising here. After trading 4 stars and a top-6 forward, they better have good young assets.
OK so who do you think will have a worse career among the 13 guys voted before Tierney?
Chabot, Tkachuk, Batherson, Brannstrom, Brown, White, Wolanin, Norris, Bernard-Docker, Formenton, Balcers, Jaros, Duclair
Curious to see your answer. Who are the "magic beans" here?
Chabot : do I need to say anything?
Tkachuk : do I need to say anything?
Batherson : considered as a high end prospect, we also saw him quite a lot in the NHL, AHL, rookie tournament, etc. What a major disappointment would be if he doesn't end up better.
kid was drafted not even 2 years ago. Let that sink in.
Brannstrom : considered as an elite prospect. His speed, IQ and overall skillset alone will make him a very good NHL player.
Brown : considered as a high end prospect, hard to predict what he will become exactly but he will be a NHL player and overall skillset, should be a good one even if he disappoints.
White : saw him in the NHL for a full season. Already comfortably better than Tierney IMO.
Wolanin : saw him quite enough in the NHL, AHL and rookie tournament (where I was totally amazed by him). To me, easily better than Tierney already.
Norris : draft position, overall skillset, IQ, elite athleticism, breakout year in the NCAA
Bernard-Docker : complete prototype of today's NHL D-man, impressed in the NCAA as a freshman. Was only drafted last year. As time advances, he will become clearer and clearer as to who is better.
Formenton : his elite speed alone makes him a NHL player,
kid was drafted not even 2 years ago. I mean not many could skate with McDavid but he can.
Balcers : see his performance in the AHL in his first 2 pro seasons, see his stint in the NHL this year. With experience and coaching, it's reasonable to think he might end up better than Tierney. He's already a lot faster and more skilled.
Jaros : international experience, his play in the NHL. We'll see how he ends up but looks like he will be a solid stable #4-5 D-man
Duclair : has more natural ability in his little toe, it has been a problem of establish himself. He's still younger than Tierney and after being acquired by the Sens, he has shown that he was better, like AINEC seriously.
One thing all these players have in common is that they're faster (skating/pace) than Tierney
