Which doesn't include Dorion.Nobody in their right mind called Ottawa a contender for this season. Everything, literally everything went right for that team in 16-17.
Which doesn't include Dorion.Nobody in their right mind called Ottawa a contender for this season. Everything, literally everything went right for that team in 16-17.
If they had added to Girard and got Duchene instead of Turris, I think they could’ve won this year, but yea they would need both Duchene and Johnasen, having just one of them probably wouldn’t be enough. In the playoffs the cream usually rises to the top. The NHL isn’t as bad as the NBA but it’s still a star driven league.IMO even Nashville with their d core wont win the cup unless they get a better center than what they have now. It's no coincidence that they haven't been able to win it yet. They just don't have a game breaking center or any forward to be honest. Forsberg is a good player and all, but is he really a game breaker? Their #1 center is Ryan Johansen who definitely is not a game breaker.
It is a remarkable haul for one player, especially one who isn't a dominant player. Not a diss on him either, he just isn't in that upper stratosphere of elite talent. Obviously Ottawa thinks he is.
Oh and for all the talk of whether the Sens were a legit contender or perceived as one, it's clear Duchene himself thought he was going to one. In his mind that was the perfect scenario--a team that made it to the Conference Finals the year before and very close to his Haliburton home. I don't envy his current situation where he may have to ask for a trade again, but to be blunt, he got what he wanted.
I'd say he isn't a consistently dominant player. I mean lets be real, the guy has his stretches where he's absolutely incredible and near impossible to play against. But of course he also isn't elite player because he is obviously isn't consistent enough.
Yeah, I'd agree with that. I would like for him to silence the critics like Patrick O'Sullivan at the very least and play consistently well when the team is still in the thick of things. Of course it benefits the Avs if he doesn't.
Of course he'll probably be in the position Recchi was in playing for Montreal or Kessel in Toronto where their good play was always overshadowed by massively overpaying for them.Such a shame he could never fully put it all together. What a player he would've been. We'll see how he does with them after a full offseason and see if he can actually keep his chemistry with Hoffman or not, because if so that'd do a lot to silence some critics.
I still can't get over how well Sakic did. Acquired Turris, Bowers, Hammond, a 1st, and a 3rd for Duchene. Then flipped Turris for Girard, Kamenev, and a 2nd. It's the type of move that can really set a team up long-term.
I don't think many would disagree about Duchene being better than Turris but he's not that much better. The extra money you're going to pay on an extension has to be factored in as well. The rumour was Turris wanted 7 or 8 years from the Sens but Melnyk said no. Turris will be 29 when the extension kicks in so I can see why they would be reluctant but Duchene will be 28 and you'll probably have to pay him $7.5-8M/yr.
I wonder if at one point, during all the talks between the teams, Sakic just muted the conference call and wondered out loud "wow, are we really getting all of this" with MacFarland adding "dude, if it falls apart, just take Girard, Komerev, and the 2nd, that is still a great deal."
Sakic didn't even have to take Dorion to Red Lobster first.I think the real kicker of the deal was getting Bowers added. He was already getting a 1st, 3rd, and Turris who he planned to flip for even more assets. Prying Bowers loose, especially given that the Sens FO was really high on him, was a really good move. The trade really didn't need Bowers to work from Ottawa's end, but Sakic got a valuable young center asset added anyway.
I still can't believe the Sens reportedly hinged (or at least partially hinged) their decision on whether or not to give up the pick to Colorado on whether or not Tkachuk would be there at 4th overall.
Tkachuk is a great player that will bring more than just offensive production to that team. I can't fault them for making that pick because that's exactly what I would have wanted us to do if they had given us #4. It is kind of funny that they didn't do their due diligence regarding him returning to college until after drafting him, though.I still can't believe the Sens reportedly hinged (or at least partially hinged) their decision on whether or not to give up the pick to Colorado on whether or not Tkachuk would be there at 4th overall.
Tkachuk is a great player that will bring more than just offensive production to that team. I can't fault them for making that pick because that's exactly what I would have wanted us to do if they had given us #4. It is kind of funny that they didn't do their due diligence regarding him returning to college until after drafting him, though.
Oh I'm sure Brady will be a really good player, maybe even franchise-caliber, but I still find it weird that, if, say, the Habs opted for him, Dorion would've been more agreeable to part with the pick with Zadina/Hughes/Kotkaniemi/etc. still on the board. Really? You valued him by THAT much!?
Haha, fair enough. I see where you're coming from now. Maybe similar to how drafting Landy helped turn the Avs around, the Sens drafted Tkachuk expecting a similar reaction from their team. Will it happen? No idea. Brady isn't anywhere as handsome as Gabe is.Oh I'm sure Brady will be a really good player, maybe even franchise-caliber, but I still find it weird that, if, say, the Habs opted for him, Dorion would've been more agreeable to part with the pick with Zadina/Hughes/Kotkaniemi/etc. still on the board. Really? You valued him by THAT much!?