Bryan Murray on the team 1200 at 3:05 today.

[God Says No]

The only "FA" defenseman I would take a look at is Paul Ranger, because he's been playing meaningful games.

yip. agreed. i think he would be a good fit. i actually like him better than lundin.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

He said this morning that Zibby is healthy to come to camp this week but they are keeping him at Bingo.

Step away from the cliff people.

Great news: he's missed a lot of hockey so keeping him in Bingo makes sense

 

[RedWhiteBlackGold]

Wonder which FA's have contacted Murray. Imagine Campoli's agent has been working the phones nonstop now.

 

[Berserker*]

-Thinks Ceci is a longer term project but will look at him at camp.
-Very happy with Bishop and Lehner gonna take a hard look at both of them.
- Thinks the team is tough enough but if not he'll have to address it .

I am going to speculate that this will be an issue and that it will become painstakingly evident very soon. Firstly, the shortened season will increase the intensity of play among all players because each game has become more important in determining whether or not a team makes the playoffs. Aside from that, there is now a much more powerful incentive to target star players and try and take them out of the game or a stretch of games. Therefore the rats in the league should be running wild.

IMO the senators won't be in a good position for this. We have a handful of injury prone players (Lattendresse, Michalek, Regin and to a lesser extent Spezza and Alfie) that are very likely to miss a significant amount of time due to injuries from the increased physical play.

On top of that, we aren't really in a great position because the strength of our depth comes from our prospects. Those prospects are too new to the NHL to carry the load offensively. So we will likely go on a losing streak if we lose a few of Karlsson, Spezza, Alfie and Michalek to injuries for any length of time. Hell even if those players can be taken off their game from the lack of time and space could severely negatively impact the success of the team this season.

 

[John Holmes*]

I am going to speculate that this will be an issue and that it will become painstakingly evident very soon. Firstly, the shortened season will increase the intensity of play among all players because each game has become more important in determining whether or not a team makes the playoffs. Aside from that, there is now a much more powerful incentive to target star players and try and take them out of the game or a stretch of games. Therefore the rats in the league should be running wild.

None of those things happened in 1995.

 

[General Granny*]

Its a 48 game season, toughness won't matter at all.

 

[RedWhiteBlackGold]

Well we still have Neil and Smith, and to a lesser extent JOB that can keep other teams in check. I don't think we'll need much more this season.

 

[General Granny*]

Plus Borocop if he's in the lineup and Methot could fight, as well as Greening.

 

[Emerica]

Its a 48 game season, toughness won't matter at all.

How the hell is it going to be different from an 82 game season?

I also think toughness is going to be a major issue but can be adressed later on.

 

[Qward]

Methot is tougher than Foligno and we don't have to worry about him getting 35 goaltender interference calls against him.

 

[Langdon Alger]

Any interest in Mark Eaton, Kurt Sauer, Jim Vandermeer, Brad Lukowich or Brett Clark? They are all UFA. Here is the link to the whole list of UFA defenceman.

http://capgeek.com/free-agents/?year_id=2012&team_id=-1&position_id=D&fa_type_id=2

 

[Emerica]

Methot is tougher than Foligno and we don't have to worry about him getting 35 goaltender interference calls against him.

Sure but we also lost Carkner, Konopka. Cowen won't be there either. Who's replacing them?

 

[aragorn]

I am going to speculate that this will be an issue and that it will become painstakingly evident very soon. Firstly, the shortened season will increase the intensity of play among all players because each game has become more important in determining whether or not a team makes the playoffs. Aside from that, there is now a much more powerful incentive to target star players and try and take them out of the game or a stretch of games. Therefore the rats in the league should be running wild.

IMO the senators won't be in a good position for this. We have a handful of injury prone players (Lattendresse, Michalek, Regin and to a lesser extent Spezza and Alfie) that are very likely to miss a significant amount of time due to injuries from the increased physical play.

On top of that, we aren't really in a great position because the strength of our depth comes from our prospects. Those prospects are too new to the NHL to carry the load offensively. So we will likely go on a losing streak if we lose a few of Karlsson, Spezza, Alfie and Michalek to injuries for any length of time. Hell even if those players can be taken off their game from the lack of time and space could severely negatively impact the success of the team this season.

While I don't think Ottawa is very tough now, I think the team toughness issue will be addressed over time when some of our Bingo prospects will be not just NHL ready but making a difference in the NHL. A number of players projected to make Ottawa in the next few yrs from Bingo are already bigger & some tougher than some of the players they will replace like Condra, Daugavins, Regin, Gonchar & Alfredsson. I see the future of this team like this plus whoever they sign as free agents or trade for.

Silfverberg - Spezza - Michalek
Zibanejad - Turris - Noesen
Greening - Grant - Stone
Dzuirzynski - Z. Smith - Neil/JOB

Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Wiercioch - Gryba/Sdao/Sustre

Lehner - Anderson/Driedger

 

[OttawaSenators11]

Sure but we also lost Carkner, Konopka. Cowen won't be there either. Who's replacing them?

Yeah, we are obviously not as tough as last season. People who don't think it matters is going to be in for a surprise.. Last years team success was in part because of the grittiness / toughness.

I just hope Murray is true to his word if we do have issues in that department this upcoming year.

Last years team was a pleasure to watch with the way the played.

 

[PatrickEaves]

Last year's success was because of:

Spezza and Karlsson

They stay healthy and continue to dominate and we will be fine. If they get injured and miss >6 games and we will suck. It's just that simple.

 

[Icelevel]

Last year's success was because of:

Spezza and Karlsson

They stay healthy and continue to dominate and we will be fine. If they get injured and miss >6 games and we will suck. It's just that simple.

anderson says: not that simple

 

[Qward]

Don Brennan is an idiot

 

[HavlatMach9]

Don Brennan is an idiot

Why? Because we should trade Anderson so it creates a story? That there's nothing to talk about since the lockout has ended, except everything?

 

[OttawaSenators11]

Last year's success was because of:

Spezza and Karlsson

They stay healthy and continue to dominate and we will be fine. If they get injured and miss >6 games and we will suck. It's just that simple.

of course they were a big part of it, but you're blind if you think the grittiness / toughness didn't contribute to the surprising season.
Everyone knew not to mess with our star players or else something was going to happen. Not sure if that fear will be there this season.

 

[Berserker*]

None of those things happened in 1995.

Just my speculation, I could very well be wrong.

 

[Berserker*]

Sure but we also lost Carkner, Konopka. Cowen won't be there either. Who's replacing them?

It may not happen until next season but prospects like Dziurzynski, Borowiecki, Gryba and Sdao could all be pushing for spots. If a few of them make the team and Murray signs Pierre Cedric Labrie to be the 12/13th forward then we will have replaced the lost toughness and in turn upped the skill level of the tough players.

 

[Qward]

Sure but we also lost Carkner, Konopka. Cowen won't be there either. Who's replacing them?

Carkner played 29 games last season. Hurt for most of the season. averaged 11 minutes a game.

Konopka played 55 while healthy. meaning he was scratched for 27 games. He averaged 7 minutes a game.

Cowen had 2 fights last year. Methot will make up for those lost hits and then some.

Konopka's fights were "hey wanna go?" fights. There is no point to those anymore.

Carkner was great in the playoffs when he went after the Rangers for messing with Karlsson.

If we are suffering, Murray will get us a heavy weight. I just don't see us needing one.

 

[Berserker*]

Its a 48 game season, toughness won't matter at all.

What are you basing this off of.

 

[Benjamin]

Speed & Skill > 4th line goon

 

[Berserker*]

Carkner played 29 games last season. Hurt for most of the season. averaged 11 minutes a game.

Konopka played 55 while healthy. meaning he was scratched for 27 games. He averaged 7 minutes a game.

Cowen had 2 fights last year. Methot will make up for those lost hits and then some.

Konopka's fights were "hey wanna go?" fights. There is no point to those anymore.

Carkner was great in the playoffs when he went after the Rangers for messing with Karlsson.

If we are suffering, Murray will get us a heavy weight. I just don't see us needing one.

I think that when anyone assess Carkner and Konopka, they need to consider how their presence on the team contributed to the team toughness mentality. Aside from that their actions and play in the playoffs added to the team's success.

Although their play on the ice most of the season left a lot to be desired. That is why I am an advocate of replacing their toughness with more skilled tough players. It may not happen until next season, but I would like to see Dziurzynski and Labrie replace Konopka's role up front and two of Borowiecki, Gryba and Sdao replace Carkner's role on the back end.