Confirmed with Link: Devil's sign Jim O'Brien 1 year, $575,000

[HBK27]

More competition, put up some good numbers down the stretch in Hershey that our new coach saw first hand. Most people complained about the lack of offense on our 4th line & this is a potential upgrade. At worse, he plays in Albany for the year. Nothing not to like about this signing.

 

[EnglishDevil]

Is this the same O'Brien who played a bunch of games for Ottawa a few seasons ago?

If it is that's not a bad signing, i remember Ottawa fans being quite complimentary of his play, he did a very solid job as a fourth liner for them, i think he actually scored quite a few goals (for a fourth liner) in his short stints with the Senators.

It's a one year cheap two-way deal for a player who isn't ancient, not much to dislike here. Not sure how he is on face-offs, but i could definitely see him being this seasons Ryan Carter type, good 4th liner.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Is this the same O'Brien who played a bunch of games for Ottawa a few seasons ago?

If it is that's not a bad signing, i remember Ottawa fans being quite complimentary of his play, he did a very solid job as a fourth liner for them, i think he actually scored quite a few goals (for a fourth liner) in his short stints with the Senators.

It's a one year cheap two-way deal for a player who isn't ancient, not much to dislike here. Not sure how he is on face-offs, but i could definitely see him being this seasons Ryan Carter type, good 4th liner.

Unless they had more then one then it is. Their former 1st rounder from 2007

 

[EnglishDevil]

Unless they had more then one then it is. Their former 1st rounder from 2007

Yeah it is, i just checked. I was supremely confused because it was a few seasons ago and then he seemingly dropped off the face of the planet so i was curious as to what happened to him. It appears he went to the KHL briefly and then came back and spent a year in the NHL.

I like this deal for us, he has some talent, at best we get a 4th line center with size who can chip in some offense and apparently is reasonably good at face-offs, at worst he can be a leader down in Albany to shield the influx of youngsters entering the system down there.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Sweet, our next Bobby Butler!

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Sweet, our next Bobby Butler!

I'm thinking more along the lines of the next Bernier really. I don't think he'll fit quite as well as Carter did, but who knows.

 

[Tundra]

I'm far more excited about our bottom 6 as opposed to our top 6. We have guys like this to go along with Coleman, Tootoo and Matteau.

 

[Better Call Sal]

He scored on us once:



2nd Senators goal, was the final game of the 2012 regular season.

 

[schoenfeld]

honestly all of the moves made this offseason have been of the "**** it, can't hurt" variety, can't really complain.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

He scored on us once:



2nd Senators goal, was the final game of the 2012 regular season.

Brodeur
Kovy
Chico

Also, that was the infamous 5-on-1 game! And I was 100% certain after that Zubrus pass to Henrique that they weren't going to score.

EDIT: Awww, Gio's first NHL goal game, too. If we only knew...

 

[Better Call Sal]

The toughest JOB in the NHL.

You down with JOB? Yeah, you know me.

You down with JOB, yeah, who is he?

The marketing opportunities are endless!

In all seriousness, maybe a fresh start and a clear cut 4th line center role will do him well. He'd definitely be an upgrade over Little Gio.

 

[HBK27]

Is this the same O'Brien who played a bunch of games for Ottawa a few seasons ago?

If it is that's not a bad signing, i remember Ottawa fans being quite complimentary of his play, he did a very solid job as a fourth liner for them, i think he actually scored quite a few goals (for a fourth liner) in his short stints with the Senators.

It's a one year cheap two-way deal for a player who isn't ancient, not much to dislike here. Not sure how he is on face-offs, but i could definitely see him being this seasons Ryan Carter type, good 4th liner.

He put up 5 goals in 29 games (14 goal pace over full season) during his last stint in the NHL with Ottawa, scored at nearly a PPG pace (29 points in 32 games) last season in Hershey & is a former 1st round pick so there's some potential for him to crack the lineup.

 

[sveiglar]

I have no expectations of him based on his time in Ottawa. Not a fan of his game but it's a no-risk move. If he wins a job, great. If he doesn't, I won't be surprised and no harm done. He'll easily clear and be very good for Albany.

 

[Billdo]

Waiting for someone to say Kelly or Darcy Zajac deserve the spot over him if we are just putting a guy out there for 4th line minutes...

 

[Japam]

He scored on us once:



2nd Senators goal, was the final game of the 2012 regular season.

Awesome goal by Ryder!

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Well if he sticks, we have our St. Patrick's Day throwback jersey best seller.

 

[Missionhockey]

O'Brien-6'2" 200lbs

Gionta-5'7" 185lbs (probably generous)

I bet O'Brien will have the inside track on the 4th line center job.

 

[devilsblood]

So this means someone will be traded.

On the other hand we can always cut this guy if needed.

 

[Better Call Sal]

So this means someone will be traded.

On the other hand we can always cut this guy if needed.

I don't think it means anything at all. Just a potential cheap bottom 6er that, if he doesn't perform, can just be sent to Albany.

 

[JimEIV]

O'Brien-6'2" 200lbs

Gionta-5'7" 185lbs (probably generous)

I bet O'Brien will have the inside track on the 4th line center job.

Looking at that way makes sense.. but I don't know Gionta was going to be a center? Look at center ice without Gionta and before O'Brian...

Zajac, Josefson for sure...

then possibly the guys who could play center but maybe wing...Henrique or Elias, Kalinin, Zubrus or maybe Zacha. Maybe Coleman

 

[Feed Me A Stray Cat]

Gionta is a good 13th forward. I'm in support of JOB for 4th line center.

 

[devilsblood]

So JOB is a center? can he skate? That's shero's thing right? With that size if JOB is a decent skater, can play responsible in his own end, then this sounds kewl to me.

I'm also cool with Gio on 4th line RW, or as noted 13th fwd.

 

[Drewr15]

Hynes had a first hand look at him last season so you have to think he feels he can fit into the style they want to play. Worth a shot. I'd rather fail with young guys who have a chance to improve than old vets on their way out.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

So JOB is a center? can he skate? That's shero's thing right? With that size if JOB is a decent skater, can play responsible in his own end, then this sounds kewl to me.

I'm also cool with Gio on 4th line RW, or as noted 13th fwd.

Tootoo.

I'm hoping this signals a severe cut-back in Gio's usage. Yay Shero.

 

[Missionhockey]

Looking at that way makes sense.. but I don't know Gionta was going to be a center? Look at center ice without Gionta and before O'Brian...

Zajac, Josefson for sure...

then possibly the guys who could play center but maybe wing...Henrique or Elias, Kalinin, Zubrus or maybe Zacha. Maybe Coleman

Maybe, but if Gionta doesn't make the team as a center, I don't know where there's a spot for him. I doubt Zubrus plays center, he's best on RW. So as far as RW depth goes:

Palmieri
Tootoo
Zubrus
Kalinin

So he has a shot to beat out Kalinin but I have a feeling that Shero expects Kalinin to be on the team otherwise, why would he only give him a 1 year contract? It seems like, if Kalinin doesn't make the Devils he's going back to Russia. Left wingers:

Cammalleri
Elias/Henrique
Ruutuu
Matteau
Boucher

Definitely no spot there. I imagine that Matteau and Boucher are going to get significant amount of playing time considering Shero's youth movement and there's nothing that Gionta provides in a bottom six left wing role that Ruutuu doesn't do better except for skating.