I'm pretty sure that Gonchar leaving now makes Ottawa the youngest team in the NHL.
The whole thing kind of sucks since Gonchar was probably the best option for us going into next season. It's going to be really hard to improve on this year's result without him. A 6th round pick is nice, but isn't much.
Long term though, we needed to get younger and this trade is one of the few ways that was going to happen. We need options for the next 5-10 seasons, not answers for 1-2 seasons. Ottawa took a big risk giving him a fairly lengthy contract three years ago. It's like playing the lottery with worse odds each year.
We have a lot of options next year to fill his role. Between Benoit, Wiericoch, Borowicki, and Gryba I trust that management can find a way to fill two rosters spots. The other 4 positions are solid. Plus, if Phillips retires next year, we'll need more young guys with experience to replace his minutes as well. We have a lot in the pipeline and a finite number of contracts we can give out.
Five million was a lot of money to shell out for a mid-range team like Ottawa. If we aren't going to contend, no need to spend it. If anything, I think it makes it more likely that we keep Alfredsson as well.
Good luck Gonchar, you'll be missed. Glad you're in the west.
That may be true but you also have to consider the fact that ALL our young players are still developing. And we have a ton. That means the likes of Conacher, Zibanejad, Silfverberg, Turris, Smith, Greening, Cowen, Gryba, Wiercioch ... the list just goes on and on, will all have one more professional year under their belt and will most likely only get better from last year.
Not to mention that they will probably add at least one or two new young guys to next yr's team beisdes the guys you have listed. My guess is Stone & maybe Hoffman or Ceci.
I expect andy to have his best season of his career next season , and after that his play should decline, and probably dethrowned by lehner after next season
Yeah but next year Karlsson should be back by mid season, we'll have Spezza back healthy hopefully and we still have dark horses to make the team in Peumpel, Neosen, Ceci, Stone, Prince,....etc and hopefully our players take steps forward from last year. Like Zibanejad Silf Conacher Cowen Pageau etc.
yeah, i think that's what he meant, though i'd caution people expecting karlsson back to 100% of his peak at ANY time next season. I still think karlsson's best is yet to come, but next season will be a challenge as he continues to rehab, and i dont expect peak karlsson untill 2014-15.
as for andy, he had a .941 last season. That's unsustainable. Expect something closer to .920. hope for something closer to .930.
as for andy, he had a .941 last season. That's unsustainable. Expect something closer to .920. hope for something closer to .930.
I expect .930. He is that good now. And the team helps him to a high percentage by clearing rebounds (all skaters help) and forcing perimeter shots.
I expect us to continue to allow a lot of shots. Not like this year where we led the league much of the season, but still in the top half of the league.
I think Anderson is the Senators Tim Thomas, except he is luckily years younger then when Thomas found his A game.