I think most people would. I more think it's a bit of a joke that their prized $7M goal scorer is only ahead of David Clarkson due to a hat trick he scored in one game a few weeks back. Clarkson was keeping pace.

You'd hope for more, and I mean WAY more, out of a $7M player. That contract was clearly given to him based on some inflated totals and play from his days with Getzlaf and Perry. That's a huge contract for a second liner.
- prock

Once again, try to get some help with the math, Ryan is being paid $5.1 M this season, and Clarkson $5.25 M this season.



What part of that don't you understand???



Ryan will be paid $7.25 M starting next season, when he plays for the Philadelphia Flyers.

So what I want to know, is who made the decision to sign Clarkson, knowing his role with the Devils, and why has the leafs not used him in that role more than they have?

Did they sign him to keep him away from a competitor?

Did coaches that have been fired since bringing in Clarkson fail to listen to management and how they wanted him used, or did management supply the coaching staff with the wrong pieces to the puzzle they were working on?

It just seem as though they're not on the same page.
- Doppleganger

yes

Once again, try to get some help with the math, Ryan is being paid $5.1 M this season, and Clarkson $5.25 M this season.



What part of that don't you understand???



Ryan will be paid $7.25 M starting next season, when he plays for the Philadelphia Flyers.
- Doppleganger

Just because his price tag is rising doesn't mean his production will. Maybe he phones it in after inking the deal? Who knows?

Just because his price tag is rising doesn't mean his production will. Maybe he phones it in after inking the deal? Who knows?
- Cape Breton Bruins

LIKE CLARKSON!

LIKE CLARKSON!
- Pecafan Fan

To be fair Clarkson was never any good outside of one season.

Just because his price tag is rising doesn't mean his production will. Maybe he phones it in after inking the deal? Who knows?
- Cape Breton Bruins

Don't expect that will happen.

He's finally playing with regular line-mates, and his line has become the most productive line on the team for scoring goals, and tied in points with the other top scoring line.

The chemistry is growing on his line, and has been for since it was put together.

Next season once his new Flyer contract kicks in, he should be playing with two other players who just signed new deals, and the three of them should all be motivated to show the faith put into them by the team was justified.

So we'll see what happens.

Don't expect that will happen.

He's finally playing with regular line-mates, and his line has become the most productive line on the team for scoring goals, and tied in points with the other top scoring line.

The chemistry is growing on his line, and has been for since it was put together.

Next season once his new Flyer contract kicks in, he should be playing with two other players who just signed new deals, and the three of them should all be motivated to show the faith put into them by the team was justified.

So we'll see what happens.
- Doppleganger

He's been playing for a good team, for many years, with phenomenal linemates.

It's wishful thinking, that after all of these years, now that he's playing for a garbage team, with garbage players, he'll finally show some motivation.

Don't expect that will happen.

He's finally playing with regular line-mates, and his line has become the most productive line on the team for scoring goals, and tied in points with the other top scoring line.

The chemistry is growing on his line, and has been for since it was put together.

Next season once his new Flyer contract kicks in, he should be playing with two other players who just signed new deals, and the three of them should all be motivated to show the faith put into them by the team was justified.

So we'll see what happens.
- Doppleganger

That's not optimistic at all.

That's not optimistic at all.
- Feeling Glucky?

You're one to talk...

Solid win tonight, over a road weary team that played the night before. You have to take that advantage when you get it.

Solid win tonight, over a road weary team that played the night before. You have to take that advantage when you get it.
- Doppleganger

Strong game by the Sens tonight - if they would just play more like that EVERY night they'd have a shot at moving up a bit. And as you say, back-to-back road games for Montreal was a tough spot for them - we've just seen our lads lose those ones too often.

Strong game by the Sens tonight - if they would just play more like that EVERY night they'd have a shot at moving up a bit. And as you say, back-to-back road games for Montreal was a tough spot for them - we've just seen our lads lose those ones too often.
- Mr_Squeaks

Montreal was terribad.

Montreal was terribad.
- Pecafan Fan

The quick goal at the start of the game boosted the Sens and seemed to deflate the Habs a bit.

Now the Hurricanes come to town, and Ottawa can't play down to their level, like they so often do in games like that.

Oh, BTW, California 9, the leafs 1. Ottawa now only 3 points behind their provincial rivals, with 2 games in hand.


leafs .522 trending ↓↓↓↓↓↓ Playoffs chances 14.7%
Senators .512 trending ↑↑↑↑↑ Playoffs chances 16.1%

The quick goal at the start of the game boosted the Sens and seemed to deflate the Habs a bit.

Now the Hurricanes come to town, and Ottawa can't play down to their level, like they so often do in games like that.

Oh, BTW, California 9, the leafs 1. Ottawa now only 3 points behind their provincial rivals, with 2 games in hand.


leafs .522 trending ↓↓↓↓↓↓
Senators .512 trending ↑↑↑↑↑
- Doppleganger

To be fair to the Leafs, playing LA, SJ and ANA is one tough road trip.

To be fair to the Leafs, playing LA, SJ and ANA is one tough road trip.
- Pecafan Fan

Oh I agree 100%, and it'll Ottawas' turn for that brutal California road trip in just over a month, 3 games in four nights. But I think they can manage more than one goal though.



Now that the leafs playoff chances have once again plummeted down to 14.7%, just below Ottawas' playoff chances (16.1%) neither Ontario team is realistically in the playoff hunt, the debate starts now on all the Sports shows on Radio and TV, on who these teams might try and move before the deadline.


We've seen this movie before
http://www.sportsclubstat...anceWillMakePlayoffs.html

2 Prospect Rankings out yesterday
Button and Pronman

Button has Domi at #1

no sens on either list?

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn-hoc...liated-prospects-1.183391


Corey Pronman's Top 50 NHL Prospects
Rank Player Position Team Previous Rank
1 William Nylander C Toronto Maple Leafs 4
2 Sam Reinhart C Buffalo Sabres 5
3 Nikolaj Ehlers LW Winnipeg Jets 6
4 Sam Bennett C Calgary Flames 3
5 Max Domi C/W Arizona Coyotes 27
6 Kevin Fiala LW Nashville Predators 7
7 Jakub Vrana LW Washington Capitals 32
8 Derrick Pouliot D Pittsburgh Penguins 29
9 Darnell Nurse D Edmonton Oilers 23
10 Nic Petan C Winnipeg Jets 24
11 Michael Dal Colle LW New York Islanders 9
12 Anthony Duclair RW New York Rangers HM
13 Josh Morrissey D Winnipeg Jets 18
14 Kasperi Kapanen RW Pittsburgh Penguins 15
15 Pavel Buchnevich RW New York Rangers 25
16 Dylan Larkin C Detroit Red Wings HM
17 Robby Fabbri C St. Louis Blues 35
18 Griffin Reinhart D New York Islanders 20
19 Jake Virtanen RW Vancouver Canucks 26
20 Mathew Dumba D Minnesota Wild 45
21 Sonny Milano LW Columbus Blue Jackets 30
22 Haydn Fleury D Carolina Hurricanes 13
23 Vlad Kamenev C Nashville Predators NR
24 Ville Pokka D Chicago Blackhawks 41
25 Alex Khoklachev C/W Boston Bruins 55
26 Charles Hudon LW Montreal Canadiens NR
27 Brayden Point C Tampa Bay Lightning 87
28 Anthony Mantha LW Detroit Red Wings 33
29 Riley Barber RW Washington Capitals 37
30 Alex Tuch RW Minnesota Wild 89
31 Joe Hicketts D Detroit Red Wings IE
32 Ty Rattie RW St. Louis Blues 61
33 Joel Armia RW Buffalo Sabres 60
34 Axel Holmstrom C Detroit Red Wings NR
35 Travis Sanheim D Philadelphia Flyers 100
36 Josh Ho-Sang C New York Islanders 84
37 Ivan Barbashev C St. Louis Blues 67
38 Oliver Bjorkstrand RW Columbus Blue Jackets 86
39 Brendan Perlini LW Arizona Coyotes 38
40 Nick Schmaltz C Chicago Blackhawks HM
41 Shea Theodore D Anaheim Ducks NR
42 Steven Santini D New Jersey Devils 56
43 Chris Bigras D Colorado Avalanche 47
44 Nikolay Goldobin RW San Jose Sharks HM
45 Madison Bowey D Washington Capitals 97
46 Robert Hagg D Philadelphia Flyers 88
47 Michael Matheson D Florida Panthers 63
48 Julius Honka D Dallas Stars NR
49 Nikita Scherbak RW Montreal Canadiens 92
50 Nick Ritchie LW Anaheim Ducks 68

2 Prospect Rankings out yesterday
Button and Pronman

Button has Domi at #1

no sens on either list?

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn-hoc...liated-prospects-1.183391


Corey Pronman's Top 50 NHL Prospects
Rank Player Position Team Previous Rank
1 William Nylander C Toronto Maple Leafs 4
2 Sam Reinhart C Buffalo Sabres 5
3 Nikolaj Ehlers LW Winnipeg Jets 6
4 Sam Bennett C Calgary Flames 3
5 Max Domi C/W Arizona Coyotes 27
6 Kevin Fiala LW Nashville Predators 7
7 Jakub Vrana LW Washington Capitals 32
8 Derrick Pouliot D Pittsburgh Penguins 29
9 Darnell Nurse D Edmonton Oilers 23
10 Nic Petan C Winnipeg Jets 24
11 Michael Dal Colle LW New York Islanders 9
12 Anthony Duclair RW New York Rangers HM
13 Josh Morrissey D Winnipeg Jets 18
14 Kasperi Kapanen RW Pittsburgh Penguins 15
15 Pavel Buchnevich RW New York Rangers 25
16 Dylan Larkin C Detroit Red Wings HM
17 Robby Fabbri C St. Louis Blues 35
18 Griffin Reinhart D New York Islanders 20
19 Jake Virtanen RW Vancouver Canucks 26
20 Mathew Dumba D Minnesota Wild 45
21 Sonny Milano LW Columbus Blue Jackets 30
22 Haydn Fleury D Carolina Hurricanes 13
23 Vlad Kamenev C Nashville Predators NR
24 Ville Pokka D Chicago Blackhawks 41
25 Alex Khoklachev C/W Boston Bruins 55
26 Charles Hudon LW Montreal Canadiens NR
27 Brayden Point C Tampa Bay Lightning 87
28 Anthony Mantha LW Detroit Red Wings 33
29 Riley Barber RW Washington Capitals 37
30 Alex Tuch RW Minnesota Wild 89
31 Joe Hicketts D Detroit Red Wings IE
32 Ty Rattie RW St. Louis Blues 61
33 Joel Armia RW Buffalo Sabres 60
34 Axel Holmstrom C Detroit Red Wings NR
35 Travis Sanheim D Philadelphia Flyers 100
36 Josh Ho-Sang C New York Islanders 84
37 Ivan Barbashev C St. Louis Blues 67
38 Oliver Bjorkstrand RW Columbus Blue Jackets 86
39 Brendan Perlini LW Arizona Coyotes 38
40 Nick Schmaltz C Chicago Blackhawks HM
41 Shea Theodore D Anaheim Ducks NR
42 Steven Santini D New Jersey Devils 56
43 Chris Bigras D Colorado Avalanche 47
44 Nikolay Goldobin RW San Jose Sharks HM
45 Madison Bowey D Washington Capitals 97
46 Robert Hagg D Philadelphia Flyers 88
47 Michael Matheson D Florida Panthers 63
48 Julius Honka D Dallas Stars NR
49 Nikita Scherbak RW Montreal Canadiens 92
50 Nick Ritchie LW Anaheim Ducks 68
- senstroll

it seems like young guys in the NHL aren't on the list...otherwise you can pretty much guarantee that lazar and ceci would be on there probably zibby too (depending on the age cutoff, seems to go back 2-3 drafts).....same as rielly for you guys.

maybe you could argue that nick paul could/should be there....but honestly even if he was, it would probably be in the high 40's, so who cares.

You're one to talk...
- Pecafan Fan

I've never gone as far as to say guys getting big contracts will make them play harder.

I've never gone as far as to say guys getting big contracts will make them play harder.
- Feeling Glucky?

Some of them may believe they have to play better, to justify the "big" contract, and perhaps by putting the pressure to perform on themselves, they actually put themselves off their game.

Some players just can't perform in some of the high pressure media and fan markets.

Some of them may believe they have to play better, to justify the "big" contract, and perhaps by putting the pressure to perform on themselves, they actually put themselves off their game.

Some players just can't perform in some of the high pressure media and fan markets.
- Doppleganger

so how would that help Ottawa?


Please find examples of players who've stepped up after big contract extensions.

so how would that help Ottawa?


Please find examples of players who've stepped up after big contract extensions.
- Feeling Glucky?

Also include the first line Center and winger they are going to sign. For all intents and purposes it's a dry UFA crop this year.

so how would that help Ottawa?


Please find examples of players who've stepped up after big contract extensions.
- Feeling Glucky?

I was not referring to any players in particular, I was thinking about "big name" UFAs or players who sign with, or get traded to Big Media markets who've had a hard time living up to the expectations of the local media and fan base.

Perhaps like Rick Nash, whose first full (82 game) season did not go as well as expected, and is now playing more as expected.

Also include the first line Center and winger they are going to sign. For all intents and purposes it's a dry UFA crop this year.
- Cape Breton Bruins

It would appear to me that Ottawa is more of a Draft and Develop your own players, type of organization, rather than a sign big name UFAs type of team.

Ottawa's current NHL roster includes 17 players they've drafted and developed. There are a couple of veteran UFAs and a couple they've trade for.


As for first line Centers, I would put you they're not available in trades, and as you pointed out teams tend to keep them, so they rarely become available as UFAs. Teams pretty much have to draft their own. If you take a quick look at the centers wit the most points this season, pretty much all of them were drafted by their current teams.

Does Ottawa have a potential first line Center currently in development? Perhaps, but if he is on the roster and is still developing, we'll only see in a few years.

you were asking about development not options they have

He is better playing in the SEL right now
- senstroll

The leafs brain-trust decided to send Willie back to Modo to play in the SHL after training camp was done.

BUT, I've heard that they did not like what they saw, of certain parts of his game, at the WJC, and attributed these shortcomings to playing in the SHL, and a basement club, or something to that affect.

So that's why they decided to move him up from the SHL to the AHL, as I suggested they (the leafs brain-trust) should have done right out of training camp.

There was nothing he could have learned by playing in the SHL that would have helped his transition to the smaller sized ice surface and the North American Style of hockey.

If I were a leafs fan, I'd be questioning the decision of the leafs brain-trust at the end of training camp, and wonder if this misjudgment may have set back Willies' development in any way.

The leafs brain-trust decided to send Willie back to Modo to play in the SHL after training camp was done.

BUT, I've heard that they did not like what they saw, of certain parts of his game, at the WJC, and attributed these shortcomings to playing in the SHL, and a basement club, or something to that affect.

So that's why they decided to move him up from the SHL to the AHL, as I suggested they (the leafs brain-trust) should have done right out of training camp.

There was nothing he could have learned by playing in the SHL that would have helped his transition to the smaller sized ice surface and the North American Style of hockey.

If I were a leafs fan, I'd be questioning the decision of the leafs brain-trust at the end of training camp, and wonder if this misjudgment may have set back Willies' development in any way.
- Doppleganger

Proof, or it didn't happen.

What was not to like?