could this analysis be any more off base.

wow..looking back this poster (whoever it is) was dead wrong
- senstroll

Looks like their account was deleted

There's a sens fan a couple of pages later talking about how without the cap, Eugene would be a top-5 spending GM in the NHL, and how willing he is to put money into the organization.

Why not deal them at the Deadline for something?

I would not have a problem with Ottawa dealing any or all of their impending UFAs. There are prospects in Binghamton that are capable to fill some of these spots next season.
- Doppleganger

7 UFAs

Bolland - Would prefer to keep if reasonable, OK to trade
Kulemin - Would prefer to keep
Mcclemment - Would prefer to keep
Raymond - Trade away
Bodie - keep as 4th line depth (dump Orr if we can)
Smith - dont care
Ranger - would keep if re-signed for 1 mill again.

Hummmmm?

I still see four First Round Picks, in the last three Entry Drafts, still the property of the Ottawa Senators. So if they don't have a first round selection this year, that would then be Four First round picks in Four Entry Drafts..............not a bad average.

But you do agree that the Senators are a re-building team.

Well if I look at their current "on ice" line up, I see four first round picks, selected in the past 6 Entry drafts.....................plus three second round picks, also in their current "on ice" line up, selected in the past 6 Entry drafts.

Again not a bad average for a Re-building team.

I see eight more Draft picks, selected in the past 6 Entry Drafts, paying in Binghamton, with a number of those having a fair number of NHL games under their belts, with some of them having legitamate shots at an NHL roster spot.

Also another first round pick who played for the recent Canadian National Junior team


So when I look at the overall picture, I see the NHL club with the third youngest average age in the NHL, flirting with a playoff spot, a Farm Team with the 5th best record in the AHL, it's not nearly as bad as you'd like it to be.


So for a rebuilding team, as you pointed out, they're in pretty good shape.
- Doppleganger

Why are you only looking at the last 3 drafts?

Stop cherry picking specific years that suit your arguments.

Why not deal them at the Deadline for something?

I would not have a problem with Ottawa dealing any or all of their impending UFAs. There are prospects in Binghamton that are capable to fill some of these spots next season.
- Doppleganger

because we're in the playoffs. as I said, they're all depth players that would be easy to replace, and won't really get much of a return anyway. What's the point of weakening the team for the playoffs, for a few late round picks? Might as well just keep the depth.

don't forget the leafs have seven players who will become UFA's this coming July, who all will leave, and the leafs will get nothing in return for them.
- Doppleganger

They probably won't all leave. Toronto has a franchise on the rise, a good cap situation, a city that people don't get bored to death in, and most important of all, a team willing to spend money to retain it's players.

Ottawa has cap space, but none of the other benefits.

Some will leave though. Leafs have a good pool of prospects to draw from that will make some of them expendable.

because we're in the playoffs. as I said, they're all depth players that would be easy to replace, and won't really get much of a return anyway. What's the point of weakening the team for the playoffs, for a few late round picks? Might as well just keep the depth.
- prock

Exactly. If the Leafs know they can't get them re-signed, they'll keep them as their own rentals, rather than spending more assets for guys who won't stick around.

Though it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see some of them packaged for a piece we do need, like a top-4, right handed d-man.

I wonder if UFA-for-UFA deadline deals happen... never really looked into it.

They probably won't all leave. Toronto has a franchise on the rise, a good cap situation, a city that people don't get bored to death in, and most important of all, a team willing to spend money to retain it's players.

Ottawa has cap space, but none of the other benefits.

Some will leave though. Leafs have a good pool of prospects to draw from that will make some of them expendable.
- Feeling Glucky?

Don't really care if Ranger leaves. The Leafs have way too many D anyway. Re-sign him I guess, because he's cheap, good for depth. And he won't leave Toronto, we all know that. Trade Franson I think. The blueline is too full, and with a pile of young guys pushing to make the team, he's immediately and easily replaced.

Smith, Bodie, I really couldn't care what happens. Mason Raymond has been a good cheap pickup, but unless he signs for under $2M, he's an easy one to replace too.

Bolland and McClement are the only two I'd really like to keep. But it's not like losing Bolland is a huge loss compared to this year. He hasn't played. McClement plays a pretty solid role though.

Kulemin I like, but again, for the money, wouldn't be too hard to replace.

Absolutely no key players in danger of jumping ship.

Exactly. If the Leafs know they can't get them re-signed, they'll keep them as their own rentals, rather than spending more assets for guys who won't stick around.

Though it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see some of them packaged for a piece we do need, like a top-4, right handed d-man.

I wonder if UFA-for-UFA deadline deals happen... never really looked into it.
- Feeling Glucky?

That's a good way of phrasing it. Their own rentals. It's a nice luxury, in that they won't really have to give up anything at the deadline.

In fact, given the situation that's almost EXACTLY what Bolland is. A deadline acquisition. But for free.

In fact, I suspect if they wanted to, they could deal a guy like Franson, and not have it hurt the team too much. I doubt they do that till the summer though.

That's a good way of phrasing it. Their own rentals. It's a nice luxury, in that they won't really have to give up anything at the deadline.

In fact, given the situation that's almost EXACTLY what Bolland is. A deadline acquisition. But for free.

In fact, I suspect if they wanted to, they could deal a guy like Franson, and not have it hurt the team too much. I doubt they do that till the summer though.
- prock

If YOU had the choice of the leafs first round opponent, who would you pick?

If YOU had the choice of the leafs first round opponent, who would you pick?
- Doppleganger

easy Ottawa

easy Ottawa
- senstroll

Can't happen.

I guess no one is answering because they don't like the current possible match ups.

I think the leafs should attempt to finish third in their division, and face the Lightning.

easy Ottawa
- senstroll

I wish we had drawn them or Montreal last year. Easy pass to the 2nd round.

I wish we had drawn them or Montreal last year. Easy pass to the 2nd round.
- Feeling Glucky?

Who would you prefer to draw this year, in the first round?

Can't happen.

I guess no one is answering because they don't like the current possible match ups.

I think the leafs should attempt to finish third in their division, and face the Lightning.
- Doppleganger

I thought you asked if we had a choice?

I thought you asked if we had a choice?
- senstroll

I assumed you'd use a little bit of logic, and pick a team that it would be possible for the leafs to face in the first round.

sorry.


Why not select Buffalo?

I assumed you'd use a little bit of logic, and pick a team that it would be possible for the leafs to face in the first round.

sorry.


Why not select Buffalo?
- Doppleganger

because my choice would be Ottawa

Who would you prefer to draw this year, in the first round?
- Doppleganger

hmm.. guess the comment I typed didn't submit.

Anyone but boston is a pretty good mantra. Montreal would be a dream, and it's not impossible that the Leafs pass Tampa, by any means... but I wouldn't mind facing them either.

We also do well against Pittsburgh, so finishing in the 2nd wildcard spot would be preferable to where we are now.

That all being said, if the Leafs could beat Boston, that would go a long way to helping their confidence.

because my choice would be Ottawa
- senstroll

Yea, I'd also rather face Ottawa than Buffalo.

If YOU had the choice of the leafs first round opponent, who would you pick?
- Doppleganger

Of those that will make the playoffs, easily Montreal. Small soft team that's easy to push around in a seven game series that relies heavily on its goaltending, which has a habit of blowing up for stretches.

Second is Tampa.

Yea, I'd also rather face Ottawa than Buffalo.
- Feeling Glucky?

Yea, I'd also rather face Ottawa than Buffalo.
- Feeling Glucky?

I only say that because I could go to some games.

its a long shot, I think the only way is of Toronto and Ottawa finish 2/3 in the Division. but not impossible.

I wouldn't mind a Montreal first round match up, that's more likely than Ottawa

hmm.. guess the comment I typed didn't submit.

Anyone but boston is a pretty good mantra. Montreal would be a dream, and it's not impossible that the Leafs pass Tampa, by any means... but I wouldn't mind facing them either.

We also do well against Pittsburgh, so finishing in the 2nd wildcard spot would be preferable to where we are now.

That all being said, if the Leafs could beat Boston, that would go a long way to helping their confidence.
- Feeling Glucky?

so it will probably be Boston then

http://espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/matchups

- prock

It's not even a dig at Ottawa. Miller just has our number on so many nights... while Ottawa's usually gonna give us 2 points.

so it will probably be Boston then

http://espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/matchups
- senstroll

If the Leafs win 3 more games than Tampa from now until the end of the season, we could wind up in 2nd place.

Not exactly an impossible dream.

I only say that because I could go to some games.

its a long shot, I think the only way is of Toronto and Ottawa finish 2/3 in the Division. but not impossible.

I wouldn't mind a Montreal first round match up, that's more likely than Ottawa
- senstroll

If we squeeze our way into 2nd or 3rd, we'd probably be facing Tampa... unless they go on a slide, in which case we'd likely up against Montreal.