What Will the Sens Do?

[kosydar 0]

I don't think this has been talked about on here yet, in looking at what the Sens have set forth for next season it looks pretty bad for them. I hadn't realized how many players the Sens had lost this off season, and their depth is really hurting now. I've always thought the strength of the Sens was how deep their team was. As of now they no longer have that. Their current line up as of now-

Forwards- Alfie, Spezza, Heatley, McGratton, Eaves, Fischer

Defense- Redden, Phillips, Corvo, Volchenkov, Mezaros, Preissing, Schubert

Goalie- Gerber, Emery

Current cap situation from TSN- roughly $36 million

They still have to resign Kelly, Neil, Schaffer, Vermette. I think its fair to say that the average salary of these four players will be close to $1 million each. Assuming they play it safe and leave $2 mil for a safety cushion, that leaves them around $3 million left. They have some serious gaps to fill. Gone are Havlat, Arnason, Vrada, Smolinski, Pothier, and Chara. They can't come close to filling these gaps with $3 million, rookies and AHL call ups.

Where do the Sens go from here? Can this team even come close to another 100 point season?

[sweetblazer 0]

In my eyes as a senators fan somewhat lol more so the fact I live here. Havlat is not nearly as big a loss as people are saying. The guy doesnt play defense and other then finishing isnt that great offensively. (i know finishing is important but he just isnt one of those guys who makes his linemates that much better). Arnason=plug, Vrada played very poorly and an AHL wrok horse will fill his void im convinced,smoke is a consistent centerman that i liked, Pothier isnt anything special when you look at the top 6 they can still put forth. And chara well big loss on defense but in my eyes preissing will score as much and i see volchenkov and mezaros really stepping it up this year.

In all i think the sens will be in perfect position this year to be honest. I think they will be good, not dominant. They will have to work hard, which will be an assett for them to have learned come playoff time.

[McCabe24 0]

With the division the way it is I really doubt they are as successful as they have been recently during the regular season. They will likely manage a respectable playoff season but there aren't too many of those names that I would want for my Cup contending team.

One positive is the quality of the youth, I realize it is moronic for them to throw the season and rebuild but at least they don't have to win this year. It is possible that they take a dip for a few years to develop their own top talent and then truly contend for the Cup in two or three years.

[kosydar 0]

Havlat isn't a perfect player. Keep in mind he is only 25 and at this point in his career he is a point per game player. He had great stats for someone who had to play behind Heatley, Alfie, and Spezza. On almost every team in the league he'd be a first line guy, and given proper linemates, score 100 points a year. The fact that a guy like Havlat was a 2nd/3rd liner for the Sens is exactly what I'm talking about. They had so much scoring depth, and now most of that is gone.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

With the division the way it is I really doubt they are as successful as they have been recently during the regular season. They will likely manage a respectable playoff season but there aren't too many of those names that I would want for my Cup contending team.

One positive is the quality of the youth, I realize it is moronic for them to throw the season and rebuild but at least they don't have to win this year. It is possible that they take a dip for a few years to develop their own top talent and then truly contend for the Cup in two or three years.

THey have way to much talent to "rebuild" They have a solid defence core and when the top line is clicking they don't need much else. This is the only time I've ever stuck up for Ottawa, and for good reason. Obviously they won't be the "shit we have to play ottawa" team they were, probably not cup contenders, but they'll probably finish in the top of their division. They still have lots of talent.

[McCabe24 0]

My point is that with things only being "solid" at this time it may be a good idea to not go all the way in and add all the high priced veterans. How good are Spezza, Eaves, Mezaros, Volchenkov, etc. going to be in a few years?

[kosydar 0]

My point is that with things only being "solid" at this time it may be a good idea to not go all the way in and add all the high priced veterans. How good are Spezza, Eaves, Mezaros, Volchenkov, etc. going to be in a few years?

How long will Heatley, Alfie, Phillips and Redden be Sens? I can't see there being any way of retaining all four of them within two or three seasons. I think you bring up a valid point on their youth, but at the same time their vets won't always be there.

[McCabe24 0]

I really don't see the point in trying to explain how the Sens can win the Cup. To be honest, I hope the team suffers for being on the cusp for so long.

[trucks 0]

My point is that with things only being "solid" at this time it may be a good idea to not go all the way in and add all the high priced veterans.  How good are Spezza, Eaves, Mezaros, Volchenkov, etc. going to be in a few years?

How long will Heatley, Alfie, Phillips and Redden be Sens? I can't see there being any way of retaining all four of them within two or three seasons. I think you bring up a valid point on their youth, but at the same time their vets won't always be there.

Thats true but also those young guys now will be a little older and more experience in 2 or 3 years so keeping all the veterans wont be necessary but they will definitely keep a few and bring more in later years if necessary. I am also unsure about the Sens prospects but Im sure theres gotta be a few good players in their somewhere and more they will get in trades. I think the Sens have a really great core group of young talent and the Sens won't be going down any time soon. I still don't think they are good enough to do it this year but with that core of players I think they can do some damage in a few. They're still my prediction to be the next Canadian team to win a cup but there's nothing more I'd like to see then the Leafs somehow pull out some feat of amazingness and win it (expletive) soon.

[Cavs019 710]

Where's Vermette in this discussion. He's nasty, and will see the ice a crapload more this year.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

You are correct. I went to see Carolina and Ottawa while I was visiting Ottawa and I remember thinking to my self "wow, Vermette is awesome." He rode the kaboose behind all the stars though, this year should be different.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Havlat was the second line in Ottawa. Last I heard Schaefer will be around 1.5, Neil 1. Not sure on Vermette's numbers. I wouldn't be surprised to see Vermette step into Havlat's role this season and do relatively well.

I can see them having a very similar season to the recent Bruins teams (excluding this past season). Seem to have a similar build. Decent goaltending which is unproven in the playoffs. A great first line, with decent checkers behind it. Ottawa's D isn't what it was, but it's still very good. Hopefully for them Meszy is the real deal (and I think he is) and can step into a top 3 role this season.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

In my eyes as a senators fan somewhat lol more so the fact I live here. Havlat is not nearly as big a loss as people are saying. The guy doesnt play defense and other then finishing isnt that great offensively. (i know finishing is important but he just isnt one of those guys who makes his linemates that much better). Arnason=plug, Vrada played very poorly and an AHL wrok horse will fill his void im convinced,smoke is a consistent centerman that i liked, Pothier isnt anything special when you look at the top 6 they can still put forth. And chara well big loss on defense but in my eyes preissing will score as much and i see volchenkov and mezaros really stepping it up this year.

In all i think the sens will be in perfect position this year to be honest. I think they will be good, not dominant. They will have to work hard, which will be an assett for them to have learned come playoff time.

:o , Wow, Havlat had the best combination of skills/speed for Ottawa. He should have played on their first line. Big lost for Ottawa.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

In my eyes as a senators fan somewhat lol more so the fact I live here. Havlat is not nearly as big a loss as people are saying. The guy doesnt play defense and other then finishing isnt that great offensively. (i know finishing is important but he just isnt one of those guys who makes his linemates that much better). Arnason=plug, Vrada played very poorly and an AHL wrok horse will fill his void im convinced,smoke is a consistent centerman that i liked, Pothier isnt anything special when you look at the top 6 they can still put forth. And chara well big loss on defense but in my eyes preissing will score as much and i see volchenkov and mezaros really stepping it up this year.

In all i think the sens will be in perfect position this year to be honest. I think they will be good, not dominant. They will have to work hard, which will be an assett for them to have learned come playoff time.

:o , Wow, Havlat had the best combination of skills/speed for Ottawa. He should have played on their first line. Big lost for Ottawa.

They did fine when they lost Hossa......

[ecjp11 0]

I don't think the loss of Havlat is all that bad. He was underpaid for his talent level while he played for the Sens, but is now vastly overpaid by the 'hawks. In his 5 seasons he's never played a full season and his games played has gone down every year, Including just 18 games last year. The kid is definitly soft, and IMO a bit of a floater. Schaefer, Fisher, Vermette & Eaves all had 20+ goals last year and are a nice compliment to the top line, which is probably the best 1st unit in the League. The 3rd and 4th lines aren't great, but they also don't see the ice as much as most teams 3 & 4.

The loss of Chara is a little bigger because of the X factor. He could be used so many different ways in different situations, and there's no one there to take his place. Apart from being probably the toughest guy in the league, his shot was feared. That being said, his skating was below average, Meszaros needed more minutes this year and the additions of Corvo and Preissing make their top 6 pretty solid.

Gerber is probably their key pick up at this point. His regular season was amazing last year, but clearly never playing 60 games in the past caught up to him. He steps into a D thats better than the one he left and should be better prepared this year.

Seems like they did a decent job considering the losses of Chara and Havlat were pretty much sealed. There was no way to replace those players straight up, but they took care of some holes. They still shouldn't have a problem winning that division.

[trucks 0]

In my eyes as a senators fan somewhat lol more so the fact I live here. Havlat is not nearly as big a loss as people are saying. The guy doesnt play defense and other then finishing isnt that great offensively. (i know finishing is important but he just isnt one of those guys who makes his linemates that much better). Arnason=plug, Vrada played very poorly and an AHL wrok horse will fill his void im convinced,smoke is a consistent centerman that i liked, Pothier isnt anything special when you look at the top 6 they can still put forth. And chara well big loss on defense but in my eyes preissing will score as much and i see volchenkov and mezaros really stepping it up this year.

In all i think the sens will be in perfect position this year to be honest. I think they will be good, not dominant. They will have to work hard, which will be an assett for them to have learned come playoff time.

:o , Wow, Havlat had the best combination of skills/speed for Ottawa. He should have played on their first line. Big lost for Ottawa.

They did fine when they lost Hossa......

They lost Hossa but got Heatly in return who in my mind fit better with the team, look at their top line last year, just awesome. This time they lost Havlat without getting an equally good if not better player in return. Not quite the same situation.

[Cavs019 710]

In my eyes as a senators fan somewhat lol more so the fact I live here. Havlat is not nearly as big a loss as people are saying. The guy doesnt play defense and other then finishing isnt that great offensively. (i know finishing is important but he just isnt one of those guys who makes his linemates that much better). Arnason=plug, Vrada played very poorly and an AHL wrok horse will fill his void im convinced,smoke is a consistent centerman that i liked, Pothier isnt anything special when you look at the top 6 they can still put forth. And chara well big loss on defense but in my eyes preissing will score as much and i see volchenkov and mezaros really stepping it up this year.

In all i think the sens will be in perfect position this year to be honest. I think they will be good, not dominant. They will have to work hard, which will be an assett for them to have learned come playoff time.

:o , Wow, Havlat had the best combination of skills/speed for Ottawa. He should have played on their first line. Big lost for Ottawa.

If you said to anyone with brains that Havlat should play over Alfie or Heatley they would surely kick you square in the face. How many times dude, the NHL is about production. When your left and right wings on your first line put up 100+ pts, you don't go out saying tommy twinkle toes (Havlat) should play over them. Not to mention, Spezza has more skill than Havlat.

[trucks 0]

Well they have got Vermette back. The Sens and Vermette avoided arbitration and signed him to a 2 year deal worth 2 million bucks.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=171630&hubname=

[McCabe24 0]

Vermette had twenty goals with most of his time spent on the third and even fourth line, when you consider the added minutes and linemate talent that he will now have the kid could push for 30 goals. On the other hand, the pressure of being the new Havlat could get to him and he could crash and burn with a bottom six forwards type season.

As far as Havlat himself goes, he was the biggest threat behind the first line at even strength and was probably the best at creating for himself when you consider how most of his goals, and points for that matter, were accumulated. However, to say he deserved to overtake any of Alfie, Heatley or Spezza when you realize how much that line carried the team is just totally biased to one side of play.

If you ran the team, Fisher, who for my money is one of the most underrated Senators or even NHLers, would be traded for someone with better "skill" and sicker dangles within the first hour because you know that is what every team really wants.