The Ottawa Senators announced the signing of 30-year old Zenon Konopka today (reportedly 700k).  Rumours of Konopka coming to Ottawa have been floating around forever (the most recent I can remember is here www.ottawasun.com/2011/06/26/sens-should-target-free-agent-konopka), but the former Ottawa 67 has finally landed in the capital.  While a productive forward both at the junior and AHL level, fighting is what got Konopka into the NHL.  Besides toughness, Konopka is one of the NHL’s faceoff leaders (57.7% last year) and a solid penalty killer.  Last year was Konopka’s second full year in the NHL and he finished it with 25 fighting majors (second in the league behind George Parros).  The year before he lead the league with 33 fights.

I expect the Sens won’t require Konopka to fight as much, acquiring him as much for his faceoff and defensive skills (although his acquisition should lessen the load on Chris Neil and Matt Carkner).  Term was likely also an attractive factor.  The signing makes me wonder if Jesse Winchester will move to the wing, as the Sens now have 6 centers on the roster (Colin Greening has been playing leftwing, but was a center until he turned pro).

Konopka’s stats with the Islanders: 82-2-7-9 307 pims

With Konopka signed the Senators now have 10 one-way contracts at the forward position, with Bobby Butler and Erik Condra still to be signed and Nikita Filatov slotted to play.  Barring a trade, there isn’t much room for young players to make the team.

Speaking of signings, the numbers have come out for Francis Lessard‘s two-way deal: his salary is unchanged from his previous contract (550k NHL/100k AHL).

July 5, 2011
Categories: Free Agency, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment

The first day of free agency is in the books and as expected the Ottawa Senators were not major players.  Previously, management had indicated a need for a back-up goaltender and a top-six forward in his prime.  The first need has been filled with former Senators goalie Alex Auld (about whom more below), but Bryan Murray made some very interesting comments today that indicates they are looking for something other than a top-six player.

During the interview (http://video.senators.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=1196&id=120162&navid=DL|OTT|home, the relevant bits I’ve transcribed below) Murray made a number of points:
-the key element to signing Alex Auld was term (a one-year deal)
-the acquisition of Filatov means they are not looking for another top-six forward (adding further that the performances at the development camp have presented the possibility of a prospect making the team besides Filatov)
-he said they are still looking for “one specific role” on the team that he wouldn’t specify, only saying that the player could grow and develop into his role
-in regards to Ryan Shannon he said he wouldn’t be a regular player with Ottawa, but if he failed to find an opportunity elsewhere they might bring him back (saying they wanted a young player in his spot)

From Murray’s comments it seems clear that he believes they have their top-six group for next year.  Who is this group?  Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, and Milan Michalek are the no-brainers.  We know Nikita Filatov is going to be given the opportunity and I have to think Bobby Butler and Peter Regin are the other two players.  I’m not sure what the missing ingredient is–unless Chris Neil, Zack Smith, and Matt Carkner don’t provide enough toughness–but it may be a penalty-killer.

In Alex Auld the Senators have acquired a player who is a capable back-up.  He poses no threat to Craig Anderson‘s starter status nor Robin Lehner‘s position as the goaltender of the feature.  Auld‘s previous stay in Ottawa (2008-09) turned out badly largely because of Martin Gerber‘s struggles.  With the defensively minded Montreal Canadiens his numbers were: 16-6-2-2, 2.64, 0.914.

Ottawa also re-signed pugilist Francis Lessard to police Binghamton next season.  Lessard put up the following numbers between Binghamton and Ottawa: 36-2-1-3 and 24-0-0-0, with 187 pim’s in the AHL and another 78 in the NHL.

Murray quotes:
Alex Auld: “he fit our criteria–he can play, he can play well in the league.  He’s a guy that understands his role, that…he understands we have Robin Lehner waiting in the wings to come and play within a year and…I didn’t want to go for term for the backup guy, and Alex was very receptive to that.” And “I thought we were in the market with several other players, but it came down to term.”
Top-six forward: “I thought about it and we’re still talking about one role on the team, but…when we added Filatov–and I think the good thing that’s happened here is we’ve had our development camp going on before this and I see possibilities with young people.  Our plan starting at the trading deadline last year was to put some young people on our team and compete because of energy maybe not experience and that’s what we’re going to try to do.” And “I think early on I said [we were looking for a] top-six [forward], but by getting Filatov here we’re going to give him that chance or one of the other young guys and then we’ll see if we can find the right fit to…kind of round out the roster.”
Ryan Shannon and who they are looking for: “We thought it was fair to Ryan to let him shop and see if he can get a job where maybe he would be a regular player.  He’s used to playing somewhat regular over here and has done a good job and I hope he gets something for him.  If at the end of the day he can’t find a role we might go back to him, but my intent is to put a different type of player in that spot and see that they can grow so that in the second half of this coming year we’re a very competitive hockey team.” And “We’re looking at a particular type of player, yes.”

July 2, 2011
Categories: Free Agency, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 2 Comments

With the NHL free agency period beginning tomorrow, the Senators are looking to address a pair of specific needs.  The factors to keep in mind: Ottawa is in the first year of a rebuild.  Teams always overpay for free agents, especially teams in smaller markets like Ottawa.  The Senators have repeatedly said they have no interest in expensive free agent talent and are only looking for a backup goaltender and a top-six forward.  Bryan Murray has also said he doesn’t want to sign key players who are at the end of their careers, so at least for the forward the player will be in their prime.  It also makes no sense to sign a back-up who will challenge Craig Anderson (that’s Robin Lehner’s job).

Goaltenders
[Ultimately, Ottawa goes with a blast from the past in signing Alex Auld who was with the club in 2008-09.]
Mathieu Garon – 32, Clb, 36-10-14-6, 2.72, 0.901, 1.2 million
[As per TSN Tampa Bay has signed Garon, http://twitter.com/#!/tsnbobmckenzie]
Capable of taking over the starting role for short periods of time.  He’s affordable and the best backup in the UFA crop to my mind.
Josh Harding – 27, Min, 25-9-12-0, 3.05, 0.905, 1.2 million
[TSN reports Minnesota has re-signed Harding, http://twitter.com/#!/tsnbobmckenzie]
Coming off some injury problems in Minnesota.  Once a top prospect, he’s settled into a back-up role for the Wild.  When he’s healthy, he’s someone who is capable of taking over the starting role for limited periods of time.
Ty Conklin – 35, Stl, 25-8-8-4, 3.22, 0.881, 1.3 million
[Detroit has signed Conklin, http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/sports/article/921815–wings-sign-conklin-after-osgood-s-retirement]
Career back-up coming off a terrible season in St. Louis.  He’s a good team guy  and won’t command much money.

Top-Six Forward
Jussi Jokinen – 28 C/LW, Car, 70-19-33-52, 1.7 million
[Carolina has reportedly re-signed Jokinen, http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=567837]
In his prime and would fit nicely in the puck-possession style the team wants; it’s unknown if he’d want to go to a rebuilding team.
Tomas Fleischmann – 27 C/LW, Col, 45-12-19-31, 2.6 million
[TSN reports Florida has signed Fleischmann, http://twitter.com/#!/tsnbobmckenzie]
Serious health problems are a concern, but they would also cut down his salary demands.
Scottie Upshall – 27 LW/RW, Clb, 82-22-12-34, 2.25 million
[TSN reports Minnesota has signed Upshall, http://twitter.com/#!/tsnbobmckenzie]
There are reasons he’s bounced around the NHL, but Upshall has skill and would provide energy.
Ville Leino – 27 LW/RW, Phi, 81-19-34-53, 0.8 million
[As per TSN Buffalo has signed Leino, http://twitter.com/#!/tsnbobmckenzie]
Would he come to a rebuilding team?  I suspect Leino wants to win the Cup, so is unlikely to want to come to Ottawa.

I favour Garon and either Leino or Jokinen, but it’s entirely possible Ottawa signs no forwards at all and have to dive into the lower end of the back-up goaltender pool.

June 30, 2011
Categories: Free Agency, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment