-The Sens have re-signed Peter Regin, who will get a chance to show if he’s truly recovered from his shoulder surgeries.  Ken Warren reports he’ll be paid 800k for the season, which is a 20% drop in salary.  Tim Murray said “We’re very happy to get Peter into the fold. He has had a tough two years with injuries, but when he was not injured, he was certainly a top nine forward (capable of playing on the top three lines), with good offensive skills.”

-Here’s my look at Ottawa’s roster decisions in the off-season.

–Don Brennan indulges in all kinds of speculation:
1. The Sens should re-sign Chris Kelly (to serve as an “example” for the other Senators–presumably Brennan thinks the current vets aren’t doing a good enough job in that respect)
2. Ollie Jokinen could help (I’m not sure how–isn’t Turris their second-line center?)
3. P. A. Parenteau or Brad Boyes could provide secondary scoring (the former has stated his intention to stay with the Islanders, while the latter is coming off an atrocious season)
4. Suggests Barret Jackman, Bryan Allen or Kent Huskins to replace Filip Kuba if he walks (for those wondering, they had 13, 14, and 7 points, which combines to just beat Kuba‘s total of 32 for the year)
5. Shane O’Brien to replace Matt Carkner if the latter is let go (the same O’Brien who has played for four different organisations over the last four seasons)
As dismissive as I am of his suggestions, the normally sober Lyle Richardson thinks they are sensible.  Brennan also thinks the team should trade Craig Anderson because his trade value is high–he thinks they could acquire the defensive defenseman the organisation says they need as well as the offensive forward Brennan thinks they need.  The idea is, of course, absurd and Brennan is just trying to be provocative.

–Tim Murray made some interesting comments about Binghamton, “I think what we’re trying to do here is sign our own players from within the organization, that have either been drafted or traded here, get them done first of all and see where they fit. I think that in Binghamton, obviously we have to improve our personnel down there, surround our prospects and kids down there with better players and better people, on the veteran side of things. So, at this point, that’s what we’re trying to do. Some of those signings certainly won’t be until after July 1 if they come from other teams.”  What interests me is the comment about “better people” on the veteran side of things, which makes me wonder about which veterans are being referred too (not, presumably, Corey Locke or Francis Lessard who were with the team last year, or Mike McKenna who received a lot of praise, but presumably Mark Parrish or Tim Conboy).

-Here’s my profile of Sens prospect Darren Kramer.

-The Calgary Flames signed KHL free agent Roman Cervenka and Ryan Kennedy throws a hissy-fit about it.  Kennedy, who says nothing specific about Cervenka, compares his signing with other failed European and NCAA experiments without making useful comparisons to those players or looking at the specifics of Cervenka‘s contract (his contract is based on games played, and other bonuses, plus has a European re-assignment clause so he can be sent back to Omsk).  Cervenka is a 26-year old, slightly undersized (5’11) left-handed center who played on the Czech 2005 WJC team, but went undrafted.  He didn’t generate NHL interest until he dominated the Czech league in 2009-10 and played for the 2010 Olympic team.  Last summer he was considered one of the best players in Europe (51-31-30-61 in the KHL playing with Jaromir Jagr), but his production slipped this year (54-23-16-39), although he still lead his team in scoring.  Here’s who Kennedy compared him too (I’m ignoring the NCAA flops since they are completely irrelevant):
1. Jaroslav Hlinka (2007) – the 5’10 30-year old was coming off a career year in the Czech league and was signed by Colorado; he put up decent numbers (63-8-20-28), but not the top-six numbers some were hoping for.  Hlinka never put up the gaudy numbers Cervenka has in Europe and was an older player, so the comparison isn’t apt
2. Fabrian Brunnstrom (2008) – the 6’1 23-year old was a prospect hyped after a strong rookie year with Farejstad in the SEL; he’s never quite progressed as hoped, but he was a prospect not a European pro so there’s no comparison to Cervenka
3. Ville Leino (2008) – the 6’1 24-year old was signed after a monster year in the SM-Liiga; after a year of paying his dues in the AHL for Detroit he didn’t make an impact until his playoff performance with Philadelphia in 2010.  He played reasonably well the following season (81-19-34-53), but because he struggled this year Kennedy thinks he’s finished as a player.  Putting the hyperbole aside, this is a closer comparison, although Leino‘s pre-North American resume isn’t Cervenka‘s either
I think the risk the Flames are taking is a worthwhile one.  Cervenka likely isn’t a top-six talent in the NHL (very few players outside the league are), but given the lack of prospects in the Flames organisation it’s worth giving him a shot and the money it costs the organisation isn’t unreasonable.

May 5, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 8 Comments

With Ottawa’s 2011-12 season complete the team faces a number of roster decisions.  The organisation is starting year two of the rebuild (or re-tool) and other than wanting to sign a veteran defensive defenseman Bryan Murray has given few indications what changes they will make.  Their UFA’s and RFA’s are listed below (NHL to AHL, from oldest to youngest), with those likely to depart in red and those likely to stay in green (I’ve missed my chance to look smart in predicting Peter Regin would be re-signed as the Sens have done so before I posted this).  I’ll also look at players still under contract who may be moved.

Forward UFA
Zenon Konopka (31) – scratched for more than a quarter of the season, his playoff performance is not enough to save a player who didn’t show up for the regular season
Jesse Winchester (28) – concussion problems and a consistent lack of production means he won’t be back
Rob Klinkhammer (25) – a spare part on the roster, I think the influx of young talent will see him let go
Mark Parrish (35) – the veteran couldn’t stay healthy and his production was subpar, so he’ll be gone
Francis Lessard (32) – the pugilist was scratched for a third of the season and won’t be back
Corey Locke (27) – arguably the best player in the AHL and while I’m sure they’d love to retain him, if he wants NHL games he’ll have to go elsewhere

Defence UFA
Filip Kuba (35) – had a great year and contributed to Karlsson‘s development, but with Melynyk looking to save money he will likely move on
Matt Carkner (31) – has bad knees and was scratched for a quarter of the season; may be kept to fill the heavyweight role, but is otherwise gone
Matt Gilroy (27) – deadline acquisition was invisible and won’t be retained
Tim Conboy (30) – performed up to expectations and could be retained, although the priority for an AHL vet on the blueline is an offensive dynamo which he is not

Forward RFA
Nick Foligno (24) – consistently inconsistent, but will definitely be back
Kaspars Daugavins (23) – not many undersized players earn checking roles, so he’s iffy
Jim O’Brien (23) – was excellent this season and will be retained
Pat Cannone (25) – a solid season for the college grad will see him retained
Stephane Da Costa (22) – despite some struggles I don’t see the Sens giving up on him after one season
Nikita Filatov (21) – he’ll be qualified, but will play in the KHL

Defence RFA
Erik Karlsson (21) – no question he’ll be re-signed
Eric Gryba (24) – the organisation likes him so he’ll be retained
Craig Schira (24) – has never really progressed so he’ll be let go

Goaltender UFA
Alex Auld (31) – was awful and will walk
Mike McKenna (29) – was solid, but I don’t see him being retained as the organisation will want Lehner to be the undisputed starter

Players under contract (discussion below):
Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson (39), Chris Neil (32), Jason Spezza (28), Milan Michalek (27), Colin Greening (26), Peter Regin (26), Erik Condra (25), Bobby Butler (25), Zack Smith (24), Kyle Turris (22), Corey Cowick (23), David Dziurzynski (22), Mike Hoffman (22), Louie Caporusso (22), Derek Grant (22), Cole Schneider (21), Andre Petersson (21), Jakob Silfverberg (21), Wacey Hamilton (21), Mark Stone (19), Mika Zibanejad (19)
Defence: Sergei Gonchar (38), Chris Phillips (34), Jared Cowen (20), Ben Blood (23), Mark Borowiecki (22), Chris Wideman (22), Patrick Wiercioch (21)
Goaltenders: Craig Anderson (30), Ben Bishop (25), Robin Lehner (20)

There aren’t many question marks among the players under contract (I think Alfredsson will return, incidentally), but Bobby Butler is coming off an atrocious season while in the minors Corey Cowick has yet to become an AHL-regular.  I believe Butler will be moved (as early as the draft, as late as training camp) with a chance that Cowick will be sent to another organisation as well.

There are prospects who must be put under contract or the team will lose their rights: Jakub Culek, Marcus Sorensen, and Darren Kramer.  The latter is expected to be signed and help police Binghamton, but the two 2010 draft picks are bigger question marks.  Culek and Sorensen haven’t grown as expected and I suspect in the case of the undersized Swede he will be let go.  Culek‘s potential (and size) might earn him a contract.

A few other prospects are eligible be play in Binghamton due to age (Shane Prince and Jean-Gabriel Pageau) or being drafted from Europe (Fredrik Claesson).  I don’t see room for the former pair, particularly given how small Binghamton’s forward group already is.  Claesson is an interesting case however, given that Djurgarden has been relegated and Binghamton is short on the blueline.  There’s a decent chance he’ll be signed to play in the minors.

Finally, a couple of notes: there’s a possibility the Sens might sign Jack Downing to a contract.  Playing with an AHL-contract this season, he showed a great deal of improvement and Binghamton could use his size in their lineup.  As an older player however, it remains an “if”.  On a different note, former Binghamton blueliner Geoff Kinrade was qualified as an RFA last year, but chose to go to Europe.  He has a contract in the NLA with Bern, but it’s always possible he has an “out” clause and that the organisation could convince him to return.

Overall I believe only four regulars from the Sens lineup will change with the effect greatest on the blueline.  This would be the hypothetical roster based on my assumptions:
NHL forwards (13)
Alfredsson
Neil
Spezza
Michalek
Greening
Regin
Condra
Foligno
Smith
Daugavins
Turris
O’Brien
Silfverberg

NHL defensemen (6)
Gonchar
Phillips
*defensive defenseman*
Karlsson
Cowen
Borowiecki

NHL goaltenders (2)
Anderson
Bishop

AHL forwards (14)
Cannone
Downing
Da Costa
Dziurzynski
Hoffman
Caporusso
Grant
Schneider
Petersson
Hamilton
Kramer
Stone
Culek
Zibanejad

AHL defensemen (7)
Conboy
*offensive defenseman*
Gryba
Blood
Wideman
Wiercioch
Claesson

AHL goaltenders (2)
Lehner
*veteran*

May 4, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: 7 Comments

-Here’s my review of the Sens in the playoffs.

–Paul MacLean talked about his first season coaching in the NHL, “I feel good about the fact I can coach in the league and we’ve had satisfaction, so I guess I give myself credibility that I can do this. But now the hard part is to do it again. I remember when I scored 30 goals for the first time, and I was all pumped up about it and an old guy, Floyd Thomson, said ‘Oh yeah? well now you’ve got to do it again.’ I feel the same way today. That’s a motivator for me, and it also scares me to death. Because I know how hard it is, and it’s hard to do. But I’m looking forward to it, and I’m excited about September, of getting back for training camp and getting started again. But I’m also scared to death.”

–Bryan Murray made an interesting comment regarding his second line, “Up front, we’re always looking for somebody to step in and score goals. That line with (captain Daniel Alfredsson) played with Turris, if we had one more guy that could score consistently or be a 20-to-25 goal scorer would make our team different.”  That’s a shot across the bow at Nick Foligno.  Murray also said the team needs another defensive defencemen which might come internally or externally.

–Joy Lindsay Tweets that “[Bryan] Murray said he told Lehner that Bishop‘s one-way can be managed, but that org likes goalies to play in minors — and win“, apparently without a sense of irony since Lehner has already won the Calder Cup.

–Ian Mendes Tweets that “[Bryan] Murray says he will not automatically qualify all of his RFAs“, but implies Nick Foligno will be back by saying “he challenged Nick Foligno in their exit meeting. Wants him to prove he’s a 2nd liner.”

–Peter Regin talked about his status going forward, “It was a different injury this time. It wasn’t the same. I guess I was just unlucky that it was the same body part on the same side, so it looked bad that way. I’m confident, the doctors are confident, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

–Bruce Garrioch grades the Sens and I’ll delve into his comments after listing the grades (Regin and Gilroy were not assessed):
A+ Karlsson, Alfredsson
A Anderson, Spezza, Paul MacLean, Bryan Murray
B+ Cowen, Phillips, Neil, Michalek
B Kuba, Gonchar, Turris, Greening, Bishop
B- Foligno
C+ Carkner, Smith, Condra, Konopka, O’Brien, Winchester
C- Daugavins
D Auld
F Butler

As you’d expect there are oddities in Garrioch’s assessment.  You’d think MacLean and Murray would warrant an A+; Phillips (as always with Ottawa’s media) is given the grade of a teacher’s pet; how Kuba is only a B is difficult to understand, but Garrioch doesn’t provide a rationale for how he grades players, so there’s nothing to evaluate how grades are assigned.  Winchester does not deserve a C+, while Smith, Condra and Daugavins deserve better grades; I’m not sure why Auld doesn’t get the same failing grade Butler earns.

Now for the odder statements from Garrioch: he wants Carkner to be retained–the same player who has a bad knee and can’t play during the regular season; he says Gonchar showed veteran leadership in the playoffs, but will likely be dealt in the off-season (no reason is provided for why); he speculates Chris Kelly might be brought back because…well, no reason is provided; he says Winchester has a role when healthy–what role?  There’s nothing he offers that other players don’t do as well (or better).

–Jean-Gabriel Pageau‘s season is over as Chicoutimi was knocked out of the QMJHL playoffs.

April 29, 2012
Categories: Binghamton Senators, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens . Comments: Leave a comment