Ottawa's Next Move
With all of their RFA’s re-signed, we now get a clearer picture of the Senators of next season:
A good team, but still noticeably weaker then the one that was runner-up for the Stanley Cup.
So, will they rest on their laurels? Or does Mr Murray have something up his sleeve?
I have some ideas.
Note: All this is pure speculation and/or opinion on my part. Any opinions expressed are purely my own personal ones. So don’t bother reading if your going to enter with a close mind. All constructive comments are welcome.First off, here’s what the Sens look like next season:
Heatley/Spezza/Alfredsson
Vermette/Fisher/Eaves
Donovan/Kelly/Neil
Schubert, Dimitrakos or rookie/McAmmond/McGrattan
Redden/Meszaros
Phillips/Volchenkov
Corvo/Schubert, Nycholat, Carkner or rookie.
Emery
Gerber
I suggest we sign:
Mike Johnson: 80gp 11g 20a 31p +6
Solid 3rd liner, responsible defensively and his numbers would most likely go up playing on a team like the Sens.
Brent Sopel: 64gp 5g 23a 28p +2
Would be a solid 6th defenseman and would allow Schubert to stay as a forward.
OR
Mike Johnson: see above.
Oleg Saprykin: 61gp 15g 21a 36p +5
Seemed to have some chemistry with McAmmond in the play-offs, didn’t provide a lot of scoring, but plays
well as a fourth liner, and could move up to second line if there’s an injury, provides some depth,
which is why he was originally acquired in the first place.
This gives the Sens more depth going in, and while still weaker then last year’s team, an improvement over what they have now. One year deals would be preferable (perhaps essential), in order to save money for Heatley, Fisher and Spezza next summer.
The only question is cap space. Well, with a little less then 5 million, I think the Sens could make it work, but would have their faces right up to the cap.
And no, I don’t think that trading Gerber would help. Who would replace him? There’s no one out there as good. He’s expensive yes, but is a reliable back up capable of being a starter in case Emery goes down.
So, the lines would change to
Johnson/Kelly/Neil
Schubert/McAmmond/Donovan
Corvo/Sopel
or
Johnson/Kelly/Neil
Saprykin/McAmmond/Donovan
Corvo/Schubert