Topic: When we get healthy do we move a forward to add another defenceman?

[1st rounder]

No, but Neil is a good example of a player that made it to the NHL on his toughness, and has improved his game to the point where that is no longer the only role he can play. Prior to this year I never saw Neil as more than a 4th liner on a top team. I was wrong, he has developed into a solid third line grinder. Even on a top team.

Now as for adding Doan to the Sens for a playoff drive. Why? I thought the idea was to add a playoff veteran that could help lead this team deep into the playoffs. Doan has never been past the first round, has 12 points in 32 playoff games, and is a -3 in his playoff career. If the Sens are going to pick up a rental playoff veteran, let them get one that has been deeper in the playoffs that the 1st round and has put up some decent playoff numbers. Doan does not fit that description.

I would mcuh rather see the Sens adding a veteren D-man to improve the Sens depth going down the stretch and into the playoffs (which brings us back to the original topic). But that isn't going to be easy to do. Anyone with to much salary would be a rental (has to be in the last year of his contract), so giving up to much would hurt. A depth 6/7 type guy wouldn't cost that much, either in cap space or in what you would have to give up to get him. The list of players that fit that description is pretty short though, and the comptition to acquire them for the stretch run will be stiff. Even more so with so many teams still in the playoff hunt. We don't even know who the buyers and sellers are yet, and we may not know until very close to the trade deadline.

As I've stated before, I personally would like to see Ottawa add Eric Brewer he won't cost much and is insurance in case they lose Phillips next year. He has been flying under the radar of late so he might come cheap.

[OS]

If there was a deal, make it for a veteran D, not another forward at this point.  We are good for depth forwards and the price of a really skilled or elite one would be too high.  Comrie has met that need anyway. 

I'm nervous that the D is 1 injury away from awful, unless Corvo gets it together more. 

[Dagwood]

I think acquiring Tellqvist in favor of a struggling Joseph may have helped as well. Plus the players seem to be playing harder for #99 again.

[1st rounder]

I think acquiring Tellqvist in favor of a struggling Joseph may have helped as well. Plus the players seem to be playing harder for #99 again.

Their goaltending has definately improved recently but their getting healthy again, I just don't know if their strong enough to compete in the other conference.

They'll be sellers at the trade deadline I think.

[work2play]

As I've stated before, I personally would like to see Ottawa add Eric Brewer he won't cost much and is insurance in case they lose Phillips next year. He has been flying under the radar of late so he might come cheap.

I saw your earlier comment about Brewer.  Depends on what the Sens have to give up for him. 

True he is a former olympian, but he has also never lived up to his potential since.  I think Brewer is a gamble and the way he has played the past few years he would not even be close to an adequate replacement for Phillips.  The thought of the Sens trading for Brewer is giving me Arnason flashbacks.  Sens give up prospects and picks for a guy that is a bust here and then moves on after not helping one bit in the playoffs.

[armchaircoach]

Did you ever see the game winner that McCarty scored in the Cup finals for Detroit? McCarty came from the same breed as Brian has come from. He's trailing off in his career now, but he evolved into a pretty good hockey player and contributed in very significant roles when his team invested confidence in him.

Of all the teams in the league, we as Sens fans got to see Chris Neil turn into the closest thing to Rich Tocchet/Cam Neely in years. He is only improving. I could understand how a team who has never had a tough guy grow that well as a player, but we've seen it happen first hand. McGrattan does possess the fundamental skills that are required to be a player in the NHL, not to mention that he's huge, and tough as hell. If we could turn him into a confident defensively conscious player (which he is turning into quickly) who can play more than 6 or 7 minutes a game, then we would have something special for pretty much no money.

Mcgrattans illustrious Junior career

Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW Shots Pct
1997-1998 Guelph  OHA-B    15  4  3  7   94       
1997-1998 Guelph  OHL    25  3  2  5   11       
1998-1999 Guelph  OHL    6  1  3  4   15       
1998-1999 Sudbury  OHL    53  7  10  17   153       
1999-2000 Sudbury  OHL    25  2  8  10  -7  79  0  0  1   
1999-2000 Mississauga  OHL    42  9  13  22  -55  166  2  0  1   
2000-2001 Mississauga  OHL    31  20  9  29  -26  83  12  0     
2001-2002 Mississauga  OHL    7  2  3  5  -1  16  0  0  0   
2001-2002 Owen Sound  OHL    2  0  0  0  -1  0  0  0  0   
2001-2002 Oshawa  OHL    25  10  5  15  -11  72  4  0  2   
2001-2002 Sault Ste. Marie  OHL    26  8  7  15  -5  71  2  0  2   

(sorry it is a bit difficult to read but if you follow the columns across you will see his biggest point year was
2000/01- 29pts in 31 games, pretty good, but a -26 (+/-)    and
1999/2000 - 22 pts in 42 games, -55 (+/-) !!!

hardly says that he has the ability to play hockey at the NHL level other than what he does, drop the gloves and fight, sorry, but he would never be in the NHL otherwise, and I doubt very much that he will ever score a winning goal in the playoffs, because he wont see any ice time.

Laraque Vs Fedoruk?? comeon, if one of those guys wasn't on the ice, I can bet there would never have been your so called pivotol moment... give it a rest!

[1st rounder]

I saw your earlier comment about Brewer. Depends on what the Sens have to give up for him.

True he is a former olympian, but he has also never lived up to his potential since. I think Brewer is a gamble and the way he has played the past few years he would not even be close to an adequate replacement for Phillips. The thought of the Sens trading for Brewer is giving me Arnason flashbacks. Sens give up prospects and picks for a guy that is a bust here and then moves on after not helping one bit in the playoffs.

That's exactly what I mean, by flying under the radar, you might not have to give up a lot for him, I'm thinking a 2nd round maybe. But if it's to be done it should be sooner then later.

Depending on the price he would be worth the risk, i mean i think he's better then Corvo, and he's (-5) in St. Louis which isn't bad for a team that is going no where at this time.

[LaForge]

Why do we need 8 defencemen?  The possibility of injury is a fact of NHL life, not a reason to acquire players on spec. There's no protecting against what happened to Buffalo; if it happens to the Sens, then it's too bad so sad.
I have a sneaking suspicion that COrvo will be this year's Pothier in the playoffs ie. the critic silencer. I can just sense that he can't wait to play in the playoffs.

[1st rounder]

Why do we need 8 defencemen? The possibility of injury is a fact of NHL life, not a reason to acquire players on spec. There's no protecting against what happened to Buffalo; if it happens to the Sens, then it's too bad so sad.
I have a sneaking suspicion that COrvo will be this year's Pothier in the playoffs ie. the critic silencer. I can just sense that he can't wait to play in the playoffs.

The reason I would want them to get a D-man is for that reason exactly. You have to have depth everywhere going into the playoffs, I think we're okay at forward since we've added Comrie, but 7 D-men is playing with fire and is priority #1.

Better to be safe then sorry, that's my philosophy.

If they had someone in bingo that could play in the nhl if needed but I don't know of anyone there, if so i'd like to see them get a veteran power forward, as you've probably noticed I'm a fan of Shane Doan.

[oz_sensfan]

I'm a fan of Doan as well but I really don't want to see us giving up prospects.....I believe that is the reason we have such a weak farm system at the moment. In all our previous attempts to win the cup Muckler has given up prospects subsequently, by trading our prospects away, we now have very few that are close to NHL level ie. if called up I doubt they could hold their own in a playoff environment

[1st rounder]

I'm a fan of Doan as well but I really don't want to see us giving up prospects.....I believe that is the reason we have such a weak farm system at the moment. In all our previous attempts to win the cup Muckler has given up prospects subsequently, by trading our prospects away, we now have very few that are close to NHL level ie. if called up I doubt they could hold their own in a playoff environment

I would only give up a prospect if the guy your getting back is signed to contract for at least another year or 2 and he had better be an impact player.

I wouldn't give a prospect up for Doan for that very reason unless you were planning on signing to a multi-year contract and who's to say he would sign.

There are a lot of factors that come into play with UFAs, but what's out there that is available, that has the impact of a Neuwendyk, Roberts, or a Sakic on a playoff bound team. I can't think of one off the top of head, but a D-man is still the No.1 priority.

Some people have posted that they just want a depth player on Defence, I would rather see them get a guy that can step in and play immediately. I'm not sold on Corvo, and Preissing has been better of late but I'm not 100% sold on him either.   

The only guy I can think of that fits that type of player, that is available is Eric Brewer. Otherwise we might be looking at a Defenceman that is a veteran on another team that can play in the NHL as a No.6 defenceman if needed, but might be in the minors right now. Like a Brad Norton or Todd Simpson I guess, I actually don't know if their up or down but you get the picture......band-aids basically, a safety net.

[butterfly_style]

Mcgrattans illustrious Junior career

Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW Shots Pct
1997-1998 Guelph OHA-B 15 4 3 7 94
1997-1998 Guelph OHL 25 3 2 5 11
1998-1999 Guelph OHL 6 1 3 4 15
1998-1999 Sudbury OHL 53 7 10 17 153
1999-2000 Sudbury OHL 25 2 8 10 -7 79 0 0 1
1999-2000 Mississauga OHL 42 9 13 22 -55 166 2 0 1
2000-2001 Mississauga OHL 31 20 9 29 -26 83 12 0
2001-2002 Mississauga OHL 7 2 3 5 -1 16 0 0 0
2001-2002 Owen Sound OHL 2 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0
2001-2002 Oshawa OHL 25 10 5 15 -11 72 4 0 2
2001-2002 Sault Ste. Marie OHL 26 8 7 15 -5 71 2 0 2

(sorry it is a bit difficult to read but if you follow the columns across you will see his biggest point year was
2000/01- 29pts in 31 games, pretty good, but a -26 (+/-) and
1999/2000 - 22 pts in 42 games, -55 (+/-) !!!

Looking at that table, I'd say McGratton's best year was 2001/02, which was split between 4 teams (seems a bit weird)
He had 20G 15A 35P in 45 games and was combined -18(+/-).
I don't follow junior hockey enough to know if these stats are good or not, but 20 goals in 45 games seems alright.

Why was he shipped around so much? Attitude?
He seems to have a great attitude here.

[classmate]

Here's an idea... how about they send Spezza and Fisher to Bingo for a rehab. stint.  That will give Murray more time to figure out what to do with them.   :smily698:

 

[SensGuy]

Can we just trade Corvo for a real defenseman?

[thirstymoose_2000]

Can we just trade Corvo for a real defenseman?

He's been better. I think a bit of it is the other players getting used to him as well. For instance, the forwards seem to watch for him pinching and cover the point for him now. I think he is the player I was expecting when he was signed.

[butterfly_style]

I am a liitle confused about something.
Joe Corvo is a -8(+/-), while his defensive partner Tom Preissing is +28(+/-) 

What's up with that ?

[Metalhawk]

I am a liitle confused about something.
Joe Corvo is a -8(+/-), while his defensive partner Tom Preissing is +28(+/-)

What's up with that ?

They have not been partners for that long...

[PHJ314]

This was on Sportsnet about Corvo.

"Struggling Senators defenceman Joe Corvo could be heading west to Oil Country to help fill the gaping hole in the Edmonton blueline.

According to the Ottawa Sun, Edmonton has shown mild interest in Corvo but have major concerns about his four-year, $10.5-million US deal. Forwards Joffrey Lupul and Raffi Torres are the most likely candidates to be offered up by the Oilers in return, although there are questions on whether either of the two would be a fit in Ottawa.

Corvo has been struggling in Ottawa and has been dropped to being the team's sixth defenceman.

A more likely possibility for the Oilers would be grabbing St. Louis D Eric Brewer, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
"

Lupul would be nice, but I don't see this happening....personally I'd rather go out and get Brewer on our back end, but at what cost??