Trade talk ... rumours...

[Jasmine]

The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports Senators’ players don’t like to admit their club could be sellers. With 12 points between the Senators and a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference entering Thursday‘s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, there’s little chance they can gain ground in the standings.

Garrioch anticipates the Senators will make some moves, though it remains to be seen how many. He notes there’s interest in gritty winger Chris Neil but wonders how badly GM Bryan Murray wants to move him. Struggling center David Legwand could be available but he has another season at $3 million remaining on his contract. If impending UFA defenseman Marc Methot isn’t re-signed before the deadline, Garrioch expects he could be dealt for a second-round pick.

It’s believed Methot is seeking a five-year deal between $4.75-5-million annually. Garrioch claims the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks could be suitors if Methot hits the trade block. Of these, the Kings could be the most likely destination. With Slava Voynov suspended indefinitely awaiting trial on a domestic violence charge and Alec Martinez sidelined by concussion-like symptoms, they need affordable blueline help.

...

Read more here: http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/rumor ... il-methot/

[Jasmine]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

One area the Senators may deal is on defence. The club planned to reach out to Marc Methot's camp Thursday to see if they can get talks back on track for a contract before the deadline.

If he doesn't sign, he'll be dealt. If he does, someone else will be gone which is why coach Dave Cameron has been shuffling defencemen in and out of the lineup. Thursday it was Patrick Wiercioch who sat as Cody Ceci returned.

"He didn't come out because of his play, he comes out because I'm rotating young guys and trying to get a handle on everybody," said Cameron. "Deadline is coming and I'm probably going to get asked a question. I want to get a handle on some players."

[matchesmalone]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

I like that Michalek has really found his game lately. Surely we can get a first rounder for either him or Methot. I've been saying all along how much I like this draft, if we could come out of the deadline with two firsts and two seconds, that would be great. I know it will suck to lose Methot, but we're not winning enough even with him in the lineup.

I think it's become clear by now that Cowen is not going to develop into a reliable top pairing defenseman, but is top four still a possibility? There have been moments this season where he's moved the puck quite well, which has been fairly new to his game, but then there are games like Pittsburgh last night. He was horrendous. Pittsburgh pressured him hard and he crumbled. Still generally a beast without the puck, but I'd like to see him play with more anger.

So who to play with Karlsson if Methot goes? I would like to try to sign Zbynek Michalek, who I think would be a perfect fit with Karlsson. But if we trade Milan Michalek, then I feel like that would hurt our chances of landing Zbynek. So I think actually we'd have to choose between trading one or the other. Keep at least one; this isn't a full rebuild, just some re-tooling.

One way to look at it is, Michalek has been injured or invisible for much of the past couple seasons, it's not going to seriously damage the team if he were traded, whereas Methot is a key piece of this team, being apparently the only person who can play effectively with Karlsson (Borowiecki was decent there for stretches), if we were to trade him the downward spiral could be swift. Now I'm not suggesting full out tank and go for the lottery, but if we could even get into the top six seven, and have a guarantee at a guy like Dylan Strome, Oliver Kylington, Zach Werenski, Lawson Crouse or Mikko Rantanen. I guess even eight gives us a guarantee at one of those I mentioned, since McDavid/Eichel/Hanifin takes up the first three, and that makes eight. And all five of those prospects are worth being very excited about. It would be really nice to have another pick in the first round, but even a couple seconds would be nice, and perhaps could be parlayed into a first at the draft.

Not really sure who else I would trade that would have much trade value. Phillips? Legwand? Wiercioch? If it were up to me, Neil would stay. Unless we could get a first rounder for him, which I don't see happening. I'd consider it for a second-rounder.

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

Well now that Methot is staying...I'm not sure who has a ton of value in a trade?

Clearly this year is done and I think the Sens management understand that. But realistically, what are you going to get for who we'd be willing to trade? Legwand? Phillips? Neil? Weircioch? All fringe players at best and I'm sure the return will be set accordingly. Can we get a 2nd or 3rd for any of those?

[Alfie11]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

Well now that Methot is staying...I'm not sure who has a ton of value in a trade?

Clearly this year is done and I think the Sens management understand that. But realistically, what are you going to get for who we'd be willing to trade? Legwand? Phillips? Neil? Weircioch? All fringe players at best and I'm sure the return will be set accordingly. Can we get a 2nd or 3rd for any of those?

Neil might return a second round pick, although with his injury I guess he stays put for another year. Phillips is probably a fourth round pick or something. Legwand is a second or third. Wiercioch I have no idea...probably a third?

[matchesmalone]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

We're not trading Wiercioch unless it's part of a package for a good established player.

Sure he hasn't been playing a lot and hes had hia troubles this year, but he's still just a 24 year old defenseman who is 6'5 with a good deal of offensive upside. He went the college route, so he's still fairly early in his development curve.

But yeah, not sure who else we might trade. Phillips, Legwand and Michalek seem the most likely, but all three have fairly limited value. I'd like to see Phillips and Legwand moved and Michalek stay.

[Josh]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

Phillips will not be moved unless he looks favourably at a deal, and he's already said multiple times that he wants to finish his career in Ottawa.

[Alfie11]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

Matches, I think you might be surprised come trade deadline day. I'd much rather the Sens move Gryba than Wiercioch, but I'd bet it's far more likely Wiercioch will be packing his bags.

[Josh]

Trade talk ... rumours...

If we're moving a d-man, I'd like it to be Borowiecki. Phillips would be my first choice but I really think he finishes his career as a Senator next season. I still believe Wiercioch has upside. I believe in the current core. When Phillips retires:

Methot - Karlsson
Cowen - Ceci
Wiercioch - Gryba
Borowiecki

And going into 2016-2017, the hope is that Cowen has made strides and Wiercioch has continued to improve, because I think the ultimate configuration is:

Cowen - Karlsson (Cowen obviously needs to meet his potential for this to work)
Wiercioch - Ceci (Ceci already looks great in this role, if Wier really gets going then this is a great pair two years from now)
Methot - Gryba (amazing shutdown pair)

[Alfie11]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

I prefer Boro over Gryba because he actually plays some sort of role on the team. He throws his weight around and will drop the gloves with anyone. Gryba leaves a lot to be desired (in my mind).

[Josh]

Trade talk ... rumours...

I put a lot of stuck into matching defensemen up with the side they shoot on, and Gryba is our third right-shooting d-man after Karlsson and Ceci.

[Alfie11]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

Fair enough. In that case I'd want the Sens to bring in a veteran defenseman through trade or free agency.

[Josh]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

Fair enough. In that case I'd want the Sens to bring in a veteran defenseman through trade or free agency.

On which side?

[Alfie11]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

Well, either, but I'd take Wiercioch over Gryba/Boro so I guess the right side.

[Josh]

Re: Trade talk ... rumours...

So a third-pairing guy to replace Gryba then? Or do you think Ceci isn't suited for RD2 and should be bumped down? Karlsson plays around 26 minutes, Ceci around 19, and Gryba around 15. I'm good with that. If we bring in another defenseman, the only thing I'd really want is a better option than Methot for LD1. Karlsson seems to love playing with him though, so that's why I'd switch the focus to the top forward line instead. Get a legit LW1 and C1 and this team could make serious noise in the Playoffs. And there's always the chance that Zibanejad becomes that C1, so it's possible that the only real add needed is LW1.

If all the players were ready, this would be an amazing lineup:

XXX - Zibanejad - Ryan
MacArthur - Turris - Chiasson/Stone
Michalek/Hoffman - Lazar - Chiasson/Stone
Michalek/Hoffman - Pageau/Smith - Condra/Neil

Methot/Cowen - Karlsson
Cowen/Wiercioch - Ceci
Wiercioch/Methot - Gryba