GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Edmonton Oilers - 9:30PM EST. Tuesday, March 10, 2010

I dont think Sutton is a notch below A Train at all, in fact he may be a tad bit better.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Sutton can be a 2nd pairing guy from what I've seen, he's only a small notch below A-Train. Kuba is going nowhere I don't think, at this point he's the guy to bolster the 2nd pairing with Phillips (or some semblance of that).

I doubt Ruutu would get trade, Kelly maybe, but not Ruutu, he's awesome for the $$.

As for Karlsson, he's a top pairing guy next year without a doubt IMO.

I disagree. Sutton does everything A-Train does and more. So far the best pairings I've seen this season have been Sutton - Karlsson, Phillips - Karlsson and Campoli - Karlsson in that order.

I think I see a pattern there, can't quite put my finger on it though...

N4L wrote:I dont think Sutton is a notch below A Train at all, in fact he may be a tad bit better.

I think so too - right now. Can he sustain this level of play for an entire year- or years? A-Train has.

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:I dont think Sutton is a notch below A Train at all, in fact he may be a tad bit better.

I think so too - right now. Can he sustain this level of play for an entire year- or years? A-Train has.

Intriguing?

N4L wrote:I dont think Sutton is a notch below A Train at all, in fact he may be a tad bit better.

I'm starting to think the same thing. He seems to be thriving under Clouston's system. I don't think he was ever given the opportunity to pinch on the Island. If last night's game is any indication, he loves to shoot the puck and get deep in the offensive zone to try to create chances. I'll give it a few more games to see if he keeps it up, but so far I am very surprised and impressed with what he brings to the team.

Did you see when he pushed one of the Edmonton players last night? I can't remember who it was but he basically gave him a little shove and the guy went crashing into the boards. He is just a pure monster, it's friggin' fantastic! He's also very good at keeping the puck in the zone at the blue line, very Chara-like in that sense.

SensGirl11 wrote:

N4L wrote:I dont think Sutton is a notch below A Train at all, in fact he may be a tad bit better.

I'm starting to think the same thing. He seems to be thriving under Clouston's system. I don't think he was ever given the opportunity to pinch on the Island. If last night's game is any indication, he loves to shoot the puck and get deep in the offensive zone to try to create chances. I'll give it a few more games to see if he keeps it up, but so far I am very surprised and impressed with what he brings to the team.

Did you see when he pushed one of the Edmonton players last night? I can't remember who it was but he basically gave him a little shove and the guy went crashing into the boards. He is just a pure monster, it's friggin' fantastic! He's also very good at keeping the puck in the zone at the blue line, very Chara-like in that sense.

If he's anything like Chara we're letting him walk and giving Volchenkov 6.5 million.

Again though, can Sutton keep this up? That's the big question. If he can, then we've found our A-Train replacement big time and he should be re-signed ASAP. And there might be a slight rush too, Sutton seems thrilled to be here, I'm sure he's well liked in the room - now would be the time to get pen to paper.

SpezDispenser wrote:Again though, can Sutton keep this up? That's the big question. If he can, then we've found our A-Train replacement big time and he should be re-signed ASAP. And there might be a slight rush too, Sutton seems thrilled to be here, I'm sure he's well liked in the room - now would be the time to get pen to paper.

That is the big question for sure. I don't see why he can't keep it up. He seems very happy to be here, it's a huge chance for him to even play in the playoffs period. I think he's elevated his game here. Can you imagine this guy in the playoffs? He's goign to demolish guys even more.

SpezDispenser wrote:Again though, can Sutton keep this up? That's the big question. If he can, then we've found our A-Train replacement big time and he should be re-signed ASAP. And there might be a slight rush too, Sutton seems thrilled to be here, I'm sure he's well liked in the room - now would be the time to get pen to paper.

You can ask yourself if Volchenkov can keep this up too. As for replacing A-Train, not a big issue, IMO. What we need is someone to keep Cowen's seat warm for a year or two.

SeawaySensFan wrote:
You can ask yourself if Volchenkov can keep this up too. As for replacing A-Train, not a big issue, IMO. What we need is someone to keep Cowen's seat warm for a year or two.

I find that hard to answer because I'm a big fan of Volchenkov and he's been doing this here for so long. If pushed, I would say that Sutton might be a perfect replacement for A-Train - if he feels the need to ask for more than 4. For sure Sutton brings a more overall game to the table.

Wow, I can't believe the love Sutton is getting after what...3 games? When he is sucking, and I assure everyone he will have his stretches, will everyone be so quick to annoint him the replacement for Volchenkov, who given his all for this franchise?

hemlock wrote:Wow, I can't believe the love Sutton is getting after what...3 games? When he is sucking, and I assure everyone he will have his stretches, will everyone be so quick to annoint him the replacement for Volchenkov, who given his all for this franchise?

As long as he gives his all for the franchise at 3.75, then I'm 100% ready to welcome A-Train back, if not, Sutton appears to be absolutely the perfect replacement.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:
You can ask yourself if Volchenkov can keep this up too. As for replacing A-Train, not a big issue, IMO. What we need is someone to keep Cowen's seat warm for a year or two.

I find that hard to answer because I'm a big fan of Volchenkov and he's been doing this here for so long. If pushed, I would say that Sutton might be a perfect replacement for A-Train - if he feels the need to ask for more than 4. For sure Sutton brings a more overall game to the table.

That's the hard reality of the cap era. You can't keep everybody. At some point one or more of your big earners have to go because they rarely take a haircut at the bargaining table.

hemlock wrote:Wow, I can't believe the love Sutton is getting after what...3 games? When he is sucking, and I assure everyone he will have his stretches, will everyone be so quick to annoint him the replacement for Volchenkov, who given his all for this franchise?

I do agree that it is premature for us to be saying he'd be a perfect replacement for Volchenkov, I'm not sure I agree that he would be, but he's damned close from what I've seen so far. The downfall of him being a Volchenkov replacement is his age for starters and the fact that he's been beating his body up for more years than Volchenkov has and that will begin to show very soon I'm sure.
Yes it is soon to be singing his praises for sure, but I will sing them for the 3 games he's played because he's been fantastic and more than I expected him to be. I was not a big fan of acquiring him because I had seen him be pretty poor in a few games I watched, but he's so far proven me to be wrong.

He could very well be a great partner for Karlsson while being a mentor for Cowen. Hopefully Cowen develops more of an offensive upside than Sutton but would anyone be that mad if Cowen turns into a premier shutdown guy with Karlsson and Wiercioch providing the offense from the back-end?

Kovalfie wrote:He could very well be a great partner for Karlsson while being a mentor for Cowen. Hopefully Cowen develops more of an offensive upside than Sutton but would anyone be that mad if Cowen turns into a premier shutdown guy with Karlsson and Wiercioch providing the offense from the back-end?

Of course not but this team is a going concern not a rebuilding team or perennial basement dweller. It's nice to imagine what this team will look like in 2 or 3 years, but it's important to ensure that the team get the most bang for the buck as they continue to strive to be a contender.

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Of course not but this team is a going concern not a rebuilding team or perennial basement dweller. It's nice to imagine what this team will look like in 2 or 3 years, but it's important to ensure that the team get the most bang for the buck as they continue to strive to be a contender.

This is what makes Bryan Murray's job amongst the hardest in the league.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Of course not but this team is a going concern not a rebuilding team or perennial basement dweller. It's nice to imagine what this team will look like in 2 or 3 years, but it's important to ensure that the team get the most bang for the buck as they continue to strive to be a contender.

This is what makes Bryan Murray's job amongst the hardest in the league.

How is BM's job harder than anyone else's? Look at San Jose-- they HAVE to win a cup this year. Look at Chicago-- they HAVE to get under the cap somehow for next year. Look at Toronto-- they HAVE to start contending right awa. While yes, BM is a GM in the Canadian hockey market, I think he has one of the easier jobs in the league. He's got some decent players in the minors, his core is signed for years, he's got a very competitive team without the same pressure as Wash, Pitts, SJ, Chicago, etc to win, and some wiggle room cap-wise to play with for next season. The only decision left for him to make is Volchenkov and a couple of RFAs/UFAs this summer. He's going to get a mid-level draft pick so the pressure isn't mounting to draft a top 10 pick. I think BM's job is one of the easiest in the league...

hemlock wrote:Wow, I can't believe the love Sutton is getting after what...3 games? When he is sucking, and I assure everyone he will have his stretches, will everyone be so quick to annoint him the replacement for Volchenkov, who given his all for this franchise?

Given is all yes, over rated though? Big TIme. Phillips made this guy and should actually get a commission from his next contract.

I like A Train as much as the next person but fact of the matter is he is a 3.5 per year D man that is going to get a huge raise based on his play with one of the best defenseman in The NHL. Markov did the same thing for Komiserek. Hope for Volchankov's sake it's worth it because he isnt getting 5 plus mil/multi tear from Murray.

Maybe a team like Edmonton throughs him a ton of cash but there are not a lot of teams that are goign to handcuff themselves for a strickly defensive D man.

As for Sutton, the guy has shown he can play top mins and has actually never had a chance to play on a team with a real shot at going anywhere, Im sure he wants that trend to stop. He always gets to play on expansion teams and they really dont make much noise, NYI might as well be one. Him and Karlsson could very well be one of the best pairs in the league for a couple years while some other guys get their feet wet on Ottawa's blueline.

Next year's blueline would be just fine IMO if it looked like this

Karlsson/Sutton
Kuba/Cowen
Lee & Carkner/Phillips (not an indiction of what # pairing they actually are)

That's pretty solid.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Bastard.

And my 18 month old is quietly sleeping on the couch beside me 28 degree not humid and not a cloud to see anywhere.

And you're inside your room because...

I wasn't in my room. She was sleeping peacefully on a hotel lobby couch while we enjoyed the weather in the open air lobby protected with shade so our daughter didn't get a sun burn.

Kovalfie wrote:
How is BM's job harder than anyone else's? Look at San Jose-- they HAVE to win a cup this year. Look at Chicago-- they HAVE to get under the cap somehow for next year. Look at Toronto-- they HAVE to start contending right awa. While yes, BM is a GM in the Canadian hockey market, I think he has one of the easier jobs in the league. He's got some decent players in the minors, his core is signed for years, he's got a very competitive team without the same pressure as Wash, Pitts, SJ, Chicago, etc to win, and some wiggle room cap-wise to play with for next season. The only decision left for him to make is Volchenkov and a couple of RFAs/UFAs this summer. He's going to get a mid-level draft pick so the pressure isn't mounting to draft a top 10 pick. I think BM's job is one of the easiest in the league...

That's the thing though, Murray never had the proper players in the minors to compete, he needed to be bang on at the draft table in order to keep this franchise healthy. Add to that that he can spend money, but the team had better not miss the playoffs. He missed once, and he'd be relieved if he ever missed again.

Same as most of the teams in you mention. Chicago sucked so badly for so long, the fans have learned to deal with it though. Washington, Pittsburgh have never had much pressure to win because they've sucked for so long. SJ is well run, but the pressure wouldn't exactly be 'intense'.

Remember, this team hadn't missed the playoffs for 11 years before we missed last year. That means you had better manage this team properly, better not Diddle up too much. Pressure is awesome in Ottawa, awesome.