Brian Lee Sent to Binghamton of the AHL

Joining the newly waived Christoff Schubert and the apparently sophmorically jinxed Zach Smith in Binghamton is former first rounder defenceman Brian Lee.

Lee is more the victim of a numbers game than anything here. His two way contract helped the decision as did his style of game. The Sens suddenly have a plethora of puck moving and soft defensemen in Chris Campoli, Filip Kuba, Erik Karlsson and Alex Picard. His offensive upside is far less than Karlsson and his physical game, although it did pick up in the latter stages of last season, is FAR less than Matt Carkner. Carkner's ability to sing up to forward as well was a clinching point for his sticking with the big club for now.

In my opinion, Lee is running out of time with the Sens and HAS to have an impressive stint in Bingo to earn a shot up here. Failing that, the Sens need to move a defenseman which is unlikely at this point. The prime candidate to move is Picard and for better or worse, he plays the same game as Lee. Picard also possesses a wicked point shot which helps his cause. If Picard continues to develop and isn't moved, Lee is stuck in Bingo. The Sens badly need some meanness back there and Carkner addresses than need, however his offensive upside is very limited. Bryan Murray would like a Pronger-lite type who can move the puck, help out on offense as well as punish opposing forecheckers and drop the gloves when called out. If Lee can the latter part to his resume, he'll be fine.

Watch for Chris Neil to have a big season. He finally has some help in the knuckles department as he did when he was his most productive offensively. I've heard him say himself, it's hard to show how good your hands are when they're swollen and bruised all season. I'll try and get in interview with him and talk about this among other topics.

Chris Kelly to be traded?

I am hearing rumblings of a deal between the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings is brewing. Some names I've heard is Chris Neil and Chris Kelly. Detroit currently sits last in the NHL in Penalty Killing percentage and could use Kelly. From what I've heard, a bona-fide prospect is on his way to Ottawa in return.

Columbus management was spotted at Scotiabank Place last night to take in the Leafs/Sens tilt. Speculation there is that the Blue Jackets are also interested in Chris Kelly with Bryan Murray looking at Jared Boll as a return. This could make sense as Murray plans on trading Chris Neil and Boll is showing to be a suitable replacement.

Vancouver is apparently interested in Antoine Vermette to boost their penalty kill and provide some secondary scoring with Kevin Bieksa being mentionned as a return.

OK, Now what for the Sens.

Since my last writing, the Ottawa Senators have fired the morbidly awful coach Craig Hartsburg and replaced him with AHL affiliate Binghamton's head coach, Cory Clouston. One reason I like this move so far... OK, two reasons... one, they fired Hartsburg and two, Coach Cory, like myself has trained trotting and pacing race horses.

On to my thoughts on the latest shakeups in Sensland.

I was a fan of the firing of Hartsburg, but wasn't sure what to make of the hiring of Clouston, a no name minor league coach when bigger named, proven coaches were out there. I couldn't help but think that perhaps Sens owner, Eugene Melnyk handcuffed Murray and forced him to bring in an interim guy as a premonition to his imminent firing leaving his successor free to bring in his own coach. In retrospect, however, I am under the impression that Murray has been looking for his next Babcock and figured the third try was the charm after failing miserably with John Paddock and the aforementioned Hartsburg.

The team responded with an unbelievable 9 out of 10 points on the road of all places and provoking talk of a run to the playoffs.

Since returning home, the Sens have lost two straight making them 5-3-1 under Clouston.

To further the shake-up, Murray has managed to become both a buyer and seller nearing the trade deadline by unloading little used veteran Dean McAmmond along with the San Jose 1st round draft pick in the upcoming draft to the Islanders for center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli.

Good trade in my books as McAmmond and Comrie are unrestricted free agents at season's end with Comrie bringing more to the table now in his second stint as a Sen while Campoli is a puck young moving defenseman who is under a cheap contract for two more years. All things being equal, if Comrie and McAmmond both don't re-sign with their new club, the Campoli for the SJ first is a good deal as Campoli has NHL experience and is closer to helping the club than anything Murray would pick up with a 26-30th pick in the draft. The Senators simply don't have 3 or 4 years to do a full rebuild via the draft. The fans and ownership simply won't stand for it and with a decent core locked up long term, a minor retooling is more in order.

Campoli immediately proved this by potting 2 assists in his debut against Montreal.

Does this signal more moves by Murray prior to the deadline or on draft day? You bet. What will he do with impending unrestricted free agents, Chris Neil and Filip Kuba? Mt thoughts on that later.

Something to ponder in the meantime, however. I challenge all you anti-Neilers to the following:

Find me a player with the following criteria:

NOT on an entry level contract.
Has a minimum of 20 points for 3 seasons in a row.
Scored more than 15 goals at least once.
Has a minimum of 150 PIMS in EVERY one of his NHL seasons.
Has a mimimum of 8 fighting majors EVERY one of his NHL seasons.
Contributed to a SCF run.

AND makes under $1.5million/year.

Off you go now......... good luck!

Thoughts on The Sens Thus Far.

First of all, I'd like to state that, contrary to another blogger's statement, Jason Spezza is NOT going anywhere. He is among the top 5 centermen in the league and unless there's a bigger deal in the works wherein someone like Crosby and Luongo comes back, it isn't happening.

OK, enough with that nonsense.

To me, this years' Sens have looked like a team with no direction and no identity. The team was assembled to be one thing yet played like another. New defense partnerships, new forward line combinations, new coaching strategy and so on. With their last game against the Sabres, the team played the way they were designed and built to play. They got solid if unspectacular goaltending from Alex Auld, they got points from their defense, they got secondary scoring from the fourth line and the big line dominated, especially Spezza. The team played an in your face, simple game that worked hard and took advantage of their opponents' errors.

What is up with Mike Fisher? OK, he stuck up for Alfie by jumping Weber, but how about, Mikey? $4.2million/season should be good for a decent 2nd line center. Mike is playing like a fourth line grunt who could be replaced for $3.5 million less by Cody Bass.

Speaking of guys with recent big contracts..... Antoine Vermette and Chris Kelly.....hello...... where are you guys? Although Vermette had a better game last time out, he needs to be used properly by the club and play a little tougher. Nice to see him knock someone off the puck to set up a goal. Keep it up. Don't let us regret taking you over Meszaros like we cried over choosing Redden over Chara.

I liked Schubert on defense. Please keep him there and let him develop. He does have some skills. Please, coach, give him till Christmas.

I also like Alex Picard. I know, I know, he s prone to defensive lapses, but come on, he is very young and adjusting to new teamates. He will be a solid 2 way defenseman in the future. Book it. Picard for Meszaros straight up seems like a decent move, but throw in Kuba and did Bryan Murray ever stick it to Tampa.

Speaking of Kuba, I know he has 8 points to start the season, but it really bugs me that a guy that big can be so soft physically. If he played up to his size, he'd be AWESOME.

Hats off to Chris Neil, taking a puck in the face only to return for his next shift to fight Buffalo heavyweight, Andrew Peters. Good on ya, Chris.

I knew the Sens were going to beat the Sabres as soon as Afinogenov was jumped for a shot at Auld after the whistle. A team that sticks up for each other is destined for great things. It shows a will to win. Same goes for Fisher defending Alfie.

Hopefully this game was a sign of things to come this season and the Sens have finally found their groove after an awkward start to the 2008-2009 season.

Chris Neil Expendable?

I don't think so. There has been much Neil-hate on the forum boards and even in the local newspapers. "Losing his edge", "Thinks he's Gretzky", "Too many dumb penalties", they all yelled. "$1.1 million for him? TRADE HIM!!!" They all screamed.
Granted, he may have lost his way a little last season, but which Sen didn't to some degree or another? Let's start off with some stats:




Detractors said with the acquisition of Ruutu and the emergence of Cody Bass, the writing was on the wall for Neiler to become trade bait. Which NHL GM wouldn't want this guy, right? He hits, he fights, he agitates, he chips in the occasional goal or assist and isn't a defensive liability. A team can't have too many of these types.

What I think happened last year was basically a coaching issue. Paddock seemed to send mixed messages to his players and they lost their roles. When used in his proper role, Chris is one of the best in the league among those in that role. I could hear Paddock now: "Go poke that guy with your stick, Chris....... oh not that hard, OK, OK, OK.... try using that Gretzky wrap around play every time you're around the net....OK OK OK..... that didn't work..... try creaming the opposing defenceman into the end boards on the forecheck, get a good run in there....Ooops, not that much of a run....OK....try fighting George Laraque....Hmmmmm."

This being a contract year, watch for Neil to step it up large and redeem himself big time. He is great at what he does, when he does it on a consistent basis. Expect 15 goals, 15 assists, 200 PIMS and to be among the top 10 in hits this year in the NHL....Book it.