Senators for Sale: Daniel Alfredsson?
by BCISLEMAN on Jan 30, 2011 3:33 PM EST
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PrintThe Sens blog Silvers Sevens has started a feature entitled: Senators for Sale, no doubt inspired by recent statements by their owner to the effect that a fire sale may be in the works. Their initial entries were Brian Lee, who no one seems to want, and Chris Neil, who no one is likely to want at his $2 mil cap hit.
Would the Senators trade off a more desirable piece? Is it possible that team captain Daniel Alfredsson could be put on the market? If he is, should the Islanders make a play for him? What would be an acceptable package?
The book on Alfredsson is that he is a superb two player and leader of men. His numbers this year are 14-14-28 and he is on pace to get 40-50 points which is about what he has done the previous four seasons. He is an uncharacteristic -12 this year which I attribute to the horrible season Ottawa has had. He has a pro-rated $4.5 mil this year which falls to $1 mil in the final year of his deal next year (actually looked at this wrong...it's pro-rated $7 mil for this year, $4.5 next, and $1 mil for 2012-13).
Arguably the move would be more symbolic for the Sens as they wouldn't save a lot of cap space and would lose a fan favorite who is still productive. It would have to be a pretty nice package for them to do it. What would that package look like?
Here is my thought: Brock Nelson and PA Parenteau now and conditional draft pick(s) next season. Might be something like: if we make the playoffs, our first round pick. If not, our second and maybe our third. Nelson fills a need in their prospect pool for quality centers and Parenteau would be the most logical guy on our roster to replace Alfredsson.
Why would we do it? This team NEEDS veteran leadership at forward. Dougie was supposed to provide that, but it hasn't worked out. For a leader to be respected in the room, he has to produce and Alfredsson still can. Put him on second line with Josh and Grabs and see how they produce. I think it could be just the spark this team needs and, if we get Larsson in the draft, DA can make him feel right at home.
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Their owner also called Alfredsson untouchable, so...
In any case, I wouldn’t bid on him. He’s already 38, injuries piling up — and what you can normally get on the free agent market for free, the Sens would surely be demanding something meaningful due to how symbolic he is for that franchise.
Lighthouse Hockey: "Are you fist-f#$%ing me?!" --P.A. Parenteau
really?
Because I don’t see ANYONE on the FA market this summer who has his reputation as a leader and his proven numbers.
I find his reputation as a "leader" debatable, actually
But I was referring to the summer market regularly overflowing with over-the-hill former stars whose skills are in decline but might look to catch on somewhere as a “leader.”
Again, Melnyk said Alfie wasn’t on the table. Maybe that will change, but I still wouldn’t want to pay the price they’d demand to move the face of their franchise, who is still signed through age 40.
Lighthouse Hockey: "Are you fist-f#$%ing me?!" --P.A. Parenteau
don't know if his skills are in decline
as I say, he’s been pretty steady production-wise for the last four years. He seems to be the one real warrior on that franchise. Not sure why you question that. They may very well not trade him.
In any event, don’t see anyone else likely to be available who could fill the role. Clark has leadership abilities, but isn’t much of a weapon. Laich might be OK, but would he sign here?
My main thought is that this team consistently does not put its’ best effort in at the start of a game and I think they need someone in the room who will hold players accountable. I am sure that it will help getting Streit back and there are individual forwards like Moulson who never let up. But there is something missing to the dynamics of the room.
For an expensive guy, Alfredsson’s contract is actually attractive to small-market clubs: The cap hit is much greater than the remaining actual cash outlay.
But guys that old are a tremendous decline risk (Alfie has battled injuries and that is unlikely to get better), and I wouldn’t pay real assets for that, no matter how nice the career numbers were.
Lighthouse Hockey: "Are you fist-f#$%ing me?!" --P.A. Parenteau
Yes!
I don’t totally subscribe to Old Guy = Veteran Leadership automatically (Langenbrunner? No. Guerin once he saw his career entering the twilight? No.), but watching these kids, particularly without Weight, they could use an older wise voice who plays significant minutes.
Lighthouse Hockey: Oddly, we *do* particularly care.
One of the reasons I like Samuelsson is that he is known to be a good teammate and a nice guy
the other is that he has been to the dance and he knows what it takes.
I can't see the Sens giving up their heart and soul
unless they get a drop dead deal and Alfie asks them to make the deal. He’s given so much to that team. I doubt he would want to be the next Doug Weight around here. If he’s going to be on a bad team, he’ll want to stay in Ottawa. If he wants to leave, it will be to become a “put em over the top” piece of a championship contender.
NTIPC
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 30, 2011 4:03 PM EST reply actions
Oh,
and I wouldn’t want him anyway. He’d be great, but he’d take ice time from one of the young guys we need to develop while not being around when we contend.
NTIPC
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 30, 2011 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
So there's no chance in your mind that we'll contend next year?
Do you not think this team needs veteran leadership?
By "Contend", I mean for a Cup
I think this team competes for a Playoff spot next year, as we thouhgt they would this season. The injuries to Streit and KO (and others) basically wrote this season off, so it’s like we’re doing a replay of Year Three of the rebuild.
I don’t think we contend for the top of the Conference until 2013 or (more likely) 2014, and that’s if things break well for us.
NTIPC
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jan 31, 2011 7:46 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
I think given Alfredson’s resume salary and cap hit, the Sens would want a kings ransom for him, and given his age and declining productivity it wouldn’t be worth it. I think also that this team needs more than a “lead by example” type, they also need the get in your face vocal type. Most vets at this age are looking for that “last hurrah” (see Nabakov), and I agree that we probably wouldn’t be close enough to warrant that discussion. We have to find that 26-30 year old guy which is no easy feat.
"Gervais...he looks danger in the fist with his face!" JPinVA
closest match I see in FA would be Brooks Laich
Chris Clark would also be available, but he doesn’t have much game.
Pretty much my exact take
The Isles future looks brighter then most would think with these young core guys in place:
Tavares, Okposo, Bailey, Nielsen, Niederreiter, Grabner, Moulson, MacDonald, Hamonic, and DeHaan.
Precisely --
Agree with you wholeheartedly on this one Nova Scotia Fan. If Alfie is going to be part of rebuild anywhere, it will be Ottawa. Otherwise, off for shot at cup now…give the youth the ice time…I do think sometimes the need for veterns is a bit overhyped in terms of Isles needs. Nielson to me is an outstanding mentor and teaching for th youth. IMO, I think Capy should have a policy of placing forwards in trouble/need to learn D with Neilson. Bailey is prime example. No way the Isles contend for playoffs in 2012, that is another development year, but 2013 I think will be a different story. I think the biggest mistake Snow made was overhyping the team this year, declaring they would compete for playoffs. It was unrealistic, inspite of injuries. The Isles have done most things right in this rebuild, they have an enviable stable of youth by any standards – their “prospects” would be rated higher on some websites if players drafted in 09,10, were not in NHL as with most teams – losing their “prospect status”.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jan 30, 2011 6:24 PM EST up reply actions
don't think the Isles can afford another season like this
The team was not far out of the hunt last year before they sustained a lot of injuries. They finished 9 points out of the playoffs and might have been a lot closer if the defense had stayed healthy. Even if they do not make it, they need to at least give the fans some reason to think that they soon will…something to root for aside from another high draft pick. At some point, you need to start winning.
Agreed...
I don’t think next year will be as low as this, but I think the Isles will still be somewhere between 8th from bottom to 10th or 12th…only top 16 get in, so I don’t see them making it next year. If they improve that much, it is a positive sign. I think where the Isles management has really failed is in their PR. They should take a look at the Mets of the early 80s, and study how they got their fans behind the rebuild…fans were excited “catching the rising stars” and watching them develop.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jan 30, 2011 7:53 PM EST up reply actions
Won't happen, shouldn't happen...
Because it’s a silly idea…trading assets for an expensive late 30 something guy on the way down for a rebuilding team? Has anyone been watching how Snow operates? No Chance, No How, No Way
Alfredsson may not be the right match but
it’s not a silly idea. This team needs someone to provide veteran leadership. No excuse for continually mailing it in every first period.
Since when does "veteran leadership" = not mailing it in?
The theory behind looking for veterans to step up and provide leadership is the expectation that their experience is useful: to keep the team on an even keel instead of overreacting to bad stretches, and to provide a respected locker-room voice.
The practice behind looking for veterans is an elaborate CYA maneuver. “We brought in leaders and the team hasn’t turned around – sack the coach! Blame the player!” Which is in part how Nolan got done.
For this team, I don’t see the real need for a “veteran” leader, if you already have experienced YOUNG leaders. Streit is already a “veteran presence,” and they will have him healthy, and KO healthy, and other players who’ve been in the league a while – but who AREN’T going to be huge risks to decline or get repeatedly injured. And despite the huge injury troubles this year and the disastrous losing streak, the players they ALREADY HAVE in the room rallied to go on a good streak against some of the best teams in the league, and are generally considered to have a strong locker room, and that players who are there want to stay.
We don’t need Alfredsson. If we get a veteran, Laich is far better – for the money, for the production, and for the role he could play. And especially – NO to giving up a first-rounder PLUS Nelson AND Parenteau. That’s more than we gave up for Smyth in his prime.
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I think the continued lack of first period effort speaks to a real problem in the room that has yet to be fixed
A veteran presence at forward could help with that. I think we need a veteran forward to help mold and mentor our young forwards. Weight is done and we need somebody else.
good for next season
I think this team still needs the veteran to help them, and Weight just can’t stay healthy. It is important, and if he could come in and then if it is only a $1M for next season. it is someone to go for. He still is scoring decent and may do well with a talented young team.
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