Comments for Battle of Ontario....
The Globe live blog looks good. Maki and Duhatschek are answering questions live.
Tavares to Isle.
Almost a lock that Hedmen, Duchene for 2/3
So now we get to see Pronger 4 times a season?
I've had "Shakedown" by Bob Seger in my head all week. Fits the Heatley saga to a tee (like his goal song "The Heat Is On", another great tune from the BHC franchise).
C'mon, hyphenated Swedish surname...
**quickly switches Nazem Kadri to "hate" list**
Cowen eh?
He's a few years away no doubt.
Solid D prospects now. Karlsson, Weircioch, Cowen.
Welcoma aboard, Nazkad!
6'5".
He's certainly got the size part covered.
From Dreger's tweeter:
"Bell Centre chanting... 67...as the Leafs go up to make their pick."
Nice!
I'd like to see the Bruins go up for their pick and announce that they select "your moms".
Leafs suck!
Whoah now Don, save your good stuff for October!
You're right Matt.
They didn't let that through at the Globe blog so I had to put it here!
I love that the Leafs took the guy the Senators wanted.
... I love that the Leafs took the guy the Senators wanted.
Me too....Now he will be known as Brian Burka.
I almost felt bad for Murray when he came over to talk with Burke and Burke told him he's taking Kadri. Seems like Murray has taken many kicks in the bag lately.
The award for creepiest hockey executive on stage last night for me is a tie between Clouston and that guy from Tampa Bay.
I love that the Leafs took the guy the Senators wanted.
Did it help take the sting of losing Schenn?
The award for creepiest hockey executive on stage last night for me is a tie between Clouston and that guy from Tampa Bay.
!Fail! on a technicality: Clouston isn't an exec.
Sens fans, I love the fact that Murray duped Burke into thinking that Kadri was the player the Sens wanted.
Murray knew Burke is such a stubborn, senile and pig-headed old man that all he had to do was mention the name Kadri and Burke would take him.
Leaf fans, if you even think for a second that Kadri was actually wanted by the Sens, then well, I guess that is the reason you are Leaf fans. Gotta love TSN, Sportsnet and Eklund; they could all piss on your leg and tell you it's raining and you would reach for your blue and white umbrella.
Enjoy watching Kadri float around the neutral zone waiting for the offensive opportunity that never arises because he is to afraid to get checked right back to Lebanon by Cowen.
I had actually been hoping for a couple weeks now that the sens would go against what i had been hearing and pass on Kadri. There was just something about him that reminded me of the small, soft sens of old. If someone had told me that Cowen would still be available at the 9 slot i would have been ecstatic.
Very surprised Ottawa didn't take a forward. With Karlsson, Lee, Picard, Campoli and Weircioch it seems like they're set at least for the next few years. Defensive depth is harder to come by than offensive depth, but Ottawa's cupboard is pretty bare offensively. I don't know if we're waiting for Zubov and Hennessy to step up or something...P-S (not even going to try spelling it) would have been a good fit in a couple of years.
Burke was an ass all day on TSN. Mic'ed up, talking as if he doesn't know everyone's listening, acting like a petulant child when the Kings take the fifth ranked player with their fifth pick. That guy loves being watched. I've got no problem with him taking the player that he thinks is best, and if that's Kadri then, hey, it's his 7th -- go for it. But calling Murray over to tell him the Leafs are taking the player they want because he knows he's on TV and it plays well...that's pathetic. The same guy who calls a press conference right after the draft order is announced to say that he wants to trade for a top 3 pick when he has no assets. What a whore for attention.
I loved when Hedman went 2nd and Duchenne cheered because he wasn't going to Tampa.
Darren, Murray knows how to manipulate the media better than any other GM.
He also knows that Burke is a complete an udder fool.
Murray's plan all along was to let little snippets of info out about Kadri. With Burke and his attention starved, mic'd up ego, it was very easy to use the tiny "leaked" bits and pieces against Burke. It worked to a Tee and the Sens were able to choose between Cowen and Paajarvi-Svensson.
Burke is a simple man and he and all fans of his team will have to watch Kadri and his unremarkable career forever. Until he is bought out of course.
Cowen on the other hand was ranked 4th in the draft for the first part of 2008. He only slid down because of the injury to his ACL and MCL. Now doing rehab and focused on a 100% recovery, Cowen is a beast and everyone but Burke knew that.
Sens fans, with our draft now complete, let's have a look-see at the newest Ottawa Senators.
Our Ottawa Senators have eight new prospects to add to their
organization. So who are these guys? Let's give the Senators scouts the
floor to talk a little bit about the club's newest prospects.
Jared Cowen, defence, Spokane Chiefs (WHL) – "Is going to be a
solid defensive-minded defenceman, play in our top four in the future
and log a lot of minutes for us ... He’ll be more defensive minded,
play against the other team’s top lines, play on penalty killing. In
junior, he plays on the power play ... He’s already 225 pounds but when
we checked him out, he’s still got a lot of room to grow physically." – Chief amateur scout Pierre Dorion.
Jakob Silfverberg, forward, Brynas juniors (Sweden) – "A
skilled player, an offensive player who’s going to score ... Has great
hands, can beat you one-on-one ... He’s going to make our whole offence
better and help us in (two) or three years ... He’ll need some time to
learn and adjust to physical hockey over here but I don’t see that as
an issue for him." – European scout Vaclav Burda.
Robin Lehner, goaltender, Frolunda juniors (Sweden) – "His
father was the goalie coach of (the New York Rangers') Henrik Lundqvist
in Sweden, so his style is very similar. He’s a very skilled goalie
with good technique ... His mental side is more Canadian than Swedish.
He’s very competitive ... He has big size. He’s going to cover the net
well." – Swedish scout Anders Forsberg.
Chris Wideman, defence, Miami, Ohio (CCHA) – "He’s a smaller
defenceman, has great mobility, and great puck moving ability ... Moves
very well across the blue line and sees the passing lanes ... We really
like his potential" – Director of hockey operations Brent Flahr.
Mike Hoffman, centre/left wing, Drummondville (QMJHL) – "A goal scorer who has good speed ... Real good release ... Real dangerous in the offensive zone with his creativity." – Chief amateur scout Pierre Dorion.
Jeff Costello, left wing, Cedar Rapids (USHL) – "He's a power forward who plays hard, hits and can fight ... Goes to the net and scores goals." – Chief amateur scout Pierre Dorion.
Corey Cowick, left wing, Ottawa (OHL) – "A power forward type
of guy whose physical game is his best attribute ... This year, he
developed a good scoring touch ... Goes to the net and is very
difficult to play against ... A role player type down the road." – Chief amateur scout Pierre Dorion.
Brad Peltz, left wing, Avon Old Farms (U.S. high school) –
"Hard-working player with good sense ... Didn’t play this year because
of an infection. We were thinking about taking him last year ... Going
to Yale for four years. Will become a good college player and from
there, we hope he can help us down the road." – Chief amateur scout Pierre Dorion.
Michael Sdao, defenceman, Lincoln (USHL) – "Takes the body,
plays hard and he’s got enough sense to play his role ... Probably was
the heavweight of the league in the USHL. He’s going to Princeton and
they've had tough guys come out of there ... We know he’s heavyweight
tough and he can play the game a little bit." – Chief amateur scout Pierre Dorion."
Here is the link.
http://senators.nhl.com/team/
app...rticleid=431980
Sens fans, I couldnt be happier with Lehner... he is going to step into the NHL the exact same time as our young defense really starts to find their legs.
Whether Elliott or Leclaire are here is up in the air (one 100% won't be) but our skill is very much becoming all Swedish and european and we are still very much a Canadian team with a lot of grit going forward.
If Murray can find the right young forwards in a Heatley trade we are in very, very good shape.
Love Lehner and I am just totally stoked we got him. He will be an NHL goalie. I'm not cheering against Canada during the next WJC, but Ill definitely be cheering for Sweden.
We may end up with 4 or 5 prospects in the WJC. I am sure of 3, and they were picked with our first 3 picks.
It's amazing Vermette turned into 2 goaltenders.
"a complete an udder fool"
nuff said.
Sorry to interrupt. Keep talking to yourself.
Sens fans, our team drafted probably one of the most interesting players in the draft. In the 5th round, 146th overall - Jeff Costello.
Jeff is a diabetic who needs to wear a pump to play. He very rarily talks about it, but does say that his conditions and obstacles are the reason he plays with the passion that he does. We will love this kid's character and grinding game.
Sens fans, while it was fun to try and guess what kind of a return Heatley was going to bring us, Murray is doing absolutely the right thing. I wouldn't want any other GM trying to trade Heatley and bring stability and the playoffs back to Ottawa.
It is far better to be "stuck" with Dany Heatley than get nickel-and-dimed by other teams.
I think other teams need to start thinking a little more carefully about what kind of situation the Sens are facing. If we have Heatley on our roster as of July 1st, then we'll potentially miss out on the UFA season. Which means that we don't have much motivation to trade Heatley after that time frame, because any deal thereafter is going to have to be a hockey deal -- where the roster needs of each trading team are met and the salaries changing hands make sense.
If people think BM's asking for the moon now, imagine what he'll be asking for after 1) he's paid Heatley half his salary for the year, 2) he's lost the opportunity to try to sign the best UFAs, and 3) he's expecting players (and it will be plural) who can come to OTT and help replace Heatley's offence (so, probably a top 6 forward and a top 4 D, for starters).
The simple fact is that there is no better time to try to land Heatley than today. Between tomorrow and July 1st, not bad, but not as good. After July 1, almost impossible, I think. Maybe only the Sharks could make that kind of deal.
Sens fans, I love digging up info on our new boys.
This is interesting. Our 7th rounder, 190th overall is Brad Peltz. Brad father is a billionaire. He used to own Snapple and is the current CEO of the Wendy's-Arby's group.
Brad's big brother is very good friends with our very own Jason Spezza. Jason used to go down there (New York) frequently to visit when he was younger, and if you search through the news archives you'll find a couple of articles from back when the team was for sale (prior to Melnyk) and everyone was looking for Jason to use his influence to get the Snapple king to buy the Sens.
I watched the post draft interview with Peltz and he doesn't seem like the sharpest tack. Actually, take all the interview skills of Heatley and Spezza, mash them together and that is what Peltz reminded me of. He is still in high school with a billionaire father, so I will cut him some slack until he gets into the real world.
I agree with BeRed...Burke benefited from Murray's drafting in Anaheim, so Burke trusts that Kadri is a good pick if Murray wants him...hahahahaha...I hope Burke signs the Sedins and there will never be Leaf traffic in front of other team's nets.
"I watched the post draft interview with Peltz and he doesn't seem like the sharpest tack. "
Sounds like he and Spezza will be two peas in a pod then!
Have no comment on our drafting other than Cowen seems like what we need, a big rearguard presence.
We can't attribute anything more than massive bragadoccio to Burke asking Murray about Kadri. Our GM seemed confused and lost instead of his usual sly self. Instead of saying "YEah" or somesuch, he should have been more suave:
"WEll, Kadri is an interesting project, but you never know who else can fit the bill with us. I will flip you the 9 for 5 and Kaberle..."
If we're going to praise Murray for drafting in Anaheim, it's also important to note he gave Fedorov that bloatrous contract and had most of his defense overhauled by Coates and Burke. Murray's record in Florida was much the same, a Finals trip followed by a descent into oblivion. Surprisingly (?) a finals trip in Ottawa followed by a slow descent in mediocrity.
BRyan Murray, never has a man been praised so much for accomplishing so little.
Let's give his picks a chance I suppose...I'm not looking forward to the mediocrity of the next few years though.
I agree with BeRed...Burke benefited from Murray's drafting in Anaheim, so Burke trusts that Kadri is a good pick if Murray wants him...hahahahaha...I hope Burke signs the Sedins and there will never be Leaf traffic in front of other team's nets.
TedR, shhhh! Keep that quiet! Leaf Hamlet is in love right now, try not to burst their bubble.
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We can't attribute anything more than massive bragadoccio to Burke asking Murray about Kadri. Our GM seemed confused and lost instead of his usual sly self. Instead of saying "YEah" or somesuch, he should have been more suave:
When the guy with the 7th pick is asking if he should steal the guy you thought about picking in 9th when the guy who should've gone 5th (Cowen) is still on the table, 'yeah' is absolutely the right answer.
Murray couldn't believe Burke was passing. Kadri's maybe more of the type of player Ottawa might have needed, but Cowen is definitely the best player available at that point and that's who you pick. For trades, for your lineup, for everything.
Either Burke's an idiot, or his medical staff let him down on this one. More likely he was too busy setting up his mic and holding press conferences to do his due diligence on a top prospects rehab.
Not only did he not move up, he effectively moved down two spots.
I'm pretty sure it was just Burke telling Murray that since he didn't want to play ball with the down trade, then he wasnt getting the pick he wanted.
If you think the only reason Burke picked Kasian was that because he thought Murray "wanted him" and Murray some how managed to trick Burke into picking him then you are more delusional than I thought, which is saying something
kasian = Kadri
Anonymous, you should sign your name to that because you are 100% correct.
Jared, delusional is thinking that Burke drafted Zack Kassian. Maybe that is why you are happy in drafting "No Fly" Kadri instead of the former #3 ranked Cowen or Kassian for that matter. Back to the drawing board for you.
Has Murray made any comment about who they wanted to get at 7 when we went to talk to Burke?
From the combine testing:
The biggest name of Saturday's first group is that of London Knights centre Nazem Kadri (ranked #15), who measured 5-foot-11. He didn't have a great showing on the vertical jump or the bench press; perhaps reflecting that he's not the most explosive athlete here, but let's not forget that on-ice production (of which Kadri has plenty) is going to count for a whole lot more come draft day.
Also I saw this about our new goalie prospect:
While a lot of players put in a great deal of effort, perhaps none was more conpicuous than goaltender Robin Lehner (top-ranked European goaltender), on the Wingate cycle test, grunting like an animal as he maxed out his effort, before nearly collapsing off the bike altogether when he finished.
http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/st...tory/?
id=280388
sorry BeRed, you may have missed me correcting myself, but its right there, you know, the one right after my other post.
Also a player that Kept pace point for point with Tavares in the post season must have some skill, no fly indeed.
I'm sure if Bryan Murray had drafted him you'd be drooling over some obscure fact about how his uncle once bought cheese from a guy who met Gretzky or something. Go ahead and slam the guy just because he's a leaf now. I'm not gonna rag on Murray for drafting Cowen, the kid is great and an absolute steal at 9. when he comes up as a UFA I hope the Leafs throw him an offer.
if of course his knee doesnt explode 2 games in
It sounds like everyone agrees Burke should've picked Cowen. But he didn't. Wanna know why?
Cowen, 18, had modest expectations of where he'd go. The only other team to examine his knee was the Minnesota Wild.
Only two teams looked at his knee. Why not the Leafs? Because the Leafs were talking about Tavares and Schenn.
Inexcusable.
Inexcusable???
Come on. Burke was probably too busy trying to find a spot to clip his mic. Can't blame him for that can you???
Don, I've got something in the works about Lehner. This kid has unlimited potential and the pedigree and drive to reach such heights.
Sens fans, I love the fact that Murray duped Burke into thinking that Kadri was the player the Sens wanted.
The only person who seems duped around here is you.
Is it so unreasonable to think the following occured:
1. Murray wants Cowen - think's he's the guy to get at 7 and wants to trade up
2. Starts to offer Burke a trade
3. Burke says Kadri is the guy they want and asks Murray if he's the guy the Sens want
4. Murray says 'Yeah' and conversation ends.
Could Murray have said yeah because he was originally thinking the Leafs might pick Cowen and since they weren't going to he didn't need to trade up.
A few things make me think there's a slight possibility of this happening:
1 - the Sens examined Cowen's knee
2 - there's a hesitation in Murray when Burke say's Kadri. Was he surpised Burke named a player? Was he realizing he didn't need to trade if Burke wasn't taking Cowen.
The other interesting thing on the tape that another blog picked up is a Leaf at the table saying to Burke "..they would have dumped(unclear) in the goalie".
Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K...h?
v=Kzgalcl3tD8
entirely reasonable to suggest, much more reasonable thal "OMG MURRAY DUPED BURKE LOLOLOL (paraphrasing)"
but then lots of scenarios are reasonable. Like Burke being perfectly happy to take Kadri at 7, but was more than willing to take Cowen at 9 and when Murray wouldnt make the deal Burke liked, Burke was his blustery arrogant self
I can't see the Leafs taking Schenn and then Cowan two straight years. Organizationally it makes no sense to have two shut down d-men from the first round when Toronto have no clear-cut top 6 forwards on the farm, but many defenceman. Least of all, one with a knee injury at 18 years old. Why take a chance?
Toronto made the smart decision by taking the most talented player available rank-wise. Whether he ever plays for the Leafs or is trade fodder for a later deal remains to be seen.
Also, if anybody thinks the Leafs at the last second decided to take Kadri because Murray liked him, why did Leafs TV have Kadri miked up for the draft?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=g...feature=related
A lesson to anyone who's ever been in a meeting.
The fact that Burke can't shut up sure hurt him there. He didn't even hear the offer and showed Murray his hand.
Murray got who Burke was picking, giving him 50% less picks to worry about. And he knew who remained. It's not everyday you get that much information for absolutely free.
Burke found out only what he thought he already knew (that the kid you want?). It seems clear if Murray really wanted Kadri he would've offered something once he knew Burke was taking him.
Who knows? Two more seconds to let Murray finish his sentence and he could've got another pick or a player, and maybe even Kadri too.
The correct way, for those who are GMing the Leafs in the future is to hear the flip offer, agree to it in principle, and then add the condition 'but don't pick Kadri'.
If the deal falls through, you're no worse off.
The other question of course is who Dallas was going to take at 8.
Now, if there's video of the same thing happening with Nieuwendyk then the conspiracy theory is alive!
Well it's still a lottery, so if you want a lock on a player, you need to trade for a higher pick.
We know Murray was interested enough to do this before Burke tipped his hand (eliminating 2 picks) and we know he was uninterested enough in Kadri to walk away without tabling his offer once he knew who Burke was picking.
Also given the situation in Dallas, you can probably make a good calculation on the state and quality of their decision-making.
For free? One pick left? I roll the dice for sure. Worst case you've got some pretty good picks Glennie or Svensson-Paajarvi. If you've decided you really need a D guy, you've got DeHaan, etc...
I laughed when Burka was asked why he didn't get Taveres." Oh I could have got him but blah blah blah ...."
Woulda coulda shoulda...
Don, of course Murray wanted one of Cowen or MSP! The only way to do that with 2 picks to go before Ottawa’s selection was to swindle Burke and Toronto or Niewendyk and Dallas. He just didn't think it would be so easy to manipulate the mic'd up Burke in front of Canada.
Murray will no longer underestimate how stupid Burke really is.
I stopped underestimating how stupid Leaf fans were long ago.
When did he say he could have gotten Tavares? He said he could have gottgen the #2 pick two weeks ago and at the time he thought Tavares might be available there.
I stopped underestimating how stupid Leaf fans were long ago.
Unfortunately your overestimating of the Sens, their players, and your own opinion marches on...
wow! you knew he wanted them? THATS AMAZING, YOUR AMAZING OMG OMG, TELL US MORE!!!
I mean it, your rantings arnt long or useless enough, please tell us how you know who is going to win the next american idol!
When did he say he could have gotten Tavares?
It was on Friday.
...after Michael Jackson died and before Billy Mays died...
It was on Friday.
Right. And since you're trying to prove a point, it didn't occur to you to send a link to some kind of video or sound bite?
Sens fans, more evidence to support we got our guy at #9 in Cowen thanks to Burke
If anyone heard Tim Murray on Team 1200 Monday afternoon, it actually was pretty funny. He was asked about the Murray/Burke conversation. Then he basically said:
"I hope nobody out there believes what Murray said to Burke during that conversation".
A little reminder for all (transcript):
Burke = Kadri's the guy we want. Is he the guy you want?
Murray = ... Yeah
Burke = We're taking him
Murray = Okay. (in his mind = YES, sweet f**king Jesus)
So, Tim Murray told The Healthy Scratches, in fact B Murray came to Burke because he wanted to trade up and take Cowen at 7. But it looks like they didn't have to, because Burke wanted Kadri.
So, McGuire and the entire TSN crew + NHL Network etc. were all wrong, thinking Burke took the player MUrray wanted.
When I was watching the draft, this is precisely how I read events. I was snorting beer through my nose when I heard the TSN guys praising Burke's "honesty" and "straighforwardness" and framed the issue as "Burke is blocking BM's wishes".
To be clear, I don't think there was anything genius about what BM did either. He just inquired. I think he just stumbled into some unexpectedly great news and tried (not entirely successfully) to walk away without cracking a smile. He knew that decision was guaranteeing him one of Cowen or MPS.
If we had the 7th pick and passed up Cowen for Kadri, I'd be seriously pissed. Doesn't matter that we, as an organization, could use a forward more. You take the best player available. Cowen probably should have went a 6th, to be honest.
A Senators insider was a guest at a wedding on the weekend and confirmed that Ottawa really wanted Kadri.
Don't burst BeRed's bubble LMN. He couldn't fathom the idea that the Leafs drafted a guy two spots ahead of Ottawa and maybe got the player Murray wanted!
But in the end, who gives a shit? Burke wanted Kadri and didn't want to trade down and ended any conversation right there and then walked up and got his guy.
What Murray did after Burke is of no consequence to the Leafs decision, and if Murray got the guy he secretly wanted than good for him.
Is that good enough BeRed, or can we expect days of you searching the internet for snippets that don't prove anything other than the insecurity of a certain somebody?
The Heatley situation is far more interesting and will go further in showing if Murray has the chops to get something done that will benefit the Ottawa Senators. This might be more of a watershed moment for the team than Yashin holding out, or the team choosing Redden over Chara. In a way I wish the Leafs had such problems right now...
An insider??? The Sens organization does not have insiders as per Murray's gag order. Any quote, media release or publication will come from someone with who is on their payroll...sort of like Tim Murray as I stated in my previous post.
Thanks, back to the drawing board for you!
HAHAHAHHAHA, oh man, your too much.
By "insider" I meant someone on the payroll and it was during a private conversation.
Drawing board??
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