The Ottawa Sun
08/31/2012
Bryan Murray, general manager of the Ottawa Senators for the past 5 years, has relinquished the title. The 66 year old believes his time has 'come' to retire from a management position. Eugene Melnyk, team owner, has decided to promote from within and also keep the management team in the family. The 7th general manager in the Senators modern franchise is Tim Murray, nephew to Bryan.
Bryan will remain a part of the club in an advisory roll to Tim. Also, Tim Murray has named his assistant GM. Sweden native, 19 year old Jakob Ahlstrom. Ahlstrom has been working the last 2 years for Brynas IF of the Swedish Elitserien league.
Jakob took Brynas all the way to the Le Mat trophy last year, and he will join the Ottawa Senators organization along with Jakob Silfverberg, Elitserien MVP and leading goal scorer for both the season and the playoffs.
The Ottawa Senators will look to build off of last seasons 1st round playoff loss to the New York Rangers, but the loss of Nick Foligno as 3/2 left winger may sting a little. Tim Murray and crew are hoping that free agent acquisition Guillaume Latendresse will remain healthy and return to his 09/10 form where he scored 25 goals and 37 points in 55 games.
Here is what the sens off season looked like:
Players Leaving:
F Bobby Butler - Bought out
F Nick Foligno - Traded to CBJ
F Zenon Konopka - Became UFA
F Jesse Winchester - Became UFA
D Filip Kuba - Became UFA
D Matt Carkner - Became UFA
D Matt Gilroy - Became UFA
Players Arriving:
D Marc Methot - Traded from CBJ
D Mike Lundin - Signed as UFA
F Guillaume Latendresse - Signed as UFA
This season will be a rocky one with D pairings looking very inexperienced, even considering Erik Karlsson is the reigning Norris winner, and contributions from veterans Chris Phillips and Sergei Gonchar. aside from those three you have a second year Jared Cowen. Next in line is Marc Methot who is likely to slot next to Karlsson, and Mike Lundin, who will mostly see time on the third pairing with Phillips.
The forwards expected to be with the team on opening night are:
Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek, Kyle Turris, Guillaume Latendresse, Jakob Silfverberg, Mika Zibanejad, Collin Greening, Zack Smith, Chris Neil, Kaspars Daugavins, Peter Regin and Erik Condra.
Finally, Craig Anderson and Ben Bishop are the expected goaltending duo, with Robin Lehner spending one more season in the AHL.
Next we will look at the teams top ten prospects and where they are at in regards to full time NHL duty.
1. Jakob Silfverberg. Played game six of the eastern conference quarter finals with Ottawa against the New York Rangers. Prior to that he was the Elitseriens best player in both the regular season and the playoffs, leading his team to the Le Mat cup. If he continues on the path he has been on lately, expect him to be on the opening night roster.
2. Mika Zibanejad. Played nine games for Ottawa in 2011/12, registering 1 assist before being re assigned to Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Elite League. His team suffered from poor play and was eventually relegated to Allsvenskan. Expect Mika to play on the opening night roster.
3. Robin Lehner. 1 year removed from being the 2010/11 playoff MVP for the Binghamton Senators of the AHL, last year people started to doubt Lehner's consistency. Expect him to get the majority of pre season games but will be playing in the AHL for one more season.
4. Stefan Noesen. This Texan plays a physical game that the Senators brass will really enjoy, he has been touted as the teams next "Mike Fisher." Throws lots of hits and has a scoring ability as well, projected elite third line to decent second line winger.
5. Cody Ceci. Hometown boy, this kid was born and raised in Ottawa, drafted to the OHL by the Ottawa 67's and then to the NHL by the Ottawa Senators. Talk about living the dream in your home town. in 2011/12 he scored 17 goals and assisted on 43 others for 60 points in 64 games. Has drawn slight comparisons to another Senators defenceman drafted 15'th overall. (see NHL draft 2008 - Erik Karlsson)
6. Mark Stone. Following a couple of 100+ point seasons in the WHL, expect Stone to attempt to improve on his skating ability and first step in the AHL for atleast one year before making the big jump.
7. Mark Borowiecki. This physical defender will be one of the very first senators injury call ups for this season. He has been touted by management as already NHL ready.
8. Andre Petersson. Expect Andre to spend a couple of years in Binghamton before playing in Ottawa, if he ever does. Tremendous upside, but at 21 he hasn't really shown it yet.
9. Patrick Wiercioch. Would be higher on this list, was expected to make serious strides last year before he broke his leg. Expect him to be a solid contributor in the AHL and challenge for a spot in the NHL next year.
10. Matt Puempel. Possibly the best 'pure scorer' in the sens prospect cupboards. Still is eligible for juniors in 2012/13. Expect him to play for the Kitchener Rangers this year, and the Binghamton Senators next year.
So with two forward rookies expected to make the opening night roster, every legitimate forward in the top six being injury prone, and a largely inexperienced defense, can the Senators remain in the top eight of the eastern conference in 2012/13? That is to be seen.
Check back here tomorrow for more on senators training camp rosters and day one of training camp.
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