For anyone who didn't catch the incident when it happened, Ben Blood is the guy who started a fight in the handshake line with Kyle Rau from Minnesota:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgf1R3pE6qY
Sens Assistant GM Tim Murray said that defensemen Mark Borowiecki, Ben Blood, Michael Sdao, winger Stefan Noesen, and goalie Robin Lehner were the most impressive players at development camp.
Sdao will be in college one more year and Blood will be beginning his pro career this season. Sdao is the more offensive d-man, whereas Blood is a mean mother****er.
For anyone who didn't catch the incident when it happened, Ben Blood is the guy who started a fight in the handshake line with Kyle Rau from Minnesota:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgf1R3pE6qY
They better be the most impressive. Everyone, with the exception of Noesen, is as old as dirt when it comes to taking part in development camps.
Blood was drafted in 2007 for the love of God! Borowiecki in 2008. Pretty much, every other D-man in camp was at least 3-5 years younger (and 35-50lbs lighter) than Blood. Guess who the next oldest Dman was? You got it, Sdao (drafted in 2009) whom you also mentioned. Everyone else was either drafted in 2010, 11, 12 or undrafted.
Lehner, good for him for showing up and working hard, but really? Development camp?
Just didn't want people to take too much from your post, a huge grain of salt is needed.
Noesen is the guy I will continue to give props to. He is the steal of the 2011 draft.
All three d-men were late round picks. Just because they are older doesn't mean they would be the most impressive. Sdao had a bit of a coming out party. Blood hasn't become a professional yet. They are all good signs. if the GM/AGM is commenting on these players, it's a good thing.
And Lehner showing up and working hard at development camp is a huge positive, which the organization really loves. Don't underestimate that at all. He's showing that he is serious about his career and gunning for a spot.
If you don't equate being 3-5 years older as a defenceman as an asset when it comes to judging talent on an equal basis, we are done here. I expected the players mentioned to be the best; if they weren't mentioned as such, there is the issue.
Lehner, well, we just said the same thing. Good for him for recognizing the need to show up and be himself, even though his skill level is beyond a development camp at this point. Maturity-wise he needed to be there and he was.
Taking nothing away from your original post, I just didn't want people to get too excited over uncles playing better than their nephews.
Let's just call it a super-coincidence that the oldest, heaviest, most mature, meanest and hardest working defencemen put on the best show at Development camp.
I'm shocked. Haha.
That's exactly why they stood out in camp, and that's a good thing. They set examples for others. They are proving that they have developed well and are ready for new challenges. Go ask Tim Murray if it doesn't mean anything.
and nobody is getting excited anyway as this has nothing to do with fantasy hockey.
Last edited by Big Ev; July 6, 2012 at 1:22 PM.
The Sens will most likely let Kaspars Daugavins become a UFA if he is awarded a one-way contract in arbitration.
Since Alfie is making only 1 million in actual dollars this season (4.875 million on the cap), look for him to sign an extension with a decent sized signing bonus. Let's say in the 2-3 million range.
Can they really pay out that signing bonus before the contract is activated, which would be July 1st 2013?
GO WINGS!
I think he'll just play out his remaining deal.
Hey, could someone give me a quick rundown on Borowiecki's game? He's a FA in my deep league and I could use a little NHL ready defense depth.
He's not much of an offensive guy, right? Is he looking to stay with the Sens this year or is gonna be another year in Binghamton?
20 Team Dynasty (points per) - G (25, 50 for defense) A (25) PIM (3) PPP (15) SHP (25) OTG (15) GWG (25) HTr (50) SOW (75) HIT (1) BLK (2) W (50) SHO (100) OTL (10) GA (-15) SV (2) Use actual NHL salary
Start 12 F, 6 D, 1G weekly
F: Kucherov, Marchand, Barkov, Gaudreau, Laine, Aho, Dubois, Dadonov, Huberdeau, Trocheck, Bertuzzi, Beauvillier, Khaira, Grigorenko
D: Ekman-Larsson, Yandle, Edler, Pulock, Borowiecki, Weegar, Mike Reilly
G: Andersen, Hart
Farm: Boldy, Beckman, Wise, Mascherin, Kovalenko, Manukyan, Walker, Morozov, Shafigullin, Palmu, Tychonic, Zhuravlyov, Kesselring, Zamula, Lankinen, Sogaard, Ingram, Rybar
Defensive d-man. Limited points upside. Will give you lots of hits if that tickles your fancy. Should make the team this season IMO. He's just a mean, hard-working, foot solider type of guy.
What AGM Tim Murray had to say about him:
, Borowiecki winning the ‘hardest worker’ again. It’s almost automatic with him. He will never be the most popular guy when he’s a NHL player for us but even on some practice days, he’s not going to be very popular with his own teammates because that’s how he practices. When you go and do a one-on-one drill with him, he is going to put you on your ass; whether you like it or not. It doesn’t matter if you’re the star of the team or not. He’s going to bring that aspect of just never stopping; never taking his foot off that pedal. We know what he is from a skill standpoint but his intangibles, his heart and his courage are off the chart, so we’re looking forward to him obviously.
Nope. Basically, July 1st is when new contracts kick in. As far as signing bonuses and how they are to be paid out, it all depends on how it's written into the contract. Either lump sum on a specific date; or any number of increments to be paid on agreed upon dates as written in the contract.
Then if he's pondering retirement now, why would you assume that he's game for playing in 13/14?
GO WINGS!