Kovalev fight....Yes, I said Kovalev fight

This about as rare as Halley's Comet so I just had to post it. He got it half right. He floated like a butterfly but.... Good on him for showing up.

Sens camp - Goaltending

Today marks the end of the first week of Sens training camp. So what have we learned? Truthfully, not a whole hell of a lot, but there are some interesting story lines developing. After his opening night shutout of the Leafs and Brian Elliott's shaky first period the following night, many are already wondering if 19 year old Robin Lehner is ready for prime time. Easy there trigger.

While we should never rule out the improbable (see Matt Carkner last year) there are still a few large hurdles standing in the talented Swede's way:

-It's early. Really early. Lehner and Elliott have played one game each and Leclaire won't strap them on until later tonight in Montreal.

-Brian Elliott and Pascal Leclaire are both on one way contracts.

-If you assume burying one way money in the minors is the way to go consider this. Leclaire will make 4.8m(gulp) this season while Elliott earns .850.

Leclaire's issues are obvious. It would be a tough sell to ownership because of the salary, and it would be a tough admission by a management group that dealt Antoine Vermette away for him just 18 months ago(it should be noted that the 2nd rd pick also acquired in that deal turned into Lehner).

Part of the logic behind waiving one way money to the AHL is to clear cap space. That wouldn't be the case if the club decided to do that with Elliott. In fact, cap space would shrink by keeping Lehner in the NHL over Elliott as Lehner's NHL contract pays him .900 to Elliott's .850.

How about a trade? Have you paid attention to the market for goaltenders since the Stanley Cup Finals? Never say never, but good luck.

Having said all that(other than injury)the only way Lehner is here to start the season is if he continues to be near perfect in pre-season and one of the incumbents absolutely falter. There are just too many hurdles for this to be a pure hockey move.

Sometimes the Team lacks Character

We had former Sen Randy Robitaille on the show today. He and his family should be over in Switzerland as Randy suits up for Lugano for a third straight season, but instead the Robitaille's are still in Kanata playing a long distance game of poker. Fans of pro sports are all too familiar with athletes holding out for more money and sometimes not honouring existing contracts (cough..Yashin..cough) but Robitaille's dilemma is the exact opposite. In this case Lugano has told him he's not welcome to come back despite that fact he has a guaranteed contract signed in good faith for the upcoming season. Robitaille led the team in scoring last season but was blamed for bowing out in the first round of the playoffs. I guess that's grounds for trying to weasel out of a contract with your best player by hoping he'll quit. Stay classy Lugano. Randy lays it out quite well in the interview.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ottawa-ON/TEAM-1200/254660295467#!/video/video.php?v=10150286155285585&ref=mf

Sens depth chart

EDIT: D Andre Benoit was signed today(Friday August 6th) to a 1 year, 2 way deal.

With the signing of Corey Cowick to an entry level deal today it would appear the Sens are pretty much done signing players...for now. So as we look at the depth in the organization it appears there will not only be some great battles to make the make the big club, but sticking around in the AHL might even be dicey for a few players. By my count there will 46 players in camp that have at least a 2 way contract. I'm sure there will also be some Amateur and Pro try outs as there were 55 players at last year's camp.

One way contracts(+Karlsson): 21

Regin Spezza Alfredsson
Michalek Fisher Kovalev
Foligno Kelly Neil
Ruutu Winchester Shannon

Phillips Karlsson
Gonchar Kuba
Campoli Carkner
Lee

Leclaire
Elliott

-of course Jared Cowen is a wildcard as he has to go back to junior if doesn't make the big team. Also of note, David Rundblad has an entry level deal but will spend another year overseas.


Two way contracts: 24
Entry Level: 15 (waiver exempt)
Veteran: 9 (Locke, Keller, Lessard, Bass, Hale, Kinrade, D. Smith, Benoit, Brodeur)

Wick Locke Butler
Hoffman Z. Smith Keller
Daugavins O'Brien Condra
Cowick Greening Dziurzynski
Bailey Bass Lessard

Wiercioch Gryba
Hale Kinrade
D. Smith Schira
Benoit

Lehner
Brodeur

-Players like Wick, Butler, Z. Smith, Locke, Keller, Cowen, Wiercioch, Gryba, Hale, Lehner and Brodeur will all head to camp believing if they really stand out and outplay some veterans the big club will find a spot for them. The trickle down will be interesting to watch as Binghamton fans should benefit.

Campoli deserves some slack...but

It's old news now, but in case you started your long weekend early the Sens avoided going to arbitration with Chris Campoli. As the veteran d-man signed a new 1 year, 1.4 million dollar contract on Friday. While interviewing Campoli on Friday afternoon, I was surprised to hear him say he had played last season with a sports hernia that he just had corrected with surgery about 8 weeks ago.

This was surprising because not once did we hear one peep from Campoli during what can only be characterized as a disappointing season. A season where the 25 year old saw his stock fall on the blueline to the point where he was scratched and dressed as a forward. The only ailment everyone knew about was the knee injury suffered just before the Olympic break that caused Campoli to miss 8 games.

When you hear fans and media question your play(and don't believe it when players say they don't hear it...they all do, at the very least indirectly) on a constant basis wouldn't it only be human nature to eventually say?

"listen, I'm putting off surgery for a sports hernia until the off-season because if you haven't noticed we're not overly deep on the blueline".

But he didn't. Campoli just rolled with it.

When faced with the choice of easing public criticism by admitting you're playing hurt, or earning more respect from teammates and the coaching staff by sucking it up, Campoli selected the latter. We'll call it anti-Hasek road.

Make no mistake. Bigger things were expected than an 18 point, 67 game season. Whenever the coaching staff was asked about Campoli's sub-par play the common refrain was they wanted to see him be harder on the puck and to just be more consistent with his overall level of play. Garry Galley once told me that if you make the decision to play hurt, you'd better play well because nobody cares how you're feeling once you decide to compete.

In hindsight, knowing what we know now about his season Campoli deserves a little slack. However, with a crowded blueline, he knows that slack won't matter once training camp starts and he's battling the likes of Brian Lee, Matt Carkner and host of youngsters led by Jared Cowen for the last 2 spots in the top 6.

Sens camp should be interesting

Even though training camp is still two months away, you really get the sense there will be some great competition for jobs at Sens training camp. Let's look at the roster including just the one way contracts(including the RFA's who when they sign will be on one ways):

Regin Spezza Alfredsson
Michalek Fisher Kovalev
Foligno Kelly Neil
Ruutu Winchester Shannon

Gonchar Kuba
Phillips Karlsson(still on entry level...but...c'mon)
Campoli Carkner
Lee

Leclaire
Elliott

(Note: Don't read into the combos. I don't know and neither does Clouston yet)

If the Sens don't make any moves regarding their one way contracts (which I doubt...move(s) have to be coming) they will have 21 NHL players in camp. Now, let's look at the kids knocking on the door:

Forward - one foot already in the door

Zack Smith: The trickle down effect of injuries to Kovalev and Michalek helped Smith get a regular role down the stretch and into the playoffs. Not too many guys in that position would insist on coming to development camp. He did. It will be tough to keep his toughness and determined play off the 4th line.

Bobby Butler: After winning the bidding war the Sens worked the Hobey Baker finalist into a couple of games towards the end of the regular season. He didn't look out of place. He will be given every opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL right away. It's up to him.

Roman Wick: The forgotten prospect, drafted by a previous regime. Has honed his skills well in his native Switzerland the last numbers of years and earned his one year entry level contract by shining against the world's best at the Olympics in Vancouver. Bryan Murray thinks he can play in the NHL this season, we'll see if that means in early October.

Forward - Looking to make impression for call up potential

Corey Locke: Including 3 years in junior and 6 years as a pro, the former 67's superstar has led his team in scoring in 6 of the last 9 years. Including each of the last 3 on 3 different AHL teams. Will earn big money by AHL standards but wants to prove he can produce points at the next level.

Jim O'Brien: Former first round pick struggled in his first year as a pro as some are questioning his potential. With 2 years left on his entry level deal he needs make strides and at least prove he can excel in the AHL before anyone starts talking about an NHL career.

Ryan Keller: After excelling in the Finnish league the diminutive forward was one the lone bright spots in Bingo last season and saw some time with the big club. The organization thought enough of him to bring him back for a reason.

Cody Bass: Once higher on the depth chart the gritty centre seemed to fall out of favour last season (ugly +/- in Bingo). The team qualified him last month. After seeing some playoff games in 2008, Bass has to prove himself all over again in camp.

Kaspars Daugavins: Entering last year of entry level. Saw a bit of time with Ottawa but needs to show continued improvement as the prospect cupboard isn't as bare as it once was.

Erik Condra: Former Notre Dame star had his ups and downs as most do in first AHL season. Year 2 should be telling.

Colin Greening: Cornell co-captain just cutting his teeth as a pro. Like Condra last year, this season should be all about adjusting the pro game and pro sked.

David Dziurzynski: Signed as a 20 year old free agent out of the BCHL. It's a huge leap from tier 2 to the AHL, but he at least wants to show why the club went out and found him.

Defense - One foot already in the door

Jared Cowen: Came to development camp with snarl on, and did not go unnoticed. Last week G-M Bryan Murray said the club is looking for another physical d-man to fill out the blueline and opined that could very well be Cowen.

Patrick Wiercioch: After 2 years at the University Of Denver the slick puck mover is confident he can make the big club in the first camp. If his game matches his confidence, camp could be interesting.

Eric Gryba: I'll label the B.U. Captain as the "the other blueline prospect". Hasn't received as much attention as the Karlsson's, Cowen's Wiercioch's and now Rundblad's..but this big physical d-man has the potential to become a mean hard hitting S.O.B to play against. It's a stretch to say he's ready now, but he could see some NHL games later in the season.

Defense - Looking to get noticed

Derek Smith: Made his NHL debut just before the Olympics. With the aforementioned blue chippers coming into the organization, he needs to continue to develop.

Craig Schira: Looking to make strides in the AHL after getting his 1st year of pro experience under his belt.

Geoff Kinrade: Qualified by the team last week. Had a cup of coffee with the Lightning 2 years ago. Right now is seen as depth guy.

Goal:

Robin Lehner: Just turning 19, just turning pro. A rarity for a goaltender, but that's how good the 2009 2nd rounder already is. A year of playing an OHL sked in the Soo was enough. The Sens brass expect him to share time with Brodeur in Binghamton, but Bryan Murray hasn't ruled out anything happening at training camp. Will certainly generate a lot of buzz in September.

Mike Brodeur: What if he didn't come down with the flu on Martin Luther King day? Would he have continued a roll that was part of that 11 game winning streak? He proved he can excel in a pinch. Along with Lehner, Brodeur provides plenty of push for Leclaire and Elliott.

Sens arbitration hearing dates

Peter Regin - Friday July 30th

Chris Campoli - Wednesday August 4th (last day of Arb hearings)