Muckler On Qualifying Offers, Draft, Volchenkov

[Man.Utd]

White, Prusek on way out?
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun

Todd White and Martin Prusek could be filling out change of address cards by today. Neither player has been extended a qualifying offer by the Senators with the deadline looming tomorrow and sources told the Sun that GM John Muckler is trying to move both during the NHL draft festivities today at the Westin Hotel. Muckler and assistant GM Peter Chiarelli maintained yesterday that decisions haven't been made yet on White and Prusek. But they've also spread the word that both players are available and they're waiting on offers.

It's believed the Los Angeles Kings and Florida Panthers have both shown an interest in White, while Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey has made a call about Prusek because the club is going into the season without a backup goaltender. If neither is traded by tomorrow at 5 p.m., then White won't be given a qualifying offer and Prusek will likely be brought to camp with the intent to deal him at some point.

"We've got some decisions left to make," Muckler said at a news conference yesterday.

The Senators have given a qualifying offer to defenceman Anton Volchenkov, but he has accepted a one-year, $1.2-million (all terms US) offer from Lada Togliatti of the Russian Super League. An out clause can be invoked before Sept. 1 to rejoin the Sens.

"Anton, like all Russian players, has the opportunity to play in his home country for very good money," said agent J.P. Barry of IMG Hockey. "It is customary for players to work out these deals now because training camps start in August.

FIGHTING DEADLINE

"We're going to speak with Ottawa and see if we're able to get something worked out before the deadline."

Muckler wasn't amused.

"It doesn't matter if it's a bargaining ploy ... we only have so much money we're going to be able to pay people," said Muckler. "We want to have Anton on our team and we've treated him very well. We're going to make a long-term commitment to some players and others we're going to give one-year contracts. But if we're going to make a commitment to those players, we want them to make a commitment to us."

The Senators are focusing today on trying to decide who to take with the No. 9 pick in the entry draft. Carey Price, a goalie from the Tri-City Americans ranked No. 1 in North America, is a definite possibility. The club is also looking at two defencemen: Marc Staal of the Sudbury Wolves and Ryan Parent of the Guelph Storm.

"I've been in Ottawa six years and this might be one of the thinnest drafts I've seen since I've been here," said Frank Jay, who was promoted to director of amateur scouting yesterday, while player personnel director Anders Hedberg became head of pro scouting.

"It's pretty good in the top 15, but then it drops off significantly. We got really lucky being able to pick in the No. 9 spot."

STAYING ... AND GOING

Status of Senators' restricted free agents heading into today's NHL entry draft:

PLAYERS GIVEN QUALIFYING OFFERS: Chris Kelly, Ray Emery, Martin Havlat, Marian Hossa, Brian McGrattan, Christoph Schubert, Jason Spezza, Antoine Vermette, Anton Volchenkov and Chris Neil.

PLAYERS WHO DIDN'T: Todd White, Charlie Stephens, Martin Prusek, Josh Langfeld and Denis Hamel.

[Madferret]

More depth on the blueline...

9th - Ottawa Brian Lee, D, Moorhead HS, MN
History

Signed with the ECHL Greenville Grrrowl at the end of his 2004-05 junior season.
2002-03: Lee was selected as the OHL Erie Otters' Most Dedicated Player. Served as assistant captain. He had one goal in a nine-game tryout with Cincinnati at the end of the season.
2001-02: Lee was selected as the Otters' Most Improved Player and Scholastic Player-of-the-Year
2000-01: Lee was selected as the Otters' Scholastic Player-of-the-Year

Drafted 71st overall (3rd round) in the 2002 Entry Draft by Anaheim.

Talent Analysis

Lee plays a solid defensive game. Has good overall skill, and plenty of size. Plays the body well. Does not have a lot of offense to his game. Lee needs to improve his skating and strength to continue to play professionally.

[Newfie John]

I thought for sure that Ottawa would take Staal, who is, IMO, a better player then Lee. Muckler said he should be in the top 4 in two years. That seems to be quite a stretch, but Muckler must see something in him that we all do not. Should be interesting.

[Man.Utd]

Lee is a very solid pick. Most scouts had him going a little outside the top 10 so we did over-reach a little. But if we were in the market for defenseman he was the best choice (either him or Bourdon. I really, really have never been impressed by Stall) and is way better than anyone we could've had drafting in our regular position. It is worth noting that even those who didn't like Lee had him in the top half of the round. Thankfully, we can take our time with Brian and he sould be a nice second-pairing top 4 guy in two or three years. His offensive potential isn't very high unfortunatly, but with Ottawa having many impact forwards and other d-men who can score he won't be relied upon to score anyway. He does own very good skating speed however, so no worries adapting to the new NHL where slow defenders can be exposed via stretch pass. Lee loved to take the body from his days in junior when I saw him play ever now and then, always getting well over 100 PIMs if he played a full season. According to what I've read, that has continued - the added weight since then helps too. At 6'2 1/2, 202 lbs Lee will give us another punishing blueliner to add to the fray. And finally we have a right handed shot on the roster (other than Pothier). :thumb: Even if he falls below expectations he should still give us a nice, phsyical bottom-pairing guy.


Now that I'm done praising Lee, and I do like this pick a fair bit given Chara and Redden nearing UFA age, I think there were better options available. I was screaming for Ottawa to take Anze Kopitar, and apparent "locK" to be top-6 pick. From what I've read he's a stud, and if we're converting Smoke/Fisher (Vermette?) to LW we could use a center to play behind Spezza. O'Marra I wanted above Lee for that same reason. Alex Bourret was tempting as a potential PF too. Again, I like Lee, but we lucked out with this lottery in our chance for a gritty, first-line winger. We won't get this chance (via draft anyway for a while). Meanwhile, a top-4 defenseman would likely be on the board next year or a few spots away if we want to trade up. Oh well, as nice pick as I said and much better than we would've done without a lottery.

[Man.Utd]

Some information on our newest Senators, including #1 selection Brian Lee.

Minnesota?s 2005 Mr. Hockey and Associated Press Player of the Year is likely to be the first Minnesota high school player selected in this year?s draft. Lee had an accomplished senior season, becoming the 13th high school player to make the roster for the U-20 World Junior Hockey Championships, leading Moorhead to the championship game of the state AA high school tournament, and finishing his season playing for Lincoln in the USHL. Lee is a veteran of USA hockey events and was named top defenseman at the U-17 Five Nations Cup in Slovakia. Lee is among the 43 players invited to the 2005 US National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 5-14 competing to make the US roster for the World Junior Championship.

The University of North Dakota recruit was an imposing player at the high school level, possessing good size and superb skating skills. He can play in all situations, can easily move the puck up ice, and is adept at joining the rush. Moorhead High School Coach Dave Morinville told Hockey?s Future that Lee is very coachable and compares Lee to another American defenseman.

"He is an extremely great leader in a quiet way," said Morinville. "He's a guy I always compare to Brian Leetch, as he's solid defensively and he's guy that can bring you some offense without giving up chances." Morinville added that Lee is a dedicated student to the game, and indicated that Lee put an emphasis on plyometric and sprint work in the off-season, recognizing that first step quickness will play a huge role at the next level. Lee did not see much ice time with the U-20 team, but his resume should push him into the first round.

- John Muckler and co. must've been talking about Lee when they claimed they thought they could get a guy a #9 who they thought could step in almost right away. The Sens had Lee rated not only as the clear second-best defenseman in the draft behind Jack Johnson, but 4th among all eligable skaters. A different ranking than everybody else, but I trust the Sens sheet as much as if not more than any other club's. Seeing as the Sens actually had a jersey with Lee's name on it as opposed to the generic "Team Name 05" one they don't appear to be bluffing. They really seemed to target this guy and were confident he'd be available at #9. When they saw the Sharks trade up to #8 everyone at Ottawa's table was sweating buckets, but when San Jose passed on Lee it was smiles all around. After SJ they tried to trade down and take Lee as they didn't think any other teams were interested at that point. Obviously, there were no takes.

- Russian pivot Ilja Zubov, taken 98th overall by Ottawa in the 4th round, was very highly recommended by Sens' Russian scout Boris Shagas - so much so that he considered him to be among Russia's best in this weak year for them. Considered the Russians #1 prospect by ISS heading into the draft, we may have another steal. Shagas also thought very highly of Volchenkov, considering him a top 10 pick and thought Kaygorodov could've easily went in the first round back in 2002. Another great name to add to Boris' list of recommendations?

- Boris is also high on the 6'4 Russian Vitaly Anikeyenko and thinks he has a very good shot at the NHL (drafted in the 3rd round by Ottawa, 70th overall). However, the organizations does have a few concerns about being able to bring this guy over to North America.

- Frank Jay, our chief amature scout thinks quite highly of Cody Bass, aside from the obvious likeable traits (gritty, good leader, face-offs, speed) he is in his opinion one of the strongest defensive forwards to come along in years.

[Max Power]

I heard Muckler on the radio saying Emery will be the backup this year and another players they want to sign and play next year is Kaigorodov