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Senators sign pair of veteran wingers

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 11:21 AM EST 08/07/08

Ottawa re-signs Shean Donovan; adds Jarkko Ruutu ...Read the full article

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  1. Allan Martel from Canada writes: One sure fire measure of success in hockey is a balanced lineup.

    With the Ruutu and Donovan signings, Ottawa has achieved a delicate balance - the number of vowels in the pair of names signed exactly equals the number of consonants.

    In Leafland, this would be cause for consternation with howls from the bowels, but in Ottawa it's no big deal.

    Is Ruutu the second line forward Ottawa has been looking for? Is he the best from among the affordable few? Only the shadow knows.
  2. Allan Martel from Canada writes: With the re-signing of Chris kelly and Shean Donovan along with the acquisition of Auld and Ruutu, Ottawa is much improved.

    The departure of Redden will hurt but only a little. Can they sign Mazeros or is his destiny elsewhere?

    With Emery gone (to neverneverland it would appear) the team should begin to function better under the new coach.

    What defencemen will Ottawa target next? My guesses- One or two from the following list:

    Darius Kasparaitis
    Paul Mora
    Dimitri Kalinin
    Andrei Zyuzin

    The last three are young guns, the top probably the best fit for ottawa.
  3. Howard Young from Canada writes: I didn't expect Ruutu. I thought the team was interested in a Penguin but I would have guessed Orpik. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, Murray did mention that he wanted an Avery time player.

    I wonder if Ruutu is an addition or replacement type move (i.e. rendering Neil obsolete).

    I think he will be a good addition to the team.
  4. Fester Boyle from Bert's, Barbados writes: The signing of Donovan was no surprise. Although last season was so-so, he was one of the few that showed some determination during the playoffs. On the other hand, Ruutu was unexpected. The Sens are a bit light on the right side and Ruutu is a lefty. Nevertheless, he plays with an edge which should make the Sens a grittier team, along with guys like Donovan, Kelly, Neil, Foligno and Bass.

    Hope the last missing piece, a defenseman, comes through free agency rather than trade because the team seems pretty well set. Only need Vermette and Meszaros signed and Hartsberg to get Spezza and Meszaros to play like they can. If that happens, the Sens will finish on top of the East.
  5. Jim McBob from Canada writes: Ruutu Neil and Fisher .. that's one heck of a tough line to play against.

    All they need is Laraque and they are good to go.
  6. Ian m from United States writes: Too bad the Leafs didn't keep Tucker - Ruutu would have lots more chances to pummel him.
  7. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: A couple more reasonable signings at reasonable rates by the Sens...

    Whew!

    At least, there is one other bastion of sanity in the NHL other than the Habs....

    I was starting to lose my faith there for a second.

    Cheers.
  8. Baked Pot8o from Otown, Canada writes: Wow, lots of excitement over nothing. Ruutu will add some toughness the Sens desperately need.. but Auld? I guess this is the old 'addition by subtraction' line.

    They need at least 2 defencemen, not just one; otherwise they will have a bunch of talented forwards and not much else. And if Meza spurs them for cash in the Kremlin, they will be seriously short on the back end.

    They only made the playoffs by 1 pt last year......
  9. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Murray looks like he's hanging back waiting for the 'right' opportunity to grab a d-man. He may yet get it. Dan Boyle is apparently being shopped; Paul Mara, Jaroslav Modry and Bret Hedican (a plus 17 by the way last year) are still available; Brian McCabe is close to being waived. It's a poker game, and a very high stakes one at that with some real cowboys flashing the cash. Lots of fun to watch this circus. Snagging Boyle would vault the Sens back up into contention, even if Brian has to give up value to get him. Can you spell S-P-E-Z-Z-A? Rhymes with Tampa.
  10. Proud Canadian from Canada writes: Dave, I dont want Bwyan in Ottawa. On a charter with another team to play, and charter right back out. Only way.
  11. Arron D from Canada writes: PC, would you break up the Dany and Jay show? Yeah it is inconsistent, but even with them only playing 2/3 of their games Ottawa was high in the scoring list. I would keep them together and put Ruutuu with them, scoring and antagonism.. could be fun to watch. and Poached Potato - the Sens do need to good D, but keeping Messaros is a mistake, he learned under half heart Redden, dump him and move up to Lee, throw in Hedican if they can and pull up a 6th or 7th D from the pool and the team is back in play.
  12. Proud Canadian from Canada, Canada writes: Aaron, Im just sitting on the sidelines. Im reading all these signings, all the comments, tell ya, Im not into Baseball at all, Im not into Football nor Basketball at all. With all this money being thrown around for what? Campbell? and all others... What is it going to prove? Ive thought hard and serious over the past few days, my hockey days are going via the Baseball route. No interest at all. On a cool winter Saturday night down here in the beautiful SW of Ontario, I think Di and I will invite friends over, or be invited by friends over, bring our poker sets, sit at the dining table, enjoy a couple pops, current event chatter, a few "all in's" some light music, and enjoy. Who in hell needs to be sitting in front of a 50 inch hi def TV to watch overpaid premadonas going thru the motions. for 82 games. Then watch the best team of all, the Red Wings take it all again.. Why bother.. Tell me.
  13. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Well, Boyle, Mara and Kalinin are out of the picture, and so is just about every other UFA defenseman of note...but maybe Brian has invested Mr. Melnyk's millions in short term debentures, eh. Seriously, Jarkko Ruutu and Alex Auld aren't going to vault the Sens into contention, are they? And will RFAs Vermette and Meszaros be poached by the Canucks' new Cookie Monster dressed as a GM? Mr. Murray could look a trifle silly with his Swiss cheese defense, unless he is considering covering the ice at Scotiabank Place with fondue to slow down the opposition. I understand Marty G has a dynamite recipe.
  14. Fester Boyle from Bert's, Barbados writes: It looks like they're playing the waiting game. Murray can't make a move on signing Meszaros and Vermette until the expected offer sheets are presented. Before that, he can't make a counter - their agents aren't going to agree to any Sens' offer. In the meantime, the defensive talent is being snapped up. So, it looks like Murray will have to resort to a trade to get that last defenseman. In this case, Vermette looks like the expendable one. If Hedican can't be acquired through UFA, then sign Vermette and Meszaros and trade Vermette for Bieksa and a high pick.

    To go anywhere in the east, the Sens need to focus on their defensive game and a better than average defensive corps is paramount. The Pens are weaker with the loss of so many of their grittier players, so the east is wide open.
  15. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Bryan is now shopping for either Kyle McLaren or Mathieu Schneider according to reports. With Vermette and Meszaros likely to get offer sheets, Mr. Murray may well be wading in the deep brown stuff.
  16. Howard Young from Canada writes: Vermette has opted for arbitration, so offer sheets are no longer an issue I believe. Meszaros, I think if Murray could find a better replacement for him and still find a D-man to fill Redden's spot, I don't think he would defend against an offer sheet for Meszaros. Meszaros will likely remain a Senator due to limited options for Murray.
  17. Rob C from Canada writes: OH, come_ON Claude!!! Don't give up now....the Sens can still win it all - We can't afford to lose you on these boards - You're just bitter that the Wings won and the Sens sucked. The Sens won't suck this year and the Leafs will suck right out loud - Then you'll love hockey once again (at least until next spring when the Sens break your heart...yet again) - but who cares? --- It's all part of life's rich pageantry.

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