Where Does Turris Fit In?
Now that the deal for Kyle Turris is done (for better or for worse) by GM Bryan Murray, it is now time for Paul MacLean to fit him into a lineup that is already replete with forwards. When healthy, Ottawa now has 13 forwards on one-way contracts, which doesn’t bode well for Kaspars Daugavins, as the lone forward with a 2 way deal.
Assuming Murray will be pressuring MacLean to not make his trade look bad, Turris will be given ample opportunity to play in the top 6. With Milan Michalek out for an indeterminate period of time, the Senators’ top 6 will contain Spezza, Alfredsson, Foligno, Regin, Greening and Turris in some combination. When Michalek returns from his concussion, it will probably knock Greening (or possibly Regin) out of the mix. The snowball effect will likely mean a demotion to Binghamton for Daugavins, who has played well enough to stay in the NHL, but those are the perils of having a 2 way contract. It will also force either Bobby Butler or Zenon Konopka to the press box every night, and one of Greening and Regin to the third line.
If Turris is going to make the transition to front line player, his and the Senators’ best option might be to start him with Alfredsson and Spezza. He never had the chance to play with that kind of talent in Phoenix, and if they can’t make him fit in then nothing will. This means that a line of Greening-Regin-Foligno will have to shoulder the load of secondary scoring, at least until Michalek returns and by that point hopefully the Senators see what they have in Turris.
Best case scenario, Turris becomes a solid second line player who chips in 50-60 points a season. Worst case scenario he flames out and becomes another third or fourth liner on a team filled with them, and forces a good third liner to the minors. I am still not overly optimistic that it will be the best case that occurs.
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