The Ottawa Senators’ Untouchables, Stone, Karlsson Highlight The List
By Jack Leiper
It’s a fun game to play in the off-season, who on Ottawa’s roster is considered “Untouchable”?
This of course meaning, that no matter what any other GM may offer, Bryan Murray should not even talk about trading these few players. For a team like Ottawa who was mediocre for the majority of the year, the list is short.. but there are a few
Mark Stone
When Mark Stone was drafted 178th overall in the 2010 6th round, the intrigue was already there. We knew Stone was a big body who could score at the WHL level. In his draft year Stone posted 28 points in 39 games, good enough to earn recognition and a selection from an NHL club.
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106 points in 71 games in the WHL had Senators fans excited the following as Stone signed his entry level contract and represented Canada at the world junior tournament as a 19-year-old. Stone had become a legitimate prospect, and one with promise. It wasn’t until the season where Stone turned it on at the NHL level.
With a few AHL seasons in between and some questions regarding his skating and ability to stay healthy.. Stone has officially arrived. At just 22-years-old, he’s one of the best young talents in the NHL. The intelligence in which he plays is almost unmatched amongst Ottawa players as he holds promise unlike any other Senators prospect.
Look for Stone to be good for quite a while and a key piece to any Ottawa Senators success as they’ll have a Selke candidate for years to come.
Erik Karlsson
It’s crazy to think that Erik Karlsson is still only 25-years-old. He already has a Norris under his belt, and as team captain holds more value than anyone.
Karlsson’s journey to the NHL was a quick one. He quickly rose in the 2008 NHL entry draft and after some complained about his selection, Karlsson quickly made the jump to the NHL as a 19-year-old.
The early 14-15 season was rough for Karlsson as he had appeared to regress in terms of offensive output, but with D-partner Marc Methot by his side and extended to a long-term contract, Karlsson rebounded.
It’s hard to say anything bad about Karlsson’s influence to this team, unless you’re an Ottawa beat reporter. He’s a lock as an “untouchable” and if the Senators ever take the next step, it’ll be Karlsson leading them.
Kyle Turris
Since coming over from Phoenix, Turris has had three very solid seasons in Ottawa. He has 3 years left on a very favourable deal and has proven he’s a true number one centre. He outscored former Ottawa Senator, Jason Spezza this season and is primed for another very good year in 15-16.
During the stretch in which Ottawa had an incredible run, Turris was a huge piece for the team. He’s clearly the best centre on the team and should be for quite some time. He showed us he can sustain his pace of 60ish points and 25ish goals, those are marks that Turris could break with some more consistency but are pretty much guarantees over the next 5+ seasons.
That contract, mixed with his importance to the team makes Turris pretty close to untouchable. Simply put, it would take a massive overpayment for Bryan Murray to ever consider Turris in a trade.
Others Who Won’t Be Moving
Mika Zibanejad – The swedish centerman had a big step up year. He almost hit the 50 point mark and proved he is a top 6 player. He’s a centerman that brings size and played well with Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman. Much like Turris, if Zibanejad is ever to go, it would require a massive overpayment.
Curtis Lazar – The Senators’ top prospect is pretty touted. His junior resume is quite impressive and although his NHL career didn’t begin with a bang, there was improvement to be seen. At 21, Lazar is eligible for the AHL next season and should develop further wherever he plays. Lazar won’t be moving.
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The Senators certainly have a few nice pieces. Mark Stone and Kyle Turris highlight the group and forward and Erik Karlsson is a Norris Caliber defender on the back end.
Supporting those two are young players Zibanejad and Lazar. While Lazar has yet to prove his game at the NHL level, Zibanejad had a nice season last year. With each player heading into their 23 and 21 year old seasons, look for both to have big years in terms of development.
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