The buzz around Bytown is the supposed impending trade of forward Chris Kelly. While I am sure Bryan Murray will make a move before the season starts or in the first week of the new season, I am beginning to think Chris Kelly will not go. There is a logjam on offense, yes, that’s true. But it doesn’t necessarily mean Kelly has to go. I think he will look good next to two scrappers in Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Neil. I now he had a down year but everybody did and I believe he can get 35+ plus points this season if he plays with his head up. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Jesse Winchester may be the guy that heads to Binghamton. He will have to go through waivers which is risky, because the team doesn’t want to lose him, but I don’t think any team is in the genre to pick up guys from waivers. Winchester picked up 18 points last season but it looks like he may need some more conditioning and it would be smart long-term for him to improve his game.
While talking about Kelly, the issue of him being traded has sparked some comments from Bruce Garrioch, who suggest he needs to go. Almost very Sens blog has mentioned Malkin to the Kings is absolutely wrong, but we all know Boo Boo has had his “problems” in the past. Kelly is a very good defensive forward, and even though some are saying the contrary, he is needed on the PK, period. Without him, this team loses some sandpaper. Though I would unserstand it if Murray did trade him. That fourth line with Ruutu and Neil is pretty expensive.
The guy that Murray is likely looking to trade is Christoph Schubert. Even though there’s no market for him, you’d bet Murray would call some teams to try to sell Schubert. His time has come and I’d bet there’s a couple of team who are in need to of his hard-hitting style. Not only that, but he has a huge shot. A wildcard that could be traded is Brian Lee. I would give him a few more games, maybe up to the quarter-pole but it looks like he’s lost his roster spot, something that he was sure to have before camp started. With Karlsson and Carkner coming out of nowhere, coupled with Lee’s poor camp, the battle is heating up. A source suggested to me Karlsson and Picard will be the one who will make the team with Carkner acting as a spare in Bingo and Lee refining his game—again.
I posted how I think the lineup will look yesterday, so today I’m predicting how the PP and PK units will probably look on opening night…
Power Play #1
Filip Kuba- Point
Erik Karlsson- Point
Daniel Alfredsson- Left Wing
Alexei Kovalev- Slot
Jason Spezza- Right Wing
Power Play #2
Alexandre Picard- Point
Chris Campoli- Point
Milan Michalek- Left Wing
Jonathan Cheechoo- Slot
Nick Foligno/Ryan Shannon- Crease
Penalty Kill #1
Daniel Alfredsson
Chris Kelly
Mike Fisher
Chris Phillips
Penalty Kill #2
Milan Michalek
Peter Regin
Chris Neil
Anton Volchenkov