The Kuba domino effect
It was bound to happen sooner or later, Filip Kuba is rejoining the Senators line-up. Besides uttering a sigh of relief for the power play and the defensive zone play, it meant that someone in the current defensive line-up had to go. A review of the roster on the blueline quickly shows that the only possible candidates were Alexandre Picard and Erik Karlsson.
Matt Carkner has become too much of a fan favourite and is pretty good, not great, but not bad either. Picard had a metldown against the Predators and could have sat for a while, but Coach Clouston had faith and put him back on. Picard plays well when he's on. He has also contributed 4 points in 8 games which are healthy numbers for a D-man.
Which left Karlsson. At minus 4, the worst on the team with AK-27, Karlsson didn't turn out to be the offensive defenseman the front office expected. Sending him down to Binghamton makes sense, as the 9 games he's played so far will not count for a year on his NHL contract. As the Senators first round draft pick, Karlsson had to be given all the chances possible by GM Murray so that the pick could count right away à la Jon Ravares with the Islanders. I'm glad he had the presence of minf to realize early on that it wasn't panning out.
Other goods news
Shean Donovan will suit up for the Panthers game, and I hope for the Lightning game as well. Ryan Shannon, who has had all the chances possible to prove himself, is still riding a goose egg on the Senators scoresheet, and has a minus 3 to boot. Donovan, on the other hand, has a goal and an assist in 6 games, darn good for a 4th liner. He plays with speed, checks hard and crashes the net a lot. I can only hope he does well. Teamed with Ruutu and Kelly, he makes that 4th line click.
Matt Carkner has become too much of a fan favourite and is pretty good, not great, but not bad either. Picard had a metldown against the Predators and could have sat for a while, but Coach Clouston had faith and put him back on. Picard plays well when he's on. He has also contributed 4 points in 8 games which are healthy numbers for a D-man.
Which left Karlsson. At minus 4, the worst on the team with AK-27, Karlsson didn't turn out to be the offensive defenseman the front office expected. Sending him down to Binghamton makes sense, as the 9 games he's played so far will not count for a year on his NHL contract. As the Senators first round draft pick, Karlsson had to be given all the chances possible by GM Murray so that the pick could count right away à la Jon Ravares with the Islanders. I'm glad he had the presence of minf to realize early on that it wasn't panning out.
Other goods news
Shean Donovan will suit up for the Panthers game, and I hope for the Lightning game as well. Ryan Shannon, who has had all the chances possible to prove himself, is still riding a goose egg on the Senators scoresheet, and has a minus 3 to boot. Donovan, on the other hand, has a goal and an assist in 6 games, darn good for a 4th liner. He plays with speed, checks hard and crashes the net a lot. I can only hope he does well. Teamed with Ruutu and Kelly, he makes that 4th line click.
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