Originally Posted by loco man

Ya it came down to a few factors. When I got Semin, I had visions of a 40-40 comeback season (which still may be possible, I suppose), but things just seem to be more of the same with this guy.

If Semin had have lit up the KHL like some of his NHL counterparts, rather than being a recent healthy scratch things may have been different. That, as well as saying he isn't sure about a return to the NHL, just gave me the feeling that he is more like the guy who has continued to frustrate and disappoint owners than someone who is going to return to an elite fwd.

Ennis seems like a better horse to bet on than Semin all things considered

Guess we'll see

Originally Posted by loco man

bumped this mo fo, since I just shipped Ennis for Stepan AND Kulikov.

Basically, Semin for Stepan and Kulikov - kinda love it

Originally Posted by Pengwin7

Hmm, I'd probably disagree that they got rid of Derek Roy because they see big things in Ennis. I think getting rid of Roy was simply because he was too small to cut it as a C1 with their already undersized forwards. Everytime I watched Buffalo I heard about how small they were with Roy-Ennis-Gerbe. You could use smaller/faster players on the wings (such as MSL in TB), if the line has some grit, but you just can't be too small at center AND wings. It doesn't work.

Anyways, I think moving Roy was more of a straight-up move for Steve Ott, who I think will be utilized a lot.

Ennis only won 52/145 faceoffs and he's way too small to push anybody out of a net-front presence. He'll be lining up as a top 2 line winger... but there's no way I see him taking a center spot.

My forecasted lines:
Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville
Ennis-Ott-Stafford

See... I think that line 1 was too small with Roy... it's a bit better with Hodgson there. And a line 2 is too weak in general, but if you stick Ott there it's more balanced.

Anyways, I think Ennis would have been a top 2 line player this year regardless, just saying I don't think it has anything to do with Roy being dealt.