Hockey's Future Update

Hockey's Future has been updating their list of organizational depth for each team, and today was finally the Senators' turn.

I'm particularly happy that Jim O'Brien isn't in our top four, like he was last year. It speaks very much to the great job Murray & co. have done to restock the proverbial cupboards. Ignoring the question of whether Karlsson should be considered as "graduated" from the prospect list or not (he should), a few quick observations about the list:

• In what should come as a surprise to absolutely nobody, four of our top five prospects, according to HF, are defensemen. Our depth at D, while nice on paper right now, will be beastly in practice a few years down the line. This, of course, assumes that Karlsson, Cowen, Wiercioch and Rundblad continue their development instead of falling into the Brian Lee Downward Descent into Development Doom.
• I find it interesting that Louie Caporusso is listed higher than Wick, Butler and Smith. I've never seen Caporusso play, so for all I know he could be great down the line, but it seems to me that a prospect who's closer to cracking the NHL is a more valuable commodity than one who hasn't gotten much buzz since being nominated for the Hobey Baker award in 08-09.
• Hoffman at 19 seems a bit low, given the outstanding seasons he's had over the past two years and his training camp, which has been solid, albeit unspectacular. Having him below O'Brien seems less about their respective skill levels, but more about O'Brien's high draft position.
• Lehner's ranked a solid 5 on our list, but Sens need to draft another goalie or trade for one. There's just not enough long-term depth there to sustain. (This comment assumes that Brodeur bolts once his contract is up after this year.)

Thoughts on the list? A prospect you like not getting enough love? Someone on the list that you feel is overrated? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comment section.

Kuba takes a hit

If this is any kind of indication about the upcoming season, we're screwed.

Less than fifteen minutes into today's first practice of the year, Filip Kuba's skate caught a rut in the ice and he crashed awkwardly into the boards before being helped off the ice. No word yet on the seriousness of it, but the fact that it's Kuba is cause enough for concern. He missed 29 games last year and 11 games the year before with various injuries, most of which were classified as "lower-body injuries" -- though it's important to note that a lower-body injury could be anything from a sore hip to a hangnail on his pinky toe.

Does Pascal Leclaire take the backseat in terms of the team's official Player Made of Glass™? Will Kuba recover anytime soon? More importantly, if Kuba's still sidelined when the season begins, does that spot in the defensive corps become Jared Cowen's to lose? Will Brian Lee finally show why he was drafted 9th overall? Does Patrick Wiercioch or Eric Gryba make enough of an impression at camp to be kept on, even if only temporarily? Or, failing all of the above, what about David Hale?