MONTREAL _ Bryan Murray couldn’t watch it anymore.
First, it was Daniel Alfredsson stepping up for a teammate in Philly.
Then, it was David Dzuirzynski getting dropped by Frazer McLaren in Toronto. Chris Phillips has fought. Patrick Wiercioch had fought.
Enough was enough. Murray made a list of three tough guys.
Matt Kassian was the first on his liste.
Then, Murray took action.
“We need to have that presence,” said Murray Wednesday.
No kidding. They had it last year but couldn’t keep it. Zenon Konopka and Matt Carkner both wanted to stay but both knew they could do better on the lucractive free agent market.
A sixth round pick for Kassian is nothing.
They need him. According to Dean Brown, Kassian has won 10 of his last 13 fights. He has taken on all the big guys. He didn’t join the team here. He went straight Ottawa. Kassian will make his debut in Buffalo Saturday.
The Senators are in a tough division.
Coach Paul MacLean said Kassian will be a welcome addition.
“We feel good about it. We feel like we’ve added an element to our team that is really important,” said MacLean Wednesday. “It’s something that we thougth we lacked as a group and we’ve addressed that.”
MacLean said the club has been looking to fill the void left by the depatures of Konopka and Carkner.
“We just felt like that element was important to us. We were trying to address that when we could and we were able to do it,” said MacLean.
Here’s Kassian fighting Boston’s Shawn Thornton:
Categories: General
How about that Zibanajed. He’s 19 and he’s tied for the goal scoring lead on the Sen’s.
That looked like a staged fight, and we all know MacLean hates staged fights, so I guess he’ll never get used eh.
Reminds me of the time that clown on the radio, not Brown, the other guy, the one who talks and says nothing. Anyway, Domi gets into a fight and he’s all over Domi, calls him a goon and good for nothing, then later in the game an Ottawa guy starts a fight and he say “that’s just good old fashioned hockey” hahahaha too much, a city full of hypocrites. My guess is MacLeran will have a sudden change of heart and love staged fights, cause that’s all this guy can do.
In this day and age, you need to be able to play a little too, like Thornton, but this guy is not a player
It was a good game, crappy outcome.
Fights are nice but what’s better is when your team leaders are nuclear deterrents of their own. Iginla has dropped them, LeCavalier has dropped them, even our own captain did in the past but no longer.
There isn’t any great mystery here on the scale of the pyramids or the Naazca lines in the desert. Teams push the Senators around because he Senators are ok with it. Alfredsson doesn’t fight back, Spezza doesn’t, Karlsson doesn’t…what’s going to happen?
Look, I’m not saying that these skill guys should drop them constantly. I put it like this. Probably every one of us have been pushed around in our youths. I know I was, constantly by this bully on Innes Road back in the day when Ilved there. Eventually I had enough, stood up to him and beat him back down. After that I never got any guff. Why do you think everyone goes “Aflie Alfie”? It’s not because of the cup finals. It’s because he came out of a scrum against Pittsburgh with his sweater off and he was ready to throw down..
Every player on this team needs to stand up for every other player. Until that happens the team will get pushed around. Even Gretzky fought…even Yzerman, LaFontaine, they all dropped them. Karlsson is going to have to it too someday.
The “nuclear deterrent” needs to be the Ottawa Senators, not just Matt Kassian or Chris Neil.
Yep this team is in deep trouble…going to a SO against the two best teams in the East (granted Montreal has really out-played us for stretches) and holding onto the 5th PO spot without the NHL’s 4th leading scorer, the Norris Trophy winner, a 35 goal scorer, a top 4 D-man and a goalie that was heading towards a Vezina trophy is just embarrassing.
Trade Michalek for Gallagher, Cowen for pucks, Karlsson for a big guy who can hit and will block some shots and whatever else and then I am sure we will be much better.
Oh ya, cut all of our rookies and everyone in Bingo, fire Murray and get someone in who will get only big, fast, skilled players. THAT is how we can win the Stanley Cup.
And lastly, get the media on point with the proper message. This team is garbage and the future is dark and dreary (until we do all of the items above – then we are good to go).
Mikey, check out my comments on the ohter thread. If you like what you saw last night, then you will like anything they do or don’t do. Zibanejad scoring his 3rd (but really his 4th) of his 6 goals on the PP is more of a statement on the state of the team than his ability. What did and what does he do 5 on 5 when real hockey is played? I will tell you, nothing. Did you see the skating, stickhandling, physicality, playmaking, courage at all? Zibby didn’t register a single hit last night. He didn’t carry thepuck 20 feet. It was the 12 minute mark before he touched the puck and he is a centerman! While others are doing anything and everything to help their team win, these two do very little. They both float around waiting for someone to get them the puck. The corners are off limits as is the front of the net; even things like blocked shots are ignored. Zibby is 183rd with 10 blocked shots while the 22 year old Sly is 229th with 8. As for take aways (and really they are done through hard work in the corners) Zibby ranks 228th with 8 and Sly 305th with 5! This is where they rank among forwards only! I now know that nothing, not even reality, will change your disposition Mikey. Personally, I thought the way they played last night was an embarrassment (especially Silfverberg).
Pav, it wasn’t a great game. Ottawa gave up 45 shots. Lehner allowed 4 goals in regulation and 2 in the shoutout, again.
As for Kassian, I would agree with bringing him on board if he can skate but, if he is as slow ans mollaises, it is a waste of a roster spot. For the most part, great big heavy weights cancel eachother out. If there is a heavy weight who is slow, he can be avoided. But a heavy weight who can fight, skate and hit, he is of value! If there is a heavy weight who like Dave Shultz in the old days would beat up on anbody, he can change the game but they don’t do that anymore. I favor guys like Neil, Smith who can skate, sacrifice their bodies, punish the opposition and when called upon, drop the gloves and fight with many not just the very few great big lugs! Kassian with only 28 games in the Bigs at 26 years of age, tells us a story.
only problem with the outcome is the point Ottawa got
Choke, hiding behind the name again; if you are not an Ottawa fan why come on here? Oh wait, you think you are funny and you come on here to taunt and make fun. Must be a very fulfilling life you have.
Bobby, I thought it was alright, its always fun to watch a high scoring game. Alfie scored a good one. I am not sure why Bishop didn’t start.
Fights are going to be in the game until the league decides to throw the book at staged fights or fights in general.
Ottawa is up 4 points on 9th. Its going to be a race to the end. Ottawa at this point is going to likely make the post season. But if Ottawa does not make the post season, is Murray to blame for not making a move to bring someone to replace Spez/Kaarl?
OD99,
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Bobby,
You keep repeating the same thing and always stress the negative. Only you can find fault with a 19 year old kid who is tied for the lead on his team for goals.
Pav,
Why respond to trolls? It just makes them happy.
No Pav, but Murray is to blame for building the soft, low scoring and boring hockey club we see today. He did bring Karlsson and Methot on board. I still say the team will never win anything of importance with Karlsson but he is great in the regular season. Silfverberg and Zibanejad are soft and scared and unwilling to carry the puck, make plays, go into the corners and play physical and stand in front of the net! If losing 6 of the last 7 but getting a point is great then you are easy to please. Stone doesn’t look like he has the wheels to play in the NHL but neither do the two soft Swedes. When I saw Silfverberg fall for the 11th time trying to avoid a hit, I cringed. When I see them float around waiting for someone to get them the puck I cringe. When I see them skate 20 feet when the coast is clear and then move it Quickly when someone approaches, I cringe. When I see them avoid the corners and the front of the net, I cringe. I think that many forget how it used to be here with talent and speed and goal scoring. Next year will be Murray’s 7th here, does anyone here think this team will be entertaining or will they continue to win games only because of their brilliant goaltending?
The season is half over and some teams are on the rise. I just watched the Peg and they can skate, have courage and can score goals, they are fun to watch! When Obrien Is the second leading goal scorer on the hockey club you know the team is in trouble and shallow. Cowen may have played in the top 4 but it is a testimony to how shallow the team is! He most certainly is not a top 4 guy! He is a top 4 guy like the two Swedes are 1st and 2nd liners! Is Obrien a top goal scorer? Before he was hurt, Michalek had 2 goals! With all the talent we have in the manures, the team is one of the lowest goal scoring teams in the entire league!
Yep, Murray has built a dynasty. His team will compete for the cup next year and the organization, with family and friends running the show compares favourably with the 29 other franchises who rely on NHL players to staff key positions. This place is an embarrassment. In the game vs Montreal we witnessed a team ascending and another in free fall. One is proud and honoured with respectable people at the helm, the other is a disgrace. One team will sit their best players the other invents their best. One sets expectatilns and the other has none. One went from last to first and the other is drowning in mediocrity.
One has a coach who can select players from a pool of talent for a shoot out, the other pulls out Daugavins and reduces the game to a Gong Show! One organization selects the best players available the other is hooked on Swedes. One team is made up of players, who can skate, want the puck and have courage to go get it anywere even though some are tiny; the other allows some to Holiday on Ice. And one has one standard for all while the other has a double standard.
OD99.
Which is better, the one who waves pom-poms and his haooy with his team no matter what or the one that asks questions? I laughed when I heard Don say on the radi that Murray had done an exceptional job. Being average isn’t excellent or exceptional, it’s average. But there is a love affair with this man because he is “local”, although I wonder how Shawville, a good hour or so away, is “local”. Is Montebello “local”? To me, Local is OTTAWA. If you are in the Ottawa proper limits, if you were born and bred in Ottawa and if you pay taxes in Ottawa you are local!
I ask again, what at the expectations for this team? The only whiff of them we have is that Bruce Garrioch (who writes the best Sunday Column in the world, and buy the paper this Sunday March 17 because Bruce said on the radio it would be a whopper of a column!) that Murray thinks the team might make the second round of the playoffs. Does this merit an extension? Absolutely in this town where expectations were to win a Stanley Cup but now they are simply to make the playoffs and win a round, maybe a few games, and be content.
I am not content OD99. I will never be content. Not unti a Stanley Cup finals is reached and a championship returns to this town! Is this going to happen overnight? Probably not but look at our brothers up the highway. They cleaned out management, cleaned out coach, brought in people to their identity and toughened up their team and now they are 1st or close to it! Here in Ottawa we reward failrue.
An emailer had the temerity to point out that some of those good players were drafted by Muckler and the third guy, who sounds as if he is having a male/female identity crisis, went on and on about Bryan Murray.
We are two points out of the playoffs people. The Big Rig Brewery is saying they are giving tickets to an away playoff game for the Senators, have they clinched a spot when I was absent?
Everyone moves on OD99 and when Murray is finally gone, then there will be accountability and then there will be expectations and then there will be results! Until then let us celebrate mediocrity. Hail Silfverberg the SEL champ that doesn’t score or pass but backchecks occasionally. Hail Zibanejad that scores on the powerplay. Hail both of them, fresh-faced, not a scar or bruise on their bodies. Hail Craig Anderson who refuses to suit up for a team that gives him a rich contract. Hail Erik Karlsson, able to walk but refusing to skate.
WE ARE CHAMPIONS! OD99 said so! I am rushing to buy playoff tickets for the June tilt with the Anaheim Ducks or Chicago Black Hawks!
Bobby,
How did Montreal do with out their best defenceman (Markov) last year. How would they do this year with out their top 2 defencemen, top goaltender, and top 2 forwards. You write the same old criticisms over and over like a broken record. Whatever.
Bobby, I know you do not like the Murray’s which is fine, but i do not think that they are soft nor are they boring. I think that with all the injuries, they are playing with an AHL team. We have a team that will likely make the playoffs. I think that is something we can hang our hat on. I agree that we are soft, but hopefully that will rectify itself sooner than later. The Pens game last night? They beat the Leafs, which right now isn’t hard to do. We took on the best of the east and lost in an S/O. Not sure you can knock Ottawa man, we are sitting in 5th and playing some decent hockey.
Mike, Oh I know, but you need to remind those trolls sometimes that we know exactly what they are.
Perhaps I am Mikey, but I ask you, did you witness any of those items I asked you to watch for? Did you see how many times thekids carried the puck (Zibby didn’t touch the puck until the 12 minute mark of the 1st period and he didn’t register a single hit in the entire game). Indeed I do repeat myself but unlike most, I will not celebrate floaters who do not want to touch the puck. I cannot celebrate a center who doesn’t make plays, wont go get the puck, wont/can’t deke around a pylon and doesn’t show any speed. I wont celebrate a player who insists on a fly by every time he is on the ice and spends most of his time on his can (even losing his balance in a desperate attempt to avoid, of all things, a hit). I like kids who want the puck and will do whatever it takes to get it (Galagher anyone?). Lars Eller is 23, a Dane and I don’t think he was Mr. Everything in an “Elite League” but, he will carry the puck and a demonstrate courage, speed and skill! I suspect Galagher and Eller never monopolized the media like some have here in Ottawa! They and Galchenyuk are players I wish Ottawa had on the team! I love speed, skill and courage. I have had enough of the long list of softies: Comrie, Kovalev, Gonchar, Stillman, Butler, Rund’sbad, Gilroy, Da Oatslike Costa, Greening, Zibanejad, Lundin, Silfverberg.
Pierre says that a team like Ottawa will be successful in the post season, I beg to differ. There is no way a team that allows so many shots, scoring opportunites and territorial edge will win when the game is played far tougher! Should the Sens make the post season (right now it looks good but some are nipping at their heels and there is lots of hockey left) we will witness how the team and some players perform. If there are some who vanish in tough games in the regular season, is it possible they will show up when the play is more in your face, little room and very physical? I don’t think so.
Acquiring Matt Kassian tells me Murray desperately wants to make the playoffs not matter what. I lie the kid, he seams like a breath of fresh air but I hope he can skate. If he can’t, I doubt he will be with the club throughout 2013-2014 season. The video show him fighting a player I prefer, Thornton, he, like Gums and Knuckles will play 12+ minutes, hound the opposition, punsih those who want the puck and drop the gloves.
I see Mr. Happy is touring around the NHL to “scout” players for the Olympic team. He is a GM, has access to all the videos, is this necessary. I wonder if he will send out an invitation to Joe Sakic again.
Tampa should be looking for a new Coach soon; Yzerman “scooping” him from Montreal was not so brilliant afterall. Philly should let their guy go. That team should be doing much better (Bryzgalof is a graduate from the University of Mars). I wonder how long Yosemite Sam will survive. He was “disgusted” by his team’s performonce the other day. I wonder if the players felt the same way about him?
Funny how a week ago an Ottawa Senator gets popped and knocked out cold and everyone is beside themselves, fans, managers and players about how bad staged fights are. So what does Murray do, goes out and gets a no talent staged fighter. And all of a sudden it’s now ok!
This is unbelievably hypocritical, first time he drops his glove all the clowns that were against staged fighting will be standing up cheering him on, louder than if he scored a gaol, which I don’t think he ever has in the NHL
Oh by the way PaV, I have just as much right to post here as you do
I was wondering where we stand on the rebuild of the Sens? How many more years before we can or should start thinking of a serious Stanley Cup run? As per Don Brennan’s articles etc…if we managed to sign Corey Perry this summer, is this enough to officially end the re-build and start playing for a Cup? I am wondering when Melynyk might open the purse strings to make this team a true contender.
Lots of good debate the other day on which goalie will eventually be dealt. Right now, who would get the most in return? Some say Anderson and he is who we should deal sooner than later. What do all you experts think?
By the way, like Don B, I don’t see the point in keeping 3 NHL calibre goalies on the roster. It just doesn’t make alot of sense, especially when you are weak in other areas.
Dan the great rebuild as I understand it was mediocre over paid Fisher for a # 1 . Elliot for Anderson big win, bad signing Kovy to Pitts, what a rebuild no wonder he got a huge extension
I agree Kevin. The re-build was a nice term to use so that Melnyk could reduce to salary budget by approx 20 million for a few years or so. Losing or not going far would be accepted by the fans. Twenty million extra per year in Eugenes’s pocket for 3-5 years is better than spending to the cap and trying to field the best team possible year over year.
Actually Elliott for Andy is a LOSS and here is why. If we had kept Elliott we would have finished close to last overall, and obtained Gabe Landeskof, a Swede that hits, leads, blocks shots and plays hard. Anderson got us a mediocre pick that year. (Zibanejad wasn’t it?). Mistake by Murray. Pick up Kassian on waivers instead of sending a 6th rounder (would have cost $90.000 in compensation, is Melnyk that broke?). Overrated prospects…Stone was supposed to be the next Brett Hull and Stone can’t skate. Silfverberg the next Alfredsson with a handful of points. Karlsson wont’ lace up the skates even though he is walking around in sneakers. ANderson won’t play for us even though he can do public skates?
We have an average GM that is afraid of cutting ties with deteriorating fan favourites like Phillips, Neil and dare I saw ALfredsson. Even Joe Sakic and Yzerman moved on, Stars let future Hall of Famer Mike Modano go.
The rebuild will be over when the Senators are in the fight for 1st in the East all year, 1st overall after that, have shots allowed below 25-30 a game and have some actual skill on the team! It willl truly be over when this team advances deep in the playoffs.
Untill then, more mediocrity or as I call it…Murrayocrity.
Vis when did I say we were champions? And what are you talking about with Anderson not playing?
The thing is this board has pretty much devolved into two camps. Guys that repeatedly post about any perceived negatives, real or otherwise and guys that end up defending players against the same old arguments (who then get called blind homers, etc…).
The funny thing is that many times the criticism isn’t really about the player but more about how a player is portrayed in the media. How many more times THIS season when neither of them are even playing do we need to hear how Karlsson never has the paper report on his give-aways while poor Jason Spezza does?
What is the use of talking about Gallagher on the Habs every day and comparing him to Silf and Zibby while only stressing the negatives? Seriously – is anyone on here saying they don’t like Gallagher? Is anyone saying they wouldn’t like a team of 6’4″ 230lbs speedsters with high end skill and toughness? No, of course in the perfect world the Senators would always be the best team in the league and win 10-0 each game while winning 3 fights a game to boot. Many of us on this board believe that A) It is impossible to dominate each game, each year and B) Getting a winning team is HARD because there are 29 other teams trying to win each day as well.
Some of you complain about every-single-thing…over and over and over and over and over again…and then act like THAT is what a true fan does because a TRUE fan holds people accountable while the rest of us poor fools are so happy to have a team that we are blind to even the smallest negative about the team.
Look, we can and do disagree on a lot of stuff.
1. I love our goaltending (especially Anderson and Lehner > I have no reservations about his personality or character) and think it will be the backbone of this team for many more years at this stage. I also think that eventually one or two of them get traded and get us some good pieces for the future.
2. I like our youth and am optimistic that this team will be successful while being made up mostly of Ottawa drafted players. I have stated many times that I am surprised that Silf hasn’t found his groove yet but I have seen many late bloomers so I am not ready to run him out of the organization. I also have no problem with Zibby right now either.
3. I like that we have a player of Spezza’s caliber and believe in the next few years he will be a catalyst for a good play-off run.
Neither camp is right or wrong – you guys that are on the side of good and want things to improve are actually in the same camp we are but we also enjoy seeing the good. A team without all of it’s top players and sitting in 5th spot isn’t the disaster some think.
Sorry, don’t mean to speak for Pav and Mike, etc…
Kevin…why don’t you fill us in on the great Leafs rebuild instead of trying to discuss a team that you obviously haven’t watched that much?
As is your duplicitous nature you are again talking out your bum Dave, I have seen parts of every Sens game this year and all of the games not coinciding with Leaf games. The Sportsnet games are terrificly painful to watch and I put it on picture in picture with another game to avoid the comically bad Brown and especially awful Potvin. And yes Joe Bowen and Greg Millen stink too. Again you suggest that I think that the Leaf rebuild is great, I don’t it has been long and painful but it appears to be at last paying dividends. Although there is not a lot of high end offensive forwards not currently with the NHL club there are a lot of solid mid range prospects with the Marlies and juniors some of whom will surely play in the bigs on D there are at least a half dozen guys with a chance to play a regular role a couple with at least top 4 potential, (none of whom i judge to be the best player outside the NHL however)goaltending remains a question mark through out the organization. The have one of the youngest rosters in the league (2nd youngest I believe I heard a couple of nights back) and have improved their d play a lot. The NHL team has a lot of quality wingers, Kadri is developing into perhaps a #1 center or at the very least a top #2 but center is a spot that could use a upgrade for sure I believe that 1 of Bozak or the overpaid Grabbo will have to go both project as #3 guys on a contender. The d is developing and there are a lot of options on the way. Mc Clement has been a real nice addition as a bottom 6 penalty killer. As stupid as fighting is that part is not a issue. They are not dependent on anyone 30 or older so there is time for the core to grow together if a premium Center could be found I think this team could make some noise, if not this year certainly next. Who knows if what I’ve been reading is true, but maybe Corey Perry does actually want to play in TO if so open the wallet we will go with the centers we have maybe Colborne can make a impact (don’t think he’s the best player outside the NHL either. Has the rebuild been “great”? Nope but it certainly appears to me and lot of others that its progressing, it’s real and not local media hype.
Lou has been bad tonite, but I would like to see him energized and motivated here, what’s realistic? Frattin and a pick? A bigger deal involving cash? A move and admonishment to a different thread?
Ha I was toggling between HF boards, so what do you think Kadri was invisible again and Chris Neil was all world forechecking again today.
I think it is safe for you to speak for two other loyal fans Dave; its all good.
The Sens won the game yesterday (by a single goal) and I give them full marks but it wasn’t really a contest, not should it have been. Buffalo is 10, 14 and 4 and has but 24 pts, good (or bad) for the 3rd least in the league. They have scored 73 goals but allowed 88 for a differential of minus 15, the second worst in the entire league behind only Florida! I suspect they will be in full sell mode and the way some played yesterday, I would suggest they do not want to be there.
I expected Marcus Foligno to have a decent season but after watching a few games this year, he hasn’t shown me anything at all! He did play well in the AHL during the lockout. Their leading goal scorer, after a great start has disapeared. He did have one good shot in the closing moments of the game but that is all. Miller is average (at the very best) between the pipes! Their coach, in the teams first practice, wore…garden gloves…GARDEN GLOVES! It is said he has been a good coach in NCAA and various other leagues and that may be true but I suspect there were a few eyebrows raised when he stepped on the ice that day. He will not be the coach next year.
It is fascinating to hear Cole and Simpson shower Randy Carlyle with compliments every game Toronto plays. He is credited for everything and he is a genious! The team lost to the “Peg again last night and allowed 4 goals! Having nasties on the team doesn’t guarantee a win if the other team will not be intimidated and Carlyle has made a coaching career of trying to beat the opposition into submission. When that doesn’t work, his systems, structure, matching lines, inteligence doesn’t work! Nonis looks like a happy guy…I think he is missing his master. I wonder if he shares Carlyle’s passion for pugilistic players?
You have to wonder what Big Buff would do if he dropped 40 pounds and took the game seriously. He is rumoured to be over 270 lbs. He logs a lot of minutes but damn he takes the game casually, far too casually! The Jets have some very talented players and are a fun team to watch. They are sitting Burmistrov and he is very skilled. Cain can really play when he wants to! The Sens are fortunate to play them today only 16 hours after a hard fought battle that went 60 minutes in regulation, then another five in OT and ten rounds in the shoot out!
OD, cheers mate.
See Vis – you are talking about reports instead of what is real.
So Alfie says Silf reminds him of himself…does that mean he can go on to be a great player? Not at all but now the constant harping is how Silf should be the next Alfie so OF COURSE he will look terrible in comparison…it isn’t realistic and I believe most realistic fans don’t take that sort of talk literally.
Don’t know that anyone said Stone was going to be Brett Hull but I do know everyone and their dog has stated he needs to improve his skating. Why are you so riled up about a 6th round pick not being a star? If he even makes the NHL in any capacity then he was a steal – if he happens to improve his skating to the point that he can generate some offense then he will be an enormous steal.
You can’t be serious when you are talking about Karlsson and Anderson not playing even though they can walk around? Please tell me that is just one of your rants intended to stir things up?
Kevin, thank you for that well thought out and well written note on the Leafs organization and prospects – I enjoyed reading it and while I don’t agree with all points there is no doubt in my mind that the Leafs have come out of their lengthy funk and they are on track to be competitive for many years.
As for their particular rebuild being “real and not local media hype” I will make a real wild guess and assume you believe the Senators rebuild to be a figment of the local media…the standings tell me otherwise though.
What is real and is in no way influenced by the media is the fact that the Senators have now lost in regulation 2 times in their past 15 games and as we all know they have done it without Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek and Anderson (I would add Cowen but I know most don’t think he would have had any impact)…so the bit players, prospects and AHL call-ups will probably disagree with the idea that the rebuild isn’t real.
I agree with you that the Leafs are a young team but things can change quickly. In another year or two Alfie, Gonch and Philips will all be off the team and the remaining group will be quite young as well so the average age of the team will go down dramatically barring any old FA signings. I think that age is relevant when talking about how a team will do in the future and is a reason I think both teams are on the upswing.
Bobby I agree…would love to see what Buff could do if he committed to working out. As a guy prone to putting on weight I can see how he would struggle though…no doubt he could work extra hard and be diligent but for some people the weight just doesn’t come off easy.
The Sens beat a Buffalo team they should have beaten – took a little extra time but I like the tenacity of this group…
I bet Vis would take issue with the idea that the Senators were luck to play the Jets so soon after they played – both teams had games the previous day and both teams are made up of pro athletes…I doubt the Senators would get the same benefit if the roles were reversed?
Foligno is an enigma to me…he has the size and mean streak to be an effective player but he just doesn’t seem to show it much.
All I meant was before all this rebuid talk started around the time of the Andrrson trade the core of the team was almost exactly what it is today injuries aside. True that young players have been added and role players have been changed but the essential go to players remain the same only Turis replacing fisher seems to me a a core change. Seems to me a retooling of the supporting cast is what happened. Maybe my understanding of rebuild is in error I think it’s a fundamental change in key personnel and direction not normal attrition and retweaking that at the very least 25 teams do.
In the interest of continuing some new found and refreshing civility I will say that I’m amazed and impressed as anyone at how the Sens have played thru a absolutely insane rash of injuries. That is real and remarkable,goaltending and coaching cannot be underestimated
Dave, Buff is a professional athlete and we are merely civilians. You are getting paid to perform because of your mind, Buff is earning gaudy sums for his body/skill. His inactivity is an embarrassment and based on an interview with his coach, I think they leave him alone. He is on the ice 4 times a week, plays 30 minutes a game, there is no excuse for him.
I saw Marcus play a few games in AHL games and truly Dave, I thought he would be an impact player, he is not. As you say, he is big, can skate, can be phyisical but I haven’t seen it at the NHL level.
Kevin I agree with you and I guess that the term “rebuild” can mean different things to different people and re-tool is a better word for it.
If we go back I am pretty sure that even at the time I was saying it wasn’t a rebuild since we still had our #1 center, our top D and even though he was fresh, a new #1 goalie…plus Alfie, Philips and Neil.
I think what we are witnessing is the transition of a team that had zero prospects for so long finally bearing the fruit of focusing on drafting and development.
Guys like Smith are important to a team, you would know that better than most. So are guys like Condra, JOB. I also think that there is something to the chemistry of a team and I believe these guys, many having played in the A and winning a championship together have a deep trust in one another that they will do the right things, the right way. That isn’t to say that I think Fisher or Kelly weren’t important, just that in many cases some change is good.
No doubt the emergence of some of the D this year are a huge bonus – Wiercioch producing offensively, Gryba being a physical presence, Benoit being steady and then Gonch and Philips playing like they did 5 years ago.
Turris has been a really nice addition as you noted and now that Silf seems to be coming around as a fan I can start to see the future a little bit and have to say I like it.
Bottom line for this year has been goaltending though – just crazy good and have literally stolen us several points in big games. Not an apology though! Very glad to have some ‘tenders that can be counted upon to make that big, momentum changing save instead of dreading every good chance again.
I heard either CBC or TSN talking about coach of the year and MacLean wasn’t even mentioned…if the Sens finish in 5th place in the East and he doesn’t at least get nominated something is terribly wrong…I think the top teams coaches deserve some praise but I mean come on…in my time following the NHL I don’t know of a team that has suffered more long term injuries to more key players than the Senators have right now.
Bobby you are right – if I got paid to work out and made the money he does I could afford to have someone cook me the right meals (instead of airport food) and would put the time into my body that most pro athletes do.
So…are you coming around on Silf and Zibby at all?
Mikey, the answer to your question is NOPE! Zibby is down to 12 minutes of icetime a game…I wonder why? He and Sly put the breaks on hard when they see a pending colision (the hockey version of Mr. Castanza’s move: “Stop Short”). Last night was no different. But that is just me mon ami. To save you and others the torture, I will leave it at that!
Dave, you are absolutely right on, how can Mac be left of any list for Coach of the Year! What he has done with so very little is nothing short of amazing! Certainly the fantastic goaltending has played a part, but Coaching plays a huge roll! But Ottawa is a small market and will get little recognition. For years, Barry Trotz wasn’t part of the discussion and should have been.
PK Subban now has 22pts in 24 games good for .92 PPG. He may give Letang a run for the Norris.
I watched/listened to Randy Carlyle after the Leafs loss last night where again, Kadi starred. The Coach has a hard time paying him a compliment without some kind of comment almost qualifying the praise. Kadri has 33 pts in 31 games and is an amazing +19. The fool (who calls himself Coach) offered “there are things that we don’t like and he needs to work on”! I would suggest that Kid Kadri is doing just fine and they should just let him play. He leads his team in scoring and leads with the best +/- at plus 19. He with two others are far ahead of the rest! What could he possibly improve on?
It took an Agent and the media to force the Coaches hand to play Gardiner. Gardiner’s Agent felt compelled to resort to the use of social Media to get the Oragainzation’s attention! The Leaf’s |Bench boss suggested earlier that Gardiner would play if and when he proves he can dominate at the AHL level…he has all year! In the few games he has played, he has starred! Will pundits rationalize Carlye’s stubborn and absurd behaviour as “stragic”?
I wonder why Obrien was the designated sitter last night? I guess a checker who scores 5 goals is a bad thing! I am sure Obrien is wondering why as well. Lundin looked terrible and it is too bad Boro is hurt.