(UPDATE 1:27 PM)- An update from the Ottawa Senators Twitter feed. The Senators have sent Ryan Keller back to Bingo.
Just a quick update today as the Senators get set to visit the Flyers tomorrow night.
Anton Volchenkov didn't skate today with what they are calling a maintenance day. He should be good to go tomorrow.
Chris Neil was on the ice today but without equipment. Seems like he is still a week or so away. The good news is Alex Picard did practice this morning and could play tomorrow night in Philly.
Clouston also provided an update on Pascal Leclaire. He did put the mask on the other day but isn't practicing yet. Clouston guessed he could be 10 days away.
Oh and Clouston is telling Kovalev to shoot more. Sounds good to me...
53 comments:
should tell Kovalev to try skating more too and show consistent effort - I don't care that the team knew what they were getting when they signed him - for 5 mil you better show some damn effort every game
should tell Kovalev to try skating more too and show consistent effort - I don't care that the team knew what they were getting when they signed him - for 5 mil you better show some damn effort every game
Kovalev - how bad is he..REAL BAD. I'm a montrealer and a BIG SENS fan - never liked Kovalev.
I think we should ship him to Edmonton(cuz they need a top six (haha) player since Hemsky is out.
So send Kovalev and Kuba(not doing too much either).
And in return Edmonton sends us Cogliano and Souray.
That would benefit both teams.
GO SENS GO!
Clouston is telling Kovalev to shoot more...
You mean like every single coach Kovalev's had?
No one will change Kovy. He is a PP specialist and if the PP is not workin, Kovy is not scoring.
Next you will tell me that Clouston is asking Kovalev to play within the system...
PL
K heres what we do, trade Spezza and a Second for Getzlaf. Then we trade Kuba for a shut down guy / pick cuz Picard is just as good/ mayb a little better. and then we trade away volche for a top 3 forward. like a bobby ryan. thoughts sens chirp? i think that addresses all of our issues and will help this team drastically. im sick of seeing a weak player on our top 2 lines.
Hopefully he has a back up plan for our power play. Unit 1 was good (not enough point shots) but unit 2 not so much. Go with the hot hand i.e 4th line.
Great 1st period last night besides the goal.
Kovalev needs to retire.
Picard returning is good news??
Kuba looks lost since Volchenkov came back - how about
Phillips - Kuba
Campoli - Volchenkov
Picard - Carkner
and let lee and karlsson dominate the AHL and develop chemistry with each other ( a passer and a shooer...oh heaven forbid)
12:55 ... you lost all credibility when you said Picard is as good as Kuba
You're all very pessimistic. Just because one of your players is struggling it doesnt mean you have to run the guy out of town. You seem to forget that he spent half his career in Montreal and their style of play. Not only does he not have his old teammates, but new players, new city, new fans, new coach and new strategies. Yes, he's not making it seem worth the 10 million over 2 years, but its not fair to just grill him. He has had very good games and you dont hear shit then! Com'on guys, you call yourselves fans? Im embarrassed. What happens if we dont make this playoffs this year? Are you gunna go to Toronto because the Sens dont have the offensive and defensive juggernaughts like we did in 07? Get the hell out of this site if you have that mindset. Senschirp works hard to get us what we need to know, how about some support for our team instead of making ridiculous solutions like Spezza for Getzlaf (WTF?!) or simply benching both of them. You guys are insane, why are you abandoning them so quickly when they need our support the most?!
sigh...
Go Sens Go!
-Carlos
I think the reality is Ottawa dominated what was basically a 2-1 hockey game last night. Montreal's two goals by the way - a fluke bounce off a linesman and a double-deflection luckbox goal.
The big problem was the Sens didn't get to the middle of the ice very well when they created scoring chances. There was just way too much perimeter bullshit. YOu have to get to the dirty areas and get shots down the middle lane to score goals in this league.
There's a reason I keep saying Cheechoo needs to play with Spezza. It's because he's the bump and grind slot presence type of player that helps Spezza's game. It's a lot easier when you have a big strong guy willing to stand in the slot or cut to the middle of the ice to create opportunities. Heatley hate him as we might is very good at getting his big 6-5 frame into scoring position in that middle lane. That's why he scored so many.
Kuba and Picard both have 12 points.. im all for what anon 12:55 said.
Agree with Benjamin.
Spezza scored a couple when Michalek was standing in front.
Send Kov to EDM if they wanna give us another Michalek.
Kenny Blankenship
Maybe Clouston should tell Kovalev that he mention anything about the Montreal Canadiens one more time. The Ottawa Senators organization will suspend him for the rest of the season. Enough is enough Kovalev you are an Ottawa Senator now and it's time that you start eating, sleeping, bleeding, and breathing the colours of the Ottawa Senators.
Following Tuesday's loss to the Canadiens, Kovalev stated that he was not concerned with his lack of production.
"I'm not thinking about it," Kovalev said. "I'm just playing the game. Whatever happens happens."
can we get Emery to come up to Ottawa and run him over with his truck?
hey Carlos. its a good thing you have such a strong crush on Ottawa but the truith is this is a Hockey city and hockey is the only professional sport here. fans expect results every year and people pay good money (too much) to go see a team be sub par. whats wrong with spezza for getzlaf? id do that anyday. but some of the other trades suggested here are ridiculous. ottawa needs to make changes, bottom line, and im all for trading key players like Spezz and Kovy if it means making this team better. Now we watch and wait.
Kovalev, Alfie, Spezza, Anton....hell anyone has to tell Clouston to stop throwing too many players on the ice....that strategy isn't working.
Halak was awesome, he essentially won the game for them....Would be nice if we got some goal-tending like that once or twice this season.
Whatever you do don't lose to Carolina or Toronto...Carolina has ONE road win and Toronto is godawful at home.
We can't keep bleeding points while his highness Leclaire rests up...we need that guy back asap. Even Leclaire's flaky goaltending is a slight upgrade over Elliott (and I love Elliott).
As for Kovy, guys...look, he's here because Melnyk told Murray to give him a bunch of money. He doesn't want to be here, he wants to be in Montréal where he can dazzle and free wheel.
What's wrong with Spezza for Getzlaf?
Nothing except ANAHEIM WOULD NEVER DO IT. They saw Spezza first hand in the finals, remember? That would be like trading Pierre Turgeon for Raymond Bourque, Cam Neely and Andy Moog as a trow in...never going to happen.
12:55
Was that a joke? A wet dream?
What makes you think any of those teams would want to make those deals?
If only it were that easy being a GM...
the way I look at it we are in for some good news soon, we are bigtime over due, are real bad luck started with Heatley, that was a summer long thing, TALK about stress, then came Kovalev and all his love for the mtl Canadians, now spezza who I think may want to be treaded ? We Senator fan I would say are the best in the NHL we showed up in great numbers at the airport when we lost to the Duck. So I would say we are due....
The Sens' problem has less to do with scoring(Spezz-Kovalev) than defense.
OTT is middle-of -the-pack 14th in goals for, but is 24th is goals againts with a goal deficit of -7. All of teh teams worse than the Sens in GA are non-playoff teams.
And, not so shockingly, all the teams ahead of the Sens in the standings have scored more goals than they' ve allowed. Simple really.
PL
Lest we forget - Kovie was effective in setting up Fisher who has the ability to get into scoring position and bury the puck - I say put Kovie with Fisher and Michalek
It is clear that Spezza needs a sniper to be effective and the only one that can possibly play that role is (and I hate to say this as I am not a fan of him) is Cheechoo - I say play Spezza with Alfredson and Cheechoo - It can't be any worse that what is happening now
KCL
Last nights game was one of the most frustrating to watch so far this season. This was a loss due to complete dis-organization of the sens on the ice. I've been pretty supportive of Clouston in the past but the "system" just seems to have gone out the window and the line juggling is not helping either.
Is it just me or do half the guys just look lost out there? Especially on the PP where yes we are holding the zone fairly well at times but it ends there. We have an utter lack of point shots, guys aren't going to the net when they should be, or if we do get the puck down low they just cycle and cycle until we turn it over.
I think Clouston needs to step back, and get the simple dump an chase game going again that turned us around last year. Also the fast forecheck he brought to the team seems to have disappeared.
Keep it simple, use our speed, let guys find each other out there again, and things might actually fall back into place.
lol. anyone hear the clouston post-practice presser. near the end some reporter asked him about the bench-minor penalty again. haha Clouston's voice and tone absolutely changed, from a strong assertive voice he went to this soft apologetic tone and kept saying its his responsibility and he needs to figure it out. but he did mention how some of the bench minors have come because his own players have played the puck towards the bench-boards during a line change: which btw is absolutely bonehead.
anyways the higher paid players on this team have to produce. the excuse for them is fast running dry and for some (Spezza), its already run dry. I dont get why people get so agitated when some fans call for benching/scratching. ofcourse calling for a trade right now is just extreme, but i really dont see why Spezza should not be benched if he continues to not shoot and not produce. I mean, he is getting PAID to PRODUCE. its simple rules of employment, you DONT PRODUCE, you at the minimum get a WARNING. which in hockey terms is a BENCHING/SCRATCH. Spezza is just not motivated. end of story.
i dont know if its the olympics or if he is missing his buddy Heatley too much OR if its getting married and settling down. you look around the league and you look at the top class centremen in this league, they play the game as if they want to win it all by themselves for their team. you look at getzlaf, you look at crosby, you look at thornton (except playoffs), Toews, Nash. I don't know but watching those guys play and watching Spezza play, you can see Spezza's game just lacks that extra bit of will, that extra bit of intensity, that extra want. Spezza is very talented and skilled, he clearly belongs skill wise with the top centremen in this league, but he needs to up his game BIG TIME.
Czar Kovalev hates being on the ice with mere peasants that cannot perform up to his standards of excellence. He skates around saying to himself, "it's good to be King, I make 5 million a year, but I have play with these minions" maybe he doesn't care about Ottawa Sens or the fans.
KCL i completely agree with you.. mayb u should coach the sens? haha
WAY OFF TOPIC, BUT I DONT THINK I AM READY TO GIVE UP ON BRIAN LEE. SURE HE WAS A FIRST ROUND PICK, AND WE COULD HAVE MADE A BETTER CHOICE WITH OUR PICK, BUT HE IS STILL YOUNG AND NOBODY REALLY EXPECTED HIM TO BE A SUPERSTAR RIGHT AWAY. EVERYONE KNOWS IT TAKES LONGER FOR D-MAN TO COME AROUND THAN IT DOES FOR FORWARDS. GIVE HIM TIME AND HE WILL BE GREAT FOR THIS TEAM. ANYONE OUT THERE AGREE?
"Anonymous said...
Kuba and Picard both have 12 points.. im all for what anon 12:55 said.
December 9, 2009 1:16 PM"
Yeah Picard is our only D that can score from the point o the PP, atleast his shots get through, when was the last time Kuba shot it from the point!!!!
SM
"What's wrong with Spezza for Getzlaf?
Nothing except ANAHEIM WOULD NEVER DO IT. They saw Spezza first hand in the finals, remember? "
Yeah where Spezza, Alfie and Heater were 1, 2, 3 in scoring??!?!?
But your right it wouldnt happen, cuz the Sens wouldnt do something that stupid.
SM
I still strongly believe that having Kovy on our team is a great thing....granted at 5 mil a year its a little steep, but he just draws so much attention when he's on the ice it gives other players that much more room and space to do their thing.
The 09 Sens are a good hockey team, who have lost their way a bit over the past two weeks without their #1 goaile. Once Pascal comes back to the lineup I strongly believe that the team will settle down and put together a good run.
A little adversity is a great thing over the course of a LONG season and it will only make them that much stronger once March / April comes along!
GO SENS GO!!
I agree that Kovy DOES attract a lot of attention when he's on the ice. This is a good thing, if the player PASSES THE PUCK! Which, he would rather take on 2-4 people and give away the puck.
k, adversity in terms of injuries is acceptable, but losing copiously to the idiotic canadiens is not acceptable.
does kovalev have a no-trade. he had some interesting comments to tsn post game. and to be honest with you Clouston was just puzzled last night in the post game about him. he didnt know what to say. he even said "i don't know what to say" lol.
also. a lot of people suggest that Kovalev was Melnyk's signing. i thought the same thing. BUT. if you guys want to look it up, and read what Melnyk's real comments were: he said that BM told him that Kovalev was available on the market and that if Melnyk would want to pay up for him, to which Melnyk said if BM thinks Kovalev will MAKE THIS TEAM BETTER, then GO FOR IT. SO IN THE END MELNYK HAS BEEN PLAYING SAFE ON THE KOVALEV ISSUE SINCE KOVALEV GOT SIGNED.
my argument is this: that fine, you guys can all mention his intangibles and his skill and what not. but at the end of the day, ITS PRODUCTION THAT MATTERS. if it was the intangibles, then for all intents and purposes Kelly is the most amazing player because according the BM he is the glue on this team. yea. IF FUCKING ONLY.
Clouston has to STOP puting Shannon on the point... he never shoots, he never does anything!
TSN ICE CHIPS
SAYS THAT PICARD DIDN'T PRACTICE
AND WILL NOT PLAY TOMORROW
SO WHO IS RIGHT?
I am kind of FED up with all of this really. Not sure if it was because the season started in the Summer with the Heatley feasco, or its not having a compitive team anymore like we did for years, or is it the lack of up coming stars in bingo or on the team.
To Anon at 3:32 PM,
I'm just basing it on what Clouston had to say when he spoke to the media this morning.
Does anyone else miss heater?
SM,
You wouldnt do Spezza for Getzlaf?
Regardless of how bad Spezza's playing now, at their bests Getzlaf is clearly the better player. Man oh man....
Miss Heater? No. Don't you remember, he could barely score last year either. (and don't quote me any numbers, he was sad last year).
I miss Heatley's innate ability to score, that's for sure. I also really miss the pre-cap era where Bryan Murray was a distant nightmare and we were able to field competitive hockey teams year and year out on a budget.
Sadly, both eras are behind us and we need to toughen up and endure Murray's mismanagement until at the end of this season.
SM, I'm going to be polite about this.
Getzlaf is going to be on the Olympic, team and Spezza won't.
Getzlaf is a winner and Spezza isn't.
Getlaf is on a cheaper contract without a NTC.
Getzlaf is better, plays a two-way game and has better years ahead of him. Anaheim would never, ever, ever do this. They HAVE a Jason Spezza in Getzlaf AND their Jason Spezza plays D, fights and plays with an edge.
They aren't in the same league. Spezza leading the playoffs in scoring means diddly. Getzlaf won a Cup. That's the bottom line, sadly.
Go Sens!!
Amen Carlos!
Can you people leave all your "trade spezza" demands to yourself? There's no point talking about it as he has a NTC. The only way he'll be traded if he pulls a Heatley.
I'd like to see Getzlaf try and use a wood stick.
Was sitting here digging into John Muckler's performance as GM. HAve I got my facts straight? If so...just brutal. He should not be allowed back in the city. EVER.
Allowed Chara to walk
Traded Laich
Traded Gleason
Drafted Lee
Drafted O'Brien
Signed Hossa to ext then traded for Heatley & Devries
Devries for Rachunek and Giroux (who scored 60 in AHL last year and has played 12 games with Caps this year)
Signed Gerber
Drafted Patrick Eaves
Drafed Jakup Klepis
Aside from signing Volch and Phillips to contract extensions, I think the only noteworthy moves he made were drafting Foligno and Meszeros.
How great would the Sens be today had Mucks never been hired?? Unreal.
I think it's comical.. just a few years ago the Sens and the Ducks were fighting for the cup, what the hell happend?? But the funny thing is that at the beginning of that season, Ottawa was brutal.. people wanted to trade Alfie or remove his C. and after the olympic break they were amazing. maybe we can hope for the same luck this year.. we wouldn't be a bad team if we were all healthy, however a trade still needs to be made prefferably a forward for more scoring.. any trade that happens will come after the olympics guaranteed. And this is just something that I am going to throw out there.... but I think that after the olympics, Steve Yzerman is going to get a phone call from Melnyk reguarding a GM job offer....
AND ENOUGH WITH THE TOO MANY MEN PENALTIES!!!!
K
i would be looking to get rid of spezza if i was murray, give him away for prospects and picks and use the cap space wisely
worked for boston with thornton, they picked up chara with the extra room
chara > thornton... it's debatable, hard to compare the two though, personally i'd take Z, then you add in the picks and prospects???
See what I'm sayin?
Spezza looked like a future captain at the start of the year, but it's just the same old story over and over and over again, he needs a change of scenery IMO
@Steve
My only response to you is no. I don't even think I need to justify my position. Spezza for prospects and picks... just no.
Dave
Spezza has no support, he is a pass first kinda player and with Heatley, it was working wonders. He has no scorer on his line, no one to pass it too, he's playing with Kovalev for christ sakes!!
I say play him with Fish, put Fish on the wing and let him get setup by Spezz.
SM
I'm getting sick of the EA sports NHL 05 type trade suggestions on here guys, grow up. Getzlaf is a better player than Spezza. he's a surefire franchise player, where as we're still waiting on Spezza to show us he's worth hanging that tag on. And whoever keeps wanting us to trade for Souray, that would just be one more hole on our defence. PP shot or not.
Save your suggestions for your video game franchises guys. You're brutal.
No-one can afford Spezza anyways..
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