In the depths of the NHL lockout, with the NHL and the NHLPA at a compelete standstill, it was hard to imagine this day.
Yet here we sit, just over 24 hours away from the first game of the National Hockey League season. And to make it even better, it's a game that features our Ottawa Senators. Tomorrow in Winnipeg, the Sens officially drop the puck on the 2013 season.
Even with the game just a day away, there are still a couple unanswered questions facing Sens Head Coach Paul MacLean.
While the forward ranks seem to be all sorted out (Daugavins a likely healthy scratch) the coach has folks guessing when it comes to the six blueliners as well as the starting goalie.
On defence, it's either going to be Andre Benoit or Mark Borowiecki that grabs that sixth and final opening on the blueline. Patrick Wiercioch has carried over the good vibes of a strong start in Bingo and has impressed the club to the point where he'll be in the line up to start the season in Winnipeg.
As we discussed yesterday, Benoit likely has the inside track considering he has a little more experience and has played with Wiercioch most of the season.
The situation in net is a little more complex.
Craig Anderson is this team's number one goalie. Nobody can dispute that. But MacLean is faced with the dilemma of knowing both Lehner and Bishop having been playing actual hockey games for the last few months, and as a result, might be better suited to start right now. That's the argument anyway. I still think MacLean goes with Anderson in Winnipeg tomorrow.
We shall see.
The Sens are expected to skate in Winnipeg today. Stay tuned for updates from that practice.
- Just wanted to quickly say thanks to everyone that joined in either of the two SensChirp Drafts last night. As I mentioned to some, I'm going to work on tracking down a prize for each winner. Stay tuned for details on that front. Of course, I plan on winning both pools so the prize may just be a firm pat on the back.
- Bryan Murray can say he's comfortable with the blueline he has but that certainly hasn't stopped the Sens GM from searching the market to see what's available. Beyond his search for a trade, it's believed the team talked to a couple of guys about potentially coming in for a tryout. For now, they'll try to get the job done with Wiercioch/Benoit/Borowiecki but you can guarantee Murray will continue to look for help back there.
- Couple announcements from Sens President Cyril Leeder this morning. First off, the home opener is officially sold out! Also, each fan 19 and over who attends the opener will be receiving a voucher for a free beer, courtesy of Molson. Drink up, Sens fans!
Puts the whole Butler debate to rest finally
Haha right.
Ottawa have stressed they are trying to target the Gatineau/Outaoi s region no?
COME ON SENS!!!
Free beer! The NHL has won me back already!!!!!
Everyone who's going Monday-goes without saying, standing O for #11 when he steps out on to the ice.
Could be his last home opener.
(I bet he comes back next year though)
ALFIE!ALFIE!ALFIE!
Hell if I'm going to make predictions based off not even knowing the line-ups or starting goaltenders I might as well go bold:
Goals by Spezza, La-tender, Karlsson...aaaa nd...uhh...and ugly one by Neil.
Oh and Borocop gets in at least one fight...
Finally score
3-0
Other goals come from Alfie(pp) Karlson (pp) and greening
Is it for reals 1$ popcorn on Monday too?
I still intend to hold myself to the not spending a cent on them this year, although with two pairs of free tickets already its tough to hold myself to that....Ohh and the wife seeming relatively open to me getting a new Jersey
Anyone else hear about this?
But you get playoff priority.
If it wasnt for James Duthie being an Ott fan Karlsson would get no recognition. Kinda funny actually. Although I did enjoy the argument with Aaron Ward and Ray Ferraro about teams clamping down on Karlsson...Ward had a good point....teams were doing it after the first 15 games last season anyways (didnt slow him down).
Ottawa 5 - 1.
2 spezza goals, 1 Turris, 1 Neil, 1 Michalek.
Silf with 3 assists
I think it's Spezza with the 2 assist instead, and Silver Surfer with the 3 goals.
Oh sh!t! What a way to start off the season if Silver Surfer gets a hatty!
If Lehner starts, 2-1 Ottawa OT with Neil netting the winner.
If Andy Starts, 4-3 Jets in OT.
Yup!
Lets calm down on the Silversberg predictions eh. Lets not become Leaf fans... Let him grow on his own.
Anderson should be a definite start. If Lehner starts, its only to get him a few games before being sent back down. But what I really think is that the three guys are up for a reason. That being Lehner is going to "back up" Anderson and Bishop, as much as I would like him to stay, is getting moved.
So, in my opinion, Anderson starts = Bishop trade. Lehner start = he is going to spend the year in the AHL again.
Ya the silf predictions (although actual legit prospect) remind me of us praising butler 2 years ago filatov last year and good ol brandon bochenski 5 years ago
Just cause they play with spezza doesn't mean they produce lol
We don't need another 5 or 6 dman with potential. We already have WireCock, Borowiecki, Claesson for that. If we trade for a D it should be somebody who can fill Cowen's minutes in the top 4 this season and/or replace Gonchar next year.
Yes seeing as he had Spezza in the SEL/Bingo...I don't believe he will score 30 this season or anything ridiculous, but anyone that doesn't think he will produce in the NHL hasn't watched him play a game. He has been outright dominant everytime I have watched
Big deal, I didn't have it last year and got my same seats... Also if they don't make the playoffs, do we keep the priority next year?
Who?
I would be surprised if he didnt start tomorrow.
The 5th highest rated prospect in the world... shocked you havent heard of him :)
The 2nd line will dominate, Alfie and Kyle can't stop giggling...Guy is that impressive.
I'm gettin' like 6-5 Ottawa, a lot of try but not so smooth.
Glad he found a place to land. Gladder still that it wasn't Ottawa.
800,000 - just goes to show how insane that contract with the Rangers was.
But overall I'm happy and I wish the SENS a bug win for tomorrow. Go SENS Go!
Is zibby still with bingo?
It was insane... but now he gets an extra $800,000 on top of it. Still one of the higest paid players in the league. Kinda crazy.
If I'm Winnipeg, I'm dumping it in softly to his corner every chance and running him down.
2 slowest guys on the team playing together for 20 plus minutes a night does not sound like an ideal fit...
Trying out Gamecenter on the Xbox for the first time since I canceled TV...CAN'T WAIT!!!
I usually "troll" opponent forums before a game to see things from their perspective. Half their prediction is a 4-2 type win FOR the sens, the other half has the jets slaughtering the Sens (6-0 or so), and they all want Spezza and Karlsson to die a horrible...horr ible death...
new guys Silfver, Latendresse, really impress,
bottom six rock, with Regin Condra O,Brien surprising most of us!
Sens win 4-1
Go Sens Go!!!
The Jets will put their checking line on Spezza.. leaving Turris-Alfie-La tendresse to put the puck in the net.
That defense does worry me. We will know in the first 5 games or so what they have on D. It might force Murray into a trade.. Keeping Wiercioch & Benoit together is of a benefit to both.
Sens have 4 lines that can score... that's what it's all about. Keeping the puck out of the net will be the issue. Let's hope the goaltending is solid. Hoping Lehner starts.
Yep...got me worried as well...hopefull y they're conditioning is up to par. Old bodies with a hurried schedule...
Neat picture of where are they now
Gonchar has been playing with malkin since September he will be fine
Phillips on the other hand hopefully he hasn't been testing too much of the BIG RIg stuff of late
Seriously, love the thumbs down...reality check.
If Phillips struggles, I think Mac will flip in Wier or Benoit
I agree, but in Ottawa we have too much risk bringing him back. Any other team takes the risk its "oh well worth the shot" for us one bad game one bad mistake and you have an entire fanbase saying "omg hes back to his old ways, we hated him the first time booooooooooooo, we should have kept chara boooooooooooooo o, redden is back doing coke boooooooooooooooo"
Thats why we had too much risk, he wouldn't be a #6 here, he would be a #2 especially in terms of conversations regarding the roster
Murray takes risks like redden but on other castoffs ie filatov
Not that that would help the controversy at all
why would you ever want that? lol
Sens fans are hilarious
Last season:
"Anderson is our MVP"
"Anderson carried us to playoffs"
"Anderson is our first ever legit starter"
"Anderson going toe-to-toe with Lundquist for 7 games"
"We finally have a goalie that can steal us games"
1 lockout where our goalie of the future plays very very well and now we just want to hand the keys to porsche over to him
Look - I like Lehner and think he can become a star goalie in the league, but I can't help but look to Tuuka Rask or Cory Schneider as an example. Rask is now what 26 Schnieder 27? Both haven't been rushed and both are now getting their chance at number 1. Rask had it two years ago and then quickly lost it again, and now can earn it back
Lehner needs at least 1 if not two years simply as Anderson's back-up regardless if he posts a 1.5 gaa and .940 svp in those time as back-up just like Rask and Schneider
Thats how you develop goalies
That's kind of a dumb thing to hope for. I hope Andy puts up a shutout... Lehner will get the next game then get sent down for the remainder. Let him play some games and get the reigns next year
GO SENS GO!!
best thing ive read here so far
Unless the Leafs were the only team offering him a contract.. I don't think Redden was going there. Too much pressure... and I think he had enough of that in NYC..
I thought he would pick Florida... but the Blues have a good shot if both goalies are for real this season. A good young team. Good pick up for them. I hope I can catch Redden's 1,000 game on Centre Ice... I'll be watching..
http://pool.ottawasun.com
Group Name: SensChirp
Code: SensChirp2013
other that the Sens fans are hilarious... You are 100% bang on Alcatraz!
We are the envy of the NHL right now with 3 NHL caliber goalies.
this is every managers dream
1) a goalie that carried a team into the p;ayoffs and 7 games with a cup favorite, and against the best goalie in the game
2)one of the best 21 year olds and future star of the league
3) a legit NHL who may be very happy and capable of playing 20-30 games as backup and win you games
It is perfect... the least favorite come trade deadline is gone and we get a great return
It would be interesting if Bishop's along for the trip because they're trading him to Winnipeg. Probably one of the few teams with the pieces we'd want back in a trade.
DESTROY THOSE MARLIES!!
GO SENS GO!
can't agree with you more Alcatraz Anderson is our number 1 goalie for at least another 3 years don't forget Goalies are at there best near 25 yrs.old.
Perry: "Na, I haven't heard any of the rumors here. You know, this is where I spent my career. I have a home here (Anaheim) and if a deal works out, then good. But I don't wanna talk about it anymore.
Alright, so he didn't say anything about wanting to be moved. But he was the first to not mention anything about an extension or wanting to leave. So it's up in the air here. Of course, TSN being queefy as usually assuming he would "want to play in Toronto" as Farhan Lalji reported because of Perry returning home to Canada (London, Ontario) where he spent his time during this year's lockout. If Perry even considered playing at home, it helps that he would at least have a few discussions with the phuckin man who drafted him in the first place. Add the fact that he will guarantee play on a line with Spezza during the Sens' rebuilding phase. Imagine the reaction of everyone here if a deal is to be made. The thought is almost unimaginable.
Better not be for JayBo...Smid or Petry could be interesting pieces from Edm tho
They're all up to give Lehner a bit of cash to keep him happy.
Who?[/quote
OK there pal, just because he got a concussion getting a tooth pulled, and he likes small fluffy dogs that a member of a gay Asian boy band would be embarrassed to show off, doesn't mean he doesn't have sweet puck skills.
Z-Bad is going to be top 10 in scoring in 2019 buddy, you just effin wait!
18 1/2 hours.
~Peluso
Stream?
AND Mika scores tonight
.... so begins the Peluso countdown .....
Brownie the Clownie is back ?
WORST thing I've read here.
And the winning goalie for 3 straight games has been NATHAN LAWSON
I am not sure we are willing to give what they are asking for Perry, the price would be steep.
Also it would be fine once Alfie retires but right now there is not an open spot for a right winger.
Just a few years ago we had Floatalev and Glascal Leclaire, we had goalie problems, forward problems and defensive problems.
This is year two of the rebuild, no goalie problems, looks to be no forward problems yet and our D with Cowan healthy and Lundin we are in great shape, not forgetting all the young Bingo guys that could be ready to break out.
Is it worth mortgaging the future for the present half a season, for me no, let the young guys roll.
I love having Dacosta Zibby Stone Hoffman Ceci Claesson and all the others in the background, it is true we do not have room for all of them at some point, but we are not at that point yet, let them develop and see what we have before we cut them loose in a trade.
If BM pulls the trigger on a trade so be it but I don't think we are in a desperate condition.
Lehner Anderson what a friggin tandem, who cares who starts, I love watching them both.
Deadly
Bring it on 3:00
Hypothetical scenario....Gon char plays great this season (he shouldn't have any rust and is in contract year). Would you trade him to the Pens for a first rounder at the deadline? Even if we are in the playoffs. And his stats are something like 45gp 8G 23A 31pts.
Thoughts?
Absolutely
F
TSN = Toronto Sports Network
So you're an expert?
Same here now
"The defence pairings are as follows, Methot-Karlsson , Phillips-Goncha r, Wiercioch-Benoit"
That looks scary....And not good scary...I really hope Gonchar shakes it off and can produce in a contract year for him....
As far as I'm aware he's yet to sign an NHL contract. Don't know if he's playing in Europe.
Gonchar is brutal in the d-zone and Philips had his best years pass him by 2 years ago,
i think PW and AB will play better than these 2,
In a heartbeat, by the trade deadline Sens will hopefully have a better option to play top 4 minutes. My prediction, Iginla will be playing on Spezza's before the end of this season.
5 hours and 56mins!!!
GO SENS GO!
Weeeeeeee
I believe he's still looking for a contract but there's a good chance he'll land somewhere once a few injuries happen. I could see Colorado or Columbus picking him up.
the parent company of TSN now owns the leafs, the guys will be trying to lure players such as loungo until the cows come home.
TSN is getting on my nerves, we need a new hockey news source