It looked like Bobby Butler was going to be the hero as he scored late on a goal that will be all over the highlights tomorrow. A tying goal by Cammalleri sent this game to overtime but it was once again a hard work play by Butler as he got the puck to Kuba at the point for the OT winner.
The Sens couldnt get a whole lot going in the first 40 minutes but the offence was once again sparked by Jason Spezza. He scored his 21st and set up Butler on the go ahead goal. CBC crew was apparently reading from a script from a couple years back as they tried to take some shots at his defensive shortcomings in the first period.
That just isn't an issue in Spezza's game these days.
I know these games down the stretch don't mean a whole lot but how can you not be excited about this team moving forward? Watching the players raise their sticks at centre ice after that OT win had me already counting the days to next season.
GO SENS GO!
To anyone who was watching the CBC broadcast tonight, or CTV News earlier in the night, you saw a couple quick interviews with Sens owner Eugene Melnyk. While he was careful not to say much, he did mention that tomorrow he will sit down with Sens GM Bryan Murray to discuss his future with the club.
I could be reading too much in to it but it really sounded like Melnyk is looking for someone that can be a GM for this team for the next few seasons rather than just a one year deal. Should be interesting to see if Bryan Murray is that guy moving forward. Can't help but wonder if that Senior Advisor role were heard about earlier is still in play.
All the moves Murray has made lately seemed to indicate that he was the guy moving forward but Melnyk's comments did little to solidify Murray's future. We will find out the direction Eugene has in mind in the very near future.
Ok, imagine the media put mics in the player's faces and asked them questions like this, "So, are you disappointed that you won't be drafting in the top 3 due to this win tonight?" "Tell me, wouldn't you have really preferred to go out like a bunch of losers than playing with heart like you have since the trade deadline?"
GIVE YOU HEAD A SHAKE TANK NATION!!!!
Way to end our last game at home.
Kuba with the winner lol
Jim Nill , please.
Clearly Melnyk likes Murray and values his efforts. I wonder how Eugene would react if Murray chose nothing over an advisor role.
All speculation, of course...
Won't happen. Jim Nill has been offered numerous GM jobs in the past, but has turned them all down to stay in Detroit. Very unlikely that stance will change to become Ottawa's GM.
I think Jim Nill still has a year left on his contract. I will try to confirm that.
Proud of the guys tonight though.
Well folks, unless we move up in the lottery who do we take? Huberdeu, Strome, or Coutorier
On another note, I believe my grandmother bought me that sweater he was wearing for Christmas one year when I was 12. I wore it once...
Another solid game, looking forward to Saturday, then draft day, then on to new and prepared training camp.
Can't come soon enough!!!
GO SENS GO
It's gonna be weird watching the TSN lottery special and actually caring what happens.
I gotta say Couturier. He is big strong goal scoring 2nd line C
Jim Nill would be the best possible person to get. Doesnt he have a connection to Ottawa like Yzerman did? He is probably not available. The other fantasy scenaio I like is Mark Messier as GM and Craig MacTavish as coach.
I think Melynk will interview other potential GM's this summer but Murray will have a shot at keeping his job.
Can't wait until the awkward "tank" feelings are gone.
C-Mac
REALLY PUMPED for the day after the draft when people can stop crying about the 'missed opportunity' of picking 5th instead of 2nd or 3rd.
Give me wins over prospects any day.
Priority #1 this summer is finding a solid LW with finish to play on Spezza's left, because Butler deserves the spot on the RW for sure. Michalek and Alfie on the wings for line 2 with a decent centre (not Regin please), and I have hope that they'll score a bunch more goals next year.
No more worrying about the goaltending. I love the young d that the Senators are going to have. If they add that winger (and I have a couple of guys I'm really hoping for), then next year is going to be awesome.
One guy I'm thinking of is Rick Nash. Ottawa probably has the pieces to get him. Do you think Columbus might be tired of not winning with him as captain? Just a thought, I know it's unlikely, but that would be sweet. Right?
Larsson, Landeskog, RNH, Couturier, Strome, or Huberdeau.
There couldn't be a better end to the season in my opinion.
PS. What a goal (and what a game) by Butler tonight!
what pieces do you think those would be? I think we need to keep all our defensive prospects, but we sure have a lot of picks.
To me Nash seems unattainable, or we'd have to over pay to get him
Honestly, I don't know, but mostly because I don't know what Columbus needs in terms of players. In terms of the organization, they need to start winning.
Is Regin, Wiercioch, NSH 1st, and OTT 2nd overpayment? I'd do that for Nash, but I don't know if Columbus would.
Anyways, it's just a thought of course, and I'm sure some folks will flame me for even suggesting it, but I think that Columbus might be ripe to move him considering that they can't win with him there.
Nash is the face of the Columbus franchise. He won't be traded until they have someone else who is as equally marketable.
Agreed on the last part. But we take one of Strome or Huberdeau, both of whom have the potential to be 1st line C's.
I like Couturier for no other reason then he was the only draft eligible player to make Team Canada's Junior team. Something has to be said for that....
See, here's why I think he could be available there...If Colorado was to pick 1st, they will have a really tough choice as I think they are looking for the best player available as opposed to a specific need, although with Stewart being traded, they might want a winger (Landeskog).... but if EDM picks first, Im not sure they take Larsson...RNH might be too good to pass on...tough to say? Either way, I think its a crap shoot as to who goes 1,2,3 in terms of players...
For Ottawa to jump from 5th to 2nd or 3rd, they're going to have to give up a good return...there pick, plus at least Wiercioch and maybe even a 2nd or 3rd....If NSH wins a round, it might be worth it...
Here's hoping they win the lotto!
Just speculation.
I think Murray may be out merely for sake of a change going forward.
The conditional pick we get from Nashville is for 2012.
The other night Foligno was camped out front of the net... last night Butler 6'0 180lbs vs. Gill 6'7" 241lbs and he scores... Spezza, telling the guys to come together when Camalleri scored late to tie it...
I mean I can go on and on... but this is a new team, an exciting team and if we can grab a goal scorer in the off, we shall be set!!
GO SENS GO!!!
Can't wait to see 82 games of this quality hockey!!
AND SPEZZAFAN19 NOW HAS A NAME!
Yeah, but he looked like nothing special at all among peers who were in his talent range and size range. He ended up as a checking center with little scoring upside, which concerns me quite a bit - that isn't what we need more of. Most high picks excel and end up showing pretty well at the WJC as 18 year olds, Couturier was unremarkable at BEST. I don't like him. Rather Strome or Huberdeau. Much smarter, more skillful players.
That's the farthest thing from overpayment ever. It's an assortment of mid-level pieces for a genuine star. No team makes that deal unless the star in question is a douchebag with a f***y eye who demands a trade then dictates where he goes with his no-trade clause.
Plus Regin is a nobody, and everyone except sens fans clinging to his four game playoff stint last year know that.
Quoting SkipOPot2Mus:
***FACEPALM***
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, FOR THE LAT TIME, PARISE IS NOT COMING TO OTTAWA!!!!!!
Haha although this is funny, Ryan Clowe would be an amazing piece to add to our team, he's been tearing it up this year in San Jose....
BB16 has been ripping this league up since he scored his first goal. In the last 26 games he has 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 pts. He and Spezza seem to have found some chemistry and next year will be very entertaining for Sens fans.
GO SENS GO!
Yeah, but he looked like nothing special at all among peers who were in his talent range and size range. He ended up as a checking center with little scoring upside, which concerns me quite a bit - that isn't what we need more of. Most high picks excel and end up showing pretty well at the WJC as 18 year olds, Couturier was unremarkable at BEST. I don't like him. Rather Strome or Huberdeau. Much smarter, more skillful players.
I think I always agree with RinoceRoss. The choice is likely Strome or Huberdeau. Cortourier and even Landeskog to a lesser extent may just be productive because they have grown faster physically than those they play against. I think we pick 5th. I think Strome goes 4th. It's beginning to look a lot like Huberdeau. That's fine by me.