First up is a match up with the surging Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night in Tampa. Then the next night the Sens take on the Panthers in a match up between two teams right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Florida currently sits atop the Southeast Division with 63 points.
After the mid-week back to back, Ottawa will have a four day break which means many of the teams with games in hand will start to close the gap a little bit and should give the Sens a better idea of where they sit in the playoff picture.
It may seem early with 25 games still left on the schedule for most teams but the time for scoreboard watching is already here. The Rangers scored a big regulation time win over the Capitals this afternoon which is great news for the Ottawa Senators. The 9th place Caps are now three points back of Ottawa, with three games in hand.
The Panthers and Islanders are tied at one after one.
The NHL Trade Deadline is now a little over two weeks away and all remains quiet for the Bryan Murray and the Senators. We know the club doesn't have a big splash in mind but it's possible Murray could explore some smaller tweaks but only if the price is right.
The team is no interested in adding salary and will not mortgage any of the future for a short term solution. It takes some of the excitement out of deadline day but obviously the right approach for the rebuilding Senators.
- Kudos to the Sens organization for a first class tribute to Chris Phillips on Saturday. As I watched that ceremony, I couldn't help but be proud to the a fan of this hockey team. Phillips could have been among the players that moved during last year's mini-fire sale but he stuck around and remains an important piece of the leadership group on this hockey team.
They will get calls on a couple guys but I think some team is going to really have to overpay before the Sens go that route.
back to back losses would go a long way
on the other hand Lee had to recognize opportunity and stop taking dumb penalties... that could send him back to the pressbox.
c'mon boys lets get it together and make a run for it!
just my opinion i still think Anderson is a little burnt out and needs another rest, if we are going to do anything we'll need him tip top.
If he keeps this up, we're going to see him playing for the Sens sooner rather than later.
What a draft steal.
contest on Tuesday , and play Anderson against the Panthers on Wednesday night.
Also looking for much better effort, from our top line as well as the other 3 lines.
GO SENS GO !!!!!!!!!!
Florida won today.. so they are 4 pts (I think) up on Wash for 3rd overall.. but 1 pt ahead of Sens.
With Wash loss and SJ going into there tomorrow.. Wash has to lose.
Sens are lucky with this terrible homestand in that the teams chasing them have lost also.
The games the rest of this month are critical to the Sens remaining in the playoff hunt. Tampa, Panthers, Isle x2, Wash + 2 against Boston... The only ones they should lose to (if they play to their potential is the Boston games...) Sens played a great game against them last time losing in OT..
What Ottawa team will show up for the rest of the month.. the one that played against Nashville, or the one that played against Edmonton?
Lee, Gonchar and 2013 1st, for Magnus Paajarvi
and if we had too take a salary dump from edmonton we'd take their 3rd.
i might be dreaming but...
Defencemen
1.Bryan Allen
2.Nicklas Grossman
3.Kyle Quincey
4.Shane O'Brein
Forwards
1.Eric Fehr
2.Taylor Pyatt
3.Dustin Penner
4.Ryan Smyth (I know that it maybe more then a tweek)
I think Paarjarvi is the type of kid Bryan Murray should be looking to Add. Kid won't get a fair shake in Edmonton with all that talent up front. I could see him on LW with turris and Alfredsson. Speed to burn. Just needs ice time like Turris. We'd have to overpay a bit but I'd do it.
Lee and 2013 first round.
We've bedded in a new coach that the players, fans and media all seem to like.
We've established a genuine 2nd line C (it might not be the one we thought but that's irrelevant).
We have had a solid look at younger players in the organisation and the majority of them have performed to or beyind expectations. Condra, Greening and Smith mighht not be top end talent in terms of the top 6 but they have shown enough that we can be extremely happy with the depth of lines 3 and 4 looking to the future.
Anderson has proved that his run last year wasn't a fluke and whilst we may not have elite tending at the moment at least we have a generally reliable presence between the pipes.
One of the biggest positives has been Cowen who has come on leaps and bounds from where he was the last time we saw him at the juniors and has hopefully solidified himself in the top 4 on the blueline for years to come.
We have seen the emergence of a genuine superstar in Ottawa with Karlsson.
We have plenty of cap space which must please Melnyk and room to manoeuvre if the funds are available.
We are missing a top 6 forward or maybe eventwo for sure but next year could be the year when that pushes through.
The only downside I see is that we are a little thin on the blueline and neither Foligno or (especially) Regin pushed on for that true breakout year we were hoping for.
Absolutely there is still distance to be travelled, but the fact that it will be a disappointment if we miss the playoffs is actually a huge positive, this team has spoiled us so far and we should remember that if we end up sliding out of the playoff picture come April.
Alas the trend of the sens snoozing in games to let the opposition get away continues....
UFA/TRADE-Spezza-Michalek
Zibenejad-Turris-Alfie
Foligno-Smith-Silfverberg
Neil-Winchester-Greening
Phillips
Cowen
Karlsson
Gonchar
Lee
UFA/TRADE
Murray had the chance to draft Paajarvi and passed on him even though he was ranked higher than where the sense were picking. I think he has some issues regardless of his skill. I don't know him at all obviously, but i remember in the 09 juniors he made a disparaging comment about team canada going in to the gold medal game. He doesn't seem like the character guys murray is adding lately. And to be honest, lee, gonchar and a first! no way paajarvi is worth that right now. I also think with Zibanejad, Silfverberg, Stone , Noesen and Prince coming to camp next year we won't be adding young forwards. I was at the 9-0 67's win today over Belleville where Prince had a hatty, he'll get a good look in camp.
C-Mac
I can see why PM has had disagreement exchanges with Spezza. He needs to be better defensively. Ever notice how many times Greening backchecks deep in our end and Spezza hangs around the blue line waiting for the breakout pass. Not typical of a center's responsibilitie s. He won't be an elite center until he changes that aspect of his game.
The reason why Greening is down low and spezza up high, is because thats how they make spezza play in the defensive zone (as a winger). Alfie used to do the same thing when he was on Spezza's wing.
Gonchar is part of the shock and awe of the deal, really its a blessing in disguise, we drop gonchar 1 year early and make room for one of wiercroitch/gry ba/borocop(fill intheblankguy)a nd edmonton gets a veteran defenceman for short term allowing their young d to develop and learn from gonchar just like karlsson did. for some reason i have a feeling murray might extend kuba, im not happy but just a gut feeling...
i see magnus paajarvi could be an alfredson type gamechanger of a player and in the swede environment he'd be right at home, and he's not technically a rookie so he'd be nhl ready unlike some of our other young guns. he just seems to be left out in edmonton.
This year we draft a top defenseman prospect in the first round this year. We will be a playoff team next year and possibly a 2nd or 3rd round team, our 1st wont be giving up much.
FREEBIRD !
Its not so much spezza being at the point during defensive zone play...that actually keeps the opposing defense man honest. What pisses me off is that he had hemsky and he had hall on both goals but let them make the plays. All he did was a lame stick check or lack there of. To me that's just lack of commitment or intensity or responsibility, it was lazy and spezza should be better wearing the A. The look on the players on the bench said it all. Needs to be better overall.
They have come so far this season its painful sad and disappointing to see them waste it. I mean ask teams like Washington, buffalo, mtl....they would give anything to be in the sens spot right now. Sens need to start owning their position more and start to want it more, sometimes it feels like they just don't care within the games.
Both the Panthers & Lightening are playing good hockey.
Time for the Sens to up there game.. they need these next 2 wins.
[quote name=
I'd rather have Michlek then Carter and his 10 year contract. Plus Carter is a center. It doesn't make sence to trade for Carter.
Spezza
Carter
Turris
Smith
Your 4 centers - 3 of them young - in 2-3 yrs all our good wingers will be here and then if you choose Spezz can be traded and you're no worse for wear(cuz Noesen and Zibby are really centers) + 5 Mill cap hit for Carter.
I said it last week would be a great move and Burke would be furious! Love to see it.
I can say what ever I want to say and you are getting really annoying! Say FREEBIRD to someone elses post intead
of mine I make more sense then most people on here like for example Sandy you should say that to Sandy post instead of mine.
Also if Murray will make a tweek or two at the trade deadline these are the players that Murray will look at.
Defence
1.Bryan Allen
2.Nicklas Grossman
3.Kyle Quincey
4.Shane O'Brein
Forwards
1.Eric Fehr
2.Taylor Pyatt
3.Dustin Penner
4.Ryan Smyth
5.TJ Galiardi
Watch Turris in his own end, and then watch Spezza...which one has been in the league 10 years? Pathetic..
While you're ranting about Spezza, take a look at the league's scoring leaders.
However I just can't understand this Edm team right now, would they really want a vet D like Gonchar. They are sitting in 2nd last place after starting the year off strong. They have one of the quickest and potentially explosive offenses in the league, yet just can't seem to get it together. The biggest reason being the D core and the goaltending. While the Wall can win you some games, they need a true solid netminder. I think the biggest reason they are going for broke is the draft, yet again. They will no doubt go for the best pick possible, even though they NEED D and G prospects. This team will probably continue to do this until everyone on the roster is 21 and under. But based on the draft, it's very possible considering all the Defensive talent available that they could move a key forward like Gagner and Paajarvi for picks so they can stock up on the D's. Hard to say really.
They fall into 2 categories, the truly terrible and the very good player who for whatever reason isn't perfect. They get pulled up and singled out for things that other players don't, sometimes fairly, mostly not.
When they have 9 good games out of 10 you can bet that the one that get's all the focus is that tenth game. Some fans would much rather have 10 solid nothing special games rather than 5 or 6 great games followed by 5 or 6 average games. They'll pick one stat that they think magically proves their argument and ignore anything that doesn't fit their model of hatred.
Spezza's plus minus isn't great to be sure. In fact it's 16th out of the top 20 points scorers in the league. The bigger picture is that he is still in the top 20 point scorers in the league (7th in fact).
For the majority of the season Spezza has been playing with one and sometimes two line-mates that would not be top 6 players on the majority of teams in this league. He does not have elite talent alongside him yet he is still a ppg (0.97) game player.
You shouldn't expect a player to be something he is not, but you should expect any player to work at the deficiencies in their game and try to improve. Spezza is doing that, he is not going to be the 2 way player Datsyuk is or the sniper that Stamkos is, you can want him to all you like but it's never going to happen - but he is progressing as a player, you can ignore it all you like but it's the truth.
If Spezza was to be on the trade block there would be 20 other teams ready to make a deal and on the current roster there might be 1 other senator we can say about that. These other GMs must see something they like.
Those that bash him will be the first to complain about how poorly Ottawa might perform if he was to leave. Ottawa are a better team with Spezza than without and that's the bottom line.
If that qualifies as a rant, then I guess I need to keep my opinions to myself.
I clearly remember Coach MacLean, leaning over Spezza's shoulder, to discuss his lack of backchecking and covering
his man, when other team has the puck !! It looked like he was disagreeing with MacLean, and he should not !
I am not sure Spezza was disagreeing with the coach, I think he was pissed off and shaking his head because he wasn't happy either with what had just happened.
I don't think for a second there was any lack of respect there and I would rather a player care about getting chewed out by the coach than not.
You might be correct !
Maybe I saw it differently, but your version
seems to be the right one .
Fair enough. Perhaps rant was the wrong word.
Yeah, well, you did hurt my feelings...:)
as far as i am concerned and my 2 cents are worth...I am not going to judge spezza's body of work and his quality as a player based on the edmonton game. for me its pretty simple - ottawa has worked its ass off to get to where they are this season, its a true gift given the expectations at the beginning of the year. the team is going through a funk where for the past 10-ish games, different factors have led to senators losses. to start, it was the refs, then a fluke loss against boston with the refs again screwing ottawa and then after the all-star break bad habits costing games leading to the disaster against the leafs. now granted that they have started to get their act together as witnessed during the game against nashville (Spezza had two goals actually). However, I think the sens still need that extra level of "WANT". That ruthlessnes. Its not there yet. Spezza clearly let off on the both Hemsky and Hall. He needs to be that extra little bit more intense and agressive and own the ice the way we all know he really can.
All of us will agree that both the Hemsky and Hall plays were harmless looking to start with, but both led to goals. I mean spezza did enough to push hall wide and force a weak shot, but if he just does that extra bit more and prevents that shot altogether, then I am pretty sure Spezza costs the oilers big time. Again, this sounds like nitpicking, but the reality is that Toronto the team right behind us is on a losing streak. We need to bury them while we are not playing them, and Edmonton was the chance to do that and we didnt do a good enough job.
In summay, Spezza basically just needs to amp it up one notch more in situations like those agaisnt Edmonton. I am sure if its a playoff level team, he probably does all those things and its all safe, but the parity in this league can surprise you and it did agaisnt edm.
I agree with you BOOM. This isn't a RANT EITHER. LOL
Spezza is an elite scoring center, but less than perfect defensively. How people feel about him simply reflects which end of the ice they're focused on.
I doubt anyone argues that he's a top-10 scorer in the league, he's proven it with stats year after year. I also doubt anyone argues with the fact that his defensive game could still use some work.
I'd much rather him be on our team than not.
Chirp, i usually hate trade proposals because they end up being so heavily skewed in Ottawa's favour - we tend to over-value our players...like all treams fans do, I suppose.
Having said that - St. Louis has a goalie (Ben Bishop) in the minors who's, apparently, ready to step into the NHL. He's also in a unique situation. If he doesn't start at least 15 (I think) games for St. Louis between now and the end of the season (he won't, obviously) he moves from a RFA to a UFA. They don't want to lose him for nothing, so the feeling is that they will try to trade him. The team trading for him would have to feel confident that they would be able to sign him before he gains UFA status in July, so there may be fewer takers than there would normally be for a kid with his potential.
What if Ottawa offered Lehner and a player (Condra, Winchester, Butler, etc.) for Bishop and a pick in this years drat. Bishop could be a backup next year, and Lehner could spend another year in the minors for the Blues, or perhaps step in if they don't resign Elliot...
Elliot re-signed to a 2 year extension, so chance are that Bishop can be had for a lot less. I don't know too much about Bishop, but I guess it would have to depend on what the Sens organization thinks about Lehner compared to Bishop.
If the Sens are going to make a trade it has to be for a young up and coming forward and/or defenceman and I have no problems in using some of the prospects and picks that we have. The only untouchable is Z-Bad.
Really you think he would want to go to Edmonton and that he would be a good fit there.
Spezza please WTF are we talking about Spezza for, we are lucky to have him, Spezza is having a career year and all we can bitch about is his defense.
Some times the worst part of a loss is to have to hear all the bitching of how bad we played or picking apart the players.
But he's a pure sniper bro, which is exactly who Spezza needs. Just keep him on the wing. Plus Michalek is set to make $6M next year. We'd save only $0.300 but hey, saving a bit of $ is still saving. Weren't Carter and Richards both on the same line as well at one point with Carter playing on the wing? Imagine in a few years...
Puempel - Spezza - Carter
Zibanejad - Turris (If decided to be signed) - Noesen
Prince - Pageau - Stone
Silfverberg - Smith - Neil
also if he learns from anderson he could be the next martin brodeur, since anderson is such a workhorse. I could imagine how bruised up anderson is from the constant rain of rubber after each game. the guy is no sissy.
bishop is just big thats all i know about him, i'm not someone to support a lehner trade.
whoa guy slow down, you don't trade for carter and stuff him on spezza's wing, he'll take no 1-2 center spot depending on the night and his gameplay, also you dont let turris walk next year you keep him and make him a center depth guy, i for one would think you can even out minutes and make a 3-4 line powerhouse, thats more ideal than sticking with the usual one-two line punch.
turris would become a winger long before carter if it were to ever happen. just saying...
Spezza is NOT having a career year. 07-08 he scored 92 pts. this year he is on pace for around 80. not even 2nd best as he put up 90 pts in 05-06.
The only thing 'career' about this year is that Spetts may actually play an entire season, for only the 2nd time in his career.
Exactly. You can bet their focus is on D, and another goalie...
If we trade for anyone it only makes sense to trade from an area where we already have depth - and that's out forward prospect pool.
Karlsson
Silferberg
Zibenejab
Lehner
Peterson
Claeson Thats going to be half of team sweden olympic team in the years to come.
Spezza is a point per game player his entire career in the show. The amount of goals caused by a silly give way are far less then the amount of goals created by an unreal move he makes. much like EK65 who cares if the guys gives them a break away if hes scoring and setting up two the other way. give your head a shake Spezz is a star and you are a chump.
us fans can speculate and fantasize about all those sick prospects in the pipeline, but you never know which piece fizzles out and causes a full-out flame out. now saying that doesnt mean to shit on the system and go for broke now. but hey, make the most of what we have. and right now we have ourselves 7th spot in the east and still a chance to make it.
criticizing spezza is not about spezza being less than point per game and certainly its not suggesting ottawa should trade him. its simply an expression that hey, he needs to just ramp it up one more notch thats all. i mean he is there, he is the best player on this team. he is the guy this team is built around if you look closely. he is the mill that drives this team to success, so he surely should not be the mill that can be seen as being one of the causes for a loss.
its almost like if alfie started being lazy in the backend. but you wont see that because alfie is alfie and he is the captain. spezza is this team's Alfie. he is the guy that will lead. and he needs to start behaving like it every second he is on the ice. the margin for mistakes unfortunately or fortunately only shrinks from here-on-in. the scrutiny is on. its on every top player on every team and it will be on spezza.
Michalek-Spezza-Butler
Greening-Turris-Alfie
Foligno-O'Brien-Neil
Daugavins-Smith-Condra
Phillips-Gonchar
Kuba-Karlsson
Cowen-Lee
This team is better with Spezza on it... Remember last season, just before his injury.. the team was in the fight for a playoff spot. Spezza goes out with the shoulder injury and the team goes 1 win 17 losses.. and I think most of that was before the trades. That killed the season for the Sens.
What he needs is another good scorer on his wing. Michalek, although a streaky player, can put the puck in the net.... He also needs another on his other wing.
Does Murray try to fill that by UFA in the summer? Or wait for the young guys.. Mika or Silfverberg.
I guess this is where SpezzaFan19 said that Daybreak Maidenhead should 'Freebird' me? Right?
Who would have thought the game against Florida would be that important and it's not even televised. Damn.
GO SENS GO
Michalek-Turris-Alfie
Foligno-Zibanejad-Butler
Greening-Smith-Neil
Suter-Grossman
Karlsson-Cowen
Phillips-Gonchar
Anderson
Lehner
Next year please!
No way the Sens could afford to have Spezza, Parise, Suter and Karlsson on the same team. All players above $7M.
But, what a team that would be. WOW
Parise $7 mil, Suter $6.5 mil, Karlsson $5.5 mil...trade Gonchar
It was only 6 short years ago that the call in shows and blogs (were there blogs back then?) wanted alfie to pack his bags and basically go to whomever wanted him. The Sens get to the Cup final and Alfie went to hero status in one short year. All I read about now is how Alfie for 16 seasons was the perfect player and loved by the Sens fans. Now that is a load of crap.
Thankfully, the players I mentioned above (with the exception of Yashin) ignored the media and the fans for the most part and played and are still playing at a high level. Be careful what you wish for. I wonder if the Hartford Whalers would still have been in Hartford if they had kept that overated, good for nothing,soft, turnover machine of a d-man, Chris Pronger.
I in no way want to see the Sens make a move for Bishop that would include sending Lehner to the Blues, Lehner has more upside. However, if Bishop was something BM is considering as part of the Sens future, you can bet your bottom dollar the blues would want Lehner in return, as they'd have another AHL goalie without worry of losing him to UFA. If BM did this, he'd know the situation St Louis is in and you could expect the Sens would be the one getting something else back in this deal.
Bishop was scouted very high after an amazing year in the NAHL. he stands 6-7 and 215lbs, he's agile and moves in his crease very well. Also noted to have good pucking handling skills, but it's those skills that often get him out of position and in trouble. I don't think the Blues ever considered him a future #1 after a few subpar seasons in the AHL. And considering the signing of Elliot, to backup Halak, you can almost expect a team to take a stab at him.
dunno who crapped all over spezza. people only have griped about small instances of defensive play of the non-intense variety. thats all. well atleast I did lol.
Ottawa is better with Spezza on the team than off it. one of the very few teams in the league which can boast a true top line centreman...som eone who truly negates the need for the team to go looking for his replacement. However, as we all say, this team goes as spezza goes. and right now, spezza needs to go bat-shit perfect for this team to go to the playoffs. it doesnt get simpler than that.
i dont think any sane, level headed and informed sens fan will ever question spezza's position as 1LC and his scoring prowess. Even leafs fans would think twice before questioning those attributes.
Foligno is the new Fisher. Maybe a little bit better than a 3rd line role, not good enough for a full-time 2nd. Maybe his problems stem from being forced to play on the 2nd line with players he can't match from a skill perspective.
I know I'd be happy with a Foligno/Smith/G reening 3rd line next year.
It only starts being a real problem the contract after next when he might wanttoo much money for a bottom 6 player. I don't have a problem with him signing another deal here but I wouldn't want it to be more than 2 years.
Sorry that was dumb. Butler is too much IMO.
If Spezza's line can win more faceoffs and be better in defensive coverage, we will win more that lose games. As simple as that.
Plus, BM really likes Penner! :)
And Penner really likes pancakes. No thanks.
Is their gonna be a network that picks it up chirp?
Sportsnet SENS???
From what I remember hearing this is the only game out of 82 that is not on television. Maybe there is a feed from Florida that you can tap into online. Hopefully Sportsnet will do the right thing and send their cameras there.
I definitely get frustrated when it appears all he does is a half-hearted stick check on defense or a dangerous giveaway... but his defense is also WAAAAAY better than it used to be, no?
Show me the NUMBERS!!!
Mentioned it on Twitter and someone said it is listed on the NHL Network Coverage.
Nope:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebyday.htm?date=02/15/2012
Yea, I saw that too. Might need to pass a hat to take donations to send SensChirp to Florida to record the game!
Tell Sporstnet to give the Camera and Mics to the dads to deliver the game to us :)... NO?
We've dabbled enough in reclamation projects this year with Filatov + Turris. The last thing we need here is a chronic underachiever with questionable work ethic when we are demanding hard work from all of our current roster.
We aren't the New York Jets. Screw Penner.
Hopefully Alex starts against the Panthers and Anderson can get an entire 5 days of rest. I think he'll need it down the stretch...
Anderson will play both games. Both need to be wins! I think he plays pretty well against Florida as well. I remember the last time they played that one of the commentators mentioned he had a good record against the Panthers.
Dean and Gord on the radio all they way!
I hear exactly what you are saying, but games will "need to be wins" all the rest of the season. No use making the playoffs with a catatonic goaltending tandem though; Anderson burnt out and Auld with no confidence.
At some point(s) we have to get Auld in there, and Wednesday presents a pretty good opportunity for an extended rest for our #1.
I guess that means no highlights either.
I think at bare minimum they will have the internal closed circuit feed from the stadium to distribute to the media.
Sad though eh? We are pretty spoiled getting pretty much EVERY game this season and last...
It's crappy because the Sens and Panthers are in a battle for playoff positioning. The league should take note that we fans want to consume as much as possible.
Looking forward to the future - it can't come soon enough!
And no stream?
Um, there's nothing to stream - that's what everyone is saying: The game will not be on TV, anywhere.
Though there's still time for some TV station to grab it given that it might be a decent game.
Unless someone somehow knows how to stream an internal feed.
Kid has talent.. must be the "11" factor... with him, Prince, Puempel, Mika & Silfverberg, the Sens appear set at forward for the next little while. It's no guarantee they all make the NHL.. but they are surely talented enough to. The Sens just have to take their time and develop them properly.
Going to 67's game this Friday... does anyone know if Puempel is still out?
Wish me luck haha.
FREEBIRD !
Any update on the Karlsson contract talks?
He is an RFA after this season. You know he prob wants out.
The panthers game is blacked out for me on Wed
It shows TB so it is a Tampa Bay Station and commentators (tuesday game)
Have not started yet apparently.
It's on Center Ice here in Alberta, so I can't understand why you guys can't watch it in a bar or get a stream. I'll make a bootleg copy like Seinfeld at the movies and mail you all the DVD!
To clarify: The TB game on Tuesday is on TV all over the place (Dean Brown is calling the game on TV). The Florida game is not on TV anywhere except perhaps closed-circuit within the building - but not broadcast or streamed anywhere.
To clarify: The TB game on Tuesday is on TV all over the place (Dean Brown is calling the game on TV). The Florida game is not on TV anywhere except perhaps closed-circuit within the building - but not broadcast or streamed anywhere.
I don't know where you're getting your info Hax but the Florida game is on Center Ice as well. I dont understand why it would be blacked out for you guys considering it's a road game. If you don't believe me check out Center Ice listings on Bell or Shaw.