Reality and the Super Fan
In the weeks and months leading up to this years draft, there were a lot of expectations for the Ottawa Senators. Everywhere you looked there was someone making a post on a blog or a tweet for Murray and co. to draft a name like Huberdeau, Landeskog, Couturier, Larsson, Strome or Dougie Hamilton. A few people were even calling for the GM to sell the farm and trade up to the top spot for Nugent-Hopkins.
Some fans thought they were doing their part going to games across the region “scouting” former Ranger’s captain Gabriel Landeskog when he played against the 67’s in March or watching the Voltigeur’s Couturier and Saint John’s Huberdeau play against the Olympique in the QMJHL playoffs. The reality of the situation is that few of us actually have scouting credentials and even fewer actually took into account what this team really needs; an NHL ready top 6 forward, who can put the puck in the net on a regular basis.
On the morning of June 24th 2011, the day of this years draft in Minnesota, there was a rumour going around that the Colorado Avalanche had sent Paul Stastny and the 2nd overall pick to the Senators for Jason Spezza and the 6th overall pick. It’s hard to believe either club would give up a fan favourite, but given comments made earlier by Stastny’s dad regarding a previous Avs trade, maybe it could be true?
Therein lies the danger of rumours and the so called “Super Fan”. When the Sens stepped up to the podium, going off the predicted path by selecting Mika Zibanejad, I’m sure a lot of people wondered how they had overlooked him or at the very least went to Youtube to view his videos. The reality is that rarely are these fanatical rumours accurate and the inability of these fans to live in the present makes the rest of us scratch our heads.
What I’ve learned from this years draft especially, is it’s best to let the professionals do their jobs. That a player like Sean Couturier (who was as inflated as anyone in this draft) could fall to 8th spot, should be enough for anyone to realize. As fans it’s our responsibility to step back and enjoy the game, instead of trying to become a part of it.
As fans we often go overboard when it comes to who the team should pick, but that's because we are die hard fans who love this game and love the Sens. It's true, we don't sit in the room discussing the prospects, we don't attend all the games and see the footage and we most certainly don't sit in the interview room where these guys are really put to the test. There is a lot that goes into these decisions and it is best to leave it up to the professionals. But we can still have our fun... that’s what being a fan is all about.
Haha yea that was sort of what I got out of it too. Interesting topic and thought it would be good for some discussion.
Yup. Discussion is what we need for once.
I am extremely happy Murray was able to get 3 picks in the first round. You never know with Puempel and Noesen. Remember in the 1999 draft when we took Havlat 26th overall and he ended up being the best player in the draft apart from the Sedins at 2 and 3? Could pay off nicely for us.
Not only that, I feel as though a lot of the comments were totally ignorant. I'm pretty sure everyone on here knew exactly who Zibby was before the draft, he was rated right in that range where we selected him, it wasn't off the radar. We don't need an NHL ready forward, we need the best player in 3-4 years after developing.
This is just an opinion of a superfan, trying to tell others not to be a superfan. 2nd article still way out in front for me, not even a competition.
Most of us believe in the scouting staff and recognize that people more capable than ourselves are guiding this ship.
with that said, a fans opinion breeds passion which is something that this city can always use more of when supporting our team. I dream of the day when Ottawa's home grown fans resemble the energy that can be found at a habs game.
let's leave the puppet fans in the American markets.
Will SensChirp readers be polled, to select the winner, or do we simply await the decision of SensChirp, in declaring the winner / collaborator ???
I am certainly not a superfan of this article.
It dragged a bit, went in circles, did not flow all that well.
You are submitting an entry for a blog, one where fans share opinions, thoughts, happiness or dissatisfaction with the direction/choic es the team is making but you are telling everyone that it is wrong to do so.
To me this article is suggesting we all become mindless fans void of any sort of opinion or original thought and just watch the games and be happy.
Guess you should find something else to blog about Chirp.
I think he's saving the best for last.
But who's to say that Couturier won't be a franchise player or that Strome won't put up 50 goals one day. Zibby could still be a bust (it's my opinion that he won't be and that the staff made a great choice, but I still wanted Strome.). The fact is that all of these prospects are unproven and at least 3-4 years away from being considered a win or a loss.
I think all of this could of been said in a comment, no need for it to be on the front page.
Its my belief that the new contributor should be able to write both types of articles. Come next season SensChirp will be writing alot more fact based and less opinion based articles, so wouldnt it be a good thing to have someone throw out an opinion piece to get some more conversation going?
Just my 2 cents.
Article #2 really seems to be on a level of it's own right now.
Also "an NHL ready top 6 forward, who can put the puck in the net on a regular basis" does not equate to Zibanejad's scouting report.
Finally, we don't even know how these prospects will turn out yet, so there's still plenty of opportunity for some "experts/scouts " to be proven wrong.
I sure hope the last 2 are really good.
my thoughts as well.
if I want to read opinions, which I do. I read the comments. But real content is what Chirp and the 2nd article provides. I would never send an opinionated article like #1 and #3 to a friend. I guess some people can't form opinions on their own and like to be told what their opinion should be, but I like to be told the facts and then share my opinion on said facts.
Too much opinion in this piece, it didn't really fire me up - as for the premise, IMO half the fun of being a fan is investing the time reading and thinking like a gm or coach (arm chair or otherwise). I would much rather cheer for a franchise with a fan base that holds its front office accountable (wrong or right in their assertions) and that's what this whole blog promotes! Even though i am criticizing this one I still liked it a lot more than day 1.
Day 2 is the clear winner so far!
I also agree without speculation this site does not exist.
speculating is entertainment.
Most people like to give their opinion to contribute, valid or not is self inflicted.
Managment says some prospects are NHL ready and on here you hear they need more time in the AHL.
Armchair GM's all of us.
Entertainment, at least we have enough interest in our team to take the time to speculate.
I don't know how long you've been a part of the Chirp community, but I can't recall a time that we've ever suffered from lack of 'conversation'.
Part of being a fan is spouting off about stuff that we aren't experts in. That's why we are fans, or people that ask Andy Sutton questions.
I still think opinion has a place in the guest contributors blog but agree that variety would be useful. Why do we only have to have one guest contributor. Maybe it would just allow the site to get too cluttered if too many people contributed at the front end.
Comes off as condesending and like a Monday-morning quarterback.
I get the point and it's valid, fans opinions don't mean shite - but cripes this is a blog - it's all about fan opinions and ideas.
Day 2 in the lead BY FAR (IMO - if I'm allowed to have an O).
I love reading what Chirp has to say and every time I come here I also read the comments which are full of people's opinions and I enjoy reading them.
Opinion absolutely sparks conversation, I agree. I do not dislike this article because it has someone's opinion in it, I dislike it cause it is telling us we should not have one
He probably should have said 'constructive conversation'.
hahaha You are 100% correct!
Day 2's blog is still in the lead for sure. If I'd have to rank the 3 so far, I would say:
#1 - Day 2
#2 - Day 3
#3 - Day 1
a - The article wasn't written to put down the die hard or moderate fans of the club, more intently it was written to identify when fans go a bit further and begin making up rumours instead of letting the scouts do their jobs and make the picks that actually reflect the needs of the club. I have a buddy who works with a guy who constantly questions moves made by the club and suggests trades that are absolutely ridiculous, ie Spezza for Statsny.
b - It was written to bring forth conversation and to state that one player available in the draft whose name was mentioned time after time, ended up being the player most teams passed on.
c - Facts are great and they definitely add relevance to a site like this, but once in a while it's nice to read an opinion piece that asks the "what ifs?". That's all I was trying to do.
Since Chirp is the "inside info" guy, I think the best compliment would be someone who could pull together stats/facts/res earch that most of us don't have time to do. Opinion is fine of course, but it would take a very strong writer to be always interesting based solely on their opinion pieces. I think we get plenty of that in the comment section anyway.
Basically, I'd like to see something unique and not really similar to Chirp's work or what we see in the comments. Writing ability/style is secondary to me to content.
A Bingo-focused guy/girl would be great too if possible.
My 2 cents anyway.
It kinda seems like you felt the need to defend yourself. Please do not take my comments that way.
After reading what you just said, it sounds like the intention of the article got a little lost. Avoiding this is a skill set any writer needs to develop. This is something you might want to work on.
If this is something you enjoy doing and are passionate about, keep working on it man.
After all, these are just my Opinions, they shouldn't matter, right?
jk lol
I agree with you Hax, would be nice to get something additional from the extra contributor that we can't just find in the comments section or from Chirp himself.
Thats asking alot from a guy who will play second fiddle to Chirp and probably most commentors. Maybe he could have a once a week segment on how the prospects are developing within the system. Focus on our prospects mostly as Chirp focuses on ther big club.
That might be the best thing actually. A regular set of reports on Bingo, prospects, Sens stats/trends etc. More of a resource than a alternate Chirp.
My biggest complaint with Yost, to pick an example, is that he'll articulate facts and then jump to some unrelated or illogical conclusion.
This blogger never even dares to make the leap.
A blogger, to me, can be one of 2 things: a reporter that uses special knowledge to educate others (like Chirp) or an analysist that compiles data to generate and support a speculative argument.
Still haven't seen this yet. #2 was closest so far.
I'm hoping there's something great waiting in the wings for tomorrow or Friday.
Very true of course. But I think if we as a group get to pick two after this week and Chirp has the option of bringing back a third, we can get another look and go from there. If the day 1 or 3 people feel they can do better they can email Chrip and plead their case to get another shot.
But really, neither of those were even decent if they were "chirp of the week" entries. Not brutal, but not great. Day 2 was at least a bit of a unique look though not superbly written either.
I like the idea of having Chirp give an assignment to two finalists so we can compare like to like, maybe get them both to write an opinion based piece and a facts based piece.
Facts are fine and dandy but I think the best contributor would be able to combine both facts and opinions. There should be a place for that, especially if it is too simulate conversation and debate. I know it's generally reading comments that I disagree with that prompts me to reply.
It's all very well doing an analysis of how many goals the sens have scored in the past 5 seasons, but if that's all the piece then so what. Any of us could have got that from any number of places. But if the contributor says and I think this is due to the fact that Filip Kuba is the second coming of Bobby Orr then that would spark debate, and possibly a call to the local lunatic asylum.
(Apologies to the rest of Chirp-dom if I'm just supposed to ignore this guy until he goes away.)
Sometimes i think SlickRick is too hard on you tookie....
But this post makes it pretty clear you aren't really even a fan AT ALL. Referencing the rest of us as "sens fans" who cant see the "dire" situation implies that you yourself aren't even a sens fan, doesn't it? or that you are some hybrid fan that has superior reasoning skills and knows not to invest any hopes into this squad. Its kinda sad man, you really don't get the fun of being a fan. Rooting for your team when they are an underdog makes all the successes twice as sweet. I am well aware we are rebuilding, but I have hope!
Man, how many times do I have to say it...Im an NHL fan first, Ottawa 2nd, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and last but not least Montreal. In that order.
Your taking things way out of context, did I say were NEVER going to make the playoffs again? No, just not for the next 2 years atleast. I was one of the few lobbying for Zibanejad (after Landeskog), I like the direction we are going in, but most fans think the rebuild is done and that we can compete with this inexperience roster of mostly 3rd & 4th liners.
Well then do not make any comments on Clouston, he is a paid professional, and most of us are not, so do not make any judgments on him. Or no one has the credentials to make any comments on Kovaleve because he is a paid professional and those of you who are not paid 5 mil to play hockey in the NHL cannot make any observations, since we do not have his credentials.
Well then I would have to disagree, we as fans have every right to observe and have our own opinions as to what is best for our team,
some good, some bad, some obsurd, but as paying loyal fans, they should have earned the right to say what is best for their team.
IMHO of course
There are a lot of people who are better off ignored, but I am with ya on that one.
he is 12 and is upset that his balls haven't dropped yet perhaps?
I apologize as I do not usually go down this road but this kid is getting annoying
IMO
I'm not knocking the writers, they did make it to the final 5 for a reason...
@ScotM
No need to defend yourself. You are a better writer than many who are getting paid to do it. Thanks for submitting your work. That thanks goes to the others who have submitted some material too.
I gotta agree about this sben character, this has gone past the normal, 'just ignore it' qualification. Asking for thumbs up or thumbs down is just as ignorant as the fools who feel they have to 'first' a comment.
I'd rather read Tookie's negativity, which I've actually grown to accept, all day long than to see this garbage about thumbing up or down a comment.
This is hockey dammit and we are manly men, well most of us, except Sandy
Man, how many times do I have to say it...Im an NHL fan first, Ottawa 2nd, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and last but not least Montreal. In that order.
Your taking things way out of context, did I say were NEVER going to make the playoffs again? No, just not for the next 2 years atleast. I was one of the few lobbying for Zibanejad (after Landeskog), I like the direction we are going in, but most fans think the rebuild is done and that we can compete with this inexperience roster of mostly 3rd & 4th liners.
I'll bite
I am an NFL fan first, and not really a one team guy, but then again, I am not all that interested in Football, and do not go to one teams site to comment on that team. just sayin..
Thank you for the article, Mr/Ms anonymous.
PS: So I wasn't the only one who found those "thumbs up if you see the "p" or "1" annoying? Cool...I see no reason to ban the guy, but there should be a way to automate penalties of 2, 4 or 5 days :)
Would still like to know why I have to login to see any comments??? It's not all the time, but it happened again right now. No comments visible as a guest, but I see 66 when logged in...
1) David Rundblad to win the Calder.
2) Ottawa to make the playoffs.
3) Filatov to be a success.
Now it will probably take 1 and 3 to make 2 a possibility, but its not that big of a stretch is it?
I'd like to steer everyone away from the recent banter and back to what we normally talk about, Hockey.
What are your thoughts on Nathan MacKinnon, the Mooseheads aquired him two weeks ago. I don't know if it's because he's from Cole Harbour, N.S. that he's getting so many comparisons to Crosby. Or it could be the fact that Crosby's agent is his advisor. But from the looks of it, this kid has skills. MacKinnon will be 2013 draft eligible, and a great C on any club. Should Ottawa continue the rebuild until then? lol
I fully believe that this 'rebuild' is over. Yes parts will be drafted in the future, but no there will not be another race to the basement to draft a player. The fire sale has been had and this is not a hockey market like Pittsburgh or Chicago that will go through a decade of suffering to build a contender. This is a winning team with a winning mentality going forward.
@ madpajamma - I thought that aswell.
No Johne, it's not completely out of the realm of possibility but I suspect that even if 1 and 3 come true we may still fall short of the playoffs. As much of an ass as Tookie can be I find his timeline for making the playoffs pretty realistic.
I have no doubt that you will remain a Sens fan either way but my concern is that some of the other overly optimistic fans may bail on the team if things go south in a hurry. I'm keeping my expectations low for this season so any success will be a pleasant surprise. It's all about player development for me this year.
If we can draft MacKinnon in 2013 without moving up it gonna mean that the kids we have now aren't as good as we thought they were but then again we'd have Nathan MacKinnon so it's both a best case and a worst case scenerio.
Cheers.
I check this sight to hear from people who are that passionate so i can read it and form my own opinion.
Super fans unite brother
I have no problem with your assertions of the probable length of the rebuild, in fact, i agree with it. i am typically on board with your devil's advocate approach to the comment secion- but post #14 made it sound like you weren't a sens fan. And that "sens fans" are all irrational for hoping we outperform your rebuild time line. I expect if you polled the blog 70+% of the people on here would agree that it will be tough to make the playoffs for awhile with such a young roster. All i am saying is that it doesn't seem like you are able to emote as a fan, only as a critic. I think its important to be critical of your team and still recognize the potential for upside. although everyone has a right to cheer on the however many teams however they want. I choose to have 1 team; The critic in me recognizes it will be hard to make the playoffs for a few years, the fan in me hopes we come together exceed expectations and surprise everyone.
It should be the prize for the contest. "Whoever writes the best article gets to pick 1 person to be banned from the SensChrip website".
step 1 - ignore useless drivel like this.
Better start your search for a new blog then :)
So far I would have to rank as follows
1. Day 2
2. Day 1
3. Day 3
4.
5.
This one felt too 'personal' in the sense that this his/her view of a super fan... as people mentioned, no true flow to the article either.
However, all being said, helmet goes off as I didn't submit.
Then whats the problem, if we both agree the Sens wont make the playoffs for a couple of years, what does it matter how I cheer the team. I'll be there each home game, like I have for the last 8 years and I'll keep commenting on how poor of a roster we have until Im proven otherwise.
Johne thinks the rebuild is over, after 1 draft, a good one but not a great one, nobody really rdy to make a impact on the club, Puempel, Noesen, Zibanejad, Stone, Silfverberg are all 2-4 years away from making consistent contributions as top 6 players. Most of you just say Sens will make the playoffs but dont offer rational thinking behind it, thinking with your hearts, not your head.
Dude, all kidding aside I know you are a hockey fan first and your realistic opinion of Sens chances are probably more accurate the 'optimistic' fan...but we are fans of the SENS, that's why we are optimistic. It would be depressing to go around telling people that they will die someday, even though it is %100 accurate, eventually you will want to tell the person to shut their face for being such a downer. When we watch Sens games we WANT them to win, you want them to lose so you can come on here and say'I told you so'...kinda like a Leaf troll.
Couple of things:
1) readership is most likely down because it is July 27th and there isn't much hockey news.
2) Zibanejad was invited to Ottawa before the draft so the management could get a look at a couple of draft choices they were interested in - so most of the fans that follow the news/this blog were aware of him leading up to the draft (I'll admit at the start of the 2010 season I had no idea who he was)
3) You sound like Tookie - fans have hope
Spezza 20-30
Butler 18-26
Michalek 16-24
Alfie 16-24
Foligno 14-20
Filatov 14-20
Greening 8-14
Condra 8-14
Regin 5-13
Neil 5-8
Konopka 2-4
Smith 2-4
Karlsson 10-18
Gonchar 8-10
Rundblad 2-6
Lee 2-6
Kuba 2-6
Phillips 1-6
Carkner 1-4
I think is VERY reasonable for each player, it gives us an avg of about 200 goals give or take, which would put us bottom 5 in the league in scoring.
Many will say the goalie will help alot, well not with the same soft defence, nothing change on the defence except the addition of Rundblad, who will have to adapt for the first few months to NA ice, maybe longer. If you can show me with facts or tendancies that support Ottawa making the playoffs, Im all ears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxCwfRVl1g4&feature=related
Tookie, I have a very rational explanation of why I think the Sens can make the playoffs. I broke the comparison down in my submission, and if it doesn't make it I will be happy to share it with you next week. From it you can see that we've done it before in this almost exact same situation in 96-97.
I think you obviously see the 1 + 1 = 2 scenario of young developing players + weak top 6 = no playoffs. But I think you need to go further and admit that good coach + good goaltending + great worth ethic, added onto that previous 1+1, CAN actually bring you to the playoffs and makeup for the lack of experience or top end proven scorers.
92 Goals???? You must be a Leafs fan.
While I'm in the camp that is not expecting playoffs this season, I have to disagree about "nothing change on the defence". You mention adding Rundblad and true he'll need time to adapt, but you have Lee, Karlsson and Cowen all another year improved (and Cowen "there" all year). Plus the chance of (healthy) Kuba and Gonchar being *worse* is slimmer than them being better. Phillips is the only who's not likely to be better than last year.
So while our D has a loooong way to go, I think our expectations should be a better result than last year all things considered.
Probably not very often that I would side with Tookie but making the playoffs is a long shot... Sure we have a great coach, but coaches don't play the game; sure we have a good goalie but goalies don't score goals; and finally, we can have the best work ethic of any team but that doesn't make up for our youth and inexperience (especially on defence)
Sorry, but this is another good reason you would not be able to cut it having articles put up regularly. You obviously have an issue with people having opinions and or disagreeing with you.
You need to learn to put that shit aside and move on. Your need to defend yourself when people criticize your work would be a huge weakness.
Readership is down because it is late July but still 93 posts so far on this thread alone mind you. I suspect having a writer like you around these parts arguing with everyone that disagreed with you would bring readership down.
Another great post by SlickRick, man I hope he wins the contributor spot, his insight is amazing!
You think Cowen will make the team? there isnt room for him this year? And it would just add to the inexperience of the defense. I see Cowen making the team in 2012-13. he is AHL bound this year, he needs it.
Cowen was the last cut last season, don't see how he doesn't make the cut this year.
All I'm saying is we CAN make the playoffs. It's a rational statement and has historical examples to back it up. It definitely involves a few things going right, but just as easy as getting a top 6 pick again would involve a few things going wrong imo.
I agree that your analysis makes sense but all those things must come together and in most cases they dont. I'll be happy as all hell of Sens make the playoffs and even come here and kiss all of your asses for weeks!
We dont even know if MacLeans is a good Head Coach, we dont even know if Anderson can put consistent years together, the work ethic was there for the final 20 games last year, can it be there for 82....too many known unknowns.
completely agreed on a few things going right vs a few things going wrong. thats why we will be a 9/10 slot team midseason hoping that we jump up a few spots with a strong finish.
Agree 100% , while I think its more likely we don't make the playoffs, everything's possible.
Gonchar
Phillips
Karlsson
Kuba
Rundblad
Lee
Carkner
----------------
Cowen
The Sens wont carry 8 D's, if nothing changes he doesnt make the team, only Cowen or Rundblad can be sent to AHL and Rundblad has shown to be the more NHL rdy.
You understand this right?
I agree there are a lot of unknowns, but based on my observations I think the chance of it coming together enough to be fighting for the playoffs (~7-11th) is a bit better then 50-50 right now and my bias probably brings that to 60-40 haha
Starting the season with Rundblad or Cowen in the AHL isn't a bad scenario either. Some team's dmen goes down and out with an injury and then come knocking on our door for a Kuba or Gonchar after hopefully they've been padding their stats.
I don't disagree with your numbers but we play like crap is the bottom numbers, we play great we get closer to the top numbers.
(some on the high end like Kuba Phillips is a bit high but others like Rundblad Smith could be a bit low so who knows.)
really all is left is to expect the sens to play good or bad.
your high numbers or your low numbers.
you want facts,
Better Goaltending
Healthy Spezza and Alfie
Better D
Stronger Bottom 6
= Better team
and most importantly as of today, we are all tied for first in the standings, so we have a shot at the playoffs.
If sports were a perfect science and only facts, then why bother watching games, just go by the stats!
Go Sens Go!!!
I'm actually in Johne's camp on this, I think Cowen makes the team 1st. I won't cry foul if I'm wrong, but I really think he's on the team this year even if just based on what our D is missing right now.
All I'm saying is we CAN make the playoffs. It's a rational statement and has historical examples to back it up. It definitely involves a few things going right, but just as easy as getting a top 6 pick again would involve a few things going wrong imo.
The beauty of the salary cap and floor is that the gap between the good and bad teams has been drastically reduced. I don't think the Sens will make the playoffs next year but, then again, I picked Colorado dead last in the west two years ago and they proved me wrong. I don't have any problem with the suggestion that we could make the playoffs but I doubt the sanity of those who state categorically that we will make the playoffs.
You can bet Texas that Cowen will play ahead of Carks.
Kinda funny how some people say opinionated pieces would drive conversation; notice how today's comments have had very little to do with the content of the article at all aside from grading it.
He can actually carry 8 D if he wants to. Carkner can play on the 4th line if there are injuries, Lee did too last year, Kuba could still be buried in the minors or dealt if they feel they really only want to carry 7.
But to answer the Tookster: Yes, I do think they plan to have Cowen on the team this year. Maybe partly in the press box and partly bouncing down to Bingo for a few games etc, but yes.
Carkner will be the 7th Dman and be a healthy scratch for a number of games, you need Cowen playing every night. There is nothing wrong with being the first call-up when an injury happens or when we can finally get rid of Kuba. I hope both Cowen and Rundblad get the whole season in so our team develops together on D, which will make us that much better come next year.
@JABS, yea, I agree more things will have to go right than wrong - I hope we make the playoffs
Scott
Kudos on writing the piece and getting selected to the final 5. However when you post an opinion, you have to expect feedback, either pro or negative, and do not take any of it personally, heck you made it to the top 5, and in the playoffs!!!
I've been preaching the exact same thing.
Last season it seemed as though everything that could possibly go wrong for us did. And guess what? 4 other teams finished below us.
I see the playoffs as a long shot next year (around 20-25% chance) but for us to be a lottery team next year would mean that we would have to have a season that is as bad or worse than last season. The improvements we've made to our goaltending tandem alone tell me that that won't happen.
The other areas like offense and coaching are still question marks, but I think we'll be picking in the 8 - 12 range next draft.
Almost 100% sure that a few months ago when Dorion (or perhaps it was Murray) was interviewed, he said Cowen would be on the team next year and Rundblad would probably make it. Based off that, management considers Cowen closer to being NHL ready. I'll trust management more than I trust you.
Could MacKinnon be that final piece of the re-build that puts the Sens over the top?
What would have happened IF the Sens had picked at the 5 spot in the draft (were not unlucky to lose the lottery... god this team has no luck) -- with both Strome & Zibby available to them. Who would they have picked?
My opinion, for the Sens to make the playoffs a lot of IFs have to happen. If Spezza, Alfie & Michalek play close to 80 games each. Is that a reasonable expectation? Anderson continues his "great" play -- will have to be great. The young guys fill in spots capably. They will fight for the 8th spot. But I just don't want to hear some fans at the end of the year.. trash the team -- about a year into the re-build because they did not make the playoffs.
Murray had better do anything he can to get both Cowen & Rundblad into the lineup. This is a re-build... let the youth play.
Yes there is an outside chance they make the playoffs but don't be so quick to hail Anderson as the savior, he's good but look how many times we've gone into a season thinking our goaltending situation is intact. It's a long season when you're in rebuild.
But optimism and fan support keeps Sens Army alive brother
One love
A healthy Spezza and Karlsson/Rundbl ad and a fresh batch of offensive coaches smells like success to me. Just have to hope a player like Foligno doesn't shy away from the crease.
I personally expect some rough nights but also that after most games I'll be able to say we put in a good effort and that our young guys (in general) are improving. Playing over .500 or making the playoffs would just be a bonus IMO.
If most nights we're still "in it" during the second intermission I'll be happy.
Anything in particular you have issue with or just trying to stir things up? Trying something a little different with this contest and while the comments haven't been entirely what I hoped, I think this is the best you can hope for in late-July.
Doing my best here!
I'm amazed at the content you've been consistently been putting out since the end of the season, the signings have helped, but still, great job. There's been very few days that you haven't put up a new article. I seriously doubt that that's the opinion of the majority here.
I do share concerns with this recent contest and the ability to generate worthwhile content on a consistent basis, but it can't hurt to try can it? Worst-case Ontario is the new author gets author privileges taken away and we're back to just you.
And what is important to note is the new contributor will be on a very much part time basis. Weekends and gaps during the season. I certainly don't envision a split with someone.
I actually like the idea of an assignment writer. Someone who can cover off a given topic as required.
another high draft pick and a few more players shipped out will give us the peices we need to build a contender instead of a pretender like the predators..
Absolutely!
As long as I see effort from the young players I will be pleased.
Beats the ulcer Kovalev gave me these last two years. And Picard, my god he made me furious.
This contest was also supposed to be part of my vacation from the site. Keeping up with the comment section has made that tricky haha.
Also, it's the end of July. Nothing going on.
I'm not a basher of yours and respect your opinion even if I don't fully share it. I'm expecting a decent (not stellar) year ahead based on:
1) Anderson. I attended a game when he played for Florida. Front row seats right behind the net. I saw the look in his eye from up close and despite playing for a horrid team, he gave them a win. I left that night wishing Ottawa had him as our goalie.
2) MacLean: At minimum, we'll see fewer bench minors. At best, a team trying to impress their coach.
3) Youthful energy and enthusiam will rub off on everyone. I've seen this happen time and again in lots of places.
4) Ottawa wins when they hit and they've now got more hitters than a demolition derby.
The real unknown is Sens' true ranking vs other teams... but Sens can't stink as bad as 2010...
I went to a game 3 games before Picard was traded and I made sure that all 8 people I was with booed Picard when he got the puck (I mean he was terrible)..he got traded 1 week later. I also agree that NOT watching Kovalev(and heatley) float around will make me enjoy watching this team more...win or lose.
I'm excited to see Greening skate and am hopeful that Hoffman surprises during training camp....
For sure! I've never been more excited about our prospects. That's funny about booing him at the game. I only got to freak my wife out by screaming his name in disgust from the living room hahaha
with that said, runblad already dominated a league that is better than the ahl. i think the sens brass would biew this as a step backwards for him. accordingly, i'd give the edge to runblad over cowen with the big club...
Don't worry Tookie, I've warmed up to your ways! It's all love.
I think he was referring to the comment section, not your quality of work. You're work has continued to be impeccable.
That is your opinion and its mostly just optimism, while that is fine and dandy, dont be shocked when a new coaching staff and a goal starved team dont produce on the PP. But just incase you are shocked, I'll be here to say I told you so.
Yes and what you dont mention is that other teams get better aswell, were not the only team that tries to improve.
And the way I see it, we havent improved all that much over the bottom 5 teams where we sat last year. I never saidwe would be last in our conference, thats for Florida and NYI but we wont be far ahead of them.
And I dont know about you but I did predict last year that we were gonna stink, with the roster we had and the unknowns at the time, it was a pretty easy call to make, so maybe your the one that needs more schooling. Also how did Herm Edwards end up, yeah thought so, LOL.
I agree much of the feedback, on all three articles actually is overly harsh if not disrespectful.
My hat is off to anyone who made the effort to contribute something, and give us material to bicker about here in the dog days.
Cheers bud
Please Johne, us hipsters like to call that VAY-KAY. Don't make me ban you.
The goaltending has been upgraded. The coaching has been upgraded... two areas that the Sens will be better at.
Now as for the D next year -- and the forwards... that will be the key as to where the Sens finish.
I pray for a healthy team next year. Get more wins than last season -- that will be an improvement.
Just think. As bad as the Sens were -- they finished with 6 less wins than the Leafs. That's not too many over an 82 game schedule.
The hopes seem to be extremely high. I don't have a problem with that either...