- Can Jason Spezza build on a strong finish to last season?
Spezza took on more of a leadership role in the back end of last season and was rewarded with an A on his sweater this year. Spezza is going to have to have a big season offensively if this Ottawa team is going to prove doubters wrong.
- How will the team adjust to new head coach, Paul MacLean?
On a team with so many young guys, communication will be key so when Paul MacLean hired this offseason, it had a lot to do with his ability to connect with players. MacLean has said it many times but he wants his team to play an up-tempo, in your face style which will certainly be an adjustment from the approach the Sens used under Clouston.
- Can Mika Zibanejad provide consistent offensive production on the second line?
As an 18 year old, it's hard to expect much from Zibanejad heading into his rookie season. Listening to Bryan Murray yesterday, it sounds like this is more than a nine game audition. The kid has made the team. He is going to get a chance to skate in a top six role and will be a key piece in this team's offence. Zibanejad was strong in the preseason but how will he hold up over the grind of a long NHL-season.
- Can Chris Phillips and Sergei Gonchar bounce back?
Phillips and Gonchar are both coming off dreadful campaigns and will need to be better if this team is going to surprise. They are both counted on as leaders in the locker room and will be looked up to by the young guys on the Sens blueline. How will they respond?
- Are Jared Cowen and David Rundblad ready to make the jump to the NHL level?
Cowen is going to take a regular shift right off the bat. He looked strong in the preseason and seems ready. There are still questions around Rundblad but to me, he seemed to get stronger as the preseason moved along. How will he adjust to the North American game? Is he ready to take a regular shift at the NHL level or does he end up in the AHL for more seasoning?
- What can Erik Karlsson do for an encore?
For all the uncertainty in the Sens line up, Erik Karlsson seems like a guy they can count on. He is coming off a big season offensively and will be expected to increase his production this year. Still has improvements to make on the defensive side but it remains to be seen just how good can this kid be.
- Can Craig Anderson build off a strong finish to last season?
In the final preseason game against the Bruins, we saw exactly what Craig Anderson is capable of. His is a goalie that can flat out steal a game when he is at his best and he'll have to be for the Sens to compete. How will he respond to the heavy workload that he'll almost certainly be faced with this season. 60 plus games and 30 shots a night is not out of the question.
- How much does Daniel Alfredsson have left in the tank?
I hate thinking about this one but it's a reality with a 38 year old player. Alfredsson looked strong in the preseason and seems to be skating well. I still think Alfie can be a key part of this team's offence but it will be important for Paul MacLean to control his minutes. In an interview with Ian Mendes, Alfie says "I am going to play like this is my last year." Sens fans are faced with the reality that this could be the last season for the face of this franchise.
- Is this team really as bad as people think?
Projected by many to be among the bottom-feeders in the Eastern Conference, the Sens come into this season with fairly low expectations. As the list above shows, there are definitely some question marks heading into this season but are they capable of surprising some people? I certainly think so.
This is just a sampling of the many questions that come to mind when trying to predict what is in store for the Sens in the 2011/2012 season. In just three short days, the Ottawa Senators will begin to answer these questions.
Milan Michalek-Jason Spezza-Nikita Filatov,
Colin Greening-Mika Zibanejad-Danie l Alfredsson,
Nick Foligno-Zack Smith-Chris Neil,
Erik Condra-Zenon Konopka-Bobby Butler.
Most of the prognosticators are in the Tookie camp and feel that, for Ottawa, most of those questions will have negative answers. As I say to my wife when she attempts to tell me I'm wrong; my reply is "You may be right."
No one here seems to be planning a parade, but getting positive answers to the majortiy of those questions will have the Sens suprising a lot of people and giving us a chance at some spring hockey.
... or Tookie may be right.
I'm torn ... can't bring my self to give this a "thumbs up" nor can I give it a "thumbs down"
Michalek-Spezza-Filatov
Greening-Zibanejad-Alfredsson
Foligno-Da Costa-Neil
Condra-Smith-Butler
I expect to see this line up most nights and Konopka inserted only when we need a little extra toughness and when Carkner comes back look to see him fill more of a regular shift rather then fighting
I wouldn't be surprised to see Konopka a bit more than most seem to think...the guy is tough but more important, he has a pretty decent face-off percentage.
spezza has reached that tipping point where he makes others around him better. I think we will see a big year out of #9 as a result of being healthy and playing with two high skill players.
That's more like it, though I'd still like to see Neil on the 4th in favor of moving Condra back with Foligno or even Butler if he starts producing. Gonna be a fun season!
Philippé gets top 4 minutes for at least 10 games and by then it will be too late...that $4 mill seems to guarantee
being put out there no matter what!
If Kuba does not show up with any improvement, he will be in the press box, or sent down to re-condition himself in
Binghamton.
No doubt that the Sens want to give Rundblad at least 9 games, which would not sit out Lee , but for sure Kuba.
Just do it already Bryan !!
Rockin Robert
Anderson doesnt even have to be as good as he was last year to steal a few games but his play in the last game suggests he is still at that same level. And he thrives on 40 shot nights.
Cowan is more than ready, Rundblad might not be yet but I think he stays after nine games. and if he doesnt, not the end of the world.
I dont think the players could respond worse to McLean than they did with Clousten, so another positive yes from me.
Mika is the biggest ? as a second line center but I am in the camp that thinks any NHL experience is better for development than a return to the SEL or the AHL. Having a kid in the lineup too early is only bad when you're expected to win and there is pressure on the kid to play well and not make mistakes. this season, coaches would rather adjust through mistakes, its a great place for MZ to spend his year.
GO SENS GO!
Who said he was an All-Star now?
Dont know, but he could turn out to be one, its like Cowen on our side.
If ZK doesn't draw into the line up versus the Wings, can definatly see him drawing into the line up versus the Leafs, who are SUPER banged up right now.
Can't wait to be in D-town for the season opener, let's hope I make it out alive!
I'd like to get a glimpse the team if possible.
Thanks
He'll probably get the nod more times than not because he brings that unique roll to the team. I wonder if they'll ever try putting his big body in front of the net if the PP struggles early? why not try it out?
Gardiner is a dman. You mean they need Gardiner's offense on the backend, more than Aulie's defense.
"When u add up cap relief with Avery, also waiving D Bell & Bickel & inj. to Staal & Sauer. U get the sense the NYR are about to get a Dman"
KUBA!!!
MAKE IT KUBA!!!
Spezza would probably have missed less than 5 games last season if it wasn't for the Letang cheap shot.
The Sens are not expected to do anything this season. So there is no pressure on these young guys to make the playoffs. Just go and play.. work hard and have fun. You never know until it's over.
As much as I would like them to be, the Sens won't be in the playoffs this season. So the best thing for them to do is get in a lottery pick position... this time win the draft lottery.. and hello Filip Forsberg.
Nikita Filatov-Jason Spezza-Daniel Alfredsson
Milan Michalek-Mika Zibanejad/Steph ane Da Costa-Bobby Butler
Colin Greening-Nick Foligno-Erik Condra
Zack Smith-Zenon Konopka-Chris Neil
Chris Phillips-Brian Lee
David Rundblad/Filip Kuba-Erik Karlsson
Jared Cowen-Sergei Gonchar
Craig Anderson
Alex Auld
Hello Nail Yakupov you mean
Maybe... we shall see who rises & falls in the draft rankings. Have a feeling they draft the Swede.
Will Ottawa finish last in the NHL? They will have to, to draft Yakopov. I wish the Sens would win the draft lottery.. but they have no luck.
What do we do IF he becomes good again!?!?
Do we trade him while his value is high?
Do we keep him and use his new-found goodness in our cup run?
Do we murder him as Johne suggested?
Trade him very quickly.
Doubt very much, that he will become "good again",
but if he does (like Brian Lee), he could bump Carkner out,
but I would only give him a 1 year contract, at $1,250,000
because at $3.7 million per year for 2 years, he was way
overpaid for services rendered.
Rockin Robert
mysterious fishing trip and lose him in the river
nice scenario to think about, but Kuba has 0 value to anyone unless their top 4 d-men all go down to injury, there are a lot of d-men available as UFA's they would take over kuba.
imo No more contracts for Kuba by the senators no matter what! Trade him, waive him or let him go at the end of the season.
so...dont try to erase him yet.
btw, i think Paul Maclean should put Neil-Smith-Kono pka together and leave them as is for the rest of the season. especially against the leafs to show Brian Burke exactly what the words truculence, tenacity and skill combine to embody.
wow Johne that's a little harsh, we don't want him dead... just maimed enough to miss the rest of the year... LESSARD!!!!
and please enough with the same Kuba discussion every day it souds like a broken record
Last I heard, he had a good camp, and is being considered for the top line with Stasny.
dump a puck in his corner, and you will see a 6'4" 230 galut dissappear!
or see Johne post #4!!!
if not don't bother LOL bunch of morons haha
of all the bad signings and players he is one of the worst, he cannot/will not get physical, he no longer has the pace to play at this level, we have 3 or 4 d-men that are better then him right now.
he has made his own NTC... b/c he is one of the worst d-men in the league, so no you cant trade him.
Worst of all, he seems to know this, and has done nothing in the last 15 months to change this... he will collect is 4 Mil, and go back home to Europe
He looks the same as last year only a year older!
I more than anyone hopes that he proves me wrong... but I also hope to win the lottery, both are very unlikely to happen.
I believe Stastny is on the 2nd line. Duchene's line is now the #1, but yes Landeskog is in the running to be on his line or the 3rd line.
http://twitter.com/#!/plysenkov/status/121086760527732736
I am glad we do not have Leclaire Kovy to complain about anymore.
For those of us that can't get to that site - what's the story all about?
I've said for a long time now that Ottawa will basically work with a 23-man roster for most of the season (or until we unload a couple of players). With quite a few back-to-backs, expect them to have 2-3 guys sit out the first and play the second.
firstly Aulie is not all star he will not be an erik karlsson for his life.
secondly why is the comment I'm quoting on +8 is this
leafschirp or senschirp leafs will always suck (if this comment gets anywhere near minus 8 ...)
The jist is Filitov joined a fantasy league and chose himself. The statement reads "It's funny - Nikita Filatov in our fantasy league (20 teams) took... Nikita Filatov! Good sign for Ottawa! This boy has faith in oneself!"
LOL
We can, hopefully, assume that Silfverberg comes to Ottawa next year. DaCosta will most likely for sure make the O-Sens.. Whoever the Sens draft next June (if top 3 or 5) has a good chance to make the team.
So who goes? Foligno, Regin -- can't think of much else? Do they send Michalek away this year? I would hope not..If he has a good and healthy season.. I would keep him until the last year of his contract..
that tweet by Pavel Lysenkov (sports writer and NHL editor for Sovietsky Sport (Russia)):
It's funny - Nikita Filatov in our fantasy league (20 teams) took... Nikita Filatov! Good sign for Ottawa! This boy has faith in oneself!
Week or so ago someone asked Tookie to compare the Leafs prospects to ours. His response was glowing praise of Gardiner, Aulie and the like; and unenthused approval of Cowen, Rundblad, Zibanejad etc.
He even went as far to say that "Aulie looks like a future allstar".
I've been giving him a hard time for it ever since.
He said what he said because he wanted to provoke a response. Most people on this site dislike the Leafs, so praise of them will be met with hostility.
I don't even think Leaf fans see Aulie as a future all star. The guy hasn't shown offensive prowess at any level and when he makes the Leafs is guaranteed to be behind Schenn, Phaneuf, Liles, Gardiner and Franson. How many teams have their 6th D man as an allstar?
One of his comments mentioned, something to the effect, that Colin Greening is the most complete physical speciman they have had since Zdeno Chara. I guess he's always working out. Leads a pretty simple, healthy life style. Very smart and soft spoken. Strong player who he thinks will have a good season.
Even franson isn't on the starting lineup, you forgot gunnarson and komisarek
go sens, f*ck everybody else
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2011/10/04/mendes_alfredsson/
i did!
I know the comment section steals the show sometimes but cmon, I link to that article in the main post! Haha
oh i clicked the link you provided chirp
Sorry chirp I just thought this story is more of a "Main" piece then at the bottom of 9 questions.. haha
Fair enough! Hope people took the time to read the article. Not a pressing story just yet but something to watch this year.
SENSCHIRP FANTASY HOCKEY
League ID: #77453
Password: senschirp
http://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/senschirp
Was supposed to be later. I have it at 7:45 PM now. If we want to go later it would have to be after 11.
Didnt want the league to be too deep. Especially with 20 teams. Should be interesting though! Don't think it should be too tough to find 20 people to register either.
23. What to watch with David Rundblad: How he does without the puck. He's so skilled with it, but must learn to play without it. Little doubt he will, but it may take time.
24. One coach on Ottawa: "They'll probably run out of steam in March, like most teams built like that...Until then, they're going to play everyone very hard."
http://bit.ly/mSf9lx
How Do I get Registered or is it too late?
You can feel the energy around the team that hasn't been there for the last 3-4 years.
Spezza, Alfie, Zibby, Karlsson, Runblad, and Filatov can all pull off incredible plays. If they can click together, it's going to be a fun year.I want to see the team having fun, and giving 100 percent which has not happened in a long time.
If this happens I don't care where they finish-this year.
not doable for me either...
@WeAreSensFans!
I really have no idea what the issue might be. League is definitely not full though.
it just keeps kicking back to the yahoo landing page
Enter in the id number and password after logging into yahoo.
You dont need a yahoo account.. you can log in using your gmail or facebook account..
League ID: 77453
Password: senschirp
Honestly, i'd be satisfied with some thing in between with just a bit more passion and hunger than Kovalev.
I have no doubts in Anderson and modest expectations of the rookie crew. That should be mostly OK. If Filatov delivers, we're in for good times.
Can anybody said Daigle all over again, all the upside in the world, but could not play at the nhl level. Go with Forsberg we have better luck with the sweeds lol
Did you get registered? Think there were 8 spots left as of this morning.
I'm registered.
didnt know where to enter the league id and pass.
Go puck stoppers!