Ottawa Senators (present and past) TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

dennycrane wrote:Caught 'Simmer' on the radio this morning, going on about conditioning for Zibanejad. That is quite possibly the issue; however, I remember him blasting Ryan about the same thing last year and #6 was trying to play through a sports hernia. It could be that too with Zibanejad.

That's what "The Hockey Simmer" tries to pass off as insider analysis.

Wait, are you suggesting that Zibanejad is battling through Ryan's hernia?

Someone (Probably Ev) mentioned a while back that Zibanejad was asked to (and did) put on some weight during the off-season. However even if that's true, he's had camp, pre-season and 20 games. Didn't Lazar also say that he added 15 lbs over the summer? Don't think it affected his speed any.

I don't disagree with Simmer that Zibanejad looks slow and not very quick in the first two steps. Absolutely essential to have that explosive start.

But is he going to get fitter and faster sitting on the bench? I honestly don't know what the "fix" is here. Play him on the 4th line and make him earn his way up?

I agree with the benching as he is not producing. The one good thing Simmer did say was the suggestion of a conditioning stint in the AHL.

Bought my tickets for THE RETURN on Dec 4th. Sweet sweet The Alfie goodness.


On the other topic of discussion, I doubt ZBad would agree to go on a two week conditioning stint, but maybe if the only other option is sitting and rotting he wouldn't see much of a choice. I don't think you see healthy players do this very often.

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