GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ New Jersey Devils - 7:00pm Dec. 19th, 2008

So I guess a rebuild is the way to go...
Only prob though, its not that game tonight that had decided it, I think after the road trip will be more correct. And I still can't see Bryan Murray dealing Spezza.

Maybe not now, but it's coming, I'm sure of it. There is no way he can afford to sit by and watch this unfold - his job security is somewhat suspect at this point, I would guess.

I like the idea of trading him to Atlanta - we need Bogosian (and the pick); if we could get Little then we would be in even better shape

IIRC - Little is projected to be a #1 centre in a year or two, but still needs to develop; that's about the time-line we need.

Acrobat wrote:Maybe not now, but it's coming, I'm sure of it. There is no way he can afford to sit by and watch this unfold - his job security is somewhat suspect at this point, I would guess.

I like the idea of trading him to Atlanta - we need Bogosian (and the pick); if we could get Little then we would be in even better shape

IIRC - Little is projected to be a #1 centre in a year or two, but still needs to develop; that's about the time-line we need.

If you could suck either of those two, along with their 1st, I would be amazed and thrilled.

I am still astounded at the face off assignments on this team. Fisher and Spezza were both 43%. Vermette was only 33% but the more glaring number is 3: the total number of face offs the best face off centre on the team took last night. Kelly had 5; Bass had 3 as well.

Heatley was 100% (taking just one draw).

Move heatley to centre on the top line. Install Vermtte as the permanent centre on the 2nd line, or at least have him take all the draws over whoever else is on his line (Fisher or Kelly). Move Fisher to wing or at least take him off faceoffs.

Last night we were 40% in faceoffs, and our best face off players (Vermette and Heatley) took 4 of 50 face offs.

Vermette is 3rd in the league behind Bonk (another one who should be taking more draws) and Bind' Amour. Chris Kelly has taken just one fewer face offs than Vermette (and, assuming last night's results aren't in yet, he'll be ahead by 1 now).

I understand, he's not our #1 centre. But is Brind'Amour #1 in Carolina? He has taken more than twice as many faceoffs as Vermette. Chances are, if Vermette took more draws he would hone his skill and get even better (right now I suspect he's taking more draws against tougher opposition, too) and could be leading the league.

Even if he is playing 2nd line minutes versus 1st, he should be taking all the draws on the PP/PK (2nd and 1st units, respectively) and all the draws on his line -- I don't care if he plays wing or centre.

This is just ridiculous. When the team is not hitting (14 last night -- pitiful) we are not going to get back many pucks that we lose on the draw. Each face off lost is a potential scoring chance for the other team. It is so simple I cannot believe we are still discussing it!