Is Heatley still elite? (now with poll)

Dude 'isn't having fun' playing hockey. I love the guy too, but I am falling out of love.

I find myself yelling at the TV a lot... MOVE YOUR FEET YOU STUPID Diddle BASTARD.

Yup. The struggles are a reflection of a lack of rest in the off-season, a lack of puck-movement, a tonne of negativity and no secondary scoring behind him.

As soon as he got out of the Ottawa environment, he shone.

asq2 wrote:Yup. The struggles are a reflection of a lack of rest in the off-season, a lack of puck-movement, a tonne of negativity and no secondary scoring behind him.

As soon as he got out of the Ottawa environment, he shone.

We need to fix this ASAP.

504Heater wrote:

asq2 wrote:Yup. The struggles are a reflection of a lack of rest in the off-season, a lack of puck-movement, a tonne of negativity and no secondary scoring behind him.

As soon as he got out of the Ottawa environment, he shone.

We need to fix this ASAP.

It's not something you can fix quickly.

I'm not sure it's only the people in the room, especially now that Grats, Emery, Meszaros etc. are gone and Smith and Auld are in.

I think the on-ice incompetence of most of the team plays into this as well, as well as the negativity of our fanbase, especially against our top players.

You think with the Winter Olympics around the corner, Heater would be playing his heart out? (Vying for a spot)

asq2 wrote:
It's not something you can fix quickly.

I'm not sure it's only the people in the room, especially now that Grats, Emery, Meszaros etc. are gone and Smith and Auld are in.

I think the on-ice incompetence of most of the team plays into this as well, as well as the negativity of our fanbase, especially against our top players.

Yeah, the moves made were solid, but you have to think that Murray needs to start building the team around Spezza and Heatley (unless Spezza gets the axe - which isn't the smartest thing). Don't worry about anyone else on the team not named Spezza, Heatley or Alfredsson and start building from the backend up.

It's a hell of a lot easier said than done, but if you draft properly, this team might be back to it's former glory in 3 years.

504Heater wrote:

asq2 wrote:
It's not something you can fix quickly.

I'm not sure it's only the people in the room, especially now that Grats, Emery, Meszaros etc. are gone and Smith and Auld are in.

I think the on-ice incompetence of most of the team plays into this as well, as well as the negativity of our fanbase, especially against our top players.

Yeah, the moves made were solid, but you have to think that Murray needs to start building the team around Spezza and Heatley (unless Spezza gets the axe - which isn't the smartest thing). Don't worry about anyone else on the team not named Spezza, Heatley or Alfredsson and start building from the backend up.

It's a hell of a lot easier said than done, but if you draft properly, this team might be back to it's former glory in 3 years.

I don't think so. I think it'll take a little longer if we want to re-build right.

An injection of a guy like MSP or Cowen or Hedman is nice, but even better would be losing for two years and getting a guy like Hall or Kabanov as well.

Also, I'd keep Volchenkov around unless I get an offer that knocks my socks off. A perfect mentor for the younger defencemen about sacrificing to win and shot-blocking.

Heatley has never demonstrated a willingness to fight through a crowd. He is an elite goal-scorer when there are other scoring threats on the ice. When he is the only one this year, as no one covers the defencemen on the point, he cannot fight through to get opportunities.

Sens4thecup wrote:You think with the Winter Olympics around the corner, Heater would be playing his heart out? (Vying for a spot)

Heatley's a lock. The only Canadian winger better than Heatley is Iginla.

I consider him an elite sniper but not an elite player by any means. Not nearly complete enough.

I think Heatley's more well-rounded than we give him credit for.

He's shown to be a very smart back-checker, and a good defensive player. He can pull off dekes in-tight. He's a very under-rated play-maker as well. He's also, IIRC, a pretty decent guy in the face-off circle. And, obviously, he's one helluva scorer.

The only thing that really holds him up is his skating, but it hasn't stopped him from being a back-to-back 50 goal, 100+ scorer, with a great +/-.

I don't think there's a whole lot of motivation right now. The odds to make the playoffs are almost insurmountable. But a long break might be just what they need.

asq2 wrote:I think Heatley's more well-rounded than we give him credit for.

He's shown to be a very smart back-checker, and a good defensive player. He can pull off dekes in-tight. He's a very under-rated play-maker as well. He's also, IIRC, a pretty decent guy in the face-off circle. And, obviously, he's one helluva scorer.

The only thing that really holds him up is his skating, but it hasn't stopped him from being a back-to-back 50 goal, 100+ scorer, with a great +/-.

I don't think there's a whole lot of motivation right now. The odds to make the playoffs are almost insurmountable. But a long break might be just what they need.

You mean another long break, right?

asq2 wrote:
I don't think so. I think it'll take a little longer if we want to re-build right.

An injection of a guy like MSP or Cowen or Hedman is nice, but even better would be losing for two years and getting a guy like Hall or Kabanov as well.

Also, I'd keep Volchenkov around unless I get an offer that knocks my socks off. A perfect mentor for the younger defencemen about sacrificing to win and shot-blocking.

I think the odds of us flat out sucking again after this year - as odd as this year is - are about 1 in a 100. The talent on this team can't suck three years in a row...can they...

504Heater wrote:

asq2 wrote:
I don't think so. I think it'll take a little longer if we want to re-build right.

An injection of a guy like MSP or Cowen or Hedman is nice, but even better would be losing for two years and getting a guy like Hall or Kabanov as well.

Also, I'd keep Volchenkov around unless I get an offer that knocks my socks off. A perfect mentor for the younger defencemen about sacrificing to win and shot-blocking.

I think the odds of us flat out sucking again after this year - as odd as this year is - are about 1 in a 100. The talent on this team can't suck three years in a row...can they...

I'm not so sure I'd put money on that if I were you...

504Heater wrote:

asq2 wrote:
I don't think so. I think it'll take a little longer if we want to re-build right.

An injection of a guy like MSP or Cowen or Hedman is nice, but even better would be losing for two years and getting a guy like Hall or Kabanov as well.

Also, I'd keep Volchenkov around unless I get an offer that knocks my socks off. A perfect mentor for the younger defencemen about sacrificing to win and shot-blocking.

I think the odds of us flat out sucking again after this year - as odd as this year is - are about 1 in a 100. The talent on this team can't suck three years in a row...can they...

I'll take that bet :D

504Heater wrote:

asq2 wrote:
I don't think so. I think it'll take a little longer if we want to re-build right.

An injection of a guy like MSP or Cowen or Hedman is nice, but even better would be losing for two years and getting a guy like Hall or Kabanov as well.

Also, I'd keep Volchenkov around unless I get an offer that knocks my socks off. A perfect mentor for the younger defencemen about sacrificing to win and shot-blocking.

I think the odds of us flat out sucking again after this year - as odd as this year is - are about 1 in a 100. The talent on this team can't suck three years in a row...can they...

Give me those odd's for sure. 10 bones on it.

see what I mean?

Hahaha. Fair enough.