Can Ottawa survive a rebuild?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I'm really glad I'll not have to make that choice for some time to come. Right now my little one is 5 months and if we have another it won't be for a while yet. If one or both of them (If we have another) want to get involved in Hockey it will be a few years away. Even then my Wife and I will likely be making more money than we do now. I don't eny your position. Having to choose Hockey for your child over Season tickets sounds like a no brainer but it still causes disappointment right?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I'm really glad I'll not have to make that choice for some time to come. Right now my little one is 5 months and if we have another it won't be for a while yet. If one or both of them (If we have another) want to get involved in Hockey it will be a few years away. Even then my Wife and I will likely be making more money than we do now. I don't eny your position. Having to choose Hockey for your child over Season tickets sounds like a no brainer but it still causes disappointment right?

Neely4Life wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I'm really glad I'll not have to make that choice for some time to come. Right now my little one is 5 months and if we have another it won't be for a while yet. If one or both of them (If we have another) want to get involved in Hockey it will be a few years away. Even then my Wife and I will likely be making more money than we do now. I don't eny your position. Having to choose Hockey for your child over Season tickets sounds like a no brainer but it still causes disappointment right?

Honestly, if that was me, it wouldnt even matter, its the kids all the way. I help coach some youth hockey and at the end of the day, watching kids you help, who play for the love of the game, is a lot more satisfying than watching an NHL game.

Cant imagine what it would be like when I have kids, my parents said they would pay anyways haha.

Dawg's Wife wrote:

Dash wrote:Just to continue the devils advocate role... last night's attendance was a 5 year low... 16,541. Pretty bad. Just goes to show that fans will not go watch a struggling team.

The worst part is most of the empty seats were in the 20-30 dollar range.

We're not talking about big dollars. For those that want ticket prices lowered, don't hold your breath. Tickets are already among the lowest in the NHL and to be honest, if you can't spare 30.00 to go to an nhl game then really what are you looking for?

Teams like Tampa, Florida, Phoenix have to offer tickets for 10.00 as no one absolutely no one will go and pay more than that.

I find it funny that people will pay $$$ when the team does well, but when it struggles they won't. Maybe that's why Ottawa is regarded as one of the worst sports towns in North America (to those outside Ottawa). The perception, right or wrong, is that fans will only go when the team is doing great.

11 years of making the playoffs, you know that there was going to be some down time eventually. I'm happy that they are struggling in a year when the draft is so strong. At least they have a chance to rebuild with drafting some better players.

Sorry to say this, but stop Wing Dang Doodle and appreciate what you have. My friends in Winnipeg are all wishing they still had their team and dream of a day when the NHL may return. They all to a man say they would take a team that would only win 25 games or less a year, just to have a team back.

DW

beedub wrote:
Well said DW, before Ottawa came along, I was a Jets fan, not a Leaf fan nor a Habs fan.

I would love to see a team back in the 'Peg, although the MTS center IMO is a little too small

ElliottRules wrote:I answered Yes. I think the city and fans would support the rebuild as long as the organization is honest and they find a way to entice fans to go to the games during that time.

davetherave wrote:

ElliottRules wrote:I answered Yes. I think the city and fans would support the rebuild as long as the organization is honest and they find a way to entice fans to go to the games during that time.

Well said. Ottawa is a great hockey town and the fans will support the Sens if management doesn't BS them.

Especially if they bring exciting young players to Ottawa who play their tails off every night.

dennycrane wrote:I think if the Sens went for a rebuild it could be done in short order. I also think their average attendance would be close to and possibly better than what it will be for this season.

hemlock wrote:

dennycrane wrote:I think if the Sens went for a rebuild it could be done in short order. I also think their average attendance would be close to and possibly better than what it will be for this season.

Short order is right. The defence is practically done with Karlsson, Cowen, Rundblad and Wiercioch. We've also got Lehner in the pipeline. Add some forwards and we'd well on our way. 3 years from now we could be relatively competitive again (not this pretend competitive Murray wants us to believe). At that point, Spezza will be hitting his prime and guys like Regin, Foligno and Butler will hopefully be mainstays in scoring roles.

Kovalfie wrote:

hemlock wrote:

dennycrane wrote:I think if the Sens went for a rebuild it could be done in short order. I also think their average attendance would be close to and possibly better than what it will be for this season.

Short order is right. The defence is practically done with Karlsson, Cowen, Rundblad and Wiercioch. We've also got Lehner in the pipeline. Add some forwards and we'd well on our way. 3 years from now we could be relatively competitive again (not this pretend competitive Murray wants us to believe). At that point, Spezza will be hitting his prime and guys like Regin, Foligno and Butler will hopefully be mainstays in scoring roles.

Let's not forget that Bingo is not indicative of the offensive talent that this team has. Sure, Butler, O'Brien, and Condra are having great years down there but we've got guys like Caporusso, Costello, Grant putting up points in the CCHA, Sorenson and Silfverberg are having nice seasons in their respective SELs, and Mark Stone has 37 points in 29 games in Brandon.

If one or two of these guys amount to top six forward we're in good shape moving forward. We've got a lot of cap room for next season, and assets that could be traded at the deadline to bring in more picks/prospects.