If you could save 3 players who would they be?

Cronenbergfan wrote:

cash wrote:I fully agree with N$L on this Kelly debate. You cannot compare what Kelly does defensively to MFing Winchester (who has been invisible in every game of 2009...seems to have taken a step back) or McAmmond. If Deano could do what Kelly does, then Deano would do what Kelly does. I can't make it any simpler than that.

Neely4Life wrote:Alfi, A train, Elliott, thats it.

Spezza has gone back to his old ways, AGAIN. He can only play against the weaker teams, thats a big problem.

Any team with any kind of strong team defense, Spezza is invisable, same with Heatley. Neither of those 2 are franchise guys.

You really change your tone quickly. It was only 10 days ago that Spezza was carving through MTL like a damn champion. The fact is that he just chooses when he wants to play and when he doesn't. It doesn't matter who the competition is...

The thing is, in terms of Spezza choosing when he WANTS to show up, the task is then on Alfie and Hartsburg and others to remind him and motivate him to show up EVERY single time the Sens have a practice or a game...PERIOD.
I may not like my job every day, and the pay may not be as good as I think it should be, but when I show up to work, I do not only what's asked of me, but even more. Spezza, with his 7 figure income should know better...

Why should a 25 year old man who is paid more than both of those guys put together depend on them to get motivated?

Neely4Life wrote:
Why should a 25 year old man who is paid more than both of those guys put together depend on them to get motivated?

It would appear that he has the body of a 25 year old man but he has the mind of a 12 year old giggly school girl. He has slowed somewhat on the giggles recently though, maybe he has watched some of the interviews and was embarrassed?

Neely - I'm pretty sure Cronenberg's point was that he shouldn't....

cash wrote:Neely - I'm pretty sure Cronenberg's point was that he shouldn't....

Well then I am sorry, I misread it. But my point about Spezza I stand by, lol.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

This is purely hypothetical. I'm just interested in what three players you would keep on the current NHL roster for the SENS if you could ONLY pick three.

Here are mine:

Alfredsson

Volchenkov

Lee

Agreed.

Lee is a puss. He gets pushed off the puck like he is a 10 year old kid. Yeah, he has decent hockey sense but unless he changes his game a little and works to get bigger and more agressive, he wont be anything more than a 5, 6 D man.

That's a pretty savage assessment of Brian Lee.

IMHO the kid is still learning, so he gets a pass based on his improvement since he was shipped back to Bingo at the start of the season.

Maybe some of those 'wily' veterans can teach him a few things.

Some more time in the gym and some protein shakes might be good. 202 is a little light for that frame, don't you think?

Among the current D-crop, I stand with the Cap'n that he would be worth keeping for his upside.

Its is pretty harsh, but thats the NHL. There have been other guys with more tallent who havnt made it because they refuse to play a tougher and more agressive game. He better learn or he wont be anything more than a plug on D. Even Bobby Orr had an edge to his game.

He isnt good enough to depend solely on his skills. He needs to change his game and worth ethic.

My three: Spezza, Heater and Volchie.

Yeah, I said Spezza.

Karlsson, Volchenkov, Spezza.

if Karlsson doesn't count, then I'll say Elliott.

Neely4Life wrote:Its is pretty harsh, but thats the NHL. There have been other guys with more tallent who havnt made it because they refuse to play a tougher and more agressive game. He better learn or he wont be anything more than a plug on D. Even Bobby Orr had an edge to his game.

He isnt good enough to depend solely on his skills. He needs to change his game and worth ethic.

Physicality is obviously important in the NHL, but there is more than one way to be an effective top-4 D in this league. Lidstrom and Redden are prime examples.
As long as we don't expect Lee to be more than he is, then we should be satisfied - especially given his progress since returning from Bingo.

Erik Karlsson is listed as 165 pounds, and he is more physical than Picard, Lee, Bell and Kuba combined.

Spezza, Volchenkov and Karlsson!

marakh wrote:Erik Karlsson is listed as 165 pounds, and he is more physical than Picard, Lee, Bell and Kuba combined.

yeah...our D sucks...I know...

cash wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Its is pretty harsh, but thats the NHL. There have been other guys with more tallent who havnt made it because they refuse to play a tougher and more agressive game. He better learn or he wont be anything more than a plug on D. Even Bobby Orr had an edge to his game.

He isnt good enough to depend solely on his skills. He needs to change his game and worth ethic.

Physicality is obviously important in the NHL, but there is more than one way to be an effective top-4 D in this league. Lidstrom and Redden are prime examples.
As long as we don't expect Lee to be more than he is, then we should be satisfied - especially given his progress since returning from Bingo.

What Lee is right now isnt good enough to be a top 4 Dman in my opinion though. Sure, Lidstrom isnt very physical, but you are talking about a top 3 D man of all time. Redden, well not being physical is killing his career right now. You get in on that guy, the puck is getting turned over, he will be a big downfall in New York.

Lee is Lidstrom and Im not expecting him to be, but he has to be more than he currently is and learning to play with an edge will be the only way he can thrive in the NHL.

Neely4Life wrote:

cash wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Its is pretty harsh, but thats the NHL. There have been other guys with more tallent who havnt made it because they refuse to play a tougher and more agressive game. He better learn or he wont be anything more than a plug on D. Even Bobby Orr had an edge to his game.

He isnt good enough to depend solely on his skills. He needs to change his game and worth ethic.

Physicality is obviously important in the NHL, but there is more than one way to be an effective top-4 D in this league. Lidstrom and Redden are prime examples.
As long as we don't expect Lee to be more than he is, then we should be satisfied - especially given his progress since returning from Bingo.

What Lee is right now isnt good enough to be a top 4 Dman in my opinion though. Sure, Lidstrom isnt very physical, but you are talking about a top 3 D man of all time. Redden, well not being physical is killing his career right now. You get in on that guy, the puck is getting turned over, he will be a big downfall in New York.

Lee is Lidstrom and Im not expecting him to be, but he has to be more than he currently is and learning to play with an edge will be the only way he can thrive in the NHL.

THe kind of style you develop as the years go by...
I would give lee at least 5 years before decideing of his fate.

First- and sorry I didn't get in on this sooner- but all the hate for Kelly and his price tag is ridiculous. I'm completely with Neely on this one, and can't believe that others don't see it also. He's the type of player that you don't notice until he's gone. Sure, you should expect him to contribute a few points, but that's not what he's there for- he's a 3rd line centre, nothing more. He does his job ridiculously well, and it pains me that you guys are so quick to defend Spezza and Heatley, but completely throw a guy like Kelly under the bus.


To chirp in with the topic-
I can't believe there isn't more love for Foligno in this room. What has this guy ever done wrong? He plays a fantastic energy game, and he can completely replace Mike Fisher moving forward. If we're blowing this team up, I'm keeping Foligno.

Alfredsson, Foligno, Volchenkov.

and here's why.
Alfredsson is the face of the franchise, and he will retire here and take on a management position. That is a given. I'm pretty sure that he'd rather retire than play for another team. He's a solid player- a quiet leader, and somebody I'd hate to see in any uniform other than ours.
I've already talked about my mancrush for Foligno- This guy is probably never going to be a 1st line guy, maybe a 2nd at best. But the energy he brings night in and night out is unparalled- especially given the performance of the rest of the team in the past 400 or so days. Reminds me of the young Mike Fisher. Let's not make the same mistake by signing him to a contract that is too big for his game... As Ari Gold says "manage your client's expectations"

Volchenkov speaks for himself- he's probably one of the toughest guys in the league in terms of durability.. He's cheap, happy here, and is our 3rd goalie. He's incredibly valuable, and I'd hate to see him go.


Spezza and Heatley are going to fetch good return, there's no question. I'd like to retain Spezza, but if we're only keeping three, I'm taking the aforementioned.

I'd also like to keep Elliott, Kelly, Lee, Donovan and a bunch of guys currently in the farm, but everybody else- shop them.

Of course I wouldn't let go of Karlsson, but I don't consider him a member... yet.

Elliott, Volchenkov, and Karlsson. If I can't choose Karlsson, then I choose Heater.