Dregers 10 players to watch at the deadline

Likewise ^ We would have to overpay to win him on the open market and he is a big question mark in any other system. I don't think people recognize how great a potential there is for it to be Gerber part 2...

I can see why you'd be hesitant, because of the solid, defense first mentality in Minny, but right now he's the best goalie in the NHL, and has been at or near the top for a few years. Good chance he doesn't even make it to free agency anyways. Ottawa has been horrible when it comes to goalies and free agency. Emery's deal turned out to haunt them, and Martin Gerber was a huge disappointment. Our best most recent signing was Dom Hasek, and even that turned sour.

But seriously, if Elliott is not going to be a NHL level goalie, or more importantly, a top one, then Ottawa finally has to address the goalie situation once and for all. Too much disappointment and question marks over the years. Mike Eastwood was on Hockey Central and was discussing Brian Elliott and said the jury was out on him as being a #1 goalie, or even if he could be an NHL level goalie.

Hey, Backstorm is only one option. There's also Khabibulin, and some teams might have some goalies for sale.

Spezza has been this teams best player??? On what planet?

Before the NJd game, you were so far off Spezza's back it was actually nice to see.... Then one Dung game and you fall back into this overly-emotional response pattern whenever his name is mentioned. Seriously dude: Patience. Relax and watch him develop, instead of always ripping on him for every little mistake.

The no-look passes to nowhere during a crucial power-play really hurt us against NJD and Spezza does that way too often.

Im not ripping on him for mistakes, and I was off him but people keep saying he is the teams MVP and this teams best player.... he isnt. Im sick of hearing people saying the guy is the next great thing, he is this teams best player, he isnt!

I put up with mistakes, I dont put up with a lack of effort. Im cool with people defending the guy and giving their opinion on him, but dont come here and say he has been this teams best player and MVP.

I still think Heatley should go before Spezza, but again, that little thing called reality sets in.

SeawaySensFan wrote:The no-look passes to nowhere during a crucial power-play really hurt us against NJD and Spezza does that way too often.

Even Alfredsson did taht last time and Heater didnt see it coming he nearly lost the puck... That pretty much confirms to me they dont even communicate as much as before.

Believe me: I saw those...ALL of them.... But we have to accept that this is an off year for him. He won't be hitting 90 points and he'll be lucky to even break 75; but he is a tremendous talent - one who I believe will someday win a scoring title.
Just like Lee; just like Elliott; just like Winchester and Foligno; just like pretty much every young player: Spezza has a lot of stuff he needs to work on, but that doesn't mean we have to expect an overnight miracle change in his game or his consistency.
I'm a firm believer that we will one day (soon) reap the benefits of having suffered through some of the most dreadful play imaginable.

cash wrote:Believe me: I saw those...ALL of them.... But we have to accept that this is an off year for him. He won't be hitting 90 points and he'll be lucky to even break 75; but he is a tremendous talent - one who I believe will someday win a scoring title.
Just like Lee; just like Elliott; just like Winchester and Foligno; just like pretty much every young player: Spezza has a lot of stuff he needs to work on, but that doesn't mean we have to expect an overnight miracle change in his game or his consistency.
I'm a firm believer that we will one day (soon) reap the benefits of having suffered through some of the most dreadful play imaginable.

Ive never denied the tallent he has, but I dont think he will ever win a scoring title in this league with Malkin, Crosby, Ovechkin, Getzlaf, Kane so on being younger and just as tallented, if not more than Spezza.

The fact of the matter is he has been a loser his entire career, he has won NOTHING. He may one day reach his full potential but I dont think he has the ability to do it in Ottawa as the go to guy. I also question his heart and desire in a large way. I dont think there is any motivation for the guy anymore, he is a multi-millionaire and already got what he has worked his whole life for at 25 years old.

Neely4Life wrote:

cash wrote:Believe me: I saw those...ALL of them.... But we have to accept that this is an off year for him. He won't be hitting 90 points and he'll be lucky to even break 75; but he is a tremendous talent - one who I believe will someday win a scoring title.
Just like Lee; just like Elliott; just like Winchester and Foligno; just like pretty much every young player: Spezza has a lot of stuff he needs to work on, but that doesn't mean we have to expect an overnight miracle change in his game or his consistency.
I'm a firm believer that we will one day (soon) reap the benefits of having suffered through some of the most dreadful play imaginable.

Ive never denied the tallent he has, but I dont think he will ever win a scoring title in this league with Malkin, Crosby, Ovechkin, Getzlaf, Kane so on being younger and just as tallented, if not more than Spezza.

The fact of the matter is he has been a loser his entire career, he has won NOTHING. He may one day reach his full potential but I dont think he has the ability to do it in Ottawa as the go to guy. I also question his heart and desire in a large way. I dont think there is any motivation for the guy anymore, he is a multi-millionaire and already got what he has worked his whole life for at 25 years old.

I would put that question in pending mode. I dont really know his background, but am I right to say that the last year has been the worst one in his playing career? If yes, maybe he doesnt know yet how to sacrifice himself to win hockey games. Now would be the best opportunity to step up, and Im pretty sure Bryan Murray knows exactly with what kind of player he is dealing with, with as much experience as he has.
I certainly have seen improvement in his play since the beginning of the season, so Im willing to wait until the end of the season, at least. It seems the early criticisms from Hartsburg last year had some good effects. The way Heatley is playiong right now is not helping much either.
Bottom line, I won't draw any conclusions yet about him being an all-timel loser.

Everything is there for Spezza to be a great player, but until he actually puts it together and becomes a leader, he will be questioned over and over. At 7 mil a year he deserves to be questioned.

This was supposed to be the year he turned it around, became a mature player and saw consistant efforts from the guy.

I pose the question, how long do you wait? When do you cut your loses? This was supposed to be the year he took a step forward, not backwards.

Its the effort that drives me nuts, its actually more difficult to try night in and night out than I think he thought.

Just found out my buddy might have to hang up the skates too because of concussion problems when he was so close to getting the call up to Toronto.

Hopefully Darren Dreger is reading these threads. He could learn something.
:pirat:

Maybe we should do a thread where we rate the so-called mainstream hockey media 'experts'...

Maybe we should do a thread where we rate the so-called mainstream hockey media 'experts'

I think Pierre is the best one... PIERRE MCGUIRE IS A MONSTER!!!:cyclops:

:joker: