GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Columbus Blue Jackets - 7:00pm EST/8:00pm AST - Jan. 30th, 2009

PKC wrote:

davetherave wrote:
Geez, what do you think Hitch could do with JaySpez?

Umm, nothing?

Here's what Hitch said about JaySpez (from Sportsnet):

The Columbus coach became a fan of Jason Spezza's when he worked with him at last year's world championships. "I really liked coaching him," said 'Hitch'. "He was kind of out there at the start of the tournament, he was doing his dingling dangling whatever, 1-on-5 stuff. Then we had a chat and it just (turned) 360. He was really, really good the last four games, and when it was down to sudden-death games, he was really good. He was dependable, he was really competitive, he was heavy on the puck, he was really efficient." The Jackets' bench boss said he's not qualified to comment on the star centre's play this season, because he hasn't watched Ottawa play more than five times this season. "To me, I don't look at how many times a player turns the puck over, I look at how many times he's weak on the puck."

Ken thinks Jason would be a fit as a Jacket. (pun intended)

Frankly, coached by Hitch, as a centre for Rick Nash? Awesome combination.

davetherave wrote:

PKC wrote:

davetherave wrote:
Geez, what do you think Hitch could do with JaySpez?

Umm, nothing?

Here's what Hitch said about JaySpez (from Sportsnet):

The Columbus coach became a fan of Jason Spezza's when he worked with him at last year's world championships. "I really liked coaching him," said 'Hitch'. "He was kind of out there at the start of the tournament, he was doing his dingling dangling whatever, 1-on-5 stuff. Then we had a chat and it just (turned) 360. He was really, really good the last four games, and when it was down to sudden-death games, he was really good. He was dependable, he was really competitive, he was heavy on the puck, he was really efficient." The Jackets' bench boss said he's not qualified to comment on the star centre's play this season, because he hasn't watched Ottawa play more than five times this season. "To me, I don't look at how many times a player turns the puck over, I look at how many times he's weak on the puck."

Ken thinks Jason would be a fit as a Jacket. (pun intended)

Frankly, coached by Hitch, as a centre for Rick Nash? Awesome combination.

He has a 50 goal guy beside him now... Nash hasnt come close to 50, why would things be any different?

Until Spezza actually learns how to play with consistancy and a few other things, he is, and always will be the guy that no one can count on or wants on their team.

His time in Ottawa is coming to an end, personally I couldnt be happier. If and when he does get dealt I hope Heatley is so outraged he demands a trade as well. Here's hoping!

Nash is a completely different player (and much better all around) than Heatley. Heatley's a one dimensional player, and he's very good at it. Nash, however, is a two-way player, great at both ends. This is a rookie Rocket Richard co-winner who has played on a mediocre team for his entire 6 year NHL career, and he is only now finally close to seeing the playoffs. Nash with a true #1 like Spezza (yes critics, he is a #1) and Columbus could be even better. Spezza's got great offensive instincts and vision. He can score 30 while adding as many as 90 assists at his best. Nash could score 40+ with a guy like that playing with him. And when Brassard is healthy again, they'd have a solid 1-2 down the middle, and R.J. on the checking line.

Well said Dash

Unfortunately, Columbus cannot afford Spezza's contract and has publically expressed an unwillingness to deal any of Nash (obviously), Mason (obviously), Voracek, Filatov, Brassard or even Russell.

Actually, CBJ CAN afford Spezza if they move certain assets in the process...and what they say publicly, as we all know, doesn't necessarily reflect what they will do.
:pirat:

And why wouldn't they give up Filatov if they had Spezza?

Remember, the Jackets HAVE to make the playoffs this year.

DashRiprock wrote:Nash is a completely different player (and much better all around) than Heatley. Heatley's a one dimensional player, and he's very good at it. Nash, however, is a two-way player, great at both ends. This is a rookie Rocket Richard co-winner who has played on a mediocre team for his entire 6 year NHL career, and he is only now finally close to seeing the playoffs. Nash with a true #1 like Spezza (yes critics, he is a #1) and Columbus could be even better. Spezza's got great offensive instincts and vision. He can score 30 while adding as many as 90 assists at his best. Nash could score 40+ with a guy like that playing with him. And when Brassard is healthy again, they'd have a solid 1-2 down the middle, and R.J. on the checking line.

Nash can score 40 without him as well. Nash doesnt need a guy like SPezza beside him, he actually needs a guy who can play a secondary role to him for support. You put Nash with Spezza, thats just more time without the puck for Nash which will work against him and the BLue Jackets.

Spezza might be a number 1 center in Ottawa, but on more than 1/2 the teams in the league, he isnt.

Spezza isnt a number 1 center in...

Boston, Philly, Pitts, NYR, Wash, Tampa, Carolina, Det, Chicago, Columbus (with Brassard), LA, Anahiem, Dallas, Pheonix, Vancouver, Colorado.

Some of those teams have 2 centers that would be ahead of SPezza.

So I guess Spezza is the best of the worst, and at 7 mil for 7 years, it makes me sick thinking about him being here that long for that much, basically knowing we wont be winning for a long time.

Neely4Life wrote:Spezza isnt a number 1 center in...

Boston, Philly, Pitts, NYR, Wash, Tampa, Carolina, Det, Chicago, Columbus (with Brassard), LA, Anahiem, Dallas, Pheonix, Vancouver, Colorado.

Some of those teams have 2 centers that would be ahead of SPezza.

So I guess Spezza is the best of the worst, and at 7 mil for 7 years, it makes me sick thinking about him being here that long for that much, basically knowing we wont be winning for a long time.

Here's what Hitch said about JaySpez (from Sportsnet):

The Columbus coach became a fan of Jason Spezza's when he worked with him at last year's world championships. "I really liked coaching him," said 'Hitch'. "He was kind of out there at the start of the tournament, he was doing his dingling dangling whatever, 1-on-5 stuff. Then we had a chat and it just (turned) 360. He was really, really good the last four games, and when it was down to sudden-death games, he was really good. He was dependable, he was really competitive, he was heavy on the puck, he was really efficient." The Jackets' bench boss said he's not qualified to comment on the star centre's play this season, because he hasn't watched Ottawa play more than five times this season. "To me, I don't look at how many times a player turns the puck over, I look at how many times he's weak on the puck."

Are you saying Hitch is off his rocker?

He coached him for 5 games, thats it. Whats's Spezza going to say when he is on a team where every player is better than he is and more valuable.

He was still on the 4th line at the WC, saw very little ice and was forced to do the things he was doing.

The coaches with the biggest ego's think they can turn any player around. If Wang thinks he can, then let him.

"The Jackets' bench boss said he's not qualified to comment on the star centre's play this season, because he hasn't watched Ottawa play more than five times this season. "To me, I don't look at how many times a player turns the puck over, I look at how many times he's weak on the puck."

If he had the ability to watch Ottawa's games very night, then he would be signing a much different tune.

davetherave wrote:Actually, CBJ CAN afford Spezza if they move certain assets in the process...and what they say publicly, as we all know, doesn't necessarily reflect what they will do.
:pirat:

And why wouldn't they give up Filatov if they had Spezza?

Remember, the Jackets HAVE to make the playoffs this year.

Here is, I think, a very informed article on the BJs state of affairs.

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=594062

See #1, #6, and #7.

Neely4Life wrote:Spezza isnt a number 1 center in...

Boston, Philly, Pitts, NYR, Wash, Tampa, Carolina, Det, Chicago, Columbus (with Brassard), LA, Anahiem, Dallas, Pheonix, Vancouver, Colorado.

Some of those teams have 2 centers that would be ahead of SPezza.

So I guess Spezza is the best of the worst, and at 7 mil for 7 years, it makes me sick thinking about him being here that long for that much, basically knowing we wont be winning for a long time.

In all of the bolded ones, he's a #1 centre actually, and debatably in LA he is as well. So because this season he's behind 12 other teams in terms of being a #1 centre, he must be worthless and we must never be able to have success as long as he's here, disregarding the considerable success we've already had with him.

I know he had a frustrating performance, but come on. You agreed that our team's problem is the whole team in general and we can't just blame a scape-goat.

Nope, we cant blame just one person, but when the person who has been arguably the biggest disapointment, a liability, and shows no effort or heart, AND he has the largest contract, thats a BIG problem.

Ill take Gomez over Spezza, he is a better player. Sedin is a better center and all around player than Spezza as well. I'll take Jokinen over Spezza as well, that guy plays hard, produces and is great in his own end. Dallas, Richards is having a bounce back year and has a long career of showing he is successful and wins. Since Morrow went down and Avery has left, he has carried that team and turn Eicksson into a legit scoring threat every night.

Not to mention teams like Philly have Richards and Carter, Detorit has Zettiberg and Datsyuk, Pitts Malkin and Crosby, Chicago, Sharp and Toews. If you are looking for Spezza's best comparable in the league, its Ribero from Dallas. Even Boston has Savard and Krejci, not to mention Bergeron.

Basically, there are guys who are having career years and some of the guys mentioned might not be better than Spezza, but for the most part all of those guys are better all around players, a lot at a younger age as well.

At the time the Spezza deal seemed like a pretty good deal, no one is going to fault Murray for that deal, but as things have played out he might be the biggest waste of money in the league and could hamper this team for a long time. Not only is it a huge risk keeping Spezza after this year, it could handcuff the franchise for 6 plus years. Is anyone really going to take that risk?

By Neely's logic, we won't get anything for Spezza. Remember, he's not a #1 center on 1/2 the teams, so we shouldn't expect a great return for him. Afterall, why would anyone give up a 1st for a 2nd line center making $7 million? It only gets worse from there, we have a 3rd line center making $4.5 million, who in their right mind would take on that contract?

And Spezza is only great because of the players he plays with, so keeping that in mind, other teams will know this and refuse to overpay for a coat tail rider.

If Neely was the GM of every other team in the league, we would truly be Diddle.

Spezza > Gomez, Sedin and Brad Richards.

Please.

asq2 wrote:Spezza > Gomez, Sedin and Brad Richards.

Please.

Ok, say what you want, but all of those players, you can argue Sedin isnt, are better all around players than Spezza.

I guess I just like Winners... players who compete, players who care, and have heart.

DashRiprock wrote:By Neely's logic, we won't get anything for Spezza. Remember, he's not a #1 center on 1/2 the teams, so we shouldn't expect a great return for him. Afterall, why would anyone give up a 1st for a 2nd line center making $7 million? It only gets worse from there, we have a 3rd line center making $4.5 million, who in their right mind would take on that contract?

And Spezza is only great because of the players he plays with, so keeping that in mind, other teams will know this and refuse to overpay for a coat tail rider.

Who ever said Spezza was great? oh, just you and a couple others. Team MVP i believe you said he was, haha.