Game Day: Ottawa @ Boston March 12th, 2009 7:00pm EST

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Hey Hemmer,

You should add Proud member of Tank Nation in your signature dude J/k. I know losses are what's best for this team this season purely in terms of draft position but I just find it too hard to root for losses.

Ideally, I don't want them to lose. I don't like not wanting them to win either. It is however, better long term for the guys to lose games now. I see the argument that wins will help this team going forward, and will help to build a winning attitude again, but hard fought losses are just as good imo.

I don't want to see them get blown out. I want to see the boys compete hard, but still lose. I also think we ought to be giving guys like Shannon and Regin more time on special teams as a sort of audition to see what they can bring. Now is the best time to try all the things the team normally wouldn't while in the middle of a playoff drive.

I am enjoying each game in isolation right now. They have been fun to watch and the team giving a consistent effort is all I really need. Would I like to get Hedman? sure. I would rather enjoy the games that I am watching right now though. Who knows what would happen in the future? A high draft pick could easily turn out to be a bust same as we could find another Alfie in the late rounds. Draft is too much of a crap shoot for me to wish away my enjoyment of watching my team. I think the offseason is great for discussing hockey and playing GM but my true passion is watching the game not the backroom stuff.

MurderOnIce wrote:I am enjoying each game in isolation right now. They have been fun to watch and the team giving a consistent effort is all I really need. Would I like to get Hedman? sure. I would rather enjoy the games that I am watching right now though. Who knows what would happen in the future? A high draft pick could easily turn out to be a bust same as we could find another Alfie in the late rounds. Draft is too much of a crap shoot for me to wish away my enjoyment of watching my team. I think the offseason is great for discussing hockey and playing GM but my true passion is watching the game not the backroom stuff.

That's my point. They can still do that and lose. Barring a trade, I'd say our chances at Hedman are roughly the same as some Duff-Underwood lesbian action being shown on the scoreboad during the games. We may be getting to the point now where winning games costs us the opportunity to draft a potential game breaker as opposed to a good player.

hemlock wrote:


I don't want to see them get blown out. I want to see the boys compete hard, but still lose. I also think we ought to be giving guys like Shannon and Regin more time on special teams as a sort of audition to see what they can bring. Now is the best time to try all the things the team normally wouldn't while in the middle of a playoff drive.

I think they've been giving Shannon loads of PP time as well as fill in time for Alfie on the top line after PKs. As for Regin I agree they should definitely give him more special teams time. I have a feeling he could do the PK work that Vermette opened up after being traded.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

hemlock wrote:


I don't want to see them get blown out. I want to see the boys compete hard, but still lose. I also think we ought to be giving guys like Shannon and Regin more time on special teams as a sort of audition to see what they can bring. Now is the best time to try all the things the team normally wouldn't while in the middle of a playoff drive.

I think they've been giving Shannon loads of PP time as well as fill in time for Alfie on the top line after PKs. As for Regin I agree they should definitely give him more special teams time. I have a feeling he could do the PK work that Vermette opened up after being traded.

That's what I was thinking. He's got the smarts to make a great PKer. Winchester as well could do some nice work.

Speaking of Winchester, I am LOVING his game right now. He's taken the initiative to learn to fight and is throwing the body around quite a bit.......very cool.

Forgot about Winchester. I agree. I'm loving his game and he seems to get it. What I mean is he's adjusted his game to be a very effective 4th liner since that is the role they've placed him in. Rather than struggle and try to keep his game the same he's adjusted quite nicely as a grinder in his current role. I too agree that him and Regin could be an effective PK tandem. It can't be worse than what we've been doing and getting Ruutu out of that role could help.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Forgot about Winchester. I agree. I'm loving his game and he seems to get it. What I mean is he's adjusted his game to be a very effective 4th liner since that is the role they've placed him in. Rather than struggle and try to keep his game the same he's adjusted quite nicely as a grinder in his current role. I too agree that him and Regin could be an effective PK tandem. It can't be worse than what we've been doing and getting Ruutu out of that role could help.

Is it just me that's found Ruutu to be an excellent PKer?

No, it's definitely not just you. He brings some unexpected energy and determination to the Sens PK. I hope he's used a few more times in my view to assure it wasn't just a fluke.

Ruutu has killed penalties all year and has basically his whole career. Ruutu is way more valuable than people think.

Ruutu's value has certainly NEVER been lost on yours truly, so much so that unless he regresses or sucks the big one, I hope he finishes his contract here.

Cronie wrote:Ruutu's value has certainly NEVER been lost on yours truly, so much so that unless he regresses or sucks the big one, I hope he finishes his contract here.

Ruutu's game will be effective until the guy is close to 40. A lot of good pieces in Ottawa and a lot of good young prospects now too... if the stars ever learn to be stars, play like it, then we should be laughing.

I wonder if 2/3's of that top line will ever gets its sh*t together again...

I wonder the same thing these days - whether we're winning or not.

Spezza and Heatley have been absolutly awful. They create nothing even strength, turn the pucks over like thats what they are actually paid to do. Stupid/Lazy penalties that are caused by lazy play. I could keep going.

It isnt a bad season and I wish people would stop saying it is. Its the effort level, the inconsistant play, and selfish attitudes. Seriously, this team would be better off building a new core with the great leaders and hard workers we have here already.

Fisher, Phillips, Alfi, thats where this team starts and ends. You have a potnetial franchise goaltender in Leclaire, you have a top prospect in Elliott who is showing he can almost be a number 1 goaltender, the best young D man in the world who isnt in the NHL, and the pick this year could turn into a franchise player too.

This team without Spezza and Heatley are good enough to make the playoffs next year IMO, and that will be some good expierence for all those young kids going forward.

The returns we get on Heatley and Spezza should be good enough to really build a new young core that isnt babied with STRONG leaders here, something we didnt have when Heatley and Spezza first came into Ottawa.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Forgot about Winchester. I agree. I'm loving his game and he seems to get it. What I mean is he's adjusted his game to be a very effective 4th liner since that is the role they've placed him in. Rather than struggle and try to keep his game the same he's adjusted quite nicely as a grinder in his current role. I too agree that him and Regin could be an effective PK tandem. It can't be worse than what we've been doing and getting Ruutu out of that role could help.

So whose brilliant move was it to have Winchester play on the top line in pre-season and to start the season?

wprager wrote:So whose brilliant move was it to have Winchester play on the top line in pre-season and to start the season?

Me, me, me. Pick me. :excite:

wprager wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Forgot about Winchester. I agree. I'm loving his game and he seems to get it. What I mean is he's adjusted his game to be a very effective 4th liner since that is the role they've placed him in. Rather than struggle and try to keep his game the same he's adjusted quite nicely as a grinder in his current role. I too agree that him and Regin could be an effective PK tandem. It can't be worse than what we've been doing and getting Ruutu out of that role could help.

So whose brilliant move was it to have Winchester play on the top line in pre-season and to start the season?

My guess would be it was Brian Murray's influence because he's the one who signed him to a one-way deal and wanted him to be a sure bet top line scorer right out of the gate.

Neely4Life wrote:Ruutu has killed penalties all year and has basically his whole career. Ruutu is way more valuable than people think.

All everyone sees is the other antics of Ruutu, the supposed diving and such, but Ruutu is definitely not Derek Roy. He draws penalties, has done some stupid stuff this season, but lately, that hasn't been an issue. any word on Neil's return?

Neil will return and Kuba still missing. Neil to replace Donovan.