Regin and Winch practicing... still no Kuba

Hmm... if Winch and Regin are ready to go who will they replace? Donovan might be an obvious choice despite his good play of late. Will Winchester get a chance to play? Touch choices here.

strachattack wrote:Hmm... if Winch and Regin are ready to go who will they replace? Donovan might be an obvious choice despite his good play of late. Will Winchester get a chance to play? Touch choices here.

Winch might be the odd man out as a 13th forward, don't want to mess with the Ruutu-Kelly-Neil line, they have good energy out there, so it comes down to a numbers game and Winch will be the odd man out.

strachattack wrote:Hmm... if Winch and Regin are ready to go who will they replace? Donovan might be an obvious choice despite his good play of late. Will Winchester get a chance to play? Touch choices here.

I wouldn't sit Donovan for Winchester personally. I'd probably sit Donovan for Regin though and move Neil back to line 4. Poor Donovan, I hope he's okay with this - he seems to understand the process here.

SensFan71 wrote:

strachattack wrote:Hmm... if Winch and Regin are ready to go who will they replace? Donovan might be an obvious choice despite his good play of late. Will Winchester get a chance to play? Touch choices here.

Winch might be the odd man out as a 13th forward, don't want to mess with the Ruutu-Kelly-Neil line, they have good energy out there, so it comes down to a numbers game and Winch will be the odd man out.

Yeah, it looks as though that might be the case. Regin will sub with Donovan then?

I actually really am starting to come around on Cheechoo as well. He looked (from what little I saw), really nice with Spezza and Michalek - to the point where I would say that it's simply a matter of time for him before he starts racking up the goals. And that's exciting for me.

I was starting to warm up to Cheechoo when he, Regin and Neil (I think) were a line and he started to get himself into position to fight for space. His skating is average, but the whole package looks like it's starting to come together. His confidence looks like it's improving by the second and he looks really at home with Spezza and Michalek.

I know there were a lot of people who were screaming for Cheechoo to be with Spezza when we acquired him - including Sharks fans oddly enough - and it looks like it's gonna work.

Something to get excited about maybe?

SpezDispenser wrote:I actually really am starting to come around on Cheechoo as well. He looked (from what little I saw), really nice with Spezza and Michalek - to the point where I would say that it's simply a matter of time for him before he starts racking up the goals. And that's exciting for me.

I was starting to warm up to Cheechoo when he, Regin and Neil (I think) were a line and he started to get himself into position to fight for space. His skating is average, but the whole package looks like it's starting to come together. His confidence looks like it's improving by the second and he looks really at home with Spezza and Michalek.

I know there were a lot of people who were screaming for Cheechoo to be with Spezza when we acquired him - including Sharks fans oddly enough - and it looks like it's gonna work.

Something to get excited about maybe?

Agreed on Cheechoo.

I guess he isn't fast but he didn't look that slow either. He knows how to get open in the offensive zone and he even showed he can make a nice deke. I was impressed with his release too. When he missed the net by about a foot trying to hit the open side his frustration was very visible. This tells me he expects to bury those chances.

As far as getting excited, I dare not because a line that works seems to end up being split sooner or later to get other lines "going".

SpezDispenser wrote:I actually really am starting to come around on Cheechoo as well. He looked (from what little I saw), really nice with Spezza and Michalek - to the point where I would say that it's simply a matter of time for him before he starts racking up the goals. And that's exciting for me.

I was starting to warm up to Cheechoo when he, Regin and Neil (I think) were a line and he started to get himself into position to fight for space. His skating is average, but the whole package looks like it's starting to come together. His confidence looks like it's improving by the second and he looks really at home with Spezza and Michalek.

I watched youtube's of his goals in SJ and this guy definitely has the skills to put the puck in the net and he seems real good at stickhandling.

Skating is his weakness but he seems to be keeping up much better every game.

I can't wait to see that line against the Lightning.



He's got the skills. All he needs is the oppurtunity and the confidence. I think they will come.

That was a pretty rare highlight. His hands aren't that good.

If he works hard and, more importantly, finishes, he'll prove his worth on the top-line.

Between Spezza and Michalek, there's more than enough size, speed, skill, vision etc. to create (and both of them can finish as well). Cheechoo just needs to be our Michael Ryder (with more of a work ethic).

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Agreed on Cheechoo.

I guess he isn't fast but he didn't look that slow either. He knows how to get open in the offensive zone and he even showed he can make a nice deke. I was impressed with his release too. When he missed the net by about a foot trying to hit the open side his frustration was very visible. This tells me he expects to bury those chances.

As far as getting excited, I dare not because a line that works seems to end up being split sooner or later to get other lines "going".

Hopefully he sticks on line one this time - because honestly, it's hard for a shooter to get any momentum on line 3 playing 10 minutes. He needs to be up there with Spezza and Michalek game in and game out until they spark. So, again, hopefully he sticks up there this time around.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Agreed on Cheechoo.

I guess he isn't fast but he didn't look that slow either. He knows how to get open in the offensive zone and he even showed he can make a nice deke. I was impressed with his release too. When he missed the net by about a foot trying to hit the open side his frustration was very visible. This tells me he expects to bury those chances.

As far as getting excited, I dare not because a line that works seems to end up being split sooner or later to get other lines "going".

Hopefully he sticks on line one this time - because honestly, it's hard for a shooter to get any momentum on line 3 playing 10 minutes. He needs to be up there with Spezza and Michalek game in and game out until they spark. So, again, hopefully he sticks up there this time around.

agreed that line one is the best spot for Cheechoo, Spezza and Michalek will be able to get Cheechoo back to 25 to 30 goals, not playing with the 4th line or players without the offensive flair needed to get Cheechoo going.

Audio from Clouston interview following practice today:

http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/Audio/091014_Clouston.mp3

Clouston said Regin, Shannon and Winch were "real close" to returning. They'll see how they feel after today's practice.

Kuba's timetable won't be really known until he starts to skate with the team.

Shannon returned in the last game did he not, pretty sure I saw him manning the point on the PP.

Hahaha, A-Train is 'fun to watch'.

I Clouston. He's so incredibly cool. The team is 'close' to getting into his system 100%, won't be long he thinks. Spezza has been 'very, very effective' as has Michalek and Cheechoo. Better reads on the PP, specific entry areas and then relieving pressures by moving the puck quickly.

I swear, every time I get nervous about this team, I need to replay this interview. This guy is 100% IN CHARGE of this team and he knows what he's talking about. It's awesome.

'Very positive day in the video room - where lightbulbs were going off and players were nodding and understanding what to do and what to avoid. And equally positive day on the ice, where they showed they not only understood, but could execute.'

SpezDispenser wrote:I Clouston. He's so incredibly cool. The team is 'close' to getting into his system 100%, won't be long he thinks. Spezza has been 'very, very effective' as has Michalek and Cheechoo. Better reads on the PP, specific entry areas and then relieving pressures by moving the puck quickly.

so you got a "man"crush eh, not that there is anything wrong with that.