GAME DAY: Montreal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators - 7:30pm ET - Tue. Dec. 8th, 2009 PLUS post game thoughts

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
You're seeing how very average defensivly A Train is. He doesnt do much out there when he isnt blocking shots or taking guys out. Last night should give you a pretty good idea of why you dont sign that guy for big money, same thing against Anahiem.

I dunno man....I just don't know. You take away that rock on the back end and things might just go from bad to worse.

Perhaps 4 million is pushing it though, but I thought we agreed on 3.5-3.75?

However (Don't read this Sensgirl11), one of our primary needs is a blue chip forward prospect - and I think if we can get one from a potential Volchenkov deadline deal, we might - repeat MIGHT - have to think about it.

Phillips makes him a lot better then people think A Train is. I like what he does for the team and like what he brings, it's not worth more then 3.5 as a max though.

SensGirl11 wrote:Sorry, but I saw a HUGE difference in the way the team played in front of Leclaire and the way they are playing in front of Elliott. Leclaire can make those saves that pump the team up, Elliott cannot. Period.

This team can't get pumped up about huge saves. Even when Leclaire makes them. And Elliott does make his share of huge saves at critical times.

This team also can't get pumped up about capitalizing on multiple power plays when they are down. Nor can they get pumped up about getting a game-tying goal after failing to solve a "hot goalie"....

Seriously? How is Leclaire going to help the PP?

SeawaySensFan wrote:Cop outs. They have no business being fragile. They should be building on the success they've had so far. I think a pretty strong case has been stated for Elliott so far. I can't force you to accept that he has been good enough to win games that the team ended up losing through lack of desire and sustained effort.

And vice versa, but yes, there are a ton of issues with this team right now. Pretty much down the list is goaltending, top of the list is the 12 million bones locked up in 2 useless players.

I'd be shocked if Spezza can turn his season or his career around, that's how bad he's been lately.

I dont think Spezza will play this poorly the rest of his career, but the days of him being anything more then a PPG guy or anything resembling a true number 1 center are gone.

Spezza will probably hit the PPG mark or close to it at some point in time again, but he wont be an "allstar" or talked about in the same light as the Toews, Richards' (either one), or who ever else.

Spezza doesnt have the ability to play that two way game or the mental ability to pick others up around him when things are not going well.

Spezza, by all accounts is a good 2nd line center. He cant be counted on but he can still be effective. Saying he is a 1st line center at this point though... not even close.

N4L wrote:Seriously? How is Leclaire going to help the PP?

See...this is the issue. When a guy like MA Bergeron is waiting desperately for a contract, what hurt would it have done to sign him like the Habs did - but EARLIER? Magically our PP was gonna go from crappy to amazing because of Kovalev? That's kinda short sighted, we should have had a PP specialist - and he would have come CHEAP.

He isn't our number 1 anymore, it's Fish now. He's our 3rd now? behind Winchester maybe? That's the way it shoudl be. He should also warm up the seat in the pressbox for a few games. It worked wonders for Campoli.

WOW!

SensGirl11 wrote:He isn't our number 1 anymore, it's Fish now. He's our 3rd now? behind Winchester maybe? That's the way it shoudl be. He should also warm up the seat in the pressbox for a few games. It worked wonders for Campoli.

Winchester actually works hard, put him with Spezza or Kovalev and try to get something out of them.


Michalek - Fisher - Alfredsson
Foligno - Kelly - Spezza (because, really, it couldn't get any worse)
Ruutu - Winchester - Kovalev (because, really, it couldn't get any worse)
Cheechoo - Regin - Shannon

SensGirl11 wrote:Kovalev and the Ottawa Senators came home to face the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, after a five-game road trip in which Kovalev’s shot production read like a horrible typo: Two.
Two! In over 300 minutes of hockey.

That is pretty Diddling brutal.

The only way I see Winchester playing 2nd line center is for one shift or two to send Spezza a message which he will surely ignore. I've given up waiting for material changes to happen with this lineup solely based on individual play. The salaries will keep being played for the most part. Only a trade will salvage this season.

I think I was bang on about Winchester's passing skills, by the way. He proved me right in that game and Regin benefitted. He needs to be more consistent with his hitting, though. I think it was 1 against the Ducks and 5 last night.

SeawaySensFan wrote:The only way I see Winchester playing 2nd line center is for one shift or two to send Spezza a message which he will surely ignore. I've given up waiting for material changes to happen with this lineup solely based on individual play. The salaries will keep being played for the most part. Only a trade will salvage this season.

I think I was bang on about Winchester's passing skills, by the way. He proved me right in that game and Regin benefitted. He needs to be more consistent with his hitting, though. I think it was 1 against the Ducks and 5 last night.

Winchester might be coming into his own once and for all. He's starting to find consistency - not only as a defensive forward, but in the offensive zone as well. Time might be here to stick him with Spezza (sorry Jesse) once and for all.

Apparently his preferred position is right wing so, I'm not sure where he would fit since there only seems to be room on the left and he's damn good as a center. Still above 65 percent in the faceoff circle.

He's really becoming a great player that any team would be lucky to have. I'd like to use him in more situations if possible. He creates a lot when he's out there and good luck getting the puck from him as the opposing team.

So a lot of people are saying that coming off of road trips like ours usually results in a loss on the first game back. Is that the case with us?

What happened to the tough team we were to start the season? We battled all the time no matter what, then this happens...is it the loss of Neil? Did it mess us up that much?

SeawaySensFan wrote:Apparently his preferred position is right wing so, I'm not sure where he would fit since there only seems to be room on the left and he's damn good as a center. Still above 65 percent in the faceoff circle.

Stick him with Spezza. I'm 100% convinced that hard work and determination and net crashing would go a long way to shaking the cobwebs out of Spezza's game. I'm trying to refuse to believe that he won't rebound, maybe he can. But it's gonna take more than Kovalev and Foligno to do it.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SensGirl11 wrote:He isn't our number 1 anymore, it's Fish now. He's our 3rd now? behind Winchester maybe? That's the way it shoudl be. He should also warm up the seat in the pressbox for a few games. It worked wonders for Campoli.

Winchester actually works hard, put him with Spezza or Kovalev and try to get something out of them.


Michalek - Fisher - Alfredsson
Foligno - Kelly - Spezza (because, really, it couldn't get any worse)
Ruutu - Winchester - Kovalev (because, really, it couldn't get any worse)
Cheechoo - Regin - Shannon

I dont mind those lines at all. I would still put Winnie as 2nd line center with Spezza on his wing. Put Kelly with Kovalev.

I love Ruutu and Cheechoo together, not sure if I would take them away from each other.