GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Pittsburgh Penguins - 7:00pm ET - Wed. Dec. 23rd, 2009

SpezDispenser wrote:Hmmm...

While I'm not gonna sit here and say that everything's okay, let's say that Cowen, Karlsson and Wiercioch and Lehner all work out in 3 years, the Sens will be in nice shape, let's be fair.

There are a whole slew of great young prospects across the league. Holding out hope for that future core for anytime in the next 5 years is foolish. In 3 years, we'll be beginning to compete with that core...we won't be a true contender unless we get some Hall's or Kabanov's...or Spezza turns into a player.

Even if I'm wrong, expecting a 22 year old Karlsson, 21 year old Cowen, and likely sophomore Wiercioch and Lehner to take us to the cup is bordering---and teetering, at that---on homerism.

Gohan wrote:
There are a whole slew of great young prospects across the league. Holding out hope for that future core for anytime in the next 5 years is foolish. In 3 years, we'll be beginning to compete with that core...we won't be a true contender unless we get some Hall's or Kabanov's...or Spezza turns into a player.

Even if I'm wrong, expecting a 22 year old Karlsson, 21 year old Cowen, and likely sophomore Wiercioch and Lehner to take us to the cup is bordering---and teetering, at that---on homerism.

Hard to say. Any teams making the Cup these days are gonna have at least one early 20s player in a majorly impact position. We're gonna have to hope in the next 2-3 seasons that these young players mature as well as Lehner. Michalek, Silfverberg, Petersson and all the picks we make this year should also be coming up by then.

The future's not all doom and gloom IMO.

Man, this dung pipe is smelly. Can I come out now?

Gohan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Hmmm...

While I'm not gonna sit here and say that everything's okay, let's say that Cowen, Karlsson and Wiercioch and Lehner all work out in 3 years, the Sens will be in nice shape, let's be fair.

There are a whole slew of great young prospects across the league. Holding out hope for that future core for anytime in the next 5 years is foolish. In 3 years, we'll be beginning to compete with that core...we won't be a true contender unless we get some Hall's or Kabanov's...or Spezza turns into a player.

Even if I'm wrong, expecting a 22 year old Karlsson, 21 year old Cowen, and likely sophomore Wiercioch and Lehner to take us to the cup is bordering---and teetering, at that---on homerism.

Agreed, but remember how much fun it was watching our previous core of young kids mature and become contenders over the years. Also, forward prospects are ready quicker than D or goalies so I would hope that we can pick up a couple of blue chippers in the next two drafts, the highest ranked don't always make the biggest impacts.

Anyone know the latest on Alfie?

SpezDispenser wrote:

Gohan wrote:
There are a whole slew of great young prospects across the league. Holding out hope for that future core for anytime in the next 5 years is foolish. In 3 years, we'll be beginning to compete with that core...we won't be a true contender unless we get some Hall's or Kabanov's...or Spezza turns into a player.

Even if I'm wrong, expecting a 22 year old Karlsson, 21 year old Cowen, and likely sophomore Wiercioch and Lehner to take us to the cup is bordering---and teetering, at that---on homerism.

Hard to say. Any teams making the Cup these days are gonna have at least one early 20s player in a majorly impact position. We're gonna have to hope in the next 2-3 seasons that these young players mature as well as Lehner. Michalek, Silfverberg, Petersson and all the picks we make this year should also be coming up by then.

The future's not all doom and gloom IMO.

Nor MYMO, but a little perspective is good in anything, including measuring the depth of our teams prospect pool.

RobbyJ wrote:

Gohan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Hmmm...

While I'm not gonna sit here and say that everything's okay, let's say that Cowen, Karlsson and Wiercioch and Lehner all work out in 3 years, the Sens will be in nice shape, let's be fair.

There are a whole slew of great young prospects across the league. Holding out hope for that future core for anytime in the next 5 years is foolish. In 3 years, we'll be beginning to compete with that core...we won't be a true contender unless we get some Hall's or Kabanov's...or Spezza turns into a player.

Even if I'm wrong, expecting a 22 year old Karlsson, 21 year old Cowen, and likely sophomore Wiercioch and Lehner to take us to the cup is bordering---and teetering, at that---on homerism.

Agreed, but remember how much fun it was watching our previous core of young kids mature and become contenders over the years. Also, forward prospects are ready quicker than D or goalies so I would hope that we can pick up a couple of blue chippers in the next two drafts, the highest ranked don't always make the biggest impacts.

Agreed...but T.Hall will
I trust the scouts and management's drafting process, but the timeline for some fans seems a little short.

shabbs wrote:Anyone know the latest on Alfie?

Should be pretty tough to get breaking news right now. I'm sure everyone not covering the World Juniors are eating and sleeping for the next few days.

Gohan wrote:Nor MYMO, but a little perspective is good in anything, including measuring the depth of our teams prospect pool.

For sure, Muckler Diddled this club for a while, but at least we appear to have gotten pretty lucky in getting 3 possible staples on the blue line and one crazy goaltender.

Michalek's really young, Winchester, Foligno - even Spezza is young. Now we need some blue chip forwards (and we can buy good UFAs if need be) to round this all out and compete in 3 years and REALLY compete in 5.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Gohan wrote:Nor MYMO, but a little perspective is good in anything, including measuring the depth of our teams prospect pool.

For sure, Muckler Diddled this club for a while, but at least we appear to have gotten pretty lucky in getting 3 possible staples on the blue line and one crazy goaltender.

Michalek's really young, Winchester, Foligno - even Spezza is young. Now we need some blue chip forwards (and we can buy good UFAs if need be) to round this all out and compete in 3 years and REALLY compete in 5.

Murray is paying some of those guys an awful big amount of money on the premise that they will collectively be great in 5 years. That's a hell of a gamble

Alfie expected out 3 weeks at least. Knowing him, it won't be more though.

Expect some sort of update Saturday.

Saturday's game will go a long way to defining this club. Following up a blowout with a solid effort and hopefully a win would be nice. We'll see. We'll be on the road in Buffalo on Saturday. Maybe we'll see Lalime?

Hey, Shabbs, got the GDT almost ready? Wouldn't want you to slave away on Christmas Day (hey, I just rhymed!)