GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Carolina Hurricanes - 5:00pm ET - Sun. Jan. 10th, 2010

SDH89 wrote:

wprager wrote:I'm looking forward to the premiere more than I've looked forward to any game for a long time. Is that sad? I get to watch Chuck with my wife and we both enjoy it (she's not into hockey). The visual imagery can be quite stimulating, too.

Same man, Chuck is becoming one of my faves.....

Although the Lost premiere for me is going to be bigger

Well, Lost is a special kind of show. Commercially successful, critically acclaimed, and we both like it (and my folks, to boot -- gives us something to talk about when they visit). If I'm not mistaken, I got my HDTV right about the time that Lost came out -- Hawaii looks gorgeous in high-def.

marakh wrote:If Murray is really serious about PLayoffs, he is probably on the phone 24/7. That's probably the easiest part of the job though...

Sorry... couldn't resist.

Oh yeah Lost in HD (with that season-ending music) is simply gorgeous.

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:Apparently the team held a players-only meeting after the game.

So, who attended?

I believe the players.

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:Apparently the team held a players-only meeting after the game.

So, who attended?

I was thinking the same thing.

marakh wrote:If Murray is really serious about PLayoffs, he is probably on the phone 24/7. That's probably the easiest part of the job though...

The only chance is if we don't sink too far behind before Alfie and Spezza are back. The problem, of course, is that other teams are starting to pick it up as well. Lucic is skating, so the Bruins will be stronger; the Habs got Markov and Gionta back (tough luck with Kostitsyn); the Leafs are better than they were early in the season; Philly has been playing better. It goes on and on.

If Alfie really could be back for the last game or two of this road trip, then we are only going to be 2-3 games back, with a couple games in hand. And if they can actually squeeze a win or two out before Alfie returns, who knows, we might still be in a playoff position, as ridiculous as that sounds.

But if anyone is thinking a trade to help us out, the only thing we need desperately is help on D. And trading A-Train will not help in that regard. We are also so close to the cap that we can't trade *just* picks and prospects. Moving Volchenkov's salary won't clear enough get someone good enough to make the team stronger. Unless we start waiving people, forget it.

I don't see what a meeting really accomplishes here. They work hard every shift but just are not skilled enough. Does a meeting bring skills falling from the sky?

wprager wrote:[the Leafs are better than they were early in the season;

Actually, the Leafs are one of the few and far between pieces of good news for the Senators. Kessel's play has really dropped off recently.

marakh wrote:I don't see what a meeting really accomplishes here. They work hard every shift but just are not skilled enough. Does a meeting bring skills falling from the sky?

They need to come together as a team.

Trading Volchenkov doesn't help this team get better unless they are completely blown away OR A-Train wants out of town.

I'm sure the Capitals would pay through the nose to get Volchenkov. Pairing him with Green could be their missing link as I think their goaltending will be good enough.

shabbs wrote:

marakh wrote:I don't see what a meeting really accomplishes here. They work hard every shift but just are not skilled enough. Does a meeting bring skills falling from the sky?

They need to come together as a team.

Unfortunately, that only gets you so far. I don't think they're playing terribly in many respects, but they just cannot buy a goal.

SpezDispenser wrote:I hope the package we get back for Volchenkov is good.

If we could get a good forward prospect and a 1st I would pull the trigger.

Maybe a Jack Skille + 1st, I'd do that in a heartbeat, this team needs to gather some forward prospects that will be good in a couple years.

Then replace Volchenkov with a guy like Michalek for less than Volchie would get and you have some assets in hand.

wprager wrote:

marakh wrote:If Murray is really serious about PLayoffs, he is probably on the phone 24/7. That's probably the easiest part of the job though...

The only chance is if we don't sink too far behind before Alfie and Spezza are back. The problem, of course, is that other teams are starting to pick it up as well. Lucic is skating, so the Bruins will be stronger; the Habs got Markov and Gionta back (tough luck with Kostitsyn); the Leafs are better than they were early in the season; Philly has been playing better. It goes on and on.

If Alfie really could be back for the last game or two of this road trip, then we are only going to be 2-3 games back, with a couple games in hand. And if they can actually squeeze a win or two out before Alfie returns, who knows, we might still be in a playoff position, as ridiculous as that sounds.

But if anyone is thinking a trade to help us out, the only thing we need desperately is help on D. And trading A-Train will not help in that regard. We are also so close to the cap that we can't trade *just* picks and prospects. Moving Volchenkov's salary won't clear enough get someone good enough to make the team stronger. Unless we start waiving people, forget it.

Well said... While it seems to be the 'norm' that some people are convinced a TRADE will fix everything, this is sadly not the case when it comes to my (and your for that matter) beloved Sens. EDIT: When I say some people, I'm merely referring to the clowns at Ottawa sun media and the like; not in any way pointing the finger at any GM hockey members.

Murray certainly has his hands full. Shoddy goaltending, sloppy D, inept (currently anyway) forwards and potentially uninspired forwards, etc... the list goes on.

We need some stability and leadership for starters, and my guess is Alfie's presence is needed in that room...

Oh and Wprager, my comment about that hurricanes was just a vent. I know about Ward's injury being the likely culprit of their past losing streak and such. Just venting some massive frustration, nothing more...

Anyways, I could go on and on and talk about how player x missed his coverage or player y should have stoped the puck.
Fact is, when your entire top line is not playing, it doesn't really matter. The other team's top shutdown plays against what is supposed to be your 2nd line, etc.

I'm probably more shocked at how we scored 7 goals against Pronger - Carle - Coburn - Timmonen

If we are out of the hunt come the deadline, this may be our best opportunity to move Kelly's contract. He is playing well and his numbers are there this year. We need to move some of these middling contracts in order to better our top 6 forwards and our top D pairing.

Or we could give Kovy the C letter. HAs worked before, and it's 100% free.

dennycrane wrote:Trading Volchenkov doesn't help this team get better unless they are completely blown away OR A-Train wants out of town.

I'm sure the Capitals would pay through the nose to get Volchenkov. Pairing him with Green could be their missing link as I think their goaltending will be good enough.

It wouldn't improve our team right now but if we can't resign him then he should be dealt for something that may help us in the future. And the way it looks right now, by the time everybody gets back we are going to be in a huge huge hole. Murray may have no choice.

asq2 wrote:

shabbs wrote:

marakh wrote:I don't see what a meeting really accomplishes here. They work hard every shift but just are not skilled enough. Does a meeting bring skills falling from the sky?

They need to come together as a team.

Unfortunately, that only gets you so far. I don't think they're playing terribly in many respects, but they just cannot buy a goal.

THe fact that we have toom nay natural centers playing as wingers doesn't help either. Really, there is not one natural goal scorer on this team. THere's one has-been but that's it.