GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Dallas Stars – 2:00PM EST, Saturday, March 20, 2010

I think Cheechoo will be back up for the playoffs, and he's definitely replacing one of Regin, Shannon, or Winchester. That's great to hear though that Zach Smith is coming up!

Playoff lines?

Cullen-Spezz-Alfe
Michalek-Fisher-Kovalev
Foligno-Kelly-Cheechoo
Ruutu-Smith-Neil

Scratches: Winchester, Shannon, Donovan, Regin (as first choice to replace someone).

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Derek Smith has 42 points in 60 some odd games down there. Jesus, that's incredible.

Better player then Brian Lee for sure. I have the same knocks against him that I do against Lee though, too soft right now for The NHL.

Can he pump iron and get bigger, or is this a lost cause?

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:We're in "freeze" mode now -- that is, no one an organization acquires now, through any means (waivers, re-entry waivers, college signings, UFA signings, etc., etc.), is eligible to play in the playoffs. We can now exceed the 23-man roster limit, tho', I'm pretty sure.

Diddle yeah, bring back Cheechoo then, he was a better 4th liner that Winchester...no, that's not entirely true, but bring him back, give him his final shot. He deserves it based on his decent numbers in Bingo (so does Keller, St.Pierre and especially Hennessy).

Actually, I would consider bringing up Hennessy and sending Regin down to find his feet for the last 4 games or so.

The cap is still in effect...

SpezDispenser wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:We're in "freeze" mode now -- that is, no one an organization acquires now, through any means (waivers, re-entry waivers, college signings, UFA signings, etc., etc.), is eligible to play in the playoffs. We can now exceed the 23-man roster limit, tho', I'm pretty sure.

Diddle yeah, bring back Cheechoo then, he was a better 4th liner that Winchester...no, that's not entirely true, but bring him back, give him his final shot. He deserves it based on his decent numbers in Bingo (so does Keller, St.Pierre and especially Hennessy).

Actually, I would consider bringing up Hennessy and sending Regin down to find his feet for the last 4 games or so.

I can't imagine what the concern would be about bringing up Cheechoo unless it was that the organization is afraid to lose him on re-entry to a non-playoff team (remember, waivers still work as normal, it's just anyone acquired through them now can't play in the playoffs).

I think if you have that concern, tho', you don't waive Cheechoo in the first place.

He will be back before long, for sure -- as long as we make the playoffs.

Ive always said Spezza has all the tallent in the world and there is a ton of potential there.

Thornton is ap retty good comparable though, yes.

Michallica wrote:I think Cheechoo will be back up for the playoffs, and he's definitely replacing one of Regin, Shannon, or Winchester. That's great to hear though that Zach Smith is coming up!

Playoff lines?

Cullen-Spezz-Alfe
Michalek-Fisher-Kovalev
Foligno-Kelly-Cheechoo
Ruutu-Smith-Neil

Scratches: Winchester, Shannon, Donovan, Regin (as first choice to replace someone).

I might be foolish enough to try Cheechoo on line one...again, but I've really, really enjoyed Cullen on the top line.

Gohan wrote:
The cap is still in effect...

Is it? Is there a point where it isn't?

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Derek Smith has 42 points in 60 some odd games down there. Jesus, that's incredible.

Better player then Brian Lee for sure. I have the same knocks against him that I do against Lee though, too soft right now for The NHL.

Can he pump iron and get bigger, or is this a lost cause?

Not sure, but he has a ton of offensive potential. Think Brendan Bell. Nothing special but def can be a 6, 7 guy if need be. Ottawa has a ton of those though.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Michallica wrote:I think Cheechoo will be back up for the playoffs, and he's definitely replacing one of Regin, Shannon, or Winchester. That's great to hear though that Zach Smith is coming up!

Playoff lines?

Cullen-Spezz-Alfe
Michalek-Fisher-Kovalev
Foligno-Kelly-Cheechoo
Ruutu-Smith-Neil

Scratches: Winchester, Shannon, Donovan, Regin (as first choice to replace someone).

I might be foolish enough to try Cheechoo on line one...again, but I've really, really enjoyed Cullen on the top line.

As long as its not Michalek anymore. I think he's better for the 2nd line right now. Most of his points as it is are on special teams, so 5-on-5 he needs to play with someone else. Cullen is also a big reason for spezza's outburst yesterday, he should stay up.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Gohan wrote:
The cap is still in effect...

Is it? Is there a point where it isn't?

Playoffs.

With each passing day, tho', the cap becomes less of a concern. I just checked CapGeek, and it looks like everybody's got about 10% remaining on their salaries for the year.

N4L wrote:

Gohan wrote:

111519 wrote:The only players on this team that should not be traded are

Alfie, Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek

everyone else is fair game.

+ Regin, Foligno, Phillips, Elliott

Dont know if I agree with those two, but Phillips and Elliott I agree with.

they're 24 and 23 respectively...you've got to be kidding me!? Each has the potential to put up 60 points and each is likely to put up 40+ in the next couple years, while each was drafted by the org...

Boy things are a mess right now. Imagine Michalek, Fisher and Kovalev together? What a black hole when they all go cold at the same time.

For the 999 thousandth time, can Fisher play LW with Spezza and Alfie please? He's the big body we need, he seems to play well with Spezza. Come on...

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Gohan wrote:
The cap is still in effect...

Is it? Is there a point where it isn't?

Playoffs.

With each passing day, tho', the cap becomes less of a concern. I just checked CapGeek, and it looks like everybody's got about 10% remaining on their salaries for the year.

Yeah...as TSN would write, Cheechoo - expect the call.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Number Twenty Nine wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I love #11. When he's on, the team is on. He's tires easily these days and that just sucks the cadence of the team.

Maybe a retirement ala Scotty Do and Selanne then?

I think Spezza has shown some flashes of leadership lately and could be a "C" contender in the future. He's definitely matured over the past 2 years.

Yeah, he looks off for sure. He could use a 5 game break, but we're in such a freefall that that can't happen. I think you'll see him perk up when others start to contribute like Fisher and especially Kovalev. I'm sure Alfie feels like he needs to carry this team right now unfortunately.

He looks tired and he has 10 assists in his past 9 games...that's saying something. When no one else can seem to put up any points, having him sit is not an option (as you said).

Gohan wrote:

N4L wrote:

Gohan wrote:

111519 wrote:The only players on this team that should not be traded are

Alfie, Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek

everyone else is fair game.

+ Regin, Foligno, Phillips, Elliott

Dont know if I agree with those two, but Phillips and Elliott I agree with.

they're 24 and 23 respectively...you've got to be kidding me!? Each has the potential to put up 60 points and each is likely to put up 40+ in the next couple years, while each was drafted by the org...

Haha, I knew that was coming. Im not saying I would trade them because I wouldnt, but they are not above being traded, that's all Im saying. If they are a deal breaker, then you might consider it.

Zack Smith called up for Monday's game in Montreal.

dennycrane wrote:Zack Smith called up for Monday's game in Montreal.

Good... I really liked him last time he was up. Didnt he score against Montreal too? A short handed maybe?

hemlock wrote:I think we are past slide at this point. We are rapidly approaching freefall.

Can't argue with that.