PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Game 6: Pittsburgh Penguins (3) @ Ottawa Senators (2) - 7:00pm ET - Sat. Apr. 24th, 2010

N4L wrote:Good season for them, most of them never quit and there are a ton of positives to take from this season. Next year this team will be better and IMO will be the best team in The NE by a large margin.

A few things have to happen and number 1 is resigning Cullen, number 2, seeing WTF they are going to do with Spezza. He was awful for 5 of the 6 games in this series. Is this series out season ANY DIFFERENT without him? I dont see how it would be.

I'm not sure what you're saying here, but I agree. He and Murray need to have a sit-down.

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:Good season for them, most of them never quit and there are a ton of positives to take from this season. Next year this team will be better and IMO will be the best team in The NE by a large margin.

A few things have to happen and number 1 is resigning Cullen, number 2, seeing WTF they are going to do with Spezza. He was awful for 5 of the 6 games in this series. Is this series out season ANY DIFFERENT without him? I dont see how it would be.

I'm not sure what you're saying here, but I agree. He and Murray need to have a sit-down.

Sorry, is the series against The Pens or their regular season in general any different without Spezza. Not really, no.

I think you have to keep the Ruutu-Kelly-Neil line intact, and the Zack Attack surely has earned himself a spot next season.

I'm proud of what this team has done given what they had to battle against.

Congratulations on putting a lot of *analysts* to shame, and for the glimpse into our very bright future.

Looking forward to next year, and hopefully we don't get the deal from NBC and Gary gets the boot.

Night all.

At least Leclaire looked good to end out the year. Can't really fault him for the goals tonight. Maybe the tying goal, but that's it.

I'm still proud of the team. I didn't think they would win, and even less so without Kovalev and Michalek, but kudos to them for playing with heart. We came out firing tonight, but in the end the Penguins were just too overpowing, and for one night, they did it without Crosby getting on the scoresheet. They are definately my Cup Final pick out of the East. Vancouver in the West.

Prager has left the building.

In all seriousness, Cullen is a better player then Spezza and I think they should absolutely go with him up the middle with Fisher, Kelly, and Winchester. I think next year is a time to inject more youth and keep building because there is so much more positive then negative and this loss tonight will only help the youth.

There is a hunger in Ottawa again, there is character, and there is heart. The right vets are here, the right youth is too, the goaltending will sort itself out... just one heartless loser to get rid of IMO.

N4L wrote:In all seriousness, Cullen is a better player then Spezza and I think they should absolutely go with him up the middle with Fisher, Kelly, and Winchester. I think next year is a time to inject more youth and keep building because there is so much more positive then negative and this loss tonight will only help the youth.

There is a hunger in Ottawa again, there is character, and there is heart. The right vets are here, the right youth is too, the goaltending will sort itself out... just one heartless loser to get rid of IMO.

Seems fitting that Spezza's tenure in Ottawa will end after a playoff performance like that. The last play I saw him on, Regin hustled to get the puck around the boards and Spezza coasted over to the other side to collect the puck. Had he hustled, he would have had control of the puck easily, but no, he floated, and lost possession. Brutal. Piss off.

As dominant as the Pens looked at times in this series (I lost count how many cycling clinics I watched by them tonight), Ottawa could have won this series in 6 had they not let their foots off the gas in games 2 and 6.

I honestly can't see Ottawa trading Spezza. I may be wrong, but I can't see it happening, regardless of what the fans say.

SpezDispenser wrote:After the 3rd, that was inevitable. That sucks.

Like I said earlier, I was in panic mode while the 2nd period was still going. You just knew the Pens would tie it up at least in the 3rd after the first two minutes.

Dash wrote:I honestly can't see Ottawa trading Spezza. I may be wrong, but I can't see it happening, regardless of what the fans say.

That's what I'm thinking as well. If he does get traded, it will be a franchise defining trade, and will either positively or negatively impact us.

It would be a negative because it would discredit Ottawa's drafting, and Murray's judgement in signing him (and Heatley),

And no way would the fans be satisfied with a return. Spezza still has a huge fanbase, and it would cause a backlash.

Think about it - look at all the negativity towards Spezza from his own teams fans, why would another team want someone like that? If we hate him and think he sucks, why would another team want him?

Dash wrote:I honestly can't see Ottawa trading Spezza. I may be wrong, but I can't see it happening, regardless of what the fans say.

Source?

I don't see how they can't. When rookies like Regin step up in the playoffs and Spezza doesn't that's a clear sign that he just isn't interested in being a winner in Ottawa.

I shudder to think what his value is. Thankfully he can't pull a Heatley on us. Time to get Tambellini on the phone and see how much he wants Spezza. I'll take Eberle, Souray, and Penner.

Depends, Spezza was seconds from being an Oiler 2 years ago at the draft... Hopefully there are some takers because The Sens will not win with him. The best line all series was the one Cullen was on.

Cullen might not be a first line center but he will and has made The Sens better then Spezza does.

Big Ev wrote:

Dash wrote:I honestly can't see Ottawa trading Spezza. I may be wrong, but I can't see it happening, regardless of what the fans say.

That's what I'm thinking as well. If he does get traded, it will be a franchise defining trade, and will either positively or negatively impact us.

At this point, I'd rather take a step back to move forward than carry a heartless $7 million contract for several more years.

Dash wrote:It would be a negative because it would discredit Ottawa's drafting, and Murray's judgement in signing him (and Heatley),

And no way would the fans be satisfied with a return. Spezza still has a huge fanbase, and it would cause a backlash.

Think about it - look at all the negativity towards Spezza from his own teams fans, why would another team want someone like that? If we hate him and think he sucks, why would another team want him?

We'll see, Ill be more surprised if Spezza is next year more so if he isnt. For The Sens to truly be a contender in 3 or 4 years, they need to pack Spezza's bag and I think Atlanta is defently the team to deal with.

I blame this one on all of you who took Fleury and Corsby in the pool

Diddle, why am I laughing, this is a disgusting night.

N4L wrote:Depends, Spezza was seconds from being an Oiler 2 years ago at the draft... Hopefully there are some takers because The Sens will not win with him. The best line all series was the one Cullen was on.

Cullen might not be a first line center but he will and has made The Sens better then Spezza does.

100% agree with this. I was very critical of the Cullen deal, but he proved his worth in this series for sure.