Cullen or Spezza?

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
That is NOT why The Sens made the playoffs. They played without him for 2 months, they also played the first 1/2 of the season with his production at an all time low. They made it there because of a team effort, solid goaltending, and ok defense.

In all honesty, if people think Spezza carried this team into the playoffs they are totally out to lunch. He wasnt even in the lineup when The Sens went on their winning streak to begin with, like he did in 2007, he joined the team while they were playing their best hockey and feeded off that.

You can correct me if Im wrong here but The Sens were under 500 with Spezza in the line up from the time he returned from injury.

He came back and registered 38 points in 28 games, that's almost all there is to it. When the BS started to stop and Kovalev started to cool off again, this team needed a hero to avoid becoming caught in that 6,7,8,9,10 jam and they got contributions from everyone - none more than Jason Spezza's.

Yes, this is a team now and yes there were other contributing factors, but I'd say the Sens made the playoffs and solidified their position because of these two guys:

1.Brian Elliott - final 29 games of the season, .921, 2.19
2.Jason Spezza - final 28 games of the season, 38 points.

and to a lesser extent, but still VERY important Erik Karlsson.

Again, you can talk about trading Spezza all you want, but you cannot deny the black and white facts of the matter.

N4L wrote:
16-13-1 with Spezza back from injury. It isnt like The Sens were unbeatable in the time Spezza was back, in fact, they needed fantastic goaltending to get things back on track.

The beinging of the season they got off to a rocket of a start and 5 or 6 games before Spezza got back they were domianting the compition. Spezza came back when all things were firing and he fed off that. He is def not the reason they made the playoffs, he was part of a team that did it.

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
16-13-1 with Spezza back from injury. It isnt like The Sens were unbeatable in the time Spezza was back, in fact, they needed fantastic goaltending to get things back on track.

The beinging of the season they got off to a rocket of a start and 5 or 6 games before Spezza got back they were domianting the compition. Spezza came back when all things were firing and he fed off that. He is def not the reason they made the playoffs, he was part of a team that did it.

Take away Spezza's 38 points in those 29 games and the Sens fall to about 8-21-1. Spezza sucked arse in the playoffs, but when we needed to get our sorry arses into a spot, he was around, no question. It's if he can recognize along with Clouston what he continues to fail at and makes a cognisant decision to change it.

The guy's got so much talent, and when he plays the 2-way game where he gets into the takeaway game, he's so good. He's almost unbeatable when he gets body position on guys along the boards and his passes are second to none.

Everyone knows what's lacking. It's up to him and Clouston to rectify it (or not and he gets traded, who knows).

N4L wrote:Ummm, what? That's just a made up number based on nothing. They were winning without him like The Sens ALWAYS do.

Anyways I really hope people dont expect Spezza's game to change, it wont. That much was clear, when things get hard, buh bye Spezza, no where to be seen.

Clouston has nothing to do with Spezza. I would say Murray already knows what he is going to do.

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Ummm, what? That's just a made up number based on nothing. They were winning without him like The Sens ALWAYS do.

Anyways I really hope people dont expect Spezza's game to change, it wont. That much was clear, when things get hard, buh bye Spezza, no where to be seen.

Clouston has nothing to do with Spezza. I would say Murray already knows what he is going to do.

Yeah it was a made up number - no they couldn't have pulled it off without him. No team survives without a top center who's capable of a PPG. Ask Calgary how they're doing. Or Florida. Toronto? Columbus. And on and on. Basically all the teams who missed the playoffs would love the failure that is Jason Spezza. Even if he Diddled up in the playoffs, at least they got there.

Again, talk about trading Spezza all you want, but without him and Elliott in the final 29 games, the Sens are duking it out for 8th. And if you trade a number one center, you better have a replacement perfectly lined up or Melnyk will fire you when you miss the playoffs.

SpezDispenser wrote:7 assists in 6 games while not at the top of his game this post-season. I'm as concerned as everyone else about his compete level, but I'm not oblivious to points either. A team full of Mike Fishers is nice, but you will lose when facing an offensive team.

N4L wrote:
Ahhh yes, the old mighty numbers with The Spezza convo. 1 goal in 15 playoff games. Explain that one please. Neil is out scoring him byt 3 goals in that time frame.

N4L wrote:Also when your PP is clicking at 36% guys are going to get their points.

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
Ahhh yes, the old mighty numbers with The Spezza convo. 1 goal in 15 playoff games. Explain that one please. Neil is out scoring him byt 3 goals in that time frame.

Um...it's easy to explain. Neil wasn't out against Pahlsson, Moen and Rob Neidermayer who shredded Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson.

Then it was Pittsburgh's turn to tap dance on our heads as the best team in the NHL vs the team that literally limped into the playoffs without Fisher, Alfredsson and Kelly. Hmmm...you think perhaps they may have keyed on Spezza and Heatley?

Meanwhile, Neil's doing exactly what he NEEDS to do, pick up some of the slack that he's being given not going up against the Scott Neidermayer/Chris Pronger/Beauchemin Ds of the NHL.

SpezDispenser wrote:

M_Christopher wrote:Well here's some good news for N4L,

Bob Mackenize thinks Spezza is on the outs, because of exactly what everyones problem with him this series was - he was around in a winning-offensive role.

Its one of the videos on the TSN.ca right now. "Close but no cigar"

Huge praise from Panger and MacT though

Wow, really, that's really, really serious if he said that. Although, I'm not 100% sure what that mean, he wasn't around in a winning-offensive role?

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Ummm, what? That's just a made up number based on nothing. They were winning without him like The Sens ALWAYS do.

Anyways I really hope people dont expect Spezza's game to change, it wont. That much was clear, when things get hard, buh bye Spezza, no where to be seen.

Clouston has nothing to do with Spezza. I would say Murray already knows what he is going to do.

Yeah it was a made up number - no they couldn't have pulled it off without him. No team survives without a top center who's capable of a PPG. Ask Calgary how they're doing. Or Florida. Toronto? Columbus. And on and on. Basically all the teams who missed the playoffs would love the failure that is Jason Spezza. Even if he Diddled up in the playoffs, at least they got there.

Again, talk about trading Spezza all you want, but without him and Elliott in the final 29 games, the Sens are duking it out for 8th. And if you trade a number one center, you better have a replacement perfectly lined up or Melnyk will fire you when you miss the playoffs.

Ill ask Nashville, Pheonix, Boston, Buffalo, and NJ. Can you win a cup without a legit number 1 center, no I dont think you can but to where The Sens got, absolutely you can.

The fact you think Spezza was the guy to get The Sens into the playoffs is a little sad, they were winning without him. You're making some weak arguements without much basis behind things. All I know is when things mattered, Spezza disapeared like he always does.

You want to throw numbers out there, 1 goal in his last 15 playoff games playing the most mins of anyone except Alfi in that time. That goal was a 5 on 3 with the game pretty much over. That's all you have to know about Spezza.