Ottawa Senators off-season talk

N4L wrote:
If someone is backing up Spezza getting 75 points, you can basically garentee they are the number 1 center. That's why it's wrong. Spezza struggles to get to that mark as it is no to mention the fact he isnt all that great in 2 of the 3 zones on the ice. A "2nd line" center will be a lot better in that aspect.

We'll use Kesler as the example as he is the 2nd line center in Vancouver. He's the 1st line center in Ottawa without much if any debate at all.

What's wrong with having the tough center than can net 75 points, then trotting out Spezza in the 2nd line center position?

N4L wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Fisher might have the size and strength, but one of the new things of the NHL is to have 2 top line centers and have cheaper (Michalek for example and Regin on his ELC or a long term 3 million dollar contract) wingers in there.

Fisher hit a lot of his points in the first half then faded badly. The Sens need a guy in there that can hit 75 points and backup Spezza in the threat department. That's where we're lacking IMO.

Wrong. They need someone who can push Spezza out of that spot. If Ottawa has a guy that can only "backup" Spezza, they wont be winning anything of any real importance.

Spezza is not a 1st line center on a good to great team.

You don't know he's wrong, you could be wrong.

If someone is backing up Spezza getting 75 points, you can basically garentee they are the number 1 center. That's why it's wrong. Spezza struggles to get to that mark as it is no to mention the fact he isnt all that great in 2 of the 3 zones on the ice. A "2nd line" center will be a lot better in that aspect.

We'll use Kesler as the example as he is the 2nd line center in Vancouver. He's the 1st line center in Ottawa without much if any debate at all.

Actually, he makes it look so easy that it pisses people off.

I just wonder if Hank Sedin gets the Art Ross with Fisher instead of Kesler?

Spezza being the number 1 center in Ottawa will never rival other teams in The NHL, ever.

If Leclaire has a good season why they hell wouldnt they resign him? Elliott isnt as tallented as Leclaire and if he stays healthy this season he will be the go to guy in nets for a long while.

N4L wrote:Spezza being the number 1 center in Ottawa will never rival other teams in The NHL, ever.

If Leclaire has a good season why they hell wouldnt they resign him? Elliott isnt as tallented as Leclaire and if he stays healthy this season he will be the go to guy in nets for a long while.

There's where your argument goes down the toilet lol

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:
Again, why do you assume The Sens are going to try and get ride of their number 1 goaltender in the organization right now?

Unless Regin becomes the number 1 guy here then The Sens wont be doing anything all that special. He's going to need to carry a few guys including Spezza for that to happen.

They're not re-signing Leclaire, not with Elliott and Lehner coming up. Either way, it's still Kovalev's salary, most likely Kuba's salary, Ruutu, perhaps Kelly, maybe even finally Fisher. We'll address the need for a 1-2 center punch that rivals 90% of the teams in the league.

Book it.

Which is why they should just deal him to Florida, along with Spezza (FFS) for Vokoun and the basket of goodies a mediocre quasi-first-line Center might get you.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Fisher might have the size and strength, but one of the new things of the NHL is to have 2 top line centers and have cheaper (Michalek for example and Regin on his ELC or a long term 3 million dollar contract) wingers in there.

Fisher hit a lot of his points in the first half then faded badly. The Sens need a guy in there that can hit 75 points and backup Spezza in the threat department. That's where we're lacking IMO.

Wrong. They need someone who can push Spezza out of that spot. If Ottawa has a guy that can only "backup" Spezza, they wont be winning anything of any real importance.

Spezza is not a 1st line center on a good to great team.

You don't know he's wrong, you could be wrong.

If someone is backing up Spezza getting 75 points, you can basically garentee they are the number 1 center. That's why it's wrong. Spezza struggles to get to that mark as it is no to mention the fact he isnt all that great in 2 of the 3 zones on the ice. A "2nd line" center will be a lot better in that aspect.

We'll use Kesler as the example as he is the 2nd line center in Vancouver. He's the 1st line center in Ottawa without much if any debate at all.

Actually, he makes it look so easy that it pisses people off.

I just wonder if Hank Sedin gets the Art Ross with Fisher instead of Kesler?

Well he hasnt done it for over 2 seasons now so... it cant be all that easy for him.

Nope, I dont think Sedin wins The Art Ross without Kessler. If Kessler is in Ottawa, he's the number 1 center.

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:Spezza being the number 1 center in Ottawa will never rival other teams in The NHL, ever.

If Leclaire has a good season why they hell wouldnt they resign him? Elliott isnt as tallented as Leclaire and if he stays healthy this season he will be the go to guy in nets for a long while.

There's where your argument goes down the toilet lol

Maybe, but with any luck he will be the number 1 guy in Ottawa for 3 or 4 more years.

N4L wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

N4L wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Fisher might have the size and strength, but one of the new things of the NHL is to have 2 top line centers and have cheaper (Michalek for example and Regin on his ELC or a long term 3 million dollar contract) wingers in there.

Fisher hit a lot of his points in the first half then faded badly. The Sens need a guy in there that can hit 75 points and backup Spezza in the threat department. That's where we're lacking IMO.

Wrong. They need someone who can push Spezza out of that spot. If Ottawa has a guy that can only "backup" Spezza, they wont be winning anything of any real importance.

Spezza is not a 1st line center on a good to great team.

You don't know he's wrong, you could be wrong.

If someone is backing up Spezza getting 75 points, you can basically garentee they are the number 1 center. That's why it's wrong. Spezza struggles to get to that mark as it is no to mention the fact he isnt all that great in 2 of the 3 zones on the ice. A "2nd line" center will be a lot better in that aspect.

We'll use Kesler as the example as he is the 2nd line center in Vancouver. He's the 1st line center in Ottawa without much if any debate at all.

Actually, he makes it look so easy that it pisses people off.

I just wonder if Hank Sedin gets the Art Ross with Fisher instead of Kesler?

Well he hasnt done it for over 2 seasons now so... it cant be all that easy for him.

Nope, I dont think Sedin wins The Art Ross without Kessler. If Kessler is in Ottawa, he's the number 1 center.

Perhaps we should sign this Keller fella then?

N4L wrote:Spezza being the number 1 center in Ottawa will never rival other teams in The NHL, ever.

If Leclaire has a good season why they hell wouldnt they resign him? Elliott isnt as tallented as Leclaire and if he stays healthy this season he will be the go to guy in nets for a long while.

Why can't Spezza be the number 2 center here?

Spezza's perfect role is probably a number 2 center, not sure if a true number 1 is coming though.

N4L wrote:Spezza's perfect role is probably a number 2 center, not sure if a true number 1 is coming though.

You don't trust Murray to get us a number one center and designate Spezza to a number 2 role?

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Spezza's perfect role is probably a number 2 center, not sure if a true number 1 is coming though.

You don't trust Murray to get us a number one center and designate Spezza to a number 2 role?

This is exciting! I can't wait to see who's taking over!

N4L wrote:Well he hasnt done it for over 2 seasons now so... it cant be all that easy for him.

Nope, I dont think Sedin wins The Art Ross without Kessler. If Kessler is in Ottawa, he's the number 1 center.

The only issue is his health. He would easily have broken 80 points this past season if he was healthy the whole time. Under Hartsburg this team was dead last offensively and he still ended up only missing the mark by 2 points.

Guy produces. It's the defensive side of things and the whole taking charge/responsibility in the offensive zone that's eluded him.

Kesler would assuredly not be the #1 centre, though. He's more useful as a checker anyway.

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Spezza's perfect role is probably a number 2 center, not sure if a true number 1 is coming though.

You don't trust Murray to get us a number one center and designate Spezza to a number 2 role?

IMO it has to be developed.

N4L wrote:Well he hasnt done it for over 2 seasons now so... it cant be all that easy for him.

Nope, I dont think Sedin wins The Art Ross without Kessler. If Kessler is in Ottawa, he's the number 1 center.

You can't question Spezza's offensive talents N4L. He produces and is the teams offensive leader. It's the defensive aspects of his game that hurt him most as others have mentioned.

He missed over 20 games this season and was playing hurt to start the year so you can't really fault him for not getting over 75 points. He also had to adjust his game post Heatley and that took a bit of time as it would for anybody. The season before was just a nightmare for everybody on the team so to single him out is short sighted. When he came back from his injury in January he started to play like he can and was a big reason for the second half surge.

But lets just look at the negatives in his game like you always do...

asq2 wrote:

N4L wrote:Well he hasnt done it for over 2 seasons now so... it cant be all that easy for him.

Nope, I dont think Sedin wins The Art Ross without Kessler. If Kessler is in Ottawa, he's the number 1 center.

The only issue is his health. He would easily have broken 80 points this past season if he was healthy the whole time. Under Hartsburg this team was dead last offensively and he still ended up only missing the mark by 2 points.

Guy produces. It's the defensive side of things and the whole taking charge/responsibility in the offensive zone that's eluded him.

Kesler would assuredly not be the #1 centre, though. He's more useful as a checker anyway.

Either way the point I was making is that Spezza hasnt produced at the rate he should be for well over 2 years now based on the fact his only real asset is his offence.

Richards is probably better as a check too but he's still a number 1 center. Kesler would absolutely be the go to center in Ottawa in the current state of The Sens. Kesler is a better player then Spezza and honestly, there isnt or shouldnt be a whole lot of debate about that. Kesler is a fantastic all around player.

N4L wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:Spezza's perfect role is probably a number 2 center, not sure if a true number 1 is coming though.

You don't trust Murray to get us a number one center and designate Spezza to a number 2 role?

IMO it has to be developed.

And...you don't think that'll be done in Ottawa? We all see what Murray is doing, he's changing the dynamics of this team one step at a time. I'm 99.99% sure the next thing is to bring in an actual 2nd line center - even if it's Cullen and can be interchanged with Fisher OR Spezza.

Urkie wrote:

N4L wrote:Well he hasnt done it for over 2 seasons now so... it cant be all that easy for him.

Nope, I dont think Sedin wins The Art Ross without Kessler. If Kessler is in Ottawa, he's the number 1 center.

You can't question Spezza's offensive talents N4L. He produces and is the teams offensive leader. It's the defensive aspects of his game that hurt him most as others have mentioned.

He missed over 20 games this season and was playing hurt to start the year so you can't really fault him for not getting over 75 points. He also had to adjust his game post Heatley and that took a bit of time as it would for anybody. The season before was just a nightmare for everybody on the team so to single him out is short sighted. When he came back from his injury in January he started to play like he can and was a big reason for the second half surge.

But lets just look at the negatives in his game like you always do...

I dont deny he has a ton of offensive tallent, hell, im the one that says he has more tallent then 95% of the guys in The NHL today. I simply replied to someone who said he gets to 75 points and makes it look easy... well he hasnt done it in two years so how is that statement have any merit at all?

Spezza's other issue is staying healthy and he can not play through pain or injury, this year was a perfect example of that. When he's healthy in the regular season, he's tough to stop, probably a top 5 center in that aspect. I wont deny it nor will I ignore it. I also wont ignore the fact that when games get tougher, the compition level gets higher, Spezza either shy's away or becomes totally irresponsible on the ice... that's basically playoff hockey and that offensive tallent he has, a lot of it gets thrown out the window because he gets warn down and out worked by the other team.

The bolded part is BS, I look at the most important things in terms of the actual team and the actual games played. Game 52 of the regular season isnt as important as game 4 at home in the playoffs. The team game Spezza struggles with and has for a long time, there is no evidence that is changing at a pace that will turn The Sens into a contender anytime soon.