Ottawa Senators off-season talk

I understand why he never got any kind of recognition in Nashville. But now he's in one of the biggest market's in North America in a hockey mad city.

It's definitely strange to see this guy fly under the radar.

Kovalfie wrote:The structure of what it takes to win seems to be consistent throughout. Two solid lines of scoring, a shutdown line to play against opposing top lines, and a line of role players who draw penalties, wear down other teams physically and provide that extra spark through a fight or big hit.

Defensively you need at least two offensive threats from the blueline, two shutdown guys, and two role guys to play minimal, but spirited hockey. In Chicago's case they have 5 well rounded guys and in Philly's case they have Pronger playing 30+ minutes a night.

Well the Sens have:

- 2 very streaky lines of scoring
- 1 shutdown D-man (Phillips)
- A good line of role players/agitators (Ruutu-Kelly-Neil)
- 1 threat from the blue line (Karlsson)
- 2 role D_men (Carkner & ______) Lee ?

I would also add a goalie capable of stealing a game/holding a lead when your team inevitably decides to play the trap in the 3rd period in a 1-goal playoff game and a coaching staff who doesn't think Spezza vs. Crosby is a good matchup

So we've got some work to do

N4L wrote:

Big Ev wrote:If Ruutu-Kelly-Neil is the 4th line then we have the most expensive 4th line in the league.

As for needing a 4th line to win, maybe, maybe not. Chicago basically is a 3 line team, and they're doing just fine. They barely usae their 4th line so they don't have a huge impact (Eager's goal was when he was put on the 1st line for some reason).

Totally ignorant statement.

How? They play their 4th line for like 5 minutes a game, if you replace Burish and Eager with cheaper, younger 4th liners, I'm sure the Hawks would still be in the Final. Eager only made a difference when he was put with Buff and Toews...other than that, he and Burish give them a few hits and the rest of the game they just yap. This isn't like the Red Wings when they had 4th lines with Maltby, Draper, McCarty, etc.

N4L wrote:Chicago's 4th line also makes 5 mil so they are right up there with Ottawa, just so you know.

Anyone who says the 4th line doesnt make a difference or isnt a key factor in teams winning is just, like I said, ignorant.

People realize how hard it is to come off the bench after not playing for 10 straight mins and providing energy while keeping emotions in check and being responsible, right?

Eager/Madden/Kopecsky/Burrish is as good a 4th line in the league along with Ottawa's.

Oh, I'm only referring to Eager and Burish, I think of Madden and Kopecky as 3rd liners. I honestly forgot about Madden though, barely noticed him so far.

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:

Big Ev wrote:If Ruutu-Kelly-Neil is the 4th line then we have the most expensive 4th line in the league.

As for needing a 4th line to win, maybe, maybe not. Chicago basically is a 3 line team, and they're doing just fine. They barely usae their 4th line so they don't have a huge impact (Eager's goal was when he was put on the 1st line for some reason).

Totally ignorant statement.

How? They play their 4th line for like 5 minutes a game, if you replace Burish and Eager with cheaper, younger 4th liners, I'm sure the Hawks would still be in the Final.

How? that team has been built from the groud up, the players included in that rebuild are Eager and Burrish. The fact you think that "5 mins a night" is all that matters when talking about a team shows just how ignorant the statement is. Ottawa's 4th line in the playoffs didnt even get to see the ice because they couldnt be trusted or compete at the level needed. So no, replacing The Hawks 4th line with cheaper younger players puts them being in the finals in jepordy.

The 4th line is an extremely important part of a team and you dismiss it like those guys are easily replaced. Sorry, not how it works as much as you actually believe it does.

I'm torn as to whether I'd prefer to have Michalek or Campbell on our blueline next year. Both are so different in terms of what they offer. I'm leaning towards Michalek because he'd be cheaper and we wouldn't have to give up an asset, but having a PP with Karlsson and Campbell on the backend would be outright scary.

It's kind of pointing the argument in your favour when you fail to mention a guy like John Madden is also on that 4th line and is a big part of what Chicago is doing right now.

Also, both Byfuglien and Kopecky have spent time on the 4th line this post-season and have excelled.

I'm not saying N4L is spot on because he's exageratting their importance a bit, but you're also undermining it.

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:

Big Ev wrote:If Ruutu-Kelly-Neil is the 4th line then we have the most expensive 4th line in the league.

As for needing a 4th line to win, maybe, maybe not. Chicago basically is a 3 line team, and they're doing just fine. They barely usae their 4th line so they don't have a huge impact (Eager's goal was when he was put on the 1st line for some reason).

Totally ignorant statement.

How? They play their 4th line for like 5 minutes a game, if you replace Burish and Eager with cheaper, younger 4th liners, I'm sure the Hawks would still be in the Final. Eager only made a difference when he was put with Buff and Toews...other than that, he and Burish give them a few hits and the rest of the game they just yap. This isn't like the Red Wings when they had 4th lines with Maltby, Draper, McCarty, etc.

Do you watch the games? Eager has been noticable in basically every game he has played in.

As for The Wings comparison, how is Eager any different then McCarty at this point? Hell, if there is a similar player in these series compared to The Wings, it's those two.

Again, you continue to dismiss important parts of the teams and the game in general. You only make youself look foolish.

Kovalfie wrote:I'm torn as to whether I'd prefer to have Michalek or Campbell on our blueline next year. Both are so different in terms of what they offer. I'm leaning towards Michalek because he'd be cheaper and we wouldn't have to give up an asset, but having a PP with Karlsson and Campbell on the backend would be outright scary.

The more I look at it the more I think we'd be handcuffing ourselves of we took Campbell. I like the depth we've created and getting Campbell destroys that depth.

Let's just sign Cullen and Michalek and call it an off-season. Haha.

Big Ev wrote:

N4L wrote:Chicago's 4th line also makes 5 mil so they are right up there with Ottawa, just so you know.

Anyone who says the 4th line doesnt make a difference or isnt a key factor in teams winning is just, like I said, ignorant.

People realize how hard it is to come off the bench after not playing for 10 straight mins and providing energy while keeping emotions in check and being responsible, right?

Eager/Madden/Kopecsky/Burrish is as good a 4th line in the league along with Ottawa's.

Oh, I'm only referring to Eager and Burish, I think of Madden and Kopecky as 3rd liners. I honestly forgot about Madden though, barely noticed him so far.

Also, regular season Eager plays 10 -13 mins a night, ususally pots the odd goal and fights anyone and everyone in The NHL. He is as important to that team on and off the ice as anyone. Good luck finding a guy that does all that and is one of the best skaters in The NHL.

I'm talking about the 4th line as a whole, not just singling out Eager....I'm not a fan of Eager at all, and clearly you are, so I'll just put this to bed. You win!

Big Ev wrote:I'm talking about the 4th line as a whole, not just singling out Eager....I'm not a fan of Eager at all, and clearly you are, so I'll just put this to bed. You win!

That's too bad because Eager is about as good a team guy and 3rd/4th liner as you can get for that price.

Not about winning, it's about you being dead wrong, which you usually are.

Also, you said you could replace that 4th line with cheaper, younger guys. Where are you going to find a younger guy that can A. Score 10 goals a season on the 4th line. B. Fight the heavyweights in The NHL. C. Do A and B for under 1 mil.

Good luck!

N4L wrote:Also, you said you could replace that 4th line with cheaper, younger guys. Where are you going to find a younger guy that can A. Score 10 goals a season on the 4th line. B. Fight the heavyweights in The NHL. C. Do A and B for under 1 mil.

Good luck!

I could care less, I said I put it to bed. I forgot that you and Eager have a bromance going on.

Good one! So clever.

Any other great insight you might have? Sometimes it's good for a laugh, other times it's just sad reading what you actually think and believe, like this one.

lol you take an internet forum so seriously

Not really, you just bring the discussion down to a level where it's almost unbarable.

Eager's fantastic but he's due for a raise this summer. You need guys like that to win, come on Big Ev, you're just messing around.