Ottawa powerplay, 2010-11

With two of the league's best powerplay specialists -- Gonchar and Kovalev -- what will the Sens' powerplay look like in the up-coming season? As I was discussing in another thread, powerplay is all about puck control, accurate passing, getting shots on goal, knowing when to wait it out and when to get it on-goal quickly. Those are not skills that deteriorate going from 35 to 37. Add-in Spezza's passing and wicked shot, Alfredsson's all-around skill, a couple of big bodies to collect the garbage and you've got some interesting possibilities. True, we are missing that Heatbag one-timer, but Karlsson has a pretty decent one-timer himself.

So, what will it look like? Do you try Kovalev/Spezza again or split them up? Gonchar/Karlsson on the 1st unit or, again, split them up? Clearly the powerplay will improve from its poor showing of last year, but where will it be -- top-10 league-wide? Top-five? Top?

I think Regin's going to be instrumental in a lot of our team's offensive success including the PP.

And if Foligno can develop into a Dustin Penner type this season, and get his big frame in the crease that would do a lot of good.

Dash wrote:I think Regin's going to be instrumental in a lot of our team's offensive success including the PP.

And if Foligno can develop into a Dustin Penner type this season, and get his big frame in the crease that would do a lot of good.

Boy, you're lucky Neely isn't around. Dustin Penner is 6'4" and 245 lbs, compared to 6'0" and 209 lbs for little-Nicky. He simply *cannot* develop into Penner or his type. Even if he is strong enough (looks like he's been working out) he simply cannot block as much of the goalie's vision as someone 4" taller -- you can't teach size. Regin is listed as 6'2" on the Sens' website -- is that true? Wikipedia lists him as 6'0". If he's really 6'2" then he has a better chance to develop into a Penner type, but I wouldn't hold my breath either.

I know he lacks the size, but sometimes size isn't all that you need. You need the willingness to get into that zone and take the abuse. And a lot of it is location and hand-eye. Even Holmstrom at 6'0 198 is very effective doing what he does in front of the net.

To me there are four locks on PP1:

_____________ - Spezza - Alfredsson

Gonchar - Karlsson

The left side of the PP is the question. I like Kovalev, Michalek, Regin or Fisher to go there, but we might see a variable there, like a Butler at one point, Foligno.

Without the Heatley sniper there, that position is less likely to be taken by someone for the entire year IMO.

My opinion: Kovalev gets that spot to try to snipe pucks in from the side wall. Gonchar plays ~ 1:30 of each 2:00 PP - if not the whole thing.

Then PP 2 would look:

Michalek - Fisher - Regin

Gonchar/Campoli - Kuba

Thing is, can Gonchar play a 2 minute shift at his age? I mean, without getting beat to the outside by Cheechoo. Karlsson has the wheels to catch the ones that got away from Gonchar, though, so maybe leave them both out there.

Both Kovalev and Alfresson play right, but both of them like to move around on the PP. I'm also *still* not sold on Spezza playing with Kovalev. I'm entertaining thoughts of keeping Alfie/Kovalev on the 1st unit, and moving Spezza to the 2nd. That would mean Fisher centering the 1st unit and creating havoc up-front. The 2nd unit would then be Spezza and Regin, with one of Foligno/Neil/Ruutu providing the screen.

Am I completely off my rocker?

PP1

Michalek Spezza Alfie
Gonchar Kuba


PP2

Regin Fisher Kovalev
Karlsson Campoli

Pull the Goalie

Fisher Spezza Alfie Kovalev
Gonchar Karlsson

PP1:

Alfie (left) Spezza (down) MIchalek (front of G) Kovalev (right)
Gonchar (top)

PP2:

Foligno (left) FIsher (front of G) Regin (right)
Kuba (LD) Karlsson (RD)

When everyone's healthy I mean. Which will probably be 10 games max.
That PP1 will be best in the league there's no doubt.

marakh wrote:PP1:

Alfie (left) Spezza (down) MIchalek (front of G) Kovalev (right)
Gonchar (top)

PP2:

Foligno (left) FIsher (front of G) Regin (right)
Kuba (LD) Karlsson (RD)

When everyone's healthy I mean. Which will probably be 10 games max.
That PP1 will be best in the league there's no doubt.

Thing is, they tried Kovalev on the half-board with Spezza at center early last season. They both struggled pretty badly, as did the powerplay. Both players like to hold on to the puck.

wprager wrote:

marakh wrote:PP1:

Alfie (left) Spezza (down) MIchalek (front of G) Kovalev (right)
Gonchar (top)

PP2:

Foligno (left) FIsher (front of G) Regin (right)
Kuba (LD) Karlsson (RD)

When everyone's healthy I mean. Which will probably be 10 games max.
That PP1 will be best in the league there's no doubt.

Thing is, they tried Kovalev on the half-board with Spezza at center early last season. They both struggled pretty badly, as did the powerplay. Both players like to hold on to the puck.

THat's because nobody (Shannon = nobody) could shoot from the point so the PK just focused on them.

marakh wrote:
THat's because nobody (Shannon = nobody) could shoot from the point so the PK just focused on them.

Hey, I'm all for having the top powerplay in the league, and with the talent we have, it's in the realm of possibilities. Maybe we need a new powerplay coach or, maybe, like you said, it's all Shannon's fault.

I'm fine with blaming Shannon. Now that Spezza controls his fate, I'd like to see a new whipping boy in Ottawa (or none at all!).

wprager wrote:
Thing is, they tried Kovalev on the half-board with Spezza at center early last season. They both struggled pretty badly, as did the powerplay. Both players like to hold on to the puck.

Yeah, but the flip side is that later on in the year they were operating at around 25%. Karlsson had a major impact on the entire team - especially on the PP. Spezza came back healthy as well, but Karlsson was a major reason. Now we're set to have Karlsson AND Gonchar back there. Spezza, Kovalev, Alfie etc. must be salivating at the thought.

I don't know about you guys, but that 2nd PP with Kuba and Karlsson back there is gonna score a lot of goals too. Because Regin down low is veeery good, and with a tired PK Unit FIsher will be able to outmuscle a lot of guys.