Pre-Season GM#2: OTT @ TOR (9/22/10 @ 7pm ET)

I don't know, I think Bass is proving some strong defensive acumen, and willingness to get physical, he wants to get physical.

And I'm not just saying that so that my name means something again, and so that people stop thinking that I'm really into Techno.

But after these two games, and knowing there are only 6 games left, who, if anybody, would you cut?

I really hope these 2 games aren't a sign that refs will be giving out a huge amount of powerplays to our opponents again.

Bass Destruction wrote:But after these two games, and knowing there are only 6 games left, who, if anybody, would you cut?

I don't think you can cut anyone yet, have to wait until you see the next group of guys and see who you want to see more of.

IMO Benoit has leapfrogged Hale. He's fast, he's physical, he's offensive. He's everything we want in a call-up D-man. So far it's Benoit, Lee and Cowen that have impressed the most. Wiercioch gets the future awesome award though.

You're right too, more of Bass. We need to see this guy play more games, he brings toughness, forecheck skills, can hold his own fighting. I like the character.

Hoags wrote:I really hope these 2 games aren't a sign that refs will be giving out a huge amount of powerplays to our opponents again.

Trending that way, that's for sure. It was so annoying for all the stoppages happening because 'penalty against the sens'. Not that they weren't deserved, but the same stuff was definitely not being called on the leafs. Sens players better get their acts together in the penalty department.

I would like to give Hale another chance to see if he can compete in this league. I feel that he might be trying to do too much right now and he's not playing his game at all. I must say, he's been brutal.

Wick is not ready at all, I'm surprised as to how unready he is. I don't know if it's for lack of playing in the rookie tournament that has him behind Butler, but he's been invisible. I know we've had A LOT of penalties called against us and he hasn't really had the chance to play all that much, but I still don't see much right now in him. Butler is already much better and aware than Wick is.

Michallica wrote:

Hoags wrote:I really hope these 2 games aren't a sign that refs will be giving out a huge amount of powerplays to our opponents again.

Trending that way, that's for sure. It was so annoying for all the stoppages happening because 'penalty against the sens'. Not that they weren't deserved, but the same stuff was definitely not being called on the leafs. Sens players better get their acts together in the penalty department.

Impossible. Leafs fans have it in for Ottawa and the majority of refs are Leafs fans.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Michallica wrote:

Hoags wrote:I really hope these 2 games aren't a sign that refs will be giving out a huge amount of powerplays to our opponents again.

Trending that way, that's for sure. It was so annoying for all the stoppages happening because 'penalty against the sens'. Not that they weren't deserved, but the same stuff was definitely not being called on the leafs. Sens players better get their acts together in the penalty department.

Impossible. Leafs fans have it in for Ottawa and the majority of refs are Leafs fans.

No wonder our PK is so awesome, that's all we have the chance to do. We should be 1st in the league on the PK this year.

Kind of hard to see what our prospects at forward are like when we have to keep sending out the PK unit.

I don't think 2 back to back games vs. the Leafs is enough to make any definitive statement. I imagine most of the kids out there are nervous as hell, especially playing at the ACC.

Already the media and Team 1200 are entertaining the (extremely unlikely) scenario that Lehner should be the #1 goalie in Ottawa this year, because you know ... Elliott looked shaky last night and everyone knows Leclaire will flame out again this year

Not surprisingly, the most impressive players who ended up on the scoreboard so far are players with NHL experience, exhibition is nothing new to them.

Elliott looked shaky at first but unbeatable later in the game. This guy can win NHL games.

On to more realistic discussions...

Jesse Winchester. Best NHL player?... Ever?

Discuss.

SeawaySensFan wrote:Elliott looked shaky at first but unbeatable later in the game. This guy can win NHL games.

On to more realistic discussions...

Jesse Winchester. Best NHL player?... Ever?

Discuss.

I'd be happy if he turned into the best 4th line center in the league.

SpezDispenser wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Elliott looked shaky at first but unbeatable later in the game. This guy can win NHL games.

On to more realistic discussions...

Jesse Winchester. Best NHL player?... Ever?

Discuss.

I'd be happy if he turned into the best 4th line center in the league.

He'd certainly deserve it. He worked his Donkey off over the summer at SBP.

SpezDispenser wrote:I can't believe how many penalties were called against us in those two games. What was it...something like 18 penalties in the 2 games? Cuss that, we just want to see our prospects, not a friggin PK clinic.

Hoffman, Wick and Butler will need to show what they have in Bingo for the first 20 or so games and battle for the first call up. None are ready for the NHL, this wasn't even the NHL and they didn't look up to the task. Butler and Hoffman might be closer than Wick though, he's got talent, but he's got a long way to go to put it all together.

Hale is annoying. I've seen these guys come and go over the years. There's nothing that differentiates Hale's game from Gryba or even Lee. He takes a ton of penalties as well. I can't imagine he wins the spot over Lee or Cowen or Gryba.

Hopefully we can all agree now that Cowen is a stud defender after last night. Besides Winchester, Smith and Foligno, Cowen is the closest IMO to making an NHL impact.

Wiercioch is a ways away, but man is this guy ever slick. Great player.

Butler's making the team Spez. He's obviously NHL ready and has a great sense for going to the net and being around the puck in scoring areas. Don't let last night's game fool you, he's a winger who needs a pivot to hit him with the puck in the dangerous areas. Expect to see him play most of the year in Ottawa.

PKC wrote:
He'd certainly deserve it. He worked his Donkey off over the summer at SBP.

Good for him, he looks fantastic. I'm sure if CC likes what he sees (and why wouldn't he), he'll also get some nice PK time. I like him and Foligno together a lot as well. If Regin makes the top 6 - and realistically he should - then Foligno - Winchester - Z.Smith to me is one of the better 4th lines in the league. Not to mention that there should also be in game competition from those three for the right to move into the top 6 when there are injuries.

The more I see them in action, the more I get excited to be honest. Instead of the mind-numbingly boring depth that some teams have - and that Ottawa has has recently to be honest - there's now a fresh, vibrant, tough, slightly skilled depth on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Perhaps this is legitimately the deepest incarnation of the Sens we've seen in a long, long time.

Let's just say the top 6 is set in stone - because again, I don't think Regin is going to lose his spot as a top 6 LW, he's shown that he has the smarts, the 2-way play, the passing and the shot to sustain himself up there, so:

Regin - Spezza - Alfredsson
Michalek - Fisher - Kovalev

but here's where games will be won and lost as well:

Ruutu - Kelly - Neil
Foligno - Winchester - Z.Smith

I could feel very comfortable starting the season with those 12 forwards and Shannon as the 13th forward.

For the casual fan, that doesn't look like anything special, for fans like us here who have seen how much energy and hard work that 'bottom 6' brings, that is a very nice forward group.