GDT: Dallas Stars @ Ottawa Senators 7:30PM ET - Wednesday Nov. 24th

Agreed Spezz. And I still maintain that there's no way Clouston gets fired...not this season anyways. The backlash in this city will be tremendous. Especially if Murray is the one to axe him. Murray's dealt clouston some cards that just aren't working out (poor goaltending, poor defense, anemic and streaky forwards outside of Alfie and Spezza).

No part of the game is particularly to be proud of. I think Murray needs to do make a trade for sure where he deals one of the regulars....not trade away his own prospect, I'd be angry at that. You only deal a prospect if you get a stud back.

Also two points of defense for Clouston:

a) nobody anticipated Phillips to struggle so mightily without Volchenkov. Sure there's a transition period but Phillips seems super low on confidence too.

b) Regin and Foligno being complete busts so far. I like Regin's game, but lets face it the production has not been there. Foligno is skating well, making moves, but the guy just doesn't shoot enough. Too many moves, and frankly going 21 games with one goal combined by these two, and I'm not surprised our offense sucks. And both have received ample opportunity in the top 6. Disappointing.

c) Michalek, Fisher have been very sub-par this season. These guys were supposed to form a formidable line and top 6. Both have been big busts, and possibly due to injury. With that said, the cap is at such a situation that these guys are having to play through whatever's bothering them. This is on Murray. We have depth in bingo to use but we can't for 'cap reasons' call them up?

And no, I don't think Clouston is without fault here. The guy has made some extremely head scratching decisions. THe reason we see such 'streaky' teams under him is because of the way he handles the goaltending. Whatever way we slice it, he and management have NOT handled that area properly, or the PP. But don't expect him to be fired....we gave up Heatley for this guy in what's now looking like a horrible trade, and not just to be fired less than 2 years later. There's no way a fanbase could/should accept this on murray's part if Clouston is gone. I know I'll be pissed. My only hope is that Clouston does see that this is his contract year (he doesn't have an extension in hand) so he better get his Dung and team in order if he wants to stick in the NHL.

Michallica wrote:Agreed Spezz. And I still maintain that there's no way Clouston gets fired...not this season anyways. The backlash in this city will be tremendous. Especially if Murray is the one to axe him. Murray's dealt clouston some cards that just aren't working out (poor goaltending, poor defense, anemic and streaky forwards outside of Alfie and Spezza).

No part of the game is particularly to be proud of. I think Murray needs to do make a trade for sure where he deals one of the regulars....not trade away his own prospect, I'd be angry at that. You only deal a prospect if you get a stud back.

Everyone knows I love Murray, I love what he's done to mend the farm system, I like what he did in getting something back for Heatley - although in hindsight, we got jobbed. But there comes a time where sentimentality has to be erased from the equation and a sharp hockey mind must have the freedom to come in here and assess Chris Phillips and Mike Fisher to name just two. We're paying these guys 8 million dollars between the two of them - and they're doing precious little.

A guy coming in fresh would have no ties to these guys, so if he deemed it time to let them go on the trade market, then he'd have a lot less drama around him than if Murray did it.

Also, a new GM can come in and axe everybody in the coaching staff - now, I'm not a fan of that personally, but I have a feeling the new GM would give Clouston a little rope before making a decision.

It's getting desperate in Ottawa - despite what some people on here think about 'over-reacting after a loss' etc., we haven't been able to score since Heatley's last year here, maybe even the year before that, I can't recall. Probably been a good 3 1/2-4 years since we've been able to bulge the twine with any kind of consistency - and I for one am sick to death of it.

Final rant:

PUT REGIN-SPEZZA-ALFIE (Clouston) TOGETHER AND CALL Z. SMITH THE Cuss UP ALREADY (Murray)!

Michallica wrote:
b) Regin and Foligno being complete busts so far. I like Regin's game, but lets face it the production has not been there. Foligno is skating well, making moves, but the guy just doesn't shoot enough. Too many moves, and frankly going 21 games with one goal combined by these two, and I'm not surprised our offense sucks. And both have received ample opportunity in the top 6. Disappointing.

I think Regin's been awesome personally, it just hasn't resulted in the scoresheet, but at least he's doing things right. Playing a great 2-way game, making some creative plays in what has become a place where creativity dies.

The rest of your post - including being pissed if Murray fires Clouston - I completely agree with.

Michallica wrote:Final rant:

PUT REGIN-SPEZZA-ALFIE (Clouston) TOGETHER AND CALL Z. SMITH THE Cuss UP ALREADY (Murray)!

It doesn't have to be your final rant, don't worry about a couple of people disagreeing, I think you're right. There are serious issues with this team - we've seen it now for years and years where only Alfie and Spezza are worth anything offensively. Something has to change.

And also, un-scratch Karlsson idiot and call up Butler - now.

SpezDispenser wrote:And also, un-scratch Karlsson idiot and call up Butler - now.

What is the deal though will calling up players (i.e. why haven't they been able to do it already)? There's the Hale and Lee situation right now, so I guess they're at the maximum, so guys like Fisher and Michalek can't really heal up properly. I recall Murray saying he would take care of the surplus d-men situation 'very soon' and that was like 10 days ago.

Tim Murray did say that down the road this season Butler will likely get a chance to play in Ottawa. I don't know if they're holding off so far for development reasons, but its time we got someone who shoots the puck like crazy. Its so simple you know? Just shoot the puck and stop trying to dangle and make the pretty plays. And you know Karlsson HAS to be back next game....

Michallica wrote:

What is the deal though will calling up players (i.e. why haven't they been able to do it already)? There's the Hale and Lee situation right now, so I guess they're at the maximum, so guys like Fisher and Michalek can't really heal up properly. I recall Murray saying he would take care of the surplus d-men situation 'very soon' and that was like 10 days ago.

Tim Murray did say that down the road this season Butler will likely get a chance to play in Ottawa. I don't know if they're holding off so far for development reasons, but its time we got someone who shoots the puck like crazy. Its so simple you know? Just shoot the puck and stop trying to dangle and make the pretty plays. And you know Karlsson HAS to be back next game....

We're at 22 now though, so do it up. If it's Hale that's in the way, then waive him to the AHL, if someone picks him up, what can we do? Butler needs to be given a shot with Jason Spezza, he's earned it - and we can't score to save our lives.

SensGirl11 wrote:

SDH89 wrote:Also, can we please put Gonchar on the right side on the PP? Don't know why they're trying to set up Kuba's "shot".

I was wondering the same thing...I don't understand where Clouston's head has been lately. He keeps saying if it ain't broke dont' fix it, and he did...Gonchar being back on the right on the PP is what had gotten us going again...I don't understand...I'm starting to think Clouston is already losing it...

+1

Yeah, Clouston's getting to annoy me a little as well to say the least.

Also, one of the most frustrating games I've seen in terms of one of my little favourite players. Shannon plays pretty well, gets a fluke goal, I like what I'm seeing.

Then he completely blows it along the boards. Phillips does the usual rim it around, useless play, but it actually makes it to Shannon who is so soft on it that it gets turned over and we're fishing the winning goal out of our net.

Hey Shannon: you want to play NHL hockey? I wouldn't do that again.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Yeah, Clouston has to be assessed again soon. There wasn't much of a 'gameplan' tonight.

I'm not sure what to say right now, things are not clicking, it's very frustrating.

You could actually hear Clouston yelling profanity laced instructions to his players as they seemed to ignore him.

The few people that did show up for that turkey of a game deserve refunds. I know a couple of kids from town here who wasted a long drive last night going to that snoozefest.

I don't think it's totally his fault. At the 6 game mark, Murray said "no one's job is safe" and never followed through. Try that with your 5 year old - threaten punishment and don't follow through - you'll get the same results.

PKC wrote:This team is way undisciplined and there are so many problems with breaking out of our zone that by the team the forwards can get the puck anywhere near the offensive zone they just dump it and head off on a line change. Things need to change with this team, there's far too much talent on the roster to be middling in mediocrity in the Eastern conference...I shudder to think how bad our record would be if we were in the West.

And can someone please tell me what this team's issue with shooting the puck is? Do they have some sort of aversion or clauses in their contract that prevent them from shooting the puck on net. We're damn near last in the league in shots for per game.

I'm starting to get sick of seeing this team with this many skill players resort to the ridiculous rim the puck around the boards and hope it ends up on someone's stick. That gameplan works for teams like the Boston Bruins who have a ton of hard nosed players on the roster. It doesn't work for a team with skill guys like Spezza, Regin, Alfredsson, Kovalev, Gonchar, Karlsson, Campoli, Shannon, etc....enough is enough of this Cussing garbage.

I don't agree with all the various rants going on in this thread, but Imo this is a very accurate post. The dump and no change issue is ridiculous and kind of an embarassment. It ties in with the too-many-men problem and speaks to bench mismanagement.

I do think, however, that the shots-for issue isn't that big a problem. They get lots of shots, they just miss the net way too often---If someone went back and looked at every shot Mike Fisher has fired at the net in the past 3-4 years, you'd probably find that 2/3's missed the net, while 1/3 of what's left hit the post.

And the offensive scheme isn't great, but the players are as much to blame for that as anyone else. They haven't been executing.

As for the rest of the rants in this thread, I'd only really agree with the Regin-Spezza-Alfredsson one.
And as for Karlsson, I'm sure he won't spend Brian Lee time in the pressbox...

SpezDispenser wrote:And also, un-scratch Karlsson idiot and call up Butler - now.

Exactly what I was thinking during the game last night. Realistically, Butler doesn't come near the goal production he's been having in the A up here right away, but at least he won't be afraid to throw some pucks on the net and try to get the offense going -- something that no one is doing right now (besides Spezza).

Also last night, with about 8 seconds left, Alfie had the puck on the halfboards and looked back to the point where Kuba was wide open, and decided not to pass back. I couldn't help but think that if Karlsson was back there we may have seen a blast from the point - like the one that tied the game against Carolina last year with around 7 seconds to go.

cash wrote:
I don't agree with all the various rants going on in this thread, but Imo this is a very accurate post. The dump and no change issue is ridiculous and kind of an embarassment. It ties in with the too-many-men problem and speaks to bench mismanagement.

Not only that, but it's very obvious that the Sens aren't rushing the puck up ice. Knife it through the neutral zone and gain entrance with speed, enough is enough, make the opposing teams D back up and create some chances.

But then, even when we have chances these days, someone misses.

I guess we'll see how Clouston and Murray respond. To me, neither is safe at all, not at all. Melnyk must be grinding his teeth watching ~60 million of his money look like a bunch of pee wees on the ice. I'd be really pissed if I were hit - I'm pissed now and I'm not paying these guys.

Clouston has a limited time to get things back on track IMO. It starts tomorrow and I'm sure Melnyk and co. will be watching until the end of the month assessing whether or not Clouston is the guy - and more importantly, whether or not Murray is still the guy.

It's finally come to this for sure, this team is slow, boring and being beaten by everyone in the league. And it's been happening a lot - save for some parts of last year. Something's gotta give, either the personnel or the coach or the GM - or a combination.

I'm so Cussing disgusted with this team today, it's incredible. I'm starting to consider giving up on the season, not because of the last couple of days but because of the overwhelming evidence that this team just isn't good enough to compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern conference.

Look at the goal differential. It's absolutely disgusting. We're in the bottom third of the league for goals for with 52 and tied for fourth last in the league in goals against with 69. That's a goal differential of -17. For a team that's supposed to be defensively responsible. Outrageous.

Look at the team stats. Regin - 1 goal. Foligno - 0 goals. Fisher - 8 points. Phillips - 3 assists and a -12. Phillips is so bad lately I'm starting to think he's wearing a #6 jersey. Neil and Ruutu have a combined 2 goals when they finished with more than 10 each last season.

Look at the special teams. We're damn near last in the league in power play opportunities. And our PP% is a very average 18%. And the amount of times we've been shorthanded is staggering. So undisciplined I'm starting to think Clouston isn't the man for the job either. Not to mention our PK% which was top 10 last year is now close to bottom 10 this year.

But the worst part is, how Cussing boring this team is to watch. There's no inspired play. Just the same stupid stagnant offensive schemes that include those awesome staples of Mike Fisher skating down the half wall at full speed and shooting the puck either way over the net or straight at the goalie's chest, also include a 5 on 3 setup (for the extremely rare occasion when we do get one) that includes passing the puck for 80% of the time and then taking a shot from the worst possible angle, also includes a dump and chase game that doesn't work because our chase is borderline useless after the line has spent 45 seconds in its' own zone trying to get the puck, also includes a third line that keeps cycling the puck in the offensive zone without anyone actually getting into a spot where they can shoot the puck, also includes probably the worst break out scheme I've ever seen in my life.

The coaching on this team is starting to baffle me. It's the same crappy, uninspired play that leads to no results over and over again. The only time our team ends up in a highlight reel lately is when one guy does it all himself. Which is astounding for a team that has guys like Alfredsson, Kovalev, Spezza, Gonchar, Karlsson, etc. Guys who have great vision and great shots.

And don't even get me started on the shooting the puck thing. I don't know if a site exists that's akin to hoopdata.com where you can track offensive chances per 60 minutes, but I'm damn near sure that we'd rank last in that category. Every game people say, the other goalie played great. Well we didn't make it especially hard for him. I love those stupid, useless fly by net drives we do well after the goalie has covered the puck. Instead of actually, you know, crashing the net with the puck, we just wait until he's covered it so we can go in and pretend we're playing hard after the whistle. Cuss that Dung. You're not fooling anybody with your outdoor rink hockey.

Quite frankly, I'd sit Foligno and Phillips for at least a game each. Neither is contributing anything to the team right now and their uninspired play has become an impediment to this team.

Get Michalek back on the top line in place of Regin and have him park his Donkey within 10 feet of the net.

Put Gonchar and Kuba on the top pairing. Karlsson and Carkner on the second. And Hale and Campoli on the third.

Put Shannon on the second PP unit on the left half wall with Neil in front of the net and Regin on the other side.

And for the love of God, either put Fisher on a rehab stint or send him down to the third line. His 30-point pace this year doesn't belong in the top 6.