GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators vs Montreal Canadiens - 7:30pmET - FRI Jan. 21 2011

hemlock wrote:

I do not for one minute believe that Nabakov, who will certainly be rusty, make much of a difference. It's not like goaltending is our only problem. Our defence is porous and we cannot score. How does a new goaltender fix that? He can't score the goals.

22_4_ever wrote:

hemlock wrote:

dennycrane wrote:No way I want Lehner playing behind this group.

I know we are always calling for changes but I really cannot see how Clouston survives this. It's not all his fault but this team is so bad they could end up with the worst record in the NHL this year.

If there is to be a coaching change, now would be the time with only 1 game left in January.

As I type this, 5-1. Embarassing.

Agreed about Lehner.

Keep Clouston, and stay the course though. Try and jettison what we can at the deadline. That alone should ensure a high pick. That's the start of the new direction this team needs to take.

Here is my problem with keeping Clouston, and doing things like not making a move for Nabakov.

To me, that is Melnyk telling the fans that he's not going to spend another dime to try to make the team better this year for the fans. Screw trying to make the playoffs, he's basically telling everyone (especially season ticket holders) thanks for your money, but we're not going to try to put the best product we can on the ice, I'm going to try to save money.

That to me doesn't help you in this or any Canadian city win the fans over.

marakh wrote:

Explain to me how a worse Edmonton team gets sellouts night after night.

Tuk Tuk wrote:

hemlock wrote:

I do not for one minute believe that Nabakov, who will certainly be rusty, make much of a difference. It's not like goaltending is our only problem. Our defence is porous and we cannot score. How does a new goaltender fix that? He can't score the goals.

He'd be tied with Regin

Hoags wrote:

marakh wrote:

Explain to me how a worse Edmonton team gets sellouts night after night.

Edmonton fans aren't as fickle as fans here
Because they've sucked for 10+ years now (except for one magical run)

Edmonton don't have to drive all the way to the west side of town to their arena
Wasn't a problem when we were winning, which is my point

Edmonton don't share the city's population with Leafs and Habs fan.
Ok, good point.

Edmonton fans have a historic franchise
Another good point

Edmonton fans have a lot of hope for the future with some of the best new young talent on their team
This, can be arranged next season if Rundblad and maybe Landeskog are here next year . Rundblad will be dynamite pretty soon, I can guarantee it.

We have none of that.

Bass Destruction wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Stay the course, lose the rest of the games this season and then assess the coaching. Don't do something stupid now that'll cost us one of the Big 4.

So basically "Don't fire Clouston because we can't afford to start winning." hahaha, i kid of course, i know that's not what you said/meant, but i find it funny, and somewhat agree.

22_4_ever wrote:

hemlock wrote:
I'll concede your points as a season ticket holder and what you say about the attendance. However, I do not believe that the fans will stay away for too long. A good young team who works their asses off would draw fans as evidenced by other cities (lesser hockey markets in fact). This is a different league than when the Sens patrolled the basement of the standings in the early to mid 90's. It's a league based on youth and energetic up-tempo play. That's what we need to be moving towards. What we have now isn't working. A change towards a more youthful lineup, would I think signal an effort to get better to the fans, who would respond. Of course there will be lean times, but you can't expect to diet to lose weight while not bothering to take the bad things out of your diet right? Something has to give.

I do not for one minute believe that Nabakov, who will certainly be rusty, make much of a difference. It's not like goaltending is our only problem. Our defence is porous and we cannot score. How does a new goaltender fix that? He can't score the goals.

There is no fix for this team this season. There isn't a player alive who'd make a difference on this club because we have so many holes. As far as wanting Melnyk to make move to make the team better now, I can understand as a paying customer being upset, but are you willing to make the team better now at the expense of the future? That seems non-sensical to me.

Remember I'm just one season ticket holder so maybe I'm off, but I spend 8000.00 a year (give or take a little) on tickets and have bought a full season for 15 years now. If by a young rebuilding team you meant something like Chicago of 2 or 3 years ago, LA the last 2 years or Edmonton of this year and likely the next 2, then yes..i'm in..do it now.

Unfortunately we don't have the 2 or 3 years of top 5 picks to use to rebuild the core of this team. I just don't see the rebuilding being as quick as some others...

With that said, I guess it's just my competitive nature and upbringing, but I just can't accept not trying. I understand that they are not going to make the playoffs, but the last 2 games and most nights since Dec 1, 2010 goaltending has been a problem. Tonight was just another example of bad goals going in. Nabakov isn't signed long term....he isn't costing us millions or even draft picks or prospects to acquire. Why Not?

and Dash I understand you saying he isn't coming here...ok so if we put in a waiver request and he refuses to show up, no one gets him..big deal. We are right where we would be if we didn't try.

22_4_ever wrote:
Remember I'm just one season ticket holder so maybe I'm off, but I spend 8000.00 a year (give or take a little) on tickets and have bought a full season for 15 years now. If by a young rebuilding team you meant something like Chicago of 2 or 3 years ago, LA the last 2 years or Edmonton of this year and likely the next 2, then yes..i'm in..do it now.

Unfortunately we don't have the 2 or 3 years of top 5 picks to use to rebuild the core of this team. I just don't see the rebuilding being as quick as some others...

With that said, I guess it's just my competitive nature and upbringing, but I just can't accept not trying. I understand that they are not going to make the playoffs, but the last 2 games and most nights since Dec 1, 2010 goaltending has been a problem. Tonight was just another example of bad goals going in. Nabakov isn't signed long term....he isn't costing us millions or even draft picks or prospects to acquire. Why Not?

and Dash I understand you saying he isn't coming here...ok so if we put in a waiver request and he refuses to show up, no one gets him..big deal. We are right where we would be if we didn't try.

hemlock wrote:

shabbs wrote:It seems like after every loss, the media asks "Is this Clouston's last game..."

What else can they say? If the team is staying the course, there is nothing to write about. The media has to talk about something.

IMO, the smartest thing this team can do, is stay the course, dump some salary at the deadline and retool in the offseason.

Hoags wrote:

marakh wrote:

Explain to me how a worse Edmonton team gets sellouts night after night.

Edmonton fans aren't as fickle as fans here

Edmonton don't have to drive all the way to the west side of town to their arena

Edmonton don't share the city's population with Leafs and Habs fan.

Edmonton fans have a historic franchise

Edmonton fans have a lot of hope for the future with some of the best new young talent on their team

We have none of that.

wprager wrote:
True, we don't have 2-3 years' worth of top 5 picks but consider this:

Cowen was projected top-five, if not top-three before he got hurt. This year we could very well get a top-three pick. Some careful deadline trading should give us a couple of 2-3 round picks, and assuming we don't do much better (in the W column) next year, we could parlay our own 1st rounder (which should be top-ten) and the other picks for a top-five. There's your 2-3 years' worth of top 5 picks.

Karlsson was drafted at #15 but he's still a top-end talent, and he's already contributing while learning on the job (he did not spend a full year in the AHL, remember). Rundblad is tearing it up in the SEL. I still have not given up on Wiercioch but I expect him to have another full season in Bingo next year, but to do much better on his second time around. Butler is playing like a top-six guy right now. Smith is an excellent third liner and a pretty exciting player to watch.

Goalie prospects are nearly impossible to gauge but by all accounts Lehner is an elite-level prospect and after a full year in the AHL he should be ready for at least tandem with a steady veteran.

So that's my rebuild plan. Top-five draft picks this year and the next, both used to acquire top-end forwards. Next year we start to regain excitement with removal of players like Kovalev, Kuba, Ruutu, Leclaire (and possibly others). They would be replaced by the likes of Butler, Cowen/Rundblad, O'Brien and a goalie (could be Nabokov on a 3 year deal, no NTC in the third year). There are other forwards who could make waves at camp in Greening, Condra, Caporusso, the Swedes -- but I don't expect them to make the team except as call-ups.

The following year Lehner is the backup or tandem from day one. Karlsson, Cowen and Rundblad on the back-end, at least one of the top-five forwards playing alongside the likes of Spezza, Michalek, Fisher, Foligno, Butler, Regin. For a team in a re-build year, that's not a bad top-six. The year after that we start making some hay.

20013-14 we should be contenders.

shabbs wrote:

hemlock wrote:

shabbs wrote:It seems like after every loss, the media asks "Is this Clouston's last game..."

What else can they say? If the team is staying the course, there is nothing to write about. The media has to talk about something.

IMO, the smartest thing this team can do, is stay the course, dump some salary at the deadline and retool in the offseason.

BooBoo's article today is pretty clear... Clouston Has To Go.

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2011/01/21/16987746.html

hemlock wrote:

shabbs wrote:

hemlock wrote:

shabbs wrote:It seems like after every loss, the media asks "Is this Clouston's last game..."

What else can they say? If the team is staying the course, there is nothing to write about. The media has to talk about something.

IMO, the smartest thing this team can do, is stay the course, dump some salary at the deadline and retool in the offseason.

BooBoo's article today is pretty clear... Clouston Has To Go.

http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2011/01/21/16987746.html

Another misdirected piece of Dung article from this gearbox. The players should shoulder most of the blame for this debacle. Clouston is a dead man walking anyway, so Garrioch can take his sensationalism and pound it straight up his fat Donkey.