Game Day - Montreal @ Ottawa, 7:30PM, Friday, Movember 4, 2011

Damn, no one on the prediction panel is predicting a Sens win tonight. I think we have a chance. It'll be a hard fought game for sure.

Gonna be a tall task without Habs-killah Alfie.

#doitforalfie

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:As per BooBoo:

Brian Lee will play tonite vs. Habs. Appears Rundblad won't.

Showcasing Lee? Or is it because he's our per-game hits leader?

And too bad about Filatov still being on the 4th line. I don't disagree with NEELY that he can still show something, but for an offensive player it's certainly better to play more ice time with better talent. He's got under 50 NHL games under his belt -- can't exactly expect him to drive the team bus yet.

I hate the Corey Locke argument. Filatov isn't a future 1st liner in the making, he's a guy barly hanging onto his NHL dreams by a thread. He needs to show something that says to the coaches "he's close" or "he wants it". No one has seen it yet.

shabbs wrote:Gonna be a tall task without Habs-killah Alfie.

#doitforalfie

Ha! "Tall"! Is that a "slight" on the Habs! Ha! I did it too! Get it? Slight?!?! Ha!

SensGirl11 wrote:Damn, no one on the prediction panel is predicting a Sens win tonight. I think we have a chance. It'll be a hard fought game for sure.

Beg to differ:

SenatorsExtra morning skate update:

http://www.senatorsextra.com/main/morning-skate-update-lee-daugavins-return-to-lineup

NEELY wrote:

wprager wrote:

shabbs wrote:As per BooBoo:

Brian Lee will play tonite vs. Habs. Appears Rundblad won't.

Showcasing Lee? Or is it because he's our per-game hits leader?

And too bad about Filatov still being on the 4th line. I don't disagree with NEELY that he can still show something, but for an offensive player it's certainly better to play more ice time with better talent. He's got under 50 NHL games under his belt -- can't exactly expect him to drive the team bus yet.

I hate the Corey Locke argument. Filatov isn't a future 1st liner in the making, he's a guy barly hanging onto his NHL dreams by a thread. He needs to show something that says to the coaches "he's close" or "he wants it". No one has seen it yet.

I didn't mention Locke

And I didn't say 1st line either. I said he was an offensive player (can't argue that) and. I also said I didn't disagree with you -- you can show speed, creativity and determination, regardless of what line you play on. But it certainly doesn't hurt to score and, let's face it, with all that speed, he would still need someone to pass the puck to him in the clear. Or to show off his creativity, someone's got to snipe that puck home on a perfect setup.

All I can hope for playing 5 minutes on the 4th line is that he skates hard in all areas and doesn't try to not get hit. But a player lacking in confidence, the best way to get it is to start producing, which is not going to happen playing 5 minutes. Feel slightly bad for him.

Ugh can't wait til Lee is gone.

We could have more puck movement from the back and we could be helping Rundblad's development, instead we're compelled to ice that albino(black hole of offense that he is).

NEELY wrote:
I hate the Corey Locke argument. Filatov isn't a future 1st liner in the making, he's a guy barly hanging onto his NHL dreams by a thread. He needs to show something that says to the coaches "he's close" or "he wants it". No one has seen it yet.

I haven't seen "lack of effort" from Filatov, he backchecks and throws some hits. He has no chemistry with his linemates, in the Boston game they couldn't even keep up with him.

Hoags wrote:Ugh can't wait til Lee is gone.

I love Lee. He reminds me that there are people more baby-faced than me. God bless that young-looking man.

Although perhaps his lack of ability to grow a moustache has enraged MacStache. This could also explain why Daugavins is getting playing time.

Hoags wrote:Ugh can't wait til Lee is gone.

We could have more puck movement from the back and we could be helping Rundblad's development, instead we're compelled to ice that albino(black hole of offense that he is).

NEELY wrote:
I hate the Corey Locke argument. Filatov isn't a future 1st liner in the making, he's a guy barly hanging onto his NHL dreams by a thread. He needs to show something that says to the coaches "he's close" or "he wants it". No one has seen it yet.

I haven't seen "lack of effort" from Filatov, he backchecks and throws some hits. He has no chemistry with his linemates, in the Boston game they couldn't even keep up with him.

Don't mind Lee.

Didn't mind Filatov in his 1st few games but, let's face it, he was expected to score and he didn't. He *does* shy away from contact, which is fine, provided other things are getting done, and they weren't. Although between him and Butler, I don't see why he was the one sent down, other than the contract status.

All that said, he's got to showcase himself. Even if you've got linemates that can't keep up with you, skate sideways if you have to -- just keep your feet moving and show that you're willing to play hard regardless of the situation.

Filatov looks raw, like he hasn't received any coaching in the NHL, I am sure the lax, easy going practices in Columbus haven't helped.

He's probably never been pushed, besides expectations. I don't expect a whole lot right now.

The skill is there, I'd prefer if he was playing top minutes in Bingo under KK's watch rather than 5 mins a night here.

You gotta wonder if Filatov is being crammed down MacStache's throat by Murray. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened in the NHL...don't know if it happens often.

Regardless, Filatov will control his own destiny, it just might take a while.

tim1_2 wrote:You gotta wonder if Filatov is being crammed down MacStache's throat by Murray. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened in the NHL...don't know if it happens often.

He's not being crammed ... it was MacLean's seal of approval that completed the trade.

He wanted this, he agreed to try and coach this guy into an NHL player.

He is doing what he said he would do.

tim1_2 wrote:You gotta wonder if Filatov is being crammed down MacStache's throat by Murray. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened in the NHL...don't know if it happens often.

Regardless, Filatov will control his own destiny, it just might take a while.

That was my guess from the time he got called up two games ago. Mac doesn't want him up here, it's pretty obvious. And top add to that, we have:

1.Daugavins
2.Z.Smith
3.Neil
4.Condra
5.Winchester
6.Konopka

as our bottom 6 - which is excellent IMO, almost picture perfect, so Filatov has zero place taking one of their spots.

SpezDispenser wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:You gotta wonder if Filatov is being crammed down MacStache's throat by Murray. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened in the NHL...don't know if it happens often.

Regardless, Filatov will control his own destiny, it just might take a while.

That was my guess from the time he got called up two games ago. Mac doesn't want him up here, it's pretty obvious. And top add to that, we have:

1.Daugavins
2.Z.Smith
3.Neil
4.Condra
5.Winchester
6.Konopka

as our bottom 6 - which is excellent IMO, almost picture perfect, so Filatov has zero place taking one of their spots.

Yeah, this is the other issue...those 6 are all earning their ice time...The easy out is Konopka, but you don't want him sitting for an extended period of time.

We need another top-6 winger to get injured for Filatov to get a real shot! C'mon Michalek! Blow out your knee!

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:You gotta wonder if Filatov is being crammed down MacStache's throat by Murray. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened in the NHL...don't know if it happens often.

Regardless, Filatov will control his own destiny, it just might take a while.

That was my guess from the time he got called up two games ago. Mac doesn't want him up here, it's pretty obvious. And top add to that, we have:

1.Daugavins
2.Z.Smith
3.Neil
4.Condra
5.Winchester
6.Konopka

as our bottom 6 - which is excellent IMO, almost picture perfect, so Filatov has zero place taking one of their spots.

Yeah, this is the other issue...those 6 are all earning their ice time...The easy out is Konopka, but you don't want him sitting for an extended period of time.

We need another top-6 winger to get injured for Filatov to get a real shot! C'mon Michalek! Blow out your knee!

Oh no you didn't...

Hoags wrote:Ugh can't wait til Lee is gone.

We could have more puck movement from the back and we could be helping Rundblad's development, instead we're compelled to ice that albino(black hole of offense that he is).

NEELY wrote:
I hate the Corey Locke argument. Filatov isn't a future 1st liner in the making, he's a guy barly hanging onto his NHL dreams by a thread. He needs to show something that says to the coaches "he's close" or "he wants it". No one has seen it yet.

I haven't seen "lack of effort" from Filatov, he backchecks and throws some hits. He has no chemistry with his linemates, in the Boston game they couldn't even keep up with him.

Lack of effort could be confused with working hard when he should be working smart. I say that a lot but it's true. He might think he's working hard but if he's not mentally there yet then it could look like a lack of effort.

As for the Corey Locke comment, I ment it as an example of people saying "he needs to play ont he top 2 line to be effecitve". While Filatov might be much more effective on the top 2 line he can still be effective in other ways on the 3rd or 4th line. I don't buy the argument that says players can't do things well with little ice. Again, ice time is earned.

Anyways, Filatov is still very much a project and he needs to re-learn a lot of things. Again, it all comes down to the mental side of things because the physical skills and aspects of his game are not lacking.

Sometimes it's as simple as a light going off, the hard part is finding that switch that controls it.