2012/13 Lineup

I agree that people look to Alfi to do it all at times and that has to change. BOth you guys are right about that.

I think you saw it start to change this year when they won some games with Alfie out of the lineup. I think you saw it start to change in the playoffs with the Captain out.

I believe it's a matter of necessity when Alfie is gone that will bring out the necessary leadership. Of course I could be wrong but we shall see sooner rather than later.

Everyone can argue that the NE division will be much better next season but the Sens still struggled against their own division this year (9-12-3). IMO sens showed major improvements against the Atlantic and western conference to earn that playoff spot and none of that depends on whether the northeast is improved or not

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I think you saw it start to change this year when they won some games with Alfie out of the lineup. I think you saw it start to change in the playoffs with the Captain out.

I believe it's a matter of necessity when Alfie is gone that will bring out the necessary leadership. Of course I could be wrong but we shall see sooner rather than later.

Agreed. It became unthinkable for the Sens to win a game without but they did that this year, including in the playoffs. The players who step up when Alfie is out have to not let up when he's back (looking at spezza)

Michallica wrote:Everyone can argue that the NE division will be much better next season but the Sens still struggled against their own division this year (9-12-3). IMO sens showed major improvements against the Atlantic and western conference to earn that playoff spot and none of that depends on whether the northeast is improved or not

Yes, I made a point of that in another thread. Things is they have to better than 3 of the other 4 teams. They were fairly lucky with a lack of injuries, Sabres were not (neither were Habs). That said, the Sens will have Silfverberg and Turris here for a full season and I'm pretty sure that, alone, is enough to make them a playoff team. But is it enough to make them a contender?

Michallica wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I think you saw it start to change this year when they won some games with Alfie out of the lineup. I think you saw it start to change in the playoffs with the Captain out.

I believe it's a matter of necessity when Alfie is gone that will bring out the necessary leadership. Of course I could be wrong but we shall see sooner rather than later.

Agreed. It became unthinkable for the Sens to win a game without but they did that this year, including in the playoffs. The players who step up when Alfie is out have to not let up when he's back (looking at spezza)

Like I said, I don't necessarily think Spezza stepped up. He was pretty tepid the whole series (and yet still managed to lead the team in scoring).

Things will progress as we move along. No need to look for a replacement for Alfie, rather we need to see which of the young kids steps up into a leadership roles both on and off the ice. Karlsson could be that guy, Cowen could easily be that guy, Silfverberg, Foligno...we need leadership and guys stepping up all over the lineup when Alfie is gone, we can't rely on just Spezza (ha ha) or Phillips to do it, we need a lineup committed to playing this game properly. It'll fall into place, I'm confident of it.

SpezDispenser wrote:Things will progress as we move along. No need to look for a replacement for Alfie, rather we need to see which of the young kids steps up into a leadership roles both on and off the ice. Karlsson could be that guy, Cowen could easily be that guy, Silfverberg, Foligno...we need leadership and guys stepping up all over the lineup when Alfie is gone, we can't rely on just Spezza (ha ha) or Phillips to do it, we need a lineup committed to playing this game properly. It'll fall into place, I'm confident of it.

I disagree with that, big time. OTT should pursue Parise hard if he's available -- not just because we need a leadership guy, but because we desperately need a younger, elite winger.

There can't possibly be any debate on the issue of Spezza anymore. He is what he is -- and what he is, is not a playoff leader or playoff player, really. If some one points to the points this round, my mind will collapse.

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Things will progress as we move along. No need to look for a replacement for Alfie, rather we need to see which of the young kids steps up into a leadership roles both on and off the ice. Karlsson could be that guy, Cowen could easily be that guy, Silfverberg, Foligno...we need leadership and guys stepping up all over the lineup when Alfie is gone, we can't rely on just Spezza (ha ha) or Phillips to do it, we need a lineup committed to playing this game properly. It'll fall into place, I'm confident of it.

I disagree with that, big time. OTT should pursue Parise hard if he's available -- not just because we need a leadership guy, but because we desperately need a younger, elite winger.

There can't possibly be any debate on the issue of Spezza anymore. He is what he is -- and what he is, is not a playoff leader or playoff player, really. If some one points to the points this round, my mind will collapse.

I'm with you on Parise, I'd try for him very hard. 7.5 million on a long term. What I meant is, if we can't get him, you need to see who else is gonna step up. I assume people don't want to try to acquire Iginla or someone like that, so we have to wait and see who steps up next year, then when Alfie steps down, we re-evaluate. Again, here's to hoping that leadership comes from within.

rooneypoo wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Things will progress as we move along. No need to look for a replacement for Alfie, rather we need to see which of the young kids steps up into a leadership roles both on and off the ice. Karlsson could be that guy, Cowen could easily be that guy, Silfverberg, Foligno...we need leadership and guys stepping up all over the lineup when Alfie is gone, we can't rely on just Spezza (ha ha) or Phillips to do it, we need a lineup committed to playing this game properly. It'll fall into place, I'm confident of it.

I disagree with that, big time. OTT should pursue Parise hard if he's available -- not just because we need a leadership guy, but because we desperately need a younger, elite winger.

There can't possibly be any debate on the issue of Spezza anymore. He is what he is -- and what he is, is not a playoff leader or playoff player, really. If some one points to the points this round, my mind will collapse.

I had suggested this in another thread, but what if you adjust your top line based on the style of play? Spezza is your guy i the regular season but when the checking gets hard and the calls rare you need someone who can battle through the crap better. So shift Spezza down to the 2nd line. Ovechkin had his time cut drastically and they are still playing.

Further to that, when is the last time you saw *one* guy drag his team across the Cup Final finish line? Crosby is the best player in the world, apparently, but where would the Penguins be without Malkin and Staal and Fleury and Letang and Orpik? The defense and Fleury had a few off nights and they were gone in the 1st round. Just because Spezza is not that kind of player doesn't mean that you cannot build a team that can compete for the Cup without that kind of player.

wprager wrote:Further to that, when is the last time you saw *one* guy drag his team across the Cup Final finish line? Crosby is the best player in the world, apparently, but where would the Penguins be without Malkin and Staal and Fleury and Letang and Orpik? The defense and Fleury had a few off nights and they were gone in the 1st round. Just because Spezza is not that kind of player doesn't mean that you cannot build a team that can compete for the Cup without that kind of player.

Of course. This is exactly the sentiment. We have one of the most skilled Cs in the business, now build your wingers rugged and big to take a lot of the checking pressures off Spezza in the post-season. I've been saying this for a while, if Spezza can't take the post-season checking, you build a team around him that can push through and make more time and space for him, because at the end of the day you need Spezza to produce offensively to win in the post-season. There's no one close to his skill level in the organization, so you build with that in mind- which appears to be what Murray has started to do...let's see if he buys a big time winger this UFA period or makes a trade.

I'd love to believe that we have a chance to land parise on july 1st but to be honest I really believe Detroit is gone pull one out of their Donkey and add both Parise and Suter to their roster.

Hudler might be a possibility.

you might see Murray target Oduya if he isn't resigned by winipeg before july 1st.

Flo The Action wrote:I'd love to believe that we have a chance to land parise on july 1st but to be honest I really believe Detroit is gone pull one out of their Donkey and add both Parise and Suter to their roster.

Hudler might be a possibility.

you might see Murray target Oduya if he isn't resigned by winipeg before july 1st.

... and The Toolman as well.

how about Chris Stewart on the left of Turris?

Big Ev wrote:how about Chris Stewart on the left of Turris?

He's been in Hitchcock's doghouse for some time now, plus it seems he's a RW(and lazy from what I am reading).

Big Ev wrote:how about Chris Stewart on the left of Turris?

That's a guy I would definitely give a long look if I were BM. Certainly fits the bill for a big, strong, gritty winger (well, the 2009-10 and 2010-11 versions of him, anyway). A RFA this coming year, too.

Hoags wrote:

Big Ev wrote:how about Chris Stewart on the left of Turris?

He's been in Hitchcock's doghouse for some time now, plus it seems he's a RW(and lazy from what I am reading).

Getting away from Hitch may do him wonders. He was fine in St. Louis last year.