Ottawa Senators TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

The Sens can withstand this injury but a second key player going down could mean trouble.

I can't believe people are jumping off a cliff about this. Yah, Spezza is a big piece of the Sens but he isn't the one making the team go anymore and I don't think he ever has. Spezza is and always will be a compliment to however the system and team is built.

Everything in Ottawa revolves around puck control and quick transition, Spezza while a important part of that doesn't control the offense, Karlsson does and it's pretty clear now. Spezza doesn't break the puck out, Spezza doesn't make the saves, and Spezza doesn't block the shots, it's done by comity. Spezza is a game breaker or at least can be, he's the guy that can burry a team with one shot or pass, but he's not the guy who controls the game.

Big loss, not the end of the world. Sens will be fine.

I consider faceoffs pretty important considering our defence. Spezza takes a lot and wins a lot of them. It's not the end of the world by any means, but it's an important loss for 2 months in a 4 month season.

Yeah, Spezza is money on the draw...for a "puck posession" team like ours, that's a big hole. Turris did better last night with faceoffs, and hopefully that trend continues.

LeKid wrote:I consider faceoffs pretty important considering our defence. Spezza takes a lot and wins a lot of them. It's not the end of the world by any means, but it's an important loss for 2 months in a 4 month season.

Faceoffs are probably where they will miss Spezza the most, I agree with that. Almost need a defensive specialist. Perhaps going out and getting a kid like ROR from Colorado is an option but they would need to pay through the roof for him.

I honestly don't think this news is the end of the world like a lot of other people do. Sens are a very complete team with great goaltending.

We pretty much are the St Louis Blues right now minus the youth on D.
Let's see how Turris handles 1st PP unit.

Hey, y'know who was good on the draw...Konopka!

Turris will have a big load to carry, no question. Zibanejad, Smith, and Regin all have to be at their best. As much as we rip on Regin he really hasn't made any mistakes and if he's being told "your job is to go out there and no get scored on" well, he's doing it.

I like this Sens team a lot, they are built the right way, have depth everywhere, and even then they can swing a deal if they are desperate. That Ottawa 1st round pick is absolutely in play if they think they need a long term fix that can step in tomorrow.

Either way, best goaltender on the planet right now, best player on the planet right now, maybe the best coach on the planet right now, and the longest serving captain in the NHL. Things are not as bad as people want them to be or think they actually are.

Call up Da Costa

I know it's not a popular choice on these boards...but I would call up DaCosta.
Kid deserves another chance at a 13th forward spot.

Ev wrote:Call up Da Costa

Maybe but right now Turris, Zibanejad both are a PPG without Spezza in the lineup (don't think they keep that up obviously), Regin and Smith are both dependable players that don't make a lot of mistakes. IMO this is going to be great for the Sens if you take a long term approach to it and even in the short term they can probably do the job. Da Costa might be an option down the road if they are struggling with offense but 8 goals in their last 2 games without Spezza is saying it's not.

Gonna have to let things play out of a couple weeks to see where they are at.

LeKid wrote:I know it's not a popular choice on these boards...but I would call up DaCosta.
Kid deserves another chance at a 13th forward spot.

If the PP struggles then I can see it but like my post above, until then really no reason for it.

Goaltending needs to be consistent though. Don't care how Murray resolves it, but we can't have Bishop playing like in Tampa. At some point Anderson will start to be worn out.

I'm not sure why we should call up anyone right now?

The team did just fine last night...unless things come off the rails, go with what we have for now. Turris, Regin, Smith, O'Brien, Z-Bad can all play centre, and we still have Daugavins to fill in on wing if required.

LeKid wrote:Goaltending needs to be consistent though. Don't care how Murray resolves it, but we can't have Bishop playing like in Tampa. At some point Anderson will start to be worn out.

Can't have the rest of the team playing like they did in Tampa either.

NEELY wrote:Sens will be fine without him, big loss but not going to change the overall look of the team or the way they play.

That's underplaying it quite a bit I think... he will be missed big time. It's a great chance for the kids to step up, but don't sweep this under the rug like we're losing Regin or something.

Let's also not forget that Turris will now get the other team's top defensive pairing.
If there was ever a time to show off those laser beams, it's now, Silver Mountain.

Ev wrote:Call up Da Costa

Baby Head!