Ottawa Senators TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

NEELY wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:Mid April for Spez. That's longer than I thought - although I was being optimistic.

Not buying that. It's not even March and he's skating. I give it last week of March, 1st week of April.

Thought the same - or hoped the same.

What's the point of adding a big piece at the deadline ? We're not making it past the 1st round without EK. Assuming we make the playoffs.

If there's a solid hockey trade to be made then yes, you always do it.

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

LeKing wrote:

NEELY wrote:Give us a breakdown of what Murray said. Can't listen to things from work.

The important parts:

- Cowen and Karlsson likely done for the season
- Spezza back mid-April
- Anderson will make the trip with the team
- Was contemplating adding a big piece this year but with the injuries likely will not happen
- Scouting and Development staff done a great job (no kidding)
- Coaching staff is successful because they are good people and players give 100% because of that

That's a little silly to pull your iron out of the fire because of injuries, no? I mean, the team is playing well, if you can add a big piece that isn't a UFA, then he should feel free to do so.

My take: he's mindfucking the media on that one. Not showing his cards...

I would imagine he's definitely holding his cards close to his vest right now. I bet the exact opposite is true and that he's in on three or four guys.

Hoags wrote:What's the point of adding a big piece at the deadline ? We're not making it past the 1st round without EK. Assuming we make the playoffs.

If there's a solid hockey trade to be made then yes, you always do it.

I stopped doubting what the Sens can and can't do without Karlsson, Cowen, and Spezza.

Hoags wrote:What's the point of adding a big piece at the deadline ? We're not making it past the 1st round without EK. Assuming we make the playoffs.

If there's a solid hockey trade to be made then yes, you always do it.

First, that would be the thinking, a player who is not a rental, that could be a substantial part of our year next year.

Second, perhaps we should not say things like 'we're not making it past the 1st round without EK' anymore. I was in that corner too when it happened, I believe my exact words were "season over", but how can you not look at this team and at LEAST give them a chance in the playoffs (if they make it lol).

NEELY wrote:

Hoags wrote:What's the point of adding a big piece at the deadline ? We're not making it past the 1st round without EK. Assuming we make the playoffs.

If there's a solid hockey trade to be made then yes, you always do it.

I stopped doubting what the Sens can and can't do without Karlsson, Cowen, and Spezza.

Yeah. I wrote them off after the EK injury and then almost jumped off a building after Anderson went down. I'm not assuming anything from here on in after what we've seen these kids do now.

Anderson could steal a series no problem.

shabbs wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Hoags wrote:What's the point of adding a big piece at the deadline ? We're not making it past the 1st round without EK. Assuming we make the playoffs.

If there's a solid hockey trade to be made then yes, you always do it.

I stopped doubting what the Sens can and can't do without Karlsson, Cowen, and Spezza.

Yeah. I wrote them off after the EK injury and then almost jumped off a building after Anderson went down. I'm not assuming anything from here on in after what we've seen these kids do now.

I thought they would have troubles winning 5 games... they ripped off 5 in a row.

NEELY wrote:

I stopped doubting what the Sens can and can't do without Karlsson, Cowen, and Spezza.

You can't replace what EK brings to this team, they can barely get the puck out of their zone much less into the opposition zone.

Excellent coaching, team play, defense and goaltending is what is keeping us in it but there is no one to move the puck up the ice and run the PP.

NEELY wrote:Anderson could steal a series no problem.

No kidding. I'd be intimidated as a fan going up against that guy. Not to mention we'd have Spezza back by that point as well - and presumably some other guys like Michalek back in game shape.

I dunno...I hate to get excited because we still have to make the playoffs, but this squad, plus perhaps an addition close to the deadline might be a handful in the playoffs. I'm not saying we'd win, but I think we'd be a tough opponent.

NEELY wrote:Anderson could steal a series no problem.

Still need to score goals to win a series.

Anderson matched Lundqvist's performance but still couldn't steal the NYR series because no one on this team could score enough and that was with EK in the lineup.

Unless Murray adds a PMD or Wiercioch's development suddenly reaches a new level that is a huge hole that is unaddressed. Even then, there is no way to replace the best D-man in the NHL.

Bishop and Lehner could apparently steal a series for us as well as . Like others, I threw up all over myself when Karlsson was hurt, and declared the season over. What the Sens are doing currently defies hockey logic, but it's awesome. The East is a total mess this year, and there's no reason to believe Ottawa ISN'T capable of a playoff run given what they've shown so far. We're kinda playing like the Rangers did last year and look where that got them.

Hoags wrote:

NEELY wrote:

I stopped doubting what the Sens can and can't do without Karlsson, Cowen, and Spezza.

You can't replace what EK brings to this team, they can barely get the puck out of their zone much less into the opposition zone.

Excellent coaching, team play, defense and goaltending is what is keeping us in it but there is no one to move the puck up the ice and run the PP.

Pretty sure the playoffs are all about winning 2-1, 3-2 games... which the Sens are doing. The Sens could beat anyone in the East aside from Pitt and Boston with the lineup they have now in the 1st round.

Add MTL to that list too because Carey Price could also steal a series and he has a good team in front of him.
We need a functioning powerplay, that's it. Powerplay and goaltending and anything is possible.

I like our prospects against Pittsburgh a whole lot more if Malkin is out of the lineup. Without one of Sid or Malkin, I think we'd have a decent chance against the Pens. We would certainly have the edge in goal, which is very important. If Letang would hurry up and get a season-ending injury, I'd like our chances even more.

NEELY wrote:
Pretty sure the playoffs are all about winning 2-1, 3-2 games... which the Sens are doing. The Sens could beat anyone in the East aside from Pitt and Boston with the lineup they have now in the 1st round.

We're barely scoring goals now, a lot harder to score in the playoffs. 3 of our last wins are shootouts which don't exist in the post season. Our PP is so bad we should just decline them.

Any decent playoff team will shut us down because there is so few players which are a legit scoring threat.

We could absolutely beat Montreal in a 7 game series. Discussion over.

People need to remember that we'll have Spezza and Michalek and maybe an extra forward via trade come playoff time. There will be offense available, and our goaltending is incredible. No reason to think we wouldn't be a competitive playoff team. Why the negativity...jesus, look at the past few games.