Ottawa Senators TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

I love our team right now. I love that we're hard working, in your face and I love that our youth is being served and I love the experience we're getting right now.

It's a HIGHLY unlikely story - and it's probably pretty unlikely it continues, but it's been shocking and fun.

LeKing wrote:

The Gomez "1 calendar year without a goal" joke could be applied to Smith

Let's all pitch in and register the didzacksmithscore.com domain

Hoags wrote:

LeKing wrote:

The Gomez "1 calendar year without a goal" joke could be applied to Smith

Let's all pitch in and register the didzacksmithscore.com domain

I want to laugh, but damn if this guy needs to start scoring or move on.

not a fan of advanced stats at all, but some/many NHL teams definitely do use them.

There isn't a team in the league that plays money ball, none. Hockey isn't baseball.

NEELY wrote:There isn't a team in the league that plays money ball, none. Hockey isn't baseball.

They're not playing money ball, but they are using advanced stats for sure (not every team). They don't base every decision on these stats, but they do track and use zone starts and quality of competition at least. Like I said I don't care for it. But the Canucks are known to do it, along with other teams, just can't recall...I believe Carolina as well. Like somebody said above, some teams also make their own stats up to whatever they want.

they are not looking at these charts and determining who is good...they are the ones who are creating the figures in the charts. I.e. MacLean is sending out Zenon Konopka in the offensive zone to win the draw, starting rookies in the offensive zone to make it easier, etc.

Chiarelli has said Bruins track advanced stats as well.

The only GM I've heard speaking out against such stats is Burke.

Ev wrote:

NEELY wrote:There isn't a team in the league that plays money ball, none. Hockey isn't baseball.

They're not playing money ball, but they are using advanced stats for sure (not every team). They don't base every decision on these stats, but they do track and use zone starts and quality of competition at least. Like I said I don't care for it. But the Canucks are known to do it, along with other teams, just can't recall...I believe Carolina as well. Like somebody said above, some teams also make their own stats up to whatever they want.

they are not looking at these charts and determining who is good...they are the ones who are creating the figures in the charts. I.e. MacLean is sending out Zenon Konopka in the offensive zone to win the draw, starting rookies in the offensive zone to make it easier, etc.

I don't buy that anyone uses quality of competition because coaches like match ups and they know who they want checking the other teams top lines or who they want out there against the other teams checking lines. There are things stats are good for but trying to determine who is playing better using these advanced stats is insane.

that's why Travis Yost is a douchebag

So 3 years later can we assume Clouston was the reason Heatley demanded a trade? Even Murray doesn't seem to like Clouston based on the interview today

LeKing wrote:So 3 years later can we assume Clouston was the reason Heatley demanded a trade? Even Murray doesn't seem to like Clouston based on the interview today

Murray's been on HC@N before and said pretty much the same thing. Clouston lacked people skills and didn't communicate well at all. He was warned after the first year to lighten up and change but he didn't. I think it's more damning that he got fired from the Wheat Kings partway through the year and all the players (Mark Stone included) went to the GM to complain about how Clouston was running things.

Of course I still read many comments of people who claimed to hear rumours that Heatley slept with Spezza's SO (or someone else's) and had to get out of town

Ev wrote:that's why Travis Yost is a douchebag

Don't know, never read anything from hockeybuzz other than what's posted on this forum from there. The analysis and opinions in general are awful and ill-informed to say the least. The fact people pay to be on that site is about about as sad as you can get.

I think it was quite unanimous within the fanbase and media that heatley wanted out because of clouston and it sealed the deal when clouston was signed go a two year deal near the end of the season. Anything else was preposterous...and funny

I also believe there was a slight rift in the room between people who wanted clouston (he was winning at the time) and heatley. Clouston seems to have fallen off a cliff though, he found alot of immediate success with average goaltending and now can't nail down any job. Too bad

SpezDispenser wrote:

sandysensfan wrote:I'm sure McLean would like Smith scoring more.. but his job is to shut down the other team's top line.. which he is doing along with Neil & Dizzy -- a young player who has played 6 NHL games.. Unreal.

Not happy with Smith at all personally. I think his defensive game has been decent, but if you haven't scored in 40 games, that's not good enough at all.

Smith is closing in on a *year* without scoring. His last goal was March 8, 2012, against the Rangers. Guess what team we're playing March 8 this year?

I think Smith has been fine, like a lot of other players once he gets one he will get a bunch. He's playing hard, doing his job for the most part, and the team is winning. When that happens, you don't really complain or ask for much more. No issue's with how Smith is playing for the most part but it would be nice if he could put one in the net, no question.

NEELY wrote:I think Smith has been fine, like a lot of other players once he gets one he will get a bunch. He's playing hard, doing his job for the most part, and the team is winning. When that happens, you don't really complain or ask for much more. No issue's with how Smith is playing for the most part but it would be nice if he could put one in the net, no question.

He scored one goal last March. One goal last February. One goal last January.

You are talking about a 3rd round draft pick who's job it is to shut down the other teams top lines. Through this winning streak he has been doing it and doing it well. Expecting 10 plus goals from him each year is probably a stretch.

To start the year last season he was fantastic but probably a more of a fluke than the norm. Smith will probably be a consistent 10 goal, 30 point guy that plays a lot of tough minutes and makes life hell for the other team. That's why he was drafted, that's how he was developed, and that's how he is being played.

Zack Smith has been fine. Yeah, it'd be nice if he chipped in a few goals, but that's not his job. He was part of our best line last game...I think it was DD/Smith/Neil. That line was the only line generating opportunities.