SENS OFF-SEASON TALK 2013

wprager wrote:

sandysensfan wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:honestly I was looking at the realignment and the sens need IMO to get better at defense for next season. it's gonna be harder to make the playoffs in my opinion and I believe Montreal, tampa, Toronto and detroit along with Ottawa will all be knocking at the door behind Boston to make the playoffs. can't count on the wildcard thing as it really depends on how much points certain teams will be able to get in other divisions. the more parity there is one on division the more it benefits the other division in my eyes.

My thoughts exactly.  Boston is a lock in the division to make the playoffs... and I would put Detroit in there as well.

So spot 3 is up for grabs between Mtl, Tor, Ott, Tam.  The 4th position could be given to a team in the other division who has more points than the 4th place team in the Sens division.

Regular season points within the division are more important than ever.  What scares me is Ottawa has regular season losing records the last couple of seasons combined with Bos, Mtl & Tor.  If they can`t win at least 2 of the season series with those teams.. .then they will be in tough.  It`s just reality.

How is Detroit a lock to get in when they almost missed this year?  And Boston will be riddled with injuries/fatigue, and missing a few key elements (Horton, Ference, maybe Seguin).  Bergeron may not be able to train, what with the broken rig, separated shoulder, perforated lung and getting married.

If Price doesn't get it back together the Habs are going to be in trouble, to.  No more Cole, not sure if they are re-signing Ryder, either.  Eller was messed up by Gryba.  Subban will be more insufferable now than ever.  

Leafs got better, for sure, but the most improved team in the Division -- by a *long* way -- is Ottawa.  Karlsson and Spezza; well-rested Silfverberg and Zibanejad; Turris and Wiercioch with one more summer training with Schwartz;  Conacher and Pageau.  

sandysensfan wrote:
I certainly hope you are right...  The Sens making the playoffs depend a lot on the health of Spezza, Michalek & especially Karlsson.  We don't even know if Karlsson will be back to form in Sept.

SpezDispenser wrote:I think our division is a tough one unfortunately, but we're as tough as they come - with the exception of Boston who's in a class of their own I'd say.

Hoags wrote:

sandysensfan wrote:
I certainly hope you are right...  The Sens making the playoffs depend a lot on the health of Spezza, Michalek & especially Karlsson.  We don't even know if Karlsson will be back to form in Sept.

Well after this past season's injury disasters I think we are due much better luck on that front

I believe Detroit's farm team won the Calder Cup, they will be a threat for years to come if that win has any of the similar impact it did for us when Bingo won.

Leafs and Habs will be dangerous as well.  Boston might be too banged up but they might recover in time to make the post season.

The rest of the teams are probably not a threat but there's usually one team that surprises.

sandysensfan wrote:There is a chance that 5 teams in 1 division make the playoffs with the other division having on 3 teams in.. (Similar to the AHL).

So the other division has: Car, Col, NJD, NYI, NYR, Phil, Pitt, Wash.  

Looking at the other division in the East Conference... there is a very good chance that the Sens division can put 5 teams in the playoffs.   Pitts is a lock for that Division Title.  I`m not sold on the Rangers..  They have Lundqvist and egos.. pretty good D though.. new coach.  The Islanders could make it in.. I would think the Sens would have more pts than Wash, Phil, Col, Car, NJD -- they are losing Clarkson to UFA --

SpezDispenser wrote:Not sold on Montreal making it next year, but I still like their team if that makes any sense.  I can see Price having a crappy time - at least at first.

SpezDispenser wrote:I wonder if Wiercioch can be proficent at the right side - and if he can get bigger and if he can learn the ins and outs of the defensive zone in the NHL.  His production is excellent, but if he can work out the other parts of his game, maybe he's the guy.  You have to figure he's developed from last year's season.

Hoags wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I wonder if Wiercioch can be proficent at the right side - and if he can get bigger and if he can learn the ins and outs of the defensive zone in the NHL.  His production is excellent, but if he can work out the other parts of his game, maybe he's the guy.  You have to figure he's developed from last year's season.

Few expected him to have the season he did last year.  He's got skills.

I believe he said he wants to model his game after Gonchar so I don't think you'll be seeing him throwing crushing body checks despite his height.  He might be a Kuba-type D-man.

wprager wrote:

Absolutely -- I don't think anyone expects him to become a hitter; but we need him to become more difficult to push around.  He's worked himself up to just over 200, working out last year all summer with Turris under Schwartz.  He won't have as much time to do that this year -- season ended late and he just got married.  Still, he can certainly put in 6-8 weeks of solid training before the main camp begins.  And maybe some home cookin' will help pack on some weight.

wprager wrote:

Hoags wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I wonder if Wiercioch can be proficent at the right side - and if he can get bigger and if he can learn the ins and outs of the defensive zone in the NHL.  His production is excellent, but if he can work out the other parts of his game, maybe he's the guy.  You have to figure he's developed from last year's season.

Few expected him to have the season he did last year.  He's got skills.

I believe he said he wants to model his game after Gonchar so I don't think you'll be seeing him throwing crushing body checks despite his height.  He might be a Kuba-type D-man.

Absolutely -- I don't think anyone expects him to become a hitter; but we need him to become more difficult to push around.  He's worked himself up to just over 200, working out last year all summer with Turris under Schwartz.  He won't have as much time to do that this year -- season ended late and he just got married.  Still, he can certainly put in 6-8 weeks of solid training before the main camp begins.  And maybe some home cookin' will help pack on some weight.

Hoags wrote:

wprager wrote:

Absolutely -- I don't think anyone expects him to become a hitter; but we need him to become more difficult to push around.  He's worked himself up to just over 200, working out last year all summer with Turris under Schwartz.  He won't have as much time to do that this year -- season ended late and he just got married.  Still, he can certainly put in 6-8 weeks of solid training before the main camp begins.  And maybe some home cookin' will help pack on some weight.

Excellent points it's not just size, it's strength.  Same deal with Turris.

The big thing is that they will have a real training camp under MacLean this year, not the one week crash course coming out of the lock out.