Ottawa Senators TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

I don't get the love for Kassian. I mean, it's not like he gets any minutes, but it's just a complete waste. He can't skate, he is pretty soft for a guy in his role, and he doesn't even have any PIM this season in 5 games.

I'm all for fighters and I respect the fact that a team uses a guy like this to deter the opposition from taking liberties with young players and stars, but nobody is really taking liberties on the Sens right now and Kassian isn't defending anybody.

Pretty much. I get the need to have him around and control things but he doesn't skate well enough at this point to do much of anything other than "not make a mistake". They need some guys who can play right now and they are wasting the 4th line by only being able to roll 3 with any kind of consistency.

as much as I would like Ziba to get top minutes and contine to produce offensively in the AHL, I think his game is much needed here, especially for the upcoming stretch. He'a a better option than Pageau at the moment, IMO.

Meh, you gotta let some guys play through this. Making a judgement based off the begining of this season and the schedule to start is a little off. Give them a regular schedule with actual off days and practice time, give them some consistency and see where you are in mid November. Pushing the panic button or making roster decisions (aside from Da Costa) right now wouldn't make a ton of sense.

Grant coming up was a move that made sense because he's too good for what he does at the AHL level. Lets see where the Sens are after this week 1/2 stretch where they play some really good teams. If they are getting blown out of the water then yah, maybe it's time to make a move but if they are getting points out of these games and are in it until then end then you should probably hold off.

You have to think that they're at lest considering demoting Pageau and calling up Z for the 3c spot. If it works, great. If not you can send z back anytime.

Here's the thing - what can our PP use? A great one-timer/shot from the point/slot. What does Zibanejad bring? A great one-timer/shot from the point/slot.

Again, you see what is going on in Nov and if the team is clicking then with a consistent schedule, a lot of home games, and a lot of practice time. You don't call players you are developing up and down like some 28 year old tweener vet, prospects need consistency. The same token you don't send guys down and they bring them back up when they start to play well either, you either send them down and make them play a long stretch or you keep them up and let them play through it if they can.

There is NO reason to bring up Zibanejad right now, none. You let him play in the AHL and figure things out.

Ev wrote:Here's the thing - what can our PP use? A great one-timer/shot from the point/slot. What does Zibanejad bring? A great one-timer/shot from the point/slot.

And another RH shot which is exactly what they don't need.

You need guys who can score - regardless of handedness. When your current righties are useless (Michalek), it doesn't matter what the next guy is. Even Mike Hoffman, who has had some beautiful goals, would be helpful just for the PP.

Another problem I'm seeing with the PP is that all they're doing is putting out the same ES lines on the PP. Have one dedicated PP unit regardless of who they play with at ES.

Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Zibanejad, Karlsson should be the unit.

Ev wrote:You need guys who can score - regardless of handedness. When your current righties are useless (Michalek), it doesn't matter what the next guy is. Even Mike Hoffman, who has had some beautiful goals, would be helpful just for the PP.

Another problem I'm seeing with the PP is that all they're doing is putting out the same ES lines on the PP. Have one dedicated PP unit regardless of who they play with at ES.

Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Zibanejad, Karlsson should be the unit.

Hoffman at this point would be a much better option than Zibanejad because you need to see what you have in him. LH shot, can score some, great shot, solid skater. Zibanejad should not be coming up to Ottawa before any of these guys like Hoffman, Stone (injured), JOB, and Grant. Needs consistency more than anything right now and bringing him into Ottawa with the expectation of him producing for a struggling NHL power play is not only unfair but could hurt his development.

If we're undr 0.500 after this week, we'll see zibanejad up next monday. No ifs or buts about it.

All super tough games this week, but sens catch a bit of a break with the ducks and sharks playing the second of a back to back with the sens (both are in mtl the night before). Gotta take advantage of that.

NEELY wrote:

Ev wrote:You need guys who can score - regardless of handedness. When your current righties are useless (Michalek), it doesn't matter what the next guy is. Even Mike Hoffman, who has had some beautiful goals, would be helpful just for the PP.

Another problem I'm seeing with the PP is that all they're doing is putting out the same ES lines on the PP. Have one dedicated PP unit regardless of who they play with at ES.

Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Zibanejad, Karlsson should be the unit.

Hoffman at this point would be a much better option than Zibanejad because you need to see what you have in him.  LH shot, can score some, great shot, solid skater.  Zibanejad should not be coming up to Ottawa before any of these guys like Hoffman, Stone (injured), JOB, and Grant.  Needs consistency more than anything right now and bringing him into Ottawa with the expectation of him producing for a struggling NHL power play is not only unfair but could hurt his development.

For sure. No need to lean on Zibanejad right now because you want that guy to be more than ready when the time comes. Lots of options on the NHL team and even in Bingo. Besides, it's the same old crap with the PP. They work the puck around and shoot from the outside more than anything. So far, Conacher is just about the only guy who seems to want to pay the price to get a goal. I don't see how Zibanejad helps with this problem.

Michallica wrote:If we're undr 0.500 after this week, we'll see zibanejad up next monday.  No ifs or buts about it.  

All super tough games this week, but sens catch a bit of a break with the ducks and sharks playing the second of a back to back with the sens (both are in mtl the night before).  Gotta take advantage of that.

Yup, that's the biggest thing right here. They get 3 days off before the Wings (they should be able to get a point) they get the Ducks and Sharks on the road on back to backs while having a day off. Chicago will be tough but that's a game they will for sure be up for.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Ev wrote:You need guys who can score - regardless of handedness. When your current righties are useless (Michalek), it doesn't matter what the next guy is. Even Mike Hoffman, who has had some beautiful goals, would be helpful just for the PP.

Another problem I'm seeing with the PP is that all they're doing is putting out the same ES lines on the PP. Have one dedicated PP unit regardless of who they play with at ES.

Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Zibanejad, Karlsson should be the unit.

Hoffman at this point would be a much better option than Zibanejad because you need to see what you have in him.  LH shot, can score some, great shot, solid skater.  Zibanejad should not be coming up to Ottawa before any of these guys like Hoffman, Stone (injured), JOB, and Grant.  Needs consistency more than anything right now and bringing him into Ottawa with the expectation of him producing for a struggling NHL power play is not only unfair but could hurt his development.

For sure. No need to lean on Zibanejad right now because you want that guy to be more than ready when the time comes. Lots of options on the NHL team and even in Bingo. Besides, it's the same old crap with the PP. They work the puck around and shoot from the outside more than anything. So far, Conacher is just about the only guy who seems to want to pay the price to get a goal. I don't see how Zibanejad helps with this problem.

He doesn't. The issue with the PP not scoring can't be solved by Zibanejad... the 25 million dollars that is out there need to figure it out. Michalek for sure needs to come off that PP and perhaps put a guy like MacArthur up there who can handle the puck a little.

NEELY wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Ev wrote:You need guys who can score - regardless of handedness. When your current righties are useless (Michalek), it doesn't matter what the next guy is. Even Mike Hoffman, who has had some beautiful goals, would be helpful just for the PP.

Another problem I'm seeing with the PP is that all they're doing is putting out the same ES lines on the PP. Have one dedicated PP unit regardless of who they play with at ES.

Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Zibanejad, Karlsson should be the unit.

Hoffman at this point would be a much better option than Zibanejad because you need to see what you have in him.  LH shot, can score some, great shot, solid skater.  Zibanejad should not be coming up to Ottawa before any of these guys like Hoffman, Stone (injured), JOB, and Grant.  Needs consistency more than anything right now and bringing him into Ottawa with the expectation of him producing for a struggling NHL power play is not only unfair but could hurt his development.

For sure. No need to lean on Zibanejad right now because you want that guy to be more than ready when the time comes. Lots of options on the NHL team and even in Bingo. Besides, it's the same old crap with the PP. They work the puck around and shoot from the outside more than anything. So far, Conacher is just about the only guy who seems to want to pay the price to get a goal. I don't see how Zibanejad helps with this problem.

He doesn't.  The issue with the PP not scoring can't be solved by Zibanejad... the 25 million dollars that is out there need to figure it out.  Michalek for sure needs to come off that PP and perhaps put a guy like MacArthur up there who can handle the puck a little.

I'm seeing it now too, as much as I like Michalek. He's a guy that will score off the rush or off a counter from his own zone or off a neutral zone steal. Pretty much a 5 - on - 5 guy and maybe a PK guy. Obviously not "useless" but not PP material. Just put a ridiculous mustache on my face and put me behind the bench and watch the wins pile up.

If they are looking trade a guy that might make sense, once against is Fleischmann. LH shot, capable of scoring some goal, not signed long term, and can probably be had for a song and dance. He can distribute the puck fairly well too. I don't think that option is coming though and they may need to just figure it out on their own.

Fact of the matter is they are only 4 points back on Detroit who leads the division and the Sens haven't played anywhere near their best hockey yet and the killer part of their schedule is done for the year. They need some bounces and they need to work hard, simple as that.

Karlsson practicing without a visor this morning. Strange.

Ev wrote:as much as I would like Ziba to get top minutes and contine to produce offensively in the AHL, I think his game is much needed here, especially for the upcoming stretch. He'a a better option than Pageau at the moment, IMO.

I think the fact he is in the NHL is more for him than the team. Regardless of what happens this season, long term is still more important.