GDT: - New York Islanders @ Ottawa, 7:30PM SNET/TSN1200

I don't think it's unrealistic to suggest anyone on the Flyers is on the table right now, except maybe their Captain. Their team is horrible.

Matthias would also be a nice add. If you can move Anderson for Matthias and Bjudstad would be something I would like to see as well.

Ev wrote:Are you really telling me that Turris DIDN'T play against the Isles top line? Spezza is already the second line C now.

Third, maybe. Neil isn't a 1st liner, never has been, not even close. Spezza has, in the past, shown that type of skill.

Attendance was 15k?
A lot of bad things happening with this franchise right now.
Melnyk and Murray better do something here because this is really bad.

They need to do something because obviously a lot of people are not happy with Alfie leaving and the games being played. Melnyk coming out and saying the Sens are a budget team also didn't help.

They need to make a move and a pretty big one. Right now any goaltender in the NHL can let in 4, 5 goals a game so you may as well go with the one playing better and is going to be in Ottawa for 10 years (give or take).

The thing ailing this team might not be able to be solved through a trade and that's vet leadership. A guy that has the ability to take his team on his back and get them to play at that next level. With the way Spezza is playing there isn't a soul that buys what he says. Off the ice it's a complete joke in terms of real leadership.

Neil, people might follow his example a little but he's struggling hard too to get up and down the ice with the younger guys. You need to develop or go out and get a new version of Neil (like Ott, Kassian, maybe a Simmonds).

Back end you need Gonchar type right now and that's Dan Boyle. He might not come here until the off season if San Jose doesn't resign him but that's the perfect player for 3 or 4 years with that extremely young core.

Up the middle the Sens are set. Turris/Zibanejad are carrying this teams offense right now along with Ryan. They are seeing the best lines at this point more often then not and are producing. They can live without Spezza because he's only going to get worse, guys with injury problems and multiple surgeries don't all the sudden get better at 31, 32. (ugh that's sad to say from a personal standpoint).

Goaltending, Anderson is as solid as you want but Lehner is better, younger, and more competitive. You can probably move Anderson to Florida with a piece or two to get something solid. Gudbransson is a guy that some have mentioned and while I 100% don't think he's the answer in Ottawa, that's a player that can play the right side for 10 years in Ottawa behind Karlsson and Ceci. Ottawa boy too and it makes sense.

IMO this could end up being a very long year and if I had to guess, changes are coming because as much as the kids are struggling, they are still the ones producing the offense from Karlsson, Turris, Zibanejad, Ryan. Spezza, Michalek, Neil, they are all struggling hard. Only guy who is playing ok hockey is Phillips and moving him would just create another gap that needs to be filled on the backend.

All that said I think Greening or Anderson are one of the first 2 to move.

I think it will be a guy popular in the room, a Smith or Greening. Need to shake up and rattle them.

I think that with the Turris progression and the potential of Zib ats a 2nd line centre the likelihood of Spezza being a Sen after next season is diminishing quickly. I would not be comfortable moving him before next summer but I am beginning to see the future push him out.

Don't think Smith is going anywhere, he's been solid as can possibly be asked. Greening/Anderson are my picks for sure and it needs to happen soon. I also think it's possible one of Cowen/Wiercioch get moved at some point as well. Cowen had a decent start last night but he then continued to struggle.

Borowiecki called up

Doubt it is Smith. 2 years from now I see Turris, Zib, Smith as the top 3 centres.

NEELY wrote:Don't think Smith is going anywhere, he's been solid as can possibly be asked.  Greening/Anderson are my picks for sure and it needs to happen soon.  I also think it's possible one of Cowen/Wiercioch get moved at some point as well.  Cowen had a decent start last night but he then continued to struggle.

cowen had 1 terrible shift in the 2nd but was good other than that. Wiercioch will go before Cowen IMO.

Ev wrote:Borowiecki called up

Precursor to Wiercioch move?

Ev wrote:I just want Luke Schenn...guy is a menace on the back-end. Not the best player but not paid like one either

We'll throw in a prospect or Michalek.

Michalek and Greg Anderson basically lost us the game. When is Lehner coming in?

SeawaySensFan wrote:

Ev wrote:I just want Luke Schenn...guy is a menace on the back-end. Not the best player but not paid like one either

We'll throw in a prospect or Michalek.

Michalek and Greg Anderson basically lost us the game. When is Lehner coming in?

Agreed, Anderson is fully at fault along with Redden.

Oglethorpe wrote:I think that with the Turris progression and the potential of Zib ats a 2nd line centre the likelihood of Spezza being a Sen after next season is diminishing quickly. I would not be comfortable moving him before next summer but I am beginning to see the future push him out.

You can lose without Spezza too and they have already proven they can win without him. Spezza actually kills team structure and his play without the puck is maybe the worst I have ever seen it. He's not barring down on draws, absolutely no scoring chances at even strength, and people are getting moved off his line because no one can get him going.

Spezza's days as a #1, productive center are done. He can't compete with the likes of Crosby, Bergeron, Toews, Tavares, Giroux, Sedin, etc, etc, etc. He simple isn't strong enough, fast enough, or hard enough to win battles against the best and at 7 million dollars per year he isn't anywhere near worth that money.

People are starting to realize that Spezza's time in Ottawa was that of an underachiever just like a lot of people said he was. The NHL is a pure reflection of his days in Jr, the AHL, and internationally. His professional career highlight was the Spangler Cup.

If they can move him before the season is out and get a 1st rounder back from a team desperate to make the playoffs then they should give it a shot. The next real captain in Ottawa is Karlsson and everyone knows that as well, he makes his mistakes but he shows up and he has a ton of character, he's a leader.

Said it once and I'll say it again, the Sens will never win with Spezza as the go to guy and right now they are trying to force him to be when he isn't capable of it and never was. Only going to get worse here on out.

Ev wrote:Borowiecki called up

+1 for me on that one. I would think a trade is coming or Gryba is going down.

Oglethorpe wrote:Doubt it is Smith. 2 years from now I see Turris, Zib, Smith as the top 3 centres.  

Pop Lazar in there too.