Ottawa Senators (present and past) TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

NEELY wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

NEELY wrote:As for the Spezza comment there, yah, I think what's wrong with the team is based off of Spezza being the captain and center piece of the team.  That's why I talk about it so much because it's a huge issue.

The issue I have with that is: if guys aren't stepping up and 'contributing' to the leadership core on this team, then we have so many deep rooted issues it's not even funny.  One guy...simply cannot change the effort level of a team.  I don't buy it.

That's so wrong it isn't funny.  There are so many examples of players dragging down teams because of the commitment to that player from the organization.

NEELY wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

NEELY wrote:You want to talk about their current roles?  Why all the sudden when a young player is starting to find his stride and his game keeps improving with his production that he just all the sudden hits a wall?  Might be the Dung show that is the Florida Panthers.  

Fact of the matter is Matthias was on course until this season to be a very solid NHL player and he will be where ever he is traded to.  His all around game is solid, clearly capable of scoring 20 plus goals in the NHL, big, very good skater, heady player.

Please explain to me how Flash is so much better than Matthias that it's not even debatable... would love to hear it.  Is Flash more physical?  Nope.  Better defensively?  Nope.  More offense?  Little bit yah but Matthias also has the potential to be better there too if not for the fact they want him to be a shut down center and that's it... with no linemates that resemble NHL players.

Who else was it that needed out after being pigeon holed in a Southern market where people (including yourself) flipped out and said he was no good when he was traded?  Just curios.

By your own admission 4 years is a long time in the hockey world.  Turris was 22 at the time, Matthias is 25.  Would I be mad if we acquired Matthias?  No, go for it.  It's worth a try to get players in here that have a chance to better us.  Might as well try him with Smith on the third line.  Is he the answer to what ails us?  Not IMO.  We need a guy who has scored goals in the NHL and knows his role on a team.  Fleish is a player who can create plays offensively and can finish when the opportunity arises.  I don't want another guy with potential right now, we have a lot of guys with potential, I want someone who can put the puck in the net so we have some semblance of a second line.

There was a period there where Fleish's production diminished, I see it, you see, everyone can see, but it has a lot to do with a horrific scare he got dealing with a blood clot on his lung and one in his leg too.  The first one, he took thinners and made it back quickly, the second one on his lung, he missed ~60 games:


"On Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche realized that Tomas Fleischmann has a blood clot in his lung, which will prematurely conclude his season. The left winger suffered from a shortness of breath, and the club's physician states that Fleischmann will be on blood thinners for a number of months and will not be allowed to play hockey.  

It is an awful turn of events for a player who was earning praise after being acquired from the Washington Capitals in November. Fleischmann compiled 21 points in 22 games, developing incredible chemistry with Matt Duchene on the top line and becoming a primary offensive contributor.  

The Czech native also contracted a blood clot in his leg last year, causing him to miss the opening 10 games of the campaign. Obviously, this is more serious than the everyday injuries that are frequently seen and we can only hope Fleischmann recovers as quickly as possible."

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/1/20/1947401/tomas-fleischmann-blood-clot-out-for-season-avalanche-nhl

Put it this way, I would be weary of any player putting up decent #'s on an awful team because there is no one to go to besides a select few.  A guy who is a particular type of player struggling on an awful team isn't an awful player.  Matthias is a power forward and this is the exact age (around it) that they break out.  Last year he was on the verge of it then what happened?  Just decided he wasn't going to play hard or work?  He's played hard but things are not working out for him right now.  Simple is that.

I would say Matthias is a better player than Fleishmann at this point especially on a decent team.  

NEELY wrote:Apparently the Sens are talking to the Sharks about Havlat... that's a band-aid solution... pun intended.

Ev wrote:Would love Havlat to be honest

NEELY wrote:I mean, could you get 2 or 3 good years out of Havlat?  Man I dunno... there's are better options but for sure there are worse.  Hemsky vs Havlat?  Probably go with Havlat to be honest, pretty decent stop gap for a year and 1/2 min.  Might get Michalek going too as they are extremely tight.

Also, can't see the Sens taking on that salary as is, San Jose would for sure need to hold onto 30-40% of the salary and cap hit.  It would clear things up for them going into next year though.  I can't think of any other player going back there besides Greening though, no idea what San Jose would want.