GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ New Jersey Devils :: 7:30pm ET :: Wed. Dec. 18th, 2013

tim1_2 wrote:

shabbs wrote:I'm not sure why PMac said all that to the press. I can get that he's just as frustrated as we are. Maybe he's been saying that to the room and just got fed up that it was not clicking. Not sure. Has he lost the room?

Impossible to say.  I think, as Neely has subtley pointed out, that the problem may be Spezza.  It's apparent that guys like Turris, Karlsson, Ryan, MacArthur, Neil, etc, are doing their part (most of the time), but Spezza's been inconsistent in his effort, which isn't good from a Captain.  

It sucks...we were in a position this past summer where we pretty much had to name Spezza as Captain, or have no hope of retaining him when his contract is up after next season.  And now it seems like he's going to be leaving even sooner than that if a trade can be made that he'll agree to.

Even Phillips has been doing his part and it's not like he's a big giant question mark on or off the ice as well.  "Chris, go play with Ceci, just do your thing" - job well done.  "Hey Chris, play beside EK, let him move the puck and just hang back" - job well done.  "Philly, you are only LH shot we trust on the PP and we need someone back there who we can trust" job well done.

Of course Spezza is the problem, he's always been the problem and even MacLean is hinting at it.  The team is inconsistent?  Who?  Turris you get the same thing every game, MacArther you get the same thing.  Ryan?  Little more inconsistent but w/e, that's a goal scorer for you.  Karlsson, up and down for sure but still young and still playing a ton of mins.  Goaltending has been inconsistent for sure.

The only guy who doesn't bring the effort level needed on most nights is Spezza, everyone else is either A) working hard, B) young, or C) doesn't have a ton of NHL talent in their skill set.  Only one Spezza falls under is A).  It's a joke at this point and like I have said over and over and over (some like to dismiss it) until they move away from Spezza this team will look exactly like this.

Spezza is a career loser and has a long history of killing coaching careers. He might be the most uncoachable player in the NHL and that's saying something.

Ev wrote:Yeah, one guy.

Captain Giggles is not alone. #lalala the whole season.

wprager wrote:

Ev wrote:Yeah, one guy.

Captain Giggles is not alone.  #lalala the whole season.

Pretty close. Anderson is helping him out though.

LeKing wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I don't think he can try harder.  I think he's got an injury, or something's up.  He's a big step behind.

Not a single soul in Ottawa should give a Diddle at this point why he plays like Dung, just get the Diddle out of the team.

I agreed to getting rid of Spezza by game 20 and I was a big supporter. Times up, time to move on. Not good enough at both ends if the ice, not good enough back checker, not fast enough. Thanks, lets get some pieces and move on.

We knew from early on that this team should be built around Turris, Ryan, Karksson, Lehner, Zibanejad, Methot and MacArthur to a lesser extent. Lazar is coming up, Ceci is coming, the rest of the pieces on this team are completely interchangeable.

SpezDispenser wrote: Thanks, lets get some pieces and move on.

NTC.

Methot isn't a piece that can't be moved. Fact is you have Wiercioch and Cowen, both whom IMO will be better players than Methot... and you also have Phillips who is about on the same level as Methot. He's also going to demand 4 plus mil in his next contract and IMO he isn't worth nearly that either. People fell in love with him over ONE 1/2 season playing beside the best D man in the game, he isn't some all-star that the team is building around.

I think he is personally. Does everything asked of him, plays the game hard, from Ottawa. Perfect 2nd pairing guy.

So does Phillips, so does a lot of other guys. Methot wasn't benched yesterday because he was sick, there is something else going on there. There are some bad signs with Methot off the ice and that's all I will say on that.

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote: Thanks, lets get some pieces and move on.  

NTC.

Yeah but the Dung finally got real. The writings been on the walk for a while, I think he waives it.

The Sens CAN'T offer the guy a long term contract and why should they? Things have gone badly, it's time for a new start for him and us.

Yup, that's what it comes down to. You can't resign him so why is he even in Ottawa? That is the long and short of it.

Just get whatever you can get man, it's not like we're missing some prospects.

NEELY wrote:So does Phillips, so does a lot of other guys.  Methot wasn't benched yesterday because he was sick, there is something else going on there.  There are some bad signs with Methot off the ice and that's all I will say on that.

His skillevel isn't high enough to be considered a shot to the heart if we lost him, but he can nail all the chicks he wants if he continues to be a steadying influence in our top 4. Literally bang all the chicks in Ottaws while doing coke out of their arseholes.   

LeKing wrote:Just get whatever you can get man, it's not like we're missing some prospects.

This is where Murray earns his money. To Philly for voracek? To Toronto for jvr? Oh please, Iove jvr. He and Ryan and Turris together. Dare to dream...

Nonis isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer either.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck.   

SpezDispenser wrote:

LeKing wrote:Just get whatever you can get man, it's not like we're missing some prospects.

This is where Murray earns his money. To Philly for voracek?  To Toronto for jvr?  Oh please, Iove jvr.  He and Ryan and Turris together.  Dare to dream...

Nonis isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer either.

I can see Spezza to the Leafs being a nightmare that would come back to haunt us. Oh boy.

As far as I am concerned this is karma for Melnyk and Murray blowing negotiations with Alfie big time.    They can shove their budget up their Donkey, eat Dung and die for all I care.

I don't think this is all on Spezza, there is something wrong with the "leadership group" in Ottawa.  They've always said they led by committee.  I guess Alfie could keep everyone else in line for the most part.

They need to get rid of Neil and Phillips.  Nothing against them really, just get rid of anyone who's been here a long time and complete the culture change.

Murray doesn't have the balls to deal Spezza, he's way too loyal to longtime Sens. That's always been his biggest fault as GM imo, too much faith in people that don't deserve it.

Hoags wrote:As far as I am concerned this is karma for Melnyk and Murray blowing negotiations with Alfie big time.    They can shove their budget up their Donkey, eat Dung and die for all I care.

I don't think this is all on Spezza, there is something wrong with the "leadership group" in Ottawa.  They've always said they led by committee.  I guess Alfie could keep everyone else in line for the most part.

They need to get rid of Neil and Phillips.  Nothing against them really, just get rid of anyone who's been here a long time and complete the culture change.

Based on what? What in their game says "yah, they need to go". You get rid of Neil you pay double to bring in someone like him. Phillips, he's the only guy with facial hair on the blueline.