General Hockey Talk - Injuries, signings, factoids + other news from around the league

I'd be surprised if the Canadian Jrs get a medal at this point. Here's some thoughts after watching the game today...starting with the positive:

- Lazar's pretty great. He's playing on the 3rd line for the Juniors, and not getting any PP time. That said, I watched him throw 4 hits in one shift, and then backcheck hard the next, breaking up a scoring opportunity. Then he was instrumental in the 3rd goal for Canada, which was short-handed. Lazar gets a lot of PK time. Sutter started using Lazar more in the 3rd and OT as he realized that Lazar was one of the few Canadian players going at 100%.

- Sutter's a dummy. After McDavid took a couple bad penalties, Sutter benched him for most of the 3rd and OT. Then he picks McDavid in the shootout after the kid hadn't played in close to an hour.

- Our goaltending sucks. Paterson was pretty terrible. For this reason alone, I see us having a tough time getting a medal.

- Sutter was dumb again. Hey, this Dumba kid has the flu and is obviously dead tired...let's play him a ton!

They looked sloppy, weak on the puck. Tough loss but not surprising. We knew this wold be a tough tourney due to their youth.

Why didn't lazar or horvat shoot?

Lazar is on the top pp, tim

Ev wrote:Lazar is on the top pp, tim

Nice to see he has 2-way ability. The Sens need that.

Lazar is like Turris on steroids

Lazar FTW!

How long until he's an NHL impact player? I realize hell probably be in Ottawa next year, but how long h Tim he's making a big impact? 3, 4 years?

SpezDispenser wrote:How long until he's an NHL impact player?  I realize hell probably be in Ottawa next year, but how long h Tim he's making a big impact?   3, 4 years?

Pretty much.

Ev wrote:Lazar is on the top pp, tim

I watched the entire game and I didn't notice that.   

Of course, I don't believe anything you tell me. #brieretoottawa

SpezDispenser wrote:How long until he's an NHL impact player?  I realize hell probably be in Ottawa next year, but how long h Tim he's making a big impact?   3, 4 years?

I imagine he'll be on the fourth line for a while. probably the PK if he shows he can handle it.

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:How long until he's an NHL impact player?  I realize hell probably be in Ottawa next year, but how long h Tim he's making a big impact?   3, 4 years?

I imagine he'll be on the fourth line for a while. probably the PK if he shows he can handle it.

He'll be here when Neil's contract expires.

What the heck are they talking about on the tsn panel? Ryan on team USA is a debate? I don't think so.

SpezDispenser wrote:What the heck are they talking about on the tsn panel?  Ryan on team USA is a debate?   I don't think so.

Ultimately, it's not my decision, and I won't be cheering for team USA anyway, so do I really care?

But he is 5th in scoring among US born players, 3rd in goals. He's third in scoring among right-wingers. He may not get any PK ice time but he is 6th in +/- while playing on a team that sits 19th in that category (the five guys above him play on Chicaga, St. Louis and LA -- teams that sit 1st, 3rd and 5th in team +/-). Don't know about you, but that's pretty indicative to me that he is a *very* good player defensively. Of course if you actually watch him play that becomes pretty obvious.

But if he gets to rest up for the last 23 games then all the better, provided the Sens aren't double-digits out of it by then.

It's absolutely not a debate. Ryan will be on Team USA.

It's a debate for their management.

Phaneuf $7 x 7 is a done deal.

tim1_2 wrote:It's absolutely not a debate.  Ryan will be on Team USA.

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/bobby-ryan-left-off-u-olympic-roster-sochi-141951120--nhl.html

Kevin Allen of USA Today, who has his finger on the pulse of the USA Hockey braintrust, left Ryan off his final roster projection for Sochi, with this explanation:

The most difficult decision was leaving off Bobby Ryan (Ottawa Senators). He might be en route to his fifth 30-goal season. His hands are exceptional. But the Americans are deep on the wing, and other players have more to offer. Ryan is not a skater, nor a defensive zealot. Wheeler was my pick over Ryan because of his speed, size and reach. All are important on the wider surface.