GAME DAY: Nashville Predators @ Ottawa Senators :: 7:30pm ET :: Mon. Mar. 10th, 2014

shabbs wrote:Season over.

Been over a long time ago I think, still room for a few nails but that coffin is sealed.

Rich Peverley collapsed on the bench. He suffers from irregular heart beat and had surgery in September. Just returned to the lineup three games ago.

This was the nail in their season for sure. Team has no structure, no identity, and again is a direct reflection of Spezza. It's not his fault but he is the problem.

NEELY wrote:This was the nail in their season for sure.  Team has no structure, no identity, and again is a direct reflection of Spezza.  It's not his fault but he is the problem.

I don't know if it's just Spezza, the team hasn't been consistent at all under MacLean.  Hot streaks then cold streaks and then hot streaks.  Last 2 seasons they had pretty solid goaltending, this year it's also wildly inconsistent.

I'm sure he's not helping at all  but I don't think it's just on him, just an awful veteran core now.  Alfie and Gonchar were a huge part of it. Both highly respected NHL players with the track record to prove it.

Hoags wrote:

NEELY wrote:This was the nail in their season for sure.  Team has no structure, no identity, and again is a direct reflection of Spezza.  It's not his fault but he is the problem.

I don't know if it's just Spezza, the team hasn't been consistent at all under MacLean.  Hot streaks then cold streaks and then hot streaks.  Last 2 seasons they had pretty solid goaltending, this year it's also wildly inconsistent.

I'm sure he's not helping at all  but I don't think it's just on him, just an awful veteran core now.  Alfie and Gonchar were a huge part of it.

Spezza being captain is a huge problem. Say what you want about the team under MacLean the last few years and their inconsistency but they showed up when the games mattered. This year has been beyond pathetic when the games have some meaning be it a game against the Leafs or a game that really matters.

Spezza being the captain and #1 center is just a toxic mix in Ottawa. You can build a team with an identity and consistency with the guy who defies both as the center piece.

Last year they had tons of problems because of lack of skill but they never quit. Same thing 2 years ago. This year it's a different vibe. There's something wrong in terms of guys' buying in. Coaching, leadership, whatever... it's not a team I want to root for, and I can handle rebuilding teams when they show they can control frustration, which is not the case here. There's no glue that's keeping the team together.

Yah that's the thing, this isn't a team that's fun to watch or you want to cheer for. There is no real flash, there's no physicality, there's no structure, there's not a whole lot that you really want to grab on to. Just a sad team right now and major changes are needed.

NEELY wrote:

Spezza being the captain and #1 center is just a toxic mix in Ottawa.  You can build a team with an identity and consistency with the guy who defies both as the center piece.

I'm not disagreeing with you but it's not just Spezza, you need a core of leadership, it's not just one guy. Besides Alfie we had Gonchar the past 2 years whom every single D-man right down to Karlsson looked up to. Who do people look up to now? Methot and his barhopping strategies?

There's no leadership in there, not with the Captain and certainly not with the guys wearing the A's either. There's no pride in there. Just a bunch of guys for whom this is just a job, 2 of them only a few short years away from retirement.

Need some serious new blood in there.

NEELY wrote:This was the nail in their season for sure.  Team has no structure, no identity, and again is a direct reflection of Spezza.  It's not his fault but he is the problem.

I think that's just a convenient excuse. When Spezza was injured and the team rallied that's one thing. When Spezza is dealt I think this team will show you there are still problems that extend far beyond Spezza.

Youth and inexperience is a huge problem and a guy like Spezza leading that kind of team is nothing but problems. The Sens can miss the playoffs with Spezza as well, I am pretty certain of that. Only difference is you will get a complete effort most nights from almost everyone.

This Sens team is leaderless and and void of any kind of direction right now.

3 goals allowed in one period...shades of that Detroit game all over again. pathetic effort, can't believe how few shots we got. We got no system....this is on everybody, including coaching. Disappointed to see no playoffs this spring

Hoags wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Spezza being the captain and #1 center is just a toxic mix in Ottawa.  You can build a team with an identity and consistency with the guy who defies both as the center piece.

I'm not disagreeing with you but it's not just Spezza, you need a core of leadership, it's not just one guy.  Besides Alfie we had Gonchar the past 2 years whom every single D-man right down to Karlsson looked up to.  Who do people look up to now? Methot and his barhopping strategies?

There's no leadership in there, not with the Captain and certainly not with the guys wearing the A's either.  There's no pride in there.  Just a bunch of guys for whom this is just a job, 2 of them only a few short years away from retirement.

Need some serious new blood in there.

Correct and that core is now the youth of this team who is committed to playing with speed, aggressiveness, and structure. This team needs to be built the right way and right now they are trying everything to get Spezza going and get some consistency but it's futile.

Michallica wrote:3 goals allowed in one period...shades of that Detroit game all over again. pathetic effort, can't believe how few shots we got. We got no system....this is on everybody, including coaching. Disappointed to see no playoffs this spring

Teams needs to cut the fat, they don't care about playing for each other that's for sure.

Michallica wrote:3 goals allowed in one period...shades of that Detroit game all over again. pathetic effort, can't believe how few shots we got. We got no system....this is on everybody, including coaching. Disappointed to see no playoffs this spring

Hate to bring it up but management deserves this for going cheap on Alfie/Gonchar and thinking Dung and co. could lead this team anywhere.

Hopefully it's a wakeup call as to where this team is actually at and where it needs to go.

NEELY wrote:
Correct and that core is now the youth of this team who is committed to playing with speed, aggressiveness, and structure.  This team needs to be built the right way and right now they are trying everything to get Spezza going and get some consistency but it's futile.

Can't polish a turd man, even at his peak with the Sens, Spezza was never about structure and aggressiveness.  Certainly not with any degree of consistency.

NEELY wrote:
Teams needs to cut the fat, they don't care about playing for each other that's for sure.

Some guys do, problem is it's not at the top and it filters down. Guys at the top aren't doing it so everyone eventually gets tired of giving Dung when they don't.

They're talking about golf between periods I am sure.

Hoags wrote:

Michallica wrote:3 goals allowed in one period...shades of that Detroit game all over again. pathetic effort, can't believe how few shots we got. We got no system....this is on everybody, including coaching. Disappointed to see no playoffs this spring

Hate to bring it up but ownership deserves this for going cheap on Alfie/Gonchar and thinking Dung and co. could lead this team anywhere.

Hopefully it's a wakeup call as to where this team is actually at and where it needs to go.

NEELY wrote:
Correct and that core is now the youth of this team who is committed to playing with speed, aggressiveness, and structure.  This team needs to be built the right way and right now they are trying everything to get Spezza going and get some consistency but it's futile.

Can't polish a turd man, even at his peak with the Sens, Spezza was never about structure and aggressiveness.  Certainly not with any degree of consistency.

FYP

And yah, Spezza is just about done here in Ottawa... he's playing out the string.

just got home to watch the end... and suddenly i don't even feel like it anymore.
I hope BM has the balls to move spezza this summer. cannot see a more important move that has to be made.

and don't make phillips captain either!

Oh, Anderson's annual injury. Season wouldn't be complete without that.

Spezza literally did nothing there, lol.