2014 Ottawa Senators Off Season Talk

Ev wrote:You can't just say let's play the hot hand when you still have your veteran number one goalie. It's a ridiculous notion, just like LA didn't keep playing Martin Jones when Quick came back from injury, the Rangers didn't play Talbot over  Lundqvist, etc. those are extrapemes but you couldn't just toss your number one goalie, who makes way more money than Lehner, to the curb.

Now it is different, after a poor year you can unload him.

Anderson is not Lundqvist and even then they let Talbot play a ton of games this season while Lundqvist found his game. It's not game in a playoff series we are talking about here, it was game 20 something in the regular season and they needed to get a role... MacLean screwed with it and there is nothing that can convince me that wasn't absolutely the biggest turning point in the season.

Michallica wrote:Under Bryan Murray's tutelage, the sens have never exceeded 94 points....2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Seven seasons. Seven.

I used to love Murray but gotta call spade a spade.....hes been spectacularly mediocre. 4 playoff appearances in 7 seasons.

This is going to be a long but short off season, a lot will happen.

Michallica wrote:Under Bryan Murray's tutelage, the sens have never exceeded 94 points....2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. Seven seasons. Seven.

I used to love Murray but gotta call spade a spade.....hes been spectacularly mediocre. 4 playoff appearances in 7 seasons.

Yeah but look at our cost per point those years. Gotta be good since he's still here.

Correct me if I am wrong. Spezza has never won, the exception being the Spengler Cup. No Ohl, ahl, NHL, world junior, world championship, Olympics.

Hayden wrote:Correct me if I am wrong. Spezza has never won, the exception being the Spengler Cup. No Ohl, ahl, NHL, world junior, world championship, Olympics.

the only thing he has won is AHL MVP

Not winning a world championship, world junior, etc. when you're a Canadian point per game career player is pretty sad

Ev wrote:

Hayden wrote:Correct me if I am wrong. Spezza has never won, the exception being the Spengler Cup. No Ohl, ahl, NHL, world junior, world championship, Olympics.

the only thing he has won is AHL MVP

Not winning a world championship, world junior, etc. when you're a Canadian point per game career player is pretty sad

I dunno, but this is a team sport and winning a championship has a little to do with the team.  Kane "won" the Stanley Cup with that goal.  Has he really accomplished more than Spezza (or dozens/hundreds other players) or was he the beneficiary of playing on a very good team, led by the best leader in the game right now?

It always comes down to this -- Spezza simply isn't the type of player to *will* the team to a win.  He certainly has had great moments, but they are few and far between.  I'd argue that he's had more of those moments than the afre-mentioned Patrick Kane,  but so what.  As Peter O'Toole said in "My Favorite Year" -- I am not an actor; I am a star!  Similarly, Spezza is a PPG flashy player, not a heart/grit leader.  Most winning teams have both.

Lots of questions this summer for sure... the "Spezza situation" will likely determine how the rest falls into place. Not sure if they want that hanging over their heads all summer long. Some thoughts on our current roster...

UFAs:
Michalek - again becomes an interesting situation. Earlier in the year we all could not wait to get rid of him. Now... we may want to re-think that.
Hemsky - sounded like his status was tied to Spezza's... odd but whatever. I like what I saw with him. If Spezza stays, we'll likely see him stick around, but even if Spezza is gone I'd still like to see Hemsky stay.
Kassian - don't give a Diddle what they do with him.

RFAs
Lehner - the future. Extend and then look to transition the reigns to him.
Gryba - love what this guy can bring, when he brings it. But he also makes a lot of mistakes. I can see a cheap extension being offered to him. He may end up being a trade deadline add-in.

In their last year:
Spezza - It may be time to cut ties with this guy, as much as I've been a fan. Tough tough decision.
Bobby Ryan - get this guy extended, soon. Has leader written all over him.
CMac - get this guy extended, soon. Grit, heart and soul.
Condra - see how he does this year and then think about an extension. Utility player. Good to have for depth.
Methot - this is a tough one too. Lots of rumours around him, but I love his style when he's on, he is a fan fave and can be the nasty d-man we need.
Anderson - would not be surprised to see him moved at the deadline. The transition to Lehner is coming soon. I have no doubt Lehner will be our #1 starter to start the 2015-16 season.
Zib - will be an RFA after next season. Sens will extend for sure. Outlook is good for this kid.
Stone - gonna be a beast. Will be an RFA after next season. A keeper.
Pageau - still not sure about this kid. Fan favourite, spark plug... will also be an RFA after next season. Reasonable extension likely. More time needed to eval.

We shall see... PMac's future in question too. The Spezza situation will likely factor in there. They need to address that situation soon so that the rest can fall into place. Can't leave it going to o long.

So Simmer@7 was asked on TGOR who, in his opinion, will stay and who will go. Not who he *thinks* should go. He basically said "Yes" (will stay) for all the players (including Kassian) and "No" for MacLean.

I have to stay I strongly disagree with him but, hey, who knows.

You are right, most teams do have players with Spezza talent and most teams do have players that are heart and soul... Spezza has been put into a position where he has to be both and he's going to get crushed by the weight.

Lol how could it be Yes for all the players? Simmer is a tool, no doubt about it.

The Spezza decision will ultimately come down to whether he wants to stay. I get the feeling he's checked out and that was his last show for the fans. I think if he really wants to stay and gives BM a big speech on how he wants to move forward and lead this team etc. he will get resigned.
But if he waffles and gives some BS at the closing interviews he's done.

That's assuming BM is still on the fence whether to pull the trigger.

At the end of the day the Spezza decision will be 1 of two things (or at least should be), 1 they trade him, 2 they extend him. If Murray lets this thing go until training camp and Spezza has UFA status hanging in the air until the trade deadline then it's an absolute failure on his part.

Anderson is the guy they have to move before everyone else IMO, even Spezza.

Dreger and McKenzie were suggesting that they are not quite ready to give Lehner the net. They were last year, but now they aren't, is what Dreger was saying.

Ev wrote:Dreger and McKenzie were suggesting that they are not quite ready to give Lehner the net. They were last year, but now they aren't, is what Dreger was saying.

My guess is Anderson is with us next season but is moved at the deadline and Lehner takes over after that...

Ev wrote:Dreger and McKenzie were suggesting that they are not quite ready to give Lehner the net. They were last year, but now they aren't, is what Dreger was saying.

The last month very well could have turned the tide with Lehner. He as fantastic and worked through a lot of problems and came out better for it. Anderson played pretty well too but lets face, he isn't the future.

It's a question of what's plan B if Lehner struggles and if there's even a market for Anderson this summer.

shabbs wrote:

Ev wrote:Dreger and McKenzie were suggesting that they are not quite ready to give Lehner the net. They were last year, but now they aren't, is what Dreger was saying.

My guess is Anderson is with us next season but is moved at the deadline and Lehner takes over after that...

No real reason to move Anderson right now anyway. Lehner has to show that he can bounce back and Anderson has shown that he still wins more than he loses so the status quo should be good.

As long as MacLean doesn't play Anderson when he's struggling while keeping Lehner on the bench then, I suppose, you could move him at the deadline. I think it comes down to when Murray and MacLean have a sit down. If they can patch their relationship that seriously alters the landscape for all the other decisions.

So, in short, he needs to make his mind up on MacLean before any other moves are done.