2014 Ottawa Senators Off Season Talk

NEELY wrote:To Flo, the Mike Richards option as a guy the Sens would be taking back might very well come true at this btw.  All the ice off crap aside he's going to be on the move after this playoff exit.  He might not even be the worst guy to come in and help the young kids along considering the type of game they want to play.

Wonder if this would ever get done.

Greening & Spezza for

Richards, Clifford, Toffoli, and a 1st.

How hard would the Sens be after that?

LeKing wrote:

NEELY wrote:Can't stand Spezza but that is a fairly bush league headline in the Sun today.

Some intereesting stuff though:

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire told TSN 1200 during his morning radio hit last week those who don’t like Spezza better be careful what they wish for.

“I believe that Jason Spezza is a lot better player than a lot of fans in Ottawa give him credit for,” said McGuire, a former NHL coach and executive.

“Everybody says, ‘Trade Spezza, Trade Spezza.’ Okay, for who? Tell me who you are going to get that is going to be a better point-producer than him. Who are you going to get? I talk to so many coaches around the league, ‘They say, ‘Really, they want to trade Jason Spezza? We’ll take him.’”

shabbs wrote:The Spezza talk certainly has hit an all-time high... with everyone and their mother making it clear that "He's for sale" and what not. Madness. Reminds me of when it came out that St. Louis asked for a trade. Not sure if Spezza has asked for a trade again this time... a feeding frenzy in the media for sure.

sandysensfan wrote:

LeKing wrote:

NEELY wrote:Can't stand Spezza but that is a fairly bush league headline in the Sun today.

Some intereesting stuff though:

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire told TSN 1200 during his morning radio hit last week those who don’t like Spezza better be careful what they wish for.

“I believe that Jason Spezza is a lot better player than a lot of fans in Ottawa give him credit for,” said McGuire, a former NHL coach and executive.

“Everybody says, ‘Trade Spezza, Trade Spezza.’ Okay, for who? Tell me who you are going to get that is going to be a better point-producer than him. Who are you going to get? I talk to so many coaches around the league, ‘They say, ‘Really, they want to trade Jason Spezza? We’ll take him.’”

He's been saying that for some time and what he said makes a lot of sense.

But Spezza haters will say he doesn't know what he is talking about...

SpezDispenser wrote:

sandysensfan wrote:

LeKing wrote:How amazing would it be if the sens suck so bad next year we start 14-15 with Lazar and McDavid/Eichel   

 


Good possibility.. Since this team will probably go into next season with 3 top 6 forwards.. and the same defense...

1.Turris
2.MacArthur
3.Ryan
4.Stone
5.Zibanejad
6.OPEN

So...I count 5 of 6 pretty much locked in - not even counting the return from Spezza.

NEELY wrote:If LA gets beat like they are currently getting beat, who knows what they will do. One thing is clear for the Kings there is a serious lack of scoring on that team right now.

sandysensfan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

sandysensfan wrote:

LeKing wrote:How amazing would it be if the sens suck so bad next year we start 14-15 with Lazar and McDavid/Eichel   

 


Good possibility.. Since this team will probably go into next season with 3 top 6 forwards.. and the same defense...

1.Turris
2.MacArthur
3.Ryan
4.Stone
5.Zibanejad
6.OPEN

So...I count 5 of 6 pretty much locked in - not even counting the return from Spezza.

Zibby & Stone are good young players.. but valid top 6 yet?  I'm worried about too much pressure being put on them to get to the playoffs next season... since the team missed this season..  I would like to see more experienced top 6 players.. but that's likely not happening...

sandysensfan wrote:

LeKing wrote:

NEELY wrote:Can't stand Spezza but that is a fairly bush league headline in the Sun today.

Some intereesting stuff though:

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire told TSN 1200 during his morning radio hit last week those who don’t like Spezza better be careful what they wish for.

“I believe that Jason Spezza is a lot better player than a lot of fans in Ottawa give him credit for,” said McGuire, a former NHL coach and executive.

“Everybody says, ‘Trade Spezza, Trade Spezza.’ Okay, for who? Tell me who you are going to get that is going to be a better point-producer than him. Who are you going to get? I talk to so many coaches around the league, ‘They say, ‘Really, they want to trade Jason Spezza? We’ll take him.’”

He's been saying that for some time and what he said makes a lot of sense.

But Spezza haters will say he doesn't know what he is talking about...

sandysensfan wrote:

NEELY wrote:Can't stand Spezza but that is a fairly bush league headline in the Sun today.

Totally classless.. No other word for it...  IF they do trade him, I hope they go for a 2015 first round pick included.  Screw this draft.. It's not the best.. next year's is.  This team stands a good chance of not making the playoffs next season... So a top 10 pick in 2015 plus one more would do good for the team.  After all.. it's mandate now is to save Melnyk money and develop players and not to try to win the Cup...

SpezDispenser wrote:
Sure, they're valid top 6 players.  They need a veteran or another player capable of putting up some points, but they'll get that.

sandysensfan wrote:

LeKing wrote:

NEELY wrote:Can't stand Spezza but that is a fairly bush league headline in the Sun today.

Some intereesting stuff though:

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire told TSN 1200 during his morning radio hit last week those who don’t like Spezza better be careful what they wish for.

“I believe that Jason Spezza is a lot better player than a lot of fans in Ottawa give him credit for,” said McGuire, a former NHL coach and executive.

“Everybody says, ‘Trade Spezza, Trade Spezza.’ Okay, for who? Tell me who you are going to get that is going to be a better point-producer than him. Who are you going to get? I talk to so many coaches around the league, ‘They say, ‘Really, they want to trade Jason Spezza? We’ll take him.’”

He's been saying that for some time and what he said makes a lot of sense.

But Spezza haters will say he doesn't know what he is talking about...

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:
Sure, they're valid top 6 players.  They need a veteran or another player capable of putting up some points, but they'll get that.

Zibanejad won 46% of his faceoffs behind Spezza and Turris.  That number falls easily to the 30s if he's facing the same centers that Spezza faced.  He will get better, eventually, but in the meantime you have to play Smith on the 2nd line.  I think we are all in agreement that Smith is not a top-six player, and therein lies the problem.  

NEELY wrote:

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:
Sure, they're valid top 6 players.  They need a veteran or another player capable of putting up some points, but they'll get that.

Zibanejad won 46% of his faceoffs behind Spezza and Turris.  That number falls easily to the 30s if he's facing the same centers that Spezza faced.  He will get better, eventually, but in the meantime you have to play Smith on the 2nd line.  I think we are all in agreement that Smith is not a top-six player, and therein lies the problem.  

No you don't, lol.  You let Zibanejad take the draws and get better just like you let Lehner play so he gets better.

wprager wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:
Sure, they're valid top 6 players.  They need a veteran or another player capable of putting up some points, but they'll get that.

Zibanejad won 46% of his faceoffs behind Spezza and Turris.  That number falls easily to the 30s if he's facing the same centers that Spezza faced.  He will get better, eventually, but in the meantime you have to play Smith on the 2nd line.  I think we are all in agreement that Smith is not a top-six player, and therein lies the problem.  

wprager wrote:Compliance buyouts are coming.  Lots of teams still have one or both buyouts available.  
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/countdown-to-nhl-buyout-season-what-we-know/

Possible buyout targets:

Leino
Umberger
Cole
Jovanovski
Volchenkov
Richards
Havlat
Malone
Booth
Laich (but he'd have to pass a physical -- failed year-end and is on IR)