All things 2014 Playoffs

Ev wrote:I honestly think Alfredsson might return. I am nuts?

Alfie will not return to the Sens as long as Melnyk owns the team.. But that's just my opinion. After what went down over the contract dispute.. I don't think Alfie cares too much about Melnyk.

Does Alfie even play another year? Does he re-sign in Detroit or go to Boston.. where he probably should have gone in the first place...

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Ev wrote:I honestly think Alfredsson might return. I am nuts?

Not at all, I think he could easily return.

To Ottawa?!?!?!   To play hockey?!?!?   For the NHL Senators?!?!?!?    

must be some sort of food poisoning going around. it's creating temporary delusions. Probably another ploy by Melnyk to destabilize the population in ottawa. try and get his way...
no kids, Alfie's not coming back, not unless Melnyk is run out of town... just saying.
  

Funny. I said it months ago and everyone thought I was crazy!

I think it all depends on what a Spezza trade brings in. I'm still thinking Voynov and Toffoli but who knows what ends up happening in St Louis and Anaheim after this round.

no way. he might come back and be part of the org down the road but there's going to be some serious bridges to mend. or new ownership.

tim1_2 wrote:

LeKing wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Minnesota outshot Colorado last night 32-12.  Colorado had 12 shots.  12.

They were in their zone all night. I think Minnesota has finally figured out how to forecheck the Avs inexperienced Defense. That Granlund kid is something else.

It'll be interesting to see how Colorado responds...particularly if Patty Roy makes and dramatic adjustments.

The loss of Tyson Barrie is huge for the Avs. Minny knew who to target. Cooke will not be playing this series... but he did Minny a big favour taking out Barrie.. I'm hoping the Avs win.. but you can't go against the experience of Minny...

Flo The Action wrote:

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Ev wrote:I honestly think Alfredsson might return. I am nuts?

Not at all, I think he could easily return.

To Ottawa?!?!?!   To play hockey?!?!?   For the NHL Senators?!?!?!?    

must be some sort of food poisoning going around. it's creating temporary delusions. Probably another ploy by Melnyk to destabilize the population in ottawa. try and get his way...
no kids, Alfie's not coming back, not unless Melnyk is run out of town... just saying.
  

Funny. I said it months ago and everyone thought I was crazy!

I think it all depends on what a Spezza trade brings in. I'm still thinking Voynov and Toffoli but who knows what ends up happening in St Louis and Anaheim after this round.

no way. he might come back and be part of the org down the road but there's going to be some serious bridges to mend. or new ownership.

I don't think Ottawa is that far away from being a top-four team in the East.

They have the players and prospects required to make big moves this off-season, the cap space (pending they can spend it) and need a vet presence in the forward ranks. Alfie's godly persona in this city would only grow if he came back. I think at this point in his career he'll accept the fact that he's a $2-2.5M/year player and he addresses so many needs on this team. Give Karl the C and let Alfie mentor him for a year. Perfect way to end his career.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Ev wrote:I honestly think Alfredsson might return. I am nuts?

Not at all, I think he could easily return.

To Ottawa?!?!?!   To play hockey?!?!?   For the NHL Senators?!?!?!?    

must be some sort of food poisoning going around. it's creating temporary delusions. Probably another ploy by Melnyk to destabilize the population in ottawa. try and get his way...
no kids, Alfie's not coming back, not unless Melnyk is run out of town... just saying.
  

Funny. I said it months ago and everyone thought I was crazy!

I think it all depends on what a Spezza trade brings in. I'm still thinking Voynov and Toffoli but who knows what ends up happening in St Louis and Anaheim after this round.

no way. he might come back and be part of the org down the road but there's going to be some serious bridges to mend. or new ownership.

I don't think Ottawa is that far away from being a top-four team in the East.

They have the players and prospects required to make big moves this off-season, the cap space (pending they can spend it) and need a vet presence in the forward ranks. Alfie's godly persona in this city would only grow if he came back. I think at this point in his career he'll accept the fact that he's a $2-2.5M/year player and he addresses so many needs on this team. Give Karl the C and let Alfie mentor him for a year. Perfect way to end his career.

i mean, i would love it, but no way. he won't come back. there's bad blood.

It amazes me how much they talk about Toews being a leader and giving that extra effort... you would almost think your captain matters.

I'd take a healthy Spezza over Toews for sure

Ev wrote:I'd take a healthy Spezza over Toews for sure

Hmmm... with or without the "C".

NEELY wrote:It amazes me how much they talk about Toews being a leader and giving that extra effort... you would almost think your captain matters.

You think he doesn't score the if he's not wearing the C?

Ev wrote:I'd take a healthy Spezza over Toews for sure

You're just trolling.

wprager wrote:

NEELY wrote:It amazes me how much they talk about Toews being a leader and giving that extra effort... you would almost think your captain matters.

You think he doesn't score the if he's not wearing the C?

Hahaha I posted that way before he even scored the goal. Just happens his 2nd and 3rd efforts pay off in the end.

NEELY wrote:

wprager wrote:

NEELY wrote:It amazes me how much they talk about Toews being a leader and giving that extra effort... you would almost think your captain matters.

You think he doesn't score the if he's not wearing the C?

Hahaha I posted that way before he even scored the goal.  Just happens his 2nd and 3rd efforts pay off in the end.

Both Sandy and I have gone on record that we would take To was over Crosby, pretty clear where we rank him relative to Spezza. Problem is he's under contract to continue playing in Chicago and we are somewhat limited on what we can get.

I am not against moving Spezza; I just don't subscribe to the "addition by subtraction" rhetoric.

Adding lazar and subtracting spezza is actually all that is needed, the. You'd get whatever return or UFA in place of spezza

Toews and Getzlaf, same story. My boy Major Lazar to be added to the list shortly.

And we're one game away from getting TJ Oshie

Haha that would be sweet but I seriously doubt it. Think LA is going to be going for him as well.

wprager wrote:

NEELY wrote:

wprager wrote:

NEELY wrote:It amazes me how much they talk about Toews being a leader and giving that extra effort... you would almost think your captain matters.

You think he doesn't score the if he's not wearing the C?

Hahaha I posted that way before he even scored the goal.  Just happens his 2nd and 3rd efforts pay off in the end.

Both Sandy and I have gone on record that we would take To was over Crosby, pretty clear where we rank him relative to Spezza.  Problem is he's under contract to continue playing in Chicago and we are somewhat limited on what we can get.  

I am not against moving Spezza; I just don't subscribe to the "addition by subtraction" rhetoric.

That wasn't the point, you have stated numerous times how being a leader and being that captain is not overly important as the other guys should do their job anyway.  Everyone else disagrees for the most part which includes NHL personnel, NHL players, NHL media, and most people that have played the game at a high level (Jr or higher).

NEELY wrote:
That wasn't the point, you have stated numerous times how being a leader and being that captain is not overly important as the other guys should do their job anyway.  Everyone else disagrees for the most part which includes NHL personnel, NHL players, NHL media, and most people that have played the game at a high level (Jr or higher).

Once again you are misstating what I said and misrepresenting my opinion. Just because your high-skill, high-salary "superstar" player is given the 'C' does not mean the entire team automatically follows his example on the ice. A team requires many leaders, not a single one. There isn't a single team that's won the Cup that consisted of a bunch of sheep following a single leader.

I'm not arguing that Spezza is a good leader, or a good Captain; I'm not arguing that he doesn't coast. What I am arguing is your assertion that the reason this team underperforme is because everyone followed Spezza into mediocrity.

Turris and MacArthur still performed as professionals even though the played on the same team. Ryan did as well (until hobbled by his injury).

Let's review what happened to this team:

1. Anderson was horrible at the start. There can be no arguing there. After the battle with Miller in game 1 he was mediocre, at best.
2. Lehner had better stats but PMac kept playing Anderson, regardless, including yanking Lahner after he won three straight and the team was actually coming around.
3. Spezza/Michalek/whoever were horrible until January.
4. Zibanejad sent down out of camp to "send a message"; neither Pageau nor Conacher played better in camp; both Pageau and Conacher continued their poor play.
5. Karlsson was horrible in his own end. He's younger and faster than Spezza so he could cover up more for his mistakes, but he was just as bad at committing those mistakes in the first place.
6. Lehner was brutal for a stretch when Anderson was injured. You can blame some of that one PMac.
7. MacLean was brutal in most of the decisions he made this year.

Spezza is responsible for one of the above. Yeah, if he played in October like he did after the Olympics (which is an even +/-) then we likely make the playoffs. But the same can be said about half a dozen other players/coaches/etc. He's the highest paid and the Captain, yes, so I suppose it's fair to assign more responsibility to him than to others, but even then there's still lots to go around.