Name 2 things that could make or break Ottawa's season

Honestly, there's only a couple teams I would swap goaltending duos with...maybe Boston and LA, and that would only be because of Rask and Quick. I think pretty highly of The Lehner.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I'll go with Goaltending and buy-in from all team members to play the system.

Those two things for sure are 100% the most important.

Other x factor is Cowen, if he doesn't show the ability to improve from last year and be able to thrive in a bigger role, Sens could be in trouble but there is enough depth on the left side to probably over come Cowen if he struggles.

LeKing wrote:

shabbs wrote:

LeKing wrote:I'm not concerned but it could certainly make or break the season.

HA! If if it can break the season, how can you not be concerned?

#MindBlown

Goaltending can break about 90% of teams' season so it's not specific to the Sens.

Fair point, fair point. I'll remain concerned though.

2 things:

1) the budget
2) the budget

SeawaySensFan wrote:2 things:

1) the budget
2) the budget

Dear Friend,

You have been assured previously that the #budget is a ficticious issue that smart hockey fans need not concern themselves with.

Cease and desist.

Yours truly,

Ukranian Mobsters

1) Goals by committee
2) Team defense

shabbs wrote:Goaltending. The past two seasons have shown us two very different worlds when goaltending is on and off. Huge impact. Will need #beastmode from both our goalies.

Health. We'll need all our boys healthy all season long and not playing injured etc...

I almost think the reverse would be better LOL. As I recall, PMac did his best work when half the stars were injured. All joking aside though I think PMac needs a bounce back year too.

SeawaySensFan wrote:2 things:

1) the budget
2) the budget

Just for clarification: Does this include the coveted cost per point ratio?

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I feel like the goaltending will be better with Spezza gone and the team ready to completely buy into Mac's system, but I might be fooling myself.  If Anderson stumbles - and again, there's no reason for that, then it's Lehner time for the next decade.

#BlameSpezza

He didn't buy into the system, that's for sure. I wouldn't blame him more than I'd blame Michalek for being useless for the 1st half, or MacLean for going brain dead, but he certainly deserves some blame. And with him gone and replaced by a consummate pro in Legwand, I can see this team being much harder on the puck.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:2 things:

1) the budget
2) the budget

Just for clarification:  Does this include the coveted cost per point ratio?

all kidding aside I think money issues and the disenchantment from the players that ownership might not be 100% commitment to the team might actually be a thing that could break the team.

Another is buying into the system. because even though goaltending can be really good, if it's average buying into a system of play can cover those weaknesses. it was one of the biggest problems last year IMO.

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I feel like the goaltending will be better with Spezza gone and the team ready to completely buy into Mac's system, but I might be fooling myself.  If Anderson stumbles - and again, there's no reason for that, then it's Lehner time for the next decade.

#BlameSpezza

He didn't buy into the system, that's for sure.  I wouldn't blame him more than I'd blame Michalek for being useless for the 1st half, or MacLean for going brain dead, but he certainly deserves some blame.  And with him gone and replaced by a consummate pro in Legwand, I can see this team being much harder on the puck.

I think that can be attributed to injury, no?

spader wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I feel like the goaltending will be better with Spezza gone and the team ready to completely buy into Mac's system, but I might be fooling myself.  If Anderson stumbles - and again, there's no reason for that, then it's Lehner time for the next decade.

#BlameSpezza

He didn't buy into the system, that's for sure.  I wouldn't blame him more than I'd blame Michalek for being useless for the 1st half, or MacLean for going brain dead, but he certainly deserves some blame.  And with him gone and replaced by a consummate pro in Legwand, I can see this team being much harder on the puck.

I think that can be attributed to injury, no?

Sure, in which case Murray can be blamed for not going out and getting us a top 6 forward when we badly needed it.

shabbs wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I feel like the goaltending will be better with Spezza gone and the team ready to completely buy into Mac's system, but I might be fooling myself.  If Anderson stumbles - and again, there's no reason for that, then it's Lehner time for the next decade.

#BlameSpezza

This is pretty much exactly what I meant about Spezza (from SensChirp):

Can you explain the Chris Phillips’ contract to me?- Joel I can actually. After losing Alfredsson the summer before, the team wanted to keep a lifetime Senator here in Ottawa. [b]At the same time, there were “leadership” issues in the team’s dressing room last year. MacLean was butting heads with a couple guys and at times believed that certain players were not taking their job seriously enough[/b]. I think at the same time, the team knew Spezza was possibly on the way out which would mean another veteran player gone. There’s more to a hockey team than what we see on game day. Players like Chris Phillips matter and can be important with so many young guys on the roster. With all that said, Phillips needs to used more like a 6/7 defenceman than a top four guy this season. wrote:

Not taking his job seriously enough. That's Spezza's first and only year as an NHL captain in a nutshell. You need to show up and be prepared and make sure players around you are prepared to work. You also need to understand the system your coach is trying to execute and make sure guys are all on the same page.

So Phillips should be used like a 6/7 guy, which will be impossible if they give him the captaincy. You heard it here first. You don't make your captain a healthy scratch.

tim1_2 wrote:So Phillips should be used like a 6/7 guy, which will be impossible if they give him the captaincy.  You heard it here first.  You don't make your captain a healthy scratch.

#MindBlown   

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:So Phillips should be used like a 6/7 guy, which will be impossible if they give him the captaincy.  You heard it here first.  You don't make your captain a healthy scratch.

#MindBlown   

I try and be gentle with you guys most of the time, but every now and then I just have to explode brains.

tim1_2 wrote:So Phillips should be used like a 6/7 guy, which will be impossible if they give him the captaincy.  You heard it here first.  You don't make your captain a healthy scratch.

I would be good money that Phillips is never scratched, so he won't be a 7th D-man. Therefore, having a bottom pairing D-man as your captain isn't the end of the world IMO.

SpezDispenser wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:So Phillips should be used like a 6/7 guy, which will be impossible if they give him the captaincy.  You heard it here first.  You don't make your captain a healthy scratch.

I would be good money that Phillips is never scratched, so he won't be a 7th D-man.  Therefore, having a bottom pairing D-man as your captain isn't the end of the world IMO.

no no no... you have to have a guy on the ice more often then that to be your captain. it just doesn't make sense.
it will come down to karlsson or turris in my opinion. i could see the outside chance of Bobby Rye getting it if by some logic they were going to try and convince him to stay by putting the C on him. that in my opinion would be a mistake. could possibly get an A but not really captain material in my opinion.