GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Tampa Bay Lightning - 7:00pm ET - Sat. Oct. 11th, 2014

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:Strike that, Stone *does* play the PK, 5th on the team, in fact.  That makes it even more odd.  PMac certainly likes his vet players.

For sure. Pretty bizarre for a coach to favour veterans who have long since earned their spot over unproven rookies. Weird.

Neil has earned his spot -- on the 4th line. Smith has moved to wing so he can move up into the top nine. Lazar is a rookie who has played well, but still a rookie. All of them have more ice time than Stone. Stone proved himself last year, playing on the top line and contributing. I really don't get the love affair with Neil. He's good at what he does, which is skate around and hit things, occasionally getting into a fight. Neil with more ES/PP ice time than Stone is bizarre.

SpezDispensed wrote:Hedman is incredible.  

On pace for 80 goals.

Cowen has not progressed at all and seems to have regressed. He's lost too many games early on in his career to completely develop into the player they wanted him to be. IMO he's a bust at this point for that reason, they need to make a move and if they can get a 2nd rounder going into next years draft for Cowen I think they should pull that trigger.

Wiercioch is and will be the better player... they need to commit to his development.

I'd move both Cowen and Wiercioch in a deal if that is possible. Our left side is fine if Methot is signed

Ev wrote:I'd move both Cowen and Wiercioch in a deal if that is possible. Our left side is fine if Methot is signed

What if he isn't? That's becoming a distinct possibility.

Then it's still ok with Claesson and others, for the future

Ev wrote:I'd move both Cowen and Wiercioch in a deal if that is possible. Our left side is fine if Methot is signed

Think you stick with the guy that does have the ability to move the puck and just learn how to play defense from a positional standpoint. Cowen IMO has busted.

NEELY wrote:

Ev wrote:I'd move both Cowen and Wiercioch in a deal if that is possible. Our left side is fine if Methot is signed

Think you stick with the guy that does have the ability to move the puck and just learn how to play defense from a positional standpoint. Cowen IMO has busted.

He can move the puck but he probably doesn't have big upside at this point. Plays like rundblad used to.

Little more size than Rundblad. If he can be average in his own zone, learn the ropes, etc, he will be a solid point producing D man.

Cowen on the other hand is supposed to be the big, physical force in the defensive zone who can log big mins... he's anything but. Unlike Weircioch, Cowen has been given every single benefit of the doubt and every chance to succeed... he's failed. IMO it is because of injury which lead to poor development. Can only imagine how Wiercioch would look now with the time and money spent on Cowen.

I dunno, it's two games in. you have to think that there's many factors that could be at play. yes there are red-flags for sure but right now if you were to move him you'd moving him for low value. they might want to play him on the 3rd pairing for a while and see how he adjusts to that. sucks because without Methot we're in a week position.

only a couple weeks ago everyone was saying how much a a beast he was going to be.
caution!

It's a shame that I was right about Cowen. But that's what I do. Be right. Hopefully a gullible team can be swindled.

NEELY wrote:Little more size than Rundblad.  If he can be average in his own zone, learn the ropes, etc, he will be a solid point producing D man.  

Cowen on the other hand is supposed to be the big, physical force in the defensive zone who can log big mins... he's anything but.  Unlike Weircioch, Cowen has been given every single benefit of the doubt and every chance to succeed... he's failed.  IMO it is because of injury which lead to poor development.  Can only imagine how Wiercioch would look now with the time and money spent on Cowen.

We'll we can't say Wiercioch cna just learn the ropes and say Cowen is a bust who can't. I think both have been disappointing for what we expected. Hopefully some of the recent d picks turn out. However I don't see them giving up on Cowen right now.

I think Cowen can still be a serviceable nhler like Luke Schenn but if we did want to trade him I'd be fine with that given the return.

It's hard to say anything definitive after only 2 games. I'd love to see Wiercioch for 5 games or so, but there's such a catch 22 with benching Cowen. It doesn't help him, that's for sure. His confidence must be at a low right now.

I'd scratch Gryba and put in Wiercioch next game. Gryba is way too inconsistent for a simple, stay at home guy. If he isn't defending properly, what is he good for?

Cowen needs to get better and play simple, smart (not sure if that's possible) shutdown hockey. Once he's mastered that then he can think about jumping up into the play.

The other problem is that Mac wants dmen jumping up it seems and there's a lack of forwards to cover their bacon all the time.

Im interested to see who gets scratched, because I'm pretty sure it'll be one of Gryba or Cowen.

Let's put it another way:

Is Cowen better than Borowiecki right now?

I'd say no. He just needs to play the same number of minutes as boro

Flo The Action wrote:I dunno, it's two games in. you have to think that there's many factors that could be at play. yes there are red-flags for sure but right now if you were to move him you'd moving him for low value. they might want to play him on the 3rd pairing for a while and see how he adjusts to that. sucks because without Methot we're in a week position.

only a couple weeks ago everyone was saying how much a a beast he was going to be.
caution!

No it's not, it's been close to 100. Cowen isn't going to develop into the D man they wanted when they drafted him. He's had multiple serious injuries, his skating has been affected because of it, his decision making is beyond poor, and he has trouble raising his intensity level when he is supposed to be a physical force.

IMO he has busted already, he can't catch up on the development he has missed.

Ev wrote:

NEELY wrote:Little more size than Rundblad.  If he can be average in his own zone, learn the ropes, etc, he will be a solid point producing D man.  

Cowen on the other hand is supposed to be the big, physical force in the defensive zone who can log big mins... he's anything but.  Unlike Weircioch, Cowen has been given every single benefit of the doubt and every chance to succeed... he's failed.  IMO it is because of injury which lead to poor development.  Can only imagine how Wiercioch would look now with the time and money spent on Cowen.

We'll we can't say Wiercioch cna just learn the ropes and say Cowen is a bust who can't. I think both have been disappointing for what we expected. Hopefully some of the recent d picks turn out. However I don't see them giving up on Cowen right now.

I think Cowen can still be a serviceable nhler like Luke Schenn but if we did want to trade him I'd be fine with that given the return.

I am not saying Wiercioch is a sure fire top 4 guy even though I believe he will be, he has progressed, maybe a little slow but he's progressed none the less. My entire point or question is, how would Wiercioch look with the time and committment that has been given to Cowen?

I don't thinkt they will give up on Cowen tomorrow either but it's pretty close to sh*t or get off the pot time. I don't see it getting any better.

SpezDispensed wrote:It's hard to say anything definitive after only 2 games.   I'd love to see Wiercioch for 5 games or so, but there's such a catch 22 with benching Cowen.  It doesn't help him, that's for sure.  His confidence must be at a low right now.

I'd scratch Gryba and put in Wiercioch next game.  Gryba is way too inconsistent for a simple, stay at home guy.  If he isn't defending properly, what is he good for?

Cowen needs to get better and play simple, smart (not sure if that's possible) shutdown hockey. Once he's mastered  that then he can think about jumping up into the play.  

The other problem is that Mac wants dmen jumping up it seems and there's a lack of forwards to cover their bacon all the time.

Im interested to see who gets scratched, because I'm pretty sure it'll be one of Gryba or Cowen.

Has he even been on for a goal against? lol  He's a plus one and is playing fine... why on earth would you take out the only RH defensive D man?  Makes less than no sense.

Cowen is the worst D man on the Sens right now and they have given him enough rope to hang himself.  Right now he has completely cut off his wind pipe. Like I said above as well it's not 2 games... it's close to 100 where he has been a below average NHL D man.