GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Carolina Hurricanes - 7:00pm Nov. 7th, 2008

hemlock34 wrote:Honestly, why are we even bothering with this experiment? We all know that the big 3 will be reunited when it counts. If we aren't going to score many goals anyway, why not just force teams to beat our big line. It seems to have worked in the past if I recall. It's comical to think that we are going to find some magic solution after 3 years of trying different combos.

I really like Winchester's game, but with these current lines, I'd rather see Foligno on the Fisher/Alfie line. He brings more offence and compliments those two well. Winchester is strong along the boards and could be paired with Donovan and McAmmond to form a strong 4th line capable of playing more than 5 minutes a game.
Can we go back to Auld please. I'm sure Gerber could sell hot dogs or some Dung at SBP, to at least pretend like he's earning his money. If don't care if last night wasn't his fault. I don't have any faith left in the man. Neither does the team from the looks of it.

I like the Winchester-Fisher-Alfie line...they are all over the ice...creating tons of chances...awesome line...

as for the top line...trade Verm...sign Shanahan...or at least out Foligno up there and give him a shot...

Verm doesn't look that bad...but I am open for trying something new...ie...Foligno...

but I say keep the Winch-Fish-Alf line together they have been amazing!!

Snuh wrote:Hey guys. I was only able to catch the last half of the 3rd last night. From what I saw Gerber can't really be blamed, but come on. 2 late 3rd period goals to tie and then go ahead. The guy just can't make the big saves late in a game.

No one is to blame for that loss really. The back to back nights is what is too blame and the refs. How was that Spezza goal called off? Brutal. Gerber was fine, yet the team doesn't play with the same confidence with him in there.

Joe COrvo is an a-hole! He's burned us twice now. Sure, he's pretty good offensively, but he is bad defensively.

Anyway, I thought the Sens played alright, but not great, yet they still should have won that game.

Chris NEil should go. I get the feeling that Murray is going to make a move very soon.

Great trade proposal alert at HF:

Vermette for Stempniak

I would be fine with that. Gives us a fresh face up front and a little more grit with some scoring. Maybe a guy like Stempniak would flourish with a strong support group around him instead of playing with career losers in St Louis.

Vermette should fit right in with that group though.

DashRiprock wrote:Still, we didn't have to move him, and even so, I'm sure there was a better deal out there. We got rid of a fast, offensive dman for a slow, defensive one.

Even Tim Gleason would have been welcomed back here.

Also, despite not seeing the game, but seeing the highlights, can't say Gerber was to fault on the goals.

Corvo was a disaster last year in Ottawa, and he was getting worse. He is shinning in Carolina because there is absolutely no outside pressure.

jamvan wrote:How was that Spezza goal called off? Brutal.

What? How could it have been allowed? There was no way to see that it was in the net or if it even crossed the line.

Blame the back to back games? Blame the refs? What?

They just didn't play like a team. Phillips made some gaffs and didn't help the cause. Gerber looked fine but the team just didn't play well in front of him.

shabbs wrote:

jamvan wrote:How was that Spezza goal called off? Brutal.

What? How could it have been allowed? There was no way to see that it was in the net or if it even crossed the line.

Blame the back to back games? Blame the refs? What?

They just didn't play like a team. Phillips made some gaffs and didn't help the cause. Gerber looked fine but the team just didn't play well in front of him.

Gerber needed that win more then the Sens did. Would have been nice to get him some confidence. But good or perfect shots always beat him... not the goalie and team wants at 3.7 mil, but would be a good backup. We are stuck with him and the alternatives arnt much better (long term).

The goal wasnt a goal, no wat that could be called in.

PKC wrote:Great trade proposal alert at HF:

Vermette for Stempniak

Done. Instantly.

RobbyJ wrote:

DashRiprock wrote:Still, we didn't have to move him, and even so, I'm sure there was a better deal out there. We got rid of a fast, offensive dman for a slow, defensive one.

Even Tim Gleason would have been welcomed back here.

Also, despite not seeing the game, but seeing the highlights, can't say Gerber was to fault on the goals.

Corvo was a disaster last year in Ottawa, and he was getting worse. He is shinning in Carolina because there is absolutely no outside pressure.

Gleason never wanted to play in Ottawa if I recall correctly. That's why he was originally deal for Smolinski.

hemlock34 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:I would be fine with that. Gives us a fresh face up front and a little more grit with some scoring. Maybe a guy like Stempniak would flourish with a strong support group around him instead of playing with career losers in St Louis.

Vermette should fit right in with that group though.

Be honest. Vermette curb stomped your grandmother right? :lol!:

Naw, she curb stomped him the puss.

hemlock34 wrote:

PKC wrote:Great trade proposal alert at HF:

Vermette for Stempniak

Done. Instantly.

I havent seen much of Stepenie, whats he like?

He's not a huge guy, but has great wheels and offensive upside. He struggled last year but has 30 goal potential I'd say. Probably a lateral move somewhat but he isn't as good as Vermette defensively. However, I think in the long run he'll be a better offensive player. I've just grown stale with Vermette I suppose. I think he would best served with a change of scenery. Stempniak is a shooter, so he would great on the left side on Spezza/Heatley.

Tukker wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Obviously not. The guy sounded like a moron from the very start of his paragraph.

can't argue there. Foligno is one of our most promising players. If only vermette played like Folgers.

Three things:
- I watch every single game; but w/e...your opinions mean sh*t..
- Vermette has only been with Spezza and Heatley for 3 games; while Foligno has been relegated to the 4th line for a reason. There was even an article in the Citizen about him on Friday. And nowhere in my comment did I claim that Foligno was expendable or that he wasn't a solid asset for this team. He will be a strong player and I like some things about his game, but recently he's been truly terrible and his TOI reflects it.
- I really don't know what to say to fans that think Phillips has been playing poorly in the past year. Its something I've heard before and invariably the fans making that claim know d*ck about judging defensive defensemen. Nothing could possibly prove more how little you know about properly watching and evaluating hockey than that. Phillips is the best defender on this team, whether you realize it or not.

cash wrote:

Tukker wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Obviously not. The guy sounded like a moron from the very start of his paragraph.

can't argue there. Foligno is one of our most promising players. If only vermette played like Folgers.

Three things:
- I watch every single game; but w/e...your opinions mean sh*t..
- Vermette has only been with Spezza and Heatley for 3 games; while Foligno has been relegated to the 4th line for a reason. There was even an article in the Citizen about him on Friday. And nowhere in my comment did I claim that Foligno was expendable or that he wasn't a solid asset for this team. He will be a strong player and I like some things about his game, but recently he's been truly terrible and his TOI reflects it.
- I really don't know what to say to fans that think Phillips has been playing poorly in the past year. Its something I've heard before and invariably the fans making that claim know d*ck about judging defensive defensemen. Nothing could possibly prove more how little you know about properly watching and evaluating hockey than that. Phillips is the best defender on this team, whether you realize it or not.

Phillips has looked bad all season. he's been out of place most every play, making bad decisions with the puck, and hasn't looked like he belongs on the top pairing, let alone the PP. we already have Volchenkov, who is looking smarter, and we already know has better hands. It may very well be true that Phillips is pissed about not getting the "C" when Alfredsson was out. Needless to say, his head doesn't look to be in the right frame.

Tukker wrote:Phillips has looked bad all season. he's been out of place most every play, making bad decisions with the puck, and hasn't looked like he belongs on the top pairing, let alone the PP. we already have Volchenkov, who is looking smarter, and we already know has better hands. It may very well be true that Phillips is pissed about not getting the "C" when Alfredsson was out. Needless to say, his head doesn't look to be in the right frame.

I have no idea what your watching...no clue whatsoever.
The whole team was in disarray in the 2nd and 3rd week of the season, but they've been very strong since the Toronto game (not including last night) and the defensive coverage (forwards and defense) has been outstanding.
The only reason I can think of for that kind of opinion about Phillips is his play on the PP. He has been dreadful on that powerplay and has been making tons of bad decisions, but - in his defense - the guy hasn't run the point on a powerplay since his days in Junior...Its natural that he is out of step.
I, quite frankly, don't want to give him more opportunities to get comfortable there...I want the 1st unit to have a forward on the point (Alfie being the only acceptable option) and another body in front (Fisher, Ruutu, or even Neil) and the 2nd unit to have Schubert and Picard (who has been hit-and-miss back there) manning the point. Why Winchester isn't on the 2nd unit, I have no idea; its the one decision Harts has made that I don't understand - although it could just be about a pecking order and letting him earn his way there.

Anyways, regardless of his offensive shortcomings, Phillips is a defensive stalwart. We are lucky to have a team with three such defenders as Phillips, Volchenkov, and Smith.

cash wrote:

Tukker wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Obviously not. The guy sounded like a moron from the very start of his paragraph.

can't argue there. Foligno is one of our most promising players. If only vermette played like Folgers.

Three things:
- I watch every single game; but w/e...your opinions mean sh*t..
- Vermette has only been with Spezza and Heatley for 3 games; while Foligno has been relegated to the 4th line for a reason. There was even an article in the Citizen about him on Friday. And nowhere in my comment did I claim that Foligno was expendable or that he wasn't a solid asset for this team. He will be a strong player and I like some things about his game, but recently he's been truly terrible and his TOI reflects it.
- I really don't know what to say to fans that think Phillips has been playing poorly in the past year. Its something I've heard before and invariably the fans making that claim know d*ck about judging defensive defensemen. Nothing could possibly prove more how little you know about properly watching and evaluating hockey than that. Phillips is the best defender on this team, whether you realize it or not.

Haha well 1, you could not have possible watched every single game, because last weekend there was no coverage all, so thats not true either.

The reason you dont know what to say to fans that think that about Phillips is because he has been awful! He has not played even close to the guy that was being considered for Canada's Olympic team 2 years ago, he loses one on one battles down low a lot more then he wins them, and on top of that his decision making has been awful in his own zone.

Vermette has been on Spezza's line since the 3rd period of the game here againt Florida, so thats 7 games in a row now.

Everything you have basically said is ignorant, ill informed, and basically made up a bunch of BS to try and prove an argument that is basically impossible to win.

Also, the fact you would not give up Phillips to get the league leader in minutes and one of the top 5 best young D men in the league is laughable.

cash wrote:

Tukker wrote:Phillips has looked bad all season. he's been out of place most every play, making bad decisions with the puck, and hasn't looked like he belongs on the top pairing, let alone the PP. we already have Volchenkov, who is looking smarter, and we already know has better hands. It may very well be true that Phillips is pissed about not getting the "C" when Alfredsson was out. Needless to say, his head doesn't look to be in the right frame.

I have no idea what your watching...no clue whatsoever.
The whole team was in disarray in the 2nd and 3rd week of the season, but they've been very strong since the Toronto game (not including last night) and the defensive coverage (forwards and defense) has been outstanding.
The only reason I can think of for that kind of opinion about Phillips is his play on the PP. He has been dreadful on that powerplay and has been making tons of bad decisions, but - in his defense - the guy hasn't run the point on a powerplay since his days in Junior...Its natural that he is out of step.
I, quite frankly, don't want to give him more opportunities to get comfortable there...I want the 1st unit to have a forward on the point (Alfie being the only acceptable option) and another body in front (Fisher, Ruutu, or even Neil) and the 2nd unit to have Schubert and Picard (who has been hit-and-miss back there) manning the point. Why Winchester isn't on the 2nd unit, I have no idea; its the one decision Harts has made that I don't understand - although it could just be about a pecking order and letting him earn his way there.

Anyways, regardless of his offensive shortcomings, Phillips is a defensive stalwart. We are lucky to have a team with three such defenders as Phillips, Volchenkov, and Smith.

It's not worth debating if you're ignore all perceptions but your own

Neely4Life wrote:Haha well 1, you could not have possible watched every single game, because last weekend there was no coverage all, so thats not true either.

The reason you dont know what to say to fans that think that about Phillips is because he has been awful! He has not played even close to the guy that was being considered for Canada's Olympic team 2 years ago, he loses one on one battles down low a lot more then he wins them, and on top of that his decision making has been awful in his own zone.

Vermette has been on Spezza's line since the 3rd period of the game here againt Florida, so thats 7 games in a row now.

Everything you have basically said is ignorant, ill informed, and basically made up a bunch of BS to try and prove an argument that is basically impossible to win.

Also, the fact you would not give up Phillips to get the league leader in minutes and one of the top 5 best young D men in the league is laughable.

Say what you will about Phillips, but he's cheap, he's a good leader and he's stepped up huge for us in the playoffs.

Bouwmeester has not proven to be any of those three.