Brendan Bell called up by the Sens

DashRiprock wrote:Well, you can't rotate benching players, that doesn't make a point. You bench a player that deserves to be benched, not just arbitrarily choose someone to bench for the sake of benching. If you bench, say Shuchert, and everyone plays well, then Schubert remains scratched. Not unti lsomeone else falters then does he get back into rotation. That's how you do it, if you're going to do it at all.

I haven't seen many games, thanks to the joys of living in Toronto, so I can't really comment on whether Shubert deserves to not play or if it is merely a numbers game.

Someone made a good point about having Schubert play as your forward and filling in on defence for when one of the defenceman gets a penalty, or worse gets injured, then you place Schubert in as to not have to split up your pairings.

But right now, Ottawa really only has 4 NHL calibre offensive defenceman, and two of them are in the AHL (Bell and Lee), with Picard and Kuba the other two.

You bench someone for poor play, but then you give them a chance to redeem themselves. So it "looks like" a rotation, because everyone gets to sit once. However repeat offenders will stay longer, so it ceases being a rotation at that point.

And I'd sit Vermette before Schubert.

Tukker wrote:What is Volchie doing wrong?

Nothing? Why?

DashRiprock wrote:

Tukker wrote:What is Volchie doing wrong?

Nothing? Why?

"But right now, Ottawa really only has 4 NHL calibre offensive
defenceman, and two of them are in the AHL (Bell and Lee), with Picard
and Kuba the other two."

that's implying volchie isnt NHL caliber

Tukker wrote:

DashRiprock wrote:

Tukker wrote:What is Volchie doing wrong?

Nothing? Why?

"But right now, Ottawa really only has 4 NHL calibre offensive
defenceman, and two of them are in the AHL (Bell and Lee), with Picard
and Kuba the other two."

that's implying volchie isnt NHL caliber

Volchie's not an offensive d-man... he's a shut down d-man like Phillips.

oops, i didnt read offensive, my mistake

DashRiprock wrote:Well, you can't rotate benching players, that doesn't make a point. You bench a player that deserves to be benched, not just arbitrarily choose someone to bench for the sake of benching. If you bench, say Shuchert, and everyone plays well, then Schubert remains scratched. Not unti lsomeone else falters then does he get back into rotation. That's how you do it, if you're going to do it at all.

I haven't seen many games, thanks to the joys of living in Toronto, so I can't really comment on whether Shubert deserves to not play or if it is merely a numbers game.

Someone made a good point about having Schubert play as your forward and filling in on defence for when one of the defenceman gets a penalty, or worse gets injured, then you place Schubert in as to not have to split up your pairings.

But right now, Ottawa really only has 4 NHL calibre offensive defenceman, and two of them are in the AHL (Bell and Lee), with Picard and Kuba the other two.

I don't mean it that way. I mean that there are enough tourists on this team to actually take turns in the press box. Something has to be done to put some fear into these guys.

Tukker wrote:

shabbs wrote:Bell has been called up to help on the PP.

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Senators/2008/11/16/7430606.html

Who will sit? Hmmmmm...

Shubert, no question

Although I believe you're right; I'd prefer to see Picard sit personally. THAT would show some accountability.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
Although I believe you're right; I'd prefer to see Picard sit personally. THAT would show some accountability.

Early in the year I'd agree with you 100% (more, if it were physically possible). However since he's bee teamed up with Kuba he has started playing much better. Is he good enough to lug the big minutes alongside Kuba? Perhaps not, but we're not exactly swimming in defensemen on this team. I prefer him over Schubert for 20+ minutes per night, and I'm not willing to scrap the whole experiment and start over to see if Lee would do any better (with Kuba).

The ironic thing, if Bell works out well, then when Lee is ready to resume the path he started last year, we *would be* swimming in defensemen. Say what you will about Phillips not having a great year, he and A-Train are still a very solid shutdown pair. Kuba and Picard are working out quite well offensively, and defensively they are decent to say the least (Kuba is leading the team with +4, and aside from the Montreal game, Picard is +4 in his last 10). Then you have Smith/Lee/Bell fighting for third pairing minutes, with Schubert filling in as required. And you still have Karlsson(x2) developing on the farm.

By the way, Bell was a solid prospect but injuries early on derailed his development. He's tearing it up, offensively, second in scoring on the team behind Zubov. This is a team with Lee (a top-half first round draft pick) in the lineup. Not too shabby.

If Bell impresses (and given our D situation, how can he not?) then Schubert and Vermette might be on the block. Two fairly valuable pieces, IMO, and should be at least the start for a decent trade. Maybe Vermett+Schubert+Bell for Bouwmeester?

I'd do that trade. Then if Kuba demands too much then you have plenty of room to work a longterm deal out with Jay Bow :D

I'd like to see Smith or Picard sat in lieu of Schubert.

If you sit Picard, Bell gets more minutes, but Smith has been the worse player lately. It's a coinflip for me, but still most likely Schubert has a seat.