GAME DAY #72: Senators @ Sabres - 7:00 pm - Friday, March 18 2016

SpezDispensed wrote:What's disappointing are these silly little winning streaks we have when we're out of it.  We need a star forward other than Stone and maybe Turris.

It's sad when Eichel is better than any of your forwards.

I don't think Bobby Ryan is "the" key to put him over the top but I'm quite happy to have him. A bit overpaid for what he brings at this point but if zib would reach his potential I'm sure it would show with helping Ryan. He's much better when playing with a good center. I think his best stretch this season was with Turris. We need a shake up for sure and an injection of talent.

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:What's disappointing are these silly little winning streaks we have when we're out of it.  We need a star forward other than Stone and maybe Turris.

It's sad when Eichel is better than any of your forwards.

I don't think Bobby Ryan is "the" key to put him over the top but I'm quite happy to have him. A bit overpaid for what he brings at this point but if zib would reach his potential I'm sure it would show with helping Ryan.  He's much better when playing with a good center. I think his best stretch this season was with Turris.  We need a shake up for sure and an injection of talent.

I hope he improves next year is all I can say. Very disappointing.

SpezDispensed wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:What's disappointing are these silly little winning streaks we have when we're out of it.  We need a star forward other than Stone and maybe Turris.

It's sad when Eichel is better than any of your forwards.

I don't think Bobby Ryan is "the" key to put him over the top but I'm quite happy to have him. A bit overpaid for what he brings at this point but if zib would reach his potential I'm sure it would show with helping Ryan.  He's much better when playing with a good center. I think his best stretch this season was with Turris.  We need a shake up for sure and an injection of talent.

I hope he improves next year is all I can say.  Very disappointing.

Every year that's what we all say. Let's match him with a centre(on more than 20 games, uhum turris) with which he can build chemistry with. Ryan hasn't been handled in the best possible way if you ask me. Cameron juggles so much he should get a red nose.

Wow, how many Senators must have the NCC (no-compete clause) in their contracts.

Yeah, the biggest problem I have with Ryan is his contract. He does appear to have sleepy legs or something. He should get together with Stone this summer. Stone isn't blessed with the best skating but somehow he manages.

Better coaching will help, especially for the special teams. We all had huge misgivings about Cameron from the very outset. He hasn't really done anything to change that opinion. Our PP is 0-24 or something like that. They went from being right around top-10 in the league to 25th (if not worse). I understand why our PK sucks, as we give up the most shots against. But the PP? Way to predictable, no imagination out there.

Bad starts. Poor first periods, first shots going in -- it's like the team is not prepared when the puck drops. Is that the coaching or is that the team leadership? Maybe it's all in who goes out for that first shift. Put out Mehot/Phaneuf-Neil-Lazar-Dzingel and hit everything in sight. I don't think a ref would call a late hit 10 seconds into the game, this is the best time to get away with a few.

Or is it conditioning? So the Sens simply not have it in them to skate a full 60 minutes? Maybe time to change up Schwartz and his group?

Did you know that the Sens employ a "Tactical Aggression Consultant"? Someone named Guy Ouelette. http://senators.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=49347 Certainly did not see any tactical aggression from this team for a while.

I agree that wholesale changes are coming. We're not prepared to start games, the conditioning appears poor.I doubt that majority of fans out there will he content with minor changes

If I keep hearing people lame the coach for "poor starts"..... Jesus, these guys are pros and know when the game starts. What a crock of Dung.

Anyway, I was on Ryan for his disappearing act last season. We'll see what next season brings if he can have some consistent linemates.

Turris and Stone are our only forwards that actually make their linemates better.

SpezDispensed wrote:I agree that wholesale changes are coming.  We're not prepared to start games,  the conditioning appears poor.I doubt that majority of fans out there will he content with minor changes

You're crazy if you think there will be big changes. Cameron is sticking around, and we'll have probably two different roster players next year. Keep in mind we were a playoff team until Turris got hurt. He's very important to this team.

tim1_2 wrote:If I keep hearing people lame the coach for "poor starts".....  Jesus, these guys are pros and know when the game starts. What a crock of Dung.

Anyway, I was on Ryan for his disappearing act last season. We'll see what next season brings if he can have some consistent linemates.

Turris and Stone are our only forwards that actually make their linemates better.

Pageau and, surprisingly, Neil.

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I agree that wholesale changes are coming.  We're not prepared to start games,  the conditioning appears poor.I doubt that majority of fans out there will he content with minor changes

You're crazy if you think there will be big changes. Cameron is sticking around, and we'll have probably two different roster players next year. Keep in mind we were a playoff team until Turris got hurt. He's very important to this team.

I'll take Julien once Boston cans him

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:What's disappointing are these silly little winning streaks we have when we're out of it.  We need a star forward other than Stone and maybe Turris.

It's sad when Eichel is better than any of your forwards.

I don't think Bobby Ryan is "the" key to put him over the top but I'm quite happy to have him. A bit overpaid for what he brings at this point but if zib would reach his potential I'm sure it would show with helping Ryan.  He's much better when playing with a good center. I think his best stretch this season was with Turris.  We need a shake up for sure and an injection of talent.

I hope he improves next year is all I can say.  Very disappointing.

Every year that's what we all say. Let's match him with a centre(on more than 20 games, uhum turris) with which he can build chemistry with. Ryan hasn't been handled in the best possible way if you ask me. Cameron juggles so much he should get a red nose.

He has to juggle because Murray hasn't given him the roster

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I agree that wholesale changes are coming.  We're not prepared to start games,  the conditioning appears poor.I doubt that majority of fans out there will he content with minor changes

You're crazy if you think there will be big changes. Cameron is sticking around, and we'll have probably two different roster players next year. Keep in mind we were a playoff team until Turris got hurt. He's very important to this team.

Maybe. But there might be a new gm and that might lead to some changes. We've been mediocre for quite some time

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I agree that wholesale changes are coming.  We're not prepared to start games,  the conditioning appears poor.I doubt that majority of fans out there will he content with minor changes

You're crazy if you think there will be big changes. Cameron is sticking around, and we'll have probably two different roster players next year. Keep in mind we were a playoff team until Turris got hurt. He's very important to this team.

Even though we were in a playoff spot (hell, we were a point back of Detroit for 2nd in the Atlantic with a game in hand) we were playing very poorly from a possession point of view. The analytics nerds were correct in saying that our team PDO (SV% plus SH%) were not sustainable. Giving up that many shots on goal would eventually lead to problems when our shooting percentage and goalies' save percentages regressed to the mean.

If Turris hadn't gotten injured, even MacArthur stayed healthy, we would have made the playoffs, sure. Very possibly even gotten home ice advantage in the first round. But we would have trouble getting past the first round.

This team has already moved Michalek, Greening and Cowen from the roster. Good chance that Wiercioch will not be qualified, either. One (if not both) of Hoffman and Smith will likely be playing on a different team. This team will be very different from the one that had that miracle run last year.

Cameron only got a 1 year extension and Murray hasn't decided yet if he'll be back. I'm not entirely convinced that returning is *his* choice.

Oglethorpe wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:What's disappointing are these silly little winning streaks we have when we're out of it.  We need a star forward other than Stone and maybe Turris.

It's sad when Eichel is better than any of your forwards.

I don't think Bobby Ryan is "the" key to put him over the top but I'm quite happy to have him. A bit overpaid for what he brings at this point but if zib would reach his potential I'm sure it would show with helping Ryan.  He's much better when playing with a good center. I think his best stretch this season was with Turris.  We need a shake up for sure and an injection of talent.

I hope he improves next year is all I can say.  Very disappointing.

Every year that's what we all say. Let's match him with a centre(on more than 20 games, uhum turris) with which he can build chemistry with. Ryan hasn't been handled in the best possible way if you ask me. Cameron juggles so much he should get a red nose.

He has to juggle because Murray hasn't given him the roster

He is not very good at juggling.

Who knows, maybe the analytics nerds *are* all right. What would it hurt to give their ideas a try since, clearly, the same-old is not working.

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I agree that wholesale changes are coming.  We're not prepared to start games,  the conditioning appears poor.I doubt that majority of fans out there will he content with minor changes

You're crazy if you think there will be big changes. Cameron is sticking around, and we'll have probably two different roster players next year. Keep in mind we were a playoff team until Turris got hurt. He's very important to this team.

Even though we were in a playoff spot (hell, we were a point back of Detroit for 2nd in the Atlantic with a game in hand) we were playing very poorly from a possession point of view.  The analytics nerds were correct in saying that our team PDO (SV% plus SH%) were not sustainable.  Giving up that many shots on goal would eventually lead to problems when our shooting percentage and goalies' save percentages regressed to the mean.

If Turris hadn't gotten injured, even MacArthur stayed healthy, we would have made the playoffs, sure.  Very possibly even gotten home ice advantage in the first round.  But we would have trouble getting past the first round.

This team has already moved Michalek, Greening and Cowen from the roster.  Good chance that Wiercioch will not be qualified, either.  One (if not both) of Hoffman and Smith will likely be playing on a different team.  This team will be very different from the one that had that miracle run last year.

Cameron only got a 1 year extension and Murray hasn't decided yet if he'll be back.  I'm not entirely convinced that returning is *his* choice.  

didn't Cameron get a two year?

Flo The Action wrote:

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:I agree that wholesale changes are coming.  We're not prepared to start games,  the conditioning appears poor.I doubt that majority of fans out there will he content with minor changes

You're crazy if you think there will be big changes. Cameron is sticking around, and we'll have probably two different roster players next year. Keep in mind we were a playoff team until Turris got hurt. He's very important to this team.

Even though we were in a playoff spot (hell, we were a point back of Detroit for 2nd in the Atlantic with a game in hand) we were playing very poorly from a possession point of view.  The analytics nerds were correct in saying that our team PDO (SV% plus SH%) were not sustainable.  Giving up that many shots on goal would eventually lead to problems when our shooting percentage and goalies' save percentages regressed to the mean.

If Turris hadn't gotten injured, even MacArthur stayed healthy, we would have made the playoffs, sure.  Very possibly even gotten home ice advantage in the first round.  But we would have trouble getting past the first round.

This team has already moved Michalek, Greening and Cowen from the roster.  Good chance that Wiercioch will not be qualified, either.  One (if not both) of Hoffman and Smith will likely be playing on a different team.  This team will be very different from the one that had that miracle run last year.

Cameron only got a 1 year extension and Murray hasn't decided yet if he'll be back.  I'm not entirely convinced that returning is *his* choice.  

didn't Cameron get a two year?

According to this site (who knew this info was available? I didn't) http://www.otherleague.com/contracts/nhl-head-coach-contracts-salaries/ Cameron has 2 years left.



It goes team, head coach, years left, salary (when available), former HC

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

SpezDispensed wrote:What's disappointing are these silly little winning streaks we have when we're out of it.  We need a star forward other than Stone and maybe Turris.

It's sad when Eichel is better than any of your forwards.

I don't think Bobby Ryan is "the" key to put him over the top but I'm quite happy to have him. A bit overpaid for what he brings at this point but if zib would reach his potential I'm sure it would show with helping Ryan.  He's much better when playing with a good center. I think his best stretch this season was with Turris.  We need a shake up for sure and an injection of talent.

I hope he improves next year is all I can say.  Very disappointing.

Every year that's what we all say. Let's match him with a centre(on more than 20 games, uhum turris) with which he can build chemistry with. Ryan hasn't been handled in the best possible way if you ask me. Cameron juggles so much he should get a red nose.

Hoffman-Turris-Ryan as the top line for the first 20 games?


Could go with this:

Hoff-Turris-Ryan
Mac-Zbad-Stone
Smith-JGP-Dzingel
Paul-Lazar-Neil
Chiasson

That spreads the scoring out fairly well. I don't know if Dzingel is the best option for that 3RW spot, but if JGP and Smith can play anywhere where they're playing this season, they'll be in fine shape on that line. I like having Stone on the second line. I think he can play with anyone. He's one of those players that doesn't need a "good center to get him going" like some people. He elevates the game of others around him. This would be an experiment to see if Ryan can perform under optimal circumstances. If he can't, they need to figure out what to do about him, cause that contract demands results.

Chiasson is the guy that fits in the least, IMO. He's likely to swap in and out with Neil. Obviously this is assuming Murray stands pat.

Trade: Zbad, Wiercioch, prospect for Drouin

Sign: Stamkos (because why not)

Hoffman-Stamkos-Ryan
Drouin-Turris-Stone
Smith-JGP-MacArthur
Paul-Lazar-Neil
Chiasson/Dzingel

I have Mac on the wrong side, but I think that line is competitive enough that they could cover that up, or he could be trade bait. There are a log of decent options for RWs in FA this off-season as well. Brouwer, Okposo, Stempniak are all available on the right side.

*Disclaimer* I do not believe the Sens will be signing Stamkos (and I know lots of you are wary about him), but you can't blame a guy for dreaming.