I think everyone needs to take a deep breathe here. If you had asked me what a sucessful start would have been prior to the season, I would have said .500. So far we have only played one team that won't make the playoffs and all the games have been on the road. Last night was the only game we were out of it and that was a set up. The sens probably would have lost to anyone under those circumstances.
Sure, some guys haven't looked great but we are only at game 5.
This is no time to jump to conclusions.
- Charliebox

Well said. I tried stating the same on another thread but got fleeced in the process. In the end, I'm reluctant to push the panic button after 5 games. They've yet to play a home game and historically these western road swings have been brutal for the Sens in the past. Their record against this opposition has not been exemplary. In addition, San Jose, Anaheim and L.A. have three losses combined in 16 games. Yes, Ottawa could have played much better but they were facing the behemoths of the West. I think an informed opinion might come after twenty games. I do agree that some line juggling might be necessary but I'm not ready to throw Spezza, Pageau, Da Costa and others to the wolves just yet.

No doubt Pageau should be in the AHL. Not a 4th line player and not good enough for 3rd line duties yet. Caught lightning in a bottle last year and will be good in time.

Furthermore, DaCosta is not an NHL player. Wont ever be IMO. Not suited to play bottom 6 either.

Say what you will about MZ, but the two players who 'beat him for his spot (Bryan Murray' look like complete duds. MZ is better suited, better build and more NHL ready than any other player they have in the minors. That begs the question, how about Jim Obrien for the 4th line role with MZ taking third line center. JOB is already being paid NHL money and has proven he can log 4th line minutes without hurting his team...
- BodyCheckRadio

Would JOB have to go through re entry waivers though? A team on an internal cap may nab him in that case. But you never know, he's pretty typical as a decent 4liner.

Would JOB have to go through re entry waivers though? A team on an internal cap may nab him in that case. But you never know, he's pretty typical as a decent 4liner.
- david22

Probably would have to yeah. I dont think they are DESPERATE for JOB, and I dont think JOB would come in a save the day, but its win win. If he clears, then great, he's a serviceable 4th liner. If he's nabbed, oh well. Like I said, WIN-WIN.

#FreeMika

#FreeJOB

I don't know why Michalek has to be tied onto Spezza's wing. The guy by far the least impressive of our big 3 of Spezza, Ryan, and Michalek (with Ryan playing the best so far). If I had a dime for every time I saw Michalek swing and miss for a shot this road trip, I'd be buying this team from Melnyk.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I agree but were would you slot in Michalek? With Pageau and Condra? I do think that Turris and Ryan have potential along with MacArthur. It leaves Conacher and Greening to play with Spezza. If Spezza is playing hurt, it might be best to have him play third line minutes and let Turris carry the load for awhile.

Forgetting about the way they've been dominated in the past couple games, if you told me we could go 2-2-2 on this road trip, I think I'd be pretty happy with that. If we beat Phoenix tomorrow night, that's the record. Not bad for the toughest road trip of the year.

However, the month of October is a brutal one for the sens. After playing NJ and EDM at home, they play Detroit, Anaheim and San Jose again, and then Chicago. Who the hell made this schedule????

Probably would have to yeah. I dont think they are DESPERATE for JOB, and I dont think JOB would come in a save the day, but its win win. If he clears, then great, he's a serviceable 4th liner. If he's nabbed, oh well. Like I said, WIN-WIN.

#FreeMika

#FreeJOB
- BodyCheckRadio

Yeah that's a good point. Not a huge loss if someone else nabs him, since he;s not on the team now anyway, and really, he's an NhLer who does deserve it.

I'd like to see Mika up ASAP though.

Forgetting about the way they've been dominated in the past couple games, if you told me we could go 2-2-2 on this road trip, I think I'd be pretty happy with that. If we beat Phoenix tomorrow night, that's the record. Not bad for the toughest road trip of the year.

However, the month of October is a brutal one for the sens. After playing NJ and EDM at home, they play Detroit, Anaheim and San Jose again, and then Chicago. Who the hell made this schedule????
- Jordo

So that must mean we have some easier teams later in the schedule...right?

So that must mean we have some easier teams later in the schedule...right?
- david22

Yeah- but tough way to start a season. If your schedule is front loaded with tough teams and you struggle out of the gate, it can sometimes be hard to regroup.

Yeah- but tough way to start a season. If your schedule is front loaded with tough teams and you struggle out of the gate, it can sometimes be hard to regroup.
- Jordo

Hopefully, playing Anaheim and San Jose so soon after the Sens got their a$$es spanked will give them added motivation to play well and avoid additional embarrassment. If the Sens need an incentive to play Detroit, then the team has serious issues.

Hopefully, playing Anaheim and San Jose so soon after the Sens got their a$$es spanked will give them added motivation to play well and avoid additional embarrassment. If the Sens need an incentive to play Detroit, then the team has serious issues.
- van halen

hope so. kind of like getting ur butt kicked by a brutal work out session, only to return next week and finding your old routine to be easy.

but, still think there are major deficiencies in this line up that need to be addressed, and remain skeptical whether they can be addressed internally. faith in the kaiser as always. bless the stache

No we meant to say David Clarkson, Wendell Clark 2.0. Sorry for the confusion.
please also remind me again of the Daryl Sittler greatest night in NHL history game.
- tuna99

Sure, watched it on TV, it was a grand event. Lost in all of the Sittler heroics, was Salmings Hat-trick and multipoint game. I really did enjoy the "Bless You Boys Game", when the Leafs where down 3 - 2 and down 2 - 0 to the Sens in the Corel Centre. I actually had good seats for that one, watching Gary Roberts and the boys come all of the way back and make the Sens fan's cry. It was a real highlight in Leafs history.

Sure, watched it on TV, it was a grand event. Lost in all of the Sittler heroics, was Salmings Hat-trick and multipoint game. I really did enjoy the "Bless You Boys Game", when the Leafs where down 3 - 2 and down 2 - 0 to the Sens in the Corel Centre. I actually had good seats for that one, watching Gary Roberts and the boys come all of the way back and make the Sens fan's cry. It was a real highlight in Leafs history.
- PrinceLH

were u able to go to boston to witness this complete collapse as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXODen6k2cs

i know, i know, 1967.... 1967 forever baby!

Yeah- but tough way to start a season. If your schedule is front loaded with tough teams and you struggle out of the gate, it can sometimes be hard to regroup.
- Jordo

Struggled out of the gate in 0607. Caught fire late, went to the cup finals. So it can go either way.

It's a long season. I'd prefer a slow start to a slow finish myself.

were u able to go to boston to witness this complete collapse as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXODen6k2cs

i know, i know, 1967.... 1967 forever baby!
- sen_smile

It's all good.....I saw the 1967 game on T.V. I really don't think that anyone's left alive when the Ottawa Silver 7 won the Cup. So I guess you haven't seen an Ottawa hockey team hoist the Cup.

On last years loss to Boston, it's a rally cry to be better this year. We have allot to prove and we intend on doing it. We aren't content on beating up some Montreal Midgets and calling it a year. We can do that during the regular season and save some energy to take out the Bruins and Wings.

It's all good.....I saw the 1967 game on T.V. I really don't think that anyone's left alive when the Ottawa Silver 7 won the Cup. So I guess you haven't seen an Ottawa hockey team hoist the Cup.

On last years loss to Boston, it's a rally cry to be better this year. We have allot to prove and we intend on doing it. We aren't content on beating up some Montreal Midgets and calling it a year. We can do that during the regular season and save some energy to take out the Bruins and Wings.
- PrinceLH

best of luck. toronto does look better this year. acquisitions seem to be working out. time will tell.

GO SENS

best of luck. toronto does look better this year. acquisitions seem to be working out. time will tell.

GO SENS
- sen_smile

Yes, we are better, but we need another good right shooting defenseman and maybe an upgrade at centre. It wouldn't hurt to also pick up another good defensive 4th line winger. When you play a team like Detroit, they don't have tough guys that'll drop the gloves. After watching them beat Boston today, they play a dogged defensive game and rarely give up on a play. I'm not sure how they'd react to a hard hitting, rough game, in a playoff series. I'm not convinced that they'll be able to hold it together for a full 82 game schedule. They pushed the Hawks to 7 games, but it was a shortened season and the older wings had enough gas in the tank, last season. They aren't any younger, with Alfie on the team.

The Sens will turn it around, once they get home. They just need a tweak or two.

Yes, we are better, but we need another good right shooting defenseman and maybe an upgrade at centre. It wouldn't hurt to also pick up another good defensive 4th line winger. When you play a team like Detroit, they don't have tough guys that'll drop the gloves. After watching them beat Boston today, they play a dogged defensive game and rarely give up on a play. I'm not sure how they'd react to a hard hitting, rough game, in a playoff series. I'm not convinced that they'll be able to hold it together for a full 82 game schedule. They pushed the Hawks to 7 games, but it was a shortened season and the older wings had enough gas in the tank, last season. They aren't any younger, with Alfie on the team.

The Sens will turn it around, once they get home. They just need a tweak or two.
- PrinceLH

well said. we need a healthy spezza and a serious revamping on defence. its gross how poor our defence has been playing, and im not sure we can address this problem internally, at least not all of it. i'd like to see us a sign another top 6, but this isnt supposed to be "our" year, so i doubt melynk will open up his wallet, just as i doubt how much $ he even has in his wallet altogether. our goaltending is very solid, and can eventually be used to bring in more talent. we also have an abundance of centers. u guys wanna trade for da costa?

This kind of puts what Turris (and, MacArthur) are doing vs. everyone else.

Ideal is big-blue / top / left. Worst possible is big-red / low / right.

What the hell is wrong with Karlsson? He didn't look great against T.O. - obviously he's not big and doesn't take the body but usually he's positional and has a good stick. Is his foot that bad? He looked ssssssssssssssslow against Toronto.

Also how is MacArthur? Anybody questioning his presence yet?

What the hell is wrong with Karlsson? He didn't look great against T.O. - obviously he's not big and doesn't take the body but usually he's positional and has a good stick. Is his foot that bad? He looked ssssssssssssssslow against Toronto.

Also how is MacArthur? Anybody questioning his presence yet?
- Garnie

Keep sipping the Carlye kool-aid, MacArthur has been one the best Sens so far, looks great with Turris.

Keep sipping the Carlye kool-aid, MacArthur has been one the best Sens so far, looks great with Turris.
- Talkshowhost

Wouldn't call it carlye kool aid. He's very hit and miss, not a bad hockey player by any means but he can be very streaky forsure.

Wouldn't call it carlye kool aid. He's very hit and miss, not a bad hockey player by any means but he can be very streaky forsure.
- LeafsFan64

ah, good thing they didn't go out and get a streaky player at 5.75 million to replace him.

ah, good thing they didn't go out and get a streaky player at 5.75 million to replace him.
- Talkshowhost

Sorry for having an input. I like what Clarksons going to bring to the table, obviously they had to pay to get him buy oh well. Sens were reported to be in the hunt for him too.

Sorry for having an input. I like what Clarksons going to bring to the table, obviously they had to pay to get him buy oh well. Sens were reported to be in the hunt for him too.
- LeafsFan64

yeah they were, he spent a day in ottawa apprently. he's also friends with Spezza I have heard. But I'm glad they didn't get him at that lenght of a contract, personally.

yeah they were, he spent a day in ottawa apprently. he's also friends with Spezza I have heard. But I'm glad they didn't get him at that lenght of a contract, personally.
- Talkshowhost

I'm not looking forward to the last years of the contract.