Mika Zibanejad has played roughly 10 games this season, before being sat out of yesterday's game. He only has one goal and a couple of assists.

He's had a few good shifts in a couple of games, but seems to fall down a lot for no reason, and seems to have a hard time holding onto the puck at times.

IMO he should spend some time in the AHL to get up to speed with the confined space of the NA sized ice. He's only going to be 20 years old in about two months, so it's a little early to expect big thing out of him at this time.
- Doppleganger

sounds like he should get the Kadri treatment

sounds like he should get the Kadri treatment
- senstroll

Hey he'll only be 20 in about a month, and there's no harm in spending time in the AHL. He's not doing to much right now at the NHL level, so why not send him down and let him play 20-25 minutes a game, in all situations and come in ready to go next September.

Remember it's a still a re-build here in Ottawa, we're not going to be contending for the Cup this season.

Hey he'll only be 20 in about a month, and there's no harm in spending time in the AHL. He's not doing to much right now at the NHL level, so why not send him down and let him play 20-25 minutes a game, in all situations and come in ready to go next September.

Remember it's a still a re-build here in Ottawa, we're not going to be contending for the Cup this season.
- Doppleganger

It's starting to look like it worked great with Kadri. I don't think that was a pot shot.

It's starting to look like it worked great with Kadri. I don't think that was a pot shot.
- Dirte

Did not take it as one, and I suggested a few posts back before they sat MZ for a game that he would benefit in the long run, by being sent back to the AHL, if he's not really needed here at the NHL level.

Both Grant & Dziurzynski seem better suited to the NHL than he does now.

Don't forget Silfverberg, he hasn't really done much either. But who would the Sens possibly fill the roster out with, at this point. They may not have the luxury of sending these guys down, as they don't have anyone else capable of playing in the NHL at this time.
- Dirte

When I first responded to this observation a little more than a month ago, I pointed out that he started slow at the AHL level last fall and is STILL the Binghamton Senators second leading point scorer, despite playing only 34 games.

He's really progressed a lot in the last 5 weeks or so, and is tied for the Senator's lead in goals and in plus/minus, and has been really successful in the shootout.

When I first responded to this observation a little more than a month ago, I pointed out that he started slow at the AHL level last fall and is STILL the Binghamton Senators second leading point scorer, despite playing only 34 games.

He's really progressed a lot in the last 5 weeks or so, and is tied for the Senator's lead in goals and in plus/minus, and has been really successful in the shootout.
- Doppleganger

No offense, but tied for the team lead for the Sens is not a big accomplishment at this point.

No offense, but tied for the team lead for the Sens is not a big accomplishment at this point.
- Dirte

With their top THREE points leaders from last season, gone for the season, or better part of it, it is important to get scoring from players moved up in the lineup, with the expectations to do so.

Also, with no offense intended, without their top THREE points leaders from last season, the Senators are currently ahead of your leafs who have had two of their top three points leaders from last season in the line up.

I as a Senators fan thought the team was done for the season once both Karlsson and Spezza were deemed gone for the remainder of the season.

So it is an "accomplishment " for a rookie like Jakob Silfverberg to step up and contribute at BOTH ends of the ice.

With their top THREE points leaders from last season, gone for the season, or better part of it, it is important to get scoring from players moved up in the lineup, with the expectations to do so.

Also, with no offense intended, without their top THREE points leaders from last season, the Senators are currently ahead of your leafs who have had two of their top three points leaders from last season in the line up.

I as a Senators fan thought the team was done for the season once both Karlsson and Spezza were deemed gone for the remainder of the season.

So it is an "accomplishment " for a rookie like Jakob Silfverberg to step up and contribute at BOTH ends of the ice.
- Doppleganger

This is all very nice and lovely. But 8 goals and 13 points is nothing to write home about.

This is all very nice and lovely. But 8 goals and 13 points is nothing to write home about.
- Dirte

There are only three other rookies with more goals in the league............and again no offense intended, toronto leading rookie goal scorer has only two.

I'll bet that by the end of the season Silfverberg will be in the top five of rookie scoring and might also be joined by another Senator rookie to boot.


Just wanted to point out, the topic in this thread is the Senators rebuild, so at least take that into consideration when you respond with another negative comment.

There are only three other rookies with more goals in the league............and again no offense intended, toronto leading rookie goal scorer has only two.

I'll bet that by the end of the season Silfverberg will be in the top five of rookie scoring and might also be joined by another Senator rookie to boot.


Just wanted to point out, the topic in this thread is the Senators rebuild, so at least take that into consideration when you respond with another negative comment.
- Doppleganger

This certainly is a very irrational statement from someone who has professed about the merits of Cowen making it (being pushed into) the NHL at a young age, only to point out his point totals at 22, when the Leafs have a 22 year old with well over twice the points, and a 23 year old with almost twice the number of goals.

This certainly is a very irrational statement from someone who has professed about the merits of Cowen making it (being pushed into) the NHL at a young age, only to point out his point totals at 22, when the Leafs have a 22 year old with well over twice the points, and a 23 year old with almost twice the number of goals.
- Dirte

Man, you really are way off base with that pathetic post. Clearly you are only posting to trash anything Senator related.

First of all Cowen was not "pushed" in to the NHL, he came to camp in his rookie year, and made the team. He was ready for the NHL, no if and or butts about it.

If you want to look at an example of player who was"pushed" into the NHL, Kadri comes to mind in 2010-11. He failed miserably in his rookie year, and ended up in the AHL for the rest of that season.


Silfverberg is leading his team in goals, plus/minus and is the team's go to guy in the Shootout all in his rookie season. He plays strongly in both ends of the ice.

Compare him to Kadri all you want, but Kadri is not a rookie, he has 83 NHL games under his belt while Silfverberg has only 32. Kadri was a selected 7th overall, while Silfverberg was selected 39th in the same draft.

The leafs don't have a rookie anywhere close to Silfverberg, so stop with the comparisons that are ridiculous to say the least.

Man, you really are way off base with that pathetic post. Clearly you are only posting to trash anything Senator related.

First of all Cowen was not "pushed" in to the NHL, he came to camp in his rookie year, and made the team. He was ready for the NHL, no if and or butts about it.

If you want to look at an example of player who was"pushed" into the NHL, Kadri comes to mind in 2010-11. He failed miserably in his rookie year, and ended up in the AHL for the rest of that season.


Silfverberg is leading his team in goals, plus/minus and is the team's go to guy in the Shootout all in his rookie season. He plays strongly in both ends of the ice.

Compare him to Kadri all you want, but Kadri is not a rookie, he has 83 NHL games under his belt while Silfverberg has only 32. Kadri was a selected 7th overall, while Silfverberg was selected 39th in the same draft.

The leafs don't have a rookie anywhere close to Silfverberg, so stop with the comparisons that are ridiculous to say the least.
- Doppleganger

LOL. one less point in three less games than Silfverberg has now. "Failed miserably".

Interestingly, however, you felt earlier that it was "pro games" that were key.

When Cowen finsihed his last game in Junior, the Senators were not in the playoffs, so he stepped right into the heat of the Binghamton Senators Calder Cup playoff run and those are the only 10 AHL games he played prior to his first full NHL season last year. Yes He played 3 more in Binghamton last year because of the lockout. But when compared to Kadri who has bounced back and forth between the NHL and AHL. one could say that Cowen was NHL ready right out of junior in 2011, while Kadri has been a work in progress since his last junior game in 2010.

Trying to compare who might win the Calder over Kadri this year, IF he was eligible is a totally false premise. Kadri had 181 professional games under his belt before this season started. So with that much of a head start (professionally) over Calder contenders such as Huberdeau (Zero pro games prior to this season), Yakupov (22 games in KHL prior to this season), Kreider (35 games in AHL prior to this season) and Schultz (34games in AHL prior to this season) is really trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole to somehow prove to yourself that Kadri would have been a Calder contender.

It's so much a stretch of logic that it's ridiculous.
- Doppleganger

Yet now, you're trying to compare Silfverberg, who has more pro games than every player listed above, including Kadri, you're changing your tune. You really need to work on your logic and rationale.

Also interesting is your commentary on Cowen being ready out of the gate, and now, that doesn't seem to matter that it's taken Silfverberg 4 1/2 seasons of professional hockey.

Your "logic" is frequently incredibly skewed.

LOL. one less point in three less games than Silfverberg has now. "Failed miserably".

Interestingly, however, you felt earlier that it was "pro games" that were key.



Yet now, you're trying to compare Silfverberg, who has more pro games than every player listed above, including Kadri, you're changing your tune. You really need to work on your logic and rationale.

Also interesting is your commentary on Cowen being ready out of the gate, and now, that doesn't seem to matter that it's taken Silfverberg 4 1/2 seasons of professional hockey.

Your "logic" is frequently incredibly skewed.
- Dirte

SPIN SPIN SPIN.......... you're the one who is comparing Silfverberg to those players, I only compared him to the rookies on the leafs..........................................regardless, Silfverberg is having a good rookie season so far, and if you want to compare it to Kadri's bomb of a rookie season, then go ahead.

Silfverberg is NOT going to be sent to the AHL this season, like Kadri was in his rookie season in 2010-11, and will not be sent to the AHL next season either, as Kadri was in 2011-12 in his second failed attempt to make the NHL.

SPIN SPIN SPIN.......... you're the one who is comparing Silfverberg to those players, I only compared him to the rookies on the leafs..........................................regardless, Silfverberg is having a good rookie season so far, and if you want to compare it to Kadri's bomb of a rookie season, then go ahead.

Silfverberg is NOT going to be sent to the AHL this season, like Kadri was in his rookie season in 2010-11, and will not be sent to the AHL next season either, as Kadri was in 2011-12 in his second failed attempt to make the NHL.
- Doppleganger

Perhaps I need to spell this out for you. You suggested, when I compared Kadri to the rookies of this year, earlier in the thread (because he missed eligibility by four games), that Kadri was at a big advantage, because he's played 181 professional games prior to this season.

Can you explain to me, why the same does not apply to Silfverberg, who has played even more professional games than Kadri?

Perhaps I need to spell this out for you. You suggested, when I compared Kadri to the rookies of this year, earlier in the thread (because he missed eligibility by four games), that Kadri was at a big advantage, because he's played 181 professional games prior to this season.

Can you explain to me, why the same does not apply to Silfverberg, who has played even more professional games than Kadri?
- Dirte

playing in europe isnt the same as playing the ahl. There is always an adjustment period for young european players.

playing in europe isnt the same as playing the ahl. There is always an adjustment period for young european players.
- sens rock

Mr Ganger suggested that playing 181 pro games put him at an advantage over those other players. Now he's suggesting that Silfverberg, and his 200 or so pro games is not at an advantage. Surely he can explain why the pro games don't matter in Silfverberg's case, but they do in everyone else's.

Perhaps I need to spell this out for you. You suggested, when I compared Kadri to the rookies of this year, earlier in the thread (because he missed eligibility by four games), that Kadri was at a big advantage, because he's played 181 professional games prior to this season.

Can you explain to me, why the same does not apply to Silfverberg, who has played even more professional games than Kadri?
- Dirte

Are you valuing games in the SEL on an equal basis with games in the NHL or the AHL, or both?

Are you valuing games in the SEL on an equal basis with games in the NHL or the AHL, or both?
- Doppleganger

You were when you said "professional games". Or, is the SEL no longer professional?

Mr Ganger suggested that playing 181 pro games put him at an advantage over those other players. Now he's suggesting that Silfverberg, and his 200 or so pro games is not at an advantage. Surely he can explain why the pro games don't matter in Silfverberg's case, but they do in everyone else's.
- Dirte

Are you really that lacking in common sense, that someone has to point out the differences between the SEL and the AHL or the NHL?

Are you really that lacking in common sense, that someone has to point out the differences between the SEL and the AHL or the NHL?
- Doppleganger

You told everyone that you felt that Kadri's 181 pro games put him at a disadvantage. Are you suggesting the SEL isn't pro? Or just not very good pro hockey?

You told everyone that you felt that Kadri's 181 pro games put him at a disadvantage. Are you suggesting the SEL isn't pro? Or just not very good pro hockey?
- Dirte

not a pro league

Elitserien, (also known as the Swedish Elite League or the SEL, as it is often unofficially called in English[1]) is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden. It is the highest-level ice hockey league in Sweden[2] and, based on average player salaries in 2006, is ranked as the fourth highest paying professional ice hockey league in the world (behind the National Hockey League, Russian Superleague (now the KHL), and the Czech Extraliga)

when Silfverberg was doing well in the SEL it was a pro league, but for this argument, dopps has to change his strategy to somehow prove its not worthy of the "pro" designation.

Just like how kadri "bombed" out with 19 points in 50 games before this season, which is almost exactly the same pace Silfverberg is at with 13 points in 33 games, but is doing well. we will ignore the fact he may not even be getting top line minutes if not for injuries.

not a pro league




when Silfverberg was doing well in the SEL it was a pro league, but for this argument, dopps has to change his strategy to somehow prove its not worthy of the "pro" designation.

Just like how kadri "bombed" out with 19 points in 50 games before this season, which is almost exactly the same pace Silfverberg is at with 13 points in 33 games, but is doing well. we will ignore the fact he may not even be getting top line minutes if not for injuries.
- senstroll

Before you jump in to defend your buddy. It's his contention that "if not for four games in his rookie season" he would be contending for the Calder this season.

He totally forgot about the 21 games he played for the leafs in the season after he lost his Calder eligibility.

Do you really want to accompany him down that road?

not a pro league




when Silfverberg was doing well in the SEL it was a pro league, but for this argument, dopps has to change his strategy to somehow prove its not worthy of the "pro" designation.

Just like how kadri "bombed" out with 19 points in 50 games before this season, which is almost exactly the same pace Silfverberg is at with 13 points in 33 games, but is doing well. we will ignore the fact he may not even be getting top line minutes if not for injuries.
- senstroll

Yes, see, that’s the flipside. If he’d like to argue the SEL is so much worse, it’s very easy to comment on how whatever awards or accomplishments he has over there means crap, and hence, he’s shown nothing more than a 30 point scoring pace (over a full season) by age 22. Wait, how did Kadri do at age 19?

Before you jump in to defend your buddy. It's his contention that "if not for four games in his rookie season" he would be contending for the Calder this season.

He totally forgot about the 21 games he played for the leafs in the season after he lost his Calder eligibility.

Do you really want to accompany him down that road?
- Doppleganger

Ummm, no I didn't. It's 25 games in ONE season. 21 <<< 25.

Ummm, no I didn't. It's 25 games in ONE season. 21 <<< 25.
- Dirte

Is it still your contention that "if not for those 4 extra games" in Kadri's rookie season, that he would be in contention for the Calder this season?