Jared Crozier: Game Day: Senators @ Panthers

THis is one of those "should win" games.

Panthers still have a lot of injuries. 4-2 Sens, with an empty netter.

it makes no sense to take lazar out for neil.

neil has been a trooper for this team for a long time but he no longer brings anything to this team. he's as good as gone at the end of the year......he's gotten his 1000 games now let him ride off into the sunset.

lazar is struggling, no doubt, but sitting in the press box isn't going to help that. let him play, so he can work out whatever is wrong and get his game back. he hasn't been worse than neil so let him play through this slump.

it makes no sense to take lazar out for neil.

neil has been a trooper for this team for a long time but he no longer brings anything to this team. he's as good as gone at the end of the year......he's gotten his 1000 games now let him ride off into the sunset.

lazar is struggling, no doubt, but sitting in the press box isn't going to help that. let him play, so he can work out whatever is wrong and get his game back. he hasn't been worse than neil so let him play through this slump.
- sensarmy_11

Agreed, i'd rather see Lazar spend some time with Wingels, at least temporarily.

Agreed, i'd rather see Lazar spend some time with Wingels, at least temporarily.
- david22

I want to see him get some minutes with more offensive minded players, see if they can help him put up some points and maybe get some of his offensive confidence back.

I want to see him get some minutes with more offensive minded players, see if they can help him put up some points and maybe get some of his offensive confidence back.
- sensarmy_11

Totally agree with you, playing on the fourth line with Kelly and Neil doesn't
help the lack of point production for Lazar. Sitting Neil and playing kelly-Lazar-Wingels
would be my choice.

Totally agree with you, playing on the fourth line with Kelly and Neil doesn't
help the lack of point production for Lazar. Sitting Neil and playing kelly-Lazar-Wingels
would be my choice.
- ShaneP22

honestly, my choice would be to put pyatt on that line (with Kelly and wingels) and put lazar up with pageau and hoffman

couple of game in hand, trade deadline approaching. I would put Lazar on top lines, pp, offensive F/O....I would do anything to boost his points.

couple of game in hand, trade deadline approaching. I would put Lazar on top lines, pp, offensive F/O....I would do anything to boost his points.
- SENSpatriot

Ottawa is doing to lazar pretty much exactly what phoenix did to turris......they're putting him with 4th line plugs, very limited minutes, largely in defensive roles. not saying that lazar is or will be as good as turris, but he certainly won't improve playing 5 minutes a night with Kelly and neil.

Ottawa is doing to lazar pretty much exactly what phoenix did to turris......they're putting him with 4th line plugs, very limited minutes, largely in defensive roles. not saying that lazar is or will be as good as turris, but he certainly won't improve playing 5 minutes a night with Kelly and neil.
- sensarmy_11

Agreed, but what combinations would you go with?


Dzingel Pageau Lazar could be interesting.


Ryan seems to be producing right now so I wouldn't bump him, ditto with Hoffman and Stone.

it makes no sense to take lazar out for neil.

neil has been a trooper for this team for a long time but he no longer brings anything to this team. he's as good as gone at the end of the year......he's gotten his 1000 games now let him ride off into the sunset.

lazar is struggling, no doubt, but sitting in the press box isn't going to help that. let him play, so he can work out whatever is wrong and get his game back. he hasn't been worse than neil so let him play through this slump.
- sensarmy_11

Sometimes a kid (or even a veteran for that matter) just needs to watch from above and see things from a different perspective for a game or two when they are struggling. It wouldn't be the first time it has happened and they don't have the option to send him down to the minors any more.

[quote=david22]Agreed, but what combinations would you go with?


my combinations would be :

Dzingel-Turris-Stone
Smith-Brass-Ryan
Hoffman-Pageau-Lazar
Pyatt-Kelly-Wingels / Neil

I disagree Jared. Lazar gets enough time 'watching' the game from the bench. Sitting in the nose-bleed section won't improve his game or 'attitude' one iota. He needs to play with better players for a few games in a row, only then can you truly get a sense of what he can do. Sadly, although most of us agree on giving Lazar a decent opportunity, the only guy that matters (Boucher) seems quite content to ruin any hope that still exists. If only we, the fans, had a voice!

Ottawa is doing to lazar pretty much exactly what phoenix did to turris......they're putting him with 4th line plugs, very limited minutes, largely in defensive roles. not saying that lazar is or will be as good as turris, but he certainly won't improve playing 5 minutes a night with Kelly and neil.
- sensarmy_11

The difference between Turris and Lazar is that Turris had no problem whatsoever being an effective scoring line player in the AHL, and generally showed improvement in his production every year. Conversely, Lazar has essentially regressed over his first 3 seasons, has failed to score at any kind of a significant rate in either the AHL or NHL, and can barely make a compelling case to be in the lineup ahead of a 37yo Chris Neil. That last point should barely be possible for a player of Lazar's potential after 3 seasons and 170GP in the NHL.

The only reason I would even consider playing Lazar anywhere other than the 4th line is for trade purposes. Even then, I strongly suspect that the only GM's willing to give up anything remotely substantial for Lazar would be doing so almost 100% in spite of what he's done or will do on the ice this year.

I recall some similar talk last season about a kid named Drouin. Not saying Lazar is on par, but given the same opportunity Drouin got, perhaps Lazar could turn things around. Although it will NEVER happen playing 5 minutes a game with Neil & Kelly.

Even after getting his 1st assist and some hard work in front of the net, he sat. Why?

[quote=david22]Agreed, but what combinations would you go with?


my combinations would be :

Dzingel-Turris-Stone
Smith-Brass-Ryan
Hoffman-Pageau-Lazar
Pyatt-Kelly-Wingels / Neil
- ShaneP22

i like this line-up

Lazar has no role on the team. He doesn't even play PK

Maybe convince him to take a 2 week AHL conditioning stint.

Other than Neil and Kelly, every other forward deserves more ice time. They can't afford to waste the time by seeing if it works on a higher line

How did the discussion go when they called him up? I'd love to know. It was clear Pyatt already took the role that Lazar may have had

Lazar has no role on the team. He doesn't even play PK

Maybe convince him to take a 2 week AHL conditioning stint.

Other than Neil and Kelly, every other forward deserves more ice time. They can't afford to waste the time by seeing if it works on a higher line

How did the discussion go when they called him up? I'd love to know. It was clear Pyatt already took the role that Lazar may have had
- Ottawa Fan

That's incredibly shortsighted thinking.......this team is not a contender right now and devdeveloping lazar is better for our future (whether it's to have him in the lineup or as trade bait) then playing pyatt, Neil, or kelly.

So lazar out and Neil in.......dumb decision

Lazar has no role on the team. He doesn't even play PK

Maybe convince him to take a 2 week AHL conditioning stint.

Other than Neil and Kelly, every other forward deserves more ice time. They can't afford to waste the time by seeing if it works on a higher line

How did the discussion go when they called him up? I'd love to know. It was clear Pyatt already took the role that Lazar may have had
- Ottawa Fan

Just send him down on waivers, not like anyone would claim him.

That's incredibly shortsighted thinking.......this team is not a contender right now and devdeveloping lazar is better for our future (whether it's to have him in the lineup or as trade bait) then playing pyatt, Neil, or kelly.
- sensarmy_11

Would you rather Lazar find his game (which isn't a garuntee) or make the playoffs?

That's incredibly shortsighted thinking.......this team is not a contender right now and devdeveloping lazar is better for our future (whether it's to have him in the lineup or as trade bait) then playing pyatt, Neil, or kelly.
- sensarmy_11

Gavinator had a great response above

Not a contender right now? So let's give up on season and move Lazar to the top line

Lazar playing 5 minutes a night is a waste. How do you recommend developing him? Who gets less ice time? Explain that to some of the forwards who have been carrying the team all season. Pyatt is playing more because Pyatt is better right now

The Sens gave a terrible excuse that they needed to call him up because of injuries. To play 5 minutes a night and burn his AHL eligibility before waivers? You can find players on the street right now who are better than Lazar

Gavinator had a great response above

Not a contender right now? So let's give up on season and move Lazar to the top line

Lazar playing 5 minutes a night is a waste. How do you recommend developing him? Who gets less ice time? Explain that to some of the forwards who have been carrying the team all season. Pyatt is playing more because Pyatt is better right now

The Sens gave a terrible excuse that they needed to call him up because of injuries. To play 5 minutes a night and burn his AHL eligibility before waivers? You can find players on the street right now who are better than Lazar
- Ottawa Fan

Pretty sure nobody said top line......most said to put lazar on the 3rd line e with Hoffman and pageau.

Not sure that moving a guy from the 4th to 3rd line can be considered giving up on the season

Based on the lower bowl that we can see on TV... Looks like very few people are there

Pretty sure nobody said top line......most said to put lazar on the 3rd line e with Hoffman and pageau.

Not sure that moving a guy from the 4th to 3rd line can be considered giving up on the season
- haywoodjablome

Pyatt and Pageau with Hoffman have been an effective line. Maybe that would help but probably not

Several posters have said before: they flat out screwed up his development by not playing him in the AHL more.