And really, aside from position, doesn't Mika provide the exact skillset that Spezza needs to improve the defensive side of his game?

Thank you!
I totally agree...this is the exact best scenario I was able to come up with while watching last game. I just have this gut feeling, like a lot of other fans do, that zibanijad on the wing with Spezza would be totally lethal to other teams... It would also add the defense awareness to the line that McLean is desperately searching for.
- PtotheY

I was expressing a similar sentiment in a post at the same time you wrote this ... it seems so obvious that a Spezza/Mika combo could be lethal, that I feel like we must be missing something. MacLean is a great coach, but doesn't seem interested in making this move ...

Thank you!
I totally agree...this is the exact best scenario I was able to come up with while watching last game. I just have this gut feeling, like a lot of other fans do, that zibanijad on the wing with Spezza would be totally lethal to other teams... It would also add the defense awareness to the line that McLean is desperately searching for.
- PtotheY

Ya don't know why I missed that. I agree with the lines. But you might as well try Michalek with/Spezza/Zibanejad.

Trade Michalek for Cammalleri? Michalek has 42 goals, 82 points in his last 112 games [includes 35 goal season 11-12]. Camm has 36 goals, 78 points in his last 115 games [3G 2A in 5 games since coming back from that and injury]. Would you do it?

"it always falls on the top players" -Spezza

"our top players have to be our top players" -Paul Mac

Our top players & their grades:
1. Karlsson (B-)
2. Spezza (A-)
3. Ryan (B+)
4. Anderson (A-)
5. Michalek (C-)
6. Turris (A)
7. Methot (B-)
8. Phillips (C-)
9. MacArthur (B-)
10. Who the hell knows?
Honourable mentions: Corvo

I just saw on TSN they had the Neil Spezz Conacher line as line 3...

"it always falls on the top players" -Spezza

"our top players have to be our top players" -Paul Mac

Our top players & their grades:
1. Karlsson (B-)
2. Spezza (A-)
3. Ryan (B+)
4. Anderson (A-)
5. Michalek (C-)
6. Turris (A)
7. Methot (B-)
8. Phillips (C-)
9. MacArthur (B-)
10. Who the hell knows?
Honourable mentions: Corvo
- AlfieisKing

what the hell is this

"it always falls on the top players" -Spezza

"our top players have to be our top players" -Paul Mac

Our top players & their grades:
1. Karlsson (B-)
2. Spezza (A-)
3. Ryan (B+)
4. Anderson (A-)
5. Michalek (C-)
6. Turris (A)
7. Methot (B-)
8. Phillips (C-)
9. MacArthur (B-)
10. Who the hell knows?
Honourable mentions: Corvo
- AlfieisKing

MacArthur your 9th best player? that's a problem!

Our schedule is about to get a hell of alot easier, I don't know why he is pulling this crap line change now. Especailly after we just scored all the goals against the champs. Islanders are probably going to walk all over us knowing we are sending out pond hockey style lines. Throw your sticks in a pile and we will toss them out and see who you are playing with tonight. Try coming out ready to skate and score and tell your D man to wake he (frank) up and play simple hockey and we will win games. Right back to the start of the rebuild at this rate. Our schedule is much easier why (frank) with the lines now. so anoying.

"it always falls on the top players" -Spezza

"our top players have to be our top players" -Paul Mac

Our top players & their grades:
1. Karlsson (B-)
2. Spezza (A-)
3. Ryan (B+)
4. Anderson (A-)
5. Michalek (C-)
6. Turris (A)
7. Methot (B-)
8. Phillips (C-)
9. MacArthur (B-)
10. Who the hell knows?
Honourable mentions: Corvo
- AlfieisKing

How you can rate Spezza higher than EK65 or Bobby Ryan at this point is beyond me. He's been shooting well, and sucking at every other facet of the game.

Best players so far have been 1.Turris 2.Ryan 3.EK65 4.MacArthur 5.Anderson 6.Spezza

So let me clarify for those who saw my list. First of all it's my expectations of players coming into the season. I certainly think expectations of Michalek this year are higher than Turris. Coming into this season these are the most valuable players to the team [on paper]. Their talent/skill measured that's my order. The grade is simply how they've done; compared to their expected potential this season

Maybe by trying to shift the physicality around, Mac is trying to improve the down low cycle game and thus improve the possession numbers of the Spezza line. I don't mind him giving it a shot.

If only there was a poster who warned fans about a rough start. That would save a lot of headache.

This start to the season was to be expected. My main reason for why we would have a rough start out of the gate is because we are starting a new chapter in Sens hockey with Spezza as captain. He'll be a great captain, but don't forget Alfie had a rough start with the C not so long ago. Like it or not, the team needs to adjust to this new leadership. It's currently happening and we will get there.

Anderson is playing well, but is not playing out of his mind like like season, which in turn makes our D look more vulnerable. We have always been short on NHL d-men the last couple of seasons, but it is showing now especially.

Guys like Spezza, Karlsson, Anderson, Michalek, and Cowen are all recovering from long term injuries. Even though that is not an excuse, none of them (with the exception of Andy) looks to be 100% free from injury and/or in game form.

Lastly, we have played some tough opponents lately. One of the teams we played in the West already will win the Cup. We are not at their level yet. However, going forward we will face some more favourable opponents.

The Sens will get out of this slump. Expectations were generously high for this team for some reason we are now seeing that we are a middle of the pack team on the verge of big things. A small move on the roster here and a young player finally hitting their stride there will get this team out of this. Just have to be patient.

...Best players so far have been 1.Turris 2.Ryan 3.EK65 4.MacArthur 5.Anderson 6.Spezza
- TommyDeVito

4. MacArthur. Firstly, Anderson is easily in my top 3. He has kept Ottawa in it in a year where they are terrible defensively. Against Chicago, where he allowed 5 goals, he played great when it was 1-0 or chicago was going to run away with it. MacArthur has been better than I thought he was going to be but the fact that he has 0 goals! 0 GOALS!? that's unacceptable no matter if your the best defensive player in the league. If you have 0 goals in 11 games you're not a top six forward anywhere; let alone the NHL. With all due respect to the guy, because I like him as a top 9 guy with some special unit time, this is exactly the kind of patch up work the Sens can't have to become a reputable franchise (DET, NJ, CHI)

MacArthur your 9th best player? that's a problem!
- LeafsFan64

AGREE!. Anderson, Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Karlsson are out top 5. The next one is Methot. After that the 4 get very tricky. MacArthur you could argue is our 7th best roster player which says alot about the team.

I said a month ago; coming into this year most [not all] overestimated the Sens and underestimated the leafs. I still think the Sens have more POTENTIAL that the leafs but to reach that potential the Sens need certain players to play how they were playing at certain points the last 18 months, play structurally sound coming out of their defensive zone, and act instead of react

Oct 31 11:55pm... sign Chad Larose.

AGREE!. Anderson, Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Karlsson are out top 5. The next one is Methot. After that the 4 get very tricky. MacArthur you could argue is our 7th best roster player which says alot about the team.

I said a month ago; coming into this year most
- AlfieisKing[not all] overestimated the Sens and underestimated the leafs. I still think the Sens have more POTENTIAL that the leafs but to reach that potential the Sens need certain players to play how they were playing at certain points the last 18 months, play structurally sound coming out of their defensive zone, and act instead of react

Yeah I like both teams potential. Leafs have way better offense IMO compared to Ottawa though. A lot of Ottawas players aren't meeting expectations it seems(Pageau, MacArthur, Conacher, Greening?) Maybe your guys will be able to turn it around. Our division is unreal compared to the Metro though, it's going to get interesting at the end of the season!

agree^

HOW THE HECK IS PROSPAL NOT SIGNED ... he may be over the hill but look at his stats !! ... with Zibanejad playing wing and Pageau needing time in Bingo bring back Vaclav!

AGREE!. Anderson, Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Karlsson are out top 5. The next one is Methot. After that the 4 get very tricky. MacArthur you could argue is our 7th best roster player which says alot about the team.

I said a month ago; coming into this year most
- AlfieisKing[not all] overestimated the Sens and underestimated the leafs. I still think the Sens have more POTENTIAL that the leafs but to reach that potential the Sens need certain players to play how they were playing at certain points the last 18 months, play structurally sound coming out of their defensive zone, and act instead of react

Garrioch posted some interesting numbers on Karlsson. I thought he was brilliant in the last game and is going to get a lot better as the season progresses. I am disappointed with Pageau being sent down but recognize it is in his best interest.

"... There has been plenty of angst about Karlsson's play coming off the Achilles injury, but his numbers in October are nearly the same as they were in Oct., 2011 _ the same season he won the Norris Trophy. He finished this month with 3-8-11 points, 36 shots, minus-3 and average of 27:39 TOI in 12 games. In Oct., 2011, Karlsson was 1-11-12 , 36 shots, minus-3 with 25:04 TOI in 12 games."

Just to remind people of how low the salaries are this season:

# of players in the franchise making more than $3.5M: 4
# of players in the franchise making more than $2.5M: 4 more
# of players in the franchise making more than $1.5M: 2 more

7 players dressed for the Islanders game will be making less than 7 figures. Only the Islanders of the other 29 teams beat those #s

Garrioch posted some interesting numbers on Karlsson. I thought he was brilliant in the last game and is going to get a lot better as the season progresses. I am disappointed with Pageau being sent down but recognize it is in his best interest.

"... There has been plenty of angst about Karlsson's play coming off the Achilles injury, but his numbers in October are nearly the same as they were in Oct., 2011 _ the same season he won the Norris Trophy. He finished this month with 3-8-11 points, 36 shots, minus-3 and average of 27:39 TOI in 12 games. In Oct., 2011, Karlsson was 1-11-12 , 36 shots, minus-3 with 25:04 TOI in 12 games."
- spatso

Ya people expect too much from Karlsson. If he hits 70 to me (points and his +/- rating I'm happy).

AGREE!. Anderson, Spezza, Ryan, Turris, Karlsson are out top 5. The next one is Methot. After that the 4 get very tricky. MacArthur you could argue is our 7th best roster player which says alot about the team.

I said a month ago; coming into this year most
- AlfieisKing[not all] overestimated the Sens and underestimated the leafs. I still think the Sens have more POTENTIAL that the leafs but to reach that potential the Sens need certain players to play how they were playing at certain points the last 18 months, play structurally sound coming out of their defensive zone, and act instead of react

The leafs are playing horrible hockey, no better than us - but Bernier and Reimer have been bailing them out all season long, and they're getting their timely scoring so far.

The leafs are playing horrible hockey, no better than us - but Bernier and Reimer have been bailing them out all season long, and they're getting their timely scoring so far.
- TommyDeVito

They have to be playing at least somewhat better, just look at the standings. I'd say the biggest difference is their offense is able to bail them out. They're scoring goals when they need them. The goaltending has been great, but they get goals in games when it's needed. They beat Edmonton twice, Ottawa scored one goal agaisnt that same team in a loss.

I do think Ottawa has looked better since that game though.

Ottawa's goal scoring hasn't been awful, but it's middle of the pack, which combined with the defense is why they are where they are.

The leafs are playing horrible hockey, no better than us - but Bernier and Reimer have been bailing them out all season long, and they're getting their timely scoring so far.
- TommyDeVito

Lol. Last time I checked our goaltenders are on our team. That's like saying only reason Penguins are good is cause of Crosby. Doesn't matter how good our goalies play though, still got to score goals and that's what the leafs have been doing. Goalies are making up for our bad d zone play. Forwards are doing their part too.[/img]

Looking forward to Michalek-Smith-Zibanejad

I have a feeling it'll work.

McLean's focus is not balancing the offense, it's balancing the defense.

Budget team, budget results .We have kids that arent ready for prime time playing in the top 4 ,the insulation for them just isnt there .A good vet blueliner is what we needed to also address this offseason ,but instead we get Joe freaken Corvo .