Reading through these threads makes me feel like fans think there can only be ONE good player. It should be easy to acknowledge skill on either team. The make-up of teams is what wins Stanley Cups.

This would be a much more intelligent conversation if we were talking about the Senators failure to pair Karlsson with a decent partner, or maybe to find a missing piece for the Leafs. Instead, arguments about what GF vs +/- vs hair style abound...
- sensano

Karlsson is certainly an elite talent that will get even much better. One of the reasons why I am supportive of the Sens dealing Spezza is I believe that the team should be built around Karlsson and his attacking style.

No, I can do it for the other one too. It's not a readily available stat though, and I'm too lazy to do it too much. It supports what I'm saying at ES too.

I think it's pretty similar. Roughly 25 to 30% more goals scored with Karlsson on the ice.

He's not dead last in the league when you factor in ice. Not too far off either though.
- prock

Not sure you can claim intellectual laziness as grounds for trying to justify sketchy reasoning. I think you need to go back to basics if you want to be taken seriously. But I do encourage you to keep trying. You may not be accurate but you are delightfully entertaining.

Not sure you can claim intellectual laziness as grounds for trying to justify sketchy reasoning. I think you need to go back to basics if you want to be taken seriously. But I do encourage you to keep trying. You may not be accurate but you are delightfully entertaining.
- spatso

ummm, I just don't really care enough to pump it all into a spreadsheet. I know what the end result is. I can look at it in three seconds and know roughly what the numbers will turn out like.

I'm not sure how you can claim getting scored on a lot is indicative of being weak defensively. I'd say that is pretty sketchy reasoning.

Karlsson>>>Phaneuf
Both teams are very different and each players role is different
I do believe phaneufs defensive game is better than karlsson... But karlsson's talent far exceeds dions. If karlsson cared more about his d game other than creating offense all the time he'd be better than dion deffensively too. When karlsson matures so will his game. He is a legit superstar

ummm, I just don't really care enough to pump it all into a spreadsheet. I know what the end result is. I can look at it in three seconds and know roughly what the numbers will turn out like.

I'm not sure how you can claim getting scored on a lot is indicative of being weak defensively. I'd say that is pretty sketchy reasoning.
- prock

Not unlike your approach to explaining your theories, saying it more than once does not make it more accurate or more reasonable.

Karlsson>>>Phaneuf
Both teams are very different and each players role is different
I do believe phaneufs defensive game is better than karlsson... But karlsson's talent far exceeds dions. If karlsson cared more about his d game other than creating offense all the time he'd be better than dion deffensively too. When karlsson matures so will his game. He is a legit superstar
- 10in_soft

I think that is about the best balanced description of the situation that anyone has posted today.

Not unlike your approach to explaining your theories, saying it more than once does not make it more accurate or more reasonable.
- spatso

Nor less!

Karlsson>>>Phaneuf
Both teams are very different and each players role is different
I do believe phaneufs defensive game is better than karlsson... But karlsson's talent far exceeds dions. If karlsson cared more about his d game other than creating offense all the time he'd be better than dion deffensively too. When karlsson matures so will his game. He is a legit superstar
- 10in_soft

We'll see. Until then, he's Mike Green v2.0.

As to Spezza, i see no reason to trade him now with his favourable contract. Its hard to replace a #1 center and no one is ready in ottawa. Build around karlsson forsure, but dont sacrifice spezza until you need to. The return isnt worth it unless your trying to lose

Who cares about Spezza and the Ottawa Sends...Another couple yrs and they will be moved to Quebec City...

As to Spezza, i see no reason to trade him now with his favourable contract. Its hard to replace a #1 center and no one is ready in ottawa. Build around karlsson forsure, but dont sacrifice spezza until you need to. The return isnt worth it unless your trying to lose
- 10in_soft

I think the problem is that losing is inevitable right now. By the time losing isn't inevitable again, Spezza might not be very effective. May be better to take what you can, while you can.

Who cares about Spezza and the Ottawa Sends...Another couple yrs and they will be moved to Quebec City...
- Fruitcakenipple

I actually think that's possible. Maybe not Quebec city, but look how their attendance has suffered already. If they didn't have the influx of Leafs and Habs fans for some games, they'd be losing more money than they already do. But with fewer games against the Leafs and Habs, combined with a bad team, their attendance could sink pretty far. Will it drop far enough that they couldn't support a team????

Who cares about Spezza and the Ottawa Sends...Another couple yrs and they will be moved to Quebec City...
- Fruitcakenipple

hmm interesting thought, thats not as far fetched if Melynk doesnt get his poop together as an owner.

But the league will rather have an expansion there first, more money that way vs relocation.

I actually think that's possible. Maybe not Quebec city, but look how their attendance has suffered already. If they didn't have the influx of Leafs and Habs fans for some games, they'd be losing more money than they already do. But with few games against the Leafs and Habs, combined with a bad team, their attendance could sink pretty far. Will it drop far enough that they couldn't support a team????
- prock

Broke owner ,lower Canadian dollar and a crappy team...Yep Quebec city will get them..

As to Spezza, i see no reason to trade him now with his favourable contract. Its hard to replace a #1 center and no one is ready in ottawa. Build around karlsson forsure, but dont sacrifice spezza until you need to. The return isnt worth it unless your trying to lose
- 10in_soft

I like the idea of Ottawa trading Spezza and have advocated a deal for the last three years. Ottawa has great young talent. Spezza is not unlike Sundin over his last few years with the Leafs. The young guys don't get the playing time and team regresses just a little bit every year. Time for Ottawa to give the #1 Turris, the #2 to Zibanejad and open the 3rd slot up to guys in their system. Da Costa was playing really well at the Olympic break, Pageau is having a good year in the AHL and Lazar will fight for a starting job next year.

Spezza is no longer an elite #1 center. But, he would be a huge add as a #2 with Anahiem or LA or other teams ready to challenge for a Cup.

Broke owner ,lower Canadian dollar and a crappy team...Yep Quebec city will get them..
- Fruitcakenipple

I actually think that's possible. Maybe not Quebec city, but look how their attendance has suffered already. If they didn't have the influx of Leafs and Habs fans for some games, they'd be losing more money than they already do. But with fewer games against the Leafs and Habs, combined with a bad team, their attendance could sink pretty far. Will it drop far enough that they couldn't support a team????
- prock

Duh, you have no idea how badly a poor performing US based franchise does at the gate.

hmm interesting thought, thats not as far fetched if Melynk doesnt get his poop together as an owner.

But the league will rather have an expansion there first, more money that way vs relocation.
- DDM-Coga

NHL gonna be in no hurry to add another team in the East...When that Rink in QC gets built someone will fill it...Sends the easiest team to relocate and given the ownership issues thats existed from day 1,i bet the NHL would love to get out of that city....

Duh, you have no idea how badly a poor performing US based franchise does at the gate.
- spatso

Well currently Ottawa is bottom 10 in terms of % of arena being full. Middle of the league in terms of actual numbers, which is more relevant. And US franchises have the boost of their currency.

I don't see it happening anytime soon, but the franchise has been such a mess lately, it's not impossible. With the team getting worse, things could get uglier.

I guess they can only hope that Habs and Leaf fans continue to keep them afloat.

Broke owner ,lower Canadian dollar and a crappy team...Yep Quebec city will get them..
- Fruitcakenipple

And, that is because fans in Quebec City will pay in US dollars. Really! Quebec City has a much smaller metropolitan population than Ottawa and an even smaller industrial base.

Melnyk is an idiot. Ottawa is a franchise Jewell and I am sure the NHL already has likely candidates ready to take over. We know that Melnyk has said he wants to take on a partner. But nobody wants to partner with him. But, there are already known local based owners keen to buy the franchise from Melnyk. I think that is best for everyone, especially the fans.

NHL gonna be in no hurry to add another team in the East...When that Rink in QC gets built someone will fill it...Sends the easiest team to relocate and given the ownership issues thats existed from day 1,i bet the NHL would love to get out of that city....
- Fruitcakenipple

I wrote a pretty lengthy post on it a while, and when you think about it, it actually could be a pretty good solution. Look at the issues:

- attendance issues already
- team getting worse
- ownership embarassing
- financial burden

And, that is because fans in Quebec City will pay in US dollars. Really! Quebec City has a much smaller metropolitan population than Ottawa and an even smaller industrial base.

Melnyk is an idiot. Ottawa is a franchise Jewell and I am sure the NHL already has likely candidates ready to take over. We know that Melnyk has said he wants to take on a partner. But nobody wants to partner with him. But, there are already known local based owners keen to buy the franchise from Melnyk. I think that is best for everyone, especially the fans.
- spatso

T-90 days?

Well currently Ottawa is bottom 10 in terms of % of arena being full. Middle of the league in terms of actual numbers, which is more relevant. And US franchises have the boost of their currency.

I don't see it happening anytime soon, but the franchise has been such a mess lately, it's not impossible. With the team getting worse, things could get uglier.

I guess they can only hope that Habs and Leaf fans continue to keep them afloat.
- prock

I think you forget that we are all either Leaf or Montreal fans from 20 years ago. But that is not the case for young people. I am the only Leaf fan in my family. I still don't tell them that I actually do like the Senators as well.

T-90 days?



- prock

meanwhile in melnyks kitchen

I wrote a pretty lengthy post on it a while, and when you think about it, it actually could be a pretty good solution. Look at the issues:

- attendance issues already
- team getting worse
- ownership embarassing
- financial burden
- prock

Grasping again. But entertaining nevertheless. Despite what people may say we really do love you.