Wont get a 2015 first rounder unless its from a top team in the nhl around the 28-30 mark.
- jake24242

Those might be the teams that are most interested in trading for Ryan this year in a rental capacity.

Goalies had unsustainable numbers last year.
Top 6 have no interest in playing their own zone.
Bottom 6 are terrible filled with cast-offs
D is atrocious
Coaching is non-existent
Bozak is our no.1 centre
Kessel's fat.
Dion's the most overrated player in the league.
Lupul is always injured
Can't draft anyone good
Can't even come up even in a trade

That pretty much sums it up
- walshyleafsfan

Leafs have a problem on D. They could be better in the middle. But the team this year is their best team in a long time.

I believe Bozak is much better than he is credited. He has outstanding offensive numbers but his defensive numbers are almost as bad as Spezza. I think Spezza was a liability as his skating prevented him from coming back and playing in his own end. On the other hand I think Bozak is just caught in a team system where the team as a whole does not play good D.

I guess you don't like "what if" questions? If the team does not improve this season, why will that be? Spezza was apparently the problem. New scapegoat I guess? Karlsson perhaps?

You bring up the notion of LA and Boston who you claim win by their style of play, which may in fact be true, but doesn't it help that those teams have for the most part, pretty stacked rosters. A style of play only gets you so far, you have to have the personnel in order to take the next step.

What I'm trying to stress is that this is an addition by subtraction only in the longterm for this club. To think we are better now than we were 6 months ago is wishful thinking. As you have even said, a solid 4 line attack is important. At the moment we have one line that has proved they can play at a high level, the other 3 are totally up in the air. Time to move on from trying to blame the lack of success of this team on Spezza and look at the roster at what it is now. Lots of promise, but not a lot of guarantees. I hope for a good season, but am skeptical.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

We have a little inverse reasoning. I think the team is better for trading Spezza. You believe the team is weaker without Spezza. I think it was a smart decision to deal him. You think it was a mistake and they should have tried to extend him.

I feel positive about the coming season. You feel less positive. I respect your point of view. But I am of the differing opinion.

The worst part about an Ottawa blog is hearing Spatso give his $0.02 on everything and making the dumbest posts.

The worst part about an Ottawa blog is hearing Spatso give his $0.02 on everything and making the dumbest posts.
- riceroni

He likes our team ,dont see anything wrong with that tbh.We are not as bad as most seem to think here

We have a little inverse reasoning. I think the team is better for trading Spezza. You believe the team is weaker without Spezza. I think it was a smart decision to deal him. You think it was a mistake and they should have tried to extend him.

I feel positive about the coming season. You feel less positive. I respect your point of view. But I am of the differing opinion.
- spatso

I've enjoyed reading this thread but Spatso you still have failed to answer Gords question...if the Sens do not perform up to the standard you believe they should what do you think will be the largest contributing factor?

As he said you beleived Spezza to be a major factor to their lack of success so what would you say would be their downfall if they fail to improve.

Leafs have a problem on D. They could be better in the middle. But the team this year is their best team in a long time.

I believe Bozak is much better than he is credited. He has outstanding offensive numbers but his defensive numbers are almost as bad as Spezza. I think Spezza was a liability as his skating prevented him from coming back and playing in his own end. On the other hand I think Bozak is just caught in a team system where the team as a whole does not play good D.
- spatso

All three eastern cdn teams dont have much, but potential after their first pairing defenders.Montreal has some decent depth up front ,much like Ottawa .Toronto has the most impressive offensive players up front ,but lacks in the bottom 6 .


Goalies in order based on last season are ,Price ,Bernier,Andy .Like i said anyone of these three can make the playoffs or miss

I think it would be good for the Sens to keep Ryan but I will entertain the benefits of trading him...

If we trade Ryan then it makes our offense significantly weaker. I think we will already have trouble scoring goals and this will make things more troubling. If Ottawa tries to tank for McDavid then maybe selling off Ryan isn't a bad idea now.

I'd actually do a deal with Philly and would want their 2015 1st, 2015 2nd, Lecavallier (50% retained), L Schenn (1M retained per season) for Ryan, Gryba and Prince.

Ottawa takes the additional salary of Vinny and Schenn to balance it out and gives them Ryan who wants to stay there and Gryba who can play in their bottom pairing D. Schenn and Vinny are shells of their former selves but on Ottawa it would fit right in for the tank job

Heck, it may even be enough to get us 1st the next year too!

I'd expect the 1st from Phil to be 20-22 so that's not too much for Philly to give up.

I've enjoyed reading this thread but Spatso you still have failed to answer Gords question...if the Sens do not perform up to the standard you believe they should what do you think will be the largest contributing factor?

As he said you beleived Spezza to be a major factor to their lack of success so what would you say would be their downfall if they fail to improve.
- Joel_Eh

What a stupid question. Anything from bad defense to bad goaltending to injuries to the coach losing the room to players underperforming could be the largest contributing factor if the sens suck next year. How is he supposed to answer what caused the sens to suck in 2014-15 when the regular season hasn't started yet?

We have a little inverse reasoning. I think the team is better for trading Spezza. You believe the team is weaker without Spezza. I think it was a smart decision to deal him. You think it was a mistake and they should have tried to extend him.

I feel positive about the coming season. You feel less positive. I respect your point of view. But I am of the differing opinion.
- spatso

So I'm not going to get an answer to both of my questions then?

I've been right before and I've been wrong before. I can admit that. For example, I was pretty confident Lehner was going to be the number 1 guy last year and Andy would be traded this summer. That didn't happen. If Ottawa puts together a strong season not only makes the playoffs, but looks good in the process, I will certainly say I underestimated our young guys like Ceci, Cowen, Zibby, Chaisson, Stone, Hoffman, and perhaps even Turris.

You are no different. You were correct in that the Sens would deal Spezza. However, you have been wrong about Pageau being the next Giroux and wrong about your countdown for Melnyk selling the team.

I'm just trying to get a different view from you other than the "Spezza is why we lost games" one.

So I'm not going to get an answer to both of my questions then?

I've been right before and I've been wrong before. I can admit that. For example, I was pretty confident Lehner was going to be the number 1 guy last year and Andy would be traded this summer. That didn't happen. If Ottawa puts together a strong season not only makes the playoffs, but looks good in the process, I will certainly say I underestimated our young guys like Ceci, Cowen, Zibby, Chaisson, Stone, Hoffman, and perhaps even Turris.

You are no different. You were correct in that the Sens would deal Spezza. However, you have been wrong about Pageau being the next Giroux and wrong about your countdown for Melnyk selling the team.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Pretty good year to play all of our kids this season and see where it takes us .No lose situation for us

What a stupid question. Anything from bad defense to bad goaltending to injuries to the coach losing the room to players underperforming could be the largest contributing factor if the sens suck next year. How is he supposed to answer what caused the sens to suck in 2014-15 when the regular season hasn't started yet?
- rangerdanger94

Because he has already answered that we will be better because of the fact Spezza is gone.

So I'm not going to get an answer to both of my questions then?

I've been right before and I've been wrong before. I can admit that. For example, I was pretty confident Lehner was going to be the number 1 guy last year and Andy would be traded this summer. That didn't happen. If Ottawa puts together a strong season not only makes the playoffs, but looks good in the process, I will certainly say I underestimated our young guys like Ceci, Cowen, Zibby, Chaisson, Stone, Hoffman, and perhaps even Turris.

You are no different. You were correct in that the Sens would deal Spezza. However, you have been wrong about Pageau being the next Giroux and wrong about your countdown for Melnyk selling the team.

I'm just trying to get a different view from you other than the "Spezza is why we lost games" one.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think I have substantially answered your question.

Some went as far as to project Ottawa as a Stanley Cup contender last year. And, they scored enough goals to be in the mix. But, they gave up far too many goals and they lost a lot of games where they gave up too many soft goals. The goal this year is to reduce GA by .610 per game over this season.

If they do that they will contend with the best teams. If the reduce GA by .350 per game they will make the playoffs. If they give up the same number of goals as they did last year, they are in trouble.

I've enjoyed reading this thread but Spatso you still have failed to answer Gords question...if the Sens do not perform up to the standard you believe they should what do you think will be the largest contributing factor?

As he said you beleived Spezza to be a major factor to their lack of success so what would you say would be their downfall if they fail to improve.
- Joel_Eh

I have never been a Spezza hater. I loved his game, he was an exciting player. But the game has changed. It is no accident that Joe Thornton led teams have great regular season success but struggle in the playoffs. Pittsburgh may have the two most dynamic offensive players in the world but you have to keep the puck out of your own net to win championships.

I have never been a Spezza hater. I loved his game, he was an exciting player. But the game has changed. It is no accident that Joe Thornton led teams have great regular season success but struggle in the playoffs. Pittsburgh may have the two most dynamic offensive players in the world but you have to keep the puck out of your own net to win championships.
- spatso

The largest contributing factor is goals against. Teams giving up the least number of goals do well in the standings. Scoring lots of goals does not guarantee a similar kind of success.

Of course they should trade him, they should trade Karlsson too, if you think those two top level players will want to stay long-term after missing the playoffs a couple seasons in a row and KNOWING the owner doesn't spend as much as the other teams in the league, if they are a true athlete who wants to WIN and COMPETE, they will both either ask to leave or be traded. This team just seems like a waste of space to me, I liked the Sens and Leafs rivalry, but Ottawa is going to stay pretty stagnant I feel with only prospects to look forward too.
- mushton506

Umm hello ? Ottawa finished ahead of Toronto last season. As a leaf fan you look foolish bashing Ottawa in any way besides our cheap owner, that one I'll agree with.

Erik Karlsson is 24 years old. Is signed for 6 more years at 6.5 million!! There is maybe 4 players in the entire league I would trade for Ek65 atm.

So Toronto should trade JVR & Kessel because their not going to make the playoffs this year ?

oh poop Spatso so out of control he's quoting and arguing with himself.

oh poop Spatso so out of control he's quoting and arguing with himself.
- BlowMonkey

oh poop Spatso so out of control he's quoting and arguing with himself.
- BlowMonkey

No! I just too excited that somebody finally posted a Sens blog.

I expect more than "just making the playoffs" from this group of players.
- walshyleafsfan

Spatso..? Is that you

How bad was the Pens game last night that we are reading about Bobby freaking Ryan after we just had a game?

How bad was the Pens game last night that we are reading about Bobby freaking Ryan after we just had a game?
- dbell646

Ryan is doing both Sens and Pens blogs until a new Sens blogger is found.

They're not going to make the playoffs this year or for the foreseeable future, so you might as well clean house and start all over again.
- isitin

Any team can make playoffs. That is the beauty of NHL nowadays. Toronto stands a chance the also make the playoffs, although I do think Ottawa is a better team and have better coaching staff.

Ryan is doing both Sens and Pens blogs until a new Sens blogger is found.
- sensarmy_11

Ryan PM'd me this morning & said we'll have a new Sens blogger soon.

Travis has big shoes to fill, but we'll open whoever it may be with open arms.

If Bobby Ryan is dealt I feel like San Jose is the front runners here.
- they have the cap space.
- they need help on wing.
- Bobby is firmiliar with Cali
- I think he would want to resign long term here.

To San Jose: Bobby Ryan

To Ottawa: 2015 first round pick, Tomas Hertl