Without worrying about cap/contracts, what would your ideal forward group be?
- ottsens12

Now that's an interesting question...

L1: MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
L2: Michalek-Zibanejad-Stone
L3: Smith-Legwand-Lazar
L4: Hoffman-Pageau-Robinson
Extra: Puempel, Condra

D1: Weircioch-Karlsson
D2: Methot-Ceci
D3: Cowen-Gryba
Extra Classen

G1: Anderson
G2: Lehner

Just a few comments:

Greening: Preaching to the choir here, but to me, he was one of the worst players on the Sens last night AGAIN. I just don't see it from him. He was an NHL regular on a mostly AHL lineup and the guy couldn't impress at all. Too many mistakes, lead hands and just not enough physicality to make up for it. Honestly, Chris Neil has better hands. If you didn't know the Sens at all, you would think Robinson was the regular and Greening was a guy just trying to make the NHL. He better be waived or a healthy scratch for the majority of the season.

Smith: I don't get the hate on this guy. As a 4th line center, the guy is fantastic. Fast as hell, solid in his own end, tough as nails and pretty decent mitts to boot. If it's between Pageau and Smith for the 4th line center duties, Smith all the way. In a few years, he may become expendable, but as the team stands now, he's more valuable than most people think.

Stone: Disagree with everyone who says he didn't help his cause last night. Love this guy. Honestly, just take a full shift and watch him. He's always on the 'right' side of the puck. No cheating at all. He's generally the first forward back all the time. His hockey IQ is off the charts. While he didn't get a lot of scoring opportunities (due to his linemates) last night, he made amazing passes all night. He could easily slide into the top two lines. I see Stone as a guy who will be totally useless in the bottom 6. He needs top 6 skill to play with to be effective. Putting him on the 3rd or 4th line is a total waste. This is the year to see what the kid has. Michalek should be bottom 6 and Stone top 6.

Cowen: Seriously? This is what the kid has become? Man, I am worried about our D this year. The guy is way to soft for his size.. never seems to win a puck battle and pinches at the worst possible times. As high as Stone's hockey IQ seems to be, Cowen's is the exact opposite. He's got all the tools to be a good shut down Dman, but is totally lacking between the ears.

Now that's an interesting question...

L1: MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
L2: Michalek-Zibanejad-Stone
L3: Smith-Legwand-Lazar
L4: Hoffman-Pageau-Robinson
Extra: Puempel, Condra

D1: Weircioch-Karlsson
D2: Methot-Ceci
D3: Cowen-Gryba
Extra Classen

G1: Anderson
G2: Lehner
- riceroni

So the Sens traded Spezza for a healthy scratch?

So the Sens traded Spezza for a healthy scratch?

- Charliebox

Oh fack, I forgot Chiasson!!!!!! one sec

L1: MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
L2: Michalek-Zibanejad-Stone
L3: Smith-Legwand-Chiasson
L4: Hoffman-Pageau-Lazar
Extra: Puempel, Robinson

D1: Weircioch-Karlsson
D2: Methot-Ceci
D3: Cowen-Gryba
Extra Classen

G1: Anderson
G2: Lehner

To me there were only two real spots open in camp to begin with ,should have been 3 but Greening just makes too much money.They are 3rd line LW and fourth line RW .JPG has put in a real solid bid to take Condra,s job .But the LW isnt as clear tbh ,i can see now why BM was looking to get a guy like Stewart in Buffalo.Puemps is real close i would say no more than a full season in bingo away.As for hoffman he is looking more and more like another Corey Locke

Without worrying about cap/contracts, what would your ideal forward group be?
- ottsens12

Personally I believe that the 4 lines should all be able to skate and have the ability to chip in with some goals. Every line should have the ability to play with some skill and finish plays.

So based on that thought process and the simply choosing the best 12, I would go with these lines...

1. MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
2. Michalek-Zibanejad-Chiasson
3. Puempel-Legwand-Lazar (I like the veteran centering these young guys)
4. Smith-Pageau-Stone
OR
3.Puempel-Lazar-Stone (kid line)
4.Smith-Legwand-Pageau

All lines can skate and finish plays and I still think the roster has enough toughness and size. Having a strong 3rd and 4th line that can score will make up for a lack of star power in the top 6.

On Defence I would go with...

Methot-Karlsson (balanced)
Claesson-Ceci (balanced)
Phillips-Cowen (shutdown)

One more thing I noticed last night

Puempel is not ready for the NHL, at all.

As I said with Stone, I took a few shifts and just watched Puempel. I watched how he played without the puck and in his own end.

He just doesn't seem to 'get' the transition game very well. Once the Sens are in the offensive end, he looks great, but from our end boards to the other team's blueline.. I dunno.. I just don't see it.

The guy would get eaten alive in the NHL right now.

One more thing I noticed last night

Puempel is not ready for the NHL, at all.

As I said with Stone, I took a few shifts and just watched Puempel. I watched how he played without the puck and in his own end.

He just doesn't seem to 'get' the transition game very well. Once the Sens are in the offensive end, he looks great, but from our end boards to the other team's blueline.. I dunno.. I just don't see it.

The guy would get eaten alive in the NHL right now.
- Charliebox

I think one more season in bingo will prove to be the tonic for him ,We still need a top 9 LW,and Timmy wont do us any favors so stewart is out .Whom else is there, that fits both in contract term and type of lw we are looking for ???

Here's my ideal forward group:

If Bobby can play the left side:

Stone-Turris-Mac
Chaisson-Zibby-Ryan
Lazar-Legwand-Michalek
Condra-Smith-Hoffman (Neil subbed in for the more physical opponents).

I honestly think this forward group gives us the best chance to win.

PP#1
Turris-Stone-Ryan
Mac-Karlsson

PP#2
Chaisson-Zibby-Michalek
Ceci-Weircioch

Here's my ideal forward group:

If Bobby can play the left side:

Stone-Turris-Mac
Chaisson-Zibby-Ryan
Lazar-Legwand-Michalek
Condra-Smith-Hoffman (Neil subbed in for the more physical opponents).

I honestly think this forward group gives us the best chance to win.

PP#1
Turris-Stone-Ryan
Mac-Karlsson

PP#2
Chaisson-Zibby-Michalek
Ceci-Weircioch
- Charliebox

We are thin on 30 goal players to begin with ,putting our best winger on his offside doesnt really seem like the thing to do tbh

I read somewhere that Legwand can play LW as well as center ,this could be useful

We are thin on 30 goal players to begin with ,putting our best winger on his offside doesnt really seem like the thing to do tbh

- top shelf 15

Putting wingers on their off sides doesn't, generally, affect their offensive output.

It's more of an issue in their own end. Once a rush gets going, it's actually easier to play your off wing as a winger. You have way more options.

Putting wingers on their off sides doesn't, generally, affect their offensive output.

It's more of an issue in their own end. It's tough to get the puck out when it's rimmed around to you on your off wing.

Once a rush gets going, it's actually easier to play your off wing as a winger. You have way more options.

***Sorry.. quoted myself instead of editing.

Putting wingers on their off sides doesn't, generally, affect their offensive output.

It's more of an issue in their own end. Once a rush gets going, it's actually easier to play your off wing as a winger. You have way more options.
- Charliebox

Fair enough

Fair enough

- top shelf 15

Just to give you an example, the reason why there was all the debate about having Ovie play his right side was because of his defense.

He's always played his off-wing and his offense was off the charts (that cut in/fire it thru the Dman move is an off-wing move that you can't do on your right side.. you'd be on the backhand).. but he was horrible in his own end..

We are thin on 30 goal players to begin with ,putting our best winger on his offside doesnt really seem like the thing to do tbh

- top shelf 15

He'd have an easier time in the offensive zone as a left winger because his stick blade will be open more or less the whole time he possesses the puck in the offensive zone.

He'd have an easier time in the offensive zone as a left winger because his stick blade will be open more or less the whole time he possesses the puck in the offensive zone.
- riceroni

If it works why not then

Personally I believe that the 4 lines should all be able to skate and have the ability to chip in with some goals. Every line should have the ability to play with some skill and finish plays.

So based on that thought process and the simply choosing the best 12, I would go with these lines...

1. MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
2. Michalek-Zibanejad-Chiasson
3. Puempel-Legwand-Lazar (I like the veteran centering these young guys)
4. Smith-Pageau-Stone
OR
3.Puempel-Lazar-Stone (kid line)
4.Smith-Legwand-Pageau

All lines can skate and finish plays and I still think the roster has enough toughness and size. Having a strong 3rd and 4th line that can score will make up for a lack of star power in the top 6.

On Defence I would go with...

Methot-Karlsson (balanced)
Claesson-Ceci (balanced)
Phillips-Cowen (shutdown)
- matt272

i really REALLY like this lineup

Cowen: Seriously? This is what the kid has become? Man, I am worried about our D this year. The guy is way to soft for his size.. never seems to win a puck battle and pinches at the worst possible times. As high as Stone's hockey IQ seems to be, Cowen's is the exact opposite. He's got all the tools to be a good shut down Dman, but is totally lacking between the ears.
- Charliebox

cowen is turning into brian lee 2.0

game was kinda meh last night.
weircioch did not look good, which doesnt bode well for him or our wannabe nhl defence. i remember he had a slow start last year, however, so hopefully he'll find his game sooner than later.
im not sure jared cowen has the hockey iq of an nhler.

im ok with going young and being a hard working team. but what kills me is how management simply ignored the atrocity of the state of our defence. im assuming this was a money saving strategy. part of me sees why they might want to wait a year before trading for an external replacement 4d, esp. with weircioch and ceci, and eventually classean in the wings... but i mean, unrealistic expectations is what led to our team being $%@! last year, how has management not learnt from their mistakes already?

i like our forward group going forward. i agree, 4 lines that play 200ft and can score is the way to go.

can't wait for the real season to start.

also
2 things

1) hate the new tsn website.
2) can someone explain to me why we have 5 tsn channels? they play the same thing unless there is a game on with "regional coverage", which if its a sens game gets blacked out for me. why not just have one extra tsn channel that streams content according to your region?

i feel old. change scares me. someone hold me.

I don't claim to be the biggest hockey buff here but last night I specifically watched Jared Cowen, as I wanted to see how he progressed over the summer. He wasn't a game changer but I though he was competent, competed hard and his skating was actually good for a big man.

Stone I thought looked good and competed hard. I could see him making the line up opening night and moving up as injuries or other problems occur.

Lazar. I agree with the earlier comment that he just doesn't seem to make mistakes.

Mika. As for me the Jury is still out for him as a top line center. He has tons of talent just haven't seen his line dominate yet. This of course could just be a question of chemistry.

All in all good game to watch and get a look at our prospects.

One more thing I noticed last night

Puempel is not ready for the NHL, at all.

As I said with Stone, I took a few shifts and just watched Puempel. I watched how he played without the puck and in his own end.

He just doesn't seem to 'get' the transition game very well. Once the Sens are in the offensive end, he looks great, but from our end boards to the other team's blueline.. I dunno.. I just don't see it.

The guy would get eaten alive in the NHL right now.
- Charliebox

Take the time to watch every other player in the same way that you did Puempel. Maybe he doesn't look so bad after all. Everyone can look lost at times. I'm not saying your analysis is wrong or unvalid, but you have to do it for everyone to get a real sense and determine what a player away from the puck generally looks like and does on a shift.

also
2 things

1) hate the new tsn website.
2) can someone explain to me why we have 5 tsn channels? they play the same thing unless there is a game on with "regional coverage", which if its a sens game gets blacked out for me. why not just have one extra tsn channel that streams content according to your region?

i feel old. change scares me. someone hold me.

- sen_smile

it's exactly what sportsnet had when they had all the regional coverage (ontario, east, atlantic, west, etc)

it's exactly what sportsnet had when they had all the regional coverage (ontario, east, atlantic, west, etc)
- sensarmy_11

yah, i just dont see why they don't show different stuff for different regions on the same channel. otherwise the channels tend to show the same thing. i guess its useful for soccer and tennis, but usually they all the play the same thing, unless its regional.
kinda just a tease if you are out of the region.