I'm not so sure why you thought I would be tilted. Jared's post was great. It's proved exactly what I'm trying to stress; (in a much more elegant and friendly way) that Turris is playing alright. Through both the fancy stats and tradition goals and assists, he isn't performing as well as last year, and therefore hasn't made a jump to being a "first line centre" just yet. The progress we hope to see from Turris has yet to become a relativity. This is all I'm trying to say. Jared proved it in his blog. This is not to say he can't be better. He has the tools. It could very well come together at anytime. My instinct is that down the road we will have to address the centre position again, whether it's getting a guy who can play ahead of Turris in the lineup or getting or developing guys that can support him better in the bottom of the lineup.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

hopefully if our depth at center develops near its potential, turris doesnt need to be a ppg center for the team to be successful. this team is not build around a ppg center... its built around ek. i hope turris continues to improve as well... he definitely needs to keep getting better... but i don't think he has to be as "offensive" (if you will) as JS19 or other number 1 centers.. esp. bc part of his strength is in preventing goals.

we are developing this... i hope, but dont think i'd describe our offence as above average, esp. bc we are still waiting for some of our big guns to get going.
- sen_smile

We're 14th in the league in G/GP, so yeah, we're slightly above average. And that's with Ryan, Zibanejad, and Turris being pretty cold. 0.07 goals per game behind what we did last year.

Meanwhile, our save percentage has rocked from .909 to .928, from 20th to 2nd in the league. That's what's unsustainable. I absolutely think our goalies can play better than .909, but over a full season, I suspect we'll settle back down to .920 at best. That would still have us way near the top, but our shots against per game will bite us.

Our D is still allowing the second most shots in the league. In fact, we're slightly *worse* than last year. And that, my friends, is where the problem will lie if Anderson ever comes down to Earth.

We're 14th in the league in G/GP, so yeah, we're slightly above average. And that's with Ryan, Zibanejad, and Turris being pretty cold. 0.07 goals per game behind what we did last year.

Meanwhile, our save percentage has rocked from .909 to .928, from 20th to 2nd in the league. That's what's unsustainable. I absolutely think our goalies can play better than .909, but over a full season, I suspect we'll settle back down to .920 at best. That would still have us way near the top, but our shots against per game will bite us.

Our D is still allowing the second most shots in the league. In fact, we're slightly *worse* than last year. And that, my friends, is where the problem will lie if Anderson ever comes down to Earth.
- amanicom

Exactly!

I think the d has started to turn a corner, but there is still a lot of careless/dunderheaded play in the dzone.

The goalies keep us in it, for now.

Great goaltending covers a lot of holes in lineups. Sens are a prime example right now. I don't think we are any better or worse than last year. There is a different philosophy for sure, but it has yet to see significant results.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Goaltending has been much better this season, not only in stats but timing. Last season I lost count of the number of times a close game was put out of reach by a shot that should have been saved going in. Despite the same (approximately) number of shots against, both goalies have been more focused, and as such their SP is better. Sustainable? Perhaps not, but last time I checked goalies were paid pretty well to stop the puck, and they are a part of the team too. Every goalie is going to have an off night and get shelled. That is a fact of life, but letting the "bad goal" in wasted too many otherwise good performances last year and that was backbreaking on many nights.

We're 14th in the league in G/GP, so yeah, we're slightly above average. And that's with Ryan, Zibanejad, and Turris being pretty cold. 0.07 goals per game behind what we did last year.

Meanwhile, our save percentage has rocked from .909 to .928, from 20th to 2nd in the league. That's what's unsustainable. I absolutely think our goalies can play better than .909, but over a full season, I suspect we'll settle back down to .920 at best. That would still have us way near the top, but our shots against per game will bite us.

Our D is still allowing the second most shots in the league. In fact, we're slightly *worse* than last year. And that, my friends, is where the problem will lie if Anderson ever comes down to Earth.
- amanicom

i know, but i think that has a lot to do with small sample size. our goaltending is bound to come down too (as u mention), and if our d doesnt improve (which they are, so hopefully this will turn out ok) we will be in rough shape second half of the season. im hoping d improves, and if we keep up goals per game pace, then i'm obviously gonna be thrilled for the second half of the season

I hate eric gryba! ....rather have wideman here

what a F***in joke of a last 6 mins. Worst I've ever seen. Ken Hitchcock! Best defensive team. Why the F*** are you not pulling your goalie earlier? Why aren't you taking a risk? It's a 3-2 game Paul --- wake up!

what a F***in joke of a last 6 mins. Worst I've ever seen. Ken Hitchcock! Best defensive team. Why the F*** are you not pulling your goalie earlier? Why aren't you taking a risk? It's a 3-2 game Paul --- wake up!
- AlfieisKing

Paul needs to take a moment and actually think about what he's doing. That Turris line is not working. Bring Ryan back up there for (frank) sake. He also needs to address this whole getting out of their defensive zone thing. That's their biggest weakness.

Paul needs to take a moment and actually think about what he's doing. That Turris line is not working. Bring Ryan back up there for (frank) sake. He also needs to address this whole getting out of their defensive zone thing. That's their biggest weakness.
- TheCalSen

Yeah. Very frustrating loss. felt good to 'get it out'

I'd def think about putting Ryan on top line. Was Mika playing center or wing. I think wing right?

Oh, Ryan needs to play LW if Ryan moves to RW (unless Neil comes out) 90, 25, 61 are staples on RW.

The lines were going through a blender, so I don't really know. Hoff - Zib - 9MM was a line at point, which looked decent.

I'd do something along the lines of

MacA - Turris - Ryan
Hoffman - Zib - Michalek
Chiasson - Lazar - Stone
Smith - Legwand - Neil

With those middle two lines probably adjusting between them a fair amount.

Although if I could, I'd sub in Pageau or Condra for Neil.

And then

Wiercioch - Karlsson
Cowen - Ceci
Phillips - Gryba/Boro

And if I could, Phillips would be the odd man out.

what a F***in joke of a last 6 mins. Worst I've ever seen. Ken Hitchcock! Best defensive team. Why the F*** are you not pulling your goalie earlier? Why aren't you taking a risk? It's a 3-2 game Paul --- wake up!
- AlfieisKing

A good effort against a good team. I agree that the coach had a rough night.

I am not sure what he was thinking during the last two minutes of the game. And after the Sens tied it up 1-1 he puts the fourth line and Chris Neil out on the ice for the next face-off. Neil stands around flat-footed watching three Blues players and they are back in the lead 2-1.

A couple of weak coaching moments that contributed to a loss.

A good effort against a good team. I agree that the coach had a rough night.

I am not sure what he was thinking during the last two minutes of the game. And after the Sens tied it up 1-1 he puts the fourth line and Chris Neil out on the ice for the next face-off. Neil stands around flat-footed watching three Blues players and they are back in the lead 2-1.

A couple of weak coaching moments that contributed to a loss.
- maaddmike

It's not just the last two minutes. Why isn't he addressing the defensive zone breakthroughs or should I say lack of? He can clearly see that this team's weakness is getting out of their own zone. You would think he would make them practice until they stop doing so.

It's not just the last two minutes. Why isn't he addressing the defensive zone breakthroughs or should I say lack of? He can clearly see that this team's weakness is getting out of their own zone. You would think he would make them practice until they stop doing so.
- TheCalSen

good point. [p.s. I hate Gryba. Trade or waive him and bring Wideman- a puck mover !]

what a F***in joke of a last 6 mins. Worst I've ever seen. Ken Hitchcock! Best defensive team. Why the F*** are you not pulling your goalie earlier? Why aren't you taking a risk? It's a 3-2 game Paul --- wake up!
- AlfieisKing

They had good possession at about 2:10 left. Should have done it then.

I'm a little negative right now, but Legwand has nothing left offensively...

They had good possession at about 2:10 left. Should have done it then.

I'm a little negative right now, but Legwand has nothing left offensively...
- Ottawa Fan

its ok to be negative sometimes (critical)... let off some steam

They had good possession at about 2:10 left. Should have done it then.

I'm a little negative right now, but Legwand has nothing left offensively...
- Ottawa Fan

Legwand is a 3rd/4th liner, he shouldn't be playing with Ryan.

Legwand is a 3rd/4th liner, he shouldn't be playing with Ryan.
- TheCalSen

Condra can do the same at a fraction of the cost.

Would it be worth trading for a Lecavalier or Mike Richards to see if they could fit second line center? If the other team would take Greening and maybe cover some other contract, would it be worth it?

Legwand is a 3rd/4th liner, he shouldn't be playing with Ryan.
- TheCalSen

Best 'skill' players: Ryan, Turris, MacArthur, Hoffman, Stone, Zibanejad. BUT Zibanejad is playing best as wing...so...

Hence:

MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Hoffman - Zibanejad - Stone
Michalek - Legwand - Chiasson
Greening - Smith - Neil

*Can swap RWs lines 1-3

Hall, Couture, Kunitz in my hockey pool as extras....

should I pick up H.Sedin + D.Sedin?? Tyler Johnson is available too.

(for those who don't know its 6 categories -- G, A, +/-, PPP, Shots, PIM

Hall, Couture, Kunitz in my hockey pool as extras....

should I pick up H.Sedin + D.Sedin?? Tyler Johnson is available too.

(for those who don't know its 6 categories -- G, A, +/-, PPP, Shots, PIM
- AlfieisKing

Kunitz is a dud.

Kunitz is a dud.
- TheCalSen

He has 17 points in 18 games

ANd he gets a lot of hits too.