Yeah, oddly enough I disagree with you here, Gord. Weird, I know!

This team is playing decently and, for the most part, either a) making a critical mistake or two or b) just not getting the bounces, or c) all of the above.

If bad bounces and a few critical mistakes get us a good draft choice this year, then so much the better... The bad bounces will even themselves out eventually, while experience will help many of our younger players to commit fewer errors. All while allowing the Senators to pick up one of those piece we need so desperately at the draft.
- Mr_Clean

This is my perspective too...

Since the 2nd period calamity in Dallas, this team has played some great hockey but just hasn't been able to close. They've been the better team in the last 3 games they've played, but unfortunately have only been able to get 3 points out of a possible 6.
But maybe that's a good thing?

The young team has shown a ton of promise, and I think management is taking note of that. They aren't going to succeed this year, but they are certainly taking huge strides towards being a competitive team. I really think that if we added $10m to this lineup (which we theoretically can), we'd have a very strong, contending club. And when you consider that the majority of contributing members of the team is under 26- that says a lot!

These people wanting the team to completely tank don't understand the game or the business. It's pretty easy to criticize from behind your computer, but think about the fact that the Sens management live this day in and day out, 24/7. They know the value of their players, they're likely talking daily, internally and externally, about it.

Plus, athletes are fierce competitors (the majority of which are, anyway). You can't just tell them to give up- they're going to keep playing until the season's over.

More than ever, this year gives anyone who misses a chance at McDavid. I think karma will catch up to those who intentionally tank.

Yeah, oddly enough I disagree with you here, Gord. Weird, I know!

This team is playing decently and, for the most part, either a) making a critical mistake or two or b) just not getting the bounces, or c) all of the above.

If bad bounces and a few critical mistakes get us a good draft choice this year, then so much the better... The bad bounces will even themselves out eventually, while experience will help many of our younger players to commit fewer errors. All while allowing the Senators to pick up one of those piece we need so desperately at the draft.
- Mr_Clean

Exactly!

The bolded part is literally a trademark of young inexperienced teams, and has been for as long as professional sports have been played.

The difference between us and an Edmonton/Buffalo/Toronto is that we aren't getting territorially dominated for 60 minutes every night with no sign of improvement.

How anyone can actually watch these last 10 games or so and come away feeling hopeless is beyond me. I have to assume they're all too young to remember ever rooting for a developing team.

Going forward, our younger guys will get better, our older guys will filter out, we'll still get solid draft choices for this year and maybe next, and then when the cap goes down due to the canadian $, we will poach a good player or two for next to nothing from some strapped team that blew their load on terrible UFAs.

Far as I'm concerned, the future is bright for this team, and all I've ever heard from the pessimists is "we dont have elite players already dominating so everything is terrible". Not a great argument on their part.

LMAO!

You thinking Murray has done a bad job makes so much more sense now, knowing you think these are even remotely possible.
- TommyDeVito

Tommy.... As the kids sayn 'tru dat'.

AlfieisKing seems to be of a different mindset than the majority of not only us, but also the braintrust of the NHL....... Maybe he's right and everybody else is wrong..... But I doubt it

Sometimes it's like having a conversation with my 'I know everything and you know jack' 12 year old son.....

I think this take assuming that we are just having bad luck and that will even out down the line. How many "bad bounces" will it take for people to realize that maybe this collection of players just doesn't have the finish we had hoped. How many "critical mistakes" will it take to realize a guys development has not gone according to plan? I get the young player excuse, but how long does that apply for guys like Cowen, Turris, Chaisson, Zibby, etc. Guys who have played in the NHL for a good length of time.

I'm all for getting a great player at the draft, but I'm a little hesitant to say that us finishing near the bottom is a good thing overall. May mean we require even more pieces than we thought.

All in all, I don't mind where this team is going in the long run. However, at some point, the loosing has to stop. I'll never be a guy to say we are loosing, but playing well, so that's fine, over a course of a season. Defeats the purpose of winning in my opinion.

At least everyone seems to be on the same page that we need more players that are undisputed 1st line quality.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

You're being pretty hard on these guys, in my opinion.

On Cowen, after a few injury-plagued years- I think he's actually starting to show some promise. And D-men, you can typically give to age 26 to know what you've got. Cowen's 23.

On Turris- he's hit a big slump, but he's a perfect 2nd line center. He's getting #1C attention this year, and it's shown. But at 3.5 per- I can't see how people complain about Turris even when he's in the slump he's in.

On Chiasson, he's 23, but this is really only his 2nd season in the league. I think he's shown a lot of potential and could be a nice piece down the road. Big body, good skater, and he's shown some offensive ability. Still learning the ropes, I'd give him a little leash.

On Zibby, he's 21. Gained a larger frame over the summer, as mgmt. probably expected. He's probably been put in a tough spot with Spezza leaving, and him expecting to take over #1 spot, but I still think he's going to be a good player for us, and does have the potential to be a #1 down the line.

I just want to clarify, that I generally like the direction we are going. There are a handful of players that will be conserstones going forward. I just don't think it's all roses going forward. There are significant holes that need to be filled. It's naive to think every player will improve and reach their said potential. It just doesn't happen. We need to get a gem of a player to insert up front. Difficult to do, but is a necessity. Teams full of 2nd and 3rd line guys don't win championships.

Another good game. What I've noticed since the Dallas game is that the team has put themselves in a position to win every game by playing the right way. I don't see players taking too many shortcuts. This is great for the development of the core players. You also see players making plays with confidence. Passes, body positioning, support are all trending in the right direction. I won't speculate why that is, but earlier in the season many players were hesitant. If we were in the hunt for playoff spot, i'd be pissed about the loss. But now i'm just focusing on the play of team. There's some silver lining there that bodes well for the future of the team.

Pageau is becoming clutch in the face-off dot. Such a smart player.

Karlsson has looked really good and engaged the last two games. We need to sign Methot because these two together is a legit top Defensive tandem in the league.

I love Stone, but it seems like the Turris-Mac duo are having a hard time getting close to the net, so they might need a power forward on their line to make room for them. And maybe this is why we keep hearing about Murray wanting a Top 6. He's looking for a power forward to play with that duo. Stone can go to the front of the net, but its not his style. Some of his passes last night were really something.

This is my perspective too...

Since the 2nd period calamity in Dallas, this team has played some great hockey but just hasn't been able to close. They've been the better team in the last 3 games they've played, but unfortunately have only been able to get 3 points out of a possible 6.
But maybe that's a good thing?

The young team has shown a ton of promise, and I think management is taking note of that. They aren't going to succeed this year, but they are certainly taking huge strides towards being a competitive team. I really think that if we added $10m to this lineup (which we theoretically can), we'd have a very strong, contending club. And when you consider that the majority of contributing members of the team is under 26- that says a lot!

These people wanting the team to completely tank don't understand the game or the business. It's pretty easy to criticize from behind your computer, but think about the fact that the Sens management live this day in and day out, 24/7. They know the value of their players, they're likely talking daily, internally and externally, about it.

Plus, athletes are fierce competitors (the majority of which are, anyway). You can't just tell them to give up- they're going to keep playing until the season's over.

More than ever, this year gives anyone who misses a chance at McDavid. I think karma will catch up to those who intentionally tank.
- Jordo

Amen! And on top of all that, this is a heckuva draft year... If we pick 7-10, we're still gonna get a really good player

I want this franchise to walk a line between competitiveness and draft position this year... The way things are going, they look to be walking the line perfectly!

This is my perspective too...

Since the 2nd period calamity in Dallas, this team has played some great hockey but just hasn't been able to close. They've been the better team in the last 3 games they've played, but unfortunately have only been able to get 3 points out of a possible 6.
But maybe that's a good thing?

The young team has shown a ton of promise, and I think management is taking note of that. They aren't going to succeed this year, but they are certainly taking huge strides towards being a competitive team. I really think that if we added $10m to this lineup (which we theoretically can), we'd have a very strong, contending club. And when you consider that the majority of contributing members of the team is under 26- that says a lot!

These people wanting the team to completely tank don't understand the game or the business. It's pretty easy to criticize from behind your computer, but think about the fact that the Sens management live this day in and day out, 24/7. They know the value of their players, they're likely talking daily, internally and externally, about it.

Plus, athletes are fierce competitors (the majority of which are, anyway). You can't just tell them to give up- they're going to keep playing until the season's over.

More than ever, this year gives anyone who misses a chance at McDavid. I think karma will catch up to those who intentionally tank.
- Jordo

I agree with the majority of your points. There is definite promise for the future with this team. Everyone seems to be getting better (outside Turris and Chiasson).

Ryan, Stone and Hoffman have really impressed up front. Now that Methot is back, Karlsson looks like a Norris trophy winner again, finally. Ceci is going to be a stud.

One thing to clarify, though. When people like myself say the Sens need to tank, we don't mean tell the players to give up. That's ridiculous.

What we are hoping for is more of the same thing that is happening right now - the Sens play well, yet lose cause of lack of finish. What I don't want them to do is add a piece now that will only hurt our draft positioning (ie Anderson for Eliott - that moved us from 2 or 3 to 5, then 6 after Jersey won the lottery).

I also think that trying to trade for this 'top 6 forward' is going to cost us more during the season than it would in the summer.

Seems like a lose/lose proposition to me.

I just want to clarify, that I generally like the direction we are going. There are a handful of players that will be conserstones going forward. I just don't think it's all roses going forward. There are significant holes that need to be filled. It's naive to think every player will improve and reach their said potential. It just doesn't happen. We need to get a gem of a player to insert up front. Difficult to do, but is a necessity. Teams full of 2nd and 3rd line guys don't win championships.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

No, I'm with you 100% on most of this too. I don't think too many people are saying that we don't need help - a lot of help, even. In the meantime, though, while we don't have easy access to a gem of a player, it just so happens that losing while still being competitive may help some of the younger guys reach their potential, simultaneously improving our draft position in the meantime

No, I'm with you 100% on most of this too. I don't think too many people are saying that we don't need help - a lot of help, even. In the meantime, though, while we don't have easy access to a gem of a player, it just so happens that losing while still being competitive may help some of the younger guys reach their potential, simultaneously improving our draft position in the meantime
- Mr_Clean

I sense some people don't feel that way though (Tommy flat out said saying we don't have an elite player(s) is a weak argument). I sense a lot of people are perfectly fine with an entire team of good players. You look at elite teams, they have great players playing in front of their good players. We have the depth. We don't have game changing forwards. Look at the last handful of games where "we have played well" but lost by a goal. That's the difference folks. Mighty hard to get that gem of a player, but it's a necessity in the next year or two.

I sense some people don't feel that way though (Tommy flat out said adding an elite player is a weak argument). I sense a lot of people are perfectly fine with an entire team of good players. You look at elite teams, they have great players playing in front of their good players. We have the depth. We don't have game changing forwards. Look at the last handful of games where "we have played well" but lost by a goal. That's the difference folks. Mighty hard to get that gem of a player, but it's a necessity in the next year or two.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

At the start of the season, I would have said we need to vastly improve on D- but with the progression of Cowen and Ceci, and the return of Methot- I think our D is actually pretty solid.

Before he got hurt, Borowiecki was having a pretty solid year as well- he isn't going to set anything on fire- but he's an extremely reliable 5/6 defenseman with a mean streak.


My attention now has fully shifted toward the need for more gamebreaking forwards. I just fear of what it might take to land one, with the lack of UFA's this year, and the potential cost it may take to get one via trade.

A line of Bobby Ryan and Jordan Eberle would be a lot of fun to watch for the next 5-7 years.

People need to pause and reflect. This is an amazing draft. You have a young center ranked #7 that would be in the mix for #1 overall in any other year. This really is an exceptional collection of young talent.

The Sens are going to get a really good player.

It would be nice if they could add another top six player. But, I do not want them giving up a draft pick unless it is an exceptional piece coming back. Perhaps a Taylor Hall or an Evander Kane. But, nobody will ever get me to agree to the blue and white version of the Pillsbury Doughboy.

This is my perspective too...

Since the 2nd period calamity in Dallas, this team has played some great hockey but just hasn't been able to close. They've been the better team in the last 3 games they've played, but unfortunately have only been able to get 3 points out of a possible 6.
But maybe that's a good thing?

The young team has shown a ton of promise, and I think management is taking note of that. They aren't going to succeed this year, but they are certainly taking huge strides towards being a competitive team. I really think that if we added $10m to this lineup (which we theoretically can), we'd have a very strong, contending club. And when you consider that the majority of contributing members of the team is under 26- that says a lot!

These people wanting the team to completely tank don't understand the game or the business. It's pretty easy to criticize from behind your computer, but think about the fact that the Sens management live this day in and day out, 24/7. They know the value of their players, they're likely talking daily, internally and externally, about it.

Plus, athletes are fierce competitors (the majority of which are, anyway). You can't just tell them to give up- they're going to keep playing until the season's over.

More than ever, this year gives anyone who misses a chance at McDavid. I think karma will catch up to those who intentionally tank.
- Jordo

This is when you have to loom at the dysfunction in the team - the miss evaluation of players (greening, Neil, Phillips, legwand, Weicoche) and then overselling alp lot of our other players who are not ready for their roles (Lehner, Zibby, Cowen)

At the top Melnyk is saying we have a roster of futture superstars which we all role our eyes at, everyone in Ottawa except Brian Murray know we are not a playoff team.

We aren't making he playoffs so play Lazar, Pageau, Lehner, Weircoche evernight and let the vets sit.

I don't like how we are dressing a veteran lineup when everyone knows the playoffs are lost (except Murray)

You play to win obviously but let the kids learn how to win because the vets are hurting this team - we look much better without Neil, Phillips, legwand in the lineup and that has shown since they got injured and have been benched.

People need to pause and reflect. This is an amazing draft. You have a young center ranked #7 that would be in the mix for #1 overall in any other year. This really is an exceptional collection of young talent.

The Sens are going to get a really good player.

It would be nice if they could add another top six player. But, I do not want them giving up a draft pick unless it is an exceptional piece coming back. Perhaps a Taylor Hall or an Evander Kane. But, nobody will ever get me to agree to the blue and white version of the Pillsbury Doughboy.
- spatso

We may be drafting #13 - the stated goal is to nip prove the team so we can make the playoffs and get shellacked by Pitt.

We should dress the kids and say screw the playoffs - let's be realistic and realize we have good young players but are nothing close to a playoff team.

I also think that trying to trade for this 'top 6 forward' is going to cost us more during the season than it would in the summer.

Seems like a lose/lose proposition to me.
- Charliebox

I think everyone but management feels this way. Acquiring a player that Murray is describing will be cheaper in the off-season. Unless he wants to grab a tweener on an expiring contract to audition in a top 6 role. Whatever they do, I hope our 1st and our two 2nds are off the table as I've heard the top 45 picks are quality players. Our two 2nds currently sit in that range. I've liked Murray over the years, he's been a steady GM, but if he does something stupid in a really pathetic attempt to get in the playoffs, it will really tarnish my view of his tenure.

This is when you have to loom at the dysfunction in the team - the miss evaluation of players (greening, Neil, Phillips, legwand, Weicoche) and then overselling alp lot of our other players who are not ready for their roles (Lehner, Zibby, Cowen)

At the top Melnyk is saying we have a roster of futture superstars which we all role our eyes at, everyone in Ottawa except Brian Murray know we are not a playoff team.

We aren't making he playoffs so play Lazar, Pageau, Lehner, Weircoche evernight and let the vets sit.

I don't like how we are dressing a veteran lineup when everyone knows the playoffs are lost (except Murray)

You play to win obviously but let the kids learn how to win because the vets are hurting this team - we look much better without Neil, Phillips, legwand in the lineup and that has shown since they got injured and have been benched.
- tuna99

Teams are only entitled to one superstar. Many teams don't have even one. Ottawa has a great one named Eric Karlsson. The team is now being properly built around him. They are playing very good hockey. Patience is more than a virtue. It is an essential ingrediant to ensure that the team does not make impulsive dumb choices.

People need to pause and reflect. This is an amazing draft. You have a young center ranked #7 that would be in the mix for #1 overall in any other year. This really is an exceptional collection of young talent.

The Sens are going to get a really good player.

It would be nice if they could add another top six player. But, I do not want them giving up a draft pick unless it is an exceptional piece coming back. Perhaps a Taylor Hall or an Evander Kane. But, nobody will ever get me to agree to the blue and white version of the Pillsbury Doughboy.
- spatso

It will be important to draft the right player. I have loads of confidence that the team will. Since we won't be drafting 1 or 2 most likely, we will have to find a diamond in the rough. It's been done before, hopefully it happens again.

We may be drafting #13 - the stated goal is to nip prove the team so we can make the playoffs and get shellacked by Pitt.

We should dress the kids and say screw the playoffs - let's be realistic and realize we have good young players but are nothing close to a playoff team.
- tuna99

Agreed.

Agreed heartily.