i'm sorry thats a losing mentality. There is no prize for runner up. yes it's going to be a 1/31 chance, but that means 30 teams are going to fail and one isn't. Sports are about winning and we didn't.
- Maverick1818

Curious, should the oilers consider their season a failure?

Should Toronto?

Being a fan is also appreciate when your team plays well and doesn't win. That doesn't have anything to do with a winning mentality or not, especially not as fans, but also love for the game. I rather watch this then no play offs and no excitement.

But it is important that the guys up the ice have that winning mentality and I've seen that in game 6 (huuuge win) and today (two comebacks). If you haven't seen that, then you're blind and ignorant. They gave everything and more but just weren't good enough, meaning the roster has to improve or the system has to be tweaked.
- DutchSenators

Being a fan is also appreciate when your team plays well and doesn't win. That doesn't have anything to do with a winning mentality or not, especially not as fans, but also love for the game. I rather watch this then no play offs and no excitement.

But it is important that the guys up the ice have that winning mentality and I've seen that in game 6 (huuuge win) and today (two comebacks). If you haven't seen that, then you're blind and ignorant. They gave everything and more but just weren't good enough, meaning the roster has to improve or the system has to be tweaked.
- DutchSenators

has to improve in a big way. Lets hope EM doesn't think this is a team that can win a cup and tighten up our budget

Being a fan is also appreciate when your team plays well and doesn't win. That doesn't have anything to do with a winning mentality or not, especially not as fans, but also love for the game. I rather watch this then no play offs and no excitement.

But it is important that the guys up the ice have that winning mentality and I've seen that in game 6 (huuuge win) and today (two comebacks). If you haven't seen that, then you're blind and ignorant. They gave everything and more but just weren't good enough, meaning the roster has to improve or the system has to be tweaked.
- DutchSenators

This Maverick dude sounds just as insufferable as what we had to put up with back in the Unholy_Goalie days

We need a legit 1C; Turris/Brassard is not good enough.

EDIT: Duchene is not a 1C

This Maverick dude sounds just as insufferable as what we had to put up with back in the Unholy_Goalie days
- twiztedmike

no, I love good hockey and when they play well i'm usually one of the first people to give credit, trade seasons i'm always looking to make the team better. But at the end of the day, the goal is to win a cup and the fact is, this year we had a very good chance and we blew it.

Glad the Sens lost, but holy poop they made a good run. Ottawa fans should be very proud and happy of their team making it as far as they did. Not being a Richardbag, honestly it's good for your team and you as fans that they got so far.
- Conquest

The most proud I've ever been of a team - and ever will.

Guys that deserve a cup: Karlsson, Anderson, Pageau, Ryan

This team went to Double OT - outlasted every team except NSH and PIT but it's certainly going to hurt tomorrow because I believe they really could have beaten the Preds. But if Nashville beats PITS then I'll feel somewhat better lol

We need a legit 1C; Turris/Brassard is not good enough.

EDIT: Duchene is not a 1C
- TheCalSen

Agree but I'll take Duchene next 2-3 seasons than White next 2-3 seasons - by then Phaneuf, Methot, Anderson not on this team - and even guys like Brass and Turris will need new contracts. They need to compete for a cup next 2 seasons for sure - i.e. make a big trade

absolutely yes, our players were defending when they should have been attacking, they barely hit, all you have to do is look at the shot count, that was pathetic. Ottawa deserves better.
- Maverick1818

That's the thing

has to improve in a big way. Lets hope EM doesn't think this is a team that can win a cup and tighten up our budget
- Maverick1818

I don't think there is a lot of room with cap trouble in 18/19 coming up. Maybe if we can trade Ryan after his good play offs there will be some space to improve.

Also don't have the assets to go for a true 1C.

no, I love good hockey and when they play well i'm usually one of the first people to give credit, trade seasons i'm always looking to make the team better. But at the end of the day, the goal is to win a cup and the fact is, this year we had a very good chance and we blew it.
- Maverick1818

Ottawa's been slowly building up. You drafted well, developed talent intelligently --> Stone, Hoffman, Karlsson, Pageau, Claesson, Ceci. You added some good players via trade --> Turris, Brassard, Phaneuf (he's only okay....), etc. Got great goaltending. Some decent signings in there - never overpaying. 1 C is the hardest to get. The Leafs finally got one by sucking very badly for several years and getting the 1st overall pick. Sens have been solid enough through the years to never have to draft that low. But I think the 1C factor is easily overridden and negated by Karlsson. That guy makes everyone around him better. That guy carried a team against the likes of Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel (ALL ON ONE TEAM).

I hate the Senators but I respect them as a good team. Really really hate.

i'm sorry thats a losing mentality. There is no prize for runner up. yes it's going to be a 1/31 chance, but that means 30 teams are going to fail and one isn't. Sports are about winning and we didn't.
- Maverick1818

Jesus man, you're a terrible fan. If you're incapable of recognizing how much this team just exceeded expectations, then maybe you should just go cheer for whoever wins the Cup every year like a spoiled child. Seriously, it's like you'd have been happier if they'd been eliminated in the 1st round, or maybe missed the playoffs entirely. Don't worry, you'll get your wish for the next few years in all probability, because it's comparatively rare for most teams to achieve what the Senators did this year.

The Senators deserve better fans than this. I understand this from fans of other teams, but you do understand there is a 1/30 (soon to 1/31) chance of winning a Cup in a given season right?

If you don't give a team credit for a heart-filled run, and refuse to give them credit except literally the day the hoist a Cup, you have unreasonable expectations of something that will probably happen once or twice in your lifetime
- Mr_Clean

Totally agree. Championships are the ultimate goal, but if that's all you can enjoy in sports then you're just going to be miserable most of the time.

Sens fans should be proud of their team. Epic series and took it to a coin toss at the end and never folded. I have lots more respect for your team after this run. Hope your owner sees what he has and spends to add.

Hoffman - Turris - Stone
?? - Brassard - Ryan
McArthur - Pageau - Dzingel
Z. Smith - Colin White - Pyatt

Methot/Karlsson
Phaneuf/Ceci
Chabot/Wideman*
*assuming Claesson gets picked up by Vegas. Who else would they pick up?

Would be my preferred line up for next year, but we are probably not adding another top LW because we have McArthur back.

I am also of the opinion that a "participation" trophy or whatever adult equivalent (million of dollars?) we have is making for some complacent fanbases.

Look at the Rangers a few years ago, people were saying the same thing after they lost in the finals "Oh a few peices and we'll make another run" and they've been slowly dying since, despite what their fans and media think.

No. The Senators could very realistically miss the playoffs next year, just like they did last year. It it was ever their year, it was this year and they sat on their thumbs tonight, sorry. The better team doesn't always win, but tonight, it did.

I'd be saying this regardless of who lost to the Penguins tonight, so again, I'm really not trying to troll here, just being realistic. I really wanted to see Ottawa win tonight and they absolutely could have and should have. You'll be lucky if an Ottawa team with Karlsson ever gets to the finals at this point.

And for contrast, as a Sabres fan, I fully expect them to suck next year and possibly even miss the playoffs the following year, too. We've already got Ryan "Headcase" Miller 2.0 in Jack Eichel so I say let the poop-show begin down here in the B-lo.

If the best team always won, USA would have never beaten Russia in 1980.

Jesus man, you're a terrible fan. If you're incapable of recognizing how much this team just exceeded expectations, then maybe you should just go cheer for whoever wins the Cup every year like a spoiled child. Seriously, it's like you'd have been happier if they'd been eliminated in the 1st round, or maybe missed the playoffs entirely. Don't worry, you'll get your wish for the next few years in all probability, because it's comparatively rare for most teams to achieve what the Senators did this year.
- khawk

i'm sorry but being happy to just make the playoffs is sad. It's like running a race and being happy just putting on your running shoes.

Sens shouldn't be building a team to make the playoffs, we should be building a team to win a cup. I enjoy great hockey, I've played hockey my entire life, I've been a Sens fan since I was little, but the expectation is that we are trying to win a cup. Facts are facts and the fact is that we are not in the finals right now. I can enjoy little victories sure, every game we won and ever series we won I was just as excited as anyone else, but losing is not a victory and we will never win a cup if that's this teams mentality.

Totally agree. Championships are the ultimate goal, but if that's all you can enjoy in sports then you're just going to be miserable most of the time.

Sens fans should be proud of their team. Epic series and took it to a coin toss at the end and never folded. I have lots more respect for your team after this run. Hope your owner sees what he has and spends to add.
- Tojo.

Idk man, your city has multiple championships from multiple franchises, I really don't think you can go around saying that so casually.

Also, I love watching the Bills and Sabres play. I love seeing our players make great plays and score. I have a lot of fun attending get-togethers, games, party in the plaza, bars, etc... But am never going to be proud of them until they win a Stanley Cup or Vince Lombardi Trophy, sorry. Closest it gets is AFL championships, the greatest non-dynasty of all-time and the Buffalo Bandits here.

Idk man, your city has multiple championships from multiple franchises, I really don't think you can go around saying that so casually.

Also, I love watching the Bills and Sabres play. I love seeing our players make great plays and score. I have a lot of fun attending get-togethers, games, party in the plaza, bars, etc... But am never going to be proud of them until they win a Stanley Cup or Vince Lombardi Trophy, sorry. Closest it gets is AFL championships, the greatest non-dynasty of all-time and the Buffalo Bandits here.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I hate Pittsburgh's championship or bust mentality as well. I'm was extremely proud of the 2008 Pens that didn't end up winning it all. Hate calling a team that probably wasn't picked by everyone to even be in the playoffs and who was an underdog every series yet got to the 2nd OT in game 7 of thebEastern Conference Finals against the defending champs a failure.

I hate Pittsburgh's championship or bust mentality as well. I'm was extremely proud of the 2008 Pens that didn't end up winning it all. Hate calling a team that probably wasn't picked by everyone to even be in the playoffs and who was an underdog every series yet got to the 2nd OT in game 7 of thebEastern Conference Finals against the defending champs a failure.
- Tojo.

Well, I'm not calling them a 'failure' per se, just that I wouldn't be proud of them for ultimately coming up short in a league where very very few teams get a second chance. Yeah, they had a great run, it was exciting. And I didn't get hit by a car crossing the road today, it was awesome but nothing to be proud of.

i'm sorry but being happy to just make the playoffs is sad. It's like running a race and not trying to win.
- Maverick1818

There's a difference between wanting your team to win, and only being satisfied if they do win. If you really can't appreciate what they achieved this year, then I find that sad... and would suggest that you don't actually understand sports at all if you can only be satisfied with a victory.

There's a difference between wanting your team to win, and only being satisfied if they do win. If you really can't appreciate what they achieved this year, then I find that sad... and would suggest that you don't actually understand sports at all if you can only be satisfied with a victory.
- khawk

Losing isn't a victory. if you are a hawks fan are you happy that you got booted first round? if you are a boston fan, are you happy you got booted first round? etc.... prolly not. I'm not all negative, I understand that we over achieved and thats great, but I just think we should have a "cup or failure" mentality. Thats why the Pens did it, thats why the hawks did it, thats why LA did it, etc. Pens and Nash both have that mentality and look where they both are right now

Congrats Ottawa Sens! Great effort, great run and the future looks bright with a new downtown arena on the horizon and great talent like White and Chabot coming up etc. Can't really be unhappy with the result - taking the defending champs to 2xOT in a Game 7 is way more than we were expected to do this year.

Go Sens Go!

The most proud I've ever been of a team - and ever will.

Guys that deserve a cup: Karlsson, Anderson, Pageau, Ryan

This team went to Double OT - outlasted every team except NSH and PIT but it's certainly going to hurt tomorrow because I believe they really could have beaten the Preds. But if Nashville beats PITS then I'll feel somewhat better lol
- AlfieisKing

For sure; their run reminds me of the surprise run by the Devils a few years ago. Not in style but just willing themselves to get the next goal, get the next win and make it to the next round.

There's a difference between wanting your team to win, and only being satisfied if they do win. If you really can't appreciate what they achieved this year, then I find that sad... and would suggest that you don't actually understand sports at all if you can only be satisfied with a victory.
- khawk

I think the main issue here is the way people throw the word "Proud" around like a frisbee.

I can absolutely even as a non-Senators fan appreciate their season. But being proud of it? PROUD?

Be proud of beating cancer, finishing a marathon, making a really good scone (probably harder than winning a championship) or giving birth.

But being PROUD of your favorite hockey team falling on their faces in a game that looked a lot closer on the score sheet than it actually was? Okay, be proud of Craig Anderson's performance given the tough season he's had. Be proud of Clarke MacArthur coming back from serious concussion problems that had limited him to 4 regular season games over the span of 2 seasons.

But don't be proud of your TEAM for losing as a TEAM.

Losing isn't a victory. if you are a hawks fan are you happy that you got booted first round? if you are a boston fan, are you happy you got booted first round? etc.... prolly not. I'm not all negative, I understand that we over achieved and thats great, but I just think we should have a "cup or failure" mentality. Thats why the Pens did it, thats why the hawks did it, thats why LA did it, etc. Pens and Nash both have that mentality and look where they both are right now
- Maverick1818

What makes you think that Nashville has that mentality more than Ottawa does? If they lose in the finals like Ottawa did in 2007, will you still be saying Ottawa should have the same mentality as the Predators? And do you honestly think that Pittsburgh's mentality is what won them the game tonight, as opposed to having a much deeper offensive roster, home ice advantage, and quite possibly the best player in the world? If anything, I would suggest that Ottawa's team mentality was actually far more resilient than the Penguins, but apparently we can only assess that by knowing which team scored the 2OT goal in Game 7.

Fortunately, I think you'll find that the fans in Nashville won't share your cynical view if they don't win the Cup. They have every reason to be proud of their team, win-or-lose, and the same is true of the Senators.