Travis Yost: Intensity?

"He's arguably the best passer on (the Ottawa) defence and he can run a power play," said one NHL executive. "He's ready for a breakout year."

you need to tell whoever wrote this to stop talking to garth snow

I understand the occasional benching to send a message and get more out of a talented young player, but at some point you have to just play the guys that give you the best chance to win... Wiercoch is simply one of the top defensemen on the team and he needs to be playing to give the Sens the best chance to win.

Travis Yost: Intensity?
- Travis Yost

So say there are no roster changes, and MacLean decides to use PW more. What's the best way to deploy the defence on even strength? My guess:

Methot - EK
Wiercioch - Gryba
Cowen - Ceci

3rd pairing looks pretty weak by last year's standards, but maybe they improve, and maybe you lean on the top two for the majority (almost all) of the minutes. I mean, really, the alternative is to play Phillips and Borowiecki, which is just a bad idea altogether.

Growing as a player isn't just about being more intense, it's taking instruction from the coach. Maclean has said he is trying to build an elite team, and he is looking long term. Would a player like Tom Preissing do Ottawa any good in 2-3 years, or do they want a player like Wade Redden?

Maclean knows what he's doing, building young players and teams isn't about stat sheets. You need players like Neil, Alfie, Phillips to show the young guys how to be an everyday NHL'er. If the NHL was about Stats Ovechkin would have won a bunch of Cups and Phil Kessel would be an MVP.

Ottawa management knows what it is doing - Weircoche is a great talent but not a great player. Talent is for practice, they want the in game real deal.

If weircoche can play to his potential Ottawa's blueline will be elite - if he's just into making long bomb passes and never making contact or taking authorty at the PP bluline, he'll be Tom Pressing.

So say there are no roster changes, and MacLean decides to use PW more. What's the best way to deploy the defence on even strength? My guess:

Methot - EK
Wiercioch - Gryba
Cowen - Ceci

3rd pairing looks pretty weak by last year's standards, but maybe they improve, and maybe you lean on the top two for the majority (almost all) of the minutes. I mean, really, the alternative is to play Phillips and Borowiecki, which is just a bad idea altogether.
- Stringer74

I have read on several occasions that the Senators feel strongly about wanting to have a a left and right hand shooting Dman on each shift.

The three right handed shooters are Karlsson, Ceci and Gryba. The left shooters are Methot, Phillips, Cowen and Wiercioche. So, if Wiercioche is going to play, one of the left side shooters needs to sit. We know it is not going to be Methot, except for injuries. So, either Phillips or Cowen.

Travis Yost: Intensity?
"At the same time, they are reluctant to tinker with a backend that has starpower, and a little bit of everything else. After Erik Karlsson's overall talent, there's Jared Cowen's size and strength, Chris Phillips' experience and leadership, Marc Methot's steadiness and locker room presence, Erik Gryba's stature and own-zone diligence, Mark Borowiecki's toughness and heart, Ceci's dependability and mobility."

- Travis Yost

This is quite possibly the rosiest description of the Senators' current defence that I've come across so far this off-season. It's too bad they didn't have that dream team last year, or they surely wouldn't have been the 4th worst defensive team in the NHL... oh... right. The problem is that there are 5 guys on that list that all play basically the same role to various degrees of competency... and only 1 that's capable of rushing the puck, or making a decent break-out pass. That's kind of a big problem, so I hope Wiercioch gets a bit more of a look this year.

P.S. Note to Brennan: if you're going to interview Wiercioch's mother and reference her as an "NHL executive", I at least want to see an awkward-phase class picture.

I'm surprised by the dismissal of the assessment of Wiercioch by the NHL executive. In my opinion, Wiercioch does indeed have the best first pass on this team. Yes, even before Erik Karlsson. Karlsson has a great passing ability, but it's his speed and puck handling ability that separates him from the rest. Wiercioch has the rare ability to begin played from his own net to centre ice in a matter of a second. This is something Redden did in his glory days as well. I don't think the rest of his game is up there to make him an elite guy, but this passing ability must be utilized. You have to think the team is going to give him more opportunity this season. I don't really buy the intensity stuff. To me it's better to be on an even keel rather than super intense. Super intense players are the ones that get into trouble when things aren't going swimmingly.

Growing as a player isn't just about being more intense, it's taking instruction from the coach. Maclean has said he is trying to build an elite team, and he is looking long term. Would a player like Tom Preissing do Ottawa any good in 2-3 years, or do they want a player like Wade Redden?

Maclean knows what he's doing, building young players and teams isn't about stat sheets. You need players like Neil, Alfie, Phillips to show the young guys how to be an everyday NHL'er. If the NHL was about Stats Ovechkin would have won a bunch of Cups and Phil Kessel would be an MVP.

Ottawa management knows what it is doing - Weircoche is a great talent but not a great player. Talent is for practice, they want the in game real deal.

If weircoche can play to his potential Ottawa's blueline will be elite - if he's just into making long bomb passes and never making contact or taking authorty at the PP bluline, he'll be Tom Pressing.
- tuna99

I don't think Neil and Phillips help your team one bit.

When did Prock become an NHL executive?












But seriously, that dude must have simply forgot about Karlsson.....right?!?

"This is a team full of intensity problems."

- Brian Burke

Patrick Wierciotch, the most underrated player on the Sens roster.

I don't think Neil and Phillips help your team one bit.
- ClarksonDavid

I don't think Phil Kessel does anything for your team besides score useless goals

I don't think Phil Kessel does anything for your team besides score useless goals
- tuna99

that's a silly response...he isnt wrong...I dont really think Neil or phillips provide a ton for this team right now...if they are used in a limited role I think we are fine...but playing regular minutes...more bad than good...

that's a silly response...he isnt wrong...I dont really think Neil or phillips provide a ton for this team right now...if they are used in a limited role I think we are fine...but playing regular minutes...more bad than good...
- TheMike12

Agree.

I don't think Neil and Phillips help your team one bit.
- ClarksonDavid

You are correct!

Why do people say chris Philips should be captain , do you really want your captain being a healthy Scratch ?

I don't think Phil Kessel does anything for your team besides score useless goals
- tuna99

who needs goals to win right?

Why do people say chris Philips should be captain , do you really want your captain being a healthy Scratch ?
- Gosensgo89

I think it's a situation of not knowing who else to give it to... like how Bryce Salvador became an NHL captain...

I think it's a situation of not knowing who else to give it to... like how Bryce Salvador became an NHL captain...
- jtommyt

id rather than go with 3 A's this season...wouldn't shock me if they did.

The big problems for defensive line in ottawa :

Karlsson struggle big time in is zone and they play him 25 minute per game average.... he dosnt look so bad because he put a point per game on board and still -15 last season ....thats not good at all.... -26 in all is career with a lot of points.... they should pair him with a big defensive star if they want to play him 25 minute but they dont have one !

that's a silly response...he isnt wrong...I dont really think Neil or phillips provide a ton for this team right now...if they are used in a limited role I think we are fine...but playing regular minutes...more bad than good...
- TheMike12

They have both regressed in talent do to age regression . Both are slower than before.
Neil at age 34 doesn't put up as many points anymore. We need him to play 4th line minutes, be a leader, protect his teammates, lay hits & to not take so many dumb penalties. I'm fine with him playing least amount of mins a night for the next two seasons, then he retires.


Philips at 36 is looking like his career is coming to an end soon. The Sens need his leadership. He should play bottom pairing minutes on defense this season. Hopefully he can be more stable in his own end this season.

Why do people say chris Philips should be captain , do you really want your captain being a healthy Scratch ?
- Gosensgo89

What's worse is that if you give Neil or Phillips the 'C' you CAN'T scratch them. heck even with the A's it can't happen really. So I suggest we strip them of the letters and go with a new core.

C - Ryan
A - Turris
A - Karlsson