Ryan Wilson: Who Can Fill Offensive Void Left By Jason Spezza? Who Can Fill Offensive Void Left By Jason Spezza?

Are you doing two blogs now?

Ryan Wilson: Who Can Fill Offensive Void Left By Jason Spezza?
Who Can Fill Offensive Void Left By Jason Spezza?
- Ryan_Wilson

HalGillalejuah.

good blog ryan, thanks for taking up the torch temporarily

as for the topic.....

i think it depends on which spezza we're talking about. if we're talking about the 85pt player of 2-3 years ago, then nobody on the team can replace him.

that being said, spezza wasn't that player last year. i think turris, with increased minutes and pp time has the potential to easily match the offense spezza gave the team last year......add to that an increase in ice time by zibanejad, and eliminating the goals against that were created by spezza's questionable play, and i think ottawa actually comes out ahead.

Ryan Wilson: Who Can Fill Offensive Void Left By Jason Spezza?
Who Can Fill Offensive Void Left By Jason Spezza?
- Ryan_Wilson

Double duty I see........

oh man... wheres the pens thread

ps. you should ask colin D / todd c how they does the split blogs and keep the seperate threads

read on spectors rumors about all the teams possibly looking to move bottom half d-men. Team like Ott, Bost, St. Louis, etc. are screwed in that regard. flood of d-men out there. they will be had for pennies on the dollar. guess it goes for the pens too if one of the rookies steps up in camp.

Are you doing two blogs now?
- VANTEL

Try reading the damn blog first. He specifically answered that

good blog ryan, thanks for taking up the torch temporarily

as for the topic.....

i think it depends on which spezza we're talking about. if we're talking about the 85pt player of 2-3 years ago, then nobody on the team can replace him.

that being said, spezza wasn't that player last year. i think turris, with increased minutes and pp time has the potential to easily match the offense spezza gave the team last year......add to that an increase in ice time by zibanejad, and eliminating the goals against that were created by spezza's questionable play, and i think ottawa actually comes out ahead.
- sensarmy_11

Erik Karlsson can definitely put up 80 points next season.

Thanks for stepping in, Ryan! I've enjoyed your Penguins blogs and contributions on the Sabres thread over the years, although I admittedly hate the Pens with a passion!

As to your question, I don't think the point production that Spezza brought will be produced internally... I fully expect for the teams goals scored tally to decrease, at least slightly, this year. As everyone has been saying, though, the acquisition of David Legwand seems to signal the renewed commitment to a full-rink game... It'll be more about improving goaltending and team defence.

good blog ryan, thanks for taking up the torch temporarily

as for the topic.....

i think it depends on which spezza we're talking about. if we're talking about the 85pt player of 2-3 years ago, then nobody on the team can replace him.

that being said, spezza wasn't that player last year. i think turris, with increased minutes and pp time has the potential to easily match the offense spezza gave the team last year......add to that an increase in ice time by zibanejad, and eliminating the goals against that were created by spezza's questionable play, and i think ottawa actually comes out ahead.
- sensarmy_11

Of course Turris can score 60 pts, maybe even more... That's not really the question of lost production, though.

Turris may score 5-10 additional points with additional ice time - Zibby might well double his production from last year playing on the second line.

However, in terms of actual production, Spezza's 66 pts will not be reproduced internally. As you say, if we end up being a better team, it will be because we are considerably better at goal prevention, or not at all.

Of course Turris can score 60 pts, maybe even more... That's not really the question of lost production, though.

Turris may score 5-10 additional points with additional ice time - Zibby might well double his production from last year playing on the second line.

However, in terms of actual production, Spezza's 66 pts will not be reproduced internally. As you say, if we end up being a better team, it will be because we are considerably better at goal prevention, or not at all.
- Mr_Clean

my point wasn't that there will be one single player who will replace spezza's production. however, overall, with increased roles for zibby and turris, adding legwand, a full season of healthy ryan, and the development of some young guys........the overall offensive numbers won't fall, or not by much.

Spezza will be missed in the early going. It's naive to say his points are replaceable because there are other aspects that must be replaced like his face-off ability, his puck control ability in the offensive zone, his power play skills, and you know, that fact he is Jason Spezza. Say what you want about Turris "playing the tougher minutes last year", but how will the team respond when they can't throw out a offensively gifted player like Spezza after/instead of Turris? I think Zibby will be a good player, but he is still a work in progress. Legwand is well, Legwand. It really depends what Zibby can do this year in order for us to be successful. Is he ready now? We shall see.

my point wasn't that there will be one single player who will replace spezza's production. however, overall, with increased roles for zibby and turris, adding legwand, a full season of healthy ryan, and the development of some young guys........the overall offensive numbers won't fall, or not by much.
- sensarmy_11

I hope you're right! I don't think they should fall by 'much', either, but I think 'healthy Ryan' will make up for Hemsky + 'unhealthy Ryan' more than it does for Spezza's production.

Anyways, it's pretty obvious that we can afford to score somewhat less as long as we are better at preventing goals.

Spezza will be missed in the early going. It's naive to say his points are replaceable because there are other aspects that must be replaced like his face-off ability, his puck control ability in the offensive zone, his power play skills, and you know, that fact he is Jason Spezza. Say what you want about Turris "playing the tougher minutes last year", but how will the team respond when they can't throw out a offensively gifted player like Spezza after/instead of Turris? I think Zibby will be a good player, but he is still a work in progress. Legwand is well, Legwand. It really depends what Zibby can do this year in order for us to be successful. Is he ready now? We shall see.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Yes, a very optimistic projection could see us replacing the overall goal scoring that Spezza generated 'by committee', but obviously there are a LOT of question marks on that front... It looks like we will probably be able to roll a couple of decent offensive lines, but that will depend a lot of whether the Zibbys, Turrises, Chiassons, and Stones of the world continue to progress... If they regress, we're pretty (frank)ed.

And yeah, it's been said already, but Spezza (at least, healthy Spezza) is a lot more than just a one-dimensional point producer.... He can actually, you know, direct offensive-zone play and help increase puck possessions with face-offs, etc. Can last year's Spezza be replaced? Probably, because he wasn't at the top of his game. Can the role Jason Spezza played since the first lockout (top-line, PPG centre) be replaced? Not soon.

Erik Karlsson can definitely put up 80 points next season.
- TheCalSen

But he essentially did that last season. Doesn't quite factor in with addressing who, if anyone will replace Spezza's production.

Yes, a very optimistic projection could see us replacing the overall goal scoring that Spezza generated 'by committee', but obviously there are a LOT of question marks on that front... It looks like we will probably be able to roll a couple of decent offensive lines, but that will depend a lot of whether the Zibbys, Turrises, Chiassons, and Stones of the world continue to progress... If they regress, we're pretty (frank)ed.

And yeah, it's been said already, but Spezza (at least, healthy Spezza) is a lot more than just a one-dimensional point producer.... He can actually, you know, direct offensive-zone play and help increase puck possessions with face-offs, etc. Can last year's Spezza be replaced? Probably, because he wasn't at the top of his game. Can the role Jason Spezza played since the first lockout (top-line, PPG centre) be replaced? Not soon.
- Mr_Clean

The offense was pretty solid last season. The question as you addressed is whether or not the team can fill spezzas shoes by committee. Like you said if players take a step back then the team will be in teh Mcdavid sweepstakes.

However, most if not all of the offensive players should take steps forward. If you factor in Chiasson and Legwand arriving, and young players like Stone and Zib improving. And a healthy Karlsson, who I don't think was 100% last season.

I'm not saying they'll fill spezzas role 100%, as what he did was more thann points. But I don't think scoring goals will be too much of a problem for this team.


As I've said many times, it's the defense.


Also, thanks for the blog ryan, good stuff.

Try reading the damn blog first. He specifically answered that
- Guile

reading is for shut up

reading is for shut up
- BulliesPhan87

what?

Yes, a very optimistic projection could see us replacing the overall goal scoring that Spezza generated 'by committee', but obviously there are a LOT of question marks on that front... It looks like we will probably be able to roll a couple of decent offensive lines, but that will depend a lot of whether the Zibbys, Turrises, Chiassons, and Stones of the world continue to progress... If they regress, we're pretty (frank)ed.

And yeah, it's been said already, but Spezza (at least, healthy Spezza) is a lot more than just a one-dimensional point producer.... He can actually, you know, direct offensive-zone play and help increase puck possessions with face-offs, etc. Can last year's Spezza be replaced? Probably, because he wasn't at the top of his game. Can the role Jason Spezza played since the first lockout (top-line, PPG centre) be replaced? Not soon.
- Mr_Clean

I get the "by committee" argument. It's fine. But we had a large majority of that "committee from last year. Realistically, who did we add when Spezza left? Legwand and Chaisson. One the over the hill, bust of a high draft pick and decent prospect. People have to start look at this roster like an opposing team would. We have one line that we can rely on. Could that change? Of course, but it requires a fair number surprising seasons from young players. I like where this team is heading, but we are still a ways off from being a great team.

The #1 thing we need to talk about is harder play and not offense - I loved watching Spezza play but I think as a team we get better by substraction - I think with Legwand and Zibby being #2 / #3 centers I think our center depth is better then last season.

We don't have the marquee Canadian Boy at center, but we do have a more coachable and harder group of forwards

what?
- david22

you heard me

I get the "by committee" argument. It's fine. But we had a large majority of that "committee from last year. Realistically, who did we add when Spezza left? Legwand and Chaisson. One the over the hill, bust of a high draft pick and decent prospect. People have to start look at this roster like an opposing team would. We have one line that we can rely on. Could that change? Of course, but it requires a fair number surprising seasons from young players. I like where this team is heading, but we are still a ways off from being a great team.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Exactly. I mention a "very optimistic" projection in my post, I would say a realistic projection puts us in the top-half of goals scored, but not top-10. Now, if we can somehow improve our defence to being top-20 in goals allowed (also optimistic, considering the state of our d-corp), we might well be a playoff team, especially in the Eastern Conference, but we'll be far from a contender (obviously), barring a series of minor miracles, for the next two seasons at least.

The #1 thing we need to talk about is harder play and not offense - I loved watching Spezza play but I think as a team we get better by substraction - I think with Legwand and Zibby being #2 / #3 centers I think our center depth is better then last season.

We don't have the marquee Canadian Boy at center, but we do have a more coachable and harder group of forwards
- tuna99

It just seems wrong to say this, as it straight-up implies Legwand > Spezza. Call me crazy, but I don't think that there is a team in this league that would trade Spezza for Legwand, straight-up.

you heard me
- BulliesPhan87

you guy, don't make me come over there and scramble your eggs... I always forget the salt.