Wonder what Murray is looking for to come back? Top 2 D? Package deal? Top 3 winger? Who knows.
- karlssens

Gotta be.

We don't really have a need anywhere else.

I mean, if we're trading Spezza then it's clear that Murray thinks there's still some retooling left to be done before we're competitive, thus he would be thinking 2-3 years from now, when the Turris/Zibs/Stones/Hoffmans/Lazars/Puempels in the system are all up and playing for us regularly in bigger roles.

Really no need for forwards on this team going forward, even with Spezza and Michalek. One winger would likely be enough. (Hemsky if he would resign.)

Don't rule out the team "tanking" next year for one last piece.

By doing this some veterans will be moved out. Ie Spezza,Methot,Anderson etc.

Full blown youth/cheap year.

Hello Mcdavid
- Cup 06

could you imagine our centers going forward, in no particular order

turris
zibby
lazar
mcdavid

Edmonton.

Edmonton happened to him.
- TommyDeVito

the team wasn't good, and the system may have been lacking, but even the things Edmonton gave him a chance to succeed in didn't materialize for him.

In the go ahead, he become Mikael Samuelsson for them - a reasonable two-way complimentary scorer for them in his prime.

Don't rule out the team "tanking" next year for one last piece.

By doing this some veterans will be moved out. Ie Spezza,Methot,Anderson etc.

Full blown youth/cheap year.

Hello Mcdavid

That's one fork in the crossroads they could take this offseason.
- Cup 06

Absurd theory - losing every veteran we have on the team wouldn't get us to first overall.

Spezza, Michalek, Hemsky, Neil, Phillips, Methot, and Anderson could all be moved out, and we STILL wouldn't be in the bottom 3. Too much talent.

i wonder if st louis poops the bed in the playoffs, if a deal centering around spezza and shattenkirk would be possible.

Absurd theory - losing every veteran we have on the team wouldn't get us to first overall.

Spezza, Michalek, Hemsky, Neil, Phillips, Methot, and Anderson could all be moved out, and we STILL wouldn't be in the bottom 3. Too much talent.
- TommyDeVito

When a perfect storm of deficiencies in certain areas, lost motivation, bad coaching, bad goaltending and bad luck hit, it's pretty easy to finish bottom 3.

Let's set aside the team I cheer for - Colorado finished bottom 3 with O'Reilly, Duchene, Landeskog, Parenteau, Stastny, Downie, Hejduk, Hejda, Erik Johnson, Varlamov and a bevy of role players.

That's likely a better nucleus than the Sens minue Spezza, Michalek, Hemsky, Neil, Phillips, Methot and Anderson

Given his last half of the season, the recent ridiculous UFA contracts, and the likelihood of the salary cap going up, I think it's possible someone will sign Hemsky for up to 6.5M.

Hold onto Spezza
Sign Hemsky
Leave PM
Get 2 new asst coaches of his (PM) choice

If we are out of the playoff next season come trade deadline, we can dump Ryan and Spezza and Anderson at inflated trade deadline prices.

PM has made some strange lines combos and choices this year, but you have to give him an other shot, plus who are you going to replace him with? Trotz? Caryle?

Move S.Prince (wanted a trade this season already) and De costa/JGP this summer and bring in some help on D. (Erhoff?)

When a perfect storm of deficiencies in certain areas, lost motivation, bad coaching, bad goaltending and bad luck hit, it's pretty easy to finish bottom 3.

Let's set aside the team I cheer for - Colorado finished bottom 3 with O'Reilly, Duchene, Landeskog, Parenteau, Stastny, Downie, Hejduk, Hejda, Erik Johnson, Varlamov and a bevy of role players.

That's likely a better nucleus than the Sens minue Spezza, Michalek, Hemsky, Neil, Phillips, Methot and Anderson
- Morris

subtracting neil from the lineup probably automatically lifts us up 6 spots in the standings.........so bad example.

Fire Maclean. Get Trotz.

Easy solution.
- BodyCheckRadio

That would not be beneficial for the team at all, just like Vancouver, Ottawa's strengths are offensive and not defense. We all saw what happened to Vancouver when Tortz tried his best. They failed miserably. Same thing could happen if he were to coach our team.

subtracting neil from the lineup probably automatically lifts us up 6 spots in the standings.........so bad example.
- sensarmy_11

fair enough.

That would not be beneficial for the team at all, just like Vancouver, Ottawa's strengths are offensive and not defense. We all saw what happened to Vancouver when Tortz tried his best. They failed miserably. Same thing could happen if he were to coach our team.
- PtotheY

Trotz, not Tortarella.

Although maybe your point still stands.

When a perfect storm of deficiencies in certain areas, lost motivation, bad coaching, bad goaltending and bad luck hit, it's pretty easy to finish bottom 3.

Let's set aside the team I cheer for - Colorado finished bottom 3 with O'Reilly, Duchene, Landeskog, Parenteau, Stastny, Downie, Hejduk, Hejda, Erik Johnson, Varlamov and a bevy of role players.

That's likely a better nucleus than the Sens minue Spezza, Michalek, Hemsky, Neil, Phillips, Methot and Anderson
- Morris

It's hilarious that your comparision is the best of Colorado and not the best of Ottawa. I would certainly add the likes of Zibanijad, MarCarthur and Turris. And now I wouldn't say Colorado's players are better. Senators woes are defenitely not offensive they are defensive. They are in the top half of the league for offense.

Trotz, not Tortarella.

Although maybe your point still stands.
- Morris

I think he was insinuating that Tortz is a defensive minded coach as well?

Absurd theory - losing every veteran we have on the team wouldn't get us to first overall.

Spezza, Michalek, Hemsky, Neil, Phillips, Methot, and Anderson could all be moved out, and we STILL wouldn't be in the bottom 3. Too much talent.
- TommyDeVito

Avalanche/Mackinnon

Happened

= not absurd

Trading Spezza would mean to be back at rebuilding from scratch immediately as the new season starts. Spezza had a back surgery the year before. That's why his start to this season was horrible. He needed to get back in shape and start trusting what he can do with the puck. Now that Spezza seems to be much better, it would be a major blow to the team to trade him. Guaranteed loss for the Sens organization if he gets traded. Its a no brainer to keep the best offensive player of the team and a potentially much better captain next year. One question that begs.... Did Anaheim trade Getzlaf after his first year as a captain? Getzlaf had also a terrible first year as a captain.

I say give a last chance to Spezza and Paul Mclean. Re-assess them mid next season. I think the team can learn from this bad season.

Avalanche/Mackinnon

Happened

= not absurd
- Cup 06

Its more like Patrick Roy = Happened...its the coach that made all the difference...those players were there the previous years... except for MacKinnon.

It's hilarious that your comparision is the best of Colorado and not the best of Ottawa. I would certainly add the likes of Zibanijad, MarCarthur and Turris. And now I wouldn't say Colorado's players are better. Senators woes are defenitely not offensive they are defensive. They are in the top half of the league for offense.
- PtotheY

Sens offensive stats were bloated. When you lose 7-4 stats will look friendlier in that category.

Call it the the Brian Bradley deception.

Its more like Patrick Roy = Happened...its the coach that made all the difference...those players were there the previous years... except for MacKinnon.
- PtotheY

Young core gaining experience plus a great motivator. Upward trend.

Avalanche/Mackinnon

Happened

= not absurd
- Cup 06

there's a difference between deliberately tanking, and having a bad season because of youth and injury.

how on earth could the team justify to its fanbase, selling off all those assets, and tanking..........they can't. look what happened to the attendance when the team was a bubble playoff team.

if they decide to tank, melnyk might aswell sell the team now, cuz the fans will stop coming.

Trading Spezza would mean to be back at rebuilding from scratch immediately as the new season starts. Spezza had a back surgery the year before. That's why his start to this season was horrible. He needed to get back in shape and start trusting what he can do with the puck. Now that Spezza seems to be much better, it would be a major blow to the team to trade him. Guaranteed loss for the Sens organization if he gets traded. Its a no brainer to keep the best offensive player of the team and a potentially much better captain next year. One question that begs.... Did Anaheim trade Getzlaf after his first year as a captain? Getzlaf had also a terrible first year as a captain.

I say give a last chance to Spezza and Paul Mclean. Re-assess them mid next season. I think the team can learn from this bad season.
- PtotheY

You mean the Getzlaf who was selected to Team Canada and won a gold medal?

It's hilarious that your comparision is the best of Colorado and not the best of Ottawa. I would certainly add the likes of Zibanijad, MarCarthur and Turris. And now I wouldn't say Colorado's players are better. Senators woes are defenitely not offensive they are defensive. They are in the top half of the league for offense.
- PtotheY

I just listed the players that he hypothesized could leave without the Sens finishing bottom 3. He made that list to begin with.

I disagree. Colorado are a massive bunch of overachievers that will fall back down to earth imo, but if their core can finish bottom 3, it's not absurd to suggest that the sens minus the group of aforementioned players could as well.

wow, could actually be first??
- GadesnSens[EDIT - nertz, I took too long typing]

I'll call my shot now and stick with it for the summer ....

MacLean will be back
Spezza will be back
Hemsky will be signed
Lazar will start in the AHL

PM did not turn into a total goof after being the runner up to and the Jack Adams winner. His team underperformed after overperforming the year previous. Spezza and Karlsson have shown that they close to being 100% healthy and while they have been suspect defensively this year, they also see the results...

Unless Ottawa wants to take a step back in the reuild/retool, Spezza needs to return. Reagrdless of your opinion as to who got the 1LC minutes, both benefitted from the other being in the line-up. If Spezza was gone, the other teams could just line up against Turris and be done with us. Zbad is too inexperienced to be a true 2LC right now - he could really benefit from being a #3 and filling in as a #2 as an injury replacement. The absolute only way Spezza should be traded is ig they get a young stud defenseman in return - unless Murray totallu fleeces someone, I dont see this happening.

If Spezza is extended Hemsky will be back. The doubt around that preface is why he is not committing to being back ... no Spezza, no Hemsky.

Amen!! Great mind think alike. You have stolen all words from my mouth dude. Voilà1

Trading Spezza would mean to be back at rebuilding from scratch immediately as the new season starts. Spezza had a back surgery the year before. That's why his start to this season was horrible. He needed to get back in shape and start trusting what he can do with the puck. Now that Spezza seems to be much better, it would be a major blow to the team to trade him. Guaranteed loss for the Sens organization if he gets traded. Its a no brainer to keep the best offensive player of the team and a potentially much better captain next year. One question that begs.... Did Anaheim trade Getzlaf after his first year as a captain? Getzlaf had also a terrible first year as a captain.

I say give a last chance to Spezza and Paul Mclean. Re-assess them mid next season. I think the team can learn from this bad season.
- PtotheY

Agreed but IMO the biggest issue will be term. If he is willing to resign for 3-4 years its a no brainer however, if he is looking at 6-7 then I believe you really to thnk more about how the team will look down the road. I think Spezza is a great player and its ridiculous that no one is focusing on the great season he had coming off back surgery.

Its almost as if 60-65 point seasons are now seen as "meh" in Ottawa (-26 is what killed him this year)

BM should try to keep the good players and get rid of the bad players.

Since all our forwards are very good at hockey except Neil, Greening and possibly Smith-- try to keep them all (just play these three much less). Especially try to keep Spezza since he's our best center, even when he's recovering from a major injury for half the season. Source: http://www.extraskater.co...rel&sit=5v5close&team=ott

Some of our defence is very bad though, so BM should replace a few: Phillips, Gryba.

Try to replace them with good hockey players that play defence such as: Ehroff. Ceci will probably be okay with less difficult minutes as the other replacement.

If BM does this, and PM gets his players to take less penalties the sens will be a very good team next year.