I am Patrick Wiercioch.






jk

Ottawa is desperate to improve their defense...and Wiercioch is a healthy scratch.

If he can't make Ottawa's lineup I don't think there is a lineup pounding on the door asking about him.
- maaddmike

IMO, it's not that he can't make ottawa's lineup. He needs to play top 4 minutes, he's a puck mover with limited defensive ability, so you ideally want him on your 2nd pair. Ceci is playing great and is going to be a stud d-man, and with what htey've invested in cowen (and the fact that he's playing well) you just can't justify putting weircioch there. he's not good enough to play on the top pair, and he's not defensively responsible enough to play on the bottom pairing.

i think if you put him on a team like colorado, dallas, philly, etc......he'd be very successful.

Incompetence? Giving Cowen way too much wiggle room because he was a 1st rounder? I don't know, just guessing.
- TheCalSen

seems to have worked out (so far), he's probably been ottawa's best d-man the last couple of weeks.

neil brings presence.....leadership... no one taking liberties on young players. also plays hard.....6th in nhl in hits another reason
- AlfieisKing

Okay, Nonis. Also brings lack of discipline, poor defensive play, no foot speed, poor shooting, no off-puck skill, no on-puck skill. Leaders lead by example. You can't tell me the young skilled guys look up to him. Not a chance. It's time for him to sit in the press box. Cowen, Boro, Smith, Gryba can all fight. No need for Neil taking up the spot of a better, cheaper player. But, as I said, as long as MacLean works here, Neil will be in the lineup.

LOOOOOOOOL, the L.A Kings would throw their money at Weircioch. He's extremely underrated, obviously.
- TheCalSen

i think wericioch is a "niche player".............either you can fit him on your 2nd pair/2nd PP unit, or else he's a healthy scratch.

Okay, Nonis. Also brings lack of discipline, poor defensive play, no foot speed, poor shooting, no off-puck skill, no on-puck skill. Leaders lead by example. You can't tell me the young skilled guys look up to him. Not a chance. It's time for him to sit in the press box. Cowen, Boro, Smith, Gryba can all fight. No need for Neil taking up the spot of a better, cheaper player. But, as I said, as long as MacLean works here, Neil will be in the lineup.
- Stringer74

but....but.....but........truculance......

i agree, neil is useless. in fact, he stopped being a useful hockey player about 3 years ago.

seems to have worked out (so far), he's probably been ottawa's best d-man the last couple of weeks.
- sensarmy_11

^ I think every Senators fan is relieved about this.

Okay, Nonis. Also brings lack of discipline, poor defensive play, no foot speed, poor shooting, no off-puck skill, no on-puck skill. Leaders lead by example. You can't tell me the young skilled guys look up to him. Not a chance. It's time for him to sit in the press box. Cowen, Boro, Smith, Gryba can all fight. No need for Neil taking up the spot of a better, cheaper player. But, as I said, as long as MacLean works here, Neil will be in the lineup.
- Stringer74

Give it to him.

^ I think every Senators fan is relieved about this.
- TheCalSen

no doubt......i was hard on the "cowen sucks" train, glad he's proving me (and many others) wrong.......he's gotta keep it up though.

IMO, it's not that he can't make ottawa's lineup. He needs to play top 4 minutes, he's a puck mover with limited defensive ability, so you ideally want him on your 2nd pair. Ceci is playing great and is going to be a stud d-man, and with what htey've invested in cowen (and the fact that he's playing well) you just can't justify putting weircioch there. he's not good enough to play on the top pair, and he's not defensively responsible enough to play on the bottom pairing.

i think if you put him on a team like colorado, dallas, philly, etc......he'd be very successful.
- sensarmy_11

Just because he doesn't throw big hits doesn't mean he's not good defensively. He's got other tools. Besides, he's good paired up with Gryba, who is good defensively and will do those things. PW is already better than Phillips, and is arguably better than Boro and Cowen. IMO, with no trades, this is the best D lineup:

MM-EK
JC-CC
PW-EG

Good balance on each pair, so long as your 'stay at home defenseman' on each pair can handle a puck without treating it like a grenade. You have to remember that half of playing defense is exiting the zone. PW is excellent at that.

no doubt......i was hard on the "cowen sucks" train, glad he's proving me (and many others) wrong.......he's gotta keep it up though.
- sensarmy_11

Hey I got an idea....
Cowen-EK
Weircioch-Ceci

Trade Methot and Zibanejad for ROR and 2nd rounder (conditional if Ottawa doesn't make Playoffs)?

^ I think every Senators fan is relieved about this.
- TheCalSen

Yep. Give the kid credit, he's been better. Not sure what was wrong with him before, but I'm glad it stopped. He's certainly not perfect, but he's serviceable again. Hopefully he gets better and doesn't plateau.

Hey I got an idea....
Cowen-EK
Weircioch-Ceci

Trade Methot and Zibanejad for ROR and 2nd rounder (conditional if Ottawa doesn't make Playoffs)?
- TheCalSen

keep methot, and instead:

zibby, weircioch for RoR....leave the pick out.

ottawa is obviously getting the best player, but colorado is saving a butt load of money.

keep methot, and instead:

zibby, weircioch for RoR....leave the pick out.

ottawa is obviously getting the best player, but colorado is saving a butt load of money.
- sensarmy_11

I like methot but if he thinks he is worth 5 plus mil, move him. Keep zibby for sure.no to ror, we need wingers

I like methot but if he thinks he is worth 5 plus mil, move him. Keep zibby for sure.no to ror, we need wingers
- bosman

he plays both positions equally well.............according to some of the Avs fans i've spoken to. played a lot on the wing last season, with stastny and duchene obviously taking the top six center spots.

seems to have worked out (so far), he's probably been ottawa's best d-man the last couple of weeks.
- sensarmy_11

...you must be joking...I am a harsh critic of Cowen, I will admit that outright. I will also admit that he has played better. Best d-man on the team in the past couple of weeks is a huge stretch. Remember that better is a relative term considering how terrible he has been. If you want to talk most consistent, look at Boro.

...you must be joking...I am a harsh critic of Cowen, I will admit that outright. I will also admit that he has played better. Best d-man on the team in the past couple of weeks is a huge stretch. Remember that better is a relative term considering how terrible he has been. If you want to talk most consistent, look at Boro.
- jaz258

everyone has their own opinions..........i side with several of the analysts who've been praising cowen's game the last little while.

he plays both positions equally well.............according to some of the Avs fans i've spoken to. played a lot on the wing last season, with stastny and duchene obviously taking the top six center spots.
- sensarmy_11

true but avs lost stastny, they would want to keep him and if not oilers and leafs would outbid sens as they need centers

...you must be joking...I am a harsh critic of Cowen, I will admit that outright. I will also admit that he has played better. Best d-man on the team in the past couple of weeks is a huge stretch. Remember that better is a relative term considering how terrible he has been. If you want to talk most consistent, look at Boro.
- jaz258

After Ceci maybe, Cowen has been our most consistent defenseman in the past week. Boroweichi fights and takes minors. That doesn't mean he isn't a serviceable top-6, but it does mean that he doesn't contribute much to the team other than playing physical.

true but avs lost stastny, they would want to keep him and if not oilers and leafs would outbid sens as they need centers
- bosman

what would the leafs offer that is better than zibby and weircioch? maybe gardiner, but he isn't much better what would the oilers offer that was better?

Avs need defense, Oil don't have D to move. Leafs have gardiner, but unless they're willing to include kadri with him, they won't put together a better package than the one mentioned above.

everyone has their own opinions..........i side with several of the analysts who've been praising cowen's game the last little while.
- sensarmy_11

Good for you. I would rather trust what I see with my own eyes than listen to analysts(essentially other guys who watch hockey) who claim he's turned the corner. There has been a lot of drivel written about Cowen's supposed turn-around based on a very limited sample-size. I still see him continually losing his man in the defensive zone, misplaying the puck, making questionable passes (although that might be Karlsson rubbing off on him) and screening his own netminder. Maybe it's a sign of things to come, maybe not. His play the rest of the season will be the judge of that.

what would the leafs offer that is better than zibby and weircioch? maybe gardiner, but he isn't much better what would the oilers offer that was better?

Avs need defense, Oil don't have D to move. Leafs have gardiner, but unless they're willing to include kadri with him, they won't put together a better package than the one mentioned above.
- sensarmy_11

I am sure the leafs would offer gardiner kadi and a pick for ror and should

Weircioch is as good as Ceci and Cowen, plus Methot might be on his way out next season. The rookies you mentioned (Claessen and Wideman) might not turn out to be that good in the NHL. I don't agree with the whole " he's wasted on the bottom pairing" thing, honestly, I'd rather have a decent defensemen on my bottom-6, than a geriatric who gives the puck away at the lamest times. On top of that, Wiercioch would sever the 2nd PP better than Ceci. He needs to play or needs to traded. I don't think he can fetch a 2nd line winger, unless Murray sees Stewart as 2LW, but you could probably get a prospect and pick for him.
- TheCalSen

its a good thing you live on the west coast ..... if Phillips got his hands on you, he'd pop you one right in ye ole schnauge ......

PRAISE ALFIE

its a good thing you live on the west coast ..... if Phillips got his hands on you, he'd pop you one right in ye ole schnauge ......
- SensnRBs

I like Phillips, I just don't like is game. You should too if you want to see this team prosper. He's holding them down, you can see it on his face every time he makes a very bad play.