this is what I'm getting at.

"Consistency" does not stand up on it's own as a quality of a team in the generic sense.

You can say "did they consistently limit scoring chances against?" and measure that data's variation over a season, but I'd be willing to bet that this team, based on what I watched last season, was absolutely consistent.

Consisently bad in their own zone. Let's not pretend that the team played like world beaters in their victories and like sivs in their defeats. It was the same type of play, just varying results.
- TommyDeVito

Exactly.

Clearly points to something systematic there, and again I would lean towards saying it isn't what our offense is doing so much as what our defense is not doing.

Based on the eyeball test, the defensive awareness just wasn't there throughout most of the lineup. Turris' line and whatever unit Condra played with tended to show good coverage, but our other two forward lines and our entire 6 man D rotation were rarely able to stay in position in their own zone for much of each game.

To me, the chart serves as proof of what I saw on the ice last year - this team leaves way too many guys wide open in shooting lanes (either the slot or a few feet to either side of our net). NHL players don't miss shot attempts from there very often when there is no one harassing them, and the sens often let them have it uncontested.

MacLean has to tighten up the coverage this season to see any improvement in the team defense category.
- TommyDeVito

Praise Jesus. This is the right direction. Defense is a team enterprise. The team failed to execute in their own end. Part of the problem was lapses by Dmen. But, far and away the real problem was the failure of some forward combinations to get back and cover the shooting zones (triangle) in front of the net. Ottawa got killed by the third or fourth man coming into the zone against them. Teams were getting three men into the Ottawa defensive zone without Ottawa having any forwards back. This seldom happened to any line combination centered by Turris!

Lets trade for ROR

Lets trade for ROR
- Gosensgo89

would cost too much to get him......unless ryan doesn' want to re-sign, then you can do a 1 for 1, maybe sens throw in a gryba or borowiecki

Lets trade for ROR
- Gosensgo89

I'm not sure Sens need another center. They would have to send Zibanejad the other way and that's not a deal I think either team makes.

Turris - - Legwand - - Zibanejad - - Smith (that's the 4 now)

Lets trade for ROR
- Gosensgo89

I hardly think Euge is going to ok any trade for a guy that wants nearly 7 million per.

would cost too much to get him......unless ryan doesn' want to re-sign, then you can do a 1 for 1, maybe sens throw in a gryba or borowiecki
- sensarmy_11

I don't think that's a fair trade.

I hardly think Euge is going to ok any trade for a guy that wants nearly 7 million per.
- TommyDeVito

Question : would you (any of you) trade Bobby Ryan straight up for R. O'Reilly

Question : would you (any of you) trade Bobby Ryan straight up for R. O'Reilly
- AlfieisKing

But why would Colorado?

Question : would you (any of you) trade Bobby Ryan straight up for R. O'Reilly
- AlfieisKing

Yes I would straight up then move zbad on the wing and make ROR captain for years to come

Yes I would straight up then move zbad on the wing and make ROR captain for years to come
- Gosensgo89

1. this is dumb
2. this has no relevance to the blog.
3. this is dumb.

Ottawa got 800+ shots on goal from their dmen. That seems real high. If it is, that'd be a likely culprit for lower s%, and blocked shots differentials.

Ottawa got 800+ shots on goal from their dmen. That seems real high. If it is, that'd be a likely culprit for lower s%, and excessive blocked shots.
- notwalnc

Yeah, except that 267 of those were from EK65.

Aside from him, I expect we'd be about average. And most of his weren't just hail mary's from the point, but good chances.

Yeah, except that 267 of those were from EK65.

Aside from him, I expect we'd be about average. And most of his weren't just hail mary's from the point, but good chances.
- TommyDeVito

Karlsson is a phenom. But, he can't do it by himself. He needs a guy to have his back that enables him to go when he has an opening. And, when he goes he makes everyone else better. Turris does it brilliantly. I think Legwand coming from the Trotz system understands the role and he has the essential speed to get back on coverage, likewise for Zibanejad on the speed part. Smith is solid enough, he just needs more speed on his wing.

Karlsson is a phenom. But, he can't do it by himself. He needs a guy to have his back that enables him to go when he has an opening. And, when he goes he makes everyone else better. Turris does it brilliantly. I think Legwand coming from the Trotz system understands the role and he has the essential speed to get back on coverage, likewise for Zibanejad on the speed part. Smith is solid enough, he just needs more speed on his wing.
- spatso

Yes. yes. yes...and 8 minutes/game with Greening and Condra. That should be an adequate 4th line.

Yes. yes. yes...and 8 minutes/game with Greening and Condra. That should be an adequate 4th line.
- Stringer74

I like Condra. It is a nice 4th line. I like the team a lot. First and third line will be good. Like to add a proven scorer (Sharp) or power forward (Evander Kane) for the second line.

Yes I would straight up then move zbad on the wing and make ROR captain for years to come
- Gosensgo89

I don't know. what would line combos be then... Sens need a goal scoring winger

Yeah, except that 267 of those were from EK65.

Aside from him, I expect we'd be about average. And most of his weren't just hail mary's from the point, but good chances.
- TommyDeVito

Defensemen have lower shooting %'s than forwards. Karlsson tops out at 7.5 or so every year. A talented forward at worst usually comes in at 9+.

And that doesn't take into account Karlsson likely gets more shots blocked and misses the net more than forwards.

The point being, if your defense takes a higher % of your shots, you're more likely to under perform your Corsi expectations, which is what Yost was trying to figure out with his blog.

1. this is dumb
2. this has no relevance to the blog.
3. this is dumb.
- Stringer74

Get ya a life ya queer

Sens played well in 2011-12 finishing 4th in league scoring. They also just finished outside the 5 worst teams GA

In 2012-2013 the shortened season, the Sens lost a lot of their offensive weapons: - Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek - among others. They finished 4th worst in GF. But 2nd Only to chicago (the cup champs - who had an amazing year) in GA !!

That shows that Ottawa - Paul Maclean's system - can play defense. True they did with Alfie and over a shorter season, but the Sens need to find that formula again. I'd much rather have a defensive minded team. That doesn't mean play back or reserved - it means put responsibility on the defensive side of the game first. It means being patient and waiting for your opportunities instead of creating something out of nothing.

It also means growing Cowen, Weircioch, Karlsson, Boroweici, Ceci the right way and making Lehner the anchor