Jared Crozier: On Senators Player Deployment and Line Make-up

Jared Crozier: On Senators Player Deployment and Line Make-up
- JaredCrozier

i like your line combinations, except as you alluded to, having ryan on the 3rd line.

it's important for thsi team to get him going, and there is a MUCH better chance of that happening on a line with turris and grizz.

so, if i was making the lines:

mac - turris - ryan
kid line
zibby - legwand - chiasson
michalek - smith - condra/neil

i like your line combinations, except as you alluded to, having ryan on the 3rd line.

it's important for thsi team to get him going, and there is a MUCH better chance of that happening on a line with turris and grizz.

so, if i was making the lines:

mac - turris - ryan
kid line
zibby - legwand - chiasson
michalek - smith - condra/neil
- sensarmy_11

I considered that, but outlined my reasons why it might work better with Legwand. Left handed shooting centre means the first instinct is to pass to the right wing. Ryan would be first option, while he isn't when MacArthur and Turris are together...not saying you are wrong, but that is just my opinion.

The thing with Ryan is he is a 1 man show - this is not a player that makes players around him better. He's not a give and go type, he isn't someone who builds plays, Ryan is a guy who likes to get the puck and do it on his own - he doesn't use his centers very well - we have to accept that and let him be himself he's a good playermaker and can score - I like his game.

Still think we need to make a trade just to make some space up front - still think Zach Smith is the asset you can build something around.

Ottawa has 1 win in its last 5 games - so what can be said - we are still in the playoffs despite being a team that looks like they should be in the lottery.

I get Macleans system is about not allowing 2nd and 3rd chances and not blocking shots so we give up a lot of shots but not scoring chances - I just don't see how the team is improving - Ceci, Cowen, Gryba all seem to be improving or playing well but we still give up 35 shots to bad teams. Can someone explain to me where this team is going or what the end game is - we see them play a gem of a game versus Detroit and then go on a absolutely atrocious run where they have maybe 10 minutes of good hockey per game.

I don't know about this team but I think we are better then Toronto, Philly, Washington, NJ but maybe not as good as Detroit, NYR? So let's see if we make the playoffs. If we get out of November in a playoff spot I'll be impressed.

When we were the pesky Sens it was Alfie and Kalrsson doing it every night with one other player contributing - a callup like Durzinsky would have a big game, Greening would have a big game and we'd win. Now it seems like it's Turris and Macarthur or nothing for us, guys like Zibby, 9MM, Smith, Ryan aren't stepping up their game.

I can't tell is we are the 'Pesky Sens' or the 'wussy Sens' - we are playing hard but how can we continue to be dominated on the shots every game?

MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
Hoffman-Zibby-Stone
Michalek-Smith-Lazar
Condra/Neil- Legwand-Chiasson

PP1 Mac-Turris-Ryan
Zibby - Karlsson

PP2 Chiasson-Legwand-Stone
Hoffman- Ceci

Legwand isn't the most creative and he passes very softly. He plays a simple game on the man advantage, perfect for pp2. PP1 should be left for all the talent.

I considered that, but outlined my reasons why it might work better with Legwand. Left handed shooting centre means the first instinct is to pass to the right wing. Ryan would be first option, while he isn't when MacArthur and Turris are together...not saying you are wrong, but that is just my opinion.
- JaredCrozier

Definitely agree with giving him a shot with a left handed centre if he is not on the top line. He should be getting the most shots on our team

I considered that, but outlined my reasons why it might work better with Legwand. Left handed shooting centre means the first instinct is to pass to the right wing. Ryan would be first option, while he isn't when MacArthur and Turris are together...not saying you are wrong, but that is just my opinion.
- JaredCrozier

i just think that a shooter like ryan needs a skilled center in order to produce to his potential.

turris is clearly the most offensively gifted center the team has.......and other than making an argument for macarthur, ryan is the most offensively gifted winger we have. they obviously have chemistry as a line, it only makes sense to play them together.

i don't think chiasson is offensive minded enough to play with turris and mac, i think he'd constantly be a step behind them.

side bar.....

methot is back in full practice today, and is playing on the top pairing with karlsson.

side bar.....

methot is back in full practice today, and is playing on the top pairing with karlsson.
- sensarmy_11

Thank alfie! Who do you guys think the odd man out is?

The thing with Ryan is he is a 1 man show - this is not a player that makes players around him better. He's not a give and go type, he isn't someone who builds plays, Ryan is a guy who likes to get the puck and do it on his own - he doesn't use his centers very well - we have to accept that and let him be himself he's a good playermaker and can score - I like his game.

Still think we need to make a trade just to make some space up front - still think Zach Smith is the asset you can build something around.

Ottawa has 1 win in its last 5 games - so what can be said - we are still in the playoffs despite being a team that looks like they should be in the lottery.

I get Macleans system is about not allowing 2nd and 3rd chances and not blocking shots so we give up a lot of shots but not scoring chances - I just don't see how the team is improving - Ceci, Cowen, Gryba all seem to be improving or playing well but we still give up 35 shots to bad teams. Can someone explain to me where this team is going or what the end game is - we see them play a gem of a game versus Detroit and then go on a absolutely atrocious run where they have maybe 10 minutes of good hockey per game.

I don't know about this team but I think we are better then Toronto, Philly, Washington, NJ but maybe not as good as Detroit, NYR? So let's see if we make the playoffs. If we get out of November in a playoff spot I'll be impressed.

When we were the pesky Sens it was Alfie and Kalrsson doing it every night with one other player contributing - a callup like Durzinsky would have a big game, Greening would have a big game and we'd win. Now it seems like it's Turris and Macarthur or nothing for us, guys like Zibby, 9MM, Smith, Ryan aren't stepping up their game.

I can't tell is we are the 'Pesky Sens' or the 'wussy Sens' - we are playing hard but how can we continue to be dominated on the shots every game?
- tuna99

Karlsson was out for the "Pesky Sens" era...that is why they became Pesky. And it was goaltending that made Pesky Sens possible.

Thank alfie! Who do you guys think the odd man out is?
- Thoralfie

obviously wiercioch.....and i'd think the other choice would be boro

karlsson - meth
cowen - ceci
phillips - gryba

obviously wiercioch.....and i'd think the other choice would be boro

karlsson - meth
cowen - ceci
phillips - gryba
- sensarmy_11

Based on play lately, I would agree.

McArthur-Turris-Ryan
Zibanejad-Legwand-Chiasson
Hoffman-Lazar-Stone
Michalek-Smith-Condra

Spares: Neil and Greening

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Ceci
Phillips-Gryba

Spares: Borowiecki and Wiercioch

i'm bored at work, so was just wondering.....if you guys could make the best possible lineup we can make with players currently in our organization (AHL, NHL, Junior, etc), but with no trades or FA's, what would it be?

mine:

mac - turris - ryan
hoffman - zibby - stone
puempel - lazar - chiasson
pageau - legwand - robinson

karlsson - meth
cowen - ceci
wideman - claessen

andy
lehner

mac - turris- chaison 20 min

mich-legwand- ryan 17 min
hoff- zibby- stone 13 min
? - lazar - condra 10
trade greening, smith, and neal for energy winger

I wonder who Pierre Dorian has been scouting .. Chris Stewart ? Patrick berglund ?

I wonder who Pierre Dorian has been scouting .. Chris Stewart ? Patrick berglund ?
- Gosensgo89

not sure. but i suspect some sort of a variation of a package of smith, weircioch (greening may be wishful thinking) going the other way.. with meth nearing return we just don't have the space

not sure. but i suspect some sort of a variation of a package of smith, weircioch (greening may be wishful thinking) going the other way.. with meth nearing return we just don't have the space
- sen_smile

with so many teams desperate for D, you have to imagine that someone like wiercioch would be a player lots of teams would be interested in

not sure. but i suspect some sort of a variation of a package of smith, weircioch (greening may be wishful thinking) going the other way.. with meth nearing return we just don't have the space
- sen_smile

Ya I agree it will be a package deal , I like smith but I think he's played him self into the trade talk

Ya I agree it will be a package deal , I like smith but I think he's played him self into the trade talk
- Gosensgo89

Smith + Weircoch for Leddy ...... oh wait ......

I thought that Methot was going to spend some time in the AHL to get his timing/conditioning back before his return to the line-up??

Smith + Weircoch for Leddy ...... oh wait ......

I thought that Methot was going to spend some time in the AHL to get his timing/conditioning back before his return to the line-up??
- SensnRBs

well, most of our d is ahlers anyways, so....

Ya I agree it will be a package deal , I like smith but I think he's played him self into the trade talk
- Gosensgo89

i like him too,... not so much this season, but over all. i'd prefer his spot go to a young guy tho. i also wouldnt want to trade weircioch, but he seems to be a permanent figure in the press box lately.

I considered that, but outlined my reasons why it might work better with Legwand. Left handed shooting centre means the first instinct is to pass to the right wing. Ryan would be first option, while he isn't when MacArthur and Turris are together...not saying you are wrong, but that is just my opinion.
- JaredCrozier

This is a very interesting point. Maybe this then:

Mac-Turris-Stone
Hoff-Legwand-Ryan
Michalek-Zibanejad-Chiasson
Smith-Lazar-Neil/Condra

On second thought, that looks like poop. Maybe swap Chiasson and Stone. That makes L3 stronger. But L4?

Who do we have in Bingo that can play LW? Bring him up, stat.

This is a very interesting point. Maybe this then:

Mac-Turris-Stone
Hoff-Legwand-Ryan
Michalek-Zibanejad-Chiasson
Smith-Lazar-Neil/Condra

On second thought, that looks like poop. Maybe swap Chiasson and Stone. That makes L3 stronger. But L4?

Who do we have in Bingo that can play LW? Bring him up, stat.
- Stringer74

You either play Stone or Ryan with Mac and Turris, not Chiasson. Honestly, I don't like Michalek anywhere in the lineup, nor do I like Neil and Phillips.
My lines:
Mac-Turris-Ryan
Hoffman-Zibanejad-Stone
Michalek-Lazar-Chiasson
Smith-Legwand-Condra

Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Ceci
Wericioch-Gryba

Edit: This is the best lineup if L2 and L3 can find some chemistry. Unfortunately, it will never happen because Neil and Phillips have A's. I hate their play. They are dragging this team down, believe me. Every time I watch the games,I see Phillips turn over the puck on such easy plays and Neil take awful penalties.

This is a very interesting point. Maybe this then:

Mac-Turris-Stone
Hoff-Legwand-Ryan
Michalek-Zibanejad-Chiasson
Smith-Lazar-Neil/Condra

On second thought, that looks like poop. Maybe swap Chiasson and Stone. That makes L3 stronger. But L4?

Who do we have in Bingo that can play LW? Bring him up, stat.
- Stringer74

Ott: Bickell
Chi: Smith, Weircoche

Mac - Turris - Ryan
Bickell - Zibby - Chiasson
Kid Line
9MM - Leggy - Neil