Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Follow Super Bowl XLVI With Patriots Fans At Pats Pulpit

Ottawa Senators Fans Vote, Are Afraid of Change

Last week we linked to the Ottawa Sun's "You Be The Boss Survey," where readers were to vote on who in the Sens organization should stay or go. Well, the results are in. After a season that found the Ottawa Senators struggle to score goals, sink to the bottom of the Eastern Conference in points, and ultimately miss the playoffs, you would expect the team's fans would want heads to roll and major changes to this seemingly ineffective roster.

Not so, say readers of the Ottawa Sun.

In fact, out of everyone in the organization, there were only three people that fans want off the roster. One is goaltender Alex Auld, who finds himself as one of three goalies fighting for the starter position - 53.3% of those polled wanted Auld to be traded. The second  is defenseman Jason Smith, whose $2.6 million per year contract is wanted axed by a whopping 70.1% of those surveyed. Close behind Smith was the oft-scratched Christoph Schubert - 67.9% of those polled wanted him out of the roster. Though no majority wanted to shake up the core of the team, Jason Spezza received the most  dissatisfaction of the Big Three with just over 30% of those polled wishing he'd be traded.

But the poll wasn't only to find out whose play the fans didn't like - it was also there to indicate the players that exceeded expectations. According to fans, the biggest steals on the team were Nick Foligno and Ryan Shannon. 22.7% of readers felt that Foligno deserved a raise for his 2008-09 play, and 19.6% felt the same way about Ryan Shannon's 35 games with the Sens this season.

Perhaps most interesting is the apparent division amongst fans with regards to GM Bryan Murray. Though Peter obviously counts himself as a Murray supporter, only 52.2% of voters believed Murray had done a "good job" this season. That's in stark contrast to coach Cory Clouston, who received a near-unanimous 97.5% of possible "good job" votes.

It's very refreshing to see that the fans in Ottawa aren't calling for the heads of the entire organization to roll after such a dismal season, but it is still a bit puzzling that they are not wishing for more changes.

Comment 1 comment  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

More from Silver Seven

The Noon Number: 3.06

Feb 2012 by Peter Raaymakers - 3 comments

The Noon Number: 36

Jan 2012 by Peter Raaymakers - 6 comments

The Noon Number: 32.1

Jan 2012 by Peter Raaymakers - 4 comments

Senators fall 4-1 to Kings

Jan 2012 by Peter Raaymakers - 24 comments

Comments

Display:

Agreed.

I think it might be good to trade any of Auld, Smith, or Schubert, but that’s more to convert these assets into ones that might be useful to the team than it is a reflection of my dissatisfaction with their play—I actually liked them for the most part, Auld as a backup, Smith as some good grit and toughness, and Schubert in the fourth-line role he played well in at the end of the season.

On the other hand, I was disappointed in players such as Chris Neil—who needed a big rebound season after a disappointing one last year and responded with lesser production—and Mike Comrie—who fell to the third line without much of a fight while looking for a new contract in a city he apparently wanted to stick around in. Obviously it was disappointing to see players like Mike Fisher, Dany Heatley, and Jason Spezza’s point totals drop so far, but I am confident they’ll bounce back. With Comrie and Neil, though, I’m not so sure.

by Peter Raaymakers on May 12, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

The unofficial Ottawa Senators blog

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Centers and Defence
Bosch_small
If you were team president...
Small
Sens of Fairness
Small
Sens should go after Lightning's LW Ryan Malone
Small
Predicting The Ottawa Senators Trade Deadline
Bosch_small
Can the Sens be more accessible?
Small
ASG special food location?
Screen_shot_2011-10-05_at_12
Back-to-Back games
0320111358_small
We know Muckler couldn't draft, so now what?
Daniel-alfredsson_small
Anyone want tickets to the Sens-Leafs game Feb 4th?

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Heritage_small Peter Raaymakers

Hutz_small DarrenM

Editors

Sens_small Mark Parisi

Sens-suicidebooth_small Ryan Classic

Karlssonpoint_small Adnan

Authors

Small DaveYoung

Small Varada

Bobby__small bobbykelly