Do The Senators Lack Character?

by DarrenM on Aug 22, 2009 10:00 AM EDT

A couple of nights ago, a friend of mine was insulting the Ottawa Senators. He stated that they were stupid for firing Hartsburg, and that the only reason Hartsburg floundered in Ottawa is because the Sens are, and have always been, the laziest team in the NHL. I was taken aback, considering how up until the past two years, this team was considered among the best conditioned in the NHL, and always among the fastest. I then discussed why Hartsburg's system didn't work due to the skillset of players on the Sens' roster. The friend then said "Well, I think it didn't work because your only hard-working character guys are Alfredsson, Neil, and Fisher. The rest merely show up and rely on skill."

After my reminding him of Volchenkov and Foligno, he added Anton to the list, and agreed that Nick Foligno could possibly be mentioned, but asserted that Ottawa was lazy, and lacked the kind of grit and passion that really makes a true, high-caliber hockey team. He then talked about the phantom claims of a bad locker room that haven't subsided in the past couple of years, and how the Senators just lack the character they need to succeed.

Now, obviously, none of us know of the shape of the Senators dressing room, but we have all seen their on-ice performance. Admittedly, for the first half of the past season the Senators did seem to be a team that lacked effort and character. So, I have to ask you - are these allegations true? Are the Senators the determined, hard-working team we want to cheer for, or are they just a bunch of lazy players who don't care about the outcomes of games, wanting only to make a nice paycheck? Voice your opinion in the comments.

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Character

I’ve got to agree to a point. I’d add a couple more players that work hard. Donovan and Shannon always go for the puck, especially Donovan. But Hartsburg was a player for too long. He wants to be liked by the players. Clouston, on the other hand, is a coach and he calls it like he sees it without worrying about hurting some feelings…

Heatley thinks he’s so good he doesn’t need any coaching. Spezza seems to be buying into the plan. You can’t just go out and win in the NHL without working hard. The difference between first and worst is not much, as we’ve seen the last couple seasons…

by BorisB on Aug 22, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

I forgot about Dono, for some reason.

I don’t think the Sens have more of a character problem than any other team. I don’t think they are the most passionate team in the league, by any stretch, but they’re no worse off than most.

by DarrenM on Aug 22, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Character

As a true Sens fan and living 10 minutes from the Scotia Bank Place here is my thoughts on the Ottawa Senators “character”.

Over the last two years I have seen a once proud franchise crumble to basically the bottom and here is what I think happened.

Obviously losing Chara is the worst blunder to happen to the Senators in franchise history and Muckler had his team ready to for the Stanley Cup and then the salary cap was introduced. With all the top quality players they developed in the system and via trades their was no way they could keep all of them. So we chose Redden and he was never the same, I still do not know how they made it to the finals. Basically Volchenkov and Phillips were the best shut-down defenders in the league and the Pizza line was running on all cylinders.

Since then Phillips skills has greatly diminished and it is possible because of all the ice time he has logged over the years. Meszaros was never the player he once was along side Chara and partnered with Redden they were a liability defensively every time they stepped on the ice. The revolving door of defenceman and goaltenders have left the Senators confused and my guess is the forwards don’t trust the back end. Forcing them to backcheck much more leaving only one if lucky forechecking. Back before the lockout, the Senators had the most feared forecheck in the league and they lost that when Hartsburg entered.

Alfredsson is showing his age. Spezza has all the talent in the world but has a mind of a 15 year old. Heatley does not play defense or offense other than waiting for the puck and firing it in. Fisher could not buy a goal even if Carrie Underwood paid. Neil is always in the box. Donovan has stone hands. Kelly cannot even kill a penalty anymore. Phillips is tired. The rest of the guys who are putting in 100% do not have the talent to consistently win games.

With all these issue it is no wonder that they did not make the playoffs. The only hope at a turnaround is for everything mentioned above turnsaround and I think Cory Clouston is the man to make it happen.

by Tommy C on Aug 22, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

Don’t make me laugh. Spezza is one of the top centers in the league. Hands down. He would have been a lock on team Canada if the Sens had had a good year. Heatley is a helluva player but a helluva jerk too. He has gotta go. Kovalev has sick hands and can still score and he, Spetz and Alfie will make a great first line, even if we don’t get anyone for Heatley. Andn all this talk about character, the goaltending is terrible. Elliott was solid for a last minute thing, Gerber was a joke, Auld just didn’t have the talent and before them there hasn’t really been anyone. The last good goalie was Lalime. They made the finals because there first line was so dominant and there D was solid and Emery had to do nothing. Leclaire might do well this year, he might not. The forwards are still the best part of the Senators and always have been. Every year they have done well the forwards have led them and if Kovalev clicks with Alfie and Spetz, it will be a great year for the Senators.

by genos07 on Aug 22, 2009 9:25 PM EDT reply actions