Silver Nuggets: A look inside the Ottawa Senators closed-door meeting
by Peter Raaymakers on Oct 19, 2011 12:01 PM EDT
in Silver Nuggets
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PrintIn the immediate aftermath of their 7-2 thrashing against the Philadelphia Flyers, head coach of the Ottawa Senators Paul MacLean closed the doors and held a 20-minute closed-door meeting to deal with some... issues. Notably, the team's horrendous 1-5-0 start.
Although the media was barred from the meeting, I've been given access to locker room video of the proceedings, and have transcribed the meeting here so we can all reap the fruits of stealing Down Goes Brown schtick get an inside look at how the team's leadership addresses the issues on the team.
Alex Auld: Can someone remind me when the regular season starts, again? I'm getting tired of playing split games, looking forward to the opportunity to play a couple full ones.
[Extended silence... ]
Paul MacLean: WHAT THE HELL.
Daniel Alfredsson: Guys, I think you all know why we've got this closed-door meeting right now. Aside from some periods of decent hockey, we simply haven't been doing what Coach MacLean has told us we need to do to...
MacLean: FULL SIXTY MINUTES. BOTH ENDS OF THE RINK. SHOOT THE PUCK. WHAT ARE YOU NOT GETTING ABOUT THIS?
Chris Phillips: We've got to move the puck out of our zone more quickly, guys. Get our feet moving. I'm trying the best I can to show you guys the ropes, but it doesn't seem to be working; is there something that would be more effective?
David Rundblad: Excuse me, Mr. Phillips? Perhaps if you lead by example, instead of trying to show us what not to do, we'd learn more efficientl...
Phillips: Yeah, shut up, rookie. Talk to me when you've played over 900 games.
Spartacat: [Stomps floor furiously, makes wild hand gestures.]
Alfredsson: Spartacat's right. We're spending way too much time waiting for the perfect scoring opportunity to come along, and not enough time working hard for those opportunities. We need to give our goaltenders a bit of support, too.
Craig Anderson and Auld: [Nod heads in unison.]
Alfredsson: And you guys need to make a save here and there. You look like you're terrified of playing competent goaltending, for some reason.
Robin Lehner: [Peers around a corner, makes eye contact with Anderson and Auld, and makes a throat-slitting gesture.]
Anderson: Wha... ? Hehehe.. no, it's not anything like that...
Erik Karlsson: What more can I do, Papa Alfie? Even when I send teammates in on clear breakaways, I can't make them score. I score when I can, but I can't always score.
Alfredsson: I know, Champ. It's tough sometimes.
MacLean: SIXTY. MINUTES. BOTH. ENDS.
Alfredsson: Bottom line, guys: We need to be better.
Zenon Konopka: What about bottom-line guys?
Alfredsson: Look in the mirror, men. Analyze your game with the coaches, and work on getting better. We need to play the full...
MacLean: SIXTY MINUTES.
Alfredsson: ... and we need to backcheck, forecheck, get some saves, throw some hits, take more shots, and score more goals. We need to be more resilient, and to show some backbone and bounce back, instead of getting down on ourselves when we give up the lead. We're a better team than we've been playing, we just need to put everything together in...
MacLean: BOTH ENDS OF THE RINK.
Alfredsson: Yeah, what he said.
Konopka: Good meeting, guys. Anyone need a hug?
Links after the jump.
Ottawa Senators headlines:
- Recaps: Silver Seven | Broad Street Hockey | Ottawa Sun | Ottawa Citizen
- Harrison Zolnierczyk scored. (The 6th Sens)
- Head coach Paul MacLean didn't pull any punches after last night's game. (Senators Extra)
- Varada appears to have fully bought in to the Fail For Nail campaign (or completely lost his mind) in his reverse-mentality recap. (WTYKY)
- Yeah, Karlsson has had an alright start...
General hockey headlines:
- Kris Letang was Shanabanned two games for a boarding-from-behind infraction on Alex Burmistrov that was reminiscent of his "hit" on Nate Thompson in the playoffs last year (for which he was fined) and another on Jason Spezza in December of last year (for which he was given two minutes). (Puck Daddy)
- Friend of the blog JoNana is now kicking into gear with her new site, The Backhand Shelf. Check out her first post there. (The Backhand Shelf)
And here's some Daniel Alfredsson post-game insight:
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LMAO!!!!!!
I got to ‘Excuse me, Mr Phillips?’ & had to go back and read again… at first I was a little upset that we got ‘access’ to a closed-door team meeting….
That was amazing… thank you very much for that!
Needed a good laugh after last night!
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
Man, it's really easy to imagine the meeting going down like this, huh
It’s so obvious what they have to do, and so mind-boggling why they don’t do it with any consistency.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Oct 19, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly
I don’t mind games like Saturday night. I’ll watch them play like that and lose all season long. If they have the odd stinker every 10 games or so, I’ll live with that. But two stinkers in 5 games isn’t going to work.
STAY OUT OF THE BOX!
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
No Spezza giggles?
Surely he giggled during the closed door meeting.
Kuba: “You know, if we just had someone like Heatl—”
Neil: “DON’T. SAY. HIS NAME.”
Kuba: “Not saying his name doesn’t change the fac—”
Neil: “DON’T. Just … show a little respect.”
Kuba: “FINE. If we just had someone like he-who-must-not-be-named…”
Spezza:
Kuba: “… burying our chances more reliably.”
Michalaek: “Um, I’m like right here guys.”
Kuba: “Well this is awkward.”
Z. Smith: “I don’t care about any of this.”
by sensory_experience on Oct 19, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Hahaha, that would have been funny
Thing was getting a little long, though. Next time…
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by Peter Raaymakers on Oct 19, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, no worries, just, uh, riffing.
Plus turns out that putting “giggles” in html brackets was not the savviest move, as it looks like Spezza is saying nothing rather than giggling.
Joke fail.
by sensory_experience on Oct 19, 2011 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Z. Smith probably spent this meeting playing Angry Birds on his iPhone or something
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Oct 19, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It's true
What the Paulrus says doesn’t matter. Z. Smith is going to play hockey the only way he knows how: not giving a crap.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY FAKE GUYS
THAT TRANSCRIPT IS TOO SHORT FOR A 20-MINUTE MEETING
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
PETER IS A DIRTY FAKER
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Oct 19, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Look more closely.
Obviously Sparacat stomped around for, like, 15 minutes. Everyone was very patient with him.
by sensory_experience on Oct 19, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
Wait, wait, no, I have a better one...
Nobody showed up for the first 15 minutes of the 20-minute meeting!
SNAP!
by sensory_experience on Oct 19, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Can anyone explain to me why the players only meeting had the coach in it? I was always under the impression that players only meant no coach. Or are they just talking about excluding the assistants and trainers?
I don't think it was a players-only meeting
Just a closed-door one.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Games/2011/10/19/18845626.html
I saw Mendes on Twitter along with this article call it a players only meeting, so maybe they just misnamed it?
by modsuperstar on Oct 19, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
I don’t know how MacLean could call and lead a players-only meeting, so it must be misnamed?
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
or why they didn't just play dodge-ball
That’s worked once already. Or bring back Hale. I know, I know:
1. Play dodgeball
2. Bring Hale up (out of retirement?)
3. Put Not-Martin in net for a couple of games.
That should put us in the top 4 or 5 of the league after the 10+ game winning streak is done.
by west-sider on Oct 19, 2011 1:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If you can dodge a wrench you can dodge Dion Phaneuf
by modsuperstar on Oct 19, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
'Hale' can be re-arranged into 'heal'
Can’t be a coincidence.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Oct 19, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
"Lehner" can be rearranged into "I am hunting you".
But only by Lehner.
by sensory_experience on Oct 19, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
David Hale = Halved Aid
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Oct 19, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Is there any indication MacLean was actually at the meeting?
SportsNet last night was talking like he did the talk to the press thing that his quotes are coming from while the meeting was happening.
or why they didn't just play dodge-ball
That’s worked once already. Or bring back Hale. I know, I know:
1. Play dodgeball
2. Bring Hale up (out of retirement?)
3. Put Not-Martin in net for a couple of games.
That should put us in the top 4 or 5 of the league after the 10+ game winning streak is done.
by west-sider on Oct 19, 2011 1:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
"Bottom line, guys"... "What about bottom-line guys?"
GOLD. Rec’d and a fb share for good measure.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
In what is a rather unpleasant combination of stats....
We’re 30th in the league for PK, which combines horribly with our 3rd in the league for most times short handed.
For some added perspective on how nasty this combination plays out – our PK has given up as many goals as Detroit has had PKs.
The lack of discipline could be the biggest issue with this team
It is really hard to play the structure the coach wants you to play when you’re attempting to kill penalties all game. You never establish a rythm. You’re playing catchup. Stop taking penalties, many of the issues will dissappear. IMO
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
the refs hate us
That much is clear. I’m down with conspiracies at this point.
by west-sider on Oct 19, 2011 1:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not a fan of tanking because I think the NHL takes it pretty seriously.
And I don’t think there’s a precedent for what they’d do if they find out that you deliberately tanked….
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Well, weren't the Sens investigated for that?
I don’t mean tanking in an organized sense. I mean tanking in terms of rooting for the team to lose.
In the organized sense, I think it was the season after they drafted Daigle before they drafted Philly
Sometime around then.
To the best of my knowledge, no one gets investigated for rooting for losses, though. It’s just super disheartening if you’re not getting spirited losses à la Washington game.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
They couldn't prove we tanked, but they implemented the lottery system to discourage it
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Most of the penalties were warranted though
There were a few non-calls for plays against us, sure, but that doesn’t exactly help our PK (unless it would even things out).
Hard to believe, eh?
We have so many potential Lady Byng nominees: Zack Smith, Zenon Konopka, Chris Neil…
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by Peter Raaymakers on Oct 19, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don't think its really unfair reffing, or those players
Of their (Smith, Neil, Konopka) combined 81 minutes in penalties, only 18 minutes are for infractions (6 for roughing, likely in scrums after the whistle). The rest are fighting, instigator and midconducts. The rest of the team has 40 minutes combined in hooking, holding, high-sticking, too many men, delay of game and boarding penalties.
It just way too much. It can’t happen.
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
Neil has taken 7 minor penalties already, the most in the NHL. Per 60 minutes, he’s taken 6.7 penalties and drawn 1.0 penalties.
If we had a team full of Chris Neils the whole time, we’d be shorthanded 33.5 times a game and have 5 power plays a game.
Of course it is very early, but not a good sign.
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
Fair enough
2 were Roughing, one was instigator – which could be argued that he was standing up for his teammates – helping to develop a team ID. Part of his role on the team. The other 4 ok – hooking x2, boarding, & histick – not good. But still fits in with my theory that it isn’t just those 3 guys that are causing the shorthanded problem.
The hooking, holding, histicking, tripping, too many men, delay of game & boarding penalties are the lazy ones that are killing us. Its the lazy ones that they need to eliminate from their game.
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
His 7 minor penalties are:
- 2 roughing
- 1 for instigating
- 2 for hooking
- 1 for boarding
- 1 for high sticking
So I would say a big part of the blame is Neil’s so far. Konopka hasn’t actually taken too many minors.
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
That's 8 minutes
And the rest of the team has 40 per the comment above. I think his point is that the blame shouldn’t be solely on Neil. Those lazy penalties are coming from all over.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
The team has been shorthanded 31 times, and one player is responsible for 22% of that. Even if we ignore his instigating and roughing calls, that’s 13% by one player.
His “lazy” penalties are more than any other player’s on the Sens.
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
Look, I'm not saying that Neil doesn't need to stop taking penalties
I’m just saying that he’s not the only one that needs to stop. Sure it looks bad to say he’s responsible 13% of the time, but saying that Chris Neil is not responsible 87% of the time we’re shorthanded looks a lot less bad.
There’s a lot of blame to go around.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
It also looks bad this way
He’s got almost 5 times the team average for minor penalties.
I have no problems with Neil's penalties
most of the time. At least he’s trying to spark the team and being physical. It’s the minor, nondescript, weak tugs that bother me more. I hate hooking unless it’s to prevent a shot on goal or a dangerous breakaway. Should we maybe look at why our PK is so ineffective?
by whatsinaname on Oct 19, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
We need to look at both the PK and the penalties we're taking
That was kind of my original point – we’re the worst in one category, 3rd worst in the other.
I agree we seem to take a lot
of unnecessary penalties without drawing equal # of penalties. I notice our penalties more since the team started losing more than when we were winning. Is this phenom a current problem or has always been a team weakness…i.e poor discipline?
by whatsinaname on Oct 19, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
without looking it up
I think last year and this year taking penalties has been an issue. We could speculate that the penalties are out of frustration, or just young players unable to keep it in check. I don’t really think the team has had a long term issue with taking too many penalties.
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
I think a lot of it is kids adjusting
Or at least a lot of the ones that the younguns are taking, anyway. I doubt it’s a problem for all that long.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
i tend to agree with this
it may well be kids adjusting – going back to last year, we did have a pretty young team – but I feel like there has been a bit of a discipline/attention to detail issue. I’ve not got the time to research it and do a statistical analysis (Adnan’s job) but it does seem it’s been a couple of years where we have been high in the league in number of times short-handed.
I don’t blame this on Neil either. He has his role, does it well, and the consequence is that he’ll end up in the box more than most of our guys. But the too-many-men, lazy hooking calls, etc., it feels like we still have issues there.
Thats what I said - I conceeded Neil was part of it.
Hence ‘Fair enough’ & then ’the other 4, ok – hooking x2, boarding & histick – not good.
I just also said that the rest of the team was just as much to blame as Neil was, and it was the hooking, holding etc that was killing us.
The original point was I didn’t think it was the reputation of the 3 players that was getting us the penalty calls.
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
Adnan was pretty much blaming Neil though
Who definitely has more minors than Karlsson.
Still
He hates fighters in general and I imagine that at least part of it is because of the penalties they take.
Then again, I’m sure it’s a very different picture when you consider TOI. Or even games played.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Or straight PIMs
Cause Konopka has 34 PIMs to Karlsson’s 4.
But PIMs don't necessarily leave the team shorthanded
I imagine there’s at least a couple 10-min misconducts in there.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
I looked at that as well.
B/w Neil, Smith, Konopka they have 7 majors, two insitgators and two 10 min misconducts.
I did not account for co-incidental minors, but assumed the roughing penalties were likely co-incidental, or at least weighed even vs the opposition.
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
Lighten up
Cowen is still growing. You can’t expect him to not accidentally elbow someone occasionally when his limbs get longer every day.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Having slept on it, I think it's way too early to be hitting the panic button.
It’s clear that this team’s problem is consistency.
1) Against Toronto, the team had a furious comeback that ultimately fell short due to defensive shortcomings. Too many mistakes put the team in a hole early, yet they nearly crawled back out
2) Against Minnesota, Ottawa dominated and really should have won in regulation, and would have if it weren’t for some dodgy goals by Minnesota and some damn good goaltending at the other end of the ice.
3) The team simply failed to show up at all vs Colorado. Let’s not talk about this one.
4) Against Washington, after letting in two goals in the first, Ottawa really carried the play for the rest of the game and basically did everything except tie the game. Still an encouraging performance.
5) Last night Ottawa had an excellent second period, but every single mistake throughout the rest of the game ended up in the back of our net.
Basically the situation is this: On average, we generate less scoring chances than the team we’re playing. If we’re going to win games, we have to bury the chances we do get more often.
Secondly, the mistakes that are being made are ending up in the back of the net on a very constant basis.
So here’s what needs to happen: Everything has to become more disciplined. We need to tighten up on D, start playing the body more often, and make go for high percentage plays. We need to stop taking crappy penalties. Our PK is being murdered. If we could get the goaltending to steal a few games, that’d be good too.
The problems and the solutions are obvious, but ultimately it’s up to the players and coaching staff to implement a strategy that maximizes the chance of winning. This team can win, but first they’ve got to stop beating themselves.
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Oct 19, 2011 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
Interesting analysis, Speedy!
I agree it’s too early to panic. Especially since — if I were to sum up some of what you and others have observed — the problems they are having are not (entirely) the problems they were expecting.
There was more expectation that the rookies would struggle, but it’s some of the key vets who have been abysmal while some of the rookies have been pretty stable. Goaltending was not expected to be an engorged Achilles’ heel with a giant target painted on it. It was supposed to be hard scoring goals, not preventing them (that much). The powerplay was terrible last year, not the penalty kill (IIRC).
So it will take some time for the coaching system and players to adjust to and address these weaknesses.
by sensory_experience on Oct 19, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, consistency is the core issue on the season so far
Which is not all that surprising to me, given the relative inexperience of the roster.
I wouldn’t quite call the 2nd period last night excellent though – passable maybe, and good at the most.
If Ottawa had played the rest of the periods like they played the 2nd, they would have had a chance to win the game.
Giving themselves a chance to win is basically all we can hope for at the moment.
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Oct 19, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
At least against the better teams in the league.
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Oct 19, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
With 9 out of a possible 10 points
They’ve got a better record to date than every team except Washington and Detroit.
Don't care
Matter of principle. “Better” to me implies some class, not a team that deliberately cultivates their bully image.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Are you saying consistency has only been an issue at the start of games?
First, you need to be consistent for an entire game for it to actually matter.
Second, I wouldn’t call the late game consistent either.
Further thoughts:
Ottawa’s next games are: Winnipeg, Columbus, @ Carolina, Florida.
It would not be unreasonable to expect a midlevel team to win all those games, especially when 3 of the 4 are at home.
If the Sens get their shit together, they could be back to .500 by next Thursday night.
If they don’t win at least 2 of the 4, then I will start eyeing the panic button…
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Oct 19, 2011 1:47 PM EDT reply actions
For a second, I read midlevel as medieval
I was wondering where you were going with that. Now I’m just picturing Alfie in chainmail under his hockey helmet.
I disagree about the all part, but I agree that we should be able to win 2 or maybe 3.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Nooooooooooooo!!
It’s best not to picture anything armour-related when it comes to the Senators. Just brings terrible, terrible flashbacks of playoff embarrassments past.
by sensory_experience on Oct 19, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
No no no
Medieval is very different from gladiator armor. And props to anyone who goes to a game decked out like our logo dude – I’d do it myself if it wouldn’t be historically inaccurate for a woman to wear gladiator armor.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Try stola possibly with a palla
Togas were for men and prostitutes.
…………………..unless you were calling me a prostitute?
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Women usually really hot wearing men's clothing, though
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
No
Although I think it was more to do with the exposed chest thing than the looking-like-men thing when it came to the toga.
But historically a lot of women’s clothing has been cumbersome and time-consuming and connected to morals and propriety. I imagine that women in men’s clothing are hot because, historically, women who wore men’s clothing were rejecting the strict modesty of the day and were often seen as hussies.
Note: I have no source for any of this.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
That's funny
I don’t consider women who wear men’s clothing to be hussies at all. I just think it flatters the figure.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Well now
But it wasn’t that long ago that women didn’t wear pants. Hell, travel to certain countries and that’s still considered indecent.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
I wish it was indecent to wear pants around here
I’d never wear ’em.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Oct 19, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I am bummed out because more women don’t take advantage of their right to walk topless on the street here. :(
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
Be careful what you wish for
If you get used to seeing topless women on the streets, you will get used to it and not care after a while. Am I right guys?
by whatsinaname on Oct 19, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
There's being topless
And there’s being topless with intent.
Simply being topless will never make me not care about it when it’s done with intent.
I can't see it happening
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
The thing about that is that the people who you'd want to never do
And the people who do you’d never want to. There’s nothing wrong with leaving something to the imagination.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
was at a beach on the Mediterranean a few years ago
and this was exactly the case.
On the other hand, I was in a park in Norway on a summer’s day and it was the opposite. Norway… (sigh).
Road Trip!
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
The problem is that it is the 'wrong' type
that tend to take advantage of this right.
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
.................can you make a picture of it happen?
So many possibilities but this is far beyond my MS Paint abilities. It calls for actual photoshop, I think.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Alfie in chainmail?
I’ll work on it, but I’m not gonna bust it out unless something worthy happens.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Any kind of picture of a medieval Senators team.
But it doesn’t count if you don’t post it!
Oh Captain, my Captain!
You might want to talk to Classic
He likes to photoshop for cheap pops. I like mine to be epic.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
I don't think there's going to be a point where I hit the panic button
I mean, this is a team of kids - the youngest team in the NHL - learning a completely new system for most of them. They’re just not going to be good right away. There are going to be a lot of nights where they get stomped before they get better. It’s not an overnight process.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
No, it's us
Apparently if you do this “—” SBN considers it code for strikethrough text. I’m not sure what that’s about.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
When I first started chatting on google, every time I put stuff between asterisks, it made the stuff bold. This annoyed me a lot.
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
No, it's not us
Maybe in man-games, but not in age. Not sure who is the youngest, but I know Toronto has us beat in average age.
You're right
We’re 14th… I was way off. That’s the last time I take a broadcaster stat as factual!
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Well we might have the most players under 25?
Wouldn’t necessarily mean lowest average age because of guys like Phillips and Gonchar and Alfie, but would mean youngest team in a different sense.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
I know we've got to be up there
But with some much older guys, it makes sense that average age doesn’t reflect just how young the team is.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
That's one area that Alfie isn't helping the team
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
The only area.
Although really it’s not like we could win a prize for having the lowest average age.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
We could increase our odds for a Calder!
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
Uh
Not from the play I’ve seen so far. Pretty sure they don’t just give it to the youngest guy who plays the most ice time.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
No I think it was something else.
Best attitude after being drafted by a shitty team?
Oh Captain, my Captain!
It's because he *is* a child
Look at that picture above. That kid barely looks old enough to drive.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Kessel looks like the star of Encino Man 2
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
by Mark Parisi on Oct 19, 2011 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
not everyone is blessed with a luxuriously full head of hair
like me. poor guy – and he’s what, 23? Same as Getzlaf – he’s practically bald already.
Flagged because Kessel.
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Oct 19, 2011 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I support this
It’s like how I flag the facebook ads that keep showing up on my page with the Leafs logo. I keep telling facebook I find it offensive and they just don’t get it.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Funny
I knew it was wrong because of a broadcaster stat! CBC mentioned the perception that Ottawa was a young team, but that Toronto was actually statistically younger.
True
They liked that statistic, because it robbed of us of having anything to feel better about.
But then they moved on to metaphorically fellating Robert Steckel for the rest of the game. Mostly metaphorically anyways.
by RogerTheShrubber on Oct 19, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Not to mention, Erik Karlsson is on pace for 14 goals and 96 assists for 110 points!
BOOM!
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
Go ahead and write it...
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by Peter Raaymakers on Oct 19, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
It's true, about the 110 points
the math is indisputable. 8/6*82. Yup, we Asians are good in math.
by whatsinaname on Oct 19, 2011 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Other teams with records similar to ours:
Montreal
Tampa
Boston
Translation? We’ll be in the playoffs, no doubt!
by Pmoron on Oct 19, 2011 1:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
My name is Adnan, and I endorse this message.
by Pmoron on Oct 19, 2011 2:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You know
If you replace all the letters, that could have a bunch of different meanings.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
You're right!
He probably moved to Toronto to be closer to his beloved Habs ;)
by Pmoron on Oct 19, 2011 3:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You guys, the Sens are making me so sad.
That’s really all I can contribute.
Well, that and I’m slowly edging towards wanting Alfie to get traded to a winner so he can have a Stanley Cup and all will be right in the universe.
No, actually I can't get enough of Spezza's nerdy laugh.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I will never begrudge Alfie a chance to do that, but if he does ask for it then he’s not the man I worship. It will break my heart to see him wear another team’s jersey.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
"Z.SmithGirl" just doesn't have the same ring
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
It's true
I’d have to think of a whole new screen name on here. Upside: I would be able to make a regular account and actually use the mobile site, though.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Not to mention that you'd have to change your whole persona.
You’d start going through life not giving a crap.
by Pmoron on Oct 19, 2011 3:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, realistically that's not gonna happen
Although I don’t exactly emulate Alfie. He’s way more diplomatic than I am.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Combined record of Ottawa's six opponents
23-3-4…we’ve faced the hottest teams in the whole league to start this season. Tough sched for these kids.
Interesting....
good work with the stats……..still, doesn’t lessen the pain but put a different perspective on our record.
by whatsinaname on Oct 19, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
That's... crazy
Although maybe they’re hot because the beat the Senators. Five of those 23 wins were against Ottawa.
But you’re right, taking out the Ottawa games, the record is still 18-2-4… which is pretty nutso.
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by Peter Raaymakers on Oct 19, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Detroit and Washington? That's not because of playing a crappy, young team.
And I will begrudgingly admit Philadelphia also.
Oh Captain, my Captain!
Great point!
And when you consider the 5 teams we’ve lost to…even better
Detroit: 4-0-0
Washington: 5-0-0
Colorado: 5-1-0
Toronto: 3-0-1
Philadelphia: 4-0-1
Totals 21-1-2
An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.
Simple way of argumenting.
But that do not tell how they played.
I do not believe many expected the to win!
They played much as I believed they would!
Goaltender was little worse than expected.
The defensive play for most of team could be better.
Spezza could had been better.
Alfredsson could had played better.
…
Smith could had made less stupid penalties.
Do Costa could had play a better center
…
etc
There was also some positive element to take from that game.
Regin and Folino PK looked really good at times.
Regin and Folino actually played a fine game again!
If I shall say one negative comment, to few shoots from Regin.
Rundblad had a good performance (I think)
Da Costa played really good, when he was taken of the center position.
Would you guys be happy if we drafted Ryan Murray?
I would, we’d have the best defense in the league in 5 yrs.
I got a signed Chris Phillips jersey! (Also signed by Nick Foligno)
...Oh, wait.
Not as happy as I would have been with Dougie Hamilton. Ryan Murray just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Though the last man to inexplicably have a nickname for a first name (albeit misspelled) didn’t turn out so well for us.
by RogerTheShrubber on Oct 19, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if Ryan Murray has a nephew
Named Tom Murray. We could bring him in in some capacity, just for symmetry.
Maybe as a back-up to Jason Spezza’s brother?
by RogerTheShrubber on Oct 20, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
It's hard to say
I mean, we pretty much have needs everywhere. And I believe Zibanejad is going to be a really, really good player. I imagine he’ll make more of an impact for the Senators over his career than Murray would have.
That statement isn’t so much an indictment of Murray as it is of our scarcity at forward.
Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs
We're talking about Ryan Murray 2012 though aren't we?
Or, in other words, would we be pissed about another defenseman being drafted with a first rounder next year?
I’d say no. Looking at the current bunch, there’s a long road ahead. Chances are that not everyone turns out to be a superstar. Defensemen take longer to develop, so it might add some time to the rebuilding process. In the end though, a great blue line would mean rebuilding to a championship-calibre team rather than a playoff-level team. I’d willingly trade another year or two of mediocrity for that.
by RogerTheShrubber on Oct 19, 2011 6:19 PM EDT reply actions
I wouldn't have a problem with another defenseman
We made out pretty good with forwards in the draft last year getting Noesen, Pumpel, Prince, Pageau & Filatov. Thats not to say that any or all will be top 6 forwards, but I think the potential is there. I think many of our forward prospects are 2nd line players. So I can see having a team composition with a strong goaltender, and a very strong puck posession, puckmoving top 4 for defense. Add in 3 second lines that you can roll and a solid checking line and you’ve got a team that is built for playoff success.
There are tons of defensive prospects that are highly ranked as well.
The other possibility is if we’re not part of the ‘Nail’ sweepstakes, ie we lose the draft lottery, I can see BM moving our 1 – 5 pick to another team for their later pick & a top prospect and using the later pick to take a forward.
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
A trade down, interesting...
How many picks would we need to acquire to corner the market on Swedish prospects?
by RogerTheShrubber on Oct 20, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Lets get them all
How Swede it would be!
Common sense is the most evenly distributed quality in all the world.
Everyone thinks they have enough.
Yes, we're tallking about the 2012 Ryan Murray
I’d actually like it. We could have a pairing of Karlsson – Cowen and Rundblad – Murray. We basically would have two top pairings
I got a signed Chris Phillips jersey! (Also signed by Nick Foligno)
...Oh, wait.
But wanton destruction of property is so much more of a Habs/Canucks thing to do!
by The Tif on Oct 20, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Ha!
You win a rec.
Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.
by Speedy_McEachern on Oct 20, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
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