Silver Nuggets: MacLean comments on Da Costa struggles

by Adnan on Nov 25, 2011 1:00 PM EST in Silver Nuggets

Stéphane Da Costa has been struggling for a while now and not just in the face-off circle. Paul MacLean says he typically plays Jason Spezza against the opposition's top line, and would like to play Da Costa against the second line. However, Da Costa didn't match up well against Vancouver, so Zack Smith's line played against the second line.

Against Pittsburgh, it is an even bigger problem, with their second line featuring Evgeni Malkin and the NHL's second leading goal scorer, James Neal. For this reason, Da Costa will likely face Jordan Staal's line. MacLean spoke at length but the quote that stood out to me was:

"It's going to be a test to see what we're going to do with Steph. We're going to try and make sure we put him in a spot to succeed, but it's going to be a tough night, for all of us." - Paul MacLean

Is MacLean hinting that the Senators are considering sending Da Costa down to Binghamton or just on how to manage his minutes? Peter Regin is still about a month away, so the other alternative to Da Costa would be to move Foligno to centre. That or moving Jesse Winchester up to the second line, but I don't know if he can hold down the spot for a month.

Links after the jump.

General Sens News

Game preview for tonight. (Ottawa Sun, Senators Extra)
Everyone on the panel predicts a loss tonight and most of them predict a Pittsburgh blowout. James Gordon went with 6-0 Pittsburgh and Peter said 5-1 Pittsburgh. (Senators Extra)
Nikita Filatov had another strong game last night, tallying a goal and two assists for his second consecutive 3-point game. Filatov now has 12 points in 13 AHL games and leads Binghamton in points per game. With a decision expected on him next week, he is certainly helping his chances. (Press & Sun-Bulletin, Senators Extra)
Colin Greening has had a good start to the season, but he doesn't expect his name to be in Calder Trophy contention. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is over a point a game so far. Still, Greening is sixth in rookie scoring so far. (Ottawa Citizen)
Robin Lehner will return from a minor injury and start tonight in Syracuse. (Joy Lindsay)
Syracuse is Columbus' AHL affiliate and tonight will be Filatov's first game there since he left. (syracuse.com)
Sergei Gonchar was having Thanksgiving dinner presumably at Evgeni Malkin's. Eating with the enemy the night before a great battle! (Evgeni Malkin)
CBC ranks Jared Cowen, Erik Karlsson and Milan Michalek as the Senators three stars so far, with Bobby Butler as the disappointment. (CBC)

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Comments

Da Costa is in an interesting position.

I’d be shocked if Zibanejad wasn’t the second line centre next year. So the question for this year is how do you manage Da Costa’s time. As a winger, he might be better since he has a great shot and is a decent playmaker, and without the defensive responsibilities being centre entails he might do better. I still think he should be sent down to the AHL for a bit, and you can rotate through Winch, Foligno and anyone else who can play centre until Regin’s return in Jan 2012.

by The Tif on Nov 25, 2011 1:13 PM EST reply actions

Next year...

… will be Zib on the 2nd line, Stone on the wing on the 1st line. Sens will have the toughness of Boston with even more scoring potential.

/but then I’m am optimist.

by DrZee on Nov 25, 2011 1:30 PM EST reply actions

Also, no one on the team will be nearly as ugly as Brad Marchand.

Shawn McEachern: The best Senator to ever wear 15.

by Speedy_McEachern on Nov 25, 2011 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

Will Stone replace MM9 or Soylent?

We need more wing depth, but if even half our prospects pan out, we could be deep as hell in 2 years.

by The Tif on Nov 25, 2011 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

IF Stone shows himself as top-six next year...

…I’d see him more likely to replace Greening, no? I think Greening’s skills, especially earlier in his career, lend themselves more to a 3rd line role than Michalek’s do.

by dzuunmod on Nov 25, 2011 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

Stone replacing either mm9 or greeny, who moves down to 2nd line with alfredsson and zibby.

Big scoring potential, the CHL is being dominated by Sens picks. Like you said if even half the prospects pan out….

by DrZee on Nov 25, 2011 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

This would surprise me

I think Da Costa will likely spend time working on his conditioning, and Peter Regin should come back with a vengeance. So I expect Da Costa and Regin to duke it out for the second line, and Zibanejad to spend time on the third—unless he plays in Binghamton, that is.

As for Stone, I’d be surprised if he plays in the NHL next season, let alone as a top-line player.

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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 25, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

Dare I say...

…Filatov? Throw Foligno on centre, keep Winch down on the 4th line.

by Ibanez_Guy on Nov 25, 2011 2:05 PM EST reply actions

Yes, I like this. Although…I would like to see that third line Mark suggest with Filatov-Da Costa-Butler too against lower competition, once Regin is back.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Nov 25, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Although, I suppose that could be a 2nd line, Daugavins-Foligno-Alfredsson could be a third line. Depends on how things are going I suppose.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Nov 25, 2011 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

I’m on the phone with Murray right now giving him our suggestion (directive, really). :D

by Ibanez_Guy on Nov 25, 2011 3:10 PM EST up reply actions

Silly.

You have to use postal mail. Murray doesn’t have a phone.

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Nov 25, 2011 3:18 PM EST up reply actions

Send him a fax

modsuperstar dot ca | SlideawayMedia
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by modsuperstar on Nov 25, 2011 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

Telegram would be best

BRYAN MURRAY
stop
YOU NEED TO RE-CALL FILATOV
stop
SEND DA COSTA TO BINGHAMTON
stop
MOVE FOLIGNO TO CENTRE
end transmission

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by Peter Raaymakers on Nov 25, 2011 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Rec'd

Erik Karlsson is better than your favourite player.
Twitter: @sens_adnan

by Adnan on Nov 25, 2011 4:39 PM EST up reply actions

Now I'm picturing that as a singing telegram

Barbershop quartet style

by B_T on Nov 25, 2011 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

Or a strip-o-gram with a hockey player

by whatsinaname on Nov 26, 2011 1:00 AM EST up reply actions

Filatov

Now we are talking! He ought to be tearing things up down there. Three points a game is a little much to ask, but he should be at least in the 1 to 1.5 PPG range. Assuming he maintains his efforts on defence, then I think he will find himself back in Ottawa soon if he keeps consistently putting up points.

by DW19 on Nov 25, 2011 2:13 PM EST reply actions