Silver Nuggets: More season previews; Can Karlsson break MacIver record?

by Adnan on Aug 22, 2011 12:01 PM EDT in Silver Nuggets

Greetings nugget readers, I have returned! Before I get to the links, I want to mention that Canada lost Jack Layton today, the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Rest in peace, Jack.

Here are today's links:

Should Mika Zibanejad play in Ottawa this year? Here is a list of pros and cons. Some of the pros include playing with Daniel Alfredsson, as well as Zibanejad being physically strong enough and skilled enough to play in the NHL. The cons mentioned are his limited professional experience and him missing out on playing in the U20 World Championships. (Senshot)
Can Erik Karlsson (or Sergei Gonchar) break the Senators record for points by a defenceman? The record is 63 points by Norm MacIver. Nichols believes Karlsson will eventually do it, but will need a lot of help if he is to do it this season. (The 6th Sens)
Another Senators preview, this time from a website run by sometimes Silver Seven commenter Kevin Sellathamby including some comments by moi! Kevin notes that everything will have to fall in place for the Senators to make the playoffs, while I predict a 10th place finish. Also, is Jason Spezza similar to Sheldon Copper? Quite possibly! (Hell On Ice)
NHL.com also has been previewing each team in its 30 teams in 30 days feature. They note that the Senators are getting younger, but wonder if they are getting better. They conclude that the Senators will have to overachieve to be a playoff club. (NHL.com)
Senshot takes a look at Mika Zibanejad arriving three weeks early for camp, his jersey number choice, getting recognised in Ottawa and more. (Senshot)
Senshot also looks at three reasons why the Senators will be better than last season. (Senshot)
And yet more Senshot, they look at potential third line centre candidates. The list includes: Nick Foligno, Zack Smith, Stephane Da Costa, Jesse Winchester, Zenon Konopka and Colin Greening. (Senshot)
An excellent article that argues for completely eliminating fighting from hockey. Couldn't agree more. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Eye on the Sens previews a few more Bingo players: Eric Gryba [link], Jim O'Brien [link], and David Dziurzynski [link].
A full-colour look at the Sens' rumoured heritage jersey. (The 6th Sens)
Jared Crozier is very optimistic. He thinks the Sens will be better than the Carolina Hurricanes this season, and think there's a 50/50 chance that they could be better than the Buffalo Sabres. (SenShot)

General links:

Relocation was much talked about over the weekend after The Business Journals tried to rank the top destinations for NHL franchise relocation. Riverside-San Bernardino topped the list. (The Business Journals)
Wyshynski talked about the rankings, and pondered what kind of flaws in methodology led to ranking Atlanta as the 11th-best relocation destination. (Puck Daddy)

Tweet Comment 38 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

… What moron wants to put an NHL team in Providence, Rhode Island??

And the only reason Houston & Oklahoma City didn’t get one back in the 90’s was because we were stupid enough to cough up the 50 mil with no questions asked.

A Goal Horn Haiku

Hoooonk hoooonk honk honk hooooonk
That's the sound the train horn makes
Suck it, Toronto

by Nightbreak on Aug 22, 2011 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think anyone’s saying they want to put a team in Providence or Riverside or any other of those places. It’s just that when you crunch the numbers one, particular way, this is how they come out.

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Senators finishing above Buffalo?

That’s a stretch. I think Buffalo, Montreal and Boston will be battling out for the top three spots in the NE, and the Leafs and Sens will be lower down.

Unless, as all the articles point out, the stars align and everyone hits their stride. They do that, and we could surprise a few teams. I mean, an 11 game winning streak is all it takes right?

by The Tif on Aug 22, 2011 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

I don't see Montreal as being very good at all.

They did nothing to improve on or change last year.

by Mike Hurley on Aug 22, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Erik Cole?

A healthy Andrei Markov (one assumes)? Carey Price being Carey Price?

I don’t think they’ll dominate, but I think they’ll be a playoff team.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 22, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I was about to say all of that....

As well as that even if they’d done nothing, they were still a competitive team last year.

by B_T on Aug 22, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Adding Erik Cole yes but...

They lost Wisnewski and Carey Price needs another epic season to keep it together remember that stat I think on the Leafs SB nation site with sv% for each team to get a winning record Montreal was the worst of any team that made the playoffs…Price is SO key for this habs team and when he isnt hot well…they’re in trouble

by Beanster on Aug 22, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you think Price has the mental toughness?

He’s like Luongo – he can steal games or completely lose them. There’s some middle ground, but not much. I wonder if he’s finally worked that out and is able to hold himself together for a season without cracking.

by The Tif on Aug 22, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

That's the thing though.

MTL is just a good team. They’re not special enough to win it all IMO, but they’re good enough to make the playoffs. The perfect Jacques Martin team.

by The Tif on Aug 22, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

"the Senators will have to overachieve to be a playoff club"

That’s probably about the best way of putting it (that matches my expectations) that I’ve heard so far.

by B_T on Aug 22, 2011 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Yes

That is exactly correct. If everything clicks for the Sens then maybe they can make the playoffs. The margin for error is minuscule and not much would have to go wrong for them to end up in the bottom 2 or 3 of the conference.

by DW19 on Aug 22, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Ewww, vintage white

I’m really hoping they’re wrong on that one. It’d take the jersey from “must-have” to “Well, it’s better than SENS” for me.

by B_T on Aug 22, 2011 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

I don't care if it's trendy, I like it.

And it’s the colour scheme they had when the Sens actually wore barber poles, and what are they ostensibly paying tribute to here?

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't care if it's trendy either, that has nothing to do with it

I just don’t like it. I didn’t like it before it was trendy, I don’t like it now when it is trendy, and I’ll continue to not like it when it becomes trendy to not like it.

It makes the jersey looked dull and washed out at best, and thrown into the washing machine with a large grease stain at worst.

by B_T on Aug 22, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I’m not a fan of vintage white. To me it always looks like our moms can’t afford to do our laundry.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ha! Rec'd

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Aug 22, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I would also prefer regular white

Like… white, not beige.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 22, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I know Ryan prefers the vintage white

But I don’t think they played in that color originally.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough. NHLuniforms.com agrees with you. And now that I’m thinking on it a bit, I guess I do too, especially when I think of the ’67s barber poles.

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think any old team played in vintage white

It’s just one of those things that people think looks cool, I think.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

If you browse through those galleries...

…you’ll see plenty of pants in beigey, vintage white-ish tones, but yeah, you’re right, I’m not seeing it on any jerseys.

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Karlsson

I think Karlsson or Rundblad or maybe both, are likely to break Maciver’s record sooner or later. Whichever of those two becomes the dominant power play point-getter is likely to set a new single season points record for an Ottawa defenceman. Karlsson is more of a known quantitiy, so he is probably a better bet at this point.

by DW19 on Aug 22, 2011 1:50 PM EDT reply actions

Sportsnet schedule is out.

Here.

There’s one game – February 15 at Florida – that they say has no TV coverage yet, but the Canadian Sports Media Blog feels that game will be picked up by TSN2 in the coming weeks (8th item).

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

Hunh, sure enough

Those 2 Saturday games are there.

by B_T on Aug 22, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

It better be picked up!

Or road trip to Florida! Peter’s driving!

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Aug 22, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait if it is on Florida TV, then it is okay

Centre Ice will have it.

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Aug 22, 2011 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I love the Sens, but I have to admit I can think of better things to do in Miami than a mid-February game between two very likely lousy hockey teams. :p

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

TREASON!

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Aug 22, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry dude.

But I live in the Yukon. If I am in Miami in mid-February, I am somewhere other than a hockey rink!

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you at a different hockey rink?

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe a roller hockey one, on the beach with torches for light.

by dzuunmod on Aug 22, 2011 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I like your style

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Roller hockey is surprisingly difficult in sand

Trust me.

Silver Seven | Twitter | Facebook | E-mail | eBay

by Peter Raaymakers on Aug 22, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Maybe they'll have sand girls

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 22, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Pfft...

Alfie can rollerskate in the sand… with a broken ankle.

To become old and wise, you must first be young and stupid. - old army proverb

by BigSlice on Aug 23, 2011 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Too bad that doesn't impress his father

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Aug 23, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking with some kind of “rink” set up on top, but I’d love it if you’d elaborate, Peter.

by dzuunmod on Aug 24, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Improvement

Mark me down as having the same feeling about the Sens as SenShot. I ask this question, is the team better between the pipes? The tandem of Elliott/LeClaire were either awful or injured and I see no way Anderson/Auld are worse than them over the course of a season. Is the D better? I’d almost put a push on this one. They will be young and inexperienced, but do players like Cowen and Rundblad have higher ceilings than Carkner, Lee and Campoli? I say yes. Kuba potentially being healthy is a good thing too. Are we better at forward? I would definitely say no, as we’re relying on a lot of bounce back seasons and players reaching potential which is always a little scary.

But overall, they say you build a team from the net out and I think we are undoubtedly better between the pipes. Having goalies who can steal a game is crucial and I think Andy showed us last year that he can win games we have no business being in. LeClaire and Elliott couldn’t do that for us and that will be the biggest difference between this year and last.

modsuperstar dot ca | SlideawayMedia

by modsuperstar on Aug 23, 2011 8:44 PM EDT reply actions