Ottawa Senators

[fulcrum]

notch, how dare you post something you read somewhere else? I am sure everything else that is posted on these forums are original scoops, witnessed, verified, and reported by the first observer!

....yup. It's that simple.

[notch4077]

I don't believe that they'll be better without Spezza, but I would love to be wrong.

Hey man, I'm actually on the fence if the Sens will be better this season. Defensively, they should be. That will lead to better play from the defence, which should help Anderson and Lehner...but who knows about the offensive side of things and the overall success?

[Zorro]

I feel the Sens needed to change the culture in that dressing room, and what better way then to trade the captain..

I honestly feel the team becomes a more tight knit group and they actually win more games this season..

[MarmotKing]

I feel the Sens needed to change the culture in that dressing room, and what better way then to trade the captain..

I honestly feel the team becomes a more tight knit group and they actually win more games this season..

I could see how this could work. Change of atmosphere could lighten the mood and maybe have more fun working.

[agentzero]

I honestly feel the team becomes a more tight knit group and they actually win more games this season..

Couldn't agree more, but I think the reason will be Bryan Murray, not the departure of Spezza. This will be a "win it for Bryan" year and I expect the group to fight hard for that guy. Not everyone has that kind of disposition on this team, but as a whole, I think they'll battle hard for their GM and band with him symbolically by battling hard on the ice. I totally see it.

[Zorro]

Couldn't agree more, but I think the reason will be Bryan Murray, not the departure of Spezza. This will be a "win it for Bryan" year and I expect the group to fight hard for that guy. Not everyone has that kind of disposition on this team, but as a whole, I think they'll battle hard for their GM and band with him symbolically by battling hard on the ice. I totally see it.

Great point, glad you mentioned that.. It's definitely going to be a "win it for Bryan" year!!

[notch4077]

I feel the Sens needed to change the culture in that dressing room, and what better way then to trade the captain..

I honestly feel the team becomes a more tight knit group and they actually win more games this season..

I could see how this could work. Change of atmosphere could lighten the mood and maybe have more fun working.

Couldn't agree more, but I think the reason will be Bryan Murray, not the departure of Spezza. This will be a "win it for Bryan" year and I expect the group to fight hard for that guy. Not everyone has that kind of disposition on this team, but as a whole, I think they'll battle hard for their GM and band with him symbolically by battling hard on the ice. I totally see it.

Great point, glad you mentioned that.. It's definitely going to be a "win it for Bryan" year!!

Pretty much all this. The Sens have a lot to prove to themselves this season and there is quite a bit of the straw to grasp at for them. I look forward to the question marks in the Top 9 and hopefully some hard, more selective minutes from what I think is a very good fourth line of Greening, Smith and Neil.

A quantity for quality trade should be in the works in think. Not much quality, but enough to see more defined roles IMO. I'm most likely wrong though and what you see now (and all the question marks), is what you will get.

I'm more intrigued this season, even though I haven't renewed my season seats yet.

[Mr. Guru]

Are you going to renew? How much do seasons go for? Where are your seats?

[notch4077]

That post got me thinking about lineups. Ugh, why? Still too early for any of this but the baby and wife are napping soundly so here goes:

MacArthur - Turris - Ryan
Michalek - Zibanejad - Chiasson
Condra - Legwand - Stone
Greening - Smith - Neil
Hoffman

- Can't believe that leaves Lazar off the team as well as Pageau, Puempel, Grant and Prince. I still give Lazar his 9-game tryout though before Pageau and Puempel get called up to fill whatever role is needed.

- Chaisson wins the 2nd RW spot over Stone because of politics. Management will give Chaisson every chance to succeed - so the fans that for some reason haven't forgotten about Spezza yet - will have something tangible to help ease their pain.

I'm confused about the defence:
7 one-way contracts with the 8th Dman Ceci on a two-way but proved himself to be an NHLer last season. Your guess is as good as mine. Barring a trade, you would have to think that Ceci starts the year in the AHL.

Ceci played almost 50% of his shifts with Phillips, so with Cody in the AHL, D pairings are a mess for me. Especially since Ottawa has a shortage of right-side Dmen.

Methot - Karlsson
Cowen - Wiercioch
Gryba - Phillips
Borowiecki

Maybe Ceci stays up and the Sens keep 8 D and only 13 forwards, but the more likely is 14 forwards and 7 D, especially since I think Lazar gets his 9 games to start.

Anderson
Lehner

[notch4077]

Are you going to renew? How much do seasons go for? Where are your seats?

Yup, I'm just waiting to see what happens with the roster a little bit longer, but I will renew. I like being a season ticket holder for whatever reason. I get my full season seats for $3500 (not exact). $7000 total for the pair…roughly. Very first row of the 2nd level, my favourite seat in the house. Personal preference.

[Mr. Guru]

Not as cheap as I thought it might be.

I had similar seats at the ACC. First row upper level. Loved them as well.

[notch4077]

Not as cheap as I thought it might be.

I had similar seats at the ACC. First row upper level. Loved them as well.

Last season was the worst I have encountered for trying to sell my seats. Ottawa fans are as fickle as they come and we all know how successful the Sens were last season. If the Sens don't win, fans don't come. One of the many reasons I am waiting to see what happens with the roster before I renew.

[notch4077]

Nothing really fantasy related but the Sabres have taken some nice front office pieces from Ottawa. Assistant GM Tim Murray, Rob Murphy (Dir of scouting) and Greg Royce (Dir amateur scouting). Those aren't small roles.

Good opportunity for others to step up internally and for others to see that if you work hard with Ottawa, the chance for success in Ottawa or beyond is there for you.

Nothing to report on Ryan or MacArthur extensions. No one knows no matter what they say.

[doulos]

A little bit of Sens/Oilers connection here.

Sunaya Sapurji ‏@sunayas · 17h
Edmonton Oil Kings forward @CurtisLazar95 will now wear #26 internationally for Canada in honour of Kristians Pelss. #PlayForPelssy

Classy stuff by Lazar right there.

[notch4077]

Same jersey they held up and rallied around enroute to winning the Memorial Cup right? If memory serves me correctly he died after bridge jumping in the offseason.

When Lazar was drafted I said he would eventually wear a letter in the NHL. I was questioned on that, but I stand by that comment.