OK, I'm a new poster here so I'll add my 2 cents on why the Sens have gotten off to a slow start this year. (My top ten list) Comments?
1. Patrick Lalime - inconsistent this year and a rock last year.
2. Radek Bonk - played well in the playoffs in 2002, however this year he has been asleep and plays like he doesn't care.
3. Todd Whyte - is he too small to compete now that the refs have stopped calling obstruction penalties?
4. Martin Havlet - he should have stayed in Slovakia.
5. Steve Thomas - the Sens could have signed him, why they didn't is still a mystery to me.
6. Jacques Martin - has he made the Sens too complacent?
7. Peter Schalivy - the Sens thought this guy could play.
8. Mike Fisher - they need his heart....badly.
9. Roger Neilsen - the Sens miss his insperational leadership.
10. High expectations - do the Sens have what it takes to meet them.
Re: Top 10 reasons why the Sens have had a slow start
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Originally Posted by Macca
OK, I'm a new poster here so I'll add my 2 cents on why the Sens have gotten off to a slow start this year. (My top ten list) Comments?
Question. Are you a Senators fan???
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1. Patrick Lalime - inconsistent this year and a rock last year.
Agreed
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2. Radek Bonk - played well in the playoffs in 2002, however this year he has been asleep and plays like he doesn't care.
Agreed
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3. Todd Whyte - is he too small to compete now that the refs have stopped calling obstruction penalties?
White you mean??? Maybe, but I think he is playing alright, but just isn't getting the bounces. I'd also like to see Alfredsson get some more points 5-5 instead of just the powerplay.
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4. Martin Havlet - he should have stayed in Slovakia.
If he shot the puck more, this one wouldn't exist
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5. Steve Thomas - the Sens could have signed him, why they didn't is still a mystery to me.
Because they didn't have the roster space and I don't think Ottawa was expecting to be in the same position they are in now. Plus, he's already gotten injured, out 4-6 weeks.
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6. Jacques Martin - has he made the Sens too complacent?
He's not the reason IMO at all.
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7. Peter Schalivy - the Sens thought this guy could play.
Very true...he's running out of time!!!
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8. Mike Fisher - they need his heart....badly.
I kind of agree here, but I keep hearing and seeing people write, "wait until we get Mike Fisher back". Yes, he is a good leader and plays his ass off, but Ottawa has proven in the past that they can win when he has been injured, but suddenly they can't now??? He'll help for sure, but its not his influence as much as people want it to be.
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9. Roger Neilsen - the Sens miss his insperational leadership.
Totally agree here. I'm sure it has had an big affect on the team. Not to sound cruel, but when the players are on the ice, do you really believe they are thinking, "oh poor Roger". Its a tough blow, but everyone deals with these sorts of things in life, hockey players are no different.
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10. High expectations - do the Sens have what it takes to meet them.
IMO, you should always have high expectations. The difference being realistic expectations. As inconsistent they have been, Ottawa is still in an excellent position to get right back in the think of things where they belong. But where do we draw the line??? I keep hearing its still early, or now were out of the slump, etc., etc. But after 30 games, can you keep saying the same lines. If this inconsistent play keeps going on, what are we going to hear next??? That we are only waiting until the playoffs??? I look at Ottawa's line-up and see that they are severely underachieving. It comes down to this. Ottawa's best players aren't being there best players. Sure some of them have good numbers, but I haven't noticed players like Alfredsson, Hossa and Havlat getting a winning goal late or a tying goal or a goal right in the middle of a game where they need it really badly. Its happened a couple times, but not enough and explains why we have a 1-11 record in one goal games. If we were to cut that in half, we'd be less then 4-5 points behind the Leafs right now. This team has to start a run right now, as they play their last 13 of 17 on the road. The excuses period is over!!!
Yes, I am a Sens fan and have been to 6 home games this year. My record so far is 1 win and 5 losses. Maybe it's me - I should have included myself in my top ten list. I also did not know that Thomas was injured, that's too bad. And your point about Jacques Martin, you seem certain about Martin's ability to turn the Sens around, and I agree he is a good coach, but I just wonder about the complacency of this team and coaching staff that has been together for 8 years now. Sooner or later the message stops getting through - it's nobody's fault, it just seems to happen in sports. I agree, it's time for the Sens to stop making excuses and show us the character that got them within one goal of the Stanley Cup final.
Complacency may be a part of it, but Ottawa is not a team with any players that have large ego's for the most part, at least compared to some other organizations. This team has gotten better every season IMO. Sure some seasons had more points that were followed by a sweep in the first round a couple times, but I really put that on the shoulder that we just weren't good enough, not because of coaching. I know some people criticize Jacques Martin, saying he shows no emotion, but you don't have to be like Pat Quinn and thump your chest all the time like a wild ape. I never found Scotty Bowman to be constantly bitching from the bench like Quinn or Crawford. If they were to get rid of Jacques Martin, there are only 3 people I'd want to takeover. Realistically, I'd take Larry Robinson first. Second, and a real longshot, Scotty Bowman. Lastly, I'd put Gretzky behind the bench for some reason. That may sound ridiculous, but when I listen to that guy talk the game, he knows it better then anybody I have ever seen.
Martin is not the problem with Ottawa, he's a good coach. I think they need some more leadership on the team. Alfie does a good job as well as Redden, but they need more. Someone in the Gary Roberts mold,but I don't know who is out there right now, who would fit that mold. If and when Fisher comes back that would be a start.
Gary Roberts. Hmm, yes, we need a Gary Roberts type of style. I think it's fair to say that ANY TEAM in the NHL could use a Gary Roberts. Two problems with that, there's only one Gary Roberts, and he's been involved in revoloving door injuries. Roberts style of play isnt easy to attain, but his warror play is certainly starting to take its toll on him. If Roberts was a Sens, I'de scratch him until the playoffs started.
Gary Roberts. Hmm, yes, we need a Gary Roberts type of style. I think it's fair to say that ANY TEAM in the NHL could use a Gary Roberts. Two problems with that, there's only one Gary Roberts, and he's been involved in revoloving door injuries. Roberts style of play isnt easy to attain, but his warror play is certainly starting to take its toll on him. If Roberts was a Sens, I'de scratch him until the playoffs started.
Hello MadFerret,nice to see you here too!
Gary Roberts would be a nice addition to Ottawa BUT you can't have him k:
People are looking too much into this! Ottawa has lost ONLY 2 games by more than 1 goal so all their games are close which is a good thing.Once Ottawa starts winning these 1 goal games that they are currently losing then everything will be fine.
Btw...I heard on TSN that Ottawa has put a contract on the table for Alfredsson for over 5 mil a yr.It looks good that Alfredsson will re-sign with Ottawa
Cheers
Cheers
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There's a fine line between clever and stupid! - Spinal Tap
People are looking too much into this! Ottawa has lost ONLY 2 games by more than 1 goal so all their games are close which is a good thing.Once Ottawa starts winning these 1 goal games that they are currently losing then everything will be fine.
But that is what separates a team from being a contender versus a team that chokes in tight games. With a 1-11 record in one-goal games, that just won't cut it. It sure doesn't make me and I'm betting the team feel any better knowing that they were close in the game. Whether you lose 5-1 or 2-1, its irrelevent, you still lost!!!
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Btw...I heard on TSN that Ottawa has put a contract on the table for Alfredsson for over 5 mil a yr.It looks good that Alfredsson will re-sign with Ottawa
I saw that as well and its rumoured to be for 5 years, which would make Alfredsson 36 by the time the contract expires.
People are looking too much into this! Ottawa has lost ONLY 2 games by more than 1 goal so all their games are close which is a good thing.Once Ottawa starts winning these 1 goal games that they are currently losing then everything will be fine.
But that is what separates a team from being a contender versus a team that chokes in tight games. With a 1-11 record in one-goal games, that just won't cut it. It sure doesn't make me and I'm betting the team feel any better knowing that they were close in the game. Whether you lose 5-1 or 2-1, its irrelevent, you still lost!!!
I know where you are coming from but its still too early in the season and Ottawa is STILL a contender even though they haven't lived up to expectations so far! They look like they're starting to turn the corner so we'll have to wait and see what happens.If they still keep losing 1 goal games going into February then you should start worrying but I think Ottawa will now start winning regularly.
Cheers
__________________
There's a fine line between clever and stupid! - Spinal Tap
Top 10 reasons why the Sens have had a slow start
Top 10 reasons why the Sens have had a slow start
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