1/4 Season Report Card

[thedaigle1]

For the team with the fewest man-games of experience, all is going quite well in Ottawa by my accounts. Here are my thoughts thus far:

The Bad: Bad faceoff percentage, too many shots against, not enough shots-for

The Good: Positive goal differential, average-to-above-average special teams, in the playoff picture

The Very Good: Andy has a SICK SV%, Ceci has 0 PM, Chiasson is putting up good offensive numbers

Misc: Karlsson is still lead point-getter, Cowen is -7 but trending in the right direction, Turris and Lazar are not scoring goals but are making plays like the quality centres they are

Question: Sens doing fine without Methot. Like the guy. What does a team with a lot of young defensemen, low payroll, and impending free-agent-Methot do?

[Alfie11]

Re: 1/4 Season Report Card

Good topic and post.

Coaching isn't on your list. I have it in-between the good and the bad. The goaltending is saving him and the team for sure. Not a fan of the line combinations a lot of games (put Mac-Turris-Ryan together) and doesn't seem to hold players accountable (except the last game). We'll see if he has the guts to sit a Neil or a Phillips.

I think Legwand has been pretty disappointing. He's been anchored down sometimes but he's slow and hasn't made the best of his opportunities when he's gotten a shot.

I still think it's important to sign Methot. The way things are right now, you either have Phillips or Boro playing on the top pairing which isn't very good. I do like Boro on the third pairing.

[matchesmalone]

Re: 1/4 Season Report Card

Good topic and post.

Coaching isn't on your list. I have it in-between the good and the bad. The goaltending is saving him and the team for sure. Not a fan of the line combinations a lot of games (put Mac-Turris-Ryan together) and doesn't seem to hold players accountable (except the last game). We'll see if he has the guts to sit a Neil or a Phillips.

I think Legwand has been pretty disappointing. He's been anchored down sometimes but he's slow and hasn't made the best of his opportunities when he's gotten a shot.

I still think it's important to sign Methot. The way things are right now, you either have Phillips or Boro playing on the top pairing which isn't very good. I do like Boro on the third pairing.

I'd have to disagree about the top line. We've spent way too much time over the past decade pigeon-holed as a one-line team. The top teams in the league spread out their offense. L.A. doesn't play Kopitar and Carter together. Chicago rarely puts Toews and Kane together.

[Alfie11]

Re: 1/4 Season Report Card

Yeah, but LA and Chicago have deeper forward lines than we do. We're wasting Ryan playing him with Zibanejad and Michalek.

[thedaigle1]

Re: 1/4 Season Report Card

I have to believe that down the line Legwand, Michalek, and Phillips will spend time in the pressbox (either due to health or lack of effort). The young guys are earning the ice time.

I'm still a big fan of Paul MacLean. He's getting a lot out of the group he has and I feel like the players are buying what he's selling.

I have no idea about top line and top pair but I'm curious to see how that unfolds.

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: 1/4 Season Report Card

Good topic and post.

Coaching isn't on your list. I have it in-between the good and the bad. The goaltending is saving him and the team for sure. Not a fan of the line combinations a lot of games (put Mac-Turris-Ryan together) and doesn't seem to hold players accountable (except the last game). We'll see if he has the guts to sit a Neil or a Phillips.

I think Legwand has been pretty disappointing. He's been anchored down sometimes but he's slow and hasn't made the best of his opportunities when he's gotten a shot.

I still think it's important to sign Methot. The way things are right now, you either have Phillips or Boro playing on the top pairing which isn't very good. I do like Boro on the third pairing.

I'd have to disagree about the top line. We've spent way too much time over the past decade pigeon-holed as a one-line team. The top teams in the league spread out their offense. L.A. doesn't play Kopitar and Carter together. Chicago rarely puts Toews and Kane together.

The problem is that we're STILL a one line team with Ryan on line 2 :?

[thedaigle1]

Re: 1/4 Season Report Card

Bobby looks like he's finding his game. Players always struggle after they sign big contracts. I think it would make sense to kickstart him on line one with Turris and MacArthur and then spread the wealth once he's found his confidence. Turris needs the boost too.