After a great start to the 2007-2008 season, the Ottawa Senators seem to have hit a road block.In their last seven games, the Sens have only won four times.
But maybe it's not time to panic just yet.
"Every time we lose everybody says that it's our worst game of the season," Jason Spezza said. "I'm sick of it."
Spezza make a fair point. The bottom line is that these Senators are legit—regardless of their recent "struggles."
In fact, I'd have to say this is the best Senators team I've ever seen.
Spezza, Dany Heatley, and Daniel Alfredsson can do no wrong together on the first line. After them, guys like Patrick Eaves, Chris Kelly, and Randy Robitaille provide the passion and determination that make the Senators who they are.
In the back end, defensemen like Andrej Meszaros, Wade Redden, and Anton Volchenkov can make stops while contributing points. What's more, young stars like Brian Lee promise to make the unit even stronger down the road.
The goalie situation is slightly more muddled. Martin Gerber is having a phenomenal season, while Ray Emery hasn't been himself.
Although both Gerber and Emery have been the subject of trade rumors, I don't want to see either go. When they both play up to their potential, the other 29 teams in the league are going to have an awful hard time topping the Sens.
The biggest difference between last year's Senators and this year's model is grit. If the Sens had brought their current attitude into last year's Stanley Cup Finals, I think the Anaheim Ducks would've been the team to fall in five games.
High expectations will no doubt be a heavy burden for these Senators—but I think they're good enough to deliver.
Sens fans are hoping for nothing less than a Stanley Cup. Come spring, they may get just that.
15 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Trevor Campbell about 1 year ago
I couldnt agree more with this article. I've been watchin the Sens' games this season, and if they would've showed up in the Stanley Cup Finals last year with the same mentality and grit i would've put money down on the Sens in five games. They just weren't prepared for the heavy hittin style of the Ducks, but now it looks like they've thrown that style of play into their playbooks. The slump they're in is absolutely nothin to worry about, even the best teams go through atleast ten games where they gotta shake their heads and wonder where the magic touch has gone. If Ray Emery and Martin Gerber can both play the way they are capable of playin and agree to share the games equally between themselves for the rest of the season, they could potentially be the most unstoppable team to hit the ice in the last ten years!!!!
Signed,
Trevor C.
Alberta
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devin rodger about 1 year ago
See finally somebody agrees with me towards the sens. I say that all the grit and that stuff came in with new head coach John Paddock. Bryan Murray didn't like that kind of game and you can see in how much he played McGratten. Paddock I think for the Sens is the better coach although I love what Murray did to the team it was time for him to go higher and make a different kind of difference towards the team!
GO SENS GO!
Dev
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Claude Bedard about 1 year ago
they wont make it trust me come on its ottawa. the only way they are going to win is if they gov pay the other teams off
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Tyler Lavoie about 1 year ago
I agree they are a better team this year, but it has nothing to do with a difference in grit. Keep in mind that roster-wise they are the same team as last year minus Mike Comrie. Brian McGrattan still isn't a regular. He plays when a physical edge is needed, or when there is a goon in the line-up for the other team.
They will make it to the playoffs, but from there any of the eight teams have a shot at beating them because they have lost as favourites before. It doesn't mean they, can't but it's not for sure.
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devin rodger about 1 year ago
yes they lost comire for gurit but full-time player grit they picked up was randy r., and donovan who have that grit with them from the beginning of their career. randy, overseas, had i cant remember the number but it make u say where did he come from?? and donovan ahd that run way back and kept that grit for the bruins and have started that calgary career again!
GO SENS GO!
Dev
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Tyler Lavoie about 1 year ago
You're wrong.
Where did Randy Robitaille come from? His career high is 56 PM in a season, and yes it was overseas. Compared with Darcy Tucker's career high 176 PM, and Sean Avery at 256 PM.
Robitaille isn't even a regular in the line-up. And he's not a gritty player, he's a finesse player.
Shean Donovon's career high? 82, but he average's much more closely to 40, especially considering how little he plays.
"and donovan ahd that run way back and kept that grit for the bruins and have started that calgary career again!" --- I don't even know what this sentence means, but he's never been a gritty player, he's a 3rd liner who hasn't ever been in the top 100 in hits, PM, fighting majors... or anything else that would suggest grit.
Not only is your response hard to read, but it's not backed up with any actual fact.
You're entitled to your opinion, but there's just nothing to back it up.
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devin rodger about 1 year ago
ok well Robitaille is a regular he missed one game because of an hand injury.
and that ppl that u named for grit. well there not!
there goons who get paid to piss ppl of and not play hockey!
when robitaille was signed i listend to the stats overseas of his POINTS and well, their amazing.
and the sentence was to say that donovan had that run back in, who cares , with calgary. right? and in that series he was the winger to the top line where not only could he produce he got in the corners and took it to whomever calgary played.
grit player doesnt have to have the highest PM in the NHL, because those guys, like i said, are out there to be shit distrbers and screw with ppl and to just get them angry.
so you should maybe look at some of the stats that avery of tucker have put up....NONE!!
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devin rodger about 1 year ago
ok well Robitaille is a regular he missed one game because of an hand injury.
and that ppl that u named for grit. well there not!
there goons who get paid to piss ppl of and not play hockey!
when robitaille was signed i listend to the stats overseas of his POINTS and well, their amazing.
and the sentence was to say that donovan had that run back in, who cares , with calgary. right? and in that series he was the winger to the top line where not only could he produce he got in the corners and took it to whomever calgary played.
grit player doesnt have to have the highest PM in the NHL, because those guys, like i said, are out there to be shit distrbers and screw with ppl and to just get them angry.
so you should maybe look at some of the stats that avery of tucker have put up....NONE!!
Robitaille had 56 points in 36 games for swiss A team in 04-05 overseas
Tucker has no, more points then in games total since his NHL career has staretd and never will!
Avery is in the same boat as tucker, and in his lockout had 3 points in 2 games thats better then his career!! and may i add 26 PM in those 2 games. thats not and enforcer or grit player, its a GOON!!!
Grit - firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck
Goon - a hired hoodlum or thug.
now its clear who the goons and grit players are isnt it??
GO SENS GO!
Dev
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
This team has added some size and veteran presence with guys like Richardson and Donovan but they are roll players with minimal ice time. They also added Robitaille which is simply a depth move. This team needs a top six forward with grit and size if they hope to repeat as conference champs and then win the Cup. They need a Forsberg type player and if it is indeed Forsberg it needs to be a healthy Forsberg for the full playoff run.
They still have a weak link in Joe Corvo and if Redden and Meszaros can't maintain their improved play and in my oppinion get even better then this team won't go anywhere.
Finally goaltending is still a question mark. Gerber looked good early but he has struggled in the last 2 or 3 games getting pulled in the last game vs. Philli. Emery has continued to struggle and is it now a question of simply shaking off the rust or will this be an ongoing issue? Gerber has only one playoff win to his career so regardless of how he played in Carolina and regardless of the reasons/excuses the stat still remains.
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devin rodger about 1 year ago
Now I have to agree with you on most of this article with some little answers.
The first two sentences are true and I can't believe that Bryan Murray would actually do this because with him behind the bench it was scoring and goals was what he cared about so to me it is surprising that he would bring in these guys.
Murray has said in interviews that he has set aside money for Forsberg or either a top six forward. So you are right about that also.
Joe Corvo is clearly not as strong as either Redden or Meszaros but he is a damn good skater that can handle the puck with the best of them. Redden will also be stepping up his game because his contract is up and he nows that there is very little money for him, but I have even more respect for the Redden since he said that he would take a substantial pay cut. If Redden and Murray and even Melnik make this happen you can see a cup coming to Ottawa in the future.
Now on the goalie situation, both Gerber and Emery respectively, are great goalies and have shown it for both Ottawa and Carolina. Gerber did not have a good post-season in Carolina but he did got 38-14-6 with a 2.78 GAA and 0.906 save percentage. So although his post-season sucked he did do great for the regular season. Emery had a great year last year and topped it off with a Prince Of Whales trophy. Emery went 33-16-6 with a 2.47 GAA and 0.918 save percentage during the regular season. Emery is also getting the start tonight against the New York Islanders. Don Cherry took notice last Saturday night against the Flyers were Gerber saw Emery coming on the ice and stood in position and did not move till Emery came in. When Gerber starts the next game for the Sens I expect a win from him after a gesture like that.
GO SENS GO!
Dev
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Tyler Lavoie about 1 year ago
You're letting you loyalty get in the way of your logic. I hate the Sens, and Alfredsson, but I am prepared to admit he's a great player who is on almost every night the leader on the ice. He is truly a smart player.
I hate Sean Avery, and love what Darcy Tucker brings to the rink on almost every night. And yes they are both gritty players. If you disagree that's a shame, but it's true.
And to think I almost added you to my line-up because I thought we had a good debate going on here.
Oh well.
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devin rodger about 1 year ago
I might be letting my loyalty get in my way because as far as I'm sure I think your a Leafs fan right? And Leafs fans will take everything to there grave and I think it's about time that Sens fans start backing up there team and taking it seriously and like Leaf fans.
I was watching the news and they were talking about the rumors surrounding JFJ and Paul Maurice, and they asked if it would be a good idea to let either go. The answers that came out of people's mouth for me was surprising like most said well it doesn't matter cause we will still go see all games. Now to me that weird, but then if you think the Leafs are 2-15 against Ottawa yet the Leafs still sell-out games while the Sens who run the league, so far, can't even sell-out?
Oh well back to the debate.
Sean Avery and Darcy Tucker are both grit players yes but, Avery along with Tucker are, as I already said, shit disturbers at what they do and that will never stop.
Grit players to me are guys that can do that but also back that up with some scoring ability to help the team.
Ottawa already has that GOON on the team and clearly everybody knows who that is. Brian McGrattan.
McGrattan had a record 551 PIM with only 8 points which all took place in 71 games. Thats a GOON!
So some aspects of this debate, yes I can some what agree with you but some thing are not the way it seems and some people have to just see it to realize it. Oh well.
GO SENS GO!
Dev
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Tyler Lavoie about 1 year ago
Well thank you Devin. I am a Leaf fan yes. However, I am able to respect Ottawa, their players...
You said that Ottawa added grit to their line-up, and I disagreed. Donovan, and Robitaille are fringe players. Grit for the Sens is defined by two people, Chris Neil, and Mike Fisher (two people who are among the grittest in the league). To consider they've added grit is to be putting the players you mentioned in the same category as Neil and Fisher.
Maybe they've added depth, I agree, but that's because they lost Comrie, and Schaefer.
As a Leaf fan I will admit, the Stanley Cup is Ottawa's to lose --- can they beat Detroit?
It looks like a coin flip at the moment.
Happy writing. TL.
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devin rodger about 1 year ago
No problem Tyler.
That just it I said they ADDED MORE grit to their lineup. Now Neil and Fisher are truly the grittiest that can back it up like I said and you got me on that one, that because like you said '' You're letting you loyalty get in the way of your logic.'' And right then you were totally right on that. I'm not trying to put down Neil and Fisher NO, but I'm saying that Robitaille and Donovan are grit players with limited grit to it. (If that makes any sense)
Yes I do agree with the depth part for sure with the lost of one of the best diggers Mike Comire.
And yes I also agree it is our Stanley Cup to lose now that we got that close. And for sure we can beat Detroit. Detroit does not even have the team anywhere near Anaheim and are more focused on scoring with guys like Datsuyk and Zetterberg. I do think however that that will be one of the most even match-ups in history. So if it happens this year we are in for a good one.
Happy writing as well.
GO SENS GO!
Dev
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PAUL VDV about 1 year ago
Simply put: The team as it is currently constructed will not win the Cup. They need a top six forward for sure. They also need an improved Defense - This will either be acheived by Redden, Meszaros and Corvo stepping up and Schubert replacing Richardson full-time or by picking up someone through a trade. The other thing that needs to be addressed is goaltending - I know Gerber and Emery Have been better so they need to be better now and the rest of the way. Here is what I would like to see.
Alfredsson Spezza Heatley
Foligno Marleau Fisher
Kelly Vermette Neil
Donavan McAmmond Robitaille
Phillips Volchenkov
Redden McLaren
Schubert Meszaros
Ray Emery
backup picked up on waivers
This would mean a trade:
To Ottawa: Marleau and McLaren
To San Jose: Joe Corvo, Patrick Eaves and Ilya Zubov
Other Trade
To LA: Martin Gerber
To Ottawa: 2nd round draft pick and a prospect
Brian McGratton sent down on Waivers.
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