2010-11 Ottawa Senators Rule No. 1: No Sharing Allowed

"It's my puck and you get your own"

Anyone who has watched the Edmonton Oilers "Boys On The Bus" documentary will recognize this theory on the game, so clearly stated by Wayne Gretzky.

Now it is more commonly referred to as playing a puck possession game, a system Bryan Murray first instilled as coach and has been improving upon since taking over as GM. 

The theory is, if you have the puck and maintain control of it, the opposition is forced to react to your play, always chasing, and eventually getting drawn out of position or forced into taking a penalty.  Ideally, then you score on them.  Ideally.

It has been a long process in getting here, and the plan suffered a major set back when DDH fled to the Sharks, but this coming season represents the first full fledged debut of Bryan Murray's strategy.  Spezza, Alfredsson, Kovalev, Kelly, and (hopefully) Peter Regin all represent puck control forwards.  Gonchar, Karlsson, Kuba, and (hopefully) Chris Campoli represent the puck control D-men. 

In short, this team now has the skill to control the play, and it will be Clouston's job to get them all on the same page.

And when you listen to Clouston talk about his practices, you'll hear a lot about systems, positioning, and puck support.  It's all about being available to receive the puck, transition from defence to offense, and then dominate/control the play in the oppositions zone, not your own.  Not neutral zone traps, set plays, left wing locks or, God forbid, truculence, but game control, through puck control

This was how the Sens swept through the east in the 2007 postseason, until they hit the breakwater called the Ducks, who combined puck control with a far more physical brand of hockey, against which the Sens eventually succumbed.  Oh yeah, and Giggy was stuffed bigger than a goat's stomach on Burns day.

But I digress.

Some wonder if this is a better team than the one that took the ice in 2007.  I'm not sure, but I do know this is the best team since 2007, and that, if nothing else, has me eagerly awaiting the drop of the puck on the 10/11 NHL regular season.

GN