Your Emotional Investment

[Do Make Say Think]

Enough with this "real fans don't mind rebuilds"

Everyone here was happy with how the team was doing in 2010-2011: the team wasn't very good, we traded Fisher and Kelly etc... But they played hard, the call-ups were performing and they were fun to watch

The problem isn't that the team isn't very good at the moment; the problem is that they were just awful this year AND were a pain to watch plus, to top it off, ownership isn't commited to spending to improve.

The problem isn't a rebuild, the problem is odds are stacked against the team and they were ****ing awful this year

If the team comes out strong next year the budget will remain but people will be happy with the team

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Karlsson will form the same identity with a generation of young sens fans. It's the ebb and flow. Seriously he's 40 yrs old he wasn't going to play forever. At some point you had to realize he was going to leave one way or the other who cares if it was 1 or 2 years early?

So basically you just don't enjoy rebuilds?

Do whatever you want with your money, it's yours! If all the sens fans had the same sentiment how long do you think the team would stay in Ottawa?

PRetty much!

Rebuilds take time. Some will point out to other teams that rebuilt quickly like the Flyers, or thiose teams that had immediate success like the Hawks. A lot of luck goes into that. The right players need to be available, you need to suck enough to be in a spot to grab them. They can't bust. Gotta get lucky in the crap shoots of the later rounds. Gotta slowly bring along players from the draft, many of whom won't start even making the league until 4,5,6 years after they were drafted.

Once that depth starts maturing, carefully trade away some of it to bring in impact players. Gotta maintain a balance of youth and veteran leadership so the young guys can learn what it takes to be a winner in the NHL. Gotta have the right kind of coaching staff to help bring those young guys along. Gotta have a patient owner and patient fans.

These things all take time unless you're very very lucky. I think Murray has done a decent enough job, but the fruits of his labours won't be out for the world to see until they're ripening in the NHL. The jury is still out on that.

Maybe some people actually delude themselves into thinking that they're better hockey minds than those running the Senators, in fact this is probably the case. I just don't see why people feel the need to freak out, *****, complain, make stuff up and retread the same tired topics over and over in a giant snowball of negative ********.

Enjoy the ride, seeing young players develop. Remember that if not for the bad times, the good times wouldn't hold any value. Its relative, one can't exist without the other, its what gives the good stuff meaning!

It's just hockey. Have fun with it, if you can't, maybe you're better off cheering for another team or taking up another hobby. Life is too short to spend all day basking in negativity.

 

[The Fuhr*]

If the team is rebuilding why did it trade a 1st, 3rd and 5th in the upcoming draft... seems like picks could be used for a rebuilding team

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

If the team is rebuilding why did it trade a 1st, 3rd and 5th in the upcoming draft... seems like picks could be used for a rebuilding team

Nobody expected the Sens to have as horrid a startas they did, resulting in a bottom third pick. Regardless, it costs to bring in a player like Ryan and the Senators felt they had the depth to lose out on a first round pick in a good draft. At some point they have to start turning that depth into star talent, and that's what they did with Ryan.

Same for the third and the fifth. Who cares? It's a third and a fifth, bringing in a player they were going to try to court, and trying to make the playoffs was worth that small price.

And Im aware that I just set you u up to take your next shot at Murray, so please feel free.

 

[Upgrayedd]

First time for me personally that i have a pretty bleak view on the future of this team. Been a fan since day one and it was easy to accept the early suckage as their was a light at the end of the tunnel. I found this last season had me losing sleep and generally not that happy about life which speaks to my emotional investment; this was due mostly to on ice play and daily reminders that the team is broke etc... I sort of felt during tough times the team kept me positive, there was always something to look forward to next year. That feeling is fading for me now big time.

Won't ever stop watching but as i get older i realize the likely hood this team legitimately competes for the cup grows smaller and smaller by the day due to many many reasons.

 

[The Fuhr*]

Nobody expected the Sens to have as horrid a startas they did,

I did... all off season I said the D would be the downfall and low and behold the team gave up 261 goals

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

I did... all off season I said the D would be the downfall and low and behold the team gave up 261 goals

Of course you did. Perhaps this is best for the "pat yourself on the back in a desperate attempt for validation from strangers thread" and not this one though.

 

[Micklebot]

If the team is rebuilding why did it trade a 1st, 3rd and 5th in the upcoming draft... seems like picks could be used for a rebuilding team

Well, in the case of the 1st, because they acquired a piece that they expect to be a part of the final product (of the rebuild). The 3rd and 5th are pretty minor pieces, and while they could have paid off, there are only so many contracts you can have.

So here's the thing, you complain that the farm hasn't paid off, and that that farm system is overrated, but then you complain when we trade the futures for a tangable asset, one that is likely better than any of the farm pieces used to acquire can rationally be expected to become. You can't have it both ways. Either the picks are valuable or they aren't. You can't say the hold value when we give them up, but don't when we keep them.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Well, in the case of the 1st, because they acquired a piece that they expect to be a part of the final product (of the rebuild). The 3rd and 5th are pretty minor pieces, and while they could have paid off, there are only so many contracts you can have.

So here's the thing, you complain that the farm hasn't paid off, and that that farm system is overrated, but then you complain when we trade the futures for a tangable asset, one that is likely better than any of the farm pieces used to acquire can rationally be expected to become. You can't have it both ways. Either the picks are valuable or they aren't. You can't say the hold value when we give them up, but don't when we keep them.

Its having one's cake and eating it too.

It would be nice if we don't let this thread get hijacked by the usual suspects into the usual nonsense though.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

I did... all off season I said the D would be the downfall and low and behold the team gave up 261 goals

You also told us about how great the Phoenix Coyotes will be.

In b4 "b-b-b-but they play in the west and it's weeely hawd there!"

 

[Baby Ryan]

I did... all off season I said the D would be the downfall and low and behold the team gave up 261 goals

Let's not get into the whole D giving up 261 goals again.

 

[cage]

This season was horrible. They weren't entertaining or fun to watch, which would be ok if they at least played hard, but they didn't. I just found this team hard to cheer for this season. Too many games they looked unprepared and disinterested.

 

[Alkatchoff]

This season was horrible. They weren't entertaining or fun to watch, which would be ok if they at least played hard, but they didn't. I just found this team hard to cheer for this season. Too many games they looked unprepared and disinterested.

That's my take on it as well. I've been a fan since the team's creation, and remember listening to all their games on the radio in those first seasons, patiently waiting for the team would get good. And it did. For a long time, we got to watch entertaining and skilled teams in Ottawa. After making it to the second round of the playoffs and getting Bobby Ryan, expectations were pretty high.

This year was the first one where I turned off a lot of the games after one or two periods, because the team (with a few exceptions) didn't show up prepared to play or didn't show much/any effort, even though it was mostly healthy all season. I'm sure there's other factors to this, like high expectations after overachieving the previous season, losing Alfie, seeing Phillips lose a step and getting re-signed, missing the playoffs and now hearing rumors that the team's top centre is being shopped, and that last year's top line might be gone in a few months. Oh, and no 1st rounder to look forward to in the draft either.

I haven't lost my enthusiasm for the team, but last season was really rough, and the next one doesn't look like it'll be much of an improvement.

 

[Canadian Time]

If the team comes out strong next year the budget will remain but people will be happy with the team

You mean if they win. That's what you are saying, if the team isn't winning you won't be happy. The team was hardly ****ing awful, they just missed the playoffs, we saw plenty of good hockey. Boo hoo, the prospects didn't all develop at an extraordinary rate all at once.

 

[Caeldan]

I did... all off season I said the D would be the downfall and low and behold the team gave up 261 goals

A stopped clock is also right twice a day

Fuhr, if you call negativity on everything about the team every season - yeah sure you'll have been right on some items on a down year, but there's plenty of misses too...

I'm finding right now, with the kids we have and the turnover right now for the non-homegrown types... I haven't really found a new player to really root for - outside of still enjoying seeing Spezza play on his game when he's on his game.

I liked Silfverberg but yeah that train sailed.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

You mean if they win. That's what you are saying, if the team isn't winning you won't be happy. The team was hardly ****ing awful, they just missed the playoffs, we saw plenty of good hockey. Boo hoo, the prospects didn't all develop at an extraordinary rate all at once.

No

Like I said earlier, the team missed the playoffs in 2010-2011 but didn't look anywhere as terrible as they did this year

They sucked this year. Obviously over 82 games there were a few good ones and a few winning streaks that doesn't change the fact that almost everyone I know in real life bsaically gave up on watching the Senators because of how horrible they were

 

[Canadian Time]

Obviously over 82 games there were a few good ones and a few winning streaks that doesn't change the fact that almost everyone I know in real life bsaically gave up on watching the Senators because of how horrible they were

Ah yes, real life. Like the "fans" that post comments on an idiot blogger's site? We should quote them to know what Murray is thinking and assume it's real.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Well that was out of left field

 

[GimmeMyJetpack]

No

Like I said earlier, the team missed the playoffs in 2010-2011 but didn't look anywhere as terrible as they did this year

They sucked this year. Obviously over 82 games there were a few good ones and a few winning streaks that doesn't change the fact that almost everyone I know in real life bsaically gave up on watching the Senators because of how horrible they were

Just remember before the season started everyone thought the sens would be a playoff team. Lots of analysts picked them to win the division and some picked them to win the cup.

So are the prospects really that bad, or is it just a bad year?

 

[Do Make Say Think]

It was mostly a bad year and the prospects not progressing as much as we thought they would

I'm still hopeful for the future but I'm not expecting much for next season

 

[aragorn]

For me the yr was a huge disappointment mostly due to the antics of the owner by imposing an internal budget on the team which is still in place that IMO hurts the team in trade possibilities & bringing in better talent or retaining the talent we have. He's always been a big mouth bozo but after what happened with Alfredsson & considering what is now happening to Spezza this guy is not looking after his players very well & other league players are watching. If he were to pony up the money to keep Hemsky & Michalek Ottawa could dress three good scoring lines & have a formidable team. I'm fed up with this continuing rebuild, we have a decent team, keep it & tweak where necessary & I doubt they repeat last yr's dismal performance, at least give it a chance for one yr. Why give up on good proven players for other players we have no idea whether they will fit in on this team or prospects who haven't proven anything yet, makes no sense to me but it saves Melnyk money, that's it.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Things could be worse.

Look what Winnipeg fans went through when their Jets left.

Look at what Edmonton has been going through over the past decade.

Anyone want to be a fan of Phoenix (before they make a run for Seattle, that is)?

Seriously guys. Look around the league. How long have Calgary, Buffalo, Columbus, Florida, Tampa, Toronto, and Nashville just floated along with no direction or real hope?

We are pretty lucky compared to a lot of clubs.

 

[StefanW]

I think the team has some outstanding young players, with Karlsson leading the way. Ryan is pretty amazing to watch, and the Turris MacArthur combo can put fear into opposing players.

In all honesty, if all that was involved was turning on the TV and watching games I would still be as invested as I was years ago. For me, the problems started this summer with Alfie leaving. Then there was the non-stop barrage of "we aren't spending more money" from EM every time he had the chance to speak with the fans. As near as I can put things together in my own mind (with incomplete and imperfect info, of course), all of that talk really started when he did not get his way with the casino deal. Rightly or wrongly, to me he has come across like a petulant child ever since, and I feel like my emotional investment in the team is being held hostage for more concessions. Unfortunately it did not stop, but actually ramped up even further with the announcement of the new TV deal. At this point I am so sick of it that my emotional investment in the team is dipping to new lows.

I think it is sad that the message from the highest levels of management detracts from enjoyment of the product on the ice. While I am sure EM means well, and I am thankful that he stepped up when it counted and saved the team, he has the unfortunate and unfounded belief that he has the gift of gab. If there was anyone above him in the organizational structure he should, and probably would, be barred from ever speaking to the media again. But, sadly, there is no one to tell him to shut it for a while and let things blow over so fans can forget about budget messages for a while.

 

[John Holmes*]

When the cap crashes, we'll all thank Melnyk.

Wait and see.

 

[Max Power]

Wow for those saying rhetorical comments like support your team or one bad year. It has nothing to do with that!! It's all about our owners intentions that we are assuming from his carefully placed lingo on "budget" and the current and past dealing with our teams two best players. My previous post stands on this. I will support this team financially based on our owners actions this upcoming season