Spezza coming to Greening's defence because he knew the cameras were watching? Hahaha, what an embarrassing comment! It was obviously him showing off for Mrs Underwood, I mean their affair is why Fisher was traded right?
One of the main problems on this board is the unrealistic expectations of many posters towards players, likely caused by video games, and the ease of which you can alter teams and manipulate players (by controlling them or changing stats).
There are very few stars in this league compared to the total, and they come in three main types: 1 way offensive players, 1 way defensive players, and 2 way players.
Now, our team has TWO 1 way offensive stars in Spezza and Karlsson. 1 way offensive stars can still play defence, and the can still backcheck, and do, but they're eye is always for the turn over and the transition to offence. They conserve energy in the defensive zone, and blast off driving the offence the moment they have the puck or it changes possession. That is who they are, and how they think the game, that is why they rack up points. You NEED these players to win games.
1 way defensive players are the opposite. They can make a breakout pass and make a big hit when needs be, but their bread and butter is focusing on the defensive zone. They likely won't put up many points, since they are the last out of the zone, but they will balance out the presence of the 1 way offensive players.
2 way players fill the in-between. These forwards will be the first guys back, and the last out of the defensive zone. They rarely drive transitional offence, but are great being the trailer, or working the cycle in the offensive zone. They will also look to cover pinching defencemen. The two-way defenceman plays balanced D follows the transition game with speed, and is activated for pinches and backdoor plays. their speed and decision making allow them a little more freedom in the offensive zone, since they make good choices, and are solid in their own zone.
We have 2 offensive stars, winning teams always have a few of these, and we have one on offence and one on defence. We have a few solid 2 way players smattered through the lineup, which balances out the offence (Turris and MacT with Ryan, Michalek with Hemsky and Spezza, Zib with Hoffman and Condra, GSN line). We can certainly look to upgrade some players if possible, like a more dangerous 2 way forward instead of Michalek or Condra, but I think what we're really missing is 1 way defensive players, guys who take pride in shutting the other teams offence down.
Winning is a team outcome, and to have a winning team we need the proper make up. I think the main issue is that we don't have defined goals in the defensive end. Most of the guys are too young to have a defined role, or they're not being forced into a role (perhaps for development reasons). It's less team defence, and more the fact that it seems like everyone on D is trying to be everything, instead of playing to their strengths. I expect this to change as the young guys begin to establish what kind of players they can actually be at this level of hockey.
Team stability comes from the net out. When our goalies are playing at least average, and our defencemen have established roles within pairings, THEN guys can start having pride in their game, then we can see some solid play. Our forwards are a good group that are ripe to be awesome with a few switches (Stone, Prince, Puempel, Stone, DaCosta, Lazar). It's our D that needs work.
We shouldn't be looking to trade the guys that are stars in important roles (adding another 2 way player in place of our 1 way offensive star is a mistake, think Chicago without Kane or Keith), we need to acquire players that fill roles we lack. Thankfully, we are lacking in the cheapest area of 'starness'.
Not sure I agree with this, seems to have been written to excuse or justify the Senators performance this season.
MacArthur is 100% correct, this team just didn't work hard enough in every facet of the game to be successful.
The Senators started the year with an inexperienced defense. Every forward on the team had to be aware of this fact and should have realized it likely required some adjustment to their game to compensate.
For the team to be successful, every player had to give 100% regardless of what categorization you might believe they fall in.
There was no reason for any player to coast or hold back any effort at any time for any reason given the results.
I realize players aren't going to be their best every game over the course of six months, but too many nights it wasn't lack of skill, it was lack of effort.
Lack of effort does equate to lack of pride IMO.
Pride doesn't come from good goaltending, set pairings or categories, it comes from within each individual. It drives people to be as good as they can be.
All season long MacLean has been saying this team doesn't play hard enough or long enough to win. Now MacArthur has confirmed this to be true, but he really isn't the first to indicate effort was lacking.
Both Ryan and Methot have made comments about the work ethic, both have been much less direct therefore weren't media fodder.
Sad as it may be, it seems some players lack pride in the job they do.
Hopefully in this off-season Murray removes these guys and replaces them with players that play for the crest on the front of the sweater and not the reflection they see in the mirror.
Lastly using Chicago as a comparative to make your point is misguided at best.
Chicago rid themselves of there older talent years before adding Toews in 2006 and Kane in 2007 drafts.
At the same time they drafted a few decent players from 2002 and 2005.
Keith & Wisniewski 2002
Seabrooke, Crawford & Byfuglien 2003
Bolland, Bickell & Brouwer 2004
Hjalmarsson 2005
Even after all these quality adds the Blackhawks missed the playoffs in 2007-08.
IMO Ottawa should have used the same approach, ridding themselves of more veterans to move higher in the draft.
If Chicago is the benchmark, then Ottawa needs to upgrades on its top line, and bottom six plus needs 2 - 3 years for the defense to mature.
Based on the time requirement alone, it would make sense to move Spezza, Neil, and Phillips if the opportunity presents itself.
