StefanW
Registered User
Apology accepted. That was very big of you, and I hope everything can just move forward as usual now. No hard feelings.
News Article: Mendes: Senators' problems were bigger than Jason Spezza
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Apology accepted. That was very big of you, and I hope everything can just move forward as usual now. No hard feelings.
Stylizer1
SENSimillanaire
Crazy that one bad season can tarnish your reputation forever. Well maybe not forever, that story still has to be written.
I wonder how things might have gone differently if Murray/Melynk had signed Alfie and he had remained captain for another year? In a different universe the Sens make the playoffs last year and Spezza gets the winning goal to send us to the conference finals.
I wonder how things might have gone differently if Murray/Melynk had signed Alfie and he had remained captain for another year? In a different universe the Sens make the playoffs last year and Spezza gets the winning goal to send us to the conference finals.
Vesa Awesaka
#KeepTheSenate
- Jul 4, 2013
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curious. Do people feel we need pairing capable of shutting down a first line in the playoffs to win the cup? Is karlsson capable of shutting down top pairing in the playoffs without changing his game?
StefanW
Registered User
IMO, if you look at recent trends in the game along with which teams succeed, it seems to be all about team speed and depth. The championship teams from LA, Chicago, etc, were on you from line one to line four, and the pressure on the puck was relentless.
I would rephrase the question to ask whether we have enough guys aside from Karlsson who can put intense pressure on the opposing side.
I think you need a mix because the playoffs is a different beast. You have 7 games to make changes to plays, to avoid matchups, and to wear down players.
You need defensive specialist, and heavy defenders to force the opposition out of their comfort zone. You also need speed and skill for your own push back.
Everyone needs heart and determination.
StefanW
Registered User
That's true, although I would argue that the playoffs are less different now than they were 5 or 10 years ago. You don't see as many plodding bruisers who jump on someone's back in the playoffs and get away with it anymore.
No, that's true, but that's also the beauty. Big strong and mobile defenders are now hard to come by and are at a premium because the have to be able to play a decent game.
Also, aggressiveness can make up for a smaller stature, like Boro.
StefanW
Registered User
Yup. IMO, this is exactly where Methot's value is. While he is not the second coming of Bobby Orr he is definitely ok offensively, and he is able to get around and lay on the body. He is built for today's game.
Very true, it's also what I always really liked about Phillips. He's lost a step, but can still a bottom pair guy who plays the game the right way.
And for a playoff team he is able to sustain a higher level of play for a run before the summer.
