Pre-Game Talk: Stars @ Sens Jan. 29. The Return of Mr. Giggles Part 2 Edition.

[Burrowsaurus]

Well, if his specialty is offense and he is putting up same offensive numbers as defensively-oriented Turris (who's having a bad year on top of that) then maybe Spezza is not really better than Turris right now, is he?

How is Turris having a bad year?
Isn't he on pace for his 1st or 2nd best year ever?

 

[MiscBrah]

How is Turris having a bad year?
Isn't he on pace for his 1st or 2nd best year ever?

He's on pace for 16 G 36A 52P -14

Stats last year = 26G 32A 58P +22

His stats are almost identical TBH from the previous two seasons before that. A little less goal scoring this year. A his +/- is obviously very different from years past.

He's looked pretty bad to me

Probably a combination of his young child and being the #1 centre on a mediocre team.

I'm not overly concerned about it. I know that once (if) we get some more centre depth, he'll go back to being the great #2 centre we all know he is.

I wish he was a little stronger though, hopefully he keeps adding a few pounds every off season and eventually he'll be a force.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Any of our stat gurus have any say on how Turris' opposition has looked like as the season has progressed?

Is he seeing the opposition's best? Or has the Zibanejad line started drawing more attention?

I hope that Turris has faced tougher competition and that once teams start focusing on Zibanejad he'll get back on track because Kyle has been pretty terrible for last month or two

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

spezza 7 MILLION
46 games 8 goals 26 assists -4 powerplay points 16 FO%54.44

Turris 3.5 MILLION
46 games 9 goals 20 assists -8 powerplay points 8 FO%47.3

discuss

we won the trade. suck it phaneuf

 

[jason9090spezza]

spezza 7 MILLION
46 games 8 goals 26 assists -4 powerplay points 16 FO%54.44

Turris 3.5 MILLION
46 games 9 goals 20 assists -8 powerplay points 8 FO%47.3

discuss

It's kind of hard to perform better than that when the team has been struggling (except for Seguin pretty much). He has limited ice time when he is being placed on the 2nd line. He's also been playing with AHL calibre players (similar to the situation in Ottawa, but now his ice time is limited).

He's gotten a lot more effective recently. Not great, but he is getting better. I'm expecting a rise since he is one of the best in the NHL for point producing in the 2nd half.

BTW, Spezza>Turris lol. Spezza is pretty much producing at the same rate playing on the 2nd line with guys like Cole and 3rd/4th line players, while Turris is playing alongside players that are far more effective IMO.

p.s. I'm not saying Turris is bad by the way. He's playing so-so/ok, but this kind of stat was predictable.

 

[starling]

 

[blahblah3]

It's kind of hard to perform better than that when the team has been struggling (except for Seguin pretty much). He has limited ice time when he is being placed on the 2nd line. He's also been playing with AHL calibre players (similar to the situation in Ottawa, but now his ice time is limited).

He's gotten a lot more effective recently. Not great, but he is getting better. I'm expecting a rise since he is one of the best in the NHL for point producing in the 2nd half.

BTW, Spezza>Turris lol. Spezza is pretty much producing at the same rate playing on the 2nd line with guys like Cole and 3rd/4th line players, while Turris is playing alongside players that are far more effective IMO.

p.s. I'm not saying Turris is bad by the way. He's playing so-so/ok, but this kind of stat was predictable.

You comedians said the same thing last year, and surprise, it didn't happen. The slide continues. Spezza has brought nothing but offense to Dallas, while their defensive game has gone from decent, to totally non existent. They went from an exciting dark horse playoff team, to a fringe non playoff team. I thought the addition of Spezza was supposed to make them an elite western power house. Remember those predictions? He isn't even a PP player anymore, and never will be again, for 7.5 million a year (slight overpayment). He was even average when paired with Benn and Seguin, so they split them up.

Simple fact is that Dallas was better without Spezza, and so is Ottawa. If we offered Dallas Hoffman and Stone for Spezza, their management would foam at the mouth. Tomorrow will be an easy win, since this team has learned some consistency and defensive awareness.

 

[blahblah3]

Our coach is awesome. Chaisson has been playing like a guy who has no idea what his role is out there. Glad he is scratched.

 

[starling]

BTW, Spezza>Turris lol. Spezza is pretty much producing at the same rate playing on the 2nd line with guys like Cole and 3rd/4th line players, while Turris is playing alongside players that are far more effective IMO.

Turris is playing with guys like MacArthur and 3/4th line players too.
I posted this already, Spezza is getting easier match-ups and much much more offensive zone starts.

 

[starling]

Our coach is awesome. Chaisson has been playing like a guy who has no idea what his role is out there. Glad he is scratched.

I wouldn't read too much into these lines, there are 2 more practices before next game.

 

[God Says No]

Why split Michalek and JGP when they were just getting some chemistry together? I don't mind the MacArthur move down the lineup, but I would have moved Hoff there. Hoff - Turris - Stone can be a real good line.

 

[Baby Ryan]

Well those are interesting lines.

 

[Sensinitis]

Finally split up Mac and Turris.

 

[operasen]

Michalek-Turris-Stone - showcasing Michalek??
MacArthur-Zibanejad-Ryan - showcasing Zibanejad??
Hoffman-Pageau-Lazar - letting Pageau play with better talent
Condra-Legwand-Neil. - Leftover

 

[MiscBrah]

You comedians said the same thing last year, and surprise, it didn't happen. The slide continues. Spezza has brought nothing but offense to Dallas, while their defensive game has gone from decent, to totally non existent. They went from an exciting dark horse playoff team, to a fringe non playoff team. I thought the addition of Spezza was supposed to make them an elite western power house. Remember those predictions? He isn't even a PP player anymore, and never will be again, for 7.5 million a year (slight overpayment). He was even average when paired with Benn and Seguin, so they split them up.

Simple fact is that Dallas was better without Spezza, and so is Ottawa. If we offered Dallas Hoffman and Stone for Spezza, their management would foam at the mouth. Tomorrow will be an easy win, since this team has learned some consistency and defensive awareness.

You write this post like we didn't blow a two, 2 goal lead vs Dallas 2 weeks ago.

Spezza is also 2nd in PP points on Dallas behind seguin and he'd be 2nd on the Sens behind Karlsson.

NHL.com did an article on how much his scoring increases in the 2nd half of the season, it's not something people are just making up.


edit: Glad to see Turris and Mac split up. Those guys need something to jumpstart their games, hopefully this can get them going.

 

[Icelevel]

Michalek-Turris-Stone - showcasing Michalek??
MacArthur-Zibanejad-Ryan - showcasing Zibanejad??
Hoffman-Pageau-Lazar - letting Pageau play with better talent
Condra-Legwand-Neil. - Leftover

1. or trying to build him back up so they can then showcase him. he might actually be playing better than macarthur lately

2. no

3. possibly or just how it falls after you move michalek up

4. yup

 

[Micklebot]

You comedians said the same thing last year, and surprise, it didn't happen. The slide continues. Spezza has brought nothing but offense to Dallas, while their defensive game has gone from decent, to totally non existent. They went from an exciting dark horse playoff team, to a fringe non playoff team. I thought the addition of Spezza was supposed to make them an elite western power house. Remember those predictions? He isn't even a PP player anymore, and never will be again, for 7.5 million a year (slight overpayment). He was even average when paired with Benn and Seguin, so they split them up.

Simple fact is that Dallas was better without Spezza, and so is Ottawa. If we offered Dallas Hoffman and Stone for Spezza, their management would foam at the mouth. Tomorrow will be an easy win, since this team has learned some consistency and defensive awareness.

But Ottawa hasn't been better, we've been pretty much the same or worse than last year from a standings perspective (on pace for 5 less pts). And Dallas' problem is on their backend. Calling Spezza the cause of Dallas' and Ottawa's struggles completely ignores the fact that in both cases the D was a major cause for concern going into the season.

I think moving Spezza was a good choice, but we'd be better off short term with him.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Turris is playing with guys like MacArthur and 3/4th line players too.
I posted this already, Spezza is getting easier match-ups and much much more offensive zone starts.

He;s also playing in the western conference

 

[blahblah3]

You write this post like we didn't blow a two, 2 goal lead vs Dallas 2 weeks ago.

Spezza is also 2nd in PP points on Dallas behind seguin and he'd be 2nd on the Sens behind Karlsson.

NHL.com did an article on how much his scoring increases in the 2nd half of the season, it's not something people are just making up.


edit: Glad to see Turris and Mac split up. Those guys need something to jumpstart their games, hopefully this can get them going.

I agree, he is PP specialist, and not much else and his points did increase in the second half last season. He still isn't a point per game player anymore.

 

[blahblah3]

But Ottawa hasn't been better, we've been pretty much the same or worse than last year from a standings perspective (on pace for 5 less pts). And Dallas' problem is on their backend. Calling Spezza the cause of Dallas' and Ottawa's struggles completely ignores the fact that in both cases the D was a major cause for concern going into the season.

I think moving Spezza was a good choice, but we'd be better off short term with him.

It wasn't for Dallas. Their goals against / game was fairly average last season. Now it is up there with powerhouses like Edmonton and Buffalo. Meanwhile, sens are trending upwards. It wasn't all Spezza, but if he isn't back checking, or checking anyone, good luck getting out of your end and keeping the puck out of the net.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

These lines SUCK.

Seriously. They suck.

 

[Six Assets]

Rather have Condra on the 1st line than mm9

 

[Micklebot]

It wasn't for Dallas. Their goals against / game was fairly average last season. Now it is up there with powerhouses like Edmonton and Buffalo. Meanwhile, sens are trending upwards. It wasn't all Spezza, but if he isn't back checking, or checking anyone, good luck getting out of your end and keeping the puck out of the net.

I worded that poorly, I probably should have said primary concern instead of major. They decided to lean more heavily on thier younger D and it backfired big time.

As for Spezza not backchecking, they are allowing nearly 20% more goals per 60 mins at ES when Spezza is off the ice than they did last year. Spezza isn't why their defense sucks.

 

[Micklebot]

These lines SUCK.

Seriously. They suck.

Swap Michalek and Hoffman and I'm happy. I'd also prefer Chiasson over Neil

 

[God Says No]

Swap Michalek and Hoffman and I'm happy. I'd also prefer Chiasson over Neil

My thoughts as well. Although, I wouldn't mind if Chiasson sits for a game.