Comments on: Mid-Term Grades, Comrie Trade Domino, Few Trades?

By: 92-93

92-93 — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:20:53 +0000

mucks, i hate to say it but you do have a point.

the Sens are a much harder working bunch then they were before the lockout. the players you named are hard working guys - although i am never really sold on Alfie.

the only way they can shed that reputation is if they stop being outworked by lesser teams and they go deep in the playoffs on a more regular basis. its not really fair though because i dont think the lack of grit is the only reason for that ... i seriously think that there is a very fragile psychology around this team based on past results ... and the media and the fans in the city reflect that fragile mentality BIG time.

the Sens do need to be under the radar IMO, the problem is the cannot be because they are just too talented.

but like i said, despite their good record against the leafs this year ... this Sens team has been outworked by the leafs in pretty much every game they played - even in the blowouts. the problem is the leafs have to work hard for each and every goal they get - the Sens just have to sit back and wait for Toronto to make a mistake (and they make many despite their effort).

this is really evident when you look at last year's Leaf team - who was outskilled AND outworked because of Quinn and the vets. now with Maurice behind the bench that doesnt happen. the leafs are harder to play against but dont have the skill the Sens have. until they outwork the lesser teams - like the leafs and caps etc. - I dont think the Sens will go far in the playoffs - in the regular season sure but not the playoffs.

By: muckies

muckies — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 13:22:08 +0000

This is what I don't understnad about people saying the Sens don't work hard, Chara goes to Bosotn and everybody talks about how hard he works, Hossa to Atlanta and everybody talks about how hard he works, Alfie who is considerd one of the hardest workers in the league, Fisher, Neil, Phillips, Volchenkov are all tough as nails and everybody in the league loves thier work effort, Redden who is an all-star and a Team Canada player, Ray Emery who has improved 100% in only 1 NHl season and could be an All-Star, players like Kelly, McGratton, Scahffer and Meszaros are solid NHlers and repspected for their work, Heatley a Calder winner and 50 goals scorer but everybody says Ottawa doesn't work hard, Why Is That????

I don't get it, have you ever seen more than 2 games in a row where the Sens have been "Outworked", they don't have a good playoff record, but neither does Toronto, Philly, Nashville or great pre-lockout teams like Vancouver, St. Louis but everybofy says the Sens don't work hard, why is that????

By: mikster

mikster — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 13:43:37 +0000

Yeah, but he does a bad job doing it. He is a stay at home defenseman and shouldn't pinch in for offense. He should pinch to keep the puck in the zone (that's fine with me), but he tries to do too much and causes too many turnovers.

Not that i am criticizing the guy in a negative way. I like him and it's normal to see certain free agents play badly, but with effort, in their first year with a new team they signed with. It happened to Kaspar too, but ever since...Kasapr's been our better d-man. Ward will be solid next season as he should be settled by then.

By: 92-93

92-93 — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:00:35 +0000

Muckies has this thing where he is trying to make his team a 'sleeper' team or a 'darkhorse' or a 'underdog' and he has no business doing that.

the Sens were underachieving BIG TIME up until this point and no good can come of it other than experience with dealing with adversity (which they should already have plenty of).

The Sens are turning it around now but one wonders how mucks can see his team in such terms when his team has Alfie, heatley, Spezza, Redden, and Emery.

By: beckfan05

beckfan05 — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:26:11 +0000

Because at certian times certian plays develop that require Ward to pinch. If the puck comes to his side of the ice at the half boards he is required to pinch at that moment with no one on him to keep the play alive in the offensive zone.

Its not as if he's trying to carry the puck through the neutral zone with a breakaway in mind.

By: Aetherial

Aetherial — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:15:18 +0000

Wow Muckies... I just can't agree.

The Sens are NOT known for their hard work. They were more known for it under Martin though.

The improved players were due to improve. I would say in some ways Spezza took a step backwards under Murray.

The Sens have a wealth of talent and have underperformed badly; period. Accept it. Yes, they have had injuries; but so have plenty of other teams *cough*leafs*cough*.

By: Aetherial

Aetherial — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:12:23 +0000

ROFL! Beautiful!

Brule is not going to Vancouver for that bag of expensive garbage.

By: BLUE_AND_WHITE

BLUE_AND_WHITE — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:04:00 +0000

sorry, meant division

By: BLUE_AND_WHITE

BLUE_AND_WHITE — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 08:03:38 +0000

"The Sens have been one of the most hard-working teams in the NHL" not in the playoffs and certainly not this year.

"maybe you should focus on finding a real hockey team to cheer for"
hmmm, both the Leafs and Oilers are a game above 500. The oilers are also at the bottom of they're conference too.

By: BLUE_AND_WHITE

BLUE_AND_WHITE — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 07:59:05 +0000

Hate to break it to you, but Mikster was bang on. This team has 2 talented goaltenders, 6 strong defencemen (offensively skilled), and p front Spezza, Heatley, and Alfredsson and now Comrie. The Sens are one of the most talented teams in the league.

"The Sens have been one of the hardest working team in hockey for the last 10 years" really? well one common commodity of every team that knocks the sens out of the playoffs is they all out work you.