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Official Ottawa Senators Thread

Great to get a point last night - 5 out of 6 pts taken from the West but that game was ours. Michalek and his 3 breakaways, multiple sitters in the slot that missed the net...off till Friday when we're in Pittsburgh.
 
ASG Voting, Scoreboard and Kyle Turris

It's Tuesday and the Ottawa Senators don't play till Friday match up with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It certainly had the makings of a quiet day in terms of Sens news but there were a few stories that broke today that should certainly be of interest to fans of the Ottawa Senators.

On the ice, the Sens practiced at the Bell Sensplex ahead of their match up with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Everyone was in attendance with the exception of injured forwards Chris Neil and Peter Regin.  If you watched any of Crosby's return last night you'll know the Sens could probably use a couple extra practice days to prepare.

Crosby appeared to be in midseason form and with the likes of Malkin, Staal and Letang making up a supporting cast, the Senators will have to be at their absolute best.

On All Star Game Voting

The NHL released the results of the first week of voting for the starting line up for the All Star Game and there was plenty of good news for the Ottawa Senators.  Erik Karlsson incredibly leads all players with 147,468 votes.  Daniel Alfredsson is at the top of the heap among forwards (131,774- VoteAlfie!) while Spezza sits in third (117,899) and Milan Michalek following close behind in fourth place (108,247).

It's an amazing start but it's important we continue to promote the campaign.  You can go here to cast your vote (30 times), text the name of a Senator to 81812 (30 times) and you can vote an additional 30 times from your mobile device.  The Sens have turned some heads with the first round of balloting but we'll need to keep it up!

Tell your friends, family and co-workers! Let's make sure our Senators are well represented!

On the New Scoreboard

This has to be the question I get asked the most often these days.  With the Sens set to host the NHL All Star Game at the end of January, fans would love to hear some good news regarding the installation of a new scoreboard.  Right now this issue could not be more "on again, off again".

Spoke with a quality contact the other day who told me there is essentially still one signature missing.  If you saw the comment section yesterday, one reader suggested the possibility of leasing a new board rather than buying and that is entirely possible.

Money is fairly tight for the Senators right now and a new scoreboard would be a substantial addition.  I still get the sense there is time to get this thing done but there is definitely some work to do before any installation can actually take place.

On Kyle Turris

After holding out the entire season to date, the Phoenix Coyotes have signed forward Kyle Turris to a surprisingly low 2 year deal worth a total of $2.8 million.  But according to multiple reports, this saga may not be over.  With Turris signed to a deal, and some obvious bad blood lingering between the two sides, a trade is still very much a possibility.

The Sens definitely have an interest in the forward but the Coyotes are certainly not going to give him away.  The price might be more than Sens GM Bryan Murray is willing to pay right now although he would fit in nicely on the team's second line.
 
2. Ottawa Senators

Strengths:The Senators have top-end talent at every forward position, headlined by wingers Matt Puempel and Stefan Noesen, and center Mika Zibanejad. The organization possesses one of the best one-two punches on defense in physical stalwart Jared Cowen and puck-mover David Rundlad. There are also a deep group of players who can fill a variety of roles and provide depth at the NHL level including Stephane Da Costa, Jim O'Brien, and Bobby Butler.
Weaknesses: Robin Lenher is a quality goaltending prospect but there is no one behind him. Many of their mid-tier prospects such as Butler and Colin Greening are set to graduate this season and leave a hole in the prospect pool.

Top 5 Prospects: 1. David Rundblad, D, 2. Jared Cowen, D, 3. Mika Zibanejad, C, 4. Robin Lehner, G, 5. Jakob Silfverberg, C.
 
Sean Couturier is displaying frightening shades of Anze Kopitar.  Especially because since returning to Sweden, Zibanejad has recorded one goal and is a -3 in 6 games.

Come on, lil Z, don't break my heart again.

EDIT:
Madferret said:
2. Ottawa Senators

Strengths:The Senators have top-end talent at every forward position, headlined by wingers Matt Puempel and Stefan Noesen, and center Mika Zibanejad. The organization possesses one of the best one-two punches on defense in physical stalwart Jared Cowen and puck-mover David Rundlad. There are also a deep group of players who can fill a variety of roles and provide depth at the NHL level including Stephane Da Costa, Jim O'Brien, and Bobby Butler.
Weaknesses: Robin Lenher is a quality goaltending prospect but there is no one behind him. Many of their mid-tier prospects such as Butler and Colin Greening are set to graduate this season and leave a hole in the prospect pool.

Top 5 Prospects: 1. David Rundblad, D, 2. Jared Cowen, D, 3. Mika Zibanejad, C, 4. Robin Lehner, G, 5. Jakob Silfverberg, C.
Click to expand...


Yet again, Mark Stone gets overlooked.  19 year old Canadian world junior hopeful leading the WHL in points with 23 goals and 55 points in 26 games and captain of his Wheat Kings while playing huge minutes in all situations.
 
Madferret said:
2. Ottawa Senators

Strengths:The Senators have top-end talent at every forward position, headlined by wingers Matt Puempel and Stefan Noesen, and center Mika Zibanejad. The organization possesses one of the best one-two punches on defense in physical stalwart Jared Cowen and puck-mover David Rundlad. There are also a deep group of players who can fill a variety of roles and provide depth at the NHL level including Stephane Da Costa, Jim O'Brien, and Bobby Butler.
Weaknesses: Robin Lenher is a quality goaltending prospect but there is no one behind him. Many of their mid-tier prospects such as Butler and Colin Greening are set to graduate this season and leave a hole in the prospect pool.

Top 5 Prospects: 1. David Rundblad, D, 2. Jared Cowen, D, 3. Mika Zibanejad, C, 4. Robin Lehner, G, 5. Jakob Silfverberg, C.
Click to expand...


Ah, the world of "the prospect pool becomes barren because a guy plays a full season of hockey" arguments.  I love HF.
 
Yeah SP / LK if you contrast HF's little bit there with this..

Madferret said:
Updated Prospect Report - http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/PDFs/Prospect_Update-112111.pdf
Click to expand...

..some of the discrepancies are a little puzzling.
 
Sucker Punch said:
Didn't realize Stone leads the entire CHL in scoring.

I like that little prospect update thing, how long have they been doing that for?
Click to expand...

To be honest I have no idea. For at least 3 days though, if that helps.  ;]
 
Turris off Sens' radar

The Senators may like Kyle Turris. But it doesn?t look like he will be packing his bags anytime soon.

While the Senators ? along with three other Canadian teams ? remain interested in the 21-year-old centre after he finally agreed to a contract with Phoenix Tuesday, Coyotes GM Don Maloney isn?t playing Let?s Make a Deal.

Turris, who missed the team?s first 19 games as a restricted free agent before agreeing to a two-year, $2.8-million deal, will suit up for the Coyotes while his demand for a trade sits on the table.

?I don?t think he?s going anywhere. Hard to give up on a No. 3 pick for any organization,? said a league executive Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

?Maybe before the trade deadline, but he?s going to have to play some games and contribute so teams are able to find out where he?s at.

?This wasn?t a well-thought-out plan by Turris and his camp.?

The Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues and Senators have all shown interest in Turris.

If Maloney does decide to deal ? and that?s a huge if ? he?s going to want young assets. Moving a Mika Zibanejad or Jared Cowen for Turris makes no sense, but the Senators do have other high-end prospects they could trade.

BACK TO BASICS

The Senators are working on their power play, which has gone just 2-for-30 in the last nine games. Once the No. 1 unit in the league, the Senators have slipped to sixth.

?We?ve gotten away from what?s made us successful: Shooting the puck,? said D Sergei Gonchar. ?We?re not shooting as much and I think we?ve got to come back and start doing that again.?

Coach Paul MacLean said the Senators need to move the puck better.

?We need to move around instead of standing still. That would make a big difference,? said MacLean. ߓ(Shots) create motion and opportunity. It doesn?t have to be a one-timer, it could just be a wrister. We just have to get the puck to the net. When the puck goes to the net, you create second and third (chances).?

EXCITING TIME FOR NEIL

RW Chris Neil skated Wednesday for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain two weeks ago against the New York Rangers. While MacLean wasn?t sure how the skate went because Neil wasn?t on the ice in Rockland, the Senators are pleased with the progress he has made. ?He felt pretty good (beforehand),? said MacLean. Neil and his wife Caitlin also welcomed their third child Tuesday with the birth of Finley Christian Neil, a 7.5-ounce baby boy, born at 2:01 p.m. That?s a brother for Hailey and Cole.
 
Ottawa Senators (10-9-2) at Pittsburgh Penguins (12-6-4)
Friday, 7 p.m., Consol Energy Center

SPECIAL TEAMS

OTT: PP 20.8% No. 6; PK 79.1% No. 24. PIT: PP 19.2% No. 11; PK 90.3% No. 2

SENATORS LINES

    Colin Greening-Jason Spezza-Milan Michalek
    Nick Foligno-Stephane Da Costa-Daniel Alfredsson
    Kaspars Daugavins-Zack Smith-Erik Condra
    Zenon Konopka-Jesse Winchester-Bobby Butler

Defence

    Erik Karlsson-Filip Kuba
    Sergei Gonchar-Chris Phillips
    Brian Lee-Jared Cowen

Goalies

    Craig Anderson
    Alex Auld

PENGUINS LINES

    Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Tyler Kennedy
    Pascal Dupuis-Evgeni Malkin-Arron Asham
    James Neal-Jordan Staal-Craig Adams
    Steve Sullivan-Joe Vitale-Richard Park

Defence

    Brooks Orpik-Kris Letang
    Paul Martin-Zbynek Michalek
    Matt Niskanen-Deryk Engelland

Goalies

    Marc-Andre Fleury
    Brent Johnson
 
Odd how the Pens have Kennedy on the first line with Crosby and Neal on the 3rd line with Staal.  Seems like the complete opposite of what you'd expect.  ???
 
Erndog said:
Odd how the Pens have Kennedy on the first line with Crosby and Neal on the 3rd line with Staal.  Seems like the complete opposite of what you'd expect.  ???
Click to expand...

Malkin & Asham ?
Sullivan on the 4th line ?

The whole lineup seems weird.

I'd read Staal's line with Cooke & Kennedy was back together

Maybe this is what the lineup really is:
http://www2.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/lines/36/pittsburgh-penguins
 
Da Costa sent down, Filatov up, and while be playing with either Spezza or Alfredsson.

Sounds like he's getting his chance, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing with Konopka before the end of the 1st.

EDIT: He'll start with Spezza and Greening.

EDIT2: And Tomas Kaberle is a healthy scratch.  The next Wade Redden?
 
Sucker Punch said:
Da Costa sent down, Filatov up, and while be playing with either Spezza or Alfredsson.

Sounds like he's getting his chance, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing with Konopka before the end of the 1st.

EDIT: He'll start with Spezza and Greening.

EDIT2: And Tomas Kaberle is a healthy scratch.  The next Wade Redden?
Click to expand...

Went to the game yesterday...man we need a new scoreboard.
 
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