frankgrimes

Having a ton of capspace means absolutely nothing, if you don't spend it on *quality*. I highly doubt a guy like Vanek will sign with this team, he either goes to the Blackhawks, Blues, Kings or Wild there is no way he re-signs with the Isles. For now this team isn't a top UFA destination anymore, they are soon looking at a rebuild/tool and top UFAs want to go to annually contenders. Had we gotten Parise + Suter things might have been different, but not having a plan B for that scenario is going to hurt this teams chances of landing such guys. I want to see McKee, Mantha and maybe even Sproul getting a good look next year (maybe even beyond the 9 games), if Kenny can't land a top UFA I hope this team gets up there in size, grit and toughness (including the draft), enough with the soft skilled smallish euros more NA style please. would like to see 6,6+ 220 lbs guys

Thanks very good summary of the actual situation and I fully agree. Don't get me wrong, I think Babcock and Holland are superb GMs but maybe, just maybe they aren't the right ones for a rebuilding/retooling team. I truely believe, that Babcock can be too hard and expecting too much of young players, because it worked well with Z, Pasha and especially Stevie Y but the difference is, these guys are stars/superstars and holding young kids such as Tatar, Nyquist to such a standard is unfair. Personally I will be very happy if one of them turns out to be a solid top 6 guy with a nice scoring touch. I would prefer a system, in which "lesser" talent can achieve more and that's obviously a more hardnosed defense first style. This situation might also be new for Babcock but in the end he is the HC and he has to deal with the current roster in the best possible way, if that means change the system and expect less from the players so be it. as for the monster yes the guy has been playing great (given the D he has in front of him without Danny K), he hope he will get some back to back starts soon, he's deserving it.

Hear me out: I am all for employee rights and that stuff (i.e supporting players in the lockout) but I think if someone is a professional hockeyplayer they know what to expect. Like someone else mentioned, it is the players themselves who just can't keep their ellbow down and heck (ie. Lupul) some are going into practise without the proper safety gear on. This is of course a difficult matter and if there is even the slighest possiblity of reducing concussion and keeping the players safer without making hockey into soccer, I am all for it. Granted, I haven't read the lawsuit but one also has to keep in mind the different technology nowadays and back then. Should it come out, that some teams wanted the players to play WITH a concussion well then nothing to talk about and the lawsuit claims hopefully win. Toying around with players health should and can never be an option, no matter how important the points are health > hockey. That's my stance on it.

Yeah, but different leagues with different circumstances. Football is at times physical but in terms of speed its not even comparable to hockey. Hockeyplayers should know what to expect and sometimes the result isn't pretty.

Sooner than I expected this but I don't think anything will come out of this. Everyone is aware that hockey is fast dangerous and sometimes violent.

Either his system doesn't work OR/AND Babcock doesn't have the players for his system to work. No matter how one as looking at it both things are leading to the same resolution, change the system! Puck posession is only working, if your team is ridiculously skilled, which this DetroitRedWings edition clearly is not. So what kind of system could work? I think a more tippetlike system could work better, because you don't need as much talent to fullfill it and it seems to work well for teams like the Coyotes.

I am still extremely pissed about this, oh yeah let's wait for the league and hope they'll do something? Do this against the TorontoMapleLeafs and Cowen would leave the game on a stretcher, take a note from them on how to build a team Kenny, seriously our best playera nd probably the guy with the best hands in all of hockey is OUT with concussion like symptoms. Him Danny K, Z and the monster are the only reason why this team is sometimes watchable this season..... 5 days to and counting DOWN to get someone that will strike fear into this joke of an expansion team, even with their tough guys Neil and Kassasian on their team. Whom am I kidding, I am sure because of the "cap" - yeah 0,6 - 1kk - is too much investment in order to proect the team, he will not sign an enforcer. Maybe the Senators need to call up Kassasian too and take Z out with a concussion, even then I am not sure Kenny + the anti fighting/grit crowd will agree with me and to be honest I don't ......care. Get well soon Pasha you are one of the only reasons to watch this soft euro styled edition.

just an example: cheapshot Kessel......answer to Orr, Frazer, McLaren or Clarkson cheapshot Monahan, Bärtschi......answer to McGrattan cheapshot Landeskog.....answer to Bordeleau cheapshot Krug..answer to Thornton, Lucic, McQuaid and Chara cheapshot PD....answer to .....no....ah yes the superb powerplay blowing 5 on 3s........body Yeah I am gladly be living in the past, knowing that nobody is going to run this team out of their building and taking cheapshots. At least it is way better than living in the present with a GM who thinks this is soccer or basketball on ice.......

just an example: cheapshot Kessel......answer to Orr, Frazer, McLaren or Clarkson cheapshot Monahan, Bärtschi......answer to McGrattan cheapshot Landeskog.....answer to Bordeleau cheapshot Krug..answer to Thornton, Lucic, McQuaid and Chara cheapshot PD....answer to .....no....ah yes the superb powerplay blowing 5 on 3s........body

Seriously, Holland has a new nickname now? The Senators couldn't do anything against Cooke because the Penguins had a guy named Steven McIntyre on the bench, ready to go heck they extra called him up for that game. Otherhwise Neil or Kassasian would have went after Cooke. Look at the cup winning teams they all had skill, size, grit and toughness you can not win with an all skilled team. Sometimes I am really wondering what it needs for some people to realize, that size is still needed and starplayers need ONICE protection. What's next Lucic or Engelland going after Danny K and the rest of the bunch is standing around waiting for ole Shanahan to call for a "tough" phonecall - seriously enough with this BS . Yeah sadly these aren't the 90s anymore, because back then this actually was a team sure they were bad at the start but at least played as a unit and if you took cheapshots, Kocus, Probert or McCarty were always ready. I am calling it now, if Pavel Datsyuk has a concussion and Kenny Holland stands by his "PP is our enforcer" crap I want him fired, because this is a player who is not replaceable and if the GM isn't willing to sign guys who can protect him, then it's time for another GM.

I think there are still guys like that outthere, man watching such good old school DRW videos is really hard, it's night and day between the team today and these in the good old days. I just love seeing Stevie getting his retribution but man Keczmer looked like he almost ... in his pants when Kocur pointed at him

Nah not Tootoot he doesn't stand a chance against Neil or "Kassasian" someone like McGarattan, McIntyre or Scott is needed. Unbelievable what a bunch of standarounds this team has become (thanks Kenny), back in the days you hit our captain and boom that happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgaTGP1th0A#t=386

Even if Kenny would - which I don't believe - I am sure, Mr. I (besto wner in all of sports) doesn't

I. Vision If I could ask Kenny one question and only one this would be it. What is the vision for this team? Personally I don't see one, I see stop gap and over the hill signings but not a vision. 2. Identity Right now this team doesn't have one. Yes, I've said before but even after 21 games I am still struggling to see the identity of this team. Are they fast? No Young? No skilled enough for puck-possession? lamo hard to play against? no freaking way probably the softest team in the NHL I believe every team needs an identity which - at least to me - goes hand in hand with a clear vision, right now I am not seeing it. 3. 180 turn in terms of size, grit and nastiness For years now - since the last cup ! - Kenny has told the fans how the enforcer would be the PP and that's why other teams aren't going to take cheapshots or are afraid of playing their enforcers against the DetroitRedWings guess what....the Senators didn't even ice their "toughest" roster and they pushed around this team like nothing, Neil ran around like a monkey looking for his next banana (= player) in that case. This team has had two! 5:3 PPs and none of them was even close to being dangerous. It's ok to have a smaller but highly skilled top line but if you do that, make up for it with a fourth line from hell. Smith shouldn't be the one having to fight Neil nor should it be Tootoo it should be someone like McGrattan! 4. A statement game I know, I've posted this a few times now but really it is needed and fast. Don't kid yourself here other teams for sure have noticed how to play against this team and they also know that they aren't skilled enough anymore, so if Kenny doesn't react this week things will only get worse from here, Toronto, Boston and even the Canadiens are going to have some fun with this team. Please stay away from guys like Gaborik, Tlusty, Ruutuu or whomever of that kind enough with this soft euro style this team needs a top 6 bottom 6 approach and at least 2 - 3 more retooling years. McQuaid would be a nice addition, him + McGrattan + Tootoo would be a nice upgrade over our current fourth line.

The nastiest enforcer Kenny can and should find. There are some really mean SOBs in the AHL, they are just waiting for a call to play on a NHL team.

This was an embarrassing game, no matter how one is looking at it the only bright spot Smith showing huge balls against Neil. - diving: seriously stop this crap this isn't soccer nor basketball show some class - pushed around: the best player on this team BY FAR is getting ellbowed and no one willing to stand up for him? WTF - losing against a joke of an expansion team, which can't even fill their own building without TorontoMapleLeafs fans *LOL* - PP sucked as always since St. Nick retired... Enough with the soft euro style, create a fourth line from hell like the TorontoMapleLeafs have done, after getting pushed around now they are one - if not - the toughest team in the NHL, that's how to build a fourth line Kenny. I like what Bertuzzi brings, but seriously other enforcers are not afraid to fight him...guys like Scott, McGrattan, McIntyre, McLaren, Orr or Bordelau are striking FEAR into the opponent. Heck call Russia and ask for Trevor Gillies I will be incredible pissed off, if they view the next meeting against Ottawa as a normal game, it's a statement game so they better make one. While Howard isn't to blame for the situation, he isn't helping either so what about giving the monster some games? He has played pretty well and even outplayed an elite goaltender in Tuka Raask some weeks ago.

Oh nice, yeah I've seen clips from him doing radio shows and hunting (sadly not Neil for now), but one the ice when this guy isa ON he is really on - like a Hulk - nobody can stop him and thats exactly the type of statement I want to see. The good thing is, if McKee keeps his development up the guy will be a monster in 2 years.

Is it wrong of me being more pissed about the non reaction to the Pasha incident than the loss? Having a hard time, liking this team now. Anyway 6 days from now, thats what I want to see:

Kenny has now 6 days in order to prepare for a huge statement game (not scorewise). Shed whatever salary can be shed, send the non producing players to the AHL/put them on waivers get McKee up, sign a top 3 enforcer tell them:,,no matter what the league is trying to tell you, EVERYTHING goes you'll be paid even if suspended just do the ......insert job....on Neil, Spezza or Karlsson tell McKee to crash Cowen through the glass Charastyle, crosscheck Karlsson everytime he is one the ice and nominate Lehner/Andersson for getting kronwall(ed). This will be a game where I honestly don't care about two points, the DetroitRedWings need a huge statement game and if they don't react after this, Kenny deserves to be fired. An original 6 team getting pushed around at home, by a wannabe tough team thats unacceptable. If I am Babcock I'd be storming into Kennys office and tell him to either get me some tough, mean SOBS asap or I am out of here. How did the enforcer called PP work? Not very well and it's gotten worse every year since the perfect human and Holmer retired!

Bigmac is probably a modern Probert and the most feared enforcer in this game most people have at least a ne him. Also, names like Koccur, McCarthy or Downey should ring a bell. Pasha is out with concussion no suspension is going to make up for that, unless Neil Spezza and or Karlson are out with one too.

Who cares? Usually fire needs even more fire as a response. Bloody them like the Islanders did against Pittsburgh some years ago. If this team will finally go the bigger nastier route the game would have some positive aspects to it. Call MacT and ask him what he wants for Gazic and BigMac and tell them both everything is allowed, some good old fashioned hockey next week

I am so sick of blaming the refs screw.them screw Shanahan I want to see the Senators bloodied on the ice by the hands off our tough guys I want to see Neil getting knocked around by someone like Bigmac, Spezza ellbowed by Abdelkader and Karlson kronwalled, Cowen crosschecked in the face and good old fashioned line brawls.

Why blame them refs off ice policy *sucks* you need guys that clean that stuff on the ice no matter what

Kenny watch this and realize what is needed in the east. The PP sucks a tough as nails super heavy is needed I want Orr Devane and Scott on this team and beat the crap out of this Senators.

Imagine if we had a guy like Bordeleau Neil wouldn't act like this..