The Senators are going to waltz right into the playoffs.

[Spring in Fialta]

Remember this take:





I think we'll all take your opinions on the Senators with a pretty gigantic pile of salt.

Stutzle is the man. Though I'll wait until Suzuki can play a season where his team doesn't have 5-10 regulars out at any point in time. Don't see what's that got to do with Ottawa being trash. That's six straight of missing the playoffs.

 

[NyQuil]

Stutzle is the man. Though I'll wait until Suzuki can play a season where his team doesn't have 5-10 regulars out at any point in time. Don't see what's that got to do with Ottawa being trash. That's six straight of missing the playoffs.

I'd like to see what Ottawa would look like with their #1C from last year in the line-up.

 

[RickyLafleur]

Jesus, talk about meeting low expectations. You've missed the playoffs for half-a-decade. How is 'playing meaningful games down the stretch' (lol) the goal here?

That's usually how these things work. Rebuilding teams slowly get better over time until they hopefully eventually become contenders. This shit doesn't happen overnight, Just by looking at the habs, they have an average league finish at 20th overall, seems pretty mediocre, doesn't it? What exactly should be the goal of a team that finished 7th last in 2021-2022 be?

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I'd like to see what Ottawa would look like with their #1C from last year in the line-up.

You think they would have made the playoffs? You think he's the difference between 8 points out and leap-frogging 4 teams?

That's usually how these things work. Rebuilding teams slowly get better over time until they hopefully eventually become contenders. This shit doesn't happen overnight, Just by looking at the habs, they have an average league finish at 20th overall, seems pretty mediocre, doesn't it? What exactly should be the goal of a team that finished 7th last in 2021-2022 be?

Needing six years before being within striking distance of the playoffs is a failure. There's no other way to put it. Would Dorion even try to argue otherwise? The dude said the rebuild was over two seasons ago! If Montreal needs five years from today to just come close to the playoffs, Hughes and Gorton should be out. That's a ridiculous timeline.

 

[RickyLafleur]

You think they would have made the playoffs? You think he's the difference between 8 points out and leap-frogging 4 teams?




Needing six years before being within striking distance of the playoffs is a failure. There's no other way to put it. Would Dorion even try to argue otherwise? The dude said the rebuild was over two seasons ago! If Montreal needs five years from today to just come close to the playoffs, Hughes and Gorton should be out. That's a ridiculous timeline.

The odds are not in your factor as habs won't be competitive for a while considering how good the Atlantic division is. And yeah, not having your 1C for an entire season probably does impact how well we would do in the standings, if it didn't then you Montreal fans wouldn't be lamenting injuries as the reason for their failures this year and last.

 

[LarKing]

You think they would have made the playoffs? You think he's the difference between 8 points out and leap-frogging 4 teams?




Needing six years before being within striking distance of the playoffs is a failure. There's no other way to put it. Would Dorion even try to argue otherwise? The dude said the rebuild was over two seasons ago! If Montreal needs five years from today to just come close to the playoffs, Hughes and Gorton should be out. That's a ridiculous timeline.

Meh, rebuilds take time. Sometimes they can be turned around right away with a lot of luck/excellent management but it's rarely a turn around in only a few years. Few people want to admit it, but there's a lot of luck involved.

Ottawa looks set to be a contender for years to come with their current core. Also, only us Wings fans get the right to trash talk Ottawa like this. You leave our little brother alone, okay?

 

[King Karl]

Jesus, talk about meeting low expectations. You've missed the playoffs for half-a-decade. How is 'playing meaningful games down the stretch' (lol) the goal here?

Not to mention that the Sens have been well out of a playoff spot for the entire year. How many meaningful games were played before it fell apart? Six?

Because it's something we have failed to accomplish for the previous 5. Progress is progress. Making the playoffs was always going to be a long shot, especially with losing Norris for the whole year and both goalies towards the tail end. There have been a huge number of positives this year, even without making the playoffs.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

The odds are not in your factor as habs won't be competitive for a while considering how good the Atlantic division is. And yeah, not having your 1C for an entire season probably does impact how well we would do in the standings, if it didn't then you Montreal fans wouldn't be lamenting injuries as the reason for their failures this year and last.

Montreal's failures aren't really related to injuries. Either this year or last. They wouldn't have made the playoffs either way. But to think destroying the man-game lost record doesn't affect players' seasons is crazy. At any rate, I'm still baffled by Sens fans' obsession with the Montreal in a Sens thread. I don't bring them up.

My honest opinion is that seeing five, six years out in a league that's constantly in flux is too ambitious, that to miss the playoffs for six straight seasons means you f***ed up along the way (probably by not putting enough importance into pro scouting while accumulating picks and going scorched earth, which tends to be a dumb idea). A team like Columbus got Johnny Gaudreau and still finished last. I bet you they won't regret having him when they're ready to win a couple more games but it won't take them over six years to make the playoffs again. One player wouldn't have made the Senators leap a bunch of spots to a playoff spot. Stop kidding yourself.

 

[King Karl]

You think they would have made the playoffs? You think he's the difference between 8 points out and leap-frogging 4 teams?

Keep in mind that's 8 points out with 3 games in hand. If we even win 2 more games this year as a result of Norris, things look very different.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Keep in mind that's 8 points out with 3 games in hand. If we even win 2 more games this year as a result of Norris, things look very different.

Every team can say stuff like this. It's immaterial.

 

[NyQuil]

You think they would have made the playoffs? You think he's the difference between 8 points out and leap-frogging 4 teams?

I think missing a guy who was on pace for 43G last year and scored 35 of them has the potential to make a difference, yes.

Josh Norris is a decent two-way centre who has only improved every season.

It also pushes Pinto down to the 3rd line where he belongs at this stage of his career, and gives Joseph someone better to play with.

I haven't gotten into the fact that our two starting goalies are injured, Zub missed a bunch of time, Chabot was/is injured, Formenton may never play for the Senators again.

You may not like the expectations for the Senators this year, but they were pretty established. Get into the end of season playoff race and play meaningful games down the stretch.

Next season, the bar was and still is a playoff spot. Anything short is a failure.

Not even Giroux had large expectations for this season.

Every team can say stuff like this. It's immaterial.

Not every team. I'd much rather be in Ottawa's position than in Montreal's.

A couple of good pieces and a whole bunch of question marks, including their recent first overall pick.

You can accumulate all the picks you want but they don't automatically transform into NHL stars, especially with Montreal's recent dismal track record of developing high picks.

 

[General Disarray]

Sens fans are the ones keeping this alive. The sens gave it a good run but are done, let it go. Stop arguing with people.

 

[Sens9292]

The Senators are going to waltz right onto the first tee!

Leafs will be hot in their tail, just waiting for the annual 1st round exit

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

But they aren't. They are tied for 10th in their conference. They are terrible defensively. They will absolutely not be battling for that division unless they figure out that d core. It's the best division in hockey. They are what they are a mid team with no picks and a weak prospect pool that has a flawed roster with all its best players in their prime.


Last year you tried to argue differently. Or do you forget that ridiculous tangent you went on. Trying to say they are more important. What a hilarious joke that was.

Yes only the Senators can get better, not the Panthers. Thanks Tips

 

[FerrisRox]

Montreal's failures aren't really related to injuries. Either this year or last.

If last years Canadiens were healthy, and by healthy I mean they had Shea Weber and Carey Price, not to mention all of the other injured players relatively healthy, I think they absolutely would have been in the mix for a playoff spot.

 

[Sensinitis]

You too! Enjoy missing the playoffs yet again, and looking forward to your 4th round pick.

That's cute, picks are still super important for your team because you have almost no U-25 young talent on your roster other than Larkin, Raymond and Seider.

The Sens aren't looking for picks and prospects anymore, they have lots of young established talent and don't have guys like Perron playing on their first PP unit.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I think missing a guy who was on pace for 43G last year and scored 35 of them has the potential to make a difference, yes.

Josh Norris is a decent two-way centre who has only improved every season.

It also pushes Pinto down to the 3rd line where he belongs at this stage of his career, and gives Joseph someone better to play with.

I haven't gotten into the fact that our two starting goalies are injured, Zub missed a bunch of time, Chabot was/is injured, Formenton may never play for the Senators again.

You may not like the expectations for the Senators this year, but they were pretty established. Get into the end of season playoff race and play meaningful games down the stretch.

Next season, the bar was and still is a playoff spot. Anything short is a failure.

Not even Giroux had large expectations for this season.



Not every team. I'd much rather be in Ottawa's position than in Montreal's.

A couple of good pieces and a whole bunch of question marks, including their recent first overall pick.

You can accumulate all the picks you want but they don't automatically transform into NHL stars, especially with Montreal's recent dismal track record of developing high picks.

I'm not talking about making a difference. Moving up one spot is making a difference. I'm talking about leap-frogging a bunch of teams and making the playoffs. Do you think Norris accomplishes that? Yes or no. That's what I asked.

And again, I haven't brought up Montreal once. I'm fully aware of where they're at. It's you and your little coping brethren who seem unable to talk about your team without bringing them up. Of course the Sens have a couple of better pieces. They've been atrocious for years. Montreal hasn't been very good either but at least I got to watch my team contend in the past couple of years. All we've gotten from Senators fans the last three years is but we made a run late in the year. We'll get them next year! By the way, it seems like there's a dissonance between what you say and what your GM says. The playoffs were definitely expected the past couple of years in Ottawa. Or else why would Dorion have declared the rebuild over? Or is the general manager of a team not fit to speak on the expectations of his team?

But this is hilarious, keep talking about the Habs drafting record who uh...over-hauled their management, if you didn't notice. Not to mention who picked up Caufield and Guhle the last couple of drafts.

The amount of coping in this thread from Sens fans is incredible.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Leafs will be hot in their tail, just waiting for the annual 1st round exit

This is like making fun of a guy for finishing last in a race you're not fast enough to participate in. Weird dig.

 

[NyQuil]

I'm not talking about making a difference. Moving up one spot is making a difference. I'm talking about leap-frogging a bunch of teams and making the playoffs. Do you think Norris accomplishes that? Yes or no. That's what I asked.

Yes, I think the margins are actually pretty close.

Between him and having no experienced healthy goalies, I think it's enough of a difference.

And again, I haven't brought up Montreal once. I'm fully aware of where they're at.

Yeah, they're importing ex-Senators who aren't good enough to play in Ottawa. Hoffman? Dadonov? Tierney? Wideman?

That's quite the powerhouse you're building.

Maybe we can offer you a Gambrell or a Patrick Brown next season.

Or else why would Dorion have declared the rebuild over? Or is the general manager of a team not fit to speak on the expectations of his team?

I'm not sure why he said it, Dorion says a lot of things.

This current season is the first season associated with any kind of expectations and that was for the team to be playing "meaningful hockey down the stretch". It's been said so many times it's like a meme at this point.

Keep sticking your head in the ground and plugging your ears because it isn't what you want to hear.

But this is hilarious, keep talking about the Habs drafting record who uh...over-hauled their management, if you didn't notice. Not to mention who picked up Caufield and Guhle the last couple of drafts.

We'll see how many seasons it takes for Montreal to get back into the playoffs.

Looking at your post history, it's shocking how much you hate Ottawa. Very strange.

 

[King Karl]

That's cute, picks are still super important for your team because you have almost no U-25 young talent on your roster other than Larkin, Raymond and Seider.

The Sens aren't looking for picks and prospects anymore, they have lots of young established talent and don't have guys like Perron playing on their first PP unit.

The roster might be a touch thin - but they've got Edvinsson, Cossa, Kaspar waiting in the wings. Definitely not what I'd call almost none.

 

[NyQuil]

This is like making fun of a guy for finishing last in a race you're not fast enough to participate in. Weird dig.

Isn't that exactly what you're doing here?

Last I checked, Montreal is in the basement of the division by 9 points and got swept by the Senators this season.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Isn't that exactly what you're doing here?

Last I checked, Montreal is in the basement of the division by 9 points and got swept by the Senators this season.

Yikes.

You don't see the difference between a guy making fun of a team that's in the playoffs and a guy (whose team is not in the playoffs) making fun of another team that is also not in the playoffs?

Yeah, exactly the same.

 

[NyQuil]

Yikes.

You don't see the difference between a guy making fun of a team that's in the playoffs and a guy (whose team is not in the playoffs) making fun of another team that is also not in the playoffs?

Yeah, exactly the same.

The reason there isn't a thread with Montreal and playoffs in the title is because it's so beyond the realm of the possible that no one even bothered to try.

So yes, there's a giant gap there.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Yes, I think the margins are actually pretty close.

Between him and having no experienced healthy goalies, I think it's enough of a difference.



Yeah, they're importing ex-Senators who aren't good enough to play in Ottawa. Hoffman? Dadonov? Tierney? Wideman?

That's quite the powerhouse you're building.

Maybe we can offer you a Gambrell or a Patrick Brown next season.



I'm not sure why he said it, Dorion says a lot of things.

This current season is the first season associated with any kind of expectations and that was for the team to be playing "meaningful hockey down the stretch". It's been said so many times it's like a meme at this point.

Keep sticking your head in the ground and plugging your ears because it isn't what you want to hear.



We'll see how many seasons it takes for Montreal to get back into the playoffs.

Looking at your post history, it's shocking how much you hate Ottawa. Very strange.

I don't know what else to say besides making fun of Montreal for warm bodies to deflect from your team's own ineptitude is one of the lowest form of cope I've ever witnessed. A bottom-feeder have players in common with another shit team...what a stunt.

The only one sticking his head in the ground is with you. How am I sticking my head in the ground when I'm going by the words of the general manager of the Ottawa Senators?

Is this the same logic that had you saying making fun of a playoff team is the exact same as making fun of a non-playoff one?

 

[NyQuil]

I don't know what else to say besides making fun of Montreal for warm bodies to deflect from your team's own ineptitude is one of the lowest form of cope I've ever witnessed. A bottom-feeder have players in common with another shit team...what a stunt.

I'm thinking your posts in this thread are pretty much the same thing.

It's not surprising that you can't see it.

The only one sticking his head in the ground is with you. How am I sticking my head in the ground when I'm going by the words of the general manager of the Ottawa Senators?

Fine, here you go.

Despite a history of being overly exuberant at times with his proclamations (who could forget his “proudest day” comment after the Mark Stone trade), Dorion declined to say anything close to – “this is a playoff team.”

The expression he used was “meaningful games.” He expected the 2022-23 Senators to be playing “meaningful games” all season.

'Meaningful games' have arrived for Senators — and D.J. Smith is a big reason why

After the ‘Summer of Pierre’ the Senators had another rough start to the season. But lately? They’re playing meaningful games and winning, something D.J. Smith has a lot to do with. The coach is working his tail off, and it shows.

www.sportsnet.ca

You think Senators fans have all collectively decided to randomly invent this concept of "meaningful games"?