Player Discussion Zack MacEwen signed for 3 years @ $775,000

[Icelevel]

I thought he landed quite a few, a nice one on the jaw. Jackeye didn't land anything significant. I thought it was actually, considering the oppoenent and the hype, a decent fight

And Macewen had his jersey over his head for most of it didn’t he?

 

[Bileur]

Heck of a start to the season for MacEwen.

Got to give credit where it is due. He’s clearly had a huge offseason.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

He looks f***ing great out there.

 

[OD99]

Heck of a start to the season for MacEwen.

Got to give credit where it is due. He’s clearly had a huge offseason.

He seems much more involved. I would think it's more of a mental shift than anything physical, but who knows.

 

[JackieDaytona]

Something’s lit a fire under him. So much hustle that just wasn’t there last year. Guy has decent wheels and the kind of effort on forecheck and back check that builds an expectation for others on the team.

I shat all over this guy ( and his 3 year term) all last year, but it’s great to be wrong sometimes.

 

[Ouroboros]

Seems like he's dropped a lot of weight which is benefiting him quite a bit.

Last season he was listed at 240 but this year the Sens website has him at 227.

 

[Bileur]

He seems much more involved. I would think it's more of a mental shift than anything physical, but who knows.

The mental shift is definitely a part of it, but he’s clearly got quicker feet as well.

 

[mysens]

He made that goal happen tonight. He is so much more visible this year. Last year the guy was in and out of the lineup and a no show.

 

[JD1]

Something’s lit a fire under him. So much hustle that just wasn’t there last year. Guy has decent wheels and the kind of effort on forecheck and back check that builds an expectation for others on the team.

I shat all over this guy ( and his 3 year term) all last year, but it’s great to be wrong sometimes.

I remember @bert talking about him that way when he signed last year but we never saw it. I agree, he looks great this year

 

[Micklebot]

I remember @bert talking about him that way when he signed last year but we never saw it. I agree, he looks great this year

It's a pretty stark difference between this year and last, I was among the first to be critical of him but he's looked great (relative to his role) this year.

The way he's playing, I don't even care if he fights, which is exactly what you want from your fighters.

 

[NyQuil]

I’m as surprised as anyone.

Like night and day since the Montreal game.

 

[Loach]

I’m as surprised as anyone.

Like night and day since the Montreal game.

This isn't just about Macewen. They played for DJ etc and when Martin and Alfie got here they said "You guys can't play this way. You won't win anything." Now Green and a new staff, along with a whole new organizational structure, is in place and the message hasn't changed. "You can't play that way. Even for a couple games. You won't win." The bar has been raised. It's on the players that have been here now. 6 new roster players where brought in. That's a message. Not about vets bringing leadership, about accountability. This organization has expectations now. They are all starting to get it. We will see over the course of the season if it truly takes hold. I said (somewhere, not sure where) they look like they are starting to play with determination. If they keep playing with determination and add the Expectation to win every game....the team will have something to be proud about.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

He seems like the "easy" choice to take out of the lineup when we are healthy, but the way he's played has made it anything but a sure thing. I would have trouble taking him out over Cousins, and I have no issue with how Cousins has performed this year.

He's had many genuine impact shifts. Really looking good out there, always in motion and keeping it simple.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Having competition for the 12th forward role makes the whole 4th line play harder and with more consistency.

The last few years had too many people become complacent and comfortable knowing there were no repercussions. Refreshing to see.

 

[Wondercarrot]

He looks like a new man out there; faster, stronger, relentless.
Exactly what you want in his role. It’s an amazing transformation - no way you mess with that 4th line.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

I remember @bert talking about him that way when he signed last year but we never saw it. I agree, he looks great this year

Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Bert in a while and he seems to be MIA.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Bert in a while and he seems to be MIA.

Ya been missing. Timeout maybe.

 

[coladin]

Confidence. He has a tonne of it and he has the confidence of the coaches as well. Probably the highest producing 4th line in the NHL?

 

[Alf Silfversson]

He's been quick and hard getting in on the forecheck this year. With his size he actually punishes defenders too.

If one of our 4th liners has to come out he's making it a hard decision. I might keep him over Cousins. Cousins hasn't been bad. In fact he's played decent and hasn't been prone to stupid penalties as he has in past years, but I think right now Mac brings an element that Cousins can't.

Good problems to have.

 

[armani]

Placed on waivers, when you let Tkachuk do what your role is on the team, this is the likely outcome. Welcome to the line-up Big O.

 

[Micklebot]

Placed on waivers, when you let Tkachuk do what your role is on the team, this is the likely outcome. Welcome to the line-up Big O.

I have a hard time criticizing how MacEwen has played, he's gone out there and provided some physical play every time he got a shift and dropped the gloves a couple of times, tried to spark a flat team in the EDM game,

I'm happy Ostapchuk is getting a chance, but I have no complaints with MacEwen this year,

 

[SensFactor]

Should have sent some others down too, to get some fresh blood to this lineup...Reinhart is playing decent, Crookshank has 8 goals too

 

[Icelevel]

Should have sent some others down too, to get some fresh blood to this lineup...Reinhart is playing decent, Crookshank has 8 goals too

I’d much rather watch Reinhardt or crookshank than cousins.
Macewen has played his role well.

 

[bicboi64]

Well there's our big move to send the team a message, send down a 4th liner who's playing his role as asked for.

 

[armani]

I have a hard time criticizing how MacEwen has played, he's gone out there and provided some physical play every time he got a shift and dropped the gloves a couple of times, tried to spark a flat team in the EDM game,

I'm happy Ostapchuk is getting a chance, but I have no complaints with MacEwen this year,

I liked him on the forecheck, but when Tkachuk is still doing the enforcing (something they want him to do less of) while MacEwen’s is still on the 4th line, it doesn’t bode well for his role on the team. This is the reason why he was waived IMO, as you said, he wasn’t really bad on the 4th line.

Ostapchuk brings a different element and is a much better player. He can forecheck just as well and played responsibly when we saw him with the big team. He doesn’t fight much as an important player for Belleville, but he does have a Rempe KO on his resume and he will have a 4th line role in Ottawa, so some physicality is likley expected.