–Jared Cowen summed up the Sens’ performance against the Leafs, “You get that many shots and you think about the second chances that we had. We just weren’t hungry around the net. It’s all over the ice where we’re not competing. We care a lot. We have to get back to practice and work on the little things. We just have to play with emotions, instead of going through the motions.”
–Jason Spezza made some interesting comments about the team’s recent woes, “You have to look at the season as a whole. We’re happy to be in this position and now we’ve got some important games down the stretch. We’ve put ourselves in a position to play some important games. Take a breath (Sunday) and come back to work on Monday.” This is dangerously close to saying ‘we’re just happy to be here’. I understand his appeal for calm, but I think there is a better way to talk about how the team has taken a step back.
-It’s not news to anyone, but I’m always bemused by how thin-skinned the local media is here in Ottawa. Bruce Garrioch clearly isn’t enjoying the taste of humble pie he and his cohorts have been eating this season about Brian Elliott. He’s right that Elliott had a bad season last year, but he knows full well that he and the Ottawa media played a part in getting him traded.
-Here are my thoughts on what will happen with Sens prospects who are potentially joining the organisation next season (the following are signed: Silfverberg (will play pro), Zibanejad (ibid), Mark Stone (ibid), Noesen (can be returned to junior), Puempel (can be returned to junior); these players are graduating: Blood (NCAA), Wideman (NCAA), Culek (2010 draftee), Sorensen (2010 draftee), Kramer (last CHL year)). My expectation is that both Noesen and Puempel will be returned to the OHL, Culek and Sorensen will be let go, and Blood, Wideman, and Kramer will wind up in Binghamton. I believe Silfverberg will play all of next season in Ottawa, while Stone and Zibanejad will see some time in the AHL.
-Prospect updates (their position in team scoring is noted in brackets, defence compared to defence; I’ve also indicated if the player’s scoring position has change (with a + for up, – for down, and = for unchanged):
CHL
Mark Stone (RW, Brandon, WHL) 48-35-51-86 (1st=)
Shane Prince (C/LW, Ottawa 67s, OHL) 41-30-36-66 (2nd=)
Stefan Noesen (C/RW, Plymouth, OHL) 46-21-38-59 (1st=)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (RW, Chicoutimi, QMJHL) 34-30-27-57 (t-2nd+)
Matt Puempel (LW, Peterborough, OHL) 30-17-16-33 (5th-)
Darren Kramer (C/LW, Spokane, WHL) 51-18-14-32 (5th=)
Jakub Culek (C/LW, Rimouski, QMJHL) 41-9-18-27 (6th+)
Jordan Fransoo (D, Victoria, WHL) 53-2-13-15 (2nd=)
SEL
Jakob Silfverberg (C/RW, Brynas) 39-17-22-39 (1st=)
Mika Zibanejad (C/RW, Djurgarden) 16-4-4-8 (16th+)
Fredrik Claesson (D, Djurgarden) 39-1-5-6 (5th=)
Allsvenskan
Marcus Sorensen (RW, Boras) 23-7-6-13 (7th-)
NCAA
Ryan Dzingel (C, CCHA-Ohio State) 27-6-15-21 (3rd=)
Max McCormick (LW, CCHA-Ohio State) 21-8-10-18 (4th=)
Michael Sdao (D, ECAC-Princeton) 22-7-9-16 (1st=)
Chris Wideman (D, CCHA-Miami) 30-1-15-16 (1st=)
Bryce Aneloski (D, WCHA-Nebraska-Omaha) 28-4-11-15 (1st=)
Ben Blood (D, WCHA-North Dakota) 27-2-11-13 (t-2nd=)
Jeff Costello (LW, CCHA-Notre Dame) 22-3-6-9 (10th=)
Brad Peltz (LW, ECAC-Yale) 8-1-0-1 (20th=)
eyeonthesens 