The Difference between the Ottawa Senators and the Edmonton Oilers
The Difference between the Ottawa Senators and the Edmonton Oilers
By Rob Soria
Heading into this season, many felt the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators would struggle mightily in their respective conferences. I expected the Oilers to be the better of the two clubs this season but the Senators would take strides towards becoming a much improved club, as early as next season. After losing their first five games of the season, the Sens turned things around and like Edmonton, found themselves near the top of the NHL standings heading into November. Not surprisingly, both clubs slid down the standings as the season moved along but there has been a big difference in how far each club has slipped. While Edmonton has plummeted down to thirteenth in the West, the Senators have managed to stay in contention and are currently in fifth spot in the East. So what has been the big difference between the two sides in the last two and a half months? That answer is easy...the play of their veterans.
The Edmonton Oilers play in the Western Conference, where as the Ottawa Senators play in the Eastern Conference.
Perhaps you could make a less vague topic title such as: Why the Edmonton Oilers continue to play horribly depressing hockey, and why the Ottawa Senators actually win games.
A wind of change/fresh air/youth movement and a brand new coaching staff.
Also, Anderson is giving us the best goaltending we had since Hasek.
Clouston was not a great coach, MaClean seems to be the real deal.
Finally, the team is a lot more healthy than it was last year.
Edmonton sucks, sorry. But they should end up being good with yet another top-5 pick... Edmonton is rebuilding "the loser way" while Ottawa is rebuilding the "winner way".
The Edmonton Oilers play in the Western Conference, where as the Ottawa Senators play in the Eastern Conference.
Perhaps you could make a less vague topic title such as: Why the Edmonton Oilers continue to play horribly depressing hockey, and why the Ottawa Senators actually win games.
Heading into this season, many felt the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators would struggle mightily in their respective conferences. I expected the Oilers to be the better of the two clubs this season but the Senators would take strides towards becoming a much improved club, as early as next season. After losing their first five games of the season, the Sens turned things around and like Edmonton, found themselves near the top of the NHL standings heading into November. Not surprisingly, both clubs slid down the standings as the season moved along but there has been a big difference in how far each club has slipped. While Edmonton has plummeted down to thirteenth in the West, the Senators have managed to stay in contention and are currently in fifth spot in the East. So what has been the big difference between the two sides in the last two and a half months? That answer is easy...the play of their veterans.
defence corps. their defence corps sucks. they don't have elite young defencemen like EK, and perhaps even cowen. if you somehow transported cowen and EK into their lineup to replace their bottom pair, they'd be pretty damn good and in great shape for the future.
In a rebuild, you build from the net out.
In a rebuild you also have to able to draft beyond just your lottery pick and finds some gems in the later rounds.
Daugavins, Smith, Greening, Condra all drafted later than the 2nd round.
Also free agents like Butler, DaCosta, Winchester.
What did I miss? I've been in a coma for the last four months. Thank God the first thing I read was this artical! We were number 1 in November? And then we slid? What a time to be alive.
In a rebuild, you build from the net out.
In a rebuild you also have to able to draft beyond just your lottery pick and finds some gems in the later rounds.
Came in here to say this, they did the opposite and built from forward to back.
RNH hasn't proven anything. He's played 38 games...and now he's injured. He's certainly not on Spezza's level as MoO has suggested.
On top of this whoever said that you build from the back out...that's not even true. You need talent everywhere -- it's not about where you build from it's what you end up with. You need high level talent everywhere on the ice.
Would you say that Pittsburgh built from the back out? Chicago? There are more examples, but yeah.
You have to be good at drafting from the top to the bottom. You need good amateur and pro scouting.
There are so many things that go into building a great team. It's not as simple as saying 'you build from the back out.'
RNH hasn't proven anything. He's played 38 games...and now he's injured. He's certainly not on Spezza's level as MoO has suggested.
On top of this whoever said that you build from the back out...that's not even true. You need talent everywhere -- it's not about where you build from it's what you end up with. You need high level talent everywhere on the ice.
Would you say that Pittsburgh built from the back out? Chicago? There are more examples, but yeah.
You have to be good at drafting from the top to the bottom. You need good amateur and pro scouting.
There are so many things that go into building a great team. It's not as simple as saying 'you build from the back out.'
Its certainly not set in stone, but dman and goalies tend to take longer to develope, obviously you need good scouting and a balanced lineup, but when your rebuilding you should consider these factors.
FYI Pitsburg drafted Fluery and Letang, Chicago had Seabrook, Keith and signed Neimi etc, just sayin
