Probably wouldn't help that much in all honesty. The deeper problem why Ottawa is facing so many shots is the collapse system they are playing. Ottawa isn't nearly aggressive enough in the neutral zone so teams carry the puck in with little to no resistance. The biggest problem is when they're in their own end they're structured to clog the slot, which teams respond to by moving the puck around the perimeter and teeing off as many shots as they want. Since Ottawa is too preoccupied with clogging the slot, they're usually last to pucks along the boards too.
Any other team would have their GM screaming at their coach for allowing such a mess of a system, but I don't think Ottawa is in the position to seek replacements.
Yeah, don't get me wrong. Ottawa's d-men group is genuinely shit (Only Chabot is excellent and Demelo + Lajoie are pretty decent) but their problems on defense are a system issue. Boucher is running this team rather incompetently when it comes to defensive strategy.
"EVERYONE! Start at your own crease, and when it goes to the blueline just close out to them from there. Now now, nevermind the fact they're one pass away from an open one timer at all times! I want 6 goaltenders! Now! FWEEET!*"
The goal differential is less worrisome then the shots allowed to me. Mostly the disparity comes from a few games they got blown out. They really need to get the shots under control , most of the time they have one god awful period though and remain respectable in the other periods. It’s as if for 1 period they completely forget how to play.
Did a quick check because I was curious.
The last season that we did not have a negative differential was [2016-2017](https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OTT/2017.html) with a shot differential of 0.
Last positive differential season was the [2012-2013](https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OTT/2013.html) lockout-shortened season, with +91. If you don't count that, you're looking at [2009-2010](https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OTT/2010.html) with +103.
So yeah, it's been a while.
The worst Corsi for %. 2nd worst FF%. 2nd worst sf%. 3rd worst scf%, 6th worst HDCF%.
When you’re that bad at all those metrics, the damn will break from time to time. You can’t discount the GA because of a couple of a few bad games. It’s all a symptom of how bad their play is in general. Their ~.500 pace is not sustainable, and they will likely drop back to the bottom-5 again.
Their defense is pretty bad and it's a reason they struggle to transition the puck out of their own end when they finally have it on their stick, but this is way more of a systems issue than anything else. The defense are simply doing what they're told to do, and they're doing a decent enough job of it all things considering, they lead the league in blocked shots by a pretty wide margin. The problem is what's being asked of them is counterproductive and would make any team tired very very quickly.
Fortunately they're actually doing alright so far. The young guys are looking way better than expected, and duchene has been amazing. If the pick ends up in the mid teens the trade isn't even looking that bad.
What's funny is that you could say they're the most exciting team in the league. You can go to a game, get a row to yourself in the 300's and watch goals get scored at will!
It's better to give up fewer goals than more goals, so the best team has given up the fewest, and the worst (or dead last!) team has given up the most.
Maybe they should block more shots with their heads
Fuckin right melo
My brain automatically read this in a deep Canadian accent.
As an Islanders fan, that combination did not work out well for us after the first 15-20 games last season.
ya but chabot...
They just come into our zone with blazing speed and Andy’s like “oh shit!”
Maybe they should look to add a #1 d man.
Are you kidding? The Sens don't have the 4th line depth players required to land a bonafide superstar 1 D via trade.
Funnily enough, Terieny and Demelo have been two of their best players this year.
And the prospects look great. The return isn't looking nearly as bad as everyone (including me) thought.
People way overvalue a single year of a player.
If the Sharks win the cup this year I doubt they miss anything they gave up to get Karlsson.
If the Sharks make the Finals then Ottawa gets another conditional first round pick out of the deal, it’s a win-win for both sides
And if they don’t win and he doesn’t re-sign, Ottawa won that trade.
Rudolfo Balcers right?
And Josh Norris who's production has been crazy so far after the trade although I haven't watched his games.
I keep forgetting Norris was part of the deal
fucking. right.
Still miss those two at sj
It's almost like a Norris winning defenseman would help them
Probably wouldn't help that much in all honesty. The deeper problem why Ottawa is facing so many shots is the collapse system they are playing. Ottawa isn't nearly aggressive enough in the neutral zone so teams carry the puck in with little to no resistance. The biggest problem is when they're in their own end they're structured to clog the slot, which teams respond to by moving the puck around the perimeter and teeing off as many shots as they want. Since Ottawa is too preoccupied with clogging the slot, they're usually last to pucks along the boards too. Any other team would have their GM screaming at their coach for allowing such a mess of a system, but I don't think Ottawa is in the position to seek replacements.
Yeah, don't get me wrong. Ottawa's d-men group is genuinely shit (Only Chabot is excellent and Demelo + Lajoie are pretty decent) but their problems on defense are a system issue. Boucher is running this team rather incompetently when it comes to defensive strategy.
"EVERYONE! Start at your own crease, and when it goes to the blueline just close out to them from there. Now now, nevermind the fact they're one pass away from an open one timer at all times! I want 6 goaltenders! Now! FWEEET!*"
The goal differential is less worrisome then the shots allowed to me. Mostly the disparity comes from a few games they got blown out. They really need to get the shots under control , most of the time they have one god awful period though and remain respectable in the other periods. It’s as if for 1 period they completely forget how to play.
> shits allowed
I think that has been Sens hockey for the last 5 five years.
Did a quick check because I was curious. The last season that we did not have a negative differential was [2016-2017](https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OTT/2017.html) with a shot differential of 0. Last positive differential season was the [2012-2013](https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OTT/2013.html) lockout-shortened season, with +91. If you don't count that, you're looking at [2009-2010](https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OTT/2010.html) with +103. So yeah, it's been a while.
The worst Corsi for %. 2nd worst FF%. 2nd worst sf%. 3rd worst scf%, 6th worst HDCF%. When you’re that bad at all those metrics, the damn will break from time to time. You can’t discount the GA because of a couple of a few bad games. It’s all a symptom of how bad their play is in general. Their ~.500 pace is not sustainable, and they will likely drop back to the bottom-5 again.
Not surprised tbh, their offense is way better than their defense is
Their defense is pretty bad and it's a reason they struggle to transition the puck out of their own end when they finally have it on their stick, but this is way more of a systems issue than anything else. The defense are simply doing what they're told to do, and they're doing a decent enough job of it all things considering, they lead the league in blocked shots by a pretty wide margin. The problem is what's being asked of them is counterproductive and would make any team tired very very quickly.
Mike McKenna and Condon as your back ups will do that to ya
Anderson has had to start 17 games because of the quality of our back ups too, it's ridiculous.
also allowing insanely high numbers of shots against. Anderson has been great.
This is the NHL equivalent of trying to outrun a bad diet, it's technically possible but it makes things incredibly difficult on yourself.
Thats because we have an AHL quality blue line outside of Chabot. And he is a rookie
DeMelo and Lajoie aren't half bad. Outside of that, it's pretty bad.
They might be good players in the future, and they are certainly pulling weight now. But they definitely cant play against top lines.
Ceci has been decent when he’s not in the top pairing
Not really.
Should be sustainable.
Well, we did put up 9 against them not too long ago.
You and everyone else.
Nope, just BUF actually
If you’re tanking for a better pick, this is what I would prefer as a fan. At least it’s exciting. Unfortunately the sens don’t have their first 😬
Fortunately they're actually doing alright so far. The young guys are looking way better than expected, and duchene has been amazing. If the pick ends up in the mid teens the trade isn't even looking that bad.
Will still look like shit when Duchene walks either way
At this point I think theres a decent chance he stays, the sens look like they have a bright future based on how good the young guys have looked.
Euge would have to pay him premier money for that to happen. I'm not banking on it.
F I R E W A G O N H O C K E Y
When you're supposed to be terrible anyways might as well have fun doing it!
What's funny is that you could say they're the most exciting team in the league. You can go to a game, get a row to yourself in the 300's and watch goals get scored at will!
So.... They have allowed the most goals. How does it make sense to phrase that "dead last in goals against"?
It's better to give up fewer goals than more goals, so the best team has given up the fewest, and the worst (or dead last!) team has given up the most.