Given a chance to take a regular shift on the team's top line, Colin Greening is a player that has looked more and more comfortable each night. Greening, a 7th round pick in the 2005 draft, certainly looks like a guy that could contribute next season.
He has a rare combination of size and speed (won the team's fastest skater competition) and always seems to know where to go on the ice. Much like fellow call-up Erik Condra, Greening seems to have terrific hockey sense, something you always look for in a young player.
In 17 games with the big club, the Newfoundland native has racked up 8 points and has a +2 rating while averaging 14:15 in ice-time a game.
There are a number of young players to get excited about if you are a fan of the Ottawa Senators. I think it's safe to go ahead and add the name of Colin Greening to that list.
With two more points last night, Jason Spezza continues his late season push for the team's scoring lead. He is now tied with Erik Karlsson at 44 points despite playing 17 fewer games.
There have been few more encouraging signs in this roller coaster of a season than the improved play of Jason Spezza. His development as a hockey player has been astounding to watch this year. And at just 27 years old, he is a terrific piece to build around moving forward.
Spezza, along with Erik Karlsson and Marek Svatos, missed practice in New York today. Sens visit the Rangers tomorrow night.
he takes way too many penalties, and his upside isn't enough to compensate for the disadvantage he gives us almost every night.
certainly we can find a more disciplined player to fill our 3rd line centre role.
Or, the organization could have a minor talk with a 22 year old who plays on the edge and reel him in a little bit. I like his upside too much to punish him for being young (especially on this team).
landeskog spezza butler
michalek regin alfie
folgino shannon condra
smith winchester neil
Michalek - Spezza - Butler
Landeskog - Greening - Alfredson
Regin - Winchester - Condra
Foligno - Z. Smith - Neil/Shannon
OR
Greening - Spezza - Michalek - big, fast 1st line
Landeskog - Regin - Alfredson
Foligno - Winchester - Butler
Condra - Z. Smith - Neil
Why would we trade that pick for etem when he isn't even having a good year? I was a huge fan of his last year, but really not impressed this year. With nashvilles pick, we could just take oleksiak or if you really want a forward bartschi/rattie or maybe even armia. I think unless nashvilles pick becomes a 22+ pick that is a trade I would never do.
Shannon's got 10 points in the past 14 games. he's versatile, and has chemistry with whoever he's on the ice with at the time
Regin has been a bust this season, and while he has potential, he really hasn't developped Chemistry with anybody on the team except for Alex Kovalev, who doesn't play here anymore.
Michalek-Spezza-Butler
Landeskog-Laich-Alfie
Greening-Regin-Condra
Foligno-Smith-Neil
Shannon
With the likes of silfverberg,wic k,obrien,peters son,our draft picks this year and possible college signings waiting in the wings.
Can training camp start already?!
Good post. I agree we must add greening to the list..
Interestingly enough, I remember Greening was interviewed in either his first or second game as a sen, and he summed himself up perfectly. He said something to the effect of "I'm not the most talented guy on the ice, but I find I compliment the best players on the team well, therefore I often find myself on the first line, and put up points."
This is exactly what I see from him, one thing ottawa has done in the past is always put the top 3 players on the same line. Having a player like greening who isn't the most talented on the team, but can play that top line role simply due to chemistry is so valuable. Allows you to put more money (and skill) on those second and even third lines.
It's not always about skills, but chemistry. I would love to see greening continue to grow in that role.
Nothing wrong with balance.
your right about michalek and spezza not having chemistry, which is why he should be on the second line. michalek would be better if he could keep the puck on his stick and not lose it in between his skates when skating down the ice
Next year we can have better balance and better effort from our top 6 guys - both reasons for cautious optimism.
Yet according to your "fantasy lines" Landeskog (who has never played a game in the NHL is a first-line forward???)
Go figure??
p line with Butler and Spezza and hopefully Regin can step up and centre the second line with Michalek and Alfie
no, but has plenty more upside
Condra and Greening have both been two gem's that I had no idea that existed until their callups, this roster will be a tough one to crack next season thanks to their surprising play.
He's got size and speed, stands up for teammates when he needs to, and can contribute offensively.
Next year is shaping up to be a great season to watch!
Glad to see optimism, but I think it might have gone a little overboard. It's fine to be excited about Condra, Greening, Butler, Smith etc, but to be clear, these are the types of players any team has.
I don't think any fans question our depth of 3rd/4th line players. If Butler or Greening can evolve to a top 6 spot, fantastic, but we have a huge hole when it comes to top-end talent.
Even if our pick this year turns out great, we still need another superstar for the future to really look bright.
Not trying to be a downer, but before each season, people put these ridiculous expectations for a handful of players (Winchester, Regin, Foligno I could go on), then add the obligatory, "If everyone plays up to their maximum potential and these (8) players have breakout seasons..."
A bit harsh. I think he does have a place but I agree that more discipline is needed. He can learn.
This is what I'm talking about. Greening and Condra have played well, even surpassed expectations, but to call them 'gems' already? That seems way too much for me. Alfie is a gem. Zetterberg is a gem. Greening? Certainly not yet.
I agree they'll make for stiffer competition at next year's camp but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Our we so starved for talent and accustomed to lack of effort that these players look like "gems"?
It really depends on your definition of a gem. To me a 7th round pick who then becomes a regular nhl player is a gem. There are all types of gems though, not every one is a top end diamond.
Ditto, players that noone had talked about, stepping into the NHL and looking for real? Thats gems to me. All the talk before had been about Butler/Locke/O' Brien, maybe a little about Wick, but Condra and Greening were just names on the B-sens scoresheets to me before their callups.
Etem isn't having a good year? he's 5th in the WHL in goals scored with 45 goals in 65 games..and 3 of the guys ahead of him have played 4-7 more games... Jeff skinner, AKA rookie of the year nominee Jeff skinner, finished his junior season with 50. a number that etem would surely have match ed had he played a full season
Not to mention, Etem is one year older, and one year more developped than anybody we would draft with Nashvilles pick
Anyway, my point still stands - Butler, Condra, Greening are the kinds of prospects every team has.
I'm glad they're stepping up and interested to see what they bring next year, but these aren't skilled forwards. Some posters on this blog seem to have Greening as a first line non-skill complimentary player, Butler as a top line goal scorer and Condra as a 20 goal supporter.
I just think we expect too much from our 'bottom-6-type' prospects
Completely agree that expectations are way out of whack for our young propects. Some posters seem to assume the rest of the teams in the league won't be attempting to improve as well. I fully expect that we'll be somewhere between 12th and 15th in the East next year but that's Ok because there's light at the end of the tunnel and the on-ice product is much more enjoyable than it was earlier this season.
http://www.the6thsens.com/2011-articles/march/therealcraiganderson95995.html
I mean, from 2006-2007, this guy had a .921 SV% and faced over 3800 shots...seems like a large enough sample to draw the conclusion that this guy is really good.
didn't count this years stats, as it looks pretty obvious this guy just did not want to be in colorado...
If anyone expects those totals, I agree they are mistaken, but Butler is not in the same boat as Greening and Condra. Butler is only useful in a top 6 role as he has limited defensive ability so far. I would not say he is a prospect everyone has though as he was on pace to be rookie of the year, won All Star MVP, and would possibly have been in the discussion for MVP in the AHL before the big team came calling.
I think most are just trying to say our prospects look good and with all the openings created there is little worry that those positions can be filled internally. I do still feel we need another top end scorer though, either through the draft, trade or FA, but that is nothing new to this roster.
I like 6thsens.com a lot but I think he's a little off on his Anderson appraisal. We've all seen Anderson's ability, so we know what a best-case scenario would look like (Anderson carrying a mediocre-at-bes t team).
Worst-case scenario (meant realistically, not literally) is that Anderson gives us a couple of solid-but-not-o utstanding years, then struggles for another two. Even if that HAPPENED, it's only $3.1m. For a possible #1 goalie, that's a good bargain and it won't take up too much capspace if Anderson turns into Elliott (god forbid).
Overall, I think almost every fan wanted 2-3 years, but even if everything goes wrong, this deal can't hurt us too much. Likely that we'll get something between worst and best cases.
Did you mean from 2006-2010 of which almost 2/3 of those shots were last year with Colorado and the rest were as a backup? That's not even a full 2 season sample size as a starter.
I feel there's an ebb and flow here. Goalie learns his position at NHL level and does well, skaters adjust and learn his weaknesses and how to score on him, goalie has to then adjust again and keep improving. That 3rd part is the stage Anderson is currently in, in my opinion.
bang on...greening has already shown a couple of glipses where he's raced back to our end to save a goal. I think he'll chip in some gritty goals at the other end and likely be a player that scores about 10-15 dirty goals a year.
Yeah that should be 2006-2010.
I guess my point is that everyone talks about the FA's available like Bryzgalov...wel l, he's only had 2 solid years in his last 3, and guess what, he's faced 3864 shots in that 2 year span.
I guess I just think that the difference between those two goalie's contracts are going to be remarkable, even though Bryz is older
Everybody calm down now, lets not call them gems until they actually show up next year. Everyone but me was all excited about egin cuz he scored 3 playoff goals centre by Spezza. Hahaha look how that turned out!
Condra and Greening have done exactly what I thought they would do, contribute at less than a point per game pace, anything above that would be Gem material.
Bryzgalov is a very good comparison case, but remember he's only 1 year older. Bryzgalov had a great 1st year as a starter in phoenix, then on a brutal team had a somewhat down year in his 2nd year and has followed that up with 2 more outstanding years. If Anderson does for the next 2 years what Bryzgalov has done for the last 2 years, Adnerson will definitely be considered a top 10 goalie in the league, but his curve is still 2 years behind and thus unproven long term so far. Both are good choices in their own right, I've just always preferred the proven commodity.
Condra = Samsonov
Greening = Wheeler
I was with you there Tookie when it came to Regin for this year. Foligno's still my boy, hope to see more improvement from him again next year.
I don't think we can count on Alfie to be on the second line next year. I hate to say it, but I don't think he can handle the minutes any more. If he is on the second line, he cannot kill penalties, and spend 20+minutes on the ice.
We don't know at this point if Butler, Greening & Condra are bottom-6 players or not. They have less than 25 NHL games experience that's not enough to really know.
All I see is that they are working hard & are hanging in there & CONTRIBUTING in just about every game they have played in against more talented & healthier teams.
Right now with the injuries & the trades Ottawa is playing with ONE top 6 forward in Spezza. Rest are 3rd or 4th liners & AHL callups & they are playing with intensity we have not seen all year. Since the goaltending change they have a winning record.
I like what these young guys bring. I want them on the team next season to see what they can do when the pressure is on. The experience they are getting in the games this season will go a long way into getting them ready for next year. After all a re-build is about getting younger so these guys do that. Let the young guys play next year.
Samsonov I'd put with Gomez & Jason Blake in terms of style (fast, small, carries puck into zone and around boards, not to the slot). Condra seems like a Winchester (good positioning, hard worker, solid 2-way player) with slightly less hitting and slightly better hands.
@ Jabs - even Butler is being overestimated in my mind. His style is top 6 for sure, but that doesn't mean he's a valuable addition to our second line. Still needs to get a full season under his belt to see if he can score consistently. I'll be happy if he puts up 15 goals next year.
People expected a lot more out of 1st rounder Folingo and 3rd rounder Regin. Still waiting on them two to breakout I guess.
Right now Butler, Greening and Condra are all being overestimated by fans. I guess fans are like sharks......new blood and they get all excited. Give it time folks.
I really feel like this year was an anomoly, with a shitty team and nagging injuries. Players with extreme fitness routines like Alfie can be effective even into their 40s. Look at Gary Roberts... hell. Mark Recchi is still a really good hockey player and he's what, 42??? Selanne is OVER 1P/G and he's 41 (?).
I don't think anyone's crazy for thinking Alfie is done, but he may well be on the FIRST line next year. He started the year on a point-a-game pace. You don't just get bad/old instantaneously , part way through the season. Mark my words. Alfie, back with a vengeance next season. He is a robot.
So, do you guys agree that that's a fair comparison? What about butler and gryba and all of our new potential prospects?
Thanks for the help folks.
He's definitely no sure thing, but if he gets top 6 minutes next year I would hope as a scorer he puts up 15-20 goals or else he's not ready for the nhl. I personally wouldn't expect more then that. His chemistry with Spezza though may help him get more minutes and opportunities ... but the same thing was thought for Regin, so definitely hard to say. I hope the sens spread the scoring around next year instead of a top line of Spezza-Alfie-Mi chalek, which sounds pretty weak as an all eggs in 1 basket line.
did you see that washington capitals rap?
I'm about 80% finished the lyrics for a waaaay better sens rap.
interested in co-executive producing a sweet (and hilarious) video? bring it up with Murray next time you see him, could be some big bucks involved.
BAD to be blunt, out of place to be nice. I think he was on the ice for 3 goals against. He just needs time to develop and fill out. Didn't help that he was paired with Kuba.
Are you Belly? If so I really enjoyed your last sens song!
I agree with connor smythe on Regin. I can see Ottawa giving him a shot at redeeming himself next year but failing. He is weak on the boards, and on his feet in general. Offensivley he constantly glides through the neutral zone with no speed and making himself an easy target. He plays scared too me. I think he will lose his depth positioning on this team although he has skill, I dont see it translating to its full potential in the show. Bring on the thumbs down, I know its coming......... . but I dont why
its ok, the people giving the thumbs downs are same ones who were against trading fisher and kelly...
the ones who wanted to trade Lee for the first half of the season, and now want to see him back next year. and the people who think alfie should remain captain, but will praise him if he steps down in the off-season.
thumbs up thumbs down is very near-sighted.
Would also like to see the full article on the home page, but that would be my second wish.
Seriously, am I the only one asking for these changes? Would it take up too much space? Clearly I'm missing something!
Don't you want me to stop bitching?!?! ;D
Thanks for the help folks.
not a new guy but Kuba = pylon and Gonchar = older pylon
Agree with everything but the Alfie comment. It still amazes me that people fail to recognize that getting rid of Kelly and Fisher's salaries not only give us flexibility to become a better team in the future, but we also became a better team IMMEDIATELY!
I know Fisher is a good guy. I know he loved Ottawa and did a lot of positive things. Still an overrated/overp aid hockey player.
Only thing you are missing is a little bit of patience. I have been working with the design guy to get through changes as quickly as possible but I do have other priorities.
I like the idea of a direct link to the popup comments though. Will be added in the near future. Thanks!
Unless it comes out of nowhere it doesnt look like it will be next season. More likely to be the season after that.
In my opinion they should be doing everything they can to have something in place for the All Star game but I don't get the sense that's gonna happen.
Thanks
Aparently Gryba's playing great. it was funny to see Tim Murray all sullen and cold faced when speaking about wiercioch, but then his face lit up when Mendes mentioned Gryba.
From the interview it really seemed like TM was much higher on Gryba
Perhaps they are keeping Gryba in the AHL to give Bingo a better chance at winning, and taking a 'free look' at Wiercioch on a team that doesn't necesarily need/want too many wins.
Gryba and Cowen were the best on D.
I really hope they give Gryba a chance within the next little while. He deserves the opportunity.
We as sens fans seem to like taking small sample sizes and setting ridiculous expectations for the following seasons. Seriuosly, we couldnt have hoped for better performances from our rookies to date but don't forget that they are playing without the slightest bit of pressure (this goes for Anderson and MacElhinney too). Expect next season to be a bad one too, but at least we will be treated to more exciting games and a chance to see youngsters fight for wins instead of old farts like kovalev floating around the ice.
I think it is less people overreacting to small sample size and more people actually being excited the organization has finally decided to rebuild. While Condra and Greening may never be true top 6 forwards, the way this year has played out, they probably should have been playing since day 1.
What does this have to do with what I said? I was talking about sens fans perceptions of rookies, not what the rookies felt themselves.
The two are not related.
The real pressure will come in training camp, when these guys are competing against ufa's and draft picks for roster spots.
If can't say as a fan that a guy like Colin Greening is playing well, and get excited about that, then what's the use of being a fan?
Just a question, can all the AHL callups return to Bingo after the season????
if so, bingo will be a tuff team to play against.
I disagree, and think they are playing under a ton of pressure
Stats: 8Gp 1G 4A Pts 5
Tell me how greening, condra, butler etc are under pressure? Who are they competeing with for roster spots? Lessard? C'mon man get real, this is pretty much the team for next year + Rundblad and Cowen! Talk to any of them 1-on-1 and they'll tell u they're having a blast playing on the top line with Spezza where they wouldnt normally have a chance if the team was competing for a playoff spot. As well, everytime they're in the media its about something good that they've done or how they are over-achieving as a team... yes they must be under so much pressure...
Wait till the beginning of next season when us sens fans are hungry for wins, thats when they will feel the REAL pressure!
The Scoreboard is set to be changed 3-4 years from now they said. The funding is just not there right now for it.
Butler, Condra, Weircoich, Greening, Lessard, Smith are all able to go back to Bingo to compete in the playoffs. Correct me if I am wrong but as long as you have a contract that includes AHL in it and you signed it before the deadline, you can play in the playoffs. All the guys above are on 2 way contracts so they are all ok.
That's too bad, cause that scoreboard they got now (and it's little tiny video screens) is a joke. I can't believe they are going to host an all-star game with that system in place.
This whole scoreboard issue is getting to be a little tedious. Brennan is always bitching about it in the Sun. I highly doubt that people's impression of the Ottawa All-star game will hinge on the quality of the scoreboard. If we have to do without a state-of-the-ar t one for a few more years, then so be it. I'm much more concerned with the quality of the team moving forward.
That doesn't make any sense. I thought we traded AK27 for a 7th round pick and a new scoreboard. How can "the euge" not commit to using the additional million we saved on Kovalev for a new scoreboard. What a cheap-ass.
I do. I'd like to be able to watch replays, in HD, at a live game.
There's no Guarantees to get Landeskog, but what about this:
Michalek - Spezza - Butler
Greening - Couturier - Alfredson
Regin - Winchester - Condra
Foligno - Z. Smith - Neil/Shannon
Just a thought...
Quite frankly put, if I want to watch video replays on a BIG screen I'll do it at home. If I'm going to the game I watch what's happening on the ice.
Colin and Greening may not be proven gems but they are certainly showing alot of potential.
Keep it up BB16!
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ipod videos digital photography nikon olympus buy chocolates corvette repair angels camp nokia mobile phones india fashion style magazine rip torn green office nikon f65 price 靴ルブタン
redoute ooh la la patio design ideas schneider sisley cosmetic piazzolla pro 1000 deck stand phillips speaker pro6 burt reynolds