Eurolanche

Avs vs Sens so similar yet so different

A lot of people are blaming the Avs injury woes as the reason they don’t seem to compete every night. Yes not having your top two d-men in Johnson and Wilson kills. Missing Downie defiantly hurts the offense and grit. As well Landy out for some time and Duchene missing a game is bad news. Not to mention the hold out of O’Reilly is just a distraction and disaster at the same time. But none of these things are legitimate excuses for poor performances and only playing half the game.

If you don’t believe me then just take a look at the red hot Ottawa Senators right now. The Avs are missing the number one point guy from last year. They are missing their top three point leaders from last year in Spezza, Karlsson and Michalek. Not to mention the very familiar Anderson is out right now. Before he went down to injury he was having a Vezina season without a doubt. What is the big difference between the two teams? Coaching and GM team for Ottawa has proven to be far superior to the Avs team.

Paul MacLean how just been outstanding coaching the team and keeping them structured in every game. Like a well-oiled machine just switching in parts after every injury and just keeps rolling along. No doubt you can’t replace talent level of guys like Karlsson and Spezza with guys like Turris and Mark Borowiecki. MacLean makes it look easy taking his AHL roster team and having them look like NHL vets. Of course it is not just good coaching it’s some very solid moves by GM Bryan Murray. Murray blew this team up two seasons ago to start a rebuild and did he ever build fast. He started by dealing off some classic Sens in Fisher and Kelly to start stocking the draft picks. He then makes a huge move and let’s be honest fleeced the Avs by sending Elliot our way for Andy. After that he continues to stock up picks and move guys out. He then brings in some more budding talent in guys like Ben Bishop and Marc Methot for pennies. Combine that with some solid drafting and development of guys and you got the Sens as they are now. Not to mention Sens owner Eugene Melnyk cares about the team. Will often talk to the media give his opinion and interacts with fans. Something Avs ownership never does.

(Side note I) I will give the Avs management a break on this one being as Andy handcuffed them by refusing to even try when he couldn’t get the contract he wanted. Avs management could have tried to negotiate more with him. Really just a lot like the current O’Reilly problem.

Now if you look at the flip side at the Avs GM and coaching teaming since the rebuild started. Now Sherman has made some questionable moves for sure. The Johnson trade will always be split into two camps. The “we got robbed” and the “I like it Johnson a Stud”. More so Sherman’s failings seem to come in the signing department aka who he signs for no real reason(Zanon) and guys he just can’t seem to get signed(O’Reilly,Andy)His drafting has been good with some solid prospect in the mix. It would be nicer if he didn’t give away half the picks most years in trades. The Coaching is also just a head scratcher most of the time. Yes Sacco’s first season the team was awesome and made the playoffs. He was a Jack Adams finalist good for him. Since then things have gone downhill fast. His style lacks a lot of luster and he just seems like a spineless yes man most night. Sitting prospects for multiple games when really if you are going to do that just send them down and let them develop. No guys going to get better by sitting on the sidelines every night just watching. As well his imfamous doghouse that has chased some players right off the team.(Liles,Stewart) As well a lot of this can go onto the ownership group to for their archaic policies. Not to mention you can’t just let the players off the hook either.

All in all the team looks like a big mess from top to bottom most nights. That is not to say this season is a wash by any means. It just doesn’t seem like a team that is still growing anymore. More of a team that suffers from little problems here and there that eventually connect to shut the team down. Do changes need to be made? Hell yes!! Will we see them this year? I am doubtful on that. But it all begs a bigger question where do they even start treatment?

(Side Note II) I live in Ottawa and used to hate the Sens. This year they are growing on me by never giving up and fighting for every game. It is a really fun team to watch now. That being said having to hear how well they are doing every day from fans and local media is killing me when the two teams are in such similar situations.

(Side note III)A little neat thing I noticed at the last Sens game. Andy’s actual game pads from the Avs are for sale at the Sens Store. He put them up for sale there when he got traded to the team. I would assume knowing his involvement with charities that the money will go to one of his charities.