The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

After witnessing Ottawa stink up the joint for the fourth time in the row (four straight losses for the first time since 2001) and now sit 14th place in the Eastern Conference, is it okay for me not to feel so great about my Senators?

I just don't quite understand how they can be playing so bad. Yeah, there were changes: new coach, new players in, old players out, but at the same time there are still a number of players (twelve) who were on the roster when the Sens made it to the Cup final just 16 months ago. I mean, 16 months isn't THAT long ago, is it? All of the alleged "locker room poison" have packed their bags and should no longer be a distraction.

I noticed a trend with new contracts and stinking it up. Fisher is on the first year of a six year deal averaging $4.2 million a season and has no points in six games. Antoine Vermette made $1 million last year and now makes over $2.5 this year, and has one measly goal in 8 games.

The best line last night in the 3-2 loss to the Leafs was the fourth line of Dean McAmmond, Shean Donovan and Jarkko Ruutu. The Pizza line, talent wise, is better than anyone on the Leafs roster but if the effort isn't there and you're leaning on Donovan to score goals, it doesn't really matter and the game is pretty much over.

So, last year the Sens were on a tear immediately out of the gate and were 15-2 to start the season. They bombed the 2nd half and were swept out of the playoffs.

This year they're starting off on life support and don't look like they can win a game, much less put together a streak to put them in playoff contention.

Is it time to blow it up and rebuild a la Leafs, in an attempt to land John Tavares?

Or is this just smoke and mirrors and we'll see them peak later on the season, when it matters more?

For now, 1/10th of the way into the season, I'm not going to throw in the towel just yet. Give me another 10 games first and we'll see where my Sens are at.