The franchise knows the difficulty of replacing such a prominent scorer,

Just over a week until the start of the season, its almost impossible to get a feel for how the Ottawa Senators will look. Josh Jackson Packers Jersey . This is probably tied into the fact that their expected results and actual results have been all over the place over the last three years - the first two with Ottawa handily beating low expectations and the Senators woefully underperforming lofty dark horse talk last season. The general consensus for this season is that the team will struggle to beat last years 88-point total, primarily due to the fact that replacement options for Jason Spezza seem limited. Two of the three pieces in the trade that moved Spezza to Dallas will not play in the NHL this season, while the third - Alex Chiasson - is penciled in as a second/third-line winger. The franchise knows the difficulty of replacing such a prominent scorer, but believes theyll be a better team down the road after the three-for-one swap. Though the team was guarded in talking about Spezzas departure, I found it interesting how the team was using him last season. Despite being the face of the franchise and the highest-paid player on the team, head coach Paul MacLean deployed Spezza as the teams second-line centre. And he did this frequently. The emergence of Kyle Turris as a bona fide top-six pivot certainly helped things along, but it was fascinating to see the paradigm quietly shift during last season. Take, for example, a comparison of Turris and Spezzas teammates last year. Intuitively, first-line centres should enjoy more talented teammates - the trio earning decisive ice-time and, by virtue of deployment, facing tougher waves of competition. That said, Ive compiled quality of teammate numbers (based on ice time) for each centre and graphed it (first graph) using a 10-game rolling average. The higher the number, the better the teammate (Turris in blue, Spezza in red). If you watched a lot of Ottawa last season, the fact that Turris saw a better assortment of teammates than Spezza shouldnt be surprising. Turris played 75 per cent of his minutes with Clarke MacArthur, 66 per cent of his minutes with Bobby Ryan, and about 50 per cent of his minutes with Erik Karlsson. On the other hand, the only other regular forward Jason Spezza played with was the older Milan Michalek - Spezza played about 69 per cent of his minutes with the aging winger. As for the brief inversion of the teammate quality in the above graph, it can be explained in two words: Ales Hemsky. Ottawa acquired Hemsky at the deadline and put him on Spezzas wing, and the two made beautiful magic in their brief time together. That brief stretch aside, it was clear Spezza was getting second-rate forwards, at least relative to the younger Turris. We know how Paul MacLean assembled the lineup. But, how did other teams react to Paul MacLeans lineup assembly? Lets focus on the quality of competition each center faced on the left graph, again in rolling 10-game averages. The second graph (Turris in blue, Spezza in red) is best captured in one statement. Teams viewed the MacArthur-Turris-Ryan line as Ottawas biggest threat. Spezzas line generally saw weaker competition than Turris line and it would seem rather clear that part of it was due to the fact that Turris was surrounded by better wingers. Spezza, less so. This also makes sense if you consider that, after the Senators acquired Ales Hemsky, Spezzas line started to see a comparable or tougher wave of relative competition. Ultimately, replacing Spezzas production - his 2.22 points/60 was good for 25th in the league last year, a very respectable number - will prove difficult in the short-term for MacLean. But I think part of solving this issue is properly isolating the question. Ottawas going to need massive efforts from centres Mika Zibanejad, David Legwand, and Zack Smith this year as they attempt to mitigate the loss of Spezza and his 18-plus minutes from their lineup. The trickle-down effect is real and seeing if those who are replacing Spezzas minutes - especially the young Zibanejad - will be game to handle an increased workload is going to be one of the coaching staffs biggest challenges. Theres also the massive absence on the power play, where Spezzas magical playmaking ability and corresponding ice-time will be sorely missed. One question that doesnt need to be answered, though, is how to replace the loss of a first-line centre. Ottawa subtly answered that question one season ago. Jaire Alexander Jersey . Others describe it as taking the parrot for a walk. Marquez Valdes-Scantling Packers Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Steve Mason, Philadelphia (4) - Mason was brilliant all night long with save after big save on Benoit Pouliot, Carl Hagelin and Derick Brassard. http://www.packersauthoritystore.com/Authentic-Deshone-Kizer-Packers-Jersey/ . Cabrera is hitting .218 with three homers and 16 RBI in 80 games this season. The Padres recalled second baseman Brooks Conrad from Triple-A El Paso to replace Cabrera on the roster.Hull manager Steve Bruce has admitted he is hoping to be offered the England job after a series of interviews with the FA. His club confirmed on Monday that Bruce had held in-person talks with Football Association vice-chairman David Gill, technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn.He is one of at least two candidates, along with Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce, that have been interviewed to succeed Roy Hodgson and Sky sources understand the FA are attempting to make an appointment by the end of this week. Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ ahead of Hulls pre-season friendly against Mansfield at Field Mill on Tuesday night, Bruce said: Who wouldnt [want to be England manager], if youre English?Its got to be the one prime job any Englishman can ever want to have. Im highly flattered and extremely grateful to even be considered.Any Englishman, for their salt, would be really, really proud to be England manager. If anything happens, then lets see what the rest of the week brings and, if it does, happy days. Bruce is up against hiss old friend Sam Allardyce for the England job Allardyce is favourite to succeed the sacked Roy Hodgson, with the FA understood to prefer an English candidate. Green Bay Packers Jerseys. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe and USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann are also thought to be of interest.Bruce, though, hopes he has done enough to convince the governing body that he can get the best out of a team that has serially underachieved at major tournaments, and lost to Iceland in Euro 2016s last-16,You never know with an interview. I hope it went OK, he said. I put my case across and lets hope Im successful.But then again Im up against a big pal of mine in Sam, and apparently theres some other candidates in the mix too.What I said in the interviews has to remain there. But weve got to take away the fear, especially at tournaments.Weve only won one of our last seven games at two tournaments, and weve got some good players, especially young players. Thats got to be the main thing. 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