You have to hate the blogosphere some times, you really do. Here we are, not 10 games into the regular season, and already the fans are pushing the panic button.The problem is that this really isn't appropriate yet. I mean, when most of your losses consist of games against western teams like Anahiem (twice), San Jose (twice), and Chicago, all of which can be charitably describes as "better than you are", you have to assume that most of those games are not going to go your way.
Never the less, the blogosphere is pushing the panic button: trade for defense. Trade for offense. Blame Ryan for not gelling with Spezza. Blame MacLean for not playing this guy, or for playing that guy. Blame Murray for the staffing problems.
The best one I read was a throw-away tweet vaguely blaming Alfredsson. It is obvious that if he had stayed in Ottawa, then the team would come together better and continue to overachieve.
This is the first year in a while where the Senators have been expected to impress, and it is harder to live up to those expectations than the previous years expectations of mediocrity. This year the team might just underwhelm. And while that's not good for the front office -- which already seems to have some problems in that area -- it is, frankly, to be expected.
No, the time to panic will be much later this year, when we have played more of the divisional rivals we are going to grind against through the year. Only then will we have a real picture of where the team is, night in and night out, against the competition that matters this year.
Comparing ourselves to the likes of Chicaco will only result in us coming up short -- and really that shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
