Yes but.

Lafrenierre is a good 2nd round pick. Not a #1 overall. And Kakko is invisible.

I disagree. The horses matter yes. So does the guy driving the cart. It all matters. St.Louis Blues beat Boston how ? How did they even make it there? A lot of people seem to think it was Craig Berube. He seems to think so of himself even. We shall see.

Maybe just maybe....the Sens are in a mature enough position to realise structure, then stats matter.

Every mock so far has us taking Richardinson at 7. I'm okay with that, big rangy D (shoots L tho).

But I could also see the Sens swapping firsts with Calgary is some sort of deal invovling Weegar or Markstrom.

Every mock so far has us taking Richardinson at 7. I'm okay with that, big rangy D (shoots L tho).

But I could also see the Sens swapping firsts with Calgary is some sort of deal invovling Weegar or Markstrom.
- GrimmdaGoalie

If Calgary is as high on Iginla 2.0 as people have made them out to be, and Tij is still on the board at 7, this might be desperation worth trying to exploit.

Calgary has the opposite problem Ottawa has: multiple top 4 RD, and they just landed another top 4 potential righty in Miromanov in the Hanifin deal. A pick flip and Chychrun for Weegar/Andersson plus one of Calgary's better forward prospects (Honzek, Pelletier, Zary, Coronato come to mind), or a goalie flip could be a bold move that works for both teams.

Or, you know, we could draft Iginla and push that conversation down the road.

Interesting Sportsnet trade proposal:

Calgary Flames get: RW Mitch Marner, C Fraser Minten, LW Nick Robertson, D Timothy Liljegren
Toronto Maple Leafs get: G Jacob Markstrom*, D Rasmus Andersson
*Flames retain 25 per cent of Markstrom’s remaining salary

Every mock so far has us taking Richardinson at 7. I'm okay with that, big rangy D (shoots L tho).

But I could also see the Sens swapping firsts with Calgary is some sort of deal invovling Weegar or Markstrom.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Please elaborate on this ''Sens swapping firsts with Calgary is some sort of deal invovling Weegar or Markstrom''

If Calgary is as high on Iginla 2.0 as people have made them out to be, and Tij is still on the board at 7, this might be desperation worth trying to exploit.

Calgary has the opposite problem Ottawa has: multiple top 4 RD, and they just landed another top 4 potential righty in Miromanov in the Hanifin deal. A pick flip and Chychrun for Weegar/Andersson plus one of Calgary's better forward prospects (Honzek, Pelletier, Zary, Coronato come to mind), or a goalie flip could be a bold move that works for both teams.

Or, you know, we could draft Iginla and push that conversation down the road.
- Bartacus

Are you suggesting Calgary would trade #9 and either Weeger or Anderson plus one of Honzek, Pelletier, Zary, Coronato for pending UFA Chychrun and #7?
If so you're crazy!
There will be vertually no difference in the quality of player picked at #7 and # 9
I seriously lose brain cells when I look at this page!!!!!!

Are you suggesting Calgary would trade #9 and either Weeger or Anderson plus one of Honzek, Pelletier, Zary, Coronato for pending UFA Chychrun and #7?
If so you're crazy!
There will be vertually no difference in the quality of player picked at #7 and # 9
I seriously lose brain cells when I look at this page!!!!!!
- DEDDIE

I'm saying it could be part if a bigger deal, a little sugar to sweeten the pot.

What do I like about the direction the Sens are taking right now. It may seem long and slow and drawn out, but look at the major pieces they are putting into play.

Staios, Poulin and now Travis Green .... all enjoyed relatively long and good careers as players. These are hockey men and are still young enough for players today to know about their careers. They all were known as hard and diligent workers at the roles they played for their teams. So when it comes to teaching structure and defining an identity I can't help but think the current Sens players can see this and be influenced by it. There is also Bowness and the operations dept that are being fleshed out know. Nothing flashy, but good solid people running the ship. I don't think we see the slip ups and constant poop show we saw with the previous regime.
Then you toss in guys like Martin and Alfredsson ... Neal, Phillips, Redden, etc..... this is building a good culture as well. All were hard working players/coaches.

As was raised during the interview, one of Green's weak spots was defensively as a coach. Here is where I think the proper hires of assistants could be important. If they are able to get that defensive minded assistant (John Gruden?) to help put the pieces together. I think they keep Chiarelli, not sure what they do with Capuano. But I could see 2 new assistant hires.

I can see the parts slowly coming together. I can see a slow and steady improvement in the minors starting with this years draft. Next up will be the trades to sort through some of the team's pieces and how they mesh ... much like the meshing they are doing with the management staffing needs.

Are you suggesting Calgary would trade #9 and either Weeger or Anderson plus one of Honzek, Pelletier, Zary, Coronato for pending UFA Chychrun and #7?
If so you're crazy!
There will be vertually no difference in the quality of player picked at #7 and # 9
I seriously lose brain cells when I look at this page!!!!!!
- DEDDIE

I'm not sure about your brain cell count before you arrived here. Do you watch Flames hockey? Did you know they had a captain named Iginla who's child is now a top ten draft prospect? Did you know Ottawa picks BEFORE Calgary. If you've got this far in the pop up book....come a little farther. IF said player is coveted by Calgary (and it's been suggested he is) and IF he is still on the board at 7. Then scratch and sniff the hockey jock strap for a smell of a trade. One that involves Calgary making it worthwhile for Ottawa to trade 7....for 9. Furthermore, this Calgary team has a glut of right shooting D men and Ottawa has too many left. Again, a trade was suggested by people posting here. No actual firm deal was thrown out. Just a bunch of names. So, check back in when you've got a proposal please.

I'm not sure about your brain cell count before you arrived here. Do you watch Flames hockey? Did you know they had a captain named Iginla who's child is now a top ten draft prospect? Did you know Ottawa picks BEFORE Calgary. If you've got this far in the pop up book....come a little farther. IF said player is coveted by Calgary (and it's been suggested he is) and IF he is still on the board at 7. Then scratch and sniff the hockey jock strap for a smell of a trade. One that involves Calgary making it worthwhile for Ottawa to trade 7....for 9. Furthermore, this Calgary team has a glut of right shooting D men and Ottawa has too many left. Again, a trade was suggested by people posting here. No actual firm deal was thrown out. Just a bunch of names. So, check back in when you've got a proposal please.
- Octavarium

All I was saying was Calgary might have Iginla's kid ranked higher than us at 7, and might covet him more than most other teams. I don't think k he is a top 10 draft pick but I thought the Korpo deal would work out, so what do I know.

If there ever is a trade with Calgary, I don't want Weegar. He would most likely be paired with Chabot .... so who would be playing actual defence?


Next step ...
1) Hire the proper assistant coaches.
2) Fix the defence and defensive structure. Find the RD they need. Decide on what to do with Chychrun, Brannstrom, JBD, Hamonic
3) Top 6 forward that plays a full 200 foot game.
4) Bottom 6 forward and grinder (like Scott Laughton).

I am curious to see several Belleville Sens at summer camp and tryouts for Ottawa. Klevin, Guenette on defense and Halliday, Ostapchuk, and Crookshank at forward.

And finally ..... who will be the potential core player to be traded away?

If there ever is a trade with Calgary, I don't want Weegar. He would most likely be paired with Chabot .... so who would be playing actual defence?


Next step ...
1) Hire the proper assistant coaches.
2) Fix the defence and defensive structure. Find the RD they need. Decide on what to do with Chychrun, Brannstrom, JBD, Hamonic
3) Top 6 forward that plays a full 200 foot game.
4) Bottom 6 forward and grinder (like Scott Laughton).

I am curious to see several Belleville Sens at summer camp and tryouts for Ottawa. Klevin, Guenette on defense and Halliday, Ostapchuk, and Crookshank at forward.

And finally ..... who will be the potential core player to be traded away?
- OttawaB

Agreed about assistant coaches. Don't want Capuano back. Should be a clean sweep. And I don't want Alfie back as an assistant. Nolan Bumgartner's name is out there, which would be good as he is a D specialist.

But you have to figure one spot on the roster has to be filled by a B Sen? Whether it be a D spot or the bottom 6 forward position?

I'm not sure about your brain cell count before you arrived here. Do you watch Flames hockey? Did you know they had a captain named Iginla who's child is now a top ten draft prospect? Did you know Ottawa picks BEFORE Calgary. If you've got this far in the pop up book....come a little farther. IF said player is coveted by Calgary (and it's been suggested he is) and IF he is still on the board at 7. Then scratch and sniff the hockey jock strap for a smell of a trade. One that involves Calgary making it worthwhile for Ottawa to trade 7....for 9. Furthermore, this Calgary team has a glut of right shooting D men and Ottawa has too many left. Again, a trade was suggested by people posting here. No actual firm deal was thrown out. Just a bunch of names. So, check back in when you've got a proposal please.
- Octavarium

The variation in draft prospects 2-12 or 13 is neglegable so paying a significant price to move from 9 to 7 makes little sense for the Flames when their getting an equal player in either spot. Calgary is starting a much needed rebuild and quite frankly needs help everywhere but high end prospects at center and defense (with size) are the pain points in our prospect depth chart.
The trade that makes sense for both teams would see Calgary aquiring pick #7 for a package including Markstrom and a right shot D not pick #9.
New ownership in Ottawa and the fan base wants/needs to win now and the fact that they are forfeiting their 1st round pick next year supports this logic. Forfeiting a top 10 pick in the 2025 draft would really smell!
This proposal was floated on the Flames page and I think its pretty fair:
Markstrom & Rasmus Andersen (exact needs for Ottawa RHD & Goaltending)
for Korpisalo, Chychryn & pick #7.

That deal isn't terrible.

What do I like about the direction the Sens are taking right now. It may seem long and slow and drawn out, but look at the major pieces they are putting into play.

Staios, Poulin and now Travis Green .... all enjoyed relatively long and good careers as players. These are hockey men and are still young enough for players today to know about their careers. They all were known as hard and diligent workers at the roles they played for their teams. So when it comes to teaching structure and defining an identity I can't help but think the current Sens players can see this and be influenced by it. There is also Bowness and the operations dept that are being fleshed out know. Nothing flashy, but good solid people running the ship. I don't think we see the slip ups and constant poop show we saw with the previous regime.
Then you toss in guys like Martin and Alfredsson ... Neal, Phillips, Redden, etc..... this is building a good culture as well. All were hard working players/coaches.

As was raised during the interview, one of Green's weak spots was defensively as a coach. Here is where I think the proper hires of assistants could be important. If they are able to get that defensive minded assistant (John Gruden?) to help put the pieces together. I think they keep Chiarelli, not sure what they do with Capuano. But I could see 2 new assistant hires.

I can see the parts slowly coming together. I can see a slow and steady improvement in the minors starting with this years draft. Next up will be the trades to sort through some of the team's pieces and how they mesh ... much like the meshing they are doing with the management staffing needs.
- OttawaB

Yep, i am on board too, i think they are assembling a deep pool of talent to guide this team. Am i expecting playoffs, not necessarily but i also would not be surprised.
Greene's presser was terrific. I enjoyed the part saying "you better be in top shape of day 1 training camp . First impresssions mean alot."
It has been a long road with many potholes. But i do see the professionalism taking hold. Its terrific to finally see. I truly believe they are building something that will last a long time.

The variation in draft prospects 2-12 or 13 is neglegable so paying a significant price to move from 9 to 7 makes little sense for the Flames when their getting an equal player in either spot. Calgary is starting a much needed rebuild and quite frankly needs help everywhere but high end prospects at center and defense (with size) are the pain points in our prospect depth chart.
The trade that makes sense for both teams would see Calgary aquiring pick #7 for a package including Markstrom and a right shot D not pick #9.
New ownership in Ottawa and the fan base wants/needs to win now and the fact that they are forfeiting their 1st round pick next year supports this logic. Forfeiting a top 10 pick in the 2025 draft would really smell!
This proposal was floated on the Flames page and I think its pretty fair:
Markstrom & Rasmus Andersen (exact needs for Ottawa RHD & Goaltending)
for Korpisalo, Chychryn & pick #7.
- DEDDIE

Anderson and Markstrom alone or together are not remotely close to bieing worth a top 10 pick yet alone adding chych.

anderson and chych are close in value with maybe a pick going with chych for the RD premium anderson would get.

OTT would not spend more than a 2nd rounder for marktstrom he is 34 YO, way too old for OTT to waste assets on, his value comes when he will be a pending UFA and fetch a similar return than Kuemper got for ARI/Utah when they traded himn to COL.

I am getting pretty tired of some of the talking heads (Kyprios, etc.) talking about the Sens going cheap on a new coach ... again. The reality is that we and them have no idea how Green will actually do. That was not a good Vancouver team he coached, but he still had 2 winning seasons there.

Here is a list of the "top candidates" for coach. The reality is that they all share one thing .... all have been fired multiple times because they had bad years.

Berube
2 years with Philly …. Lost in first round, missed the playoffs, fired
5 years with St. Louis …. Won cup in first year with a team that was underperforming and he helped turn around. Then lost in first round after winning division, lost in first round, lost in 2nd round, missed playoffs, fired after poor start

So, really, only 1 or 2 good seasons. Won the Cup with a team he inherited. Is this a coach worth 4-6 years and $6 million plus for salary?

McLellan
7 years with San Jose …. Lost in conference finals twice, but could never get this underperforming team over the hump. The western version of Ottawa.
4 years with Edmonton …… missed playoffs, lost in 2nd round, missed playoffs, fired
5 years with LA Kings ….. missed playoffs for 2 years, lost to Edmonton for 2 years in first round, fired in 5th season

Dean Evason
4 years with Minnesota …. Lost in first round all 4 years, fired in 5th year.

Gallant
3 years with Columbus …. Missed playoffs each year
3 years with Florida ….. missed playoffs, lost in first round, fired
3 years with Vegas …. Lost in Cup finals, lost in first round, fired
2 years with Rangers ….. lost in Conference finals, lost in first round, fired

None of these gents really stand out for their records. Ottawa needs a coach to help teach and develop. Gallant (a favorite in these parts) is known more for his perferring veteran players. And I'm still convinced that Berube did not want Ottawa. Yes we negotiated with him, but I think his primary target is Toronto. We shall see how long that "extensive Toronto coach search" takes.

Two questions

Who should the Sens draft - a forward or defenseman?

Who do you THINK Sens are most like to draft - a forward or D-man?

My Top 5 Forwards for Sens

1. Macklin Celebrini (C)
2. Ivan Demidov (RW)
3. Cayden Lindstrom (C)
4. Berkely Catton (C) - could easily go ahead of Lindstrom
5. Tij Iginla (LW)

My Top 5 D-men for Sens

1. Artyom Levshunov (RD)
2. Anton Silayev (LD)
3. Zeev Buium (LD) - solid pick
4. Sam Di ckson (LD) - safe pick, Top 4D
5. Carter Yakemchuk (RD)

I am getting pretty tired of some of the talking heads (Kyprios, etc.) talking about the Sens going cheap on a new coach ... again. The reality is that we and them have no idea how Green will actually do. That was not a good Vancouver team he coached, but he still had 2 winning seasons there.

Here is a list of the "top candidates" for coach. The reality is that they all share one thing .... all have been fired multiple times because they had bad years.

Berube
2 years with Philly …. Lost in first round, missed the playoffs, fired
5 years with St. Louis …. Won cup in first year with a team that was underperforming and he helped turn around. Then lost in first round after winning division, lost in first round, lost in 2nd round, missed playoffs, fired after poor start

So, really, only 1 or 2 good seasons. Won the Cup with a team he inherited. Is this a coach worth 4-6 years and $6 million plus for salary?

McLellan
7 years with San Jose …. Lost in conference finals twice, but could never get this underperforming team over the hump. The western version of Ottawa.
4 years with Edmonton …… missed playoffs, lost in 2nd round, missed playoffs, fired
5 years with LA Kings ….. missed playoffs for 2 years, lost to Edmonton for 2 years in first round, fired in 5th season

Dean Evason
4 years with Minnesota …. Lost in first round all 4 years, fired in 5th year.

Gallant
3 years with Columbus …. Missed playoffs each year
3 years with Florida ….. missed playoffs, lost in first round, fired
3 years with Vegas …. Lost in Cup finals, lost in first round, fired
2 years with Rangers ….. lost in Conference finals, lost in first round, fired

None of these gents really stand out for their records. Ottawa needs a coach to help teach and develop. Gallant (a favorite in these parts) is known more for his perferring veteran players. And I'm still convinced that Berube did not want Ottawa. Yes we negotiated with him, but I think his primary target is Toronto. We shall see how long that "extensive Toronto coach search" takes.
- OttawaB

For what it's worth, in fairness to the talking heads, Friedman reported that the Berube talks went south because of his purported $$$ ask. If CB is a prime candidate for the Toronto gig, you'd have to imagine he'd be looking for a deal commensurate with what the Leafs will give him, and there's just no way a small market team like Ottawa can (or should) compete with that degree of expectation. Still think Evason or the newly unemployed Keefe would be better options based on their records, but willing to give the front office the benefit of the doubt. It would be nice to start a season without a losing record - that's an important litmus.

I wish more insiders would step up and say what Marc Methot posted on X

Marc Methot

@MarcMethot3
·
18h
Unpopular(?) opinion, but there’s way too much emphasis on head coaches in the NHL. It’s ridiculous now. Team success hinges mostly on the leaders and core players. Everybody knows it, but not enough people talk about it.

Is there anything more hockey naive than the idea that we will become contenders if, we trade away 3rd and 4th line players, replace the 6th and 7th Dman on our depth chart and, of course, hire a new coach.