Aside calling Erik Brannstrom a sexual young man (1:10) Dorion said the best piece he got was Brannstrom - more than Brady Tkachuk or any other piece in the rebuild (18:30). Man o Man, we should have to hold GMs accountable by recording and showcasing what they say and showing what they said in the past

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLkUCrhEElA&t=116s
- AlfieisKing

Why do you want to continuously live in the past? Move forward and look to the future, especially since the ownership and management team has completely changed. What happened in the past is done. No sense dwelling on missed picks and traded draft picks. We now have a different group moving forward who had nothing to do with that past. Let it go.

As a guess i would have to say there is more reasons why chychrun was traded at so low ofvalue and so hastily. I don't think it is the girouix rumour ,he laid that to rest.
I think jensens is a fine addition.

Or perhaps it is as simple as Ottawa overpaid for a player they didn't need. And had to solve that at a loss .
I also like the fact of no distractions moving forward. That in itself is priceless.
- spazzbot

100%. I will make no attempt to justify the sheer volume of draft capital that Dorion wasted, but I will give Staios a fair bit of leash while being obligated to undo that mess. The five major priorities for this off-season were to: a) bring in a top-4 RHD, b) try to upgrade at G, c) trade Chychrun, d) re-sign Pinto, and e) add a high-potential young player at the draft. He's ensured that all 5 priorities have been addressed without drama, added some improved veteran forward depth, and brought in a coach that he believes will course correct the team's development before it costs them Brady Tkachuk. Make no mistake, the pressure on the coming season is immense, even if they're not wanting to draw attention to that fact. As such, I agree that starting the season without major distractions is a critical part of the equation.

Senators add journalists Mendes, St-Laurent to communications department. Per TSN

100%. I will make no attempt to justify the sheer volume of draft capital that Dorion wasted, but I will give Staios a fair bit of leash while being obligated to undo that mess. The five major priorities for this off-season were to: a) bring in a top-4 RHD, b) try to upgrade at G, c) trade Chychrun, d) re-sign Pinto, and e) add a high-potential young player at the draft. He's ensured that all 5 priorities have been addressed without drama, added some improved veteran forward depth, and brought in a coach that he believes will course correct the team's development before it costs them Brady Tkachuk. Make no mistake, the pressure on the coming season is immense, even if they're not wanting to draw attention to that fact. As such, I agree that starting the season without major distractions is a critical part of the equation.
- khawk

I understand your point but the standards need to be A LOT higher than a team that works hard, has few distractions, and

A + C) Top 4-Dman: I give him a D- grade as it stands. He is too old and loosing so much value is horrible thinking. Jensen is 34 years old! There's only about 20-25 D-men in the entire league that age (that play at least half a season). What the heck are we talking about here?

B) Upgrading the team: After Tkachuk, Stutzle, Batherson, and Giroux the next leaders in scoring last season were Chychrun and Tarasenko tied with 41 points. Sanderson was next - he should improve - but after that comes Joseph, who was just thrown away. Amadio is clearly a step back offensively but defensively and all around is at least same level. Brannstrom, Kelly, Kastelic are all gone. Perron is an upgrade and Norris should be healthy but otherwise did Staios do anything to improve the team? I'm not sure. Defensively and character are certainly improved and important. In goal getting Ullmark is huge. My grade overall is B- with potential to be better.

D) Resigning Pinto: 2 years is awesome but with 5M next year starts his negotiating too high. I give Staios a B

E) Carter Yakemchuk like a lot. I give this pick a B+ with potential A

The coaching hire was so important. That with Chychrun makes me very concerned about our GM's judgement. Here's my wish list for the season, with the most likely to the least likely

1) Brady Tkachuk scores 40 goals
2) Tim Stutzle gets 90 points or 80 with a + rating
3) Pinto & Grieg combine for 80 points
4) Thomas Chabot scores over 41 points and + rating
5) Tyler Kleven is in conversation for rookie of the year
6) Linus Ullmark has 26 wins & 0.906+ SV%
7) Travis Green has a huge positive impact on the Sens
8) Josh Norris plays 80+ games & scores 25 goals
9) Sens make final wild card spot in the final days of season

1) Brady Tkachuk scores 40 goals
2) Tim Stutzle gets 90 points or 80 with a + rating
3) Pinto & Grieg combine for 80 points
4) Thomas Chabot scores over 41 points and + rating
5) Tyler Kleven is in conversation for rookie of the year
6) Linus Ullmark has 26 wins & 0.906+ SV%
7) Travis Green has a huge positive impact on the Sens
8) Josh Norris plays 80+ games & scores 25 goals
9) Sens make final wild card spot in the final days of season
- AlfieisKing

I could live with all of that. But I don't want to limp into the play offs. I want a 5-6 spot with a reasonable first round opponent. I want more points from #3 on your list. And not just Green. Yeo, Alfie. It all has to work. I don't want Ulmark contract talk to start until seasons end.

Ian Mendes and Sylvain St-Laurent hired in communications roles. Always loved Mendes' articles. Hopefully he's great in the role.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/se...ions-department-1.2156382

I could live with all of that. But I don't want to limp into the play offs. I want a 5-6 spot with a reasonable first round opponent. I want more points from #3 on your list. And not just Green. Yeo, Alfie. It all has to work. I don't want Ulmark contract talk to start until seasons end.
- Octavarium

You get a #1-3 ranking within the division, or you're in a Wild Card spot. So if you're expecting OTT to finish 3rd in the Atlantic, you'll have to first consider which TWO of FLA, TBL, BOS, and TOR will fall out of the top-3 spots in the division. Based on the past 3 years, it will take a 104pts season to achieve that goal... which represents a 26pts increase from last season. It's not an impossible task, but we're talking about a team that's coming off a 78pts season where they finished in 7th place in the division and had the 7th-worst record in the NHL. Even 'just' Wild Card contention would be a major win for this team.

I could live with all of that. But I don't want to limp into the play offs. I want a 5-6 spot with a reasonable first round opponent. I want more points from #3 on your list. And not just Green. Yeo, Alfie. It all has to work. I don't want Ulmark contract talk to start until seasons end.
- Octavarium

Top 3 Teams in Atlantic -- Florida, Toronto, Tampa

That means Ottawa can only land 7th in the East. If that happens, 95% of Sens fans should be saying that's their best case scenario next year. Dream scenario is a top 3 spot in division.
Pinto and Greig you want more than 80 points?

Shane Pinto in a full season scores 25 goals and 50 points. That leaves Grieg to hit 30 points. I think this is really achievable. But I'm factoring in injuries or games missed. Also if Pinto scores lets say 45 points, that means Grieg has to hit 35. I think those are reasonable expectations. I would be shocked if the number hits 90, unless the both play a full season but then I think Norris or others don't get enough points.

Regarding Ullmark, I don't mind waiting until the end of the season ONLY if it means we don't give him some huge contract without seeing him play well. With that said, getting this goaltender is much much bigger than most fans might think about. Other than Craig Anderson and Patrick Lalime the Sens have lacked a true long term #1 goalie. That's 30 years of hockey.

Ottawa Senators Top 12 Organizational Value (imo)

01. LW - Brady Tkachuk
02. C - Tim Stutzle
03. LD - Jake Sanderson
04. RD - Carter Yakemchuk
05. C - Shane Pinto
06. C - Josh Norris* (healthy)
07. LD - Thomas Chabot
08. C - Ridly Grieg
09. RD - Artem Zub
10. LD - Tyler Kleven
11. 2025 1st (Will be about 10th-16th overall)
12. C - Zack Ostapchuk

The development of Yakemchuk, Pinto, Grieg, Kleven, Ostapchuk and possibly Crookshank (although he was drafted over 6 years ago now) - will determine how good this core is. The first four names are key along with Chabot and Norris have strong rebounds in their career to return to a 30 goal center that can play all over the ice and an offensive D-man that can significantly impact the pace and open scoring opportuneness up for forwards.

Top 3 Teams in Atlantic -- Florida, Toronto, Tampa

That means Ottawa can only land 7th in the East. If that happens, 95% of Sens fans should be saying that's their best case scenario next year. Dream scenario is a top 3 spot in division.
Pinto and Greig you want more than 80 points?

Shane Pinto in a full season scores 25 goals and 50 points. That leaves Grieg to hit 30 points. I think this is really achievable. But I'm factoring in injuries or games missed. Also if Pinto scores lets say 45 points, that means Grieg has to hit 35. I think those are reasonable expectations. I would be shocked if the number hits 90, unless the both play a full season but then I think Norris or others don't get enough points.

Regarding Ullmark, I don't mind waiting until the end of the season ONLY if it means we don't give him some huge contract without seeing him play well. With that said, getting this goaltender is much much bigger than most fans might think about. Other than Craig Anderson and Patrick Lalime the Sens have lacked a true long term #1 goalie. That's 30 years of hockey.
- AlfieisKing

FLA and Tampa could fall a bit both their D are worst than last season. BOS is deff top 3.

https://torontosun.com/sp...nked-to-leaked-draft-info



LOL....I've got a few thoughts on this. Less than 32 mind you...but a few.
I hope they get dinged for betting on this. Doesn't seem like it. But maybe.

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/report-end-of-jeff-marek-at-sportsnet-linked-to-leaked-draft-info



LOL....I've got a few thoughts on this. Less than 32 mind you...but a few.
I hope they get dinged for betting on this. Doesn't seem like it. But maybe.
- Octavarium

Upon review, the Ottawa Senators have been docked a first round pick.

FLA and Tampa could fall a bit both their D are worst than last season. BOS is deff top 3.
- Mithos

Steven Stamkos big loss, Sergachev hurt more than half year

Jake Guentzel, Ryan McDonagh, J.J. Moser..... TBL>OTT without question

Steven Stamkos big loss, Sergachev hurt more than half year

Jake Guentzel, Ryan McDonagh, J.J. Moser..... TBL>OTT without question
- AlfieisKing

TBL struggled most of the year, finished 1st WC, their D got older while their F got younger. IF OTT plays like everyone think they should be able to play they can displace TBL.

FLA D got much weaker they can also regress.

i think CAR is the team that will regress the most in the east, their D was decimated in the off season and did not replace with the same quality.

BOS should win the division with easy this year,
TOR D is a wild card, will OEL play like he did in FLA or crap out like in VAN, will Tanevs age catch up to him. TOR biggest Q is in Net.

MTL still rebuilding,

BUf is Buf and will fall flat again

DET is off might not start season with Seider or Raymond and their D outside of Seider is horrendously bad, worst in the division and they have questionable G like TOR.

OTT could very well finish 3rd in division with a heathy Stu and hopefully Chabot and Norris can stay heathy.

worst case OTT finished bottom 10, Brady and Chabot bolt, OTT enters 2nd strait rebuild, fans abandon team as OTT is not a sports town and most "fans" wont bother with a 2nd strait rebuld and OTT becomes the Houston cowboys in ~2030

Brady and Chabot are under contract until the end of 2028. They are bolting for anywhere after next season. Even if they request a trade, Ottawa doesn't have to trade them at all. Sorry boys ... you're stuck here until 2028. Don't know why some people on this thread always preach doomsday. Does nothing good happen in your life ... always looking at worst case scenarios?

In the end, for the Sens to get better their core group has to advance and grow. There are no guys they can bring in that will solve their issues. Most top end free agents are not coming here.

So, with our crop of Belleville guys, which ones do you think can make the jump from AHL to NHL this season?

Goaltending .... Sogaard (is he ready to displace Forsberg sometime this season)
Defence .... Klevin, Guenette, Matinpalo
Forwards .... Ostapchuk, Halliday, Crookshank, Reinhardt .... some of the new guys like Pilon, Jenik, Gaudette, Rees

Do any of these guys have the potential or ability to crack the lineup versus going out and trying to sign someone who is left on free agency.

My preference would be to try and sign Nick Cousins if you can get him for close to $1 million. As for defence .... guys like Shatternkirk, etc are big passes for me.

By my modest calculation (and I'm drunk on a lake) the Sens have about $1.2 million in cap space to spend.

Which position do u spend it on...forward (4th line center IMO but that's debatable) or 5/6 defenceman?

Or do u wait for camp to figure that out?

My thinking is they have 2 forward spots available and more forwards in Belleville that could take a spot than defenceman, unless Guenette shows up big at camp.

Game 1 - vs FLA - regulation loss
Game 2 - @ MTL - win
Game 3 - vs LAK - OT loss
Game 4 - vs NJD - regulation loss
Game 5 - vs TBL - regulation loss
Game 6 - @ Utah - OT loss
Game 7 - @VGK - regulation loss
Game 8 - @COL - regulation loss
Game 9 - vs STL - win
Game 10 - @NYR - regulation loss
Game 11 - vs SEA - win
Game 12 - @ BUF - win
Game 13 - vs NYI - win
Game 14 - @ BOS - regulation loss
Game 15 - @ TOR - OT loss
Game 16 - vs PHI - win
Game 17 - @ CAR - regulation loss
Game 18 - vs EDM - regulation loss
Game 19 - vs VGK - regulation loss
Game 20 - vs VAN - win

Predicted record at thanksgiving --- 7-10-3

Game 1 - vs FLA - regulation loss
Game 2 - @ MTL - win
Game 3 - vs LAK - OT loss
Game 4 - vs NJD - regulation loss
Game 5 - vs TBL - regulation loss
Game 6 - @ Utah - OT loss
Game 7 - @VGK - regulation loss
Game 8 - @COL - regulation loss
Game 9 - vs STL - win
Game 10 - @NYR - regulation loss
Game 11 - vs SEA - win
Game 12 - @ BUF - win
Game 13 - vs NYI - win
Game 14 - @ BOS - regulation loss
Game 15 - @ TOR - OT loss
Game 16 - vs PHI - win
Game 17 - @ CAR - regulation loss
Game 18 - vs EDM - regulation loss
Game 19 - vs VGK - regulation loss
Game 20 - vs VAN - win

Predicted record at thanksgiving --- 7-10-3
- AlfieisKing

Go cheer for another team already. Do I need to start posting Eeyore photos again?

Are you not the guy who should have honoured his word and left the forum anyway? Time to go.

Good news with Ottawa signing Carter Yakemchuk to his 3 year entry level contract. I expect he will play his last year in the WHL before moving to Belleville in the AHL at the end of the season.

27.5 - Thomas Chabot
26.5 - Drake Batherson
25 - Josh Norris
24 - Brady Tkachuk
23 - Ridly Grieg
23 - Shane Pinto
22.5 - Tim Stutzle
22 - Jake Sanderson
21.5 - Zack Ostapchuk

Outside the goaltending and coaching, the 3 skaters at the top make up $ 21M of the cap - $ 25M real $ (more than McDavid, Draisitl, Bouchard make this season). If Chabot and Norris can't have amazing seasons I'm open to move them and start with a few more high picks because the core under 25 is looking solid

27.5 - Thomas Chabot
26.5 - Drake Batherson
25 - Josh Norris
24 - Brady Tkachuk
23 - Ridly Grieg
23 - Shane Pinto
22.5 - Tim Stutzle
22 - Jake Sanderson
21.5 - Zack Ostapchuk

Outside the goaltending and coaching, the 3 skaters at the top make up $ 21M of the cap - $ 25M real $ (more than McDavid, Draisitl, Bouchard make this season). If Chabot and Norris can't have amazing seasons I'm open to move them and start with a few more high picks because the core under 25 is looking solid
- AlfieisKing

You can't just take random snapshots of what used to be to suit your current arguement. Last year was last year. Those contracts were signed over 5 years ago under different circumstances. Those Edmonton players McDavid and Draisaityl will be making upwards of $30 million total per season once their newer MORE RELEVANT contracts are signed. What you should be doing is looking forward at how Ottawa's contracts compare as we move forward. Stop looking backwards at everything. It is not relevant.

Stop looking backwards at everything. It is not relevant.
- OttawaB

This fellow is simply looking for things to dislike and complain about. It would be a sad existence to live like that every day.

You can't just take random snapshots of what used to be to suit your current arguement. Last year was last year. Those contracts were signed over 5 years ago under different circumstances. Those Edmonton players McDavid and Draisaityl will be making upwards of $30 million total per season once their newer MORE RELEVANT contracts are signed. What you should be doing is looking forward at how Ottawa's contracts compare as we move forward. Stop looking backwards at everything. It is not relevant.
- OttawaB

???
Do u even know my argument?

NO one can build a team without looking at the past - learning from mistakes .... as for 1 other blogger, blind optimism will get Ottawa to mediocrity - worst place to be

???
Do u even know my argument?

NO one can build a team without looking at the past - learning from mistakes .... as for 1 other blogger, blind optimism will get Ottawa to mediocrity - worst place to be
- AlfieisKing

But you are looking at McDavid and Draisaityl contracts that were signed over 6 years ago under way different circumstances. And the Bouchard contract was signed under an ELC deal where he hasn't even hit his stride until last season. His new contract will also be significantly larger.

Do you even know what the purpose of your arguement is for? You are also talking about contracts to Chabot and Norris signed by a completely different regime .... one that does not exist anymore.