C:

That was an easy one for me.

6. RD Maxence Guenette (CAN), 7th Round Pick 1999 (OTT)

If this guy was a 7th round pick in 1999, he must be in his 40's by now.

6. RD Maxence Guenette (CAN), 7th Round Pick 1999 (OTT)

If this guy was a 7th round pick in 1999, he must be in his 40's by now.
- Reubenkincade

EDIT made - thanks for the head's up. This is the kind of problem that can arise for those of us who actually remember the 1999 draft relatively well. For those that don't, it's the draft that yielded Martin Havlat and Chris Kelly, plus future Director of European Scouting Mikko Ruutu. And to your point, it would still be two years before Maxence Guenette was even born... so he probably wasn't on their draft radar yet.

1 year 800k for Nick Cousins, someone had been advocating for this on the thread earlier in the summer I believe. Staios said he wanted to bring in veteran help, he has done that so far.

1 year 800k for Nick Cousins, someone had been advocating for this on the thread earlier in the summer I believe. Staios said he wanted to bring in veteran help, he has done that so far.
- RyeDog13

I like the signing. Nice agitator type of player. 4rth line probably. Let's make the Sens a little more sand-papery to play against.

1 year 800k for Nick Cousins, someone had been advocating for this on the thread earlier in the summer I believe. Staios said he wanted to bring in veteran help, he has done that so far.
- RyeDog13

A few people have mentioned Cousins - he's pretty much exactly the type of player that Staios has been talking about all off-season, so it's no surprise that they were going after him. The surprise is that they succeeded at just $800K/1yr, because he brings a lot of good depth veteran qualities to the table, including Cup pedigree. But it's another good signing by Staios in terms of adding toughness and veteran presence.

Surprised he didn't sign somewhere else for more. Show the young kids how to play the game and strive to be better.

So what are lines now?

Only one forward spot open for Belleville guys?

So what are lines now?

Only one forward spot open for Belleville guys?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Stutzle, Tkachuk, Giroux
Norris, Perron, Batherson
Pinto, Greig, Amadio
Gregor, Cousins, ..... Crookshank or MacEwen or Ostapchuk or Pilon/Gaudette .... maybe 5 guys battling for a spot ... or more if Cousins and Gregor don't come into camp prepared.
But I like the battles being set up in the bottom 6 for spots. We haven't seen this much competition in years. Pinto and Greig may even push for top 6 roles, and Perron shifts to the 3rd line. And later in the year, we may see the Sens having to elevate Halliday from Belleville. But you only bring him up if he can play on the top 3 lines.

I figure the 4rth line is still open to whomever can seize their chance in spring training. And Amadio is still prone to moving down to the 4rth line if others excel.

Defence is a bit more set I think , with Sanderson, Chabot, and Klevin on the left side ........ Zub, Jensen on the right ........... with maybe JBD, Guenette, Mantipalo, Hamonic on the right. Roos could make it all interesting as well. Would still not surprise me to see Hamonic hit the LTIR again with an injury in training camp ..... wink wink nod nod, say no more.

So what are lines now?

Only one forward spot open for Belleville guys?
- GrimmdaGoalie

It seems to me that they've added some useful 3rd/4th line pieces, but without fully addressing the whole. Perron makes $4M and effectively has to play a 3rd line winger role to score 40pts+, and Greig is the only bottom-6 forward who's a natural C with the necessary faceoff ability to handle the #3C role. That leaves just one 3rd line winger position plus all of the 4th line for Amadio, Gregor, Cousins, and one of the AHL forwards. However, of those the only one with any kind of established NHL faceoff ability is Amadio... so does that make Amadio a $2.6M/year #4C? If so, who plays with Perron-Greig on the 3rd line? If not, who from the AHL roster can step into a #4C role and handle the 350 faceoffs that Kastelic took last year? It just feels like there's one more player needed, but just $1.1M available in the piggy bank.

Wow Johnny Hockey. Sad stuff.

Also.

Read the Detroit hockeybuzz writer's latest offering. Some thoughts on Stutzle and his agent flip.

Just a feeling I get that there could be one more move by the Senators. That would be to shore up the 3rd pairing of defence. But I don't think it would be by signing a PTO or a UFA like Barrie, Shattenkirk, or Schultz. I think it would most likely be on the trade front. Maybe that trade could bump Jensen down to right pairing d-man with Klevin.
But obviously it would mean someone would have to be traded off the roster to make the cap numbers work. I guess we'll see in the next week or two. I'm just not sure that the Sens are happy with a right d-man of JBD/Hamonic/Guenette/Mantinpalo mix to play with Klevin.

If there is no addition, I am hoping that the more defensive minded Guenette has a great camp. We could look to pair him with Chabot and move the veteran Jensen down to sit alongside Klevin for some time until Klevin adapts.

Just a feeling I get that there could be one more move by the Senators. That would be to shore up the 3rd pairing of defence. But I don't think it would be by signing a PTO or a UFA like Barrie, Shattenkirk, or Schultz. I think it would most likely be on the trade front. Maybe that trade could bump Jensen down to right pairing d-man with Klevin.
But obviously it would mean someone would have to be traded off the roster to make the cap numbers work. I guess we'll see in the next week or two. I'm just not sure that the Sens are happy with a right d-man of JBD/Hamonic/Guenette/Mantinpalo mix to play with Klevin.

If there is no addition, I am hoping that the more defensive minded Guenette has a great camp. We could look to pair him with Chabot and move the veteran Jensen down to sit alongside Klevin for some time until Klevin adapts.
- OttawaB

They might add someone, but I doubt very much that Staios is going to randomly add a new 2nd-pairing RHD to the roster in September. It also feels like some people need to get more realistic about Guenette. For one thing, he's the least defensive-minded of any of the RHD you mentioned on that list. Next, there's no way that Guenette is already a more effective partner for Chabot than Jensen. This team has said repeatedly that they're dead serious about winning games right out of training camp this year, and they're not going to just throw an AHL D-man onto the 2nd D pairing. He's probably 8th on the D-depth chart, and 5th on the right side behind 3 established NHL veterans, and another young RHD with over 100 more NHL games under his belt. That means Guenette has a long way to go before he even makes the NHL roster, let alone play anything more than a #7D role.

They might add someone, but I doubt very much that Staios is going to randomly add a new 2nd-pairing RHD to the roster in September. It also feels like some people need to get more realistic about Guenette. For one thing, he's the least defensive-minded of any of the RHD you mentioned on that list. Next, there's no way that Guenette is already a more effective partner for Chabot than Jensen. This team has said repeatedly that they're dead serious about winning games right out of training camp this year, and they're not going to just throw an AHL D-man onto the 2nd D pairing. He's probably 8th on the D-depth chart, and 5th on the right side behind 3 established NHL veterans, and another young RHD with over 100 more NHL games under his belt. That means Guenette has a long way to go before he even makes the NHL roster, let alone play anything more than a #7D role.
- khawk

\Nick cousins 1 year 800K signed by OTT

They might add someone, but I doubt very much that Staios is going to randomly add a new 2nd-pairing RHD to the roster in September. It also feels like some people need to get more realistic about Guenette. For one thing, he's the least defensive-minded of any of the RHD you mentioned on that list. Next, there's no way that Guenette is already a more effective partner for Chabot than Jensen. This team has said repeatedly that they're dead serious about winning games right out of training camp this year, and they're not going to just throw an AHL D-man onto the 2nd D pairing. He's probably 8th on the D-depth chart, and 5th on the right side behind 3 established NHL veterans, and another young RHD with over 100 more NHL games under his belt. That means Guenette has a long way to go before he even makes the NHL roster, let alone play anything more than a #7D role.
- khawk

For a guy that's not too good defensively he did a pretty good job keeping Chychrun in the plusses during his 7 game call-up last year. As a matter of fact Chychrun finished with -1 when he was paired up with Guenette which was a major improvement.

I can see Cousins working his magic with Sens organization (Garrioch column). It's only the beginning. He's making his way up ladder first it's the media then it's the team, coaches, management which will eventually get him a spot in the core group. He'll be in top 6 and special teams until they figure him out. It took Maurice 1 season to figure him out. It's what rahrah guys do "they take over" .

For a guy that's not too good defensively he did a pretty good job keeping Chychrun in the plusses during his 7 game call-up last year. As a matter of fact Chychrun finished with -1 when he was paired up with Guenette which was a major improvement.
- granpa

Objectively, all of Jensen, Hamonic, and Bernard-Docker are more defensive-minded, which is critical when the role in question is that of a defense-minded conscience for Chabot. Not to mention that Guenette only played 7 NHL games last year, and played fewer than 15min/GP in 5 of them. So if Chychrun was playing well alongside him, it's because he'd been effectively demoted to the 3rd D-pair - which really isn't impressive for a player like Chychrun. So as much as I agree that Guenette looked half-decent in his brief call-up last year, he's still pretty far behind players with full NHL seasons under their belt.

Objectively, all of Jensen, Hamonic, and Bernard-Docker are more defensive-minded, which is critical when the role in question is that of a defense-minded conscience for Chabot. Not to mention that Guenette only played 7 NHL games last year, and played fewer than 15min/GP in 5 of them. So if Chychrun was playing well alongside him, it's because he'd been effectively demoted to the 3rd D-pair - which really isn't impressive for a player like Chychrun. So as much as I agree that Guenette looked half-decent in his brief call-up last year, he's still pretty far behind players with full NHL seasons under their belt.
- khawk

The reason I had suggested Guenette was that I don't think the Sens are happy putting the pilon (Hamonic) or JBD with the rookie Klevin. Maybe ideally they'd rather see a Klevin/Jensen pairing to really shore up the 3rd pairing. Then slotting Chabot with Guenette.
But having to rookie d-men like Klevin and Guenette/JBD is not ideal and is a potential bad weakness. You can't keep playing the top 2 defensive pairings for 25 minutes each in every game to try to shelter the 3rd pairing.

An option could be to trade with Calgary to get Rasmus Andersson, a right d-man with 2 more years at $4.55 million, 27 years old. Obviously we would have to dump around 4.5 million in salary to Calgary. I don't know how those mechinations would work. ............ Or we just live with a 3rd defense pairing of Klevin with JBD/Guenette/Hamonic combo.

Draisaitl signs for 8 years at $14 million per year. Now the highest paid player in the NHL ............ until McDavid signs next year. I figure McDavid rolls in at $15 million, and the Oil probably get Bouchard at $9 million. Just makes Nurse look like an even larger overpay. Nurse probably gets moved.
All in, that probably moves the Oilers cap hit upwards by another $14 million. But with the chat that the cap will probably be at $100 million within 2 years, it can be manageable. In the NHL the rich will get richer, and the borderline to middle class players will continue to get their $1 million to 4 million. They will be the ones who don't see much of a rise in salary.

How does all this fit in to Ottawa? The Bruins are looking to re-sign Swayman. Swayman's camp is watching how the upper end of the hockey elite keep getting their money so he pushes for his $10 million or so (maybe a bit lower .... 8-10 million is where I figure he will sign). This will probably have an affect on what Ullmark wants as well. So if we wait until the end of the season and Ullmark plays well, he may very well move to free agency to see what he can get ... $8-10 million like Swayman. Which is why I would prefer to sign he sooner rather then later. He just gets more expensive as time goes by. Now, if Ullmark has a bad season and we choose not to re-sign him or he chooses not to come back, then we are back to having no credible goalie and just a bunch of question marks in the AHL.

Giroux may regress a bit this year but will still be very impactfull. Even if the sens fail miserably or giroux wich i doubt very much. There would be no trading of Giroux at the deadline. He will be given the best treatment. To let him decide what's best for him

I am onboard with the Sens making the playoffs anywhere between 6,7,8th spots. I believe there is going to be a quantum leap forward this year. Their due , the alternative outcome. I can not even wrap my head around.

Kulemin lol

My gawd

Forward Kulemin and right d-man Addison signed to PTO's for the Sens.

With Addison, it is intriguing. A sign from the Sens that d-men like JBD, Hamonic, Guenette, Mantinpalo .... better come to camp ready to try to make this team.

With Kulemin .... he is a question mark for me. I don't know how good he is or could be. I think the 12th and 13th forward positions are open but I feel that McEwen, Crookshank, Ostapchuk should be the ones to fight it out ...... unless they feel that Ostapchuk could use another full season in Belleville. Kulemin is also 38 .... and has played the last 6 years in the KHL. What are the Sens thinking with this PTO?

Forward Kulemin and right d-man Addison signed to PTO's for the Sens.

With Addison, it is intriguing. A sign from the Sens that d-men like JBD, Hamonic, Guenette, Mantinpalo .... better come to camp ready to try to make this team.

With Kulemin .... he is a question mark for me. I don't know how good he is or could be. I think the 12th and 13th forward positions are open but I feel that McEwen, Crookshank, Ostapchuk should be the ones to fight it out ...... unless they feel that Ostapchuk could use another full season in Belleville. Kulemin is also 38 .... and has played the last 6 years in the KHL. What are the Sens thinking with this PTO?
- OttawaB

Kulemin makes no sense whatsoever, but Addison is a potentially interesting PTO. He's effectively a replacement for Brannstrom as a 3rd-pairing PP specialist, but is a natural RH shot with >150GP of NHL experience. However, there are some pretty serious defensive issues with his game that have taken him from a promising 29Pts/62GP season with MIN in 2022/23, to being a PTO after spending 2023/24 with MIN/SJS where he wound up being a -38. Given the emphasis Staios has placed on adding two-way/defensive depth to the roster I'm not sure I see this as much more than maybe a move to generate more competition in training camp. However, the Senators have a lot more PP forward depth than SJS, and if they want a RH shot on the 2nd PP unit he could potentially slip into a #7D role.

Kulemin makes no sense whatsoever, but Addison is a potentially interesting PTO. He's effectively a replacement for Brannstrom as a 3rd-pairing PP specialist, but is a natural RH shot with >150GP of NHL experience. However, there are some pretty serious defensive issues with his game that have taken him from a promising 29Pts/62GP season with MIN in 2022/23, to being a PTO after spending 2023/24 with MIN/SJS where he wound up being a -38. Given the emphasis Staios has placed on adding two-way/defensive depth to the roster I'm not sure I see this as much more than maybe a move to generate more competition in training camp. However, the Senators have a lot more PP forward depth than SJS, and if they want a RH shot on the 2nd PP unit he could potentially slip into a #7D role.
- khawk

Maybe they are just doing someone a favour. Could be a player or an agent request to possibly get the player some exposure. But as I said, Kulemin makes no sense at age 38 to be playing on a 4rth line. Not a great skater. How would he even fit on a 3rd or 4rth line with no speed or size.
As for Addison ..... at 5ft 10in .... small for 3rd pairing .... that is one reason we dumped Brannstrom. Why do that and then bring in Addison.

Sens anticipate that they'll need players for Belleville after training camp.