OTT extends Mantipalo 2 years 875K per

Buttman reduced the penalty from the NJD/kovalchuck affair from, forfeit to 30th OA because of new ownership. so if he does same with OTT that 2026 1st is 32nd.

OTT chances of making the playoffs are closer to 0% than to 1%, NYR wont crap out like they did this season, NJD is a better team that OTT so they or NYR would get WC1, that leaves BOS, MTL, DET, NYI, CBJ and OTT to fight for WC2.

if NYI goes rebuild mode that takes them out.
if BOS stands pat and swayman sucks again that takes them out (what are chances Swayman sucks again and that BOS does nothing in offseason).
MTL will be better than this season
DET,CBJ,PIT are all wild cards IMO as they can go either way.

only way OTT comes out ahead is if the 1st is reduced to a 2nd round pick.

if it is reduced to 32nd OTT loses out in all scenarios.

top 10 pick in 2026 is vastly better than 21st and 32nd OA picks.
- Mithos

I realize who i'm responding to but what the hell.

I have some reservations on this too, but I'm not as sold on NYR as you are, a lot of older guys there, and their D outside of Fox is suspect.

NYI is mediocre even when things are going their way, and again, old. Boston is rebuilding.

Its a very tough conference though so it will be a hard fight. But there are some very bad teams in the league and even bottom half that will be below them. Most likely the pick is in the same area that it will be this year.

Regardless, not drafting this year sends the wrong message to the team and fans. They just make the playoffs, they're proud of their achievements, fans are happy. Then management says they don't really trust them, that they're giving up this years pick since they don't think they'll be good enough to do better, or even equal next season. Talk about a a downer.

Sens have to draft this year. They don't have a 2nd this year. The top "picks" that make the NHL are 1st, 2nd round and undrafted. 3-6th pick are pure lottery/hope for late bloomers.

In terms of other teams in the east:

Washington had a freak season. No one had them top of the east. Both goalies are free agents (Thompson RFA), so will he continue being great? Or will he regress like Swayman after getting paid?

Montreal was a freak accident, I don't see them making it next year. Montembeault had a career year. Other players will need to improve if they have a chance to make it again. Hutson will need put the team on his back. (Sophmore slump? Or gets better?)

Columbus was also a freak accident. No reason for them to be as good as they were this season.

Detroit is still a work in progress (they are Ottawa 2 years ago - unstable D and G).

Rangers... I think there is something wrong there. I don't know what it is. Something is cancerous and then they added JT Miller, who is a heaping pile of a-hole it seems. I think it's another bad season for them next year. There's no reason they should be as bad as they were. Something internal.

Devils are good, but Keefe is a terrible coach. He doesn't learn and throws players under the bus. He's probably getting fired after next season.

Isles, Pens, Sabres, Bruins, Flyers will all be the same. Boston is in a rebuild. If they sign a bunch of people, they will be next years Nashville. Elias Lindholm contract is a huge issue.

I still see Ottawa as being playoff bound next season. Maybe even fighting for 3rd spot in the division. Only thing that derails this is major injuries, something that can't be planned for.

As for our 4rth line, I could see Ottawa re-signing Gaudette and maybe even Cousins.

Unless there is a surprise UFA signing ..... that could mix things up a bit. A need would be further back-up on the defensive right side if Nick Jensen takes a bit to recoup from his injury which he fought in the 2nd half of the season.
I still think Stutzle needs a fast winger who can play beside him. But this could be costly if picking up as a UFA.

No trades really jump out at me at this point.

Side note, another nice feeling we hadnt had in a while: not caring at all about the draft lottery.

I still see Ottawa as being playoff bound next season. Maybe even fighting for 3rd spot in the division. Only thing that derails this is major injuries, something that can't be planned for.

As for our 4rth line, I could see Ottawa re-signing Gaudette and maybe even Cousins.

Unless there is a surprise UFA signing ..... that could mix things up a bit. A need would be further back-up on the defensive right side if Nick Jensen takes a bit to recoup from his injury which he fought in the 2nd half of the season.
I still think Stutzle needs a fast winger who can play beside him. But this could be costly if picking up as a UFA.

No trades really jump out at me at this point.
- OttawaB

Gaudette is going to play some team for his hot streak and get way more than he's worth. He was shooting like 60% for half the season.

Regardless of what UFA/RFA's the Sens bring back (and this includes Cousins, Giroux, Gaudette and Zetterlund) and even if they bring back THEM ALL, they definitely need a 1st line scoring RW to keep up with Timmy and score 5 v 5 goals. You can make the argument they thought Zetterlund was that guy (and can still be) but I think they need someone bigger (think Ehlers).

That is where the Sens should be spending ALL their money in this offseason. 1st line RW

Yes, a better RHD option would be nice but the D is fine (adding some depth not withstanding). And the UFA class of RHD is thin (total numbers wise) and going to command too much money (see Ekblad, Aaron).

Giroux is a luxury and they need to get him at the right price but he's is great because he can go up and down the lineup, play wing or center, play 1st line or 4th line, kill penalities AND work the PP, and wins faceoffs. Plus, good in the room.

Beyond that, and assuming Giroux or Zetterlund take Amadio/Gaudette's spot on the third line, they need one sizable 4th line LW. Is cousins that guy?? at league min...sure. For depth.

Gaudette will get more money on the open market than the Sens should offer. And, again, not a 1st or 2nd line guy....but not really a 4th line guy either.

I'm okay with them offering a league vet min to Forsberg and have him and Levi battle it out in training camp.

I'm also okay with them offering two way contract to Hamonic, with the understanding he will help coach the D in Belleville and will NEVER set foot on the CTC ice barring 4 injuries ahead of him.

Side note, another nice feeling we hadnt had in a while: not caring at all about the draft lottery.
- david22

Sens have to draft this year. They don't have a 2nd this year. The top "picks" that make the NHL are 1st, 2nd round and undrafted. 3-6th pick are pure lottery/hope for late bloomers.

In terms of other teams in the east:

Washington had a freak season. No one had them top of the east. Both goalies are free agents (Thompson RFA), so will he continue being great? Or will he regress like Swayman after getting paid?

Montreal was a freak accident, I don't see them making it next year. Montembeault had a career year. Other players will need to improve if they have a chance to make it again. Hutson will need put the team on his back. (Sophmore slump? Or gets better?)

Columbus was also a freak accident. No reason for them to be as good as they were this season.

Detroit is still a work in progress (they are Ottawa 2 years ago - unstable D and G).

Rangers... I think there is something wrong there. I don't know what it is. Something is cancerous and then they added JT Miller, who is a heaping pile of a-hole it seems. I think it's another bad season for them next year. There's no reason they should be as bad as they were. Something internal.

Devils are good, but Keefe is a terrible coach. He doesn't learn and throws players under the bus. He's probably getting fired after next season.

Isles, Pens, Sabres, Bruins, Flyers will all be the same. Boston is in a rebuild. If they sign a bunch of people, they will be next years Nashville. Elias Lindholm contract is a huge issue.
- PogBoi

I think the sens should sell out their 2025 pick.

1. The draft is mostly set. Scouts have done the homework and understand or are guessing it isn't a real deep draft so even the top 5 of the draft wouldn't be early in other years. It's just not that great.

2. Since the next draft is a year away, there's some shifting to be done and how players perform in that draft year. So it's a little more unsure of who scouts would be aiming for.

3. It means there's less tools in the toolbox should the sens need to make trades at the deadline. You also don't know if there's a regression year or not. Could be the canucks! ( I mean there's a better than average chance to get back to the playoffs but you get my point)

I'd just move the guaranteed later pick in 2025 to go forward.

RW - Benjamin Kindel (WHL) - huge year, plays with Yakemchuk

Could be a good pick up

Side note, another nice feeling we hadnt had in a while: not caring at all about the draft lottery.
- david22

RW - Benjamin Kindel (WHL) - huge year, plays with Yakemchuk

Could be a good pick up
- AlfieisKing

im guessing he is why OTT will sacrifice their 2026 top 10 pick for him...because he plays with Yak... 2025/2026 will be SS last season not only as GM but in any position on a NHL team forever.

Interesting move .... Sens fire Bowness, the AGM of Belleville. I always thought he might be the GM in waiting in Ottawa if Staios punted himself upstairs to Pres job. But I guess between Staios and Poulin, they have the GM and Pres of hockey ops position covered.

Interesting move .... Sens fire Bowness, the AGM of Belleville. I always thought he might be the GM in waiting in Ottawa if Staios punted himself upstairs to Pres job. But I guess between Staios and Poulin, they have the GM and Pres of hockey ops position covered.
- OttawaB

Clearing house of all yhr Dorion guys.

im guessing he is why OTT will sacrifice their 2026 top 10 pick for him...because he plays with Yak... 2025/2026 will be SS last season not only as GM but in any position on a NHL team forever.
- Mithos

8 Reasons why Ottawa should keep 2025 1st pick

5) As a fan, I want immediate help to a young rising team
4) Sens have 3- 2nd rounders in 2026. Don't stress
3) Sends the RIGHT message to fans - we're all in for 2026!
2) A year delayed means nothing tangible for 4-5 years
1) It is very possible that by 2026, NHL makes it last pick in Rd 1

Clearing house of all yhr Dorion guys.
- david22

Exactly. If there is a Dorion guy that’s even the slightest bit out of place, I think Staios will be moving on. We saw it with Norris. Not a bad player but his style of play didn’t fit with the team and the injuries made it difficult to deal with. From a player’s perspective, guys like Forsberg, Giroux, Zub, and Hamonic could be early candidates to move on from.

I wondered about Stutzle and Chabot, but their play in the playoffs was good, so I think they will likely stay. Batherson is an interesting one. I think Staios would likely like to move on/upgrade but you aren’t going to find many 60-70 point guys at 27 years old for 5 mill per this day in age.

I think the sens should sell out their 2025 pick.

1. The draft is mostly set. Scouts have done the homework and understand or are guessing it isn't a real deep draft so even the top 5 of the draft wouldn't be early in other years. It's just not that great.

2. Since the next draft is a year away, there's some shifting to be done and how players perform in that draft year. So it's a little more unsure of who scouts would be aiming for.

3. It means there's less tools in the toolbox should the sens need to make trades at the deadline. You also don't know if there's a regression year or not. Could be the canucks! ( I mean there's a better than average chance to get back to the playoffs but you get my point)

I'd just move the guaranteed later pick in 2025 to go forward.
- Aaron_85

These are valid points. I didn’t think about the 2026 1st being used as trade bait. Team selling players always want a 1st rounder as opposed to a 2nd rounder. Sens are in a position where they need to win with the current core by 27/28, so having draft capital to trade may come in handy.

8 Reasons why Ottawa should keep 2025 1st pick

5) As a fan, I want immediate help to a young rising team
4) Sens have 3- 2nd rounders in 2026. Don't stress
3) Sends the RIGHT message to fans - we're all in for 2026!
2) A year delayed means nothing tangible for 4-5 years
1) It is very possible that by 2026, NHL makes it last pick in Rd 1
- AlfieisKing

I think they are keeping it to trade it at the draft with a team that is unsatisfied with their outcome.

8 Reasons why Ottawa should keep 2025 1st pick

5) As a fan, I want immediate help to a young rising team
4) Sens have 3- 2nd rounders in 2026. Don't stress
3) Sends the RIGHT message to fans - we're all in for 2026!
2) A year delayed means nothing tangible for 4-5 years
1) It is very possible that by 2026, NHL makes it last pick in Rd 1
- AlfieisKing

only reason to give up
1) OTT is not a good team they will finish in the bottom ten and they will either forfeit or have reduced to 32nd a top 10 pick.

only reason to give up
1) OTT is not a good team they will finish in the bottom ten and they will either forfeit or have reduced to 32nd a top 10 pick.
- Mithos

- Gord_Wilson_2.0

This guy is a little slow. Look how he writes. Is what it is.

Sens had a great season. Hope you guys cap that massive accomplishment with enjoying the rest of the playoffs and cheering Canadian teams

Sens had a great season. Hope you guys cap that massive accomplishment with enjoying the rest of the playoffs and cheering Canadian teams
- systemtool

Oh, you!

Can't do it. But Florida is such a dirty team it is almost a close thing!

Looking at UFA RW's that are available in our price range (which eliminates Marner and Boeser):

Age 27 to 30 (projections by Serivelle):
Ryan Donato : 3 x 4 mill
Jack Roslovic: 3 x 4 mill
Trent Frederic: 4 x 4mill

After that we get veterans:
Patrick Kane 1 x 3.4
Gustav Nyquiist 2 x.3. million
Brad Marchand....maybe one year at 7.8million?

Which one appeals to you and why.
PS - left Corey Perry off this list. ....because I would do anything for love, but I won't do that....

im guessing he is why OTT will sacrifice their 2026 top 10 pick for him...because he plays with Yak... 2025/2026 will be SS last season not only as GM but in any position on a NHL team forever.
- Mithos

I am trying to figure out what Steve Staios ever did to you to warrant this vitriol.

Wait a minute .............. is that you Pierre Dorion ? Are you really Mithos in disguise?