Zak MacMillan: Staying or Going? Fabian Zetterlund

The Sens spent those assets to trade for him. They'll re-sign him to some sort of bridge deal I imagine.

He underwhelmed in his time here but he should be a better in a full season here.

The Sens spent those assets to trade for him. They'll re-sign him to some sort of bridge deal I imagine.

He underwhelmed in his time here but he should be a better in a full season here.
- david22

He was underwhelming, but he also wasn’t well utilized. I assume they’ll sign him like you said, and he’ll get a fair shake right out of camp. Seems like a great Swiss Army knife.

Kleven and Merilainen are also RFAs?

1.5-2 x 2 bridge deal? I'd keep him. He looked good except for the production.

Kleven and Merilainen are also RFAs?

1.5-2 x 2 bridge deal? I'd keep him. He looked good except for the production.
- PogBoi

I agree. I thought he looked physically strong and used his size very effectively.

Size matters, especially in the playoffs. He created lots of chances for himself and for his line mates. Getting him into training camp, pairing him with a centre who can exploit the physical push of his game is important.

Like to see him get a shot at playing with Timmy and Brady.

I'm beginning to warm to this idea for the forward lines:


Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Dylan Cozens
Fabian Zetterlund -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
David Perron -- Ridly Greig -- Claude Giroux
UFA RW -- UFA C -- M. Amadio

That is assuming we can get Giroux and/or Zetterlund for $3.5 to 4 million each

IF not:

Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- UFA RW
Fabian Zetterlund -- Dylan Cozens -- Drake Batherson
David Perron -- Shane Pinto -- Claude Giroux
UFA RW -- Ridly Grieg -- M. Amadio

The third and fourth lines, players can move back and forth as needed

And the fourth line UFA's can come from organization internally. Although I haven't seen much out of the guys who got a look last year - highmore, et al.

I'm beginning to warm to this idea for the forward lines:


Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Dylan Cozens
Fabian Zetterlund -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
David Perron -- Ridly Greig -- Claude Giroux
UFA RW -- UFA C -- M. Amadio

That is assuming we can get Giroux and/or Zetterlund for $3.5 to 4 million each

IF not:

Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- UFA RW
Fabian Zetterlund -- Dylan Cozens -- Drake Batherson
David Perron -- Shane Pinto -- Claude Giroux
UFA RW -- Ridly Grieg -- M. Amadio

The third and fourth lines, players can move back and forth as needed

And the fourth line UFA's can come from organization internally. Although I haven't seen much out of the guys who got a look last year - highmore, et al.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Interesting thought putting Cozens on the wing. The plan seemed to be to have three centers Stu, Cozens/Pinto, but this could work too.

Really depends on how Pinto plays next year. Theyll need a little more from him offensively than this year. He has the tools to be that guy, just needs to put it all together. Playing with more offensive guys would help. Greig can absolutely be the third line center just fine.

I

Interesting thought putting Cozens on the wing. The plan seemed to be to have three centers Stu, Cozens/Pinto, but this could work too.

Really depends on how Pinto plays next year. Theyll need a little more from him offensively than this year. He has the tools to be that guy, just needs to put it all together. Playing with more offensive guys would help. Greig can absolutely be the third line center just fine.

I
- david22

I think they can get more value in a 4th line C and by adding to 4th line than trying to hit a home run and spend a lot of money on 1st line rw or a big trade.

They might also want to take advantage of some teams up against cap. Take vgk for example....Barbashev might be available. Something like that.

I just don't think the sens have enough cap space and cred (no tax state, cup ready) to land the type of winger they need.

I think everyone can agree that the Sens have 2 players on each forward line locked in bold:

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - [1st RW]
[2nd LW] - Dylan Cozens - Drake Batherson
Ridly Grieg - Shane Pinto - [3rd RW]
[4th LW] - [4th C] - [4th RW]

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven - [Depth Right Shot D-man]

Linus Ullmark

Now I think those 6 guys are on the lines they belong. You can make the case for Batherson moving up to top line or Pinto being moved to a top 6 role in case of injury or if he's on a heater but overall there's consensus that they are on the lines they belong.

Where things get interesting and debatable is 3 wingers, which really we've seen the past few months as well: Zetterlund, Giroux, Perron.

Signing Giroux seems like an obvious decision. But before we put pen to paper, can and SHOULD the Sens have all 3 these guys on our team? I know Amadio currently holds that 3rd line spot with Grieg and Pinto but any of the guys can fit into that spot. I don't think any of them belong on the top line - Giroux has done that but I'm not sure if he can do it at almost 38 years old. He had the lowest points per game since his rookie season. Of course playing under Green makes a difference but I think he's better as a middle 6.

Perron, from Mar 1-Apr 8 he was amazing - 20 GP -- 8G 4A -- 12 PTS. Perron is not a 30 goal or 50 point player, but with that said, I think he is much better than the 16 points he put up in the 2nd half of the year. He is also entering a contract year. The last contract year with STL he put up 57 points in 67 games and almost put up 30 goals. I think he is a useful middle six forward.

Zetterlund, playing with Grandlund and Eklund, Fabian put up 24 goals and 44 points last season (his first full season in the NHL). Zetterlund has offensive flair he has yet to display in Ottawa. He was put in the worst situation to let his offence come through but being thrown on the 4th line. There is no way that Zetterlund should stay in Ottawa unless he plays every game in the top 9 - and he should play with skilled forwards. He has a very good shot.

The main issue is that Ottawa has Giroux, Perron, and Zetterlund. There is not a good way to sort through all 3 of them to give them ice time and properly fit them into the roster. None are really first line players.
Perron and Giroux are both 37 years old by the time the season rolls around. Neither are long term assets. Both offer veteran leadership in the room, but their on ice performances will start to dip at some point soon. Perron has one year left at a manageable $4 million for the season. Giroux is a UFA. If you sign Giroux ... 1 year, 2 year? At what cost. Perron can play to a degree in the greasy areas, Giroux ... not so much. Giroux has more speed then Perron but neither are that quick. But again ... both are veterans that know how to play. But are they capable of providing a full season and playoff?
Zetterlund is strong, can play in the greasy areas, and has speed. And he is 24.

There comes a point in development where every team must make a decision. I would let Giroux walk to free agency. Some team will give him a 2 or 3 year deal at $5-6 million IMO. That team should not be Ottawa. If the Sens do keep Giroux, then I think they should package Perron in a trade. I would re-sign Zetterlund and play him on the 2nd line.
As for Amadio .... he is not a 4rth line player. I would keep Amadio on the 3rd line with Pinto and Greig and let them develop together as a shut down line.

Tkachuk/Stutzle/?
Batherson/Couzens/Zetterlund
Greig/Pinto/Amadio
Perron or Giroux/?/?

With injuries ... Perron or Giroux could sub up and down the line-up.

The other issue to deal with is how to get another defenceman. We are not sure how long or effective that Jensen can and will be. Older d-men take longer to recover from lower body injuries.

So use Perron and maybe someone like Crookshank as trade bait to get a younger man. Maybe Kesselring from Utah. Good size, young (at 24/25), plays heavy, will mix it up. Good way to use Perron and then keep Giroux. Maybe even use Guenette as trade bait as well (is he ready to join the Sens full time) But Giroux has to be okay with a diminished on-ice roll until injuries roll around ..... or someone like Zetterlund needs to be demoted if play is not good enough.

Then Ottawa can go out and look for that top 6 winger in free agency.

I think everyone can agree that the Sens have 2 players on each forward line locked in bold:

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle -
- AlfieisKing[1st RW]
[2nd LW] - Dylan Cozens - Drake Batherson
Ridly Grieg - Shane Pinto - [3rd RW]
[4th LW] - [4th C] - [4th RW]

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven - [Depth Right Shot D-man]

Linus Ullmark

Now I think those 6 guys are on the lines they belong. You can make the case for Batherson moving up to top line or Pinto being moved to a top 6 role in case of injury or if he's on a heater but overall there's consensus that they are on the lines they belong.

Where things get interesting and debatable is 3 wingers, which really we've seen the past few months as well: Zetterlund, Giroux, Perron.

Signing Giroux seems like an obvious decision. But before we put pen to paper, can and SHOULD the Sens have all 3 these guys on our team? I know Amadio currently holds that 3rd line spot with Grieg and Pinto but any of the guys can fit into that spot. I don't think any of them belong on the top line - Giroux has done that but I'm not sure if he can do it at almost 38 years old. He had the lowest points per game since his rookie season. Of course playing under Green makes a difference but I think he's better as a middle 6.

Perron, from Mar 1-Apr 8 he was amazing - 20 GP -- 8G 4A -- 12 PTS. Perron is not a 30 goal or 50 point player, but with that said, I think he is much better than the 16 points he put up in the 2nd half of the year. He is also entering a contract year. The last contract year with STL he put up 57 points in 67 games and almost put up 30 goals. I think he is a useful middle six forward.

Zetterlund, playing with Grandlund and Eklund, Fabian put up 24 goals and 44 points last season (his first full season in the NHL). Zetterlund has offensive flair he has yet to display in Ottawa. He was put in the worst situation to let his offence come through but being thrown on the 4th line. There is no way that Zetterlund should stay in Ottawa unless he plays every game in the top 9 - and he should play with skilled forwards. He has a very good shot.

I'm not so certain signing Giroux is an obvious decision. With Perron, Zetterlund Giroux, there are a lot of middle six guys who can work on the second or third line if need be, and it seems to make Giroux expendable.

Perron is what he is, and should provide depth scoring. He's older but should have a full season to be consistent with his family issues hopefully behind him.

Zetterlund will 100% get a much better shot this season. He should be playing on the second line to start, but they may play him with Stu to see if there is chemistry there.

Amadio was great on the third line like you said. It would be ideal to leave him here, but could work on the 4th line if need be.

Regardless, there is a big hole on that top line. They may put batherson there as he's the best winger after tkachuk, but I think they will try to sign one of the bigger free agents, for better or worse.

Someone suggested signing Marchand. They could have a left wing depth of

Brady
Marchand
Greig

The main issue is that Ottawa has Giroux, Perron, and Zetterlund. There is not a good way to sort through all 3 of them to give them ice time and properly fit them into the roster. None are really first line players.
Perron and Giroux are both 37 years old by the time the season rolls around. Neither are long term assets. Both offer veteran leadership in the room, but their on ice performances will start to dip at some point soon. Perron has one year left at a manageable $4 million for the season. Giroux is a UFA. If you sign Giroux ... 1 year, 2 year? At what cost. Perron can play to a degree in the greasy areas, Giroux ... not so much. Giroux has more speed then Perron but neither are that quick. But again ... both are veterans that know how to play. But are they capable of providing a full season and playoff?
Zetterlund is strong, can play in the greasy areas, and has speed. And he is 24.

There comes a point in development where every team must make a decision. I would let Giroux walk to free agency. Some team will give him a 2 or 3 year deal at $5-6 million IMO. That team should not be Ottawa. If the Sens do keep Giroux, then I think they should package Perron in a trade. I would re-sign Zetterlund and play him on the 2nd line.
As for Amadio .... he is not a 4rth line player. I would keep Amadio on the 3rd line with Pinto and Greig and let them develop together as a shut down line.

Tkachuk/Stutzle/?
Batherson/Couzens/Zetterlund
Greig/Pinto/Amadio
Perron or Giroux/?/?

With injuries ... Perron or Giroux could sub up and down the line-up.

The other issue to deal with is how to get another defenceman. We are not sure how long or effective that Jensen can and will be. Older d-men take longer to recover from lower body injuries.

So use Perron and maybe someone like Crookshank as trade bait to get a younger man. Maybe Kesselring from Utah. Good size, young (at 24/25), plays heavy, will mix it up. Good way to use Perron and then keep Giroux. Maybe even use Guenette as trade bait as well (is he ready to join the Sens full time) But Giroux has to be okay with a diminished on-ice roll until injuries roll around ..... or someone like Zetterlund needs to be demoted if play is not good enough.

Then Ottawa can go out and look for that top 6 winger in free agency.
- OttawaB

Giroux: 61.5% FOW% last season, Nuff said, put him on the 3rd line were he belongs and use for important FO.

Someone suggested signing Marchand. They could have a left wing depth of

Brady
Marchand
Greig


- david22

YES

Some great takes on Giroux, Perron, Zetterlund in here.

I think I’d like if Giroux can come back on a team friendly deal, bump Amido down to the fourth with Perron, but that makes for a 7mil fourth line.

Sadly, the answer might be that Giroux walks. They could go big game hunting for that elusive top six at that point.

On the defence, I don’t know that much will be done. Mantinpalo was pretty good. Maybe they bring in a 3RD that can also move up to deal with injuries.