Sens Writer: Senators Defeat Sharks Despite Being Outshot, Outplayed

Good blog.

In vacuum you could try to say that was a one off, but we all know differently.

Silver lining is that Ullmark played really well. Gotta hope he can use it to find some consistency, and the team builds off of that.

The main issue now is the thin d-core. With Zub out (and he wasn't playing well even when he was in games) they have to play Hamonic higher up in the rotation and he quite simply is not good enough.
I think we will see a trade very shortly to bring in a more qualified right handed dman. What we give up in return will depend on the quality coming back.
Norris only gets traded if the quality coming back is very high end.
Greig ... not having a stellar year but probably because he is playing too high up in the line combos. He is a 3rd line guy at this point.
Pinto .... just not finding his rhythm at this point and needs to score more.
Amadio .... anyone ?
In Belleville there are probably only a few targets ..... Crookshank.

The idea that we trade a first round pick is not going to happen because it would leave us without a 1rst rounder for the next 2 drafts.

Maybe something bigger is coming down the pipes .... like a Chabot trade. Lindgren and Kappo from the Rangers for Chabot and Greig ...... and fill in with other parts if needed.
Sens (from hockey analysts) may target David Jirisek from Columbus, Connor Murphy from Chicago for example. But the real trick will be finding that dman with enough experience and time left on the contract, who is still under 30 and not too expensive.

At this point in time, I'd prefer some ugly wins to well played losses. We need to stay competitive to truly assess all players under stress conditions. I do not want to see us drift out of contention to play a slate of meaningless games.

While this team had played solid team defense for a number of games, there has been a noticeable drop in that area of late. In addition, there have been too many ill advised pinches, risk taking at bad times in the game and sub par defensive play. The one unexpected standout defensively has been Nick Jensen. I believe that another key addition or change on the blueline is needed.

The second key concern has been the lack of production at 5 v 5. The Norris and Pinto lines have not produced much. The Norris line in particular looks like it needs a change. Pinto seems off since his injury so I'm hoping that the issues there are a temporary problem.

The main issue now is the thin d-core. With Zub out (and he wasn't playing well even when he was in games) they have to play Hamonic higher up in the rotation and he quite simply is not good enough.
I think we will see a trade very shortly to bring in a more qualified right handed dman. What we give up in return will depend on the quality coming back.
Norris only gets traded if the quality coming back is very high end.
Greig ... not having a stellar year but probably because he is playing too high up in the line combos. He is a 3rd line guy at this point.
Pinto .... just not finding his rhythm at this point and needs to score more.
Amadio .... anyone ?
In Belleville there are probably only a few targets ..... Crookshank.

The idea that we trade a first round pick is not going to happen because it would leave us without a 1rst rounder for the next 2 drafts.

Maybe something bigger is coming down the pipes .... like a Chabot trade. Lindgren and Kappo from the Rangers for Chabot and Greig ...... and fill in with other parts if needed.
Sens (from hockey analysts) may target David Jirisek from Columbus, Connor Murphy from Chicago for example. But the real trick will be finding that dman with enough experience and time left on the contract, who is still under 30 and not too expensive.
- OttawaB

Kappo is a bust and Lingren is a average D at best and OTT dont need LD, it is RD OTT needs, Chabot is worth more than both of then together yet alone adding greig....

Jericek is going to be what Tyler Boucher is going to be.

Kappo is a bust and Lingren is a average D at best and OTT dont need LD, it is RD OTT needs, Chabot is worth more than both of then together yet alone adding greig....

Jericek is going to be what Tyler Boucher is going to be.
- Mithos

Then offer Tyler Boucher for Jiricek. Columbus will get way better then that. Which is probably why Ottawa is not in the mix.

I think that by the time this weekend is over (LA and Anaheim games) we will have a good idea on where we stand with our defensive team structure. I think Staios wants to shake up the core so I would look at either Norris, Pinto, Greig and Chabot as being targets. On the side, secondary guys like Zub and Amadio could also be trade targets.

Then offer Tyler Boucher for Jiricek. Columbus will get way better then that. Which is probably why Ottawa is not in the mix.

I think that by the time this weekend is over (LA and Anaheim games) we will have a good idea on where we stand with our defensive team structure. I think Staios wants to shake up the core so I would look at either Norris, Pinto, Greig and Chabot as being targets. On the side, secondary guys like Zub and Amadio could also be trade targets.
- OttawaB

Chabot is the easier player to replace, OTT would need a stay at home LD, if they dont think Kleven can be top 4, to pair up with Yakemchuck next year. Greig is not part of the "core" and C depth is sooo important that i dont think they would move Norris or Pinto.

Chabot is the easier player to replace, OTT would need a stay at home LD, if they dont think Kleven can be top 4, to pair up with Yakemchuck next year. Greig is not part of the "core" and C depth is sooo important that i dont think they would move Norris or Pinto.
- Mithos

I expect 1 of Norris or Greig to be traded. My money is on Norris getting traded before next season due to salary.

Looking at things now ..... I would be willing to part with Sogaard and Daoust and Boucher for Jiricek. I think Sogaard is being passed by Merilainen for depth in net.

Next season .... let Forsberg go, and either try Merilainen or bring in Lankonen (Vancouver will have Demko back by then as #1.

down 1 not even 2 minutes into the game....

I am checking out on the senators until they have a winning record. Too many years and hours invested into this. I hope for a speedy assent for the team i will follow the box scores in the morning.

At this point only Brady/Timmy/Jake should be safe, anyone else could go, the veterans Staios brought in for their experience absolutley suck.
The bottom 6 is horrendous, Amadio should never step on the ice again, something seems wrong with Pinto. The team is obviously broken and needs to be fixed, unfortunately there won't be an easy fix......damn I hate being so negative about the team again after this year had so much promise.

Ottawa Senators "Core"

1. Tim Stutzle
2. Brady Tkachuk
3. Jake Sanderson
4. Drake Batherson
5. ???????????????

Josh Norris is a 25-30 goal scoring center in a healthy season. The problem is he has never stayed healthy for a full season; thus he has only surpassed 35 points in his rookie career high season of 35 goals. Only Yashin, Alfie, Tkachuk, Stutzle, Michalek, Giroux, Hossa, and Heatley have done that in a Sens uniform. If healthy I think Norris will hit 30 again one day - whether here or somewhere else. But 40 goals or even 35, I wouldn't put $ on it, especially due to health. So is he a core player I ask you?

Thomas Chabot is another player making $8M a season. Another guy who had a career year and cashed in off of it. Put any player that has played for Buffalo, Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot (in that order) are the players who have played the most in the NHL without seeing the playoffs. That's crazy. Stutzle is already passed 300 now. How many more before he sees it. But I ask again, is he a core player?

Shane Pinto, Ridly Grieg, Artem Zub - they can all play good roles for this team. CY should be a core D-man for Sens. Ullmark I like as our #1, despite some struggles. But Staios thinks he can just add character and role players that have won cups (Man Perron hasn't been a good fit here), I think Ottawa needs a right shot D-man in the mold of a young Chris Tanev. I wonder if Colton Parayko would make sense for Ottawa?

this team is filled with floaters on defense, they all stop skating every dam time....

Ottawa Senators "Core"

1. Tim Stutzle
2. Brady Tkachuk
3. Jake Sanderson
4. Drake Batherson
5. ???????????????

Josh Norris is a 25-30 goal scoring center in a healthy season. The problem is he has never stayed healthy for a full season; thus he has only surpassed 35 points in his rookie career high season of 35 goals. Only Yashin, Alfie, Tkachuk, Stutzle, Michalek, Giroux, Hossa, and Heatley have done that in a Sens uniform. If healthy I think Norris will hit 30 again one day - whether here or somewhere else. But 40 goals or even 35, I wouldn't put $ on it, especially due to health. So is he a core player I ask you?

Thomas Chabot is another player making $8M a season. Another guy who had a career year and cashed in off of it. Put any player that has played for Buffalo, Brady Tkachuk and Thomas Chabot (in that order) are the players who have played the most in the NHL without seeing the playoffs. That's crazy. Stutzle is already passed 300 now. How many more before he sees it. But I ask again, is he a core player?

Shane Pinto, Ridly Grieg, Artem Zub - they can all play good roles for this team. CY should be a core D-man for Sens. Ullmark I like as our #1, despite some struggles. But Staios thinks he can just add character and role players that have won cups (Man Perron hasn't been a good fit here), I think Ottawa needs a right shot D-man in the mold of a young Chris Tanev. I wonder if Colton Parayko would make sense for Ottawa?
- AlfieisKing

Neither Norris nor Chabot are core players. Chabot has been far better defensively this year and is coming closer to earning his salary. Norris seems to be the more replaceable player as he doesn't generate nearly enough at 5 on 5. Norris needs to go a year without injury to build up more value for a trade.
A Tanev type player is exactly what we need to go with Sanderson.

Neither Norris nor Chabot are core players. Chabot has been far better defensively this year and is coming closer to earning his salary. Norris seems to be the more replaceable player as he doesn't generate nearly enough at 5 on 5. Norris needs to go a year without injury to build up more value for a trade.
A Tanev type player is exactly what we need to go with Sanderson.
- SensFan25

I don't know what is going on because I haven't seen enough games but when I look at your roster on paper it seems to me you should be doing much better.
It can't be the coach because you have gone through multiple good coaches.
If Jacques Martin couldn't teach your guys to play defense then nobody can.
Has the goaltending been good enough? Ullmark was supposed to be the saviour but his numbers are meh.
What's the deal?

Norris - 0 shots
Pinto - 0 shots
Giroux - 0 shots


...Brady had 12 shots.

Yakemchuk not invited to the WJC Camp, what the (frank)?

He's 8th (I think) in WHL CAN D scoring. Don't know about his defense aspect of his game. Probably just missed the cut?