Sens Writer: Senators Mid-Season Grades & Review

until they can build a buffer in a WC spot, all games are essentially must wins, with 9 team within 2-3 points of each other in the WC and Tampa seeming to be breaking away from the pack every points is crucial.

all teams ahead and behind the sens are playing tonight, game VS NYI is a must win and a 4 point game.

Real "trap" game tonight. Sens on the verge of a three game win streak, and they're playing the isles who give them a lot of trouble.

Gotta start winning these games.

Sens about where we all thought they'd be.

Secondary scoring is the issue we thought it'd be. Perron being out for so long certainly hurt the team's depth, hopefully he is back soon.

Greig and Pinto both have had slow starts. If the team is going to make the playoffs they'll both need to be better, but recently they have been playing better so hopefully that continues.

Sens about where we all thought they'd be.

Secondary scoring is the issue we thought it'd be. Perron being out for so long certainly hurt the team's depth, hopefully he is back soon.

Greig and Pinto both have had slow starts. If the team is going to make the playoffs they'll both need to be better, but recently they have been playing better so hopefully that continues.
- david22

well Perron has done nothing even when he was playing,

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ring-is-still-a-struggle/

Then there's the fact the Senators have a large discrepancy between shots (12th) and high-danger chances (27th)

OTT has become a perimeter team. Dmen don't shoot, no one goes in front of net. Sens 32nd for Goals by Dmen. Chych alone has more goals than all sens D combined.

Excellent write up.
I agree with most of it.

Chabbot still continues to frustrate me. He gets a B for not getting hurt and for not making as many mistakes. But he still makes them. And his point totals need to be higher for the errors Jensen covers up for. Jensen gets an A+ for me and an A+ to Staois. I'll take his overall game over Chychrun's offensive chaos any day. AND if Jensen wasn't being a band aid to whomever he was partnered with - he would be better offensively too. He skates beautifully up the ice when he carries it - but he can't very often because he's always babysitting.

The Sens have played their game against the Islanders and they've tried the Islanders game against them. Neither has worked. The Isles sit back and capitalize on their opponents taking chances. Special teams wins tonight.

What a snoozer of a game. I'm attributing most of that to NYI too.

But a win is a win, and have to like Merilainen's strong play.

Great write-up, love the midyear review.

Ottawa leads the league with 7 shutouts.

Hellebuyck has 6 by himself, lol.

Great write-up, love the midyear review.
- Panzer_IVA

Agreed. Excellent job.

Sometimes the Sens just need to let the game come to them .... play patient and let the chances come to them. They got lucky with no Sorokin in net. The Isles also dominated the faceoff circle, but they are the best faceoff team in the league. So it was a boring low chance game, but the Sens figured out a way to win and still shut down the other team. Our goaltending has been stellar since the original 20 games of the season. Our defensive structure has improved. Sure, there are lapses, but overall, it has improved. Like all teams this season, the Sens are streaky. We need to work on consistency.
I think we do need another top 6 forward who can play defence and offence (that magical 200 foot player). We could also use an experienced d-man for down the stretch who can play up and down the d-lineup. And NO, Klingberg is not that guy. But these are players every team is trying to get.
I think the returns of Amadio and Perron could be that missing forward link. But Perron is going to need reps (a conditioning stint in Belleville?) because he has only played 9 games this season. And yes , those 9 games were not that good ........ but how many of us would have had our heads in the game with the personal matters Perron went through. Give the guy a break.
As for goaltending, I don't know what we can do. Merilainen is playing well now ... lets give it more time. Forsberg is not the answer. But who out there is worth trading for. Ullmark will eventually return. If he doesn't come back, then our playoff chances are probably very limited anyways, regardless of what we do.
So what are some legit targets for trades that Ottawa can get without giving up the farm and major players off the roster. Forget Petersson and Miller .... ridiculously expensive. Forget Rasmus Anderson from Calgary .... they are not even looking to trade him. Forget anyone off Detroit or Buffalo. These teams are not looking to strengthen a rival for a playoff run.

Maybe someone like Palmieri from the Isles ... older and expiring contract , could play on 3rd line with small stints higher up as needed. Pageau .... still has one more year on contract at $5 million .... expensive but adds important faceoff dot experience if needed. Smallish, but still decent defensively, just won't get much goal production.
From Utah .... Alex Kerfoot .... left wing and expiring contract. Shouldn't be that expensive. Is he available?

I'm just looking at some small under the radar type trades to bring in some experience at a reasonable price.

And for those who keep pointing at the stats of Chychrun ....... why? First off, when he was here he was more of a hinderance and did not fit in. Secondly ... given all the goals he scored here, he was still a MINUS 31. Bully for him that he is having a better season in Washington. But he did not work here in Ottawa. I believe our trade for Jensen worked out much better for the Sens. And in a year or 2 we can bump Jensen to the 3rd pairing and add Yakemchuk to the 2nd or 1rst pairing depending on where he best fits.

Sure hope the Sens start Merilainen vs Washington on Thursday, and then again on Saturday vs Boston. The Sens seem to play better as well with Merilainen in net.

On Sunday vs New Jersey ..... we will probably need to start Forsberg.

Considering the Capital's ranking, I'm glad we were able to walk away with a point. Now on to Saturday and let's beat Boston!

Was at the game last night. Sens held their own against one of the leagues best teams. And looked better in many of the stretches.

They need something out of Perron and Amadio when they return....past the first two lines, there isn't much push there.

The new kid, Seberango, looked really good on the ice. Poised and big and not out of place. Highmore looked scared - too small.

We were right behind the net and man, Leevi looks so calm and postionally sound. He's played his way into a position next year if he keeps it up. Don't know what the Sens are going to do with Soogard on the one way next year at that point.

Lots of Ovi fans there last night.