My apologies for being away the last week or so, a big family move has kept me away from my usual daily writing that I prefer to do. The next week I will continue to be away for holiday. This is mostly a check in and quick hits of what has gone on around the Ottawa Senators. The trade rumors will start followed by the major kudos to general manager Steve Staios. The goaltending questions have been starting to come up on social accounts. Finally, which Senators are eligible for the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame.
Starting with the core...
Former Ottawa Senators' defender Marc Methot is suggesting management needs to blow the core. This was an immediate response after the Senators' embarrassing home loss to the Edmonton Oilers following four unanswered goals from late in period one to the late in the third; highlighted by a neat Evan Bouchard goal. Ottawa has become a team with a negative goal differential, and a near even home record despite the early dominance at the CTC.
Most of the current star players do not have trade clauses, which will make life a bit easier for clubs to call and inquire on their availability. One of the veterans of the core is due to be a free agent at the end of the season, and could become a trade chip in March, if he so desires to win the Stanley Cup. From Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, after a recent interview with GM Staios:
“Of course. I won’t get into contract discussions because that’s not fair to anybody but certainly Claude is a heck of a player.”
Claude Giroux just completed 1,200 NHL games between Ottawa, Florida, and Philadelphia. The Sens' forward has a backloaded contract with a limited no-movement clause. At a $6.5M cap hit, $1.625M would the lowest available hit if there is a double salary retention that occurs.
That would be the easiest move the Senators could make to shake the core. With the injury history of Norris, teams may stay away from that option. If a move would "sting" like Methot is saying, that big move, in my mind, would be captain Brady Tkachuk.
With Tkachuk seeing his brother in back-to-back Cup finals, including winning 2024, there might be a hunger and bigger push for the American born forward before his clause kicks in to go to a contender.
Kudos to Staios Family
Just after one year on the job, GM Staios has come forward during Hockey Fights Cancer Night, the family shared a very emotional story regarding Staios' wife, Susannah, and her battle with colon cancer. The Staios family has dealt with this fight with grace and class, even with the move from Edmonton to Ottawa over the last year plus.
GM Staios has also been able to manage the family issue while retool the Ottawa Senators from the net out.
The Goaltending Story
Between Ullmark and Forsberg, a $7.75M crease for this season, followed by an $8.25M per year extension looming to Ullmark. The tandem has a losing record, a near 3GAA and a sub-0.900 save percentage. I know the posts out there are starting to compare Linus Ullmark in the Ottawa system to goalies Matt Murray and Joonas Korpisalo. That's a stretch. Sure, Boston had a strong defensive style approach to their previous seasons, but Ullmark is a star goalie in this league. The team is still learning the Green system. Sure, it is Thanksgiving, and now shows which teams will and will not make the postseason. Ottawa is on the cusp. They are right there with this current roster.
The Refs and Carolina Given the Win
Ken best explains this in his piece. Couldn't be better said. Check out his thoughts.
Big take for me is that I'm just glad to see Perron return! The healthiest Senators' offense in a long time.
Who Will Make the Hall?
The Senators have three former skaters that are eligible for the 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame.
1. Zdeno Chara - first ballot. An absolute lock. Hardware, Cup, and longevity. Time with Ottawa before his career was established in Boston. Size, shot, and character. Chara is going in 2025.
2. Jason Spezza - almost won it all here with Ottawa. Now works with Dubas in Pittsburgh. Maybe as a builder? Personally, tough to see a skater not win the Cup belong in the Hall of Fame.
3. Sergei Gonchar - won his Cup in Pittsburgh. Now is a coach. Played for Ottawa in the twilight of his career. May be later in the decade.
JBD IN!
Thank goodness, the first rounder gets the ice time he deserves. In half the games played compared to Hamonic, he has double the points. JBD is also a plus; Hamonic is a -7. Brutal.
What are your thoughts? More to come...
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