Yes, it is very dark. Almost hopeless, except.

I don't see it entirely that way. The Sens already have some great young players in their organization and I suspect they will continue to add prospects and picks this year.

Not having a top pick next draft forces them to shoot for the longer horizon.

I will be content to see Formenton, White, Chlapik and Wolanin start their rookie seasons. I am still not convinced that Tkachuck was a great draft pick but he is getting great early reviews. Chabot will log big minutes.

I think there are another 5 kids who will get some call up time.
- spatso

define "great"

i see greatness as on par with the likes of Getzky Crosby McDavid etc...

is that what you think formenton is? i wouldn't even call Matthews great, though he has the potential, and formenton isnt even half as good as he is. the sens have good prospects but none have the potential for greatness. it also seems players will be rushed and could hurt their development..

you keep making poop up to fit your narratives

Avs were 100% an option, they were talking about Karlsson and their 1st round pick coming back. When people with actual connections and inside infmroation who cover a team for a living report that they have talked trade and an offered was put in. You can pretend all you want and refute it bc it doesn't fit with your melynk keyser soze style moves...theguy doesnt know what hes doing

This is the whole point of what they are trying to spin. They dint decide in February that they had a plan to rebuild, bc there is no logic in their moves from then that would support that claim

It might be what they are going to try to do now after everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.
- DDM-Coga

I don't disagree with the idea that Colorado tried to deal for Karlsson.

But, when Dorion said last week that there was no revisiting the issue of Ottawa's #1 pick, it was code for Melnyk says no to reopening the previous transaction.

Avs may have been willing, Melnyk was not.

In terms of the Avs making a better offer I do not doubt that. But, I am also certain several teams made better offers than the Sharks

Peter Mctavish named new AGM
- david22

Smart hire.

Comes from legal/hockey background with Pat Brisson.

Not sure who was the brains behind this but it is a good start.

I don't disagree with the idea that Colorado tried to deal for Karlsson.

But, when Dorion said last week that there was no revisiting the issue of Ottawa's #1 pick, it was code for Melnyk says no to reopening the previous transaction.

Avs may have been willing, Melnyk was not.

In terms of the Avs making a better offer I do not doubt that. But, I am also certain several teams made better offers than the Sharks
- spatso

You are not following along...what they are saying now is not what they were doing back in February. They werent "planning on rebuilding" back then. Then had no idea which direction they wanted to go and that is why they have bumbled their way through this offseason.

There is no grand scheme of why they are doing the moves they have done, its was an owner and management group wiht no vision of what they wanted to do until recently coming out and saying rebuild and move Karlsson.

Who cares what they are saying now to post rationale their new agenda, what they have done and more importantly not done at multiple trade deadlines say a different story

Smart hire.

Comes from legal/hockey background with Pat Brisson.

Not sure who was the brains behind this but it is a good start.
- spatso

Who'da thunk?

You are not following along...what they are saying now is not what they were doing back in February. They werent "planning on rebuilding" back then. Then had no idea which direction they wanted to go and that is why they have bumbled their way through this offseason.

There is no grand scheme of why they are doing the moves they have done, its was an owner and management group wiht no vision of what they wanted to do until recently coming out and saying rebuild and move Karlsson.

Who cares what they are saying now to post rationale their new agenda, what they have done and more importantly not done at multiple trade deadlines say a different story
- DDM-Coga

I don't think anyone would disagree with what your saying. But it is clear that Ottawa had other priorities than getting the best return on Karlsson.

The Avs were never an option. It would have meant that Melnyk would have had to admit to making a mistake.

The mistake was not the trade for Duchene.

The mistake was the failure to give Turris the $6m contract he wanted. Dorion wanted to do it. Melnyk said no.
- spatso

I wonder if the Senators first round pick was on the table. Optically that would have been a disaster and the fans would never hear the end of it so I can see how that would be a tough trade to make. Objectively though, that single pick has more value than the entire return from San Jose.

You are not following along...what they are saying now is not what they were doing back in February. They werent "planning on rebuilding" back then. Then had no idea which direction they wanted to go and that is why they have bumbled their way through this offseason.

There is no grand scheme of why they are doing the moves they have done, its was an owner and management group wiht no vision of what they wanted to do until recently coming out and saying rebuild and move Karlsson.

Who cares what they are saying now to post rationale their new agenda, what they have done and more importantly not done at multiple trade deadlines say a different story
- DDM-Coga

The difference was probably that the Avs wanted the Sens to take back some salary in the trade.

The Sens traded away 7.5M and got back 3.8M (in real dollars as EK's salary is 7.5M this year.. cap hit is 6.5).

That trade saved Eugene almost 4M.

I wonder if the Senators first round pick was on the table. Optically that would have been a disaster and the fans would never hear the end of it so I can see how that would be a tough trade to make. Objectively though, that single pick has more value than the entire return from San Jose.
- Jeffmt

I agree.

But, last week, when Dorion said that consideration of the Sens #1 pick was old news and it was time to move on...he was probably mouthing Melnyk's thinking.

The difference was probably that the Avs wanted the Sens to take back some salary in the trade.

The Sens traded away 7.5M and got back 3.8M (in real dollars as EK's salary is 7.5M this year.. cap hit is 6.5).

That trade saved Eugene almost 4M.
- Charliebox

I think that is key. Melnyk did not want any salary coming back. Hard for teams to do deals when the other team only wants to take back minimal salary.

OMG

It doesn't matter what other teams were offering. How good the Vegas deal was...how good the Tampa deal was....what the AV's may have been offering.

You don't know.
You weren't in the room.
Your credible sources - aren't that credible.

What is painfully missing from everyone's comments can be found in the first answer karlson gave when asked by a reporter if he was going to resign in San Jose...."um..uhhh...don't want to comment on that right now" If he was going to be signed by them - it would be announced already. So....Calgary, Edmonton, Dallas...all these rumored deals...if he wasn't going to sign there why would they pony up all these pieces. Doug Wilson gave Dorion the best group of "magic beans" (love that quote) available. It was probably the only deal out there. Because Wilson is betting he can sign him and keep him from getting to UFA. Or he's going to watch and make sure he fits with his team then offer him something if it works. It's a gamble....and a good one.

That IS your answer. That is why Pacioretty fetched a greater return. Why the Vegas rumours were bogus, why the AVs rumors were bogus. The Tampa rumor MIGHT have been true but he's not going to an Eastern team under Melnyk's watch.
Not only did Karlson have a no move list he had the leverage of saying I'm not signing with team X or team Y. And once phone calls were made and agents were spoken to, the deals from rumored teams because significantly less or non-existent.

OMG

It doesn't matter what other teams were offering. How good the Vegas deal was...how good the Tampa deal was....what the AV's may have been offering.

You don't know.
You weren't in the room.
Your credible sources - aren't that credible.

What is painfully missing from everyone's comments can be found in the first answer karlson gave when asked by a reporter if he was going to resign in San Jose...."um..uhhh...don't want to comment on that right now" If he was going to be signed by them - it would be announced already. So....Calgary, Edmonton, Dallas...all these rumored deals...if he wasn't going to sign there why would they pony up all these pieces. Doug Wilson gave Dorion the best group of "magic beans" (love that quote) available. It was probably the only deal out there. Because Wilson is betting he can sign him and keep him from getting to UFA. Or he's going to watch and make sure he fits with his team then offer him something if it works. It's a gamble....and a good one.

That IS your answer. That is why Pacioretty fetched a greater return. Why the Vegas rumours were bogus, why the AVs rumors were bogus. The Tampa rumor MIGHT have been true but he's not going to an Eastern team under Melnyk's watch.
Not only did Karlson have a no move list he had the leverage of saying I'm not signing with team X or team Y. And once phone calls were made and agents were spoken to, the deals from rumored teams because significantly less or non-existent.
- Octavarium

I think this accurately describes how it evolved. The Sens had teams where they would not trade Karlsson. Karlsson had teams he would not agree to a deal. Wilson took advantage and did a great deal.

OMG

It doesn't matter what other teams were offering. How good the Vegas deal was...how good the Tampa deal was....what the AV's may have been offering.

You don't know.
You weren't in the room.
Your credible sources - aren't that credible.

What is painfully missing from everyone's comments can be found in the first answer karlson gave when asked by a reporter if he was going to resign in San Jose...."um..uhhh...don't want to comment on that right now" If he was going to be signed by them - it would be announced already. So....Calgary, Edmonton, Dallas...all these rumored deals...if he wasn't going to sign there why would they pony up all these pieces. Doug Wilson gave Dorion the best group of "magic beans" (love that quote) available. It was probably the only deal out there. Because Wilson is betting he can sign him and keep him from getting to UFA. Or he's going to watch and make sure he fits with his team then offer him something if it works. It's a gamble....and a good one.

That IS your answer. That is why Pacioretty fetched a greater return. Why the Vegas rumours were bogus, why the AVs rumors were bogus. The Tampa rumor MIGHT have been true but he's not going to an Eastern team under Melnyk's watch.
Not only did Karlson have a no move list he had the leverage of saying I'm not signing with team X or team Y. And once phone calls were made and agents were spoken to, the deals from rumored teams because significantly less or non-existent.
- Octavarium

And then you go on to tell us exactly what happened. Ok...

What a mess the Sens are in. I am worried they won't exist soon. THey will lose so much money, and that attendance will be historically bad for a Canadian team.

I think this accurately describes how it evolved. The Sens had teams where they would not trade Karlsson. Karlsson had teams he would not agree to a deal. Wilson took advantage and did a great deal.
- spatso

However, if the headlines of today that Wilson will sign Karlsson for eight years comes into being it will add one more first round pick coming to Ottawa. With Norris (1st round pick) plus two more 1st round picks (2020 and 2021) I think it is a better return than for Paciorotti.

The Avs were never an option. It would have meant that Melnyk would have had to admit to making a mistake.

The mistake was not the trade for Duchene.

The mistake was the failure to give Turris the $6m contract he wanted. Dorion wanted to do it. Melnyk said no.
- spatso

The trade didn't work out at all but Duchene is a much better player than Turris.

Now Nashville is stuck with Turris making $6 million for the next 6 years.

I agree.

But, last week, when Dorion said that consideration of the Sens #1 pick was old news and it was time to move on...he was probably mouthing Melnyk's thinking.
- spatso

I'm guessing that the avs would say no way. Assuming it's just one year of Karlsson...I really don't think that gets them a cup. Try him on free agency if you can, but Hughes long term has more value than a year of EK.

Is the game tomorrow televised?

I'm guessing that the avs would say no way. Assuming it's just one year of Karlsson...I really don't think that gets them a cup. Try him on free agency if you can, but Hughes long term has more value than a year of EK.
- mgriffen

A 20% chance of Hughes, if Ottawa finished dead last.

I agree that number one pick has a lot of value, and the Avs are probably better standing pat, but I feel people need to be hesitant is saying Hughes is a lock.

Sens fans don't need to look to far away for a worse situation to reference. Ballard ruined the Leafs over the course of decades... all he did was chase away Keon, Sittler, MacDonald and employ doinks to operate as his puppets.

When Burke traded what he did for Kessel the Leafs were arguably in a similar situation to the Sens right now.

I don't recall many Sens fans "offering to understand" the Leafs situation at the time.. and I say this only because you should expect to be trolled by the other fan bases. Repeatedly.

Don't let it get you down... all you can do is send whatever message you see fit to Melnyk... and go from there.

If you think it hurts now...wait until the time period between the trade deadline and the draft...

and again, don't expect sympathy from other fan bases.... you've got guys like Spatso to thank for that.

However, if the headlines of today that Wilson will sign Karlsson for eight years comes into being it will add one more first round pick coming to Ottawa. With Norris (1st round pick) plus two more 1st round picks (2020 and 2021) I think it is a better return than for Paciorotti.
- spatso

if Melnyk really gives a crap... (which I doubt).. then he should be pushed to sign a few of the remaining FreeAgents... to insulate and protect the kids that you have. No sense rushing a Chabot or whomever if not ready... not for a season that's essentially lost. Signing a few of those guys might allow the Sens to climb a bit out of the basement and make the lost 1st rounder less painful.

if Melnyk really gives a crap... (which I doubt).. then he should be pushed to sign a few of the remaining FreeAgents... to insulate and protect the kids that you have. No sense rushing a Chabot or whomever if not ready... not for a season that's essentially lost. Signing a few of those guys might allow the Sens to climb a bit out of the basement and make the lost 1st rounder less painful.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I don't think anything should be done to make it less painful. The deeper the dive, the greater the probability for accelerated recovery. The Sens have had a pretty good run for the last 25 years.

Not having their own 1st in 1919 means the Sens have to look at a minimum 3 year draft program in addition to the prospects already in place. I think the Sens will have a first round pick or two next year but not a lottery pick. I think they will have a good shot at a lottery pick in 2020.

The Sens can be a fun team starting this year. My focus will be on enjoying the kids.

Is the game tomorrow televised?
- david22

Yeah. It's on Sportsnet at 7:30.

A 20% chance of Hughes, if Ottawa finished dead last.

I agree that number one pick has a lot of value, and the Avs are probably better standing pat, but I feel people need to be hesitant is saying Hughes is a lock.
- david22

When you say "lock", what do you mean?

A lock to go 1st overall or a lock to be an impact player?

Trying to stay positive here. From the list of star players who left:

-Yashin - Had already sat out a year. Flipped for one of best returns ever. Out of league what, 3-4 years later

-Chara - Mistake. Redden's fall from
Team Canada dman to absolutely stinking is almost as sudden and unexpected as the last year here. They chose the wrong one to sign
-Heatley - Didn't want to go to Edmonton, career spiraled quickly after traded
-Spezza - A few good seasons after, but stinks now
-Alfie - Big Mistake
-Turris - TBD
-Hoffman - TBD
-Karlsson - TBD

It's not like every player went on to have 5-7 awesome years. If a star player doesn't ride off into sunset with a cup, how many of them are really celebrated and go out greatly?

Again, trying to stay positive.....
- Ottawa Fan

TBD... WTF