I’m not sure if I agree with your point on goaltending. We’ve seen the impact a goalie can make when they play elite (Vas now, Binnington, Anderson). Look at Kuemper’s impact before he went down.

I’m not saying draft him 1st or 2nd overall but if you’re a team like New Jersey or Minnesota or even Ottawa (with their Sj pick), you’re telling me you wouldn’t take the guy that some are saying could be the best goalie prospect since 2006?
- Trilla

I wouldn't. Vasilevskiy was drafted 19th. Binnington went in the third round. Anderson went in the third round. There's good goalies found all over the place.

I’m not sure if I agree with your point on goaltending. We’ve seen the impact a goalie can make when they play elite (Vas now, Binnington, Anderson). Look at Kuemper’s impact before he went down.

I’m not saying draft him 1st or 2nd overall but if you’re a team like New Jersey or Minnesota or even Ottawa (with their Sj pick), you’re telling me you wouldn’t take the guy that some are saying could be the best goalie prospect since 2006?
- Trilla

IF OTT was stacked in all positions but goaltender then the taking a risk on a tender in the top 5-10 would be acceptable, but OTT is NOT stacked in all positions with top end talent like Patterson guentzels and so on.

as for the prospect of if OTT has first and MTl has 2nd or 3rd OA, i do no think MTL would trade the pieces that would entice OTT to think about trading down and MTL is a divisional rival.

The last time a 1st OA pick was traded was in 2003. FLA to Pits and Mark-Andre Fleury was picked 1st OA, and FLA picked Nathan Horton 3rd OA.

I wouldn't. Vasilevskiy was drafted 19th. Binnington went in the third round. Anderson went in the third round. There's good goalies found all over the place.
- Michael_Stuart

There are more good forwards in this draft then goalies.

And it just so happens this goalie is the best one seen in a very long time. A lot of experts had him pegged to go top 5 (before the world juniors).

On a different note, why haven’t the sens decided to sell off players yet? Gotta get this stuff out of the way early.

Also, next years draft..although not as deep, is like the year of blueliners

At this point I would take Raymond or stuetzel over Rossi.

Rossi I could see a team picking him between 4-8 but going 9 isn’t far fetched..this draft is stacked, especially in the top 10.

Not to mention Askarov could go early and throw off the draft selections (maybe the best goalie prospect I’ve seen)
- Trilla

Yeah.....

I think the two sweeds and the german will be selected 3-8. Then Perfetti is another guy many have in the top 5. Ross going 4th-8th is very likely; I would bet that's where he goes, but it wouldn't surprise me if he falls to 9th as well, there's alot of good players

Interesting numbers....

Past 5 years, the avg points to get into the playoffs: 93
Past 5 years, the avg points of team in 9th in west: 88.8

This year the # looks like 94 points to make the playoffs.

The San Jose Sharks have 46 pts in 48 games (34 games remaining). The Sharks would need to go on a run similar to the following: 21-7-6.

In other words there is a VERY strong chance the Sens already have 2 lottery balls in April. Every loss (especially in regulation) is huge

Fingers crossed*

Interesting numbers....

Past 5 years, the avg points to get into the playoffs: 93
Past 5 years, the avg points of team in 9th in west: 88.8

This year the # looks like 94 points to make the playoffs.

The San Jose Sharks have 46 pts in 48 games (34 games remaining). The Sharks would need to go on a run similar to the following: 21-7-6.

In other words there is a VERY strong chance the Sens already have 2 lottery balls in April. Every loss (especially in regulation) is huge

Fingers crossed*
- AlfieisKing

Right now Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver hold down the last 4 playoff spots playing at a pace of 1.15 pts per game or a projected 94 points at season end. Ironically, at this pace, 94 points could mean 1st place in the Pacific or the final wild card slot out of the Central or the Pacific.

Nashville and Vegas are still well positioned to join the the hunt for a playoff spot. Chicago is making a small run. Minnesota and the other outsiders (including San Jose) are probably finished.

The Prospect game will have some huge story lines for Sens fans.

Imagine having a shot at getting as many as two players from a short list that includes:

Lafreniere
Byfield
Rossi
Perfetti
Drysdale

The top 10 players not in the prospect game, includes

Stutzle
Holtz
Raymond
Lundell
Askerov

The Prospect game will have some huge story lines for Sens fans.

Imagine having a shot at getting as many as two players from a short list that includes:

Lafreniere
Byfield
Rossi
Perfetti
Drysdale

The top 10 players not in the prospect game, includes

Stutzle
Holtz
Raymond
Lundell
Askerov
- spatso

Now imagine watching those players waltz out the door 5 years down the road because they refuse to be paid in Mohegan Sun buffet coupons

Now imagine watching those players waltz out the door 5 years down the road because they refuse to be paid in Mohegan Sun buffet coupons
- poopstash

When I get discouraged, I think about brown garbage bag masks and Harold Ballard, an empty Chicago stadium, jail sentences for Buffalo ownership and the New York Islanders being bought by a guy who could not afford a cup of coffee.

Rogue ownership is not new to the NHL. It is a matter of time and patience. Ottawa fans are handling the entire situation really well. Big money in the form of local ownership is standing on the sidelines. Plans and approvals for a new building have passed well beyond the planning stages with approvals from all levels of government.

When the invading hoards (Visigoths 410 AD) were standing at the gates of Rome, St. Augustine taught that the world will not end with the fall of Rome. Rome fell but reemerged with an even greater influence on the world.

When I get discouraged, I think about brown garbage bag masks and Harold Ballard, an empty Chicago stadium, jail sentences for Buffalo ownership and the New York Islanders being bought by a guy who could not afford a cup of coffee.

Rogue ownership is not new to the NHL. It is a matter of time and patience. Ottawa fans are handling the entire situation really well. Big money in the form of local ownership is standing on the sidelines. Plans and approvals for a new building have passed well beyond the planning stages with approvals from all levels of government.

When the invading hoards (Visigoths 410 AD) were standing at the gates of Rome, St. Augustine taught that the world will not end with the fall of Rome. Rome fell but reemerged with an even greater influence on the world.
- spatso

No it didn't, the Church did. Rome as a city did not recover the basics it had (like, you know, plumbing, widespread bread availability and a functional government) for another 1,000 years at least. That period of history is called the Dark Ages for a reason...So your analogy means that in the case of the Sens we are destined for another couple of decades of despair with only the Church of Alfie to give us solace, take our money and give nothing back and burn all those heretic non-believers living elsewhere in relatively much higher prosperity/ranking (the Byzantines, Arab Kingdoms, China) in the standings. Bad analogy, bud, really bad....

No it didn't, the Church did. Rome as a city did not recover the basics it had (like, you know, plumbing, widespread bread availability and a functional government) for another 1,000 years at least. That period of history is called the Dark Ages for a reason...So your analogy means that in the case of the Sens we are destined for another couple of decades of despair with only the Church of Alfie to give us solace, take our money and give nothing back and burn all those heretic non-believers living elsewhere in relatively much higher prosperity/ranking (the Byzantines, Arab Kingdoms, China) in the standings. Bad analogy, bud, really bad....
- ahjnkn

St. Augustine's teaching (time and history) came from a theological perspective. The fall of Rome was being likened to the end of the world. But, as we know, it spawned the emergence of the Holy Roman Empire that still endures today. Melnyk's history with the Sens will be separate than the history of the Sens.

I don't care if Melnyk leaves today, next week, at the end of the season or 5 years from now. I am certain that God will endure and one day Melnyk will no longer be with us. Our silver lining comes from the fact the Sens have no money. So rebuild becomes the only pragmatic option.

St. Augustine's teaching (time and history) came from a theological perspective. The fall of Rome was being likened to the end of the world. But, as we know, it spawned the emergence of the Holy Roman Empire that still endures today. Melnyk's history with the Sens will be separate than the history of the Sens.

I don't care if Melnyk leaves today, next week, at the end of the season or 5 years from now. I am certain that God will endure and one day Melnyk will no longer be with us. Our silver lining comes from the fact the Sens have no money. So rebuild becomes the only pragmatic option.
- spatso

While what you say is technically true in terms of the Empire lasting (only because the Principality of Liechtenstein still exists...somehow...as an independent country), it essentially died at the end of the 19th century. And in terms of the evolution you describe it took 390 years from the Visigoth sack of Rome (410 CE) for the Holy Roman Empire to be created (800 CE), and its power base was always outside of Rome in areas of what are today Germany, eastern France, Austria and Hungary.

Your analogy equates to us as Rome (Senators and such...) being an entertaining sideshow distraction (unparalled success) while other parts of the empire (other teams) take the best assets left (our best players over time) from a sinking dinosaur and become stronger themselves. Pretty sure this is not where you wanted this narrative to go...

While what you say is technically true in terms of the Empire lasting (only because the Principality of Liechtenstein still exists...somehow...as an independent country), it essentially died at the end of the 19th century. And in terms of the evolution you describe it took 390 years from the Visigoth sack of Rome (410 CE) for the Holy Roman Empire to be created (800 CE), and its power base was always outside of Rome in areas of what are today Germany, eastern France, Austria and Hungary.

Your analogy equates to us as Rome (Senators and such...) being an entertaining sideshow distraction (unparalled success) while other parts of the empire (other teams) take the best assets left (our best players over time) from a sinking dinosaur and become stronger themselves. Pretty sure this is not where you wanted this narrative to go...
- ahjnkn

My studies are in theology. So the story is taught with a different bias. Renewal emerges from the failure and despair. So, even though it might appear like a mess today, the actual failure is generating a new order conditioned by the potential (and hope) for a great step forward.

Just a few years ago the Sens were carrying a big payroll, had traded away picks and prospects and were having only marginal competitive success. Today we (the Sens) are a competitive failure. Yet, we are loaded with picks and prospects even though the team is being funded by gas fumes.

If I was an owner and wanted to sell a team and gain maximum profits. I would cut costs, get rid of older guys on long term contracts and load up on youth, picks and prospects. Despite everything we read, Melnyk is doing everything he should to protect his personal long term financial interest. When Melnyk does finally go, he will leave behind a nice young team.