My guess would be absolutely for Laine and absolutely not for Pjj
- Hesh_

See, I'm the opposite. I'll do a 2nd round pick for Puljujarvi all day long, but wouldn't do fifth overall for Laine.

I agree with most of this except for getting a valuable asset for taking on a bad contract. Sens will be now further from the cap floor, so they are a little more desperate to get a bad contract. For example, I don't really see them getting an Eriksson to get to the floor and then score a quality pick or prospect too.

However, still early in the "off-season" so lots of work can be done to create quality moves for a team that should still be in rebuild mode.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

While was it while made the joke that the Callahan bad contract would move them up one spot in the 5th round?

They were almost right .

That might be a more likely outcome here.

The Senators have the assets and could be first in line to make a deal and acquire a substantial rebuilding piece. They have a long way to go to get to the cap floor.

Not sure that the Sens step up to take cap dumps from other teams.

I would like to see them kick the tires on the two Finns. We have been told that Laine and Puljarrvi are both being floated as possible trade prospects.

Would you do the #5 for Laine?

Would you offer up a 2nd for Puljarrvi?
- spatso

no to the laine deal

yes to the puljarrvi deal

I have been telling them that forever. Only enticing thing is an unprotected 2022 1st.
- Feds91Stammer

even then, probably still not enough. Pens still likely a playoff team in 21/22, taking on JJ is not worth a pick in the late teens or 20s

See, I'm the opposite. I'll do a 2nd round pick for Puljujarvi all day long, but wouldn't do fifth overall for Laine.
- Michael_Stuart

I think I agree with your perspective. You know Winnipeg is desperate to rebuild their defensive corps and I am sure they would love to have a shot a Drysdale.
But, I am intrigued by the idea of putting the two Finns together again.

even then, probably still not enough. Pens still likely a playoff team in 21/22, taking on JJ is not worth a pick in the late teens or 20s
- sensarmy_11

Meh I don’t have faith in the pens future and if that 2022 pick hits the lottery it’s worth it.

This is a good move that creates a spot for a more deserving prospect who can deliver similar or better results for less money.
As for Bobby, he has got some things sorted in his personal life and has a huge bundle of cash to enjoy it. Good luck to him.

See, I'm the opposite. I'll do a 2nd round pick for Puljujarvi all day long, but wouldn't do fifth overall for Laine.
- Michael_Stuart

I'm inclined to agree - you have to think of it more in terms of Moneyball... the Senators are the Oakland A's, not the Yankees.

They'd be paying a serious premium for Laine, who's already shown significant deficiencies and inconsistency in his game, and who is only affordably signed for 1 year before he expects a major salary increase. Puljujarvi is at least a calculated risk with far less of an opportunity cost, with a runway of affordable contract years if he should actually prove to be salvageable at the NHL level (a la Duclair).

Personally, I'd be inclined to steer clear of both of them... just too much drama around both of them, to be honest. Conversely, if the Senators wound up with a forward corps structured around guys like Tkachuk, Byfield, and Raymond that would be a great mix of size, skill, work ethic, and scoring.

NYI 1st, chlapik +2nd rounder for cirelli signed at 2x6m?

Can someone explain to me, what is the benefit of the Sens taking back a bad contract if it does not make them a better team?

Why would you take on the bad contract of a non productive player if you can get a good productive player at a modest cost?

Garrioch reported that the Sens were looking to do deals that would result in good players coming back.

Who are the good players that are available..Marner? Nylander? Laine? Cerelli? Sergachev? We don't really know. But, It does not make a lot of sense to me that the Sens would want to build more picks and prospects as opposed to beginning to bend the rebuild curve towards a more competitive team.

NYI 1st, chlapik +2nd rounder for cirelli signed at 2x6m?
- Athrin

Tampa says no, I think. Ottawa would be silly not to do this if it's on the table.

Tampa says no, I think. Ottawa would be silly not to do this if it's on the table.
- Michael_Stuart

what changes needed to for tampa yes.

Can someone explain to me, what is the benefit of the Sens taking back a bad contract if it does not make them a better team?
- spatso

Well, there are a couple of potential reasons. It helps if you think of the potential benefits in broader terms than just winning more games next year, vs. things like financial stability, and long-term roster sustainment.

1) If it saves them a lot of $$$ vs. AAV in a year where revenues are cripplingly low (i.e. get to the Cap Floor on paper, while paying out substantially less than $60M). Loui Eriksson would be a clear example of a trade/buyout target that could accomplish this, with a buyout AAV in 2020/21 of $5.7M costing just $0.7M.

2) If it yields future picks (i.e. >2020), to help sustain the team once it returns to competitive form. This is especially important when you consider the drop off in picks they have over the next 3 drafts.
2020 - 3x 1st Round, 4x 2nd Round, 2x 3rd Round
2021 - 1x 1st Round, 3x 2nd Round, 1x 3rd Round
2022 - 1x 1st Round, 1x 2nd Round, 1x 3rd Round

Those are also the kinds of assets that could be used in order to target players that actually will make them a better team. So if a trade for a bad player can yield trade currency, and also accomplish the goal of minimizing $$$:AAV for the coming year, then I'd say you can expect there will be interest.

This to me is a bad idea.

#1. It's not like Ottawa is hurting for cap space
#2. Ryan, although expensive can still play and now that he's clean he should have a bit of a bounce back
#3. Vet leader who can help the young talent develop
#4. If you really want to get rid of him, instead of buying him out, trade him for something and just retain salary
#5. We can always expose him to Seattle

This to me is a bad idea.

#1. It's not like Ottawa is hurting for cap space
#2. Ryan, although expensive can still play and now that he's clean he should have a bit of a bounce back
#3. Vet leader who can help the young talent develop
#4. If you really want to get rid of him, instead of buying him out, trade him for something and just retain salary
#5. We can always expose him to Seattle
- Maverick1818

I think you are right. It does not make sense to exercise this option unless it opens the door to something equally substantial (in terms of cap). And, even then, they will still need to do more to hit the cap floor.

The more I think about it, this move is more for shedding that NMC, especially if Ottawa intends to trade for real hockey players who know how to play. Fend off the Kraken.

This to me is a bad idea.

#1. It's not like Ottawa is hurting for cap space
#2. Ryan, although expensive can still play and now that he's clean he should have a bit of a bounce back
#3. Vet leader who can help the young talent develop
#4. If you really want to get rid of him, instead of buying him out, trade him for something and just retain salary
#5. We can always expose him to Seattle
- Maverick1818

Seriously? I disagree with literally every one of these points...

1. Ottawa may not be hurting for cap space, but they have the cheapest owner in the league, who just had most of his revenue source taken away. If you thought the Masterson Trophy was going to convince Melnyk to fork over $7.5M to keep Bobby Ryan around under pandemic economic conditions, then I don't know what to tell you.
2. There's virtually no way Ryan bounces back to being anywhere close to being worth his contract.
3. It's hard to help young talent develop from the 4th line, which is where he almost certainly would be playing... especially if they have Batherson, Brown, and one of Duclair/White paying RW ahead of him.
4. How is retaining salary in trade plus giving up a sweetener a better scenario than buying him out? And who exactly would trade for Ryan at even 1/2 his $$$ or AAV?
5. No they can't just expose him... he has a NMC, which means he will prevent them from protecting a forward they'd really prefer not to lose.

I’m glad Ryan was bought out. At the end of the day, it’s a business. Hopefully Ryan gets a shot somewhere else.

Sens now have even more leverage in making deals: ample cap space, picks and prospects.

Considering he just won the Masterson, a bit of an odd look.

Not sure how I feel about this.
- david22

It's a disgusting move. Especially after the ovation he got when he returned and netted three. He's always been good to the city, but now he's getting fired. 100% Melnyk.

With the buyout of Bobby Ryan the Sens are left with only $38.2m. in commitment against the cap. They need to add more than $22m in salary to get to the cap floor.

How can they do that without taking on a substatial contract, perhaps 2?

With the buyout of Bobby Ryan the Sens are left with only $38.2m. in commitment against the cap. They need to add more than $22m in salary to get to the cap floor.

How can they do that without taking on a substatial contract, perhaps 2?
- spatso

Duclair, Brown and Tierny should come close to 12m there, so they need roughly 10m to reach floor. lotsa UFAs this year

Duclair, Brown and Tierny should come close to 12m there, so they need roughly 10m to reach floor. lotsa UFAs this year
- Athrin

Yes, I agree on Duclair, Brown and Tierney. But they are also committed to playing the kids. So where do they make up the missing $10m off the cap?

Yes, I agree on Duclair, Brown and Tierney. But they are also committed to playing the kids. So where do they make up the missing $10m off the cap?
- spatso

LTIR contracts, cap dumps, pay a random UFA 10m for 1 year (lol)

See, I'm the opposite. I'll do a 2nd round pick for Puljujarvi all day long, but wouldn't do fifth overall for Laine.
- Michael_Stuart

Curious on your take here.

You’d rather give up a 2nd, for an unproven commodity, who couldn’t even click with McDavid..then give up the 5th overall, for a proven ELITE top line winger/goal scorer.

I thought Laine took huge strides this year, especially with his passing game and he’s only 22.

If you’re saying no to this, for the simple reason he’s gna want to get paid..then this team will never win anything.

With the buyout of Bobby Ryan the Sens are left with only $38.2m. in commitment against the cap. They need to add more than $22m in salary to get to the cap floor.
How can they do that without taking on a substatial contract, perhaps 2?
- spatso

You're assuming that $22M has to come from active roster salary. They have all of Duclair, Brown, Tierney, Paul, Balcers, and Hawryluk needing new RFA contracts... which could easily add ~$15M to the payroll. Plus they have Gaborik on LTIR, and will have the Phaneuf/Ryan buyouts counting against the cap as well. That probably makes them borderline compliant with the Cap Floor right there, with a moderate appetite to add maybe a starting G or top-4 RHD if they can find the right deal. Alternative, they could easily wait until the off-season to see which teams become more desperate to move out some AAV, and are willing to pay a premium like a 1st round pick to do it.