Michael Stuart: Taking Care of Business

Cant wait to hear any new additions/ trades this week if so.🤔

I'm happy with Daccord, I really see a lot of potential in him. Ownership is giving, however, some mixed signals. The Murray signing, signaled to me that Daccord is nowhere near a role in the NHL and that Hogberg is not good enough. Now it seems that they just don't have any faith in Hogberg which I don't understand at all. Was hoping that the Hog would get a chance but now there is no future for him here anymore.

Maybe we can flip him during the season for a lower pick than Gudbranson or Watson

Curious to see how many starts Hogberg gets this year. Certainly hope they give him a chance to get his fair share, and on't shunt him off to a 100% backup role.

Curious to see how many starts Hogberg gets this year. Certainly hope they give him a chance to get his fair share, and on't shunt him off to a 100% backup role.
- david22

seeing as murray was given the contract he was, I can't see Hogberg being anything but a 100% backup.....unless Murray gets hurt or completely poops the bed

I never understood the "faith" in Hogberg by fans. He's development in the AHL has been meh at best. He was "ok" last year in the NHL in a sense in that he didn't let the Sens lose 9-2 every game. However, the numbers don't lie. He wasn't great.

Hogberg's window is very small. Will be 26 next month.

In my opinion, he is nothing more than a back up. I don't even think he is a quality back up. I'd much rather have an older guy or an up an comer in that position. With Murray at the helm, Ottawa has bought time for other goalie prospects coming up, which isn't a bad thing.

Unless Hogberg lights the world on fire, I fully expect parties to part ways when his contract is over.

Personally, I feel Daccord is more of an AHL stopgap while the younger goalies get seasoned to fill the void in 2-3 years. He will get a similar chance to show his worth as Hogberg did with the new contract.

I never understood the "faith" in Hogberg by fans. He's development in the AHL has been meh at best. He was "ok" last year in the NHL in a sense in that he didn't let the Sens lose 9-2 every game. However, the numbers don't lie. He wasn't great.

Hogberg's window is very small. Will be 26 next month.

In my opinion, he is nothing more than a back up. I don't even think he is a quality back up. I'd much rather have an older guy or an up an comer in that position. With Murray at the helm, Ottawa has bought time for other goalie prospects coming up, which isn't a bad thing.

Unless Hogberg lights the world on fire, I fully expect parties to part ways when his contract is over.

Personally, I feel Daccord is more of an AHL stopgap while the younger goalies get seasoned to fill the void in 2-3 years. He will get a similar chance to show his worth as Hogberg did with the new contract.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think most people just want Hogberg to get a fair shot. I agree he could wind up being just a back up, but he showed flashes.

Do you mean Gustf and Soogard when you mean Ottawa's younger goalie? Ottawa's has a lot of goalie prospects who look Ok-good, but no blue chip guys, and if Hogberg/Daccord are out of the running, the list gets shorter.

I think most people just want Hogberg to get a fair shot. I agree he could wind up being just a back up, but he showed flashes.

Do you mean Gustf and Soogard when you mean Ottawa's younger goalie? Ottawa's has a lot of goalie prospects who look Ok-good, but no blue chip guys, and if Hogberg/Daccord are out of the running, the list gets shorter.
- david22

People need to get ready to cut ties with some middling prospects during this rebuild. It sounds harsh, but Hogberg will likely be one of them.

Hogberg has had quite a fair shot with this organization across his AHL and NHL tenures. Do people need to see 3 years of starting time to have a fair shot or something? 904 SV% in 24 games isn't all that great. He had flashes of impressive saves but not sure there is much more room for him to grow. I watch him in goal and something is just off. Doesn't look intimidating or smooth. Always looks like he is fighting the shot.

Daccord is next in line to have a shot in my opinion (AHL this year and NHL next year maybe). While that occurs, Søgaard, Mandolese, Gustavsson, and Meriläinen are the next crop of goalies. No blue chippers, but half the goalies that are successful in the NHL were never seen as blue chippers. I am fairly ok waiting and seeing with that crop. Not sure you really need anymore than that? Especially is Matt Murray pans out to be a half decent starter for a few years.

People need to get ready to cut ties with some middling prospects during this rebuild. It sounds harsh, but Hogberg will likely be one of them.

Hogberg has had quite a fair shot with this organization across his AHL and NHL tenures. Do people need to see 3 years of starting time to have a fair shot or something? 904 SV% in 24 games isn't all that great. He had flashes of impressive saves but not sure there is much more room for him to grow. I watch him in goal and something is just off. Doesn't look intimidating or smooth. Always looks like he is fighting the shot.

Daccord is next in line to have a shot in my opinion (AHL this year and NHL next year maybe). While that occurs, Søgaard, Mandolese, Gustavsson, and Meriläinen are the next crop of goalies. No blue chippers, but half the goalies that are successful in the NHL were never seen as blue chippers. I am fairly ok waiting and seeing with that crop. Not sure you really need anymore than that? Especially is Matt Murray pans out to be a half decent starter for a few years.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Daccord is okay but he's got a bad case of happy feet. If the opposition spends a lot of time in our end he'll be exhausted after 2nd period. Has to learn to relax.

This is pretty interesting to me. It's clear what Ottawa should be doing.

Going with Murray/Hogberg as our Goalies. Trading Nilsson (If possible, even for a low pick)

I'm kind of shocked how they committed to Joey D because Gus was the one that was touted as the next #1G. When we first picked him up he was compared to Henrik Lundqvist several times by the media.

Granted, I don't think he is close to that, the next few years I 100% expect to see a Gus/Deccord tandem for the Sens. But again that leaves out Hogberg, Nilsson and Murray long term.

Might be a good idea to get Hogberg in to play some games, build up some trade value before trading him and bringing in one of the young guys.

Hogberg has had quite a fair shot with this organization across his AHL and NHL tenures. Do people need to see 3 years of starting time to have a fair shot or something? 904 SV% in 24 games isn't all that great. He had flashes of impressive saves but not sure there is much more room for him to grow. I watch him in goal and something is just off. Doesn't look intimidating or smooth. Always looks like he is fighting the shot.

Daccord is next in line to have a shot in my opinion (AHL this year and NHL next year maybe). While that occurs, Søgaard, Mandolese, Gustavsson, and Meriläinen are the next crop of goalies. No blue chippers, but half the goalies that are successful in the NHL were never seen as blue chippers. I am fairly ok waiting and seeing with that crop. Not sure you really need anymore than that? Especially is Matt Murray pans out to be a half decent starter for a few years.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I'm really getting tired of this whole "imagine how this player feels" horse$hit when another player is brought in to compete for a roster spot. You're playing NHL-level hockey, which is not only hyper-competitive on the ice, but just as competitive in earning your opportunities. It may seem like more, but Hogberg played all of 24GP in the NHL last year... basically the same GP as Englund or Beaudin. How on Earth is that anywhere near enough of a sample size for people to be worrying about protecting his role, especially given the number of quality goaltending prospects in the system?

Not to mention that I actually view this as a vote of confidence in their goaltending prospects. Sure, Murray will be the #1, but Hogberg essentially just got handed the back-up role for the coming season. You also have to consider that Hogberg isn't signed past next season, and will likely be exposed in the Seattle expansion draft. So having Daccord signed gives them another option and some continuity. And beyond next year, if Hogberg wants to keep playing in the NHL, it's actually very simple - he needs to play better than Daccord. If he does, then great. If he doesn't, then I have no idea what people are worrying about.

I'm really getting tired of this whole "imagine how this player feels" horse$hit when another player is brought in to compete for a roster spot. You're playing NHL-level hockey, which is not only hyper-competitive on the ice, but just as competitive in earning your opportunities. It may seem like more, but Hogberg played all of 24GP in the NHL last year... basically the same GP as Englund or Beaudin. How on Earth is that anywhere near enough of a sample size for people to be worrying about protecting his role, especially given the number of quality goaltending prospects in the system?

Not to mention that I actually view this as a vote of confidence in their goaltending prospects. Sure, Murray will be the #1, but Hogberg essentially just got handed the back-up role for the coming season. You also have to consider that Hogberg isn't signed past next season, and will likely be exposed in the Seattle expansion draft. So having Daccord signed gives them another option and some continuity. And beyond next year, if Hogberg wants to keep playing in the NHL, it's actually very simple - he needs to play better than Daccord. If he does, then great. If he doesn't, then I have no idea what people are worrying about.
- khawk

I'm not sure how Hogberg got such a red carpet laid out for him. The majority of fans are still high on him. I don't know if it's just feeling sorry for the guy being put in an NHL net on a crap team or that they have read about the "prospect" for 5+ years and get attached.

He will get his shot at back up to play well. The organization is getting some insurance with their goaltending bringing Murray and signing Daccord. The young guys, Søgaard, Mandolese, Gustavsson, and Meriläinen are the next crop in the system and they will get a chance down the line. That means other bodies will need to be moved out.

Same goes for skaters....

At the time of the draft, Dorion said that Nillson was experiencing symptoms. I am thinking he does not fit into the Sens short or long term plans.

There appears to be speculation that Connor Brown is gathering interest as an RFA... which may be true, especially if he's wanting a longer-term deal than Ottawa wants to provide. Specifically identified were Nashville, Florida, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, though that could just be random name-dropping.

As for what return might be targeted, the soft spot on the roster in the immediate term would seem to be C/RD. I'm not sure that plays out all that well in terms of trading with those teams, but the one team that I think is almost certainly still in play would be Arizona. Even with Hall leaving, they're still over the cap limit for the coming season, and have openly declared an interest in moving out as much salary as possible... which Ottawa is still in a position to do, especially if the contracts are short-term with AAV>>$$$.

Stepan/Demers really jumps off the page as a potential option, given that both are 1yr deals, it would have a $10.5 AAV but only cost $4.6M in actual $$$, and it would specifically address the C/RD issue.

There appears to be speculation that Connor Brown is gathering interest as an RFA... which may be true, especially if he's wanting a longer-term deal than Ottawa wants to provide. Specifically identified were Nashville, Florida, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, though that could just be random name-dropping.

As for what return might be targeted, the soft spot on the roster in the immediate term would seem to be C/RD. I'm not sure that plays out all that well in terms of trading with those teams, but the one team that I think is almost certainly still in play would be Arizona. Even with Hall leaving, they're still over the cap limit for the coming season, and have openly declared an interest in moving out as much salary as possible... which Ottawa is still in a position to do, especially if the contracts are short-term with AAV>>$$$.

Stepan/Demers really jumps off the page as a potential option, given that both are 1yr deals, it would have a $10.5 AAV but only cost $4.6M in actual $$$, and it would specifically address the C/RD issue.
- khawk

Stepan 2018-19 - 15 goals 35 points
2019- 20 - 10 goals 28 points
Demers 2019 - 20 - 0 goals 11 points
You don't think much of our prospects.

Stepan 2018-19 - 15 goals 35 points
2019- 20 - 10 goals 28 points
Demers 2019 - 20 - 0 goals 11 points
You don't think much of our prospects.
- granpa

I like the prospects well enough... but Stutzle looks like he'll be starting his NHL career on the wing, and right now Tierney is the #1C. On the blueline, JBD, Thomson, and Sanderson are all at least a year away, and Brannstrom simply isn't ready for top-4 minutes. As such, the team has nobody worth playing even 18min/GP next season at C, and personally I don't really think Gudbranson/Zaitsev are great #1 D-pairing partners for Chabot... or that another top-4 quality veteran D-man wouldn't be valuable. Not to mention that these kinds of assets could have substantially more value at the trade deadline than they have right now as potential cap victims.

I like the prospects well enough... but Stutzle looks like he'll be starting his NHL career on the wing, and right now Tierney is the #1C. On the blueline, JBD, Thomson, and Sanderson are all at least a year away, and Brannstrom simply isn't ready for top-4 minutes. As such, the team has nobody worth playing even 18min/GP next season at C, and personally I don't really think Gudbranson/Zaitsev are great #1 D-pairing partners for Chabot... or that another top-4 quality veteran D-man wouldn't be valuable. Not to mention that these kinds of assets could have substantially more value at the trade deadline than they have right now as potential cap victims.
- khawk

Let's not fool ourselves next year the only prospects that I think (OPINION! ) are sure to start the season in Ottawa are Batherson, Brown, Formenton and Wolanin. Stutzle, Norris, Balcers, Chlapick, Abramov, Jaros and Zub will be competing for 2 or 3 spots. Tierney will start as #1 C but if Smith let's Brown make mistakes and still give him his reps he'll be #1 C in 2 months.

Let's not fool ourselves next year the only prospects that I think (OPINION! ) are sure to start the season in Ottawa are Batherson, Brown, Formenton and Wolanin. Stutzle, Norris, Balcers, Chlapick, Abramov, Jaros and Zub will be competing for 2 or 3 spots. Tierney will start as #1 C but if Smith let's Brown make mistakes and still give him his reps he'll be #1 C in 2 months.
- granpa

Well, let's also not fool ourselves about prospects like Balcers, Chlapik, Abramov, Jaros, and Zub...all of which are depth players, who at most could be AHL call-ups in the coming year. After training camp, reality will settle in and you'll really just talking about...

- Norris/Brown at C
- Stutzle/Batherson/Formenton at W
- Wolanin/Brannstrom at D

These are all quality young players, but there's absolutely no reason to think any of them will just take over top-line or top-pairing duties anytime this year... even Stutzle, who at LW will almost certainly be playing behind Tkachuk. I'd also suggest there's strong evidence that Norris/Wolanin are ahead of Brown/Brannstrom on the depth chart for next season, so I see a lot more room for veteran support to support those high-minute roles.

Well, let's also not fool ourselves about prospects like Balcers, Chlapik, Abramov, Jaros, and Zub...all of which are depth players, who at most could be AHL call-ups in the coming year. After training camp, reality will settle in and you'll really just talking about...

- Norris/Brown at C
- Stutzle/Batherson/Formenton at W
- Wolanin/Brannstrom at D

These are all quality young players, but there's absolutely no reason to think any of them will just take over top-line or top-pairing duties anytime this year... even Stutzle, who at LW will almost certainly be playing behind Tkachuk. I'd also suggest there's strong evidence that Norris/Wolanin are ahead of Brown/Brannstrom on the depth chart for next season, so I see a lot more room for veteran support to support those high-minute roles.
- khawk

I think we might be shocked by Balcers and Chlapik.

This again leads back to "why the heck did we let Duclair go?" I'm still holding out hope they circle back when he figures out that the market is there for Hoffman but no cap room anywhere for him.

I think we might be shocked by Balcers and Chlapik.

This again leads back to "why the heck did we let Duclair go?" I'm still holding out hope they circle back when he figures out that the market is there for Hoffman but no cap room anywhere for him.
- Maverick1818

If the rumours of what he wanted in a deal are true, you 100000% walk away from that. He is absolutely not worth what he thinks he is. Most of want to give him is 2 yrs at 2.5 - 3.0 aav

If the rumours of what he wanted in a deal are true, you 100000% walk away from that. He is absolutely not worth what he thinks he is. Most of want to give him is 2 yrs at 2.5 - 3.0 aav
- sensarmy_11

I've heard rumors anywhere from 4 years at $2.5 too years at $5

Personally, I wouldn't have minded a 4 year at $4 deal. Yeah it's a bit of an over payment, but we have to reach the cap floor so someone is gonna get over paid regardless.

I've heard rumors anywhere from 4 years at $2.5 too years at $5

Personally, I wouldn't have minded a 4 year at $4 deal. Yeah it's a bit of an over payment, but we have to reach the cap floor so someone is gonna get over paid regardless.
- Maverick1818

Where did you hear that?

If it was four years at 2.5 they be crazy not to take it.

Even 4x4 I would have taken.

Cap floor shouldn't be an isue especially with Dadnov here though

I've heard rumors anywhere from 4 years at $2.5 too years at $5

Personally, I wouldn't have minded a 4 year at $4 deal. Yeah it's a bit of an over payment, but we have to reach the cap floor so someone is gonna get over paid regardless.
- Maverick1818

Everything I read said 5x5.....that Ottawa offered him 2 years at 4 and he said no

Everything I read said 5x5.....that Ottawa offered him 2 years at 4 and he said no
- sensarmy_11

I really think Duclair overplayed his hand. Even with his strong year his leverage was minimal.

Well, let's also not fool ourselves about prospects like Balcers, Chlapik, Abramov, Jaros, and Zub...all of which are depth players, who at most could be AHL call-ups in the coming year. After training camp, reality will settle in and you'll really just talking about...

- Norris/Brown at C
- Stutzle/Batherson/Formenton at W
- Wolanin/Brannstrom at D

These are all quality young players, but there's absolutely no reason to think any of them will just take over top-line or top-pairing duties anytime this year... even Stutzle, who at LW will almost certainly be playing behind Tkachuk. I'd also suggest there's strong evidence that Norris/Wolanin are ahead of Brown/Brannstrom on the depth chart for next season, so I see a lot more room for veteran support to support those high-minute roles.
- khawk

Opinions. We'll see.