Good blog - I do think that the Eichel to Sens is more likely than a Marner for Dahlin deal. I really believe the Leafs would be able to squeeze more out of Buffalo than Dahlin just my opinion.
- winsix

And thanks for the kind words, stop by anytime for hockey discussion, it doesn't have to be Sens related! It's a very welcoming group in here.

Personally, I'd be surprised if the Sabres get a better offer than Brannstrom, White, Jarventie, 1st, 2nd.
- khawk

Looks like a good offer.

Remember when everyone claimed that Dorion was a complete fail in giving up Eric Karlsson for what was thought to be a bagful of nothing. The updated breakdown of the Sens return on the deal includes:

F- Tim Stutzle
F- Josh Norris
F- Chris Tierney
G- Mads Sogaard
G- Leevi Merilainen
F-Zack Ostapchuk

In addition, Dorion has been banking picks and prospects expanding the depth of the Sens development pool. Sens have 13 picks in the next draft.

Still have a fear with all the Eichel speculation that the Sens might be trying to move up just a bit too soon. 2022 is a very good draft pool. Maybe one more year with a top 10 pick would be okay.

2022 is the year of the big 3 - Shane Wright, Brad Lambert and Ivan Miroshnichenko. More important draft picks are golden for those teams that are being killed by the salary cap. Sens have huge trade leverage right now. But I think they should wait just one more season before trying to pull the trigger for an elite centre.

Still have a fear that the Sens might be trying to move up just a bit too soon. 2022 is a very good draft pool. Maybe one more year with a top 10 pick would be okay.
- spatso

I have to disagree - Tkachuk/Batherson hitting RFA status is the starting gun, as far as I'm concerned. I can scarcely think of a worse outcome for this team than to finish in the bottom-10 of the league once again. They really need to shed the rebuild label, and start becoming a winning team. Because it will take at least a couple of years of being a winning team before they become good enough to make a serious playoff run... and probably a couple of years of serious playoff runs to get a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup.

Not to mention that they were about as reckless with their top-10 pick in this year's draft as any team has been in recent years. Blowing a whole season just to see what kind of off-the-board antics they have in mind for a top-10 pick next year doesn't strike me as such a great idea. Even if you loved the Boucher pick, at some point your team has to have an objective plan for moving forward. And I'd like to think that plan wasn't premised on needing to finish in the bottom-10 of the league for a 5th straight year.

I have to disagree - Tkachuk/Batherson hitting RFA status is the starting gun, as far as I'm concerned. I can scarcely think of a worse outcome for this team than to finish in the bottom-10 of the league once again. They really need to shed the rebuild label, and start becoming a winning team. Because it will take at least a couple of years of being a winning team before they become good enough to make a serious playoff run... and probably a couple of years of serious playoff runs to get a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup.

Not to mention that they were about as reckless with their top-10 pick in this year's draft as any team has been in recent years. Blowing a whole season just to see what kind of off-the-board antics they have in mind for a top-10 pick next year doesn't strike me as such a great idea. Even if you loved the Boucher pick, at some point your team has to have an objective plan for moving forward. And I'd like to think that plan wasn't premised on needing to finish in the bottom-10 of the league for a 5th straight year.
- khawk

Lets all be honest here, Boucher is Brady's replacement in a couple of years if he even makes it to the NHL, many annalists are saying OTT got no NHL player in this last draft with how badly they blew it.

We can all dream of OTT get a 1C like eichel or someone similar but lets be honest there is no chance OTT would trade of sign one, everyone here has way way way to much faith in melnyk and dorion to be considered rational thinking, melnyk has done nothing to prove he is anything but a cheap ass owner who wants the cheapest team in current era to be able to just barely make the playoffs so he can cash in on the playoff cash, that is why Brady wont sign a long term deal, he is no fool. OTT is the coyotees of the north. Hell the Jets who are a market half as big as OTT tries to build a contender.....the smallest market in the NHL gives more of an effort to win a cup then OTT....

Dubas destroyed the Leaf rebuild when he blew his brains out signing Tavares. Make no mistake, Tavares is a very good player, but he does little to lift or inspire his team. Perhaps this is best explained by understanding Tavares is not a winner, despite his great individual skill.

However, it is obvious that Leaf skill lets them perform great during regular season. But, when it really matters, the Leafs continue to slide backwards as total playoff busts. And, they do not have the cap space to remedy the problems on their 3rd and 4th lines, on defence and in goal. Most everyone concurs the Leafs will continue to slide backwards until they are able to move out one of their $11m salaries so they can bring more depth into their line up. But, the Tavares contract is now deemed by many to be in the realm of untouchable. So, we see proposals scapegoating Marner with ideas about moving his salary out. But maybe there is a better solution.

So, in a conversation with myself I asked me, "Self, would you pay a huge price for Eichel, age 25 and 5 years remaining on his $10m AAV contract or would you rather pay a modest price (3rd round pick) for Johnny T. age 30 at $11m AAV?

I just don't feel good about Eichel.

Dubas destroyed the Leaf rebuild when he blew his brains out signing Tavares. Make no mistake, Tavares is a very good player, but he does little to lift or inspire his team. Perhaps this is best explained by understanding Tavares is not a winner, despite his great individual skill.

However, it is obvious that Leaf skill lets them perform great during regular season. But, when it really matters, the Leafs continue to slide backwards as total playoff busts. And, they do not have the cap space to remedy the problems on their 3rd and 4th lines, on defence and in goal. Most everyone concurs the Leafs will continue to slide backwards until they are able to move out one of their $11m salaries so they can bring more depth into their line up. But, the Tavares contract is now deemed by many to be in the realm of untouchable. So, we see proposals scapegoating Marner with ideas about moving his salary out. But maybe there is a better solution.

So, in a conversation with myself I asked me, "Self, would you pay a huge price for Eichel, age 25 and 5 years remaining on his $10m AAV contract or would you rather pay a modest price (3rd round pick) for Johnny T. age 30 at $11m AAV?

I just don't feel good about Eichel.
- spatso

disagree, a core of Tavares, Mathews, Nylander would have a better chance of winning than Mathews, Marner, Nylander, the problem was signing marner to 11M, overpaying Mathews and tavares by 1-2m each didn't help either, instead of trading him for what they needed, leafs have no depth, barely a functional D and a bottom of the league G duo. They may not make the playoffs this year.

Lets all be honest here, Boucher is Brady's replacement in a couple of years if he even makes it to the NHL, many annalists are saying OTT got no NHL player in this last draft with how badly they blew it.

We can all dream of OTT get a 1C like eichel or someone similar but lets be honest there is no chance OTT would trade of sign one, everyone here has way way way to much faith in melnyk and dorion to be considered rational thinking, melnyk has done nothing to prove he is anything but a cheap ass owner who wants the cheapest team in current era to be able to just barely make the playoffs so he can cash in on the playoff cash, that is why Brady wont sign a long term deal, he is no fool. OTT is the coyotees of the north. Hell the Jets who are a market half as big as OTT tries to build a contender.....the smallest market in the NHL gives more of an effort to win a cup then OTT....
- Mithos

Sometimes your greatest weakness becomes your enduring strength. Melnyk is hanging on from week to week, month to month and season to season. But, this will all finally pass. Huge money is sitting on the sidelines in Ottawa that should ultimately step in to resolve the crisis. There is litigation currently taking place that might further accelerate that process.

Important to be patient. Everything the Sens have done over the past couple of years makes it look like a business that is being primed for sale. It is today incredibly appealing for a new ownership group to be able to step in and achieve significant short and long term success.

I have no inside information. But, I do understand debt restructuring and I would expect that Melnyk has been sitting on top of at least two competing offers to buy the Senators in whole (or, in part). And, you know that Bettman and Melnyk's ownership partners are wanting the situation finally resolved.

So, enjoy the rebuild, this is a team that is very easy to love. Be comforted in knowing that either the Courts, Bettman or, perhaps even God will finally intercede to end Melnyk's ownership of the team that so many of us love.

disagree, a core of Tavares, Mathews, Nylander would have a better chance of winning than Mathews, Marner, Nylander, the problem was signing marner to 11M, overpaying Mathews and tavares by 1-2m each didn't help either, instead of trading him for what they needed, leafs have no depth, barely a functional D and a bottom of the league G duo. They may not make the playoffs this year.
- Mithos

Does not matter. Leafs are history. Toast. Peaked 3 years ago and unlikely that they have any idea of how to fix the mess they are in.

Huge starting games for Sens against the Leafs. If Sens sweep both games there will be total panic at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

Leafs might be most fragile team NHL. Ottawa played them pretty well last year and the huge Sens comeback foreshadowed the Leaf collapse in the playoffs. Losers are what losers do. Chokers are what chokers do! I would not be surprised to see Leaf get frozen out of playoffs this year and they become sellers at deadline. At that point somebody other than Dubas will be calling the shots.

Does not matter. Leafs are history. Toast. Peaked 3 years ago and unlikely that they have any idea of how to fix the mess they are in.

Huge starting games for Sens against the Leafs. If Sens sweep both games there will be total panic at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

Leafs might be most fragile team NHL. Ottawa played them pretty well last year and the huge Sens comeback foreshadowed the Leaf collapse in the playoffs. Losers are what losers do. Chokers are what chokers do! I would not be surprised to see Leaf get frozen out of playoffs this year and they become sellers at deadling. At that point somebody other than Dubas will be calling the shots.
- spatso

agree 100%

Looks like a good offer.

Remember when everyone claimed that Dorion was a complete fail in giving up Eric Karlsson for what was thought to be a bagful of nothing. The updated breakdown of the Sens return on the deal includes:

F- Tim Stutzle
F- Josh Norris
F- Chris Tierney
G- Mads Sogaard
G- Leevi Merilainen
F-Zack Ostapchuk

In addition, Dorion has been banking picks and prospects expanding the depth of the Sens development pool. Sens have 13 picks in the next draft.

Still have a fear with all the Eichel speculation that the Sens might be trying to move up just a bit too soon. 2022 is a very good draft pool. Maybe one more year with a top 10 pick would be okay.

2022 is the year of the big 3 - Shane Wright, Brad Lambert and Ivan Miroshnichenko. More important draft picks are golden for those teams that are being killed by the salary cap. Sens have huge trade leverage right now. But I think they should wait just one more season before trying to pull the trigger for an elite centre.
- spatso

I like the way you think about the team. Missing the playoffs one more time would not be the end of the world and who knows - they might actually win the draft lottery for a change.

I agree that it's way too soon for them to be making big moves before they find out what they've actually got right now and in the year to come; and certainly not for an extremely risky and possibly franchise destroying bet on a guy like Eichel.

And his NTC kicks in July 1st of next year!
- Kevin Francis

Which means you have until then before you have zero chance at trading for Eichel.

Colin White being included in the deal means you need to add even more then in a deal that didn't involve him, based on his contract and production.

Hard to fathom the trade you are suggesting without a higher end piece, when you would receive a high end piece.

I am nervous about a deal to acquire Eichel.

It is not rooted in any insight or knowledge from a hockey perspective.

Just a feeling, a general foreboding that it is something that will not work out.

I would feel far more positive about dealing for Dvorack or Monaghan
- spatso

Me too. This is why I feel there should be two draft picks involved, once of which is a 2023 pick conditional on how many games/point JE scores in next two years.

Eichel is actually what the Sens need imo...a true number one center...and haven't have since prime Spezza.

Hard to fathom the trade you are suggesting without a higher end piece, when you would receive a high end piece.
- BluemanGuruu

When your stated asking price is 4+ first-round equivalent talents, you're effectively making it a quantity deal. Brannstrom is as high-end a piece as I've heard being realistically considered, and if people think including White in the deal is an issue, just wait until they see what other teams have to do to add $10M to their payroll. And if Buffalo is now under pressure to resolve this by training camp, they'll only be able to pick from offers that are actually on the table... not fantasy suggestions.

It really is reminiscent of the Karlsson trade. You'd hear a team like Dallas was involved and everyone immediately thought Heiskanen... then found out the offer was actually based around Julius Honka. When the entire league knows you have to sell, you're immediately at a major disadvantage... factor in the risk of the surgery, the public mess the situation has become, and the NMC in his contract that will make it very hard to reclaim value in the last year of his deal, and you have multiple factors that will erode the trade return.

I'm just saying what the cost will be. Drugs or no drugs, one of the other 31 GMs will pay the price. Fringe talent like Norris, Chabot and a handful of spark plugs or dominos will not be enough to attract Buffalo's attention.
- Jackie Daytona

I agree. The players being proposed in an Eichel trade are mostly support players or career minor leaguers. We the fans plus the media have a tendency to overate our players because we repeat Smith and Co. comments and opinions about our players. As an example on a good team; Norris is a tweener 2nd-3rd liner, Pinto 3rd liner, Chabot????, White is a 3rd liner, prospects offered such as Thompson future 6th-7th D, Greig future small 3rd liner, Kelly future small 4th liner or career minor leaguer. The only prospect of value is Brannstrom who's trending towards a top 4 D and the 1st round pick (10-12th pick) is a crap shoot. The Sens are not serious about acquiring Eichel and are looking somewhere else plus I believe that L. Brown and Brannstrom will be packaged together.

Lets all be honest here, Boucher is Brady's replacement in a couple of years if he even makes it to the NHL, many annalists are saying OTT got no NHL player in this last draft with how badly they blew it.

We can all dream of OTT get a 1C like eichel or someone similar but lets be honest there is no chance OTT would trade of sign one, everyone here has way way way to much faith in melnyk and dorion to be considered rational thinking, melnyk has done nothing to prove he is anything but a cheap ass owner who wants the cheapest team in current era to be able to just barely make the playoffs so he can cash in on the playoff cash, that is why Brady wont sign a long term deal, he is no fool. OTT is the coyotees of the north. Hell the Jets who are a market half as big as OTT tries to build a contender.....the smallest market in the NHL gives more of an effort to win a cup then OTT....
- Mithos

Ottawa will keep on drafting Smith type Fs. It started last year except for Stutzle which was the consolation prize because Byfield was gone. Hard to play against.

In the past 20 years, how many US centers really played an impact winning a cup? How many of them are top 2 centers on a cup contender? Only guy that comes to mind is Nick Bonino; and that was with Crosby AND Malkin on the team. Other than that, what else is there? I thought Bolland was from USA for some reasons but he isn't.

Eichel isn't Mike Madano. I don't see him winning a cup and if he does, he will need a top 2 center with tons of heart to do it. Thus, I wouldn't trade for him

With regards to the Leafs, ridding themselves of that contract is truly beginning to be such a priority that I am not so sure they would care if it was only Dahlin!
- Kevin Francis

Do people forget that Marner was 4th in the league in scoring last year at 24? 11mill is too much, but it’s not like the guy is an anchor. I hope the leafs trade him because I think it will hurt their team.

I don’t get why Matthew’s gets a pass. If had to move one of their big four, it’s that guy.

Do people forget that Marner was 4th in the league in scoring last year at 24? 11mill is too much, but it’s not like the guy is an anchor. I hope the leafs trade him because I think it will hurt their team.

I don’t get why Matthew’s gets a pass. If had to move one of their big four, it’s that guy.
- CooCooKaChoo

he does not, he didn't produce either, but better to keep a elite center over a very good/elite winger, Better to have taffoli + Hoffman type than 1 marner, in the playoffs, depth is key.

Ottawa will keep on drafting Smith type Fs. It started last year except for Stutzle which was the consolation prize because Byfield was gone. Hard to play against.
- granpa

everyone will have to wait and see if dorions none to low skill grinder type players is a good formula to win in the playoffs.

Ottawa should steer clear of a malcontent and injured Eichel. He would be the wrong type of player to have around their young, impressionable draft and develop kids that are going to be on the team in the next 2/3 years.

Ottawa should steer clear of a malcontent and injured Eichel. He would be the wrong type of player to have around their young, impressionable draft and develop kids that are going to be on the team in the next 2/3 years.
- islansjet

It's also my line of thought. Why invest salary $$ and give away picks for a guy who may not even be able to play at 100%?

Too many unknowns at this point, and that's why I'd steer clear. The only way I'd make an exception is if the dude expressly said he wanted to come here.

everyone will have to wait and see if dorions none to low skill grinder type players is a good formula to win in the playoffs.
- Mithos

Agree.

Looks like a good offer.

Remember when everyone claimed that Dorion was a complete fail in giving up Eric Karlsson for what was thought to be a bagful of nothing. The updated breakdown of the Sens return on the deal includes:

F- Tim Stutzle
F- Josh Norris
F- Chris Tierney
G- Mads Sogaard
G- Leevi Merilainen
F-Zack Ostapchuk

In addition, Dorion has been banking picks and prospects expanding the depth of the Sens development pool. Sens have 13 picks in the next draft.

Still have a fear with all the Eichel speculation that the Sens might be trying to move up just a bit too soon. 2022 is a very good draft pool. Maybe one more year with a top 10 pick would be okay.

2022 is the year of the big 3 - Shane Wright, Brad Lambert and Ivan Miroshnichenko. More important draft picks are golden for those teams that are being killed by the salary cap. Sens have huge trade leverage right now. But I think they should wait just one more season before trying to pull the trigger for an elite centre.
- spatso

Great post and well said on the 2022 draft picks!

I have to disagree - Tkachuk/Batherson hitting RFA status is the starting gun, as far as I'm concerned. I can scarcely think of a worse outcome for this team than to finish in the bottom-10 of the league once again. They really need to shed the rebuild label, and start becoming a winning team. Because it will take at least a couple of years of being a winning team before they become good enough to make a serious playoff run... and probably a couple of years of serious playoff runs to get a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup.

Not to mention that they were about as reckless with their top-10 pick in this year's draft as any team has been in recent years. Blowing a whole season just to see what kind of off-the-board antics they have in mind for a top-10 pick next year doesn't strike me as such a great idea. Even if you loved the Boucher pick, at some point your team has to have an objective plan for moving forward. And I'd like to think that plan wasn't premised on needing to finish in the bottom-10 of the league for a 5th straight year.
- khawk

They absolutely need to challenge for a playoff spot, or the fan base will be very restless and loud! As for the bottom 10 finish for 5 straight years if we were to do it again this year, no thank you! Yes, agreed that 10th overall pick was a bit reckless.