Training camp begins in 10 days. While I realize this is a baseball analogy, the Sens better get a mitt and get in the game already... Tired of the waiting and this game of chicken, which causes some people to issue 'wild' rumors.

I think Brady's a good fit. Give him the term he wants (3 or 6-8 years) at a reasonable AVV, and the 'C'. If he ends up bailing out in 2-3 years' time then the joke's on him for not living up to it (the 'C'). We've been w/o a captain for what - two full seasons now??
- Panzer_IVA

Exactly, 2 years no captain and you have a guy that likes living and playing in Ottawa!

Dorion is being set up & he's taking the bait... He's going to trade a potential #1C + 2rd draft choice for a player that produced 20 points in his last 108 games
- granpa

Injure prone player who hasnt shown any consistency in years. Sorry but potential means nothing when you aren't developing in your early 20's

A second and Brown for Fischer? I’d do that. How much more did Arizona want in the offer they made before Dorion countered with that?
- PavohnDatsvares

So what I can say is that the Yotes offered a draft pick for Brown, then upped the anty to a better draft pick for Brown. Dorion has been, well stubborn to say the least, saying it needs to be a hockey deal. When you are the team with a declining asset, you aren't in the driver seat and in a position of strength to dictate that. Eventually he will lose him for nothing if training camp opens because by then he will sign to play overseas for a year. It's not like Dorion hasn't done this before, when it comes to being offered something no other team will do. Then eventually he has to circle the wagon and come back to a team that offered far less because he pushed for more. IE the Mark Stone trade! You can't compare these 2 players, but I am comparing the two trade situations in how Dorion seems to overplay his cards.

If the deal gets done enjoy watching Christian Fischer. He's a big grunt that can skate typical DJ player. Hell be part of the hard to play against Sens. Wow!
- granpa

I think Fischer would be great here, like you said a big winger, 6'2" and plays the DJ Smith style. Which doesnt surprise me that Dorion has now countered the Yotes with an offer to get a player that Ottawa knows fit their system.

If Murray plays like he did before he got injured at the end of last season, Sens could push for a spot. If he's just average, Sens will be around 20th.
- PogBoi

This also depends on how Gus plays, and how many he starts he gets compared to Murray.

Injure prone player who hasnt shown any consistency in years. Sorry but potential means nothing when you aren't developing in your early 20's
- Kevin Francis

I still believe in him. Has too much talent to fail, just needs to get out of Ottawa.

I can see a 8x8 deal soon
A structure something like this
7 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 😉🤷‍♂️
- sens4life1971

He will not sign longer than 4 5 years book it

I still believe in him. Has too much talent to fail, just needs to get out of Ottawa.
- granpa

I hear ya on him not being able to do it in Ottawa, it wont happen, but Dorion has 8 days or less really to get Brown traded. I cant believe he still hasnt!

I hope they figure out L.Brown. i would like to see him get 20 games to truly evaluate him.
Theres some valid reasoning as to why a bridge deal with Brady makes sense. Ive been on the long term side. So to throw this out what about 8.1 x 5. Buys a couple ufa years and gives brady another chance at a big contract . Plus gives the Sens a captain for next 5. I think a captain is needed
- spazzbot

By the morning we are 8 days from camp! Just unreal that management has allowed it to get to this point.

If Murray plays like he did before he got injured at the end of last season, Sens could push for a spot. If he's just average, Sens will be around 20th.
- PogBoi

Thankfully this is one position that management has taken care of, in terms of depth!

Hockey News yearbook has the Sens finishing 6th in the Division.

Can't argue too much with that, although I think they can challenge for a playoff spot if things go right, but its a tough division to begin with. Certainly think they can at least finish 5th.

If they were in the Pacific Division, would they be a playoff team?
- david22

No doubt the Pacific looks weak this year but you never know. Regardless, I don't see Ottawa finishing worse than 5th.

Despite my concerns at 'C', I don't think 5th place or even 4th place is out of the question for this group... IF they actually put their best team on the ice right out of the gate this year, which includes having Tkachuk signed. Montreal has taken a couple of major steps back, the Bruins are pretty mediocre outside of their top line, and Toronto will be contending with a massive amount of pressure. Meanwhile, there are very few players in Ottawa would couldn't reasonably exceed their 2020/21 performance, including their high-end core talent. If they can just add another piece to strengthen themselves down the middle (e.g. Trocheck), they could be a major darkhorse team.
- khawk

Absolutely with you on how Ottawa could end up in 4th, naturally a few things need to go right for them and as you mentioned some teams have regressed too!

I can see a 8x8 deal soon
A structure something like this
7 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 😉🤷‍♂️
- sens4life1971

As I mentioned weeks ago the Sens offered 6 years for 42 million and that is why you keep hearing that Brady's camp feels like they have been tabled a substantial offer. I would say this, offer him 5 years at 42-44 million and he signs! This way he only gives up 1 UFA year and Ottawa has him for their 5 year window of contending for a cup!

As I mentioned weeks ago the Sens offered 6 years for 42 million and that is why you keep hearing that Brady's camp feels like they have been tabled a substantial offer. I would say this, offer him 5 years at 42-44 million and he signs! This way he only gives up 1 UFA year and Ottawa has him for their 5 year window of contending for a cup!
- Kevin Francis

no team will ever win a cup if they rebuild every 5 years unless they draft 2-3 McDavids in the 2-3 draft prior to their "5 year window" or pull of a 1 in a billion win, took Caps a decade + before they won a cup in the Ovi era, Pitts win 3 cups in decade + of Crosby/Malkin Era, took Stamkos a decade + to wins his first cup, rebuilding every 5 years will kill a fan base as ppl will get sick and tired of it of seeing their fav players being shipped out still in their prime because Mr cheap ass does not have the money to pay them. Takes time to figure out the right player combo to win and to repeat.

no team will ever win a cup if they rebuild every 5 years unless they draft 2-3 McDavids in the 2-3 draft prior to their "5 year window" or pull of a 1 in a billion win, took Caps a decade + before they won a cup in the Ovi era, Pitts win 3 cups in decade + of Crosby/Malkin Era, took Stamkos a decade + to wins his first cup, rebuilding every 5 years will kill a fan base as ppl will get sick and tired of it of seeing their fav players being shipped out still in their prime because Mr cheap ass does not have the money to pay them. Takes time to figure out the right player combo to win and to repeat.
- Mithos

Sadly our wonderful owner has stated over and over, he will spend to the cap for the next 5 years, meaning win during this window or we will be back to being in the middle pack.

I dont disagree with your take on how long it takes to build a winner, but we have a delusional owner

Sadly our wonderful owner has stated over and over, he will spend to the cap for the next 5 years, meaning win during this window or we will be back to being in the middle pack.

I dont disagree with your take on how long it takes to build a winner, but we have a delusional owner
- Kevin Francis

hope he likes loosing money.

What the over under on OTT trading Chabot if Sanderson becomes as good as he was projected to be and he signing to a cheaper contract than Chabot.

Root for OTT all you want, but i suggest you find a other team that actually gives a crap about winning a cup to cheer on and spend money on until Melnyk is forced to sell the team for w/e reason that may come.

hope he likes loosing money.

What the over under on OTT trading Chabot if Sanderson becomes as good as he was projected to be and he signing to a cheaper contract than Chabot.

Root for OTT all you want, but i suggest you find a other team that actually gives a crap about winning a cup to cheer on and spend money on until Melnyk is forced to sell the team for w/e reason that may come.
- Mithos

Perfect. Well I guess we can say goodbye then. No need to let us know which team you have moved on to. All the best.

The two camps were trying to keep things quiet which is the way it's supposed to be done but noooo these sports talking heads have got to go and shoot their mouths off with absolutely no actual knowledge of the situation so they can pretend like they know what they are talking about and then more people pick up on this completely baseless bullpoop and there you go.

Way to go sports writers and bloggers.

Sadly our wonderful owner has stated over and over, he will spend to the cap for the next 5 years, meaning win during this window or we will be back to being in the middle pack.
I dont disagree with your take on how long it takes to build a winner, but we have a delusional owner
- Kevin Francis

Right, but when does the clock start on that, exactly? They're still barely at the cap floor, without any of Sanderson, Pinto, Bernard-Docker, Greig, or Thomson in the lineup, and only just starting to see what the likes of Brannstrom, Stutzle, Gustavsson, and Formenton are capable of. I don't think you can really say this team is legitimately in their competitive window until they have all of their major core players (i.e. Chabot, Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Sanderson at minimum) in the starting lineup playing significant minutes, which is at least a year or two away.

Right, but when does the clock start on that, exactly? They're still barely at the cap floor, without any of Sanderson, Pinto, Bernard-Docker, Greig, or Thomson in the lineup, and only just starting to see what the likes of Brannstrom, Stutzle, Gustavsson, and Formenton are capable of. I don't think you can really say this team is legitimately in their competitive window until they have all of their major core players (i.e. Chabot, Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Sanderson at minimum) in the starting lineup playing significant minutes, which is at least a year or two away.
- khawk

Going off what the owner said, he said from 2021-2026 they would spend to the cap ceiling to contend. With covid, I am willing to think it starts next season then. But he has gone on record as saying this would be the 5 year window on a few occasions.

Going off what the owner said, he said from 2021-2026 they would spend to the cap ceiling to contend. With covid, I am willing to think it starts next season then. But he has gone on record as saying this would be the 5 year window on a few occasions.
- Kevin Francis

Sure, but he's a childish imbecile. You can't control this kind of thing with a Gantt chart, and a rehearsed speech. Also, "contending" is very different from just barely making the playoffs as an 8th seed. Realistically, they won't even start to have a legitimate competitive window until there's a 2nd line of scoring worth talking about, and 2 defence pairings who can handle themselves with the game on the line. That means guys like Stutzle, Pinto, Bernard-Docker, and Sanderson not just having a few good NHL games, but emerging as full-blown high-quality NHL players. Now, they could accelerate things a bit by adding a higher-quality player or two in the short-term to bridge that development timeframe, but they clearly aren't doing that. Instead, they're holding onto 6 picks in the top-100 of next year's draft, and could add more with the trade deadline return of Tierney, Paul, Holden, and Forsberg.

No, we'll know when the competitive window is truly open, when the team's cap space up around $75M, and the draft stops being the year highlight...or rather, when the money starts to get a bit closer to where the mouth is.

Sure, but he's a childish imbecile. You can't control this kind of thing with a Gantt chart, and a rehearsed speech. Also, "contending" is very different from just barely making the playoffs as an 8th seed. Realistically, they won't even start to have a legitimate competitive window until there's a 2nd line of scoring worth talking about, and 2 defence pairings who can handle themselves with the game on the line. That means guys like Stutzle, Pinto, Bernard-Docker, and Sanderson not just having a few good NHL games, but emerging as full-blown high-quality NHL players. Now, they could accelerate things a bit by adding a higher-quality player or two in the short-term to bridge that development timeframe, but they clearly aren't doing that. Instead, they're holding onto 6 picks in the top-100 of next year's draft, and could add more with the trade deadline return of Tierney, Paul, Holden, and Forsberg.

No, we'll know when the competitive window is truly open, when the team's cap space up around $75M, and the draft stops being the year highlight...or rather, when the money starts to get a bit closer to where the mouth is.
- khawk

Why in the world would you want to trade away Nick Paul? Realistically speaking you're not going to get a better player back unless Dorion voids his contact and goes to work for another team or maybe some sanity challenged owner somewhere gives Peter"Bold Moves"Chiarelli another crack at destroying a franchise.

Paul is a keeper.

Report: Sens offer BT 8x8M

https://www.tsn.ca/ottawa...-contract-offer-1.1693414

I am down for 8 year terms for star players as long as the cash does not go past the Chabot deal.

Sure, but he's a childish imbecile. You can't control this kind of thing with a Gantt chart, and a rehearsed speech. Also, "contending" is very different from just barely making the playoffs as an 8th seed. Realistically, they won't even start to have a legitimate competitive window until there's a 2nd line of scoring worth talking about, and 2 defence pairings who can handle themselves with the game on the line. That means guys like Stutzle, Pinto, Bernard-Docker, and Sanderson not just having a few good NHL games, but emerging as full-blown high-quality NHL players. Now, they could accelerate things a bit by adding a higher-quality player or two in the short-term to bridge that development timeframe, but they clearly aren't doing that. Instead, they're holding onto 6 picks in the top-100 of next year's draft, and could add more with the trade deadline return of Tierney, Paul, Holden, and Forsberg.

No, we'll know when the competitive window is truly open, when the team's cap space up around $75M, and the draft stops being the year highlight...or rather, when the money starts to get a bit closer to where the mouth is.
- khawk

Unfortunately I'm not as optimistic as you. What you're saying is all based on potential and right now I don't see it. What's on the team right now is about 95% support or mediocre NHL players. Our best players are just better than average. The rest of the players mentioned are all prospects with unknown futures. The coaching competence and philosophy is not going to get them to the next level. The Sens drafting trend in the past 2 years is not geared towards high end skills. If everything remains the same, ownership down to coaching and development, I see them as a bubble team for a long time. Selling hope doesn't do it for me.