Kevin Francis: Ottawa Senators Pre-Season Opener!

Sanford trade appears to be smart depth move by Dorion. He offers good support for the kids and would likely be a negotiable asset at trade deadline if the Sens decide to move him.

Mrs. Spatso and I ventured into to the city for an event yesterday. Looked around while I was there...did not see Brady anywhere.

Spoke to a guy who said he had made up and posted a story about seeing Brady in a MacDonald's drive thru line-up.

Most encouraging news is Garrioch has decided to go back to wearing a bow tie. He is apparently frustrated by the build of food stains when wearing a regular model. Other than that, he has no idea what is going on with the Sens. He has wisely reported that he will be able to tell us what is going on with Brady once Elliott Friedman reports it.

Yes excited to start re-watching game. Kevin Sens play 7 pre season games.

For tonight, I m curious to watch Jarventie, Sokolov, Grieig, Pinto. Like to watch Mete, he was one of my favorite players at the end last year. Really exited to see Merilainen, since I see him at the two rookies game and yesterday at the scrimmage. He s quick and athletic. Remember me one of my favorite goalie Jonathan Quick

Yes excited to start re-watching game. Kevin Sens play 7 pre season games.

For tonight, I m curious to watch Jarventie, Sokolov, Grieig, Pinto. Like to watch Mete, he was one of my favorite players at the end last year. Really exited to see Merilainen, since I see him at the two rookies game and yesterday at the scrimmage. He s quick and athletic. Remember me one of my favorite goalie Jonathan Quick
- Crosside

Good post.

So much potential with the kids.

Guys like Zub, Formenton, and Pinto should really stand out in this game. Sokolov/Grieg/Jarventie are the next generation of supporting offensive forwards coming up, so it will be interesting to see how they fare. Still, Brannstrom/Mete is probably the most interesting situation, from an actual opening night roster perspective. With Sanderson likely to sign at the end of the NCAA season, and both Bernard-Docker/Thomson looking ~1yr away from pushing for regular NHL ice time, it feels like Brannstrom's last chance to prove he's part of the team's future before he's caught in an even more difficult numbers game.

Sanford trade appears to be smart depth move by Dorion. He offers good support for the kids and would likely be a negotiable asset at trade deadline if the Sens decide to move him.
- spatso

Not sure it's a smart move, exactly... but it's the move he was forced to make as soon as Brown signed his QO. And he certainly fits the bill as a now-classic Senators addition... 6'4 "big body" guy, hard-working two-way player, existing connection to the team (played with Colin White at Boston College)... D.J. will be thrilled to have him on the roster instead of Dadonov or Brown. Plus, between Formenton, Paul, Sanford, Watson, and Ennis, there's more than enough bottom-6 winger depth... they'll just have to play one of the LH players on the RW side, which shouldn't be a big deal.

Not sure it's a smart move, exactly... but it's the move he was forced to make as soon as Brown signed his QO. And he certainly fits the bill as a now-classic Senators addition... 6'4 "big body" guy, hard-working two-way player, existing connection to the team (played with Colin White at Boston College)... D.J. will be thrilled to have him on the roster instead of Dadonov or Brown. Plus, between Formenton, Paul, Sanford, Watson, and Ennis, there's more than enough bottom-6 winger depth... they'll just have to play one of the LH players on the RW side, which shouldn't be a big deal.
- khawk

The Sens bottom 6 is looking like a tough match for all those teams that have loaded their cap expenditures onto their top 6-8 players.

But, will the Sens top 6 be able to compete against the best the other teams have to offer. Grave doubts about Sens goaltending.

The Sens bottom 6 is looking like a tough match for all those teams that have loaded their cap expenditures onto their top 6-8 players.

But, will the Sens top 6 be able to compete against the best the other teams have to offer. Grave doubts about Sens goaltending.
- spatso

Exactly! Well said!

Yes excited to start re-watching game. Kevin Sens play 7 pre season games.

For tonight, I m curious to watch Jarventie, Sokolov, Grieig, Pinto. Like to watch Mete, he was one of my favorite players at the end last year. Really exited to see Merilainen, since I see him at the two rookies game and yesterday at the scrimmage. He s quick and athletic. Remember me one of my favorite goalie Jonathan Quick
- Crosside

Lol my bad, 230am does that to you!

No gameday skate so no update on line combos etc...

Is preseason televised??

Is preseason televised??
- sens4life1971

The game is on TSN this evening.

The game is on TSN this evening.
- HoweHatrick

Thanks lad 👌

Is preseason televised??
- sens4life1971

TSN3, I will always post it in my blog.

TSN3, I will always post it in my blog.
- Kevin Francis

poop yeah I did read that in the blog 😂 thanks Kevin 👍

The Sens bottom 6 is looking like a tough match for all those teams that have loaded their cap expenditures onto their top 6-8 players.

But, will the Sens top 6 be able to compete against the best the other teams have to offer. Grave doubts about Sens goaltending.
- spatso

The answer is no, the Sens top six is not nearly good enough, especially without Tkachuk right now.

poop yeah I did read that in the blog 😂 thanks Kevin 👍
- sens4life1971

All good!!

The answer is no, the Sens top six is not nearly good enough, especially without Tkachuk right now.
- CooCooKaChoo

No legit 2nd D pairing, thin at center ice, thin at RW, but hey the rebuild is done! Oh lets not forget we have no idea how Murray will be this year....anyways....or lets keep getting 3rd and 4th liners, Sanford or signing Ennis to a PTO.....I sure hope Dorion has something up his sleeve!

Logan should have been given 20 games. To prove something. If it failed oh well the return would have been slightly less . I felt the same about dandanov. Wasnt a fan last year but i thought he should have been given another chance. Same situatiion the prove it factor could have netted more or just slightly less. Im starting to wonder about all this. But no point of clowning dorion at this point.

Logan should have been given 20 games. To prove something. If it failed oh well the return would have been slightly less . I felt the same about dandanov. Wasnt a fan last year but i thought he should have been given another chance. Same situatiion the prove it factor could have netted more or just slightly less. Im starting to wonder about all this. But no point of clowning dorion at this point.
- spazzbot

I think fans forget what Dorion said in early August, Dorion flat out told fans in a presser that they would spend the money that they saved with the dadonov trade to upgrade their forward position. He answered a question from a reporter, who said you saved 5 million and Dorion was quick to say that they wouldn't be saving it. So 2 million of that 5 millon went to Sanford, my goodness!!!! Keep on upgrading Dorion! What are you going to spend the other 3 million on?? Officially sign Ennis at the end of his PTO?? I think he hopes sometimes that fans will forget his statements from months past.

No legit 2nd D pairing, thin at center ice, thin at RW, but hey the rebuild is done! Oh lets not forget we have no idea how Murray will be this year....anyways....or lets keep getting 3rd and 4th liners, Sanford or signing Ennis to a PTO.....I sure hope Dorion has something up his sleeve!
- Kevin Francis

On the defence, it will be weak this year, but at least there are players in the system who could realistically fill the need down the line.

On the offense though:

Stuzle TBD TBD
Tkachuk Norris Batherson

Two large holes, and the number one center position will remain elusive, and they may need to go the along without one for the foreseeable future.

On the defence, it will be weak this year, but at least there are players in the system who could realistically fill the need down the line.

On the offense though:

Stuzle TBD TBD
Tkachuk Norris Batherson

Two large holes, and the number one center position will remain elusive, and they may need to go the along without one for the foreseeable future.
- david22

Well said! But when you have this many prospects, only so many can make your roster. So you package some of them up to acquire your positions of need. You can only have so many prospects until you need to fill the glaring needs that every fan sees!

Logan should have been given 20 games. To prove something.
- spazzbot

I think the player made it clear by taking weeks to sign the qualifying offer and by his play at training camp that he did not want to be in Ottawa.

I’m just excited that hockey is back and get to see some of these young kids in action
Hoping Sokolov and Pinto has a good game tonight 😀👍

Puck Drop!!!!!