I want to change my username/make a new account. Pavel Datsyuk is still an all-time fav of mine. But Tavares has been a Leaf for a while now. And he’s the CAPTAIN of the blue. I can’t have any part of that.

I was think of changing my name to “Francis Isn’t Ek.” Lol

Edit: I’m very much looking forward to the joke suggestions from people here that hate me. Lol
- PavohnDatsvares

I like the new user lol! FIE!

Man, did they blow all their extension/cap room budget this year on these new Go Sens Go ads? Pretty high production value there. Speaks of a team that is not full on hard up for cash.

This is a sign, the team dgaf anymore, Chabot is the face moving forward and we will move on one way or another.

Forget ‘we don’t negotiate through the media’, they’re negotiating through their PR campaigns lol

I want to change my username/make a new account. Pavel Datsyuk is still an all-time fav of mine. But Tavares has been a Leaf for a while now. And he’s the CAPTAIN of the blue. I can’t have any part of that.

I was think of changing my name to “Francis Isn’t Ek.” Lol

Edit: I’m very much looking forward to the joke suggestions from people here that hate me. Lol
- PavohnDatsvares

To be fayah, we don’t hate you, we just think you’re an over-arrogant fool whose opinions are silly and/or incorrect more often than not. 🤗

So after a 3 year deal, he'd still be an RFA, correct?
- david22

This is the part where the fans are being misled. Yes, after 3 years he is still and RFA. The Sens would have one kick at the can to sign him to a long term deal. Or, they could trade him to a team prepared to sign him at the numbers that he wants.

I suspect both sides are misleading us in terms of what is happening. I do not discount the fact that the Sens have offered a short term deal and it is the short term deal that Tkachuk is most upset about. I think Garrioch is worse than clueless.

To be fayah, we don’t hate you, we just think you’re an over-arrogant fool whose opinions are silly and/or incorrect more often than not. 🤗
- ahjnkn

Yeah but you’re the guy who got mad at me saying I started the COVID conversation when not only did I not start it, I didn’t even participate in it. So I’m pretty sure YOU are the one with the arrogant, incorrect attitude. Lol

Just curious. Can you even list ONE arrogant thing I’ve said, and/or ONE “incorrect” thing I’ve said. And you simply disagreeing with my opinion doesn’t make me incorrect. It just means we don’t see eye to eye. Something incorrect would be getting mad at someone for something they didn’t even do. Hmm? Now which of us HAS factually done that? Lol

Ok lets play nice everyone! This is a great place for discussion!

Ok lets play nice everyone! This is a great place for discussion!
- Kevin Francis

I’m not playing nice with that a$$hole until he admits I didn’t even take part in the COVID chat. I don’t know why he thinks I started it. lol He’s clearly not intelligent enough to even keep track of who he dislikes and why. He obviously has me completely confused for someone else, and he probably even likes and agrees with 99% of my posts.

This is the part where the fans are being misled. Yes, after 3 years he is still and RFA. The Sens would have one kick at the can to sign him to a long term deal. Or, they could trade him to a team prepared to sign him at the numbers that he wants.

I suspect both sides are misleading us in terms of what is happening. I do not discount the fact that the Sens have offered a short term deal and it is the short term deal that Tkachuk is most upset about. I think Garrioch is worse than clueless.
- spatso

The team is terrified of the optics of signing him to a short term deal. Because everyone will say hah you cant sign your players long term.

Signing him to a long term deal proves that they can sign their stars and keep them.

My take away from this game is ... del zotto and J. brown should not be in the regular line-up. Plus, Zaitsev is not a top 4 D.

Norris certainly coming through. Looks confident and at ease. Sucks we don't have a point per game 1st line c cuz a guy like norris and ur 2c and pinto 3c would be epic.

The team is terrified of the optics of signing him to a short term deal. Because everyone will say hah you cant sign your players long term.

Signing him to a long term deal proves that they can sign their stars and keep them.
- david22

Maybe.

None of it makes any sense.

Only God can solve this problem for us.

Perhaps, we need to have a city wide prayer meeting.

delete, you cannot say obscene things about the Leafs

I’m not playing nice with that a$$hole until he admits I didn’t even take part in the COVID chat. I don’t know why he thinks I started it. lol He’s clearly not intelligent enough to even keep track of who he dislikes and why. He obviously has me completely confused for someone else, and he probably even likes and agrees with 99% of my posts.
- PavohnDatsvares

Ok all good man.

My take away from this game is ... del zotto and J. brown should not be in the regular line-up. Plus, Zaitsev is not a top 4 D.
- other_spartacat

Oh yes agreed!

Beyond correct! In fact, I wish I could post a few things here I was told off the record, because it truly has to to with the GM/Owner actually doing what they say they are going to do, but never do it! Without getting into too many details, that is why I posted what I did today.
- Kevin Francis

While I am generally unenthused by Dorion and know Melnyk is usually his own worst enemy, the contract impasse cannot be blamed on current or historical management misdeeds. It should also be noted Tkachuk is has been upfront and is bargaining in good faith. Blaming either in this case is a fools errand.

It is well known that Tkachuk will only sign an offer if it bestows early free agency. Brady is unwilling to sign a long-term deal, regardless of value, and the Sens would be foolish to lose a valuable asset for nothing in advance of the Stanley Cup window opening. There appears to be no workable contract resolution. Dollars can be negotiated but forfeiting control of the most valuable asset cannot.

The logical solution is obvious. The contract impasse is not Melnik's fault, not Dorion's fault and not Brady's fault. Tkachuk and the team are simply planning different futures. The Sens should unload this dilemma upon another team, assuming a favorable trade can be negotiated. This should not be difficult as it is likely a number of GMs would be willing to offer a package in excess of Tkachuk's true value.

While I am generally unenthused by Dorion and know Melnyk is usually his own worst enemy, the contract impasse cannot be blamed on current or historical management misdeeds. It should also be noted Tkachuk is has been upfront and is bargaining in good faith. Blaming either in this case is a fools errand.

It is well known that Tkachuk will only sign an offer if it bestows early free agency. Brady is unwilling to sign a long-term deal, regardless of value, and the Sens would be foolish to lose a valuable asset for nothing in advance of the Stanley Cup window opening. There appears to be no workable contract resolution. Dollars can be negotiated but forfeiting control of the most valuable asset cannot.

The logical solution is obvious. The contract impasse is not Melnik's fault, not Dorion's fault and not Brady's fault. Tkachuk and the team are simply planning different futures. The Sens should unload this dilemma upon another team, assuming a favorable trade can be negotiated. This should not be difficult as it is likely a number of GMs would be willing to offer a package in excess of Tkachuk's true value.
- Jackie Daytona

A++

From a pure asset management perspective the Sens need to look at this as an opportunity. It is entirely possible to convert this situation into a giant step forward. Make no mistake, I like Tkachuk. But, he is not close to being the elite player that some are trying to promote.

His asset value may never be greater than what it is right now.

My take away from this game is ... del zotto and J. brown should not be in the regular line-up. Plus, Zaitsev is not a top 4 D.
- other_spartacat

Well you better get used to it because you'd have to shoot these guys in order to get Smith to stop playing them.

My take away from this game is ... del zotto and J. brown should not be in the regular line-up. Plus, Zaitsev is not a top 4 D.
- other_spartacat

Well you better get used to it because you'd have to shoot these guys in order to get Smith to stop playing them.

Well you better get used to it because you'd have to shoot these guys in order to get Smith to stop playing them.
- Whatisavailable

I guess we will find out in a week! But DJ sure plays favs, lets hope that changes!

A++

From a pure asset management perspective the Sens need to look at this as an opportunity. It is entirely possible to convert this situation into a giant step forward. Make no mistake, I like Tkachuk. But, he is not close to being the elite player that some are trying to promote.

His asset value may never be greater than what it is right now.
- spatso

If he spent a couple of summers with a good skating coach and worked on his shot he might be able to transform himself into a better player but I agree with you and posted a while back that the best time to trade him would be right now.

Took a few late night calls, Dorion is definitely checking around to see if he can shore up the center ice position! If Bishop or Kelly can return soon, then he might not panic. If Tierney can play decent hockey, that too would make Dorion wait a 10-12 games to see where the team is at!

With the Sens current salary structure, without major additions they are poised to lapse at least $15M to the cap this year even with Tkachuk, $15M next year (Norris gets a bump, Tierney and others drop) and maybe $10M in 2023-24 after Stutzle's raise.
There are no other potential high salaries on the way until Sanderson gets his deal after entry.
The team might make the playoffs next year or the year after, barely, based on internal improvement with no adds.
With FYOUS starting this year, the end of last season and the summer should have seen the Sens pursuing at least one high potential player, like Hall, Eichel, Seth Jones, Zibby, Larkin, or any top talent that could be available but not advertised.
They didn't seem to even try, despite Melnyk's spending promise. If you are Tkachuk, why would you commit long term when the short term hasn't been bolstered at all, despite promises, and you could be frustrated as hell, even over the next 3 seasons, without any real roster improvement?
I bet the Tkachuk camp is saying fine, we will do 3 years on a deal, and because you pinched all those pennies that kept the roster from progressing, you can pay the $8M for the 3 years. After 3 years, if there is no progress on spending/talent, no long term deal will be signed once again.
Understandable that a guy that puts all he has, heartwise and physically into the game, would expect not to be unsupported over a long term contract, or even over three years of stagnation.

My take away from this game is ... del zotto and J. brown should not be in the regular line-up. Plus, Zaitsev is not a top 4 D.
- other_spartacat

Pretty sure this was most people's take away ~5 minutes after they signed Del Zotto. Chabot, Zub, and Brannstrom are the only D-men on the team worth talking about. Everyone else is just a disposable placeholder under Sanderson, Bernard-Docker, and Thomson are ready.

Norris continues to really impress me. He's playing up to his size, it looks like he may have added a step, and he's getting more confident with using his shot. I've been pretty critical of the team's centre situation, but I can scarcely recall a player having a more impressive 3yr development curve after a mediocre Draft+1 season...

Draft +2yr - >PPG pace in NCAA, near-PPG in WJC wearing an "A"
Draft +3yr - >PPG pace in AHL, AHL Rookie of the Year
Draft +4yr - 25G/25A pace in NHL, 3rd in NHL Rookie Scoring

The contract impasse is not Melnik's fault, not Dorion's fault and not Brady's fault. Tkachuk and the team are simply planning different futures. The Sens should unload this dilemma upon another team, assuming a favorable trade can be negotiated. This should not be difficult as it is likely a number of GMs would be willing to offer a package in excess of Tkachuk's true value.
- Jackie Daytona

While I would prefer keeping BT here on (any) contract, at this point I'd be OK with that. The two sides do seem to have different ideas on BT's future and in the end, the player's position should be respected. It's HIS life and livelihood after all. Let him look elsewhere.

“I’m not going to blow a lifetime of working hard to support a hockey team. It’s not going to happen,” says Melnyk.
- Kevin Francis

On this, I actually agree. One should never want to throw that away to support a 'hobby', because that's what owning an NHL team really is. The thing is, if your 'hobbies' are too expensive for you to keep up with, you should quit said hobbie, sell your stuff, and move on to something that's within your means. Owners get into the NHL team business to get recognition and to show things off, kinda like the average guy who's got the summer-only vintage sports car.

All Melnyk's getting recognized for is his inability to afford the things he owns.

If he spent a couple of summers with a good skating coach and worked on his shot he might be able to transform himself into a better player but I agree with you and posted a while back that the best time to trade him would be right now.
- Whatisavailable

Is it possible that Tkachuk is more valued by others than he is by the Ottawa fan base? Do you remember how the Montreal fan base went ballistic when the Habs traded Subban for the old man Weber? Sometimes personality is part of the image, even when the performance does not measure up.

I really like Tkachuk and the swagger he brings to the team. Would I trade him and a good pick/prospect to the Rangers for Lafreniere, Reaves and a salary? Absolutely!