I have been a huge fan of Formenton and think that he could be a long term line mate for Stutzle. Last night Connor Brown looked like he did during his season end play from last year when he was really hot. Also thought Nick Paul looked good dropping down in the line up and playing a more grinding role. I like Watson's game as well.

But, overall I think you are right and the Senators need a second line that can compete every night. Stutzle is a horse. His competitive fire, skill and skating put me in in mind of Hossa. I think Stutzle has more flair to his game but not sure he has the overpowering physical tools that Hossa had that enabled him to dominate in the offensive zone.
- spatso

I'm a big Formenton fan, but I'm not certain he has the offensive finish to be Stuzle's line mate long term, at least not ideally. They're both such great skaters so there is potential.

Love to be proven wrong though.

Yeah I think a rarified kudos is owed to Dorion for the duration of the Batherson signing. He really flubbed Stone - we could have had Stone for 8*5.5 instead of that 3*3.5 deal, and it's good to see PD learned his lesson and locked up real talent at an amazing cap hit with DB. The contract is already severely undervalued, and that's awesome. More of those kinds of signings will help coax Euge to loosen the strings.

Yeah I think a rarified kudos is owed to Dorion for the duration of the Batherson signing. He really flubbed Stone - we could have had Stone for 8*5.5 instead of that 3*3.5 deal, and it's good to see PD learned his lesson and locked up real talent at an amazing cap hit with DB. The contract is already severely undervalued, and that's awesome. More of those kinds of signings will help coax Euge to loosen the strings.
- Bartacus

I believe Dorion has operated with a huge Melnyk anchor on his back at all times.

Does anybody really believe that it was Dorion who wanted to move Zibanejad? Melnyk is a walking time bomb. He is constantly looking for a fight to prove himself. Like the scorpion he cannot resist stinging everyone he comes near.

One day Dorion will write a memoir and we will likely marvel at the insanity of it all.

Meanwhile having avoided arrest in Sunrise, PM takes to Clearwater Beach to secretly sniff butts.

Sam Bennett, Radko Gudas, Ryan Lomberg, Brandon Montour, Carter Verhaeghe and one member of the Panthers travel party have entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols. They will not be available to play tomorrow against Los Angeles.

So Watson fought Bennett and Gudas....hmmm....Sens might have more positive cases again!

Ontario indoor venues go to 50% capacity over 1,000 people. So CTC will be allowed 9,500 fans now......

Meanwhile having avoided arrest in Sunrise, PM takes to Clearwater Beach to secretly sniff butts.
- henny1953

Ontario indoor venues go to 50% capacity over 1,000 people. So CTC will be allowed 9,500 fans now......
- Kevin Francis

so no real change for OTT

so no real change for OTT
- Mithos

They are averaging 11k I think....

Yeah I think a rarified kudos is owed to Dorion for the duration of the Batherson signing. He really flubbed Stone - we could have had Stone for 8*5.5 instead of that 3*3.5 deal, and it's good to see PD learned his lesson and locked up real talent at an amazing cap hit with DB. The contract is already severely undervalued, and that's awesome. More of those kinds of signings will help coax Euge to loosen the strings.
- Bartacus

Yes, well said!!!

I'm a big Formenton fan, but I'm not certain he has the offensive finish to be Stuzle's line mate long term, at least not ideally. They're both such great skaters so there is potential.

Love to be proven wrong though.
- david22

No doubt his speed will create scoring chances, but like you said, he needs to finish more. It's almost like his feet are going faster than his brain can produce. Simmer on TSN1200 said Formenton's hockey IQ is an issue from all the people he has talked too. I found that interesting.

I believe Dorion has operated with a huge Melnyk anchor on his back at all times.

Does anybody really believe that it was Dorion who wanted to move Zibanejad? Melnyk is a walking time bomb. He is constantly looking for a fight to prove himself. Like the scorpion he cannot resist stinging everyone he comes near.

One day Dorion will write a memoir and we will likely marvel at the insanity of it all.
- spatso

Oh heck yes, so true! Can you imagine would he could write? Like you said, he's operated under more bizarre circumstances than most GMs in this league.

The Zibby thing has a big side story. I wish I could write more about it, but then my source wouldn't be happy and I wouldn't get other nuggets that I write about sometimes. Lets put it this way, Zibby finally started taking his off-season training in a proper manner, rather than blowing it off and relying on his naturally ability. So that was part of the reason that led to Dorion and ZIbby butting heads. The moment Dorion became GM, Murray no longer could protect his asset.

I could only wish, the Flames need to get Matthew signed up long term, do you think a comparable contract be what Brady signed?
- FlamesFan1230

They are both wingers and a big part of their leadership group with their respective teams. I think a comparable contract could be in the offering.

Meanwhile having avoided arrest in Sunrise, PM takes to Clearwater Beach to secretly sniff butts.
- henny1953

are they...MONSTER butts??!

Sam Bennett, Radko Gudas, Ryan Lomberg, Brandon Montour, Carter Verhaeghe and one member of the Panthers travel party have entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols. They will not be available to play tomorrow against Los Angeles.

So Watson fought Bennett and Gudas....hmmm....Sens might have more positive cases again!
- Kevin Francis

Actually it was Sanford who fought Bennett , but yea more cases to come … just getting ready to hear the news league is shutdown and on pause for a month 🤦‍♂️

No doubt his speed will create scoring chances, but like you said, he needs to finish more. It's almost like his feet are going faster than his brain can produce. Simmer on TSN1200 said Formenton's hockey IQ is an issue from all the people he has talked too. I found that interesting.
- Kevin Francis

that has been his problem, his finish has been lacking, many were hopping that would improve with time in the AHL..

Actually it was Sanford who fought Bennett , but yea more cases to come … just getting ready to hear the news league is shutdown and on pause for a month 🤦‍♂️
- sens4life1971

Ya my bad, sorry , rushing! Correct.

that has been his problem, his finish has been lacking, many were hopping that would improve with time in the AHL..
- Mithos

They say it's attributed to his hockey IQ.

This Chris Schwarz leaving in February is weird. With Erin came back in February. Seem lots of movement coming in February
- Crosside

Both the Erin Crowe thing and now the Schwarz leaving, all in the same timeframe, something is up!!

Very nice game to watch as a Sens fan. Sens seemed to be clicking and bounces went their way. Panthers are better than how they played, and Sens faced another back up, but hard to take anything away from the Sens in that one.

The Batherson, Norris, and Tkachuk line looks very solid. Batherson is going to be a star in this league for a long time. Best kept secret in the league right now. Wonder how much longer that will last?

The Dorion interview was weird and came off as a bit of a Richard. There was never a plan to have Stu play centre, unless the plan was having White and Pinto hurt and all of your other centres sucked with the exception of Norris. If that was the plan, then good job, idiot.

The short term results here are nice right now but this team still needs better pro scouting to complete rounding out this roster long term.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Yes, its great having this line hot! Like you said, how long can it last.

As for Dorion, he even said about the goalie thing, if you win you are in. Well then why was Forsberg not starting last Tuesday when he won the night before? Plus DJ and Dorion said they want the youth to get exp. well then get Gustavsson starts. The longer this guy goes with no games, the harder it's going to be to get in any groove if you arent getting starts. Any goalie will tell you that!!! This management group and coaching staff lie to the fans far too much.

Went back and looked at past comments and didn’t see anyone wanting to send Norris and Stu to San Jose for Karlsson. Maybe I missed it?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I don't know where that comment from. Nobody was saying that!! You are correct, don't worry, you didn't miss anything.

Have to give credit to the 5 man defensive play on giving forsberg a quiet 33 save win.
They seemed to have boughten in to team defensive play and its working . Its really quite a treat to watch now.
Norris is showing he is more then a 1 trick one timer.

They are dialed in and i cant be happier .
- spazzbot

Its funny how success makes players buy in. November they didn't buy in and it leds to loss after loss.

Brady/Norris/Batherson aren one of the top lines in the NHL, now if they can only get quality 2nd line players to go with Stutzle OTT could become a dominant scoring team
- Mithos

That is key! So then teams cant just focus on one line.

I don't think our current blogger is overly negative.
He's a realist.

This gm is just silly. Over 8 million dollars of CRAP sitting in the minors. A lesson not learned last season. A defenseman who played for league min last year gets a two year 2 mill deal and after 10 games is a bust.

The drafting has been a B+ but there have been some misses and this past draft was a wait and see head scratcher.

The Forsberg conundrum looms large here. Yes he has good juju right now. And the team seems to respect him and play well in front of him. But what are you doing here? Are you playing kids for the future and growth or are you now -- pivoting again -- (twice in a weeks time) and GOING FOR IT??......at 9 and 16 or whatever their record is...

The answer is, nobody knows. The coach...the GM...the mystery other Pierre that was brought in......it's like Han Solo asking if anyone has seen Luke on Hoth. "nobody knows?...what do you mean nobody knows!!?......it's possible!!????.....why don't you go find out?"

When someone knows what we are doing this season let me know. Omicron is about to shut all this down anyhow. I have two games in December and the Kraken game in the new year. We'll see if I get to any of them.
- Octavarium

Well said!

When it comes to Forsberg, as long as Dorion doesn't go and give a deal like he did with Mike Condon because he was hot for a few months when Anderson was taking a leave of absence. That's what I worry about with Dorion!

Love the Han Solo analogy!

so no real change for OTT
- Mithos