Well this team doesn't like to rush young guys anymore after they did it with Lazar and White. I truly couldn't tell you if anyone outside of Wright could step in right away. Hard to say. Maybe others on here know more.
- Kevin Francis

Well, they didn't hold back in the least with either Tkachuk or Stutzle. Now, they were both top-5 picks, but that's exactly the same range we're talking about for the 2022 draft. At first glance, it looks like Wright & Slafkovsky are the most NHL-ready. Savoie & Coolley are pretty under-sized, plus Coolley has committed to the University of Minnesota for next season. It's not impossible that one of Nemec or Jiricek could make the jump on the blue-line, or Kemell, Yurov, or Lambert on the wing, but I'm not sure why anyone would rush those players.

Regardless, they should be drafting for SKILL with that high 1st round pick... not for how NHL-ready the player is, or their physical game.

Pain for Shayne.

I'd love to win the lottery. I think Bedard will be better though wont he?
- Octavarium

Bedard will be the 2023 draft. Man, please no way we can wait til then and have another top 5 pick, I think they would be lucky to draw 5k fans per game if that happened next year.

Well, they didn't hold back in the least with either Tkachuk or Stutzle. Now, they were both top-5 picks, but that's exactly the same range we're talking about for the 2022 draft. At first glance, it looks like Wright & Slafkovsky are the most NHL-ready. Savoie & Coolley are pretty under-sized, plus Coolley has committed to the University of Minnesota for next season. It's not impossible that one of Nemec or Jiricek could make the jump on the blue-line, or Kemell, Yurov, or Lambert on the wing, but I'm not sure why anyone would rush those players.

Regardless, they should be drafting for SKILL with that high 1st round pick... not for how NHL-ready the player is, or their physical game.
- khawk

Exactly, they need high offensive skill. Who knows when they will pick top 5 again, at least lets hope that doesn't again for awhile. Coolley would be an interesting one though. And yes, they cant be drafting like they did last year when both Trent Mann and PD said they drafted Tyler Boucher because he's the perfect playoff type forward! UGH!

Exactly, they need high offensive skill. Who knows when they will pick top 5 again, at least lets hope that doesn't again for awhile. Coolley would be an interesting one though. And yes, they cant be drafting like they did last year when both Trent Mann and PD said they drafted Tyler Boucher because he's the perfect playoff type forward! UGH!
- Kevin Francis

I’m pulling more for Savoie seems like an offensive defensive forward
I know he’s a Center but if we can’t get Wright then Savoie my guy lol

Exactly, they need high offensive skill. Who knows when they will pick top 5 again, at least lets hope that doesn't again for awhile. Coolley would be an interesting one though. And yes, they cant be drafting like they did last year when both Trent Mann and PD said they drafted Tyler Boucher because he's the perfect playoff type forward! UGH!
- Kevin Francis

I'm sure Tyler Boucher is a decent guy, and I sincerely hope he pans out a hell of a lot better than he's shown so far this year... but that pick was just unbelievably arrogant on the part of the organization. Pretending like they were being all clever with 'inside knowledge', when they really just had a man-crush on the guy's physical game. Contemplate for a minute the sheer presumptuousness of wasting a 10th overall pick on rounding out an imaginary future playoff roster with a projected 3rd/4th line depth forward... acting like they were already playing at that level and just needed another layer of icing on the cake, when they're clearly still missing basic ingredients like flour and eggs. It's essentially cognitive dissonance at an organizational level.

I’m pulling more for Savoie seems like an offensive defensive forward
I know he’s a Center but if we can’t get Wright then Savoie my guy lol
- sens4life1971

Ok nice, keep them coming! As we get closer to the draft and we know the Sens selection spot, then I will look at it closer. But it's great to know what everyone thinks from their perspective.

I'm sure Tyler Boucher is a decent guy, and I sincerely hope he pans out a hell of a lot better than he's shown so far this year... but that pick was just unbelievably arrogant on the part of the organization. Pretending like they were being all clever with 'inside knowledge', when they really just had a man-crush on the guy's physical game. Contemplate for a minute the sheer presumptuousness of wasting a 10th overall pick on rounding out an imaginary future playoff roster with a projected 3rd/4th line depth forward... acting like they were already playing at that level and just needed another layer of icing on the cake, when they're clearly still missing basic ingredients like flour and eggs. It's essentially cognitive dissonance at an organizational level.
- khawk

I was talking to another director of player development last summer when this happened, I wasn't writing here then and he said to me, what an arrogant selection. He was blown away how Trent Mann really got his back up when asked about it at the presser at the time. You nailed it with your last phrase.

I had to chime in after getting caught up reading most of the comments. I watched all Canadian teams press conferences with their GM this afternoon. I agree with Kevin here, I don't think there is a more nervous GM than Dorion. He also comes across with no confidence, very unsure of himself about how to talk about his players or his decisions that he made on trades. It's absolutely mesmerizing. I watch Brad T in Calgary or the new GM in Montreal, these guys exude confidence. Dorion like Kevin said I like the nickname Nervous Nelly. I feel for your fanbase having this guy lead your team.

like i have said before, Dorion is just throwing poop at the wall hoping something good sticks....

Look guys, you just have to suck it up and stand strong with the rebuild.

It is way too easy to bail now. Much harder to stand tough and get the job done.

It is possible to make marginal improvements by doing quick fixes but it undermines our desire for an elite team.

Maybe we see improvement next year, maybe it is going to take two years. But, we have so much already invested in this rebuild it would be crazy to short circuit the process with premature moves.

I am okay with using the Sens first pick in this coming draft if it lands you an age appropriate (24 and under) top 6 player. But everyone needs to stick with the program...we are too close to screw it up now.

like i have said before, Dorion is just throwing poop at the wall hoping something good sticks....
- Mithos

It sure seems that way. When you hear the National media finally calling him out on his decisions, that is when the heat gets turned up a full level.

Look guys, you just have to suck it up and stand strong with the rebuild.

It is way too easy to bail now. Much harder to stand tough and get the job done.

It is possible to make marginal improvements by doing quick fixes but it undermines our desire for an elite team.

Maybe we see improvement next year, maybe it is going to take two years. But, we have so much already invested in this rebuild it would be crazy to short circuit the process with premature moves.

I am okay with using the Sens first pick in this coming draft if it lands you an age appropriate (24 and under) top 6 player. But everyone needs to stick with the program...we are too close to screw it up now.
- spatso

Last year at this time PD was telling us the same thing as he did yesterday at his presser! Thank goodness Ian Mendes called him out on it, for taking the fanbase as fools. It was great to hear Mendes unload on PD about it. He then went on to say that if Ottawa is saying the same thing at the same point next February, then we are officially the Buffalo Sabres. Yup that would be 100% correct if that happened. Good Lord I certainly hope not or like I have said here, dumb patience and being fleeced as fans can only happe so long. PD has tried too many bandaid solutions so there really isn't any substance to you saying to be patient when they are constantly trying to accelerate the rebuild, in fact he said last September that the rebuild was over. Again, mixed messages from PD and constant lies by PD at his pressers. I still cant believe his response to the Colin White question, well he's here, he said that line twice! So no, don't tell us to be patient when the GM is this incompetent on trying to sell Hamonic as a top 4. Then he says at the presser that Capuano probably shouldn't have said he could play with Chabot or Sanderson. PD then said, they wouldn't allow Hamonic to slow one of the young players from getting in the lineup. Well what do you call Zaitsev and JBrown this year then? He talks out of both sides of his mouth and I am not going stop calling out this coach and GM on their lies and stupidity. The fanbase is growing tired of the act for 5 years now.

like i have said before, Dorion is just throwing poop at the wall hoping something good sticks....
- Mithos

There is no clear plan, anybody who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves, has rose-colored glasses on or they need to take off their Sens PJ's/pom poms from being delusional.

Here's a list of who PD has brought in on defense the last 4 year. When reading the list, try to control yourself from laughing too hard! The fact that he's had to bring in this many defensemen tells you how bad he has failed this so-called rebuild. I would say 8 of them were a disaster. DeMelo, Reilly, Zub, and Holden were solid acquisitions. Book is out on Hamonic.

Oduya
DeMelo
Reilly
Hainsey
Zaitsev
Zub
JBrown
Gudbranson
Cobourn
Mete
Holden
Del Zotto
Hamonic

Another stupid Tkachuk penalty.

Another stupid Tkachuk penalty.
- Whatisavailable

It's definitely I would've hoped by now, that the coaching staff had a talk with him about. He takes a lot of needless penalties.

Look guys, you just have to suck it up and stand strong with the rebuild.

It is way too easy to bail now. Much harder to stand tough and get the job done.

It is possible to make marginal improvements by doing quick fixes but it undermines our desire for an elite team.

Maybe we see improvement next year, maybe it is going to take two years. But, we have so much already invested in this rebuild it would be crazy to short circuit the process with premature moves.

I am okay with using the Sens first pick in this coming draft if it lands you an age appropriate (24 and under) top 6 player. But everyone needs to stick with the program...we are too close to screw it up now.
- spatso

- Gord_Wilson_2.0

lol, I love how spatso says everyone needs to stick with the program. Well when the GM and HC clearly haven't then how on earth do you expect the fans to believe a single thing that comes out of their mouths. Beyond comical!

The Blues really dont want to give up a 4th round pick to Ottawa. Second straight game they are dressing 11 forwards/7 defensemen. They traded Sundqvist to Detroit and Logan Brown is still a healthy scratch. WOW!

I will say this, MDZ had a nice first period. We all knew he has an offensive to his game but he was solid defensively breaking up a couple of NYI rushes at the Sens blueline.

lol, I love how spatso says everyone needs to stick with the program. Well when the GM and HC clearly haven't then how on earth do you expect the fans to believe a single thing that comes out of their mouths. Beyond comical!
- Kevin Francis

Beyond comical indeed! No one is saying abandon the rebuild and start over. Some pieces are starting to take form. Your core so far is:

Tkachuk
Batherson
Norris
Stuzle

They are varying degrees of cornerstones, but from 4-5 years of rebuilding, those are the guys you are running with now. Not a bad group. Not an elite one either. Perhaps Sanderson gets that label by this time next year, too. Sens could really use a home run at this years draft at the forward position or use some assets to bring in a quality player capable of playing top line minutes. Still time to fix things, but man, Dorion and co do not give fans a whole lot of confidence to right this ship in a year or two.

The Blues really dont want to give up a 4th round pick to Ottawa. Second straight game they are dressing 11 forwards/7 defensemen. They traded Sundqvist to Detroit and Logan Brown is still a healthy scratch. WOW!
- Kevin Francis

A team wants to keep picks instead of giving them away? What a concept. Dorion could learn a thing or two!

Paul scored

Pain for Shayne.

I'd love to win the lottery. I think Bedard will be better though wont he?
- Octavarium

Bedard 2023 though, no thanks we cant go through another bottom 5 season. Sure Bedard looks like has more upside. But the one problem with Wright is that everyone has picked apart his game for 3 seasons due to him getting the early age exempt at 15. Lets see how he does once he's drafted.

A team wants to keep picks instead of giving them away? What a concept. Dorion could learn a thing or two!
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

They are going to all lengths!!

Paul scored
- Crosside

Just saw it now! Nice!!