Pure hate is a little strong don't you think?
- Whatisavailable

You take every opportunity to disparage #12 and display your poor character.

Do I need to break out Eeyore again?

Pretty good first period. Stutzle is flying and it looks like Tkachuk came to play. Now kill off 14 seconds.

Lucchini waited a long time for that one.

Good game for Forsberg and must have been fun for his kids.

It was good to see they didn't try to protect that one goal lead but kept pressing.

Didn't see any passengers.

Good game. Good effort by two teams that played the day before.

This Buffalo team is pretty good and they are going to get better.

Agree Improvement > Playoff goals

Agree about the leafs as well. Getting Matthews and Babcock coming in set the expectations through the roof when the team did not have the defense, goaltending, or "grit" in the top 5 (and maybe top 10) of cup contenders.

Struggle and adversity comes down to something we all have --- PERSISTANCE! We need someone that can keep going, keep going, keep going. When those games get to OT and double OT in the playoffs, it REALLY shows who those players/teams are.

All this said, I didn't hear your answer
- AlfieisKing

Oops: Teaser#1

Making the playoffs not really that important to me.

But, learning to fight and scratch for points is really, really important.

I would be disappointed for about 10 minutes if the Sens fell a point short of making the playoffs. I would soon get excited for seeing them come back hungry next year.

Tampa is hanging on. Boston is giving it one last shot on fading legs. Leafs are merely a playoff punchline. Islanders are going nowhere. Washington and Pittsburgh will fade in the second half of this year. And, Montreal has no idea about where they should be going.

Beyond this year, watch Carolina, New Jersey, Ottawa, Buffalo and maybe Detroit. I like the Rangers, but they are like Florida, they are struggling trying to figure out who they are. Columbus and Philadelphia are committed to winning on draft day.

When will there be a new blog?

I just think the team needs to take that next step we don’t need Bernard and I don’t think we gonna get another Sanderson in this draft so rather see the team take that step
We need to keep Debrincat if he’s willing to take 8
I know someone on here will disagree cause he has pure hate for this kid for some reason lol And get 2 big body 5/6 shutdown D
And we need 2 RW to play bottom roll cause we all know we stuck with Kelly and Joseph
- sens4life1971

Hmmm... I see what you're saying

I agree that this team doesn't NEED Connor Bernard (with Stutzle, Norris, and Pinto) with that said, having a young Sidney Crosby or Nathan MacKinnon - how can we turn that down?

It's always possible to trade a Norris or Pinto for a top end D-men. Pittsburgh traded Jordan Staal to Carolina and won 2 cups afterwards, even though he was very useful in them going to back to back cup finals in 08-09.

I like DeBrincat a lot more recently and think he will have a strong 2nd half to the season, but the point Whatisavailable is saying has validly as well. Signing DeBrincat to a 8-9m would be $28-29M locked into our top 4 wingers alone! That's not including the other 16.3M on Stutzle and Norris. 8M on Chabot puts ottawa at

Now that's about 52-53M locked in long term. Not as alarming if the team is in a playoff spot but the core needs to show they can compete for cups. Add Sanderson and Zub (likely 11-12M combined long term). Now we are at 64M and need to use the remaining to fill: 2 goalies, 3-4 D-men, 5-6 forwards. That's not a lot of space and I think that's the point Whatisavailable was saying

Hmmm... I see what you're saying

I agree that this team doesn't NEED Connor Bernard (with Stutzle, Norris, and Pinto) with that said, having a young Sidney Crosby or Nathan MacKinnon - how can we turn that down?

It's always possible to trade a Norris or Pinto for a top end D-men. Pittsburgh traded Jordan Staal to Carolina and won 2 cups afterwards, even though he was very useful in them going to back to back cup finals in 08-09.

I like DeBrincat a lot more recently and think he will have a strong 2nd half to the season, but the point Whatisavailable is saying has validly as well. Signing DeBrincat to a 8-9m would be $28-29M locked into our top 4 wingers alone! That's not including the other 16.3M on Stutzle and Norris. 8M on Chabot puts ottawa at

Now that's about 52-53M locked in long term. Not as alarming if the team is in a playoff spot but the core needs to show they can compete for cups. Add Sanderson and Zub (likely 11-12M combined long term). Now we are at 64M and need to use the remaining to fill: 2 goalies, 3-4 D-men, 5-6 forwards. That's not a lot of space and I think that's the point Whatisavailable was saying
- AlfieisKing

Ways around it in 2 yrs cap going up to 92million
You say 5yrs 45milliin
6.5 7.5 11 10.5 9.5
Or if he really likes it here playing with the kids
Talk him into 5yrs 40million
6.5 7.5 9.5 8.5 8
Same with Sanderson 7yrs 42million cause he’s not gonna get what Chabot gets 🙄😏

Hmmm... I see what you're saying

I agree that this team doesn't NEED Connor Bernard (with Stutzle, Norris, and Pinto) with that said, having a young Sidney Crosby or Nathan MacKinnon - how can we turn that down?

It's always possible to trade a Norris or Pinto for a top end D-men. Pittsburgh traded Jordan Staal to Carolina and won 2 cups afterwards, even though he was very useful in them going to back to back cup finals in 08-09.

I like DeBrincat a lot more recently and think he will have a strong 2nd half to the season, but the point Whatisavailable is saying has validly as well. Signing DeBrincat to a 8-9m would be $28-29M locked into our top 4 wingers alone! That's not including the other 16.3M on Stutzle and Norris. 8M on Chabot puts ottawa at

Now that's about 52-53M locked in long term. Not as alarming if the team is in a playoff spot but the core needs to show they can compete for cups. Add Sanderson and Zub (likely 11-12M combined long term). Now we are at 64M and need to use the remaining to fill: 2 goalies, 3-4 D-men, 5-6 forwards. That's not a lot of space and I think that's the point Whatisavailable was saying
- AlfieisKing

If Debrincat leads the Sens in scoring at the end of the season I believe he resigns and gets above $9m.+ and Sanderson will also be resigned (this summer) for around $8.5m. These will prove to be solid market value signings.

From a purely marketing perspective, I am guessing Dorion has been quietly told that he can continue discussions with agents but no more large contract signings until the new owner is presented to the public.

The new guy or guys or girls will want to make significant commitments right from the start. It is their money, they are entitled to the image of a great start.

I can see it now. Ryan Reynolds, newly named minor Sens owner, dressed in his Marvel costume, acts as master of ceremonies. He introduces the new majority owner. Bettman looks on fondly. New owner announces the signing of long term deals with both DeBrincat and Sanderson. Showbiz! Great marketing for a fan base that is begging for stability.

Hmmm... I see what you're saying

I agree that this team doesn't NEED Connor Bernard (with Stutzle, Norris, and Pinto) with that said, having a young Sidney Crosby or Nathan MacKinnon - how can we turn that down?

It's always possible to trade a Norris or Pinto for a top end D-men. Pittsburgh traded Jordan Staal to Carolina and won 2 cups afterwards, even though he was very useful in them going to back to back cup finals in 08-09.

I like DeBrincat a lot more recently and think he will have a strong 2nd half to the season, but the point Whatisavailable is saying has validly as well. Signing DeBrincat to a 8-9m would be $28-29M locked into our top 4 wingers alone! That's not including the other 16.3M on Stutzle and Norris. 8M on Chabot puts ottawa at

Now that's about 52-53M locked in long term. Not as alarming if the team is in a playoff spot but the core needs to show they can compete for cups. Add Sanderson and Zub (likely 11-12M combined long term). Now we are at 64M and need to use the remaining to fill: 2 goalies, 3-4 D-men, 5-6 forwards. That's not a lot of space and I think that's the point Whatisavailable was saying
- AlfieisKing

Thank you for laying out so nicely what I've been getting at.

I listen to these podcasts and there seems to be a consensus about Sanderson becoming a Norris candidate quality Dman. If that's true, and I see no reason to doubt it, I can't see him being willing to sign long term for less than 8 million and he may very well ask for more. If they bridge him for less than 8 and he is as good as everyone, including a lot of people on this site seem to think he'll be, then he will end up costing a lot more.

Pinto will cost around 4.5 and worth every penny. They're stuck with Joseph at 2.9 and won't be able to move that contract without giving away a pick at least.

Unless JBD is that top 4 Dman, which it doesn't look like he is to this point, they'll need to pay for one and that won't be cheap if you don't want another Hamonic. Number 1 goalies aren't free.

No matter how much you may like DeBrincat you can't afford to keep him without torpedoing any chance this team may have to seriously challenge for the Cup. That's just reality.

If Debrincat leads the Sens in scoring at the end of the season I believe he resigns and gets above $9m.+ and Sanderson will also be resigned (this summer) for around $8.5m. These will prove to be solid market value signings.

From a purely marketing perspective, I am guessing Dorion has been quietly told that he can continue discussions with agents but no more large contract signings until the new owner is presented to the public.

The new guy or guys or girls will want to make significant commitments right from the start. It is their money, they are entitled to the image of a great start.

I can see it now. Ryan Reynolds, newly named minor Sens owner, dressed in his Marvel costume, acts as master of ceremonies. He introduces the new majority owner. Bettman looks on fondly. New owner announces the signing of long term deals with both DeBrincat and Sanderson. Showbiz! Great marketing for a fan base that is begging for stability.
- spatso

That's exactly what I think might very well happen. What a disaster! Bettman will certainly be happy because he'll know there's one more Canadian city that won't be holding any parades any time soon.

Ways around it in 2 yrs cap going up to 92million
You say 5yrs 45milliin
6.5 7.5 11 10.5 9.5
Or if he really likes it here playing with the kids
Talk him into 5yrs 40million
6.5 7.5 9.5 8.5 8
Same with Sanderson 7yrs 42million cause he’s not gonna get what Chabot gets 🙄😏
- sens4life1971

You need to talk to Bettman and tell him what the cap is going to be because he doesn't seem to have any idea.

is Sanderson worth 8M now? no, will be worth it next year, who knows but he can only ask for what he is worth, he can be offered what he will worth tho like they did with Stu, they must get him at 6.5M max on 5-6 year deal next year, if cat wants 9m+ long term, trade him, and BTW do not count you chickens before they hatch, no guarantees the cap will go up by any significant amount any time soon, projections of continued growth based on pre-covid numbers are foolish, he west is going to entering a depression in 2023-2024

Thank you for laying out so nicely what I've been getting at.

I listen to these podcasts and there seems to be a consensus about Sanderson becoming a Norris candidate quality Dman. If that's true, and I see no reason to doubt it, I can't see him being willing to sign long term for less than 8 million and he may very well ask for more. If they bridge him for less than 8 and he is as good as everyone, including a lot of people on this site seem to think he'll be, then he will end up costing a lot more.

Pinto will cost around 4.5 and worth every penny. They're stuck with Joseph at 2.9 and won't be able to move that contract without giving away a pick at least.

Unless JBD is that top 4 Dman, which it doesn't look like he is to this point, they'll need to pay for one and that won't be cheap if you don't want another Hamonic. Number 1 goalies aren't free.

No matter how much you may like DeBrincat you can't afford to keep him without torpedoing any chance this team may have to seriously challenge for the Cup. That's just reality.
- Whatisavailable

The cap is going to $96m. Bettman is playing games with the NHLPA and forcing them to own their escrow liability. Sens will have lots of space to sign Debrincat at $9.5m., Sanderson at $8.5m. and Pinto at $5.0m. They will need to also sign a goaltender $5.0 and a RHD $5.0. These additions will get loaded on top of the existing contracts for Tkchuk $8.3, Stutzle $8.3, Chabot $8.0, Norris 8.0, Batherson 5.0, Zub 4.5

Significant contract deletions over the next two seasons include Giroux $6.5, Zaitsev $4.5, Hamonic $3.0 and Talbot $3.0. Bobby Ryan, Matt Murray and few others will fall off the dead cap allocation.

So, on a $96m. cap. It means committing $44m for your top 6 forwards, $26m for the top 4 D and $5m for a #1 goalie. It leaves $21m for the 13 remaining roster spots. Typically this would include 7 players on entry level deals of $1m or less. Still space for 2 players at $1.5m, 2 at $2.5 and 2 at $3.0m.

Boston media is talking $12m. for Pasternak next season.

At a $96m cap the old formula for a better top 6 player or Dman goes from $6m. up to $7.2m. The agent for an elite player making $8.0 believes he should jump to $9.6m, superstars that were at $10m will be asking $12m and generational talents at $12.6m would expect $15.1m.

The Sens are in really good shape and, so far, have had outstanding cap management.

Notice when Bettman is asked what the cap will be next year he always gives a soft number for a cap increase and then finishes it off by commenting that it is really up to the players and their decision on the escrow allocation.

But, what is known for certain is that the top number on revenue is settled at $6.1b. The players share for cap purposes should be a $95.3m cap less the money owed on the escrow.

Tkachuk Stutzle Giroux 23million
Debrincat Norris Batherson 22milloon
Joseph Pinto Sokolov 9million
Kelly Kastelic Grieg 2.5million
56.5million

Chabot Zub 12.6million
Sanderson JBD 10million
???? ????? 4million bottom pair
26.4million

???? 5million
Forsberg 2.75
7.750million

That adds to 91million roughly
They just have to work it in cap 😏
It then we have 5million to pay out on buy outs and retained salary
Are we the new Leafs no cap space 😂😂🤦‍♂️

Columbus (11-22-1)
Seattle (19-12-4)
Nashville (15-14-6)
Arizona (13-17-5).

Tkachuk Stutzle Giroux 23million
Debrincat Norris Batherson 22milloon
Joseph Pinto Sokolov 9million
Kelly Kastelic Grieg 2.5million
56.5million

Chabot Zub 12.6million
Sanderson JBD 10million
???? ????? 4million bottom pair
26.4million

???? 5million
Forsberg 2.75
7.750million

That adds to 91million roughly
They just have to work it in cap 😏
It then we have 5million to pay out on buy outs and retained salary
Are we the new Leafs no cap space 😂😂🤦‍♂️
- sens4life1971

Numbers etched in sand at the water's edge.

The cap is going to $96m. Bettman is playing games with the NHLPA and forcing them to own their escrow liability. Sens will have lots of space to sign Debrincat at $9.5m., Sanderson at $8.5m. and Pinto at $5.0m. They will need to also sign a goaltender $5.0 and a RHD $5.0. These additions will get loaded on top of the existing contracts for Tkchuk $8.3, Stutzle $8.3, Chabot $8.0, Norris 8.0, Batherson 5.0, Zub 4.5

Significant contract deletions over the next two seasons include Giroux $6.5, Zaitsev $4.5, Hamonic $3.0 and Talbot $3.0. Bobby Ryan, Matt Murray and few others will fall off the dead cap allocation.

So, on a $96m. cap. It means committing $44m for your top 6 forwards, $26m for the top 4 D and $5m for a #1 goalie. It leaves $21m for the 13 remaining roster spots. Typically this would include 7 players on entry level deals of $1m or less. Still space for 2 players at $1.5m, 2 at $2.5 and 2 at $3.0m.

Boston media is talking $12m. for Pasternak next season.

At a $96m cap the old formula for a better top 6 player or Dman goes from $6m. up to $7.2m. The agent for an elite player making $8.0 believes he should jump to $9.6m, superstars that were at $10m will be asking $12m and generational talents at $12.6m would expect $15.1m.

The Sens are in really good shape and, so far, have had outstanding cap management.
- spatso

Numbers etched in sand at the water's edge.

New Blog Up!

Numbers etched in sand at the water's edge.
- Whatisavailable

Everyone numbers are etched in sand at the waters edge lol what’s your point 🤷‍♂️😂