Geez....even worse than I thought, they put out a press release and fired him at 10:53pm last night.

Press release makes clear that the Sens are very happy with the style DJ is coaching and unhappy with Mann for not keeping up. But, I read one commentary where it said DJ was really very positive about how well Mann prepared the kids for call up.

Yeah this firing business has markings of something off ice happening - it also happened after a win, which is unusual unless the writing is clearly on the wall (like with Boudreau/Van). I think under normal circumstances, DJ might have been replaced by now were it not for the ownership scenario. One has to think a similar holding pattern would have been in place for Mann as well, plus he's the AGM's brother which can't hurt his job security - something behind the scenes must be up. Mind you, Belleville is dead last in it's division and isn't showing many signs of life. The plus to this scenario is the ship has already sailed in the A - you can trade big club assets and bring up the promising AHLers to fill the gaps (Sokolov comes to mind) without worrying about hurting the AHL team's playoff chances.

Wow! From Claire Hanna @ TSN

"Sources saying there were trust issues emerging between the #Sens and Belleville HC Troy Mann. I’m told the straw that broke the camels back was when Mann gave some of the Ottawa Senators pre-scouting material to another NHL team."

If that's true, he just ruined his career unless he can weasel his way into broadcasting like Pierre McGuire. Maybe that's where he learned it from? lolololol

Mann was just the guest on the Coming in Hot podcast (formally Wally and Methot). Seemed fine, lol. Wild!

Edit - speaking of Brent Wallace, this is his Twitter:
"Brent Wallace @Freeagentwally
New ownership can’t come soon enough. This is a joke."

Wallace responds to a couple people saying the allegations are not true, but that could just be an initial reaction due to a guest recently being on the show and wants to defend him. Plus he insinuates on his show DJ Smith is a bad coach and he thinks Mann should be the Head Coach of Ottawa.

Wow! From Claire Hanna @ TSN

"Sources saying there were trust issues emerging between the #Sens and Belleville HC Troy Mann. I’m told the straw that broke the camels back was when Mann gave some of the Ottawa Senators pre-scouting material to another NHL team."
- spatso

That actually fits into what think this about. Mann had something else lined up coaching wise. He's probably felt like he should have been coaching the big club for a while now and was told that's not happening. So he began working another team for a head coaching job in the NHL for next year. And to grease these new wheels he's riding on he sent them his thoughts on things. Stinky if true.

That actually fits into what think this about. Mann had something else lined up coaching wise. He's probably felt like he should have been coaching the big club for a while now and was told that's not happening. So he began working another team for a head coaching job in the NHL for next year. And to grease these new wheels he's riding on he sent them his thoughts on things. Stinky if true.
- Octavarium

So, how did the information get out then? Surely that would make the team in question look bad too? Did he send this out pre-emptively and the team then told the Sens? Or is this one of those thigns where only he would look bad.

That actually fits into what think this about. Mann had something else lined up coaching wise. He's probably felt like he should have been coaching the big club for a while now and was told that's not happening. So he began working another team for a head coaching job in the NHL for next year. And to grease these new wheels he's riding on he sent them his thoughts on things. Stinky if true.
- Octavarium

Things are escalating to a point where you think folks were looking for an issue to do what the had already wanted to do.

My guess is the different ownership camps are working around the edges and loyalty is being challenged by the existing group. Just a guess.

Sometimes an issue gets created in order to enable what folks had already decided to do.

Wow x 2

"Mann wasn’t “leaking” his own Senators’ game prep, but the big club’s to another NHL team."

Certainly we are lying to ourselves. Sens fans are always telling themselves little white lies. Not like Leaf fans who tell themselves whoppers every year involving the best regular season team in hockey winning a playoff round.

The Leafs really are relevant to the Sens conversation. The Leafs rebuilt too fast. They drafted Nylander, Marner and Matthews up front and Rielly on D. The young guys were really good and made it into the playoffs ahead of schedule. But the Leafs got greedy and signed Tavares. Leaf fans have been unhappy ever since. They did not need Tavares. What they really needed was balance and decent 3 line depth along with a top 4 D capable of going deep into the playoffs. Now, they are caught in this cap nightmare and magical thinking. They believe Matt Murray can journey to Lourdes for the cure. He will return fully healed, capable of leading them to the promised land.

A good young team can be enjoyed for the improvement they make from one year to the next. But, once they make the playoffs expectations go up and real disappointment almost always follows.
- spatso

Certainly a team can be enjoyed for its improvements. If the Sens finish where we discussd , lets be ambitious and say 9th, I think a lot of people would see that as a step forward, rightly so.

But considering we've seen teams go through similar situations before, and since they'd be missing the playoffs yet again, I don't think it would be unfair for some people to still foster doubt long term. Other teams in the divisionn are getting better too.

Certainly a team can be enjoyed for its improvements. If the Sens finish where we discussd , lets be ambitious and say 9th, I think a lot of people would see that as a step forward, rightly so.

But considering we've seen teams go through similar situations before, and since they'd be missing the playoffs yet again, I don't think it would be unfair for some people to still foster doubt long term. Other teams in the divisionn are getting better too.
- david22

I agree. No guarantees. My primary concern is that I don't want folks going all in on the short term (either trade or UFA signing). Sens will probably miss this year. They should make a good regular season run next year. They are very young. We need to be be patient, give them time. They have many of the right players in the mix. They have the ingredients that when properly mixed could allow them to win it all.

Great blog!

In terms of buying/selling at the deadline, I think that Debrincat is the big item to be decided. If he wants $9M+ per season on a long term deal, the team needs to look at the potential return available at the trade deadline as the return would be higher than in the off-season. Any team taking him on would get him at a $6.4M cap hit or even less if Ottawa pays part of the salary. The acquiring team would have him for this year's run and could potentially flip him in the off-season.

I do like Debrincat but he hasn't dominated or shown to be worth $9M. Nor has his play justified being paid higher than Tkachuk or Stutzle. It is also not a great idea to have too much money tied up in wingers.

Adding to others points. I agree, trying to get something done short term doesn't make any sense. Ottawa is 6 points out of a playoffs spot. Sens have had 9* one-goal loses (*I've included empty net goals making it 2 goal loses). Lets pretend they tied-up 4 out of those 9 games and lost in OT for 4 points. Then they'd only be 2 points out of a playoff spot. That can happen with more maturity/figuring out how not to suck 5-on-5. "Good teams find a way to win" kind of mentality.

Sens are one of the younger teams in the league (Giroux, Talbot, Holden, Brassard up the age average, lol) so I think, so far, it's good progress. Young guys are only going to get better and hopefully Formenton will be back providing he's not a terrible person/in prison.

Maybe the reason Ottawa has sucked 5-on-5 is because Mann has been giving other teams their game plan trying to get DJ fired so he becomes coach, lololol. Lets start unsubstantiated rumours!

Edit - Looking at Formenton's Swiss league stats. 13 games 6 goals and 3 assists... 60 penalty minutes? What the hell is going on over there???

In my opinion, moving Debrincat would be a step backwards. There are a few scenarios:

- Move him out of a d-man. You get a d-man but now are looking to replace a top 6 forward
- Move him out for forward depth. You get depth on the 3rd and 4th lines but looking to replace a top 6 forward.
- Move him for a goalie. You'll be looking for a top 6 forward after a deal.
- Move him for picks. Creates a hole up front and no immediate impact players.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, being a cap team is a weird thing for us Sens fans. Most teams deal with it and there is a good portion of teams that have virtually no cap space, ironically some great teams such as Colorado, Tampa, Boston, New Jersey, and Carolina to name a few.

I do think it is in the franchise's best interest to accommodate Debrincat and address other holes by other means. In the cap area, this is what separates great GMs from average GMs.

Regarding Mann, good riddance if he was sharing insider info with other teams and getting caught.

Interesting how they didn't wait until new ownership was in place to make a decision.

Regarding Mann, good riddance if he was sharing insider info with other teams and getting caught.

Interesting how they didn't wait until new ownership was in place to make a decision.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

The Mann thing has the potential to be a highly explosive issue. I am really unhappy about the engagement of gambling with NHL events. It is just a matter of time before we discover some coach on some team or some trainer is providing inside information to gambling interests.This is the way it has always been with gamblers. They never let up in trying to carve even the smallest edge. I don't think the Mann story should be allowed to quietly slide away.

Did gambling interests know that Mann had provided the Sens playbook to Winnipeg? The Sens were decisively shut down in that game. Has Mann provided inside information on other Ottawa games prior to a match up.

The Mann thing has the potential to be a highly explosive issue. I am really unhappy about the engagement of gambling with NHL events. It is just a matter of time before we discover some coach on some team or some trainer is providing inside information to gambling interests.This is the way it has always been with gamblers. They never let up in trying to carve even the smallest edge. I don't think the Mann story should be allowed to quietly slide away.

Did gambling interests know that Mann had provided the Sens playbook to Winnipeg? The Sens were decisively shut down in that game. Has Mann provided inside information on other Ottawa games prior to a match up.
- spatso

I assume it's scouting/trade related for Mann.

However, speaking of gambling, I right there with you. I am so sick of all the gambling ads during games. It's borderline irresponsible. It's like putting a bar in the pocket of an alcoholic. It's bad enough to have the gambling ads during the game but to have live odds and stats to support the said odds can be very dangerous.

It's creating this weird dynamic where are watching the game because of the gambling lines rather than the love of the sport. There will be people in the sports getting tripped up now that pretty much anyone can do it so easily in real time.

I do think there is a place for gambling for sports. It's always been there. Just get it away from the broadcasts in my opinion.

Garrrioch on TSN this morning says we should know the names of new owners by the end of this month (another three months will be needed to get it all finalized). He believes Bettman might be pushing to merge the two leading financial/development interests and they would likely include Ryan Reynolds and, perhaps, the Melnyk sisters as small minority partners.

He also noted that there is supposedly a third mystery group out there engaged in the bidding but they are not prepared to disclose any details on their interest.

Desmarais is pulling back on his interest in buying the Sens and may be the buyer of 20% of the Canadiens if one of the Sens bidders may need to dispose of his interest in the Canadiens in order to proceed with an Ottawa bid.

Wexham Senators. Catchy!

If it was me I’d keep Motte 2yrs x1.25m cause we need penalty killers too
And I’d keep Hamonic for 3rd pairing with JBD
The rest of UFA goes and I’d trade Brannstrom too
2023 Lineup

Tkachuk Stutzle Joseph
Grieg Norris Giroux
Motte Pinto Batherson
Kelly Kastelic Sokolov

Chabot Zub
Sanderson ????
JBD Hamonic

????
Forsberg

Use the money from Cat,Holden,Brassard,Watson,Brannstrom,Gambrell Zeitsev to get #1 Goalie and Top 4 D

Boy oh boy, you packed a wicked amount of content into a few lines.

Yes, I think DeBrincat signals that he is going to take the QO. So, Sens need to act before QO date and sign him long term, flip him (short term) or auction him off (Matthew Tkachuk). 3 decently good options.

What if DeBrincat was offered up in a 3 way with the Rangers and Coyotes.?The players/picks moving would be Rangers #1, Senators #1, JBD, DeBrincat, Lafreniere and Chychrun. So, Coyotes end up with Rangers #1, Sens #1 and JBD, Sens get Lafreniere and Chychrun and Rangers get DeBrincat heading into the playoffs.

Murray rumblings come out of Toronto that they may need a goalie for the playoffs. Delightfully delicious thought.
- spatso

I like this thinking 🤔

I like this thinking 🤔
- sens4life1971

I do too, this makes sense for all three parties, provided it's the 2024 first overall for Ottawa... though I suspect we might end up seeing the auction route. I don't know if the Rangers are willing to sell Laf so low after drafting him first overall, I suspect they'll sit on him till his value goes full Yakupov.

I do too, this makes sense for all three parties, provided it's the 2024 first overall for Ottawa... though I suspect we might end up seeing the auction route. I don't know if the Rangers are willing to sell Laf so low after drafting him first overall, I suspect they'll sit on him till his value goes full Yakupov.
- Bartacus

I agree noway Rangers gives up Laf and a 1st for Debrincat but I do like the thinking behind it
Ottawa 1st and JBD for Chychrun and Laf 😂😂

I agree noway Rangers gives up Laf and a 1st for Debrincat but I do like the thinking behind it
Ottawa 1st and JBD for Chychrun and Laf 😂😂
- sens4life1971

Lafreniere is highly problematic for the Rangers. He is a decent player. Will probably finish the season with 12-20 goals without getting any time on the power play. If he were not an overall #1 pick folks might say he is developing nicely.

Rangers have multiple signings to make this summer and although they are in a good position on the cap they are going to need to be highly strategic in terms of who they sign. Several young guys including Lafreniere as well as Chytll and K'Andre Miller will be looking for deals this summer. Next summer Rangers will have 3 more top young players (Kakko, Lingren and Schneider) looking for new contracts.

So, when Lafreniere is an RFA any team can offer sheet him up to $4.2m and it only costs them a 2nd round pick. Word out of NY is Rangers will not go above $2m in trying to sign him. I believe he will be the lead piece in any move the Rangers try to make. Also, Rangers have no need or interest in a Dman. They want a scorer who can score for them right now.

Lafreniere is highly problematic for the Rangers. He is a decent player. Will probably finish the season with 12-20 goals without getting any time on the power play. If he were not an overall #1 pick folks might say he is developing nicely.

Rangers have multiple signings to make this summer and although they are in a good position on the cap they are going to need to be highly strategic in terms of who they sign. Several young guys including Lafreniere as well as Chytll and K'Andre Miller will be looking for deals this summer. Next summer Rangers will have 3 more top young players (Kakko, Lingren and Schneider) looking for new contracts.

So, when Lafreniere is an RFA any team can offer sheet him up to $4.2m and it only costs them a 2nd round pick. Word out of NY is Rangers will not go above $2m in trying to sign him. I believe he will be the lead piece in any move the Rangers try to make. Also, Rangers have no need or interest in a Dman. They want a scorer who can score for them right now.
- spatso

rangers have 16M to sign 8 players next year, they much like OTT cannot afford a 9M winger like Cat, Laf would make a good 3rd line Winger for OTT but the only player NYR would want is Batherson because of his low cap hit

rangers have 16M to sign 8 players next year, they much like OTT cannot afford a 9M winger like Cat, Laf would make a good 3rd line Winger for OTT but the only player NYR would want is Batherson because of his low cap hit
- Mithos

You might be right.

My thought was the Rangers might want to make a play on DeBrincat this year (rather than Kane) and sort it out next summer. Rangers have the goaltending and defense to make a serious Cup run. But, they don't have the firepower to keep up with the leading contenders.

But, I am certain that they do not know how they can fit Lafreniere into their plans for next year. I believe he is the chip they will offering if they try to do something before the deadline.