And full circle .... we traded Connor Brown to Washington for a 2nd round pick which we eventually used to offload Zaitsev.

And Brown was injured all season and is now a UFA. So Washington gave us a 2nd round pick for .... nothing.

Everyone needs to remember that Brown got traded because he presumably did not want to re-sign with Ottawa. So all this grousing by people about losing Brown .... when he did not want to be here anyways. We got what we needed out of Brown and Paul and even Zaitsev .... 3 utility guys to play up the line-up as needed as we rebuilt and gave our younger guys time to develop in the minors. All served their purpose and needed to move on as their roles would have fallen to 3rd line and 3rd d-man pairing for Zaitsev .... with too much $$ and too much term (Paul 3.15 million for 6 or 7 years .... no thank you .... and we have no idea what Brown will get now).
- OttawaB

My only point was Brown was an effective player when he was here.

He was very effective and would have been great had he remained here last year. I think he got pissy when he found out Paul wasn't coming back. They did have great chemistry.

The longer this Sens sale goes the worse it gets. It will get whittled down to one group who barely want the team. I said a long time ago that the NCC would manage to screw this up--and they will---and they ARE.

And full circle .... we traded Connor Brown to Washington for a 2nd round pick which we eventually used to offload Zaitsev.

And Brown was injured all season and is now a UFA. So Washington gave us a 2nd round pick for .... nothing.

Everyone needs to remember that Brown got traded because he presumably did not want to re-sign with Ottawa. So all this grousing by people about losing Brown .... when he did not want to be here anyways. We got what we needed out of Brown and Paul and even Zaitsev .... 3 utility guys to play up the line-up as needed as we rebuilt and gave our younger guys time to develop in the minors. All served their purpose and needed to move on as their roles would have fallen to 3rd line and 3rd d-man pairing for Zaitsev .... with too much $$ and too much term (Paul 3.15 million for 6 or 7 years .... no thank you .... and we have no idea what Brown will get now).
- OttawaB

Zaitsev was a third pairing guy that the coach kept giving 1st pairing ice to. I think if he been played properly, he would have been overpaid but not the whipping boy.

For Paul, wern't they like 250k apart on a deal? I would have kept him for 3mil for sure, he's versitile and if joseph is the alternative, it's a no brainer.

Brown also should've been kept. Sometimes its okay to let a guy walk. I think he would have been incredibly useful this year for balancing out the third line and Dorion could've got more than a second a the trade deadline (or let him walk).

I agree.
I would have kept them both.
Essentially they functioned like a Martin and Clutterbuck combo. They play off each other's strength and weaknesses. Great chemistry and did a great job.

I agree.
I would have kept them both.
Essentially they functioned like a Martin and Clutterbuck combo. They play off each other's strength and weaknesses. Great chemistry and did a great job.
- Octavarium

People make a lot of that much vaunted 'best fourth line in hockey'. What they never seem to mention is that line was getting paid a combined 9.3M in 2019-2020, with a combined 29 (!!) points. Which is fricken ridiculously poor for a fourth line and the GM should be fired rather than celebrated for keeping it together. Today, it gets paid 5.75M combined - still far, far too much for three guys 32 and over playing 10 minutes a night. Seriously, the money paid out to those three makes the Joseph contract look like highway larceny.

probably the best line they have though....and that says more about the buffoonery that Lou has done

I like the defense.
I like the goaltending.
I like that fourth line....despite the price.
But the way the top three lines are constructed is goofy and underwhelming. I'm not a fan of Barzal at all, or Lee.

probably the best line they have though....and that says more about the buffoonery that Lou has done

I like the defense.
I like the goaltending.
I like that fourth line....despite the price.
But the way the top three lines are constructed is goofy and underwhelming. I'm not a fan of Barzal at all, or Lee.
- Octavarium

I think the correct word to describe that team is mediocre. Mediocre, boring, slow and old. Lee, Bailey, Palmieri, Pageau should not cost more than a combined 16M, but on that team they cost 22M. Lou is really terrible at gauging forwards. The only bright light up front is Brock Nelson - without his season they don't even sniff the playoffs. They are one year removed from having to roll out a bank truck for Sorokin - it'll be interesting this off-season to see if he signs an extension to stay with this tire fire. If I were him I'd be looking forward to the opportunity of growing a beard elsewhere.

Lou's 80. It's like having Joe Biden as your GM.

I think the correct word to describe that team is mediocre. Mediocre, boring, slow and old. Lee, Bailey, Palmieri, Pageau should not cost more than a combined 16M, but on that team they cost 22M. Lou is really terrible at gauging forwards. The only bright light up front is Brock Nelson - without his season they don't even sniff the playoffs. They are one year removed from having to roll out a bank truck for Sorokin - it'll be interesting this off-season to see if he signs an extension to stay with this tire fire. If I were him I'd be looking forward to the opportunity of growing a beard elsewhere.

Lou's 80. It's like having Joe Biden as your GM.
- Bartacus

Savage.

So one of these group of players will be Stanley Cup champions (wow):

Matthew Tkachuk, Anthony Duclair, Colin White

Mark Stone, Jack Eichel

So, it looks like we will know the preferred bidder before the end of the week. We then enter a 4 to 6 week prior allowing the bidder to verify conditions.

So, it looks like we will know the preferred bidder before the end of the week. We then enter a 4 to 6 week prior allowing the bidder to verify conditions.
- spatso

Man this is the longest process ever. I stopped paying attention

If Matthew Tkachuk lifts the cup, you have to think Brady's expectations will be nothing less

Zaitsev was a third pairing guy that the coach kept giving 1st pairing ice to. I think if he been played properly, he would have been overpaid but not the whipping boy.

For Paul, wern't they like 250k apart on a deal? I would have kept him for 3mil for sure, he's versitile and if joseph is the alternative, it's a no brainer.

Brown also should've been kept. Sometimes its okay to let a guy walk. I think he would have been incredibly useful this year for balancing out the third line and Dorion could've got more than a second a the trade deadline (or let him walk).
- CooCooKaChoo

The Paul contract with TB is weird...so much term. Could age poorly. Could be a steal if he stays healthy.

Man this is the longest process ever. I stopped paying attention
- AlfieisKing

Don't understand it. The recent sales of Nash and Car were quick and quiet.

I blame Deadpool....

Good for Colin White.
I hope gives a big ol middle finger to the Sens coaching staff as he sips his champagne from the cup.

Unfortunately I'm picking Vegas.

This boils down to hot goalie vs. better players.

Don't understand it. The recent sales of Nash and Car were quick and quiet.

I blame Deadpool....
- GrimmdaGoalie

I believe they're just posturing and creating space for possible bid increases, trying to max value for the Melnyk girls. We are getting pretty close to the draft though - if new owners want to shake up the front office at all those new faces won't have much time to adjust or prepare. Safest bet might be to let Dorion manage the draft at this point, but we'll hopefully see what comes of this in the next week.

Completely unrelated, but I wonder if Florida wins the cup they might try to sign all three Staal brothers to near league min deals, selling them on the chance to play together on the same team for a season and possibly win another cup together. Marc and Eric would do it, Jordan's the youngest and the wild card as he still has earning potential, but I'd bet he'd be intrigued. They're all UFAs. Touch long in the tooth, but all can still play, could be a cheap way to fill out the roster, save some cash for another UFA splash or to extend Reinhart, Duclair, Lundell and Luostarinen.

Don't understand it. The recent sales of Nash and Car were quick and quiet.

I blame Deadpool....
- GrimmdaGoalie

for sure

I believe they're just posturing and creating space for possible bid increases, trying to max value for the Melnyk girls. We are getting pretty close to the draft though - if new owners want to shake up the front office at all those new faces won't have much time to adjust or prepare. Safest bet might be to let Dorion manage the draft at this point, but we'll hopefully see what comes of this in the next week.
- Bartacus

I think it is getting far too deep into the weeds to try to finalize the ownership transition (maybe mid July) and subsequently appoint a new GM who should have a free hand to decide on the head coach.

Maybe new ownership will appoint a President of Hockey Operations and gives them a year to sort out GM and Coaching as well as other front office appointments.

Completely unrelated, but I wonder if Florida wins the cup they might try to sign all three Staal brothers to near league min deals, selling them on the chance to play together on the same team for a season and possibly win another cup together. Marc and Eric would do it, Jordan's the youngest and the wild card as he still has earning potential, but I'd bet he'd be intrigued. They're all UFAs. Touch long in the tooth, but all can still play, could be a cheap way to fill out the roster, save some cash for another UFA splash or to extend Reinhart, Duclair, Lundell and Luostarinen.
- Bartacus

Of all the players that got away from the Sens, I thought the biggest miss was Duclair. He wanted to stay, his ask was reasonable...but I believe it was one of those negotiations where Melnyk inserted himself into the process and decided that DuClair should be gone.

Man this is the longest process ever. I stopped paying attention
- AlfieisKing

Yeah. It has certainly taken longer than it should. Hopefully a strong clean bid wins the day so there are no issues with NHL approval. Apostopoulous bid seems to have the mega $$$$ behind it but the Kimmel and Andlauer bids have the NHL known bidders. I believe Appstopoulous wins out.

I think it is getting far too deep into the weeds to try to finalize the ownership transition (maybe mid July) and subsequently appoint a new GM who should have a free hand to decide on the head coach.

Maybe new ownership will appoint a President of Hockey Operations and gives them a year to sort out GM and Coaching as well as other front office appointments.
- spatso

Then this team is screwed for another year. DJ is not the answer.

Then this team is screwed for another year. DJ is not the answer.
- CooCooKaChoo

Yeah I think that's true. DJ is a good guy, I think it's fine to give him half a year but the team should be in a playoff spot or close

Yeah I think that's true. DJ is a good guy, I think it's fine to give him half a year but the team should be in a playoff spot or close
- AlfieisKing

you would think a new owner would want to give guys the opportunity to keep their jobs and to have some stability to start off their tenure. But didn't the new Carolina owner quickly let go the front office a couple of weeks after getting the team?

It needs to be resolved soon. Mostly because Debrincat needs to be resolved too.

I'm all over a coaching change...bummed Brunette got snapped up. But that has to happen now. Otherwise DJ will get the first 1/4 of the season. And at that point the Sens may not recover AGAIN if they get off to a bad start AGAIN.

you would think a new owner would want to give guys the opportunity to keep their jobs and to have some stability to start off their tenure. But didn't the new Carolina owner quickly let go the front office a couple of weeks after getting the team?

It needs to be resolved soon. Mostly because Debrincat needs to be resolved too.

I'm all over a coaching change...bummed Brunette got snapped up. But that has to happen now. Otherwise DJ will get the first 1/4 of the season. And at that point the Sens may not recover AGAIN if they get off to a bad start AGAIN.
- GrimmdaGoalie

I don't think DJ having a slow start again would be a big issued if we end up getting the appropriate coach for the team at that point. Hard to imagine DJ having a slow enough start to the season that puts Ottawa in an unrecoverable position. Even this season Ottawa was in the fight and it was the poor performance in the western road trip to end the season that really sealed the deal.

The real question is who would the right coach be. Does it matter? If we add a good goaltender and Chychrun is healthy and Sanderson doesn't have a sophomore slump I don't see how the defensive woes that plagued the Sens early in their last 3 seasons continues regardless of the coach.