Ya it’s really nothing to be proud of.

Korpisalo didn’t look comfortable in net. Fact that we allowed the worst team to score 4 on us…just makes me wanna toss this season further down the drain.
- Trilla

You are right. Funny how some folks think. Sens give up 4 goals on 18 shots and some start hollering about the defensive pairings.

On the bright side, we can count on Kopisalo to keep the Sens in the race for a top position in the draft lottery.

You are right. Funny how some folks think. Sens give up 4 goals on 18 shots and some start hollering about the defensive pairings.

On the bright side, we can count on Kopisalo to keep the Sens in the race for a top position in the draft lottery.
- spatso

Why Dorion thought he was the answer in goal is a mystery.
He is a career .902 goalie. Average at best.

Could this team use a new goaltending coach?

Yeah, yeah I get the poor D structure and all but like seriously... every goaltender that comes here looks awful and then go literally anywhere else and do better.

Hell even Matt Murray has a season in Toronto that you could argue was a hair better than when he was in Ottawa.

On a side note for the new management team. Their visible flabbergasted looks and frustrated demeanor make me more worried than not about next season and how this team can be fixed.

I really would have suspected that Staios would understand quite cleanly why this team sucks this year and due to Dorion's moronic moves with the cap there simply wasn't much to be done until the offseason.

However, his frustration means he thinks this current team has it and is not sure why it isn't coming together and if that is the case how can we expect this guy to reasonably fix it in the, what seems to be, simple means required to do so this offseason.

Tarasenko, Kubalik, Hamonic and Korpisalo were all brain dead moves by Dorion that simply have to be waited out till the trade deadline or the offseason to address.
This team also needs the guidance of an experienced coach who still has the stuff to win a cup and may has won a cup before.

With Kuba and Senko coming off the books either at the trade deadline or the offseason and deadcap going away as well it leaves simply having to address Korpisalo and Hamonic, hiring a coach, and possibly (overspending) to get one of the RD FA's this offseason.

The only major problems goin into next season this team could possibly have is an inflated LD position, a lack of veteran centermen and (but hopefully not) rerunning with the same goaltending tandem. Hence why i hope they at least try to address the goaltending coach if anything for that position as Dorion really make Korpi a fixed statue here with that contract.

While I am not happy with the current goalie situation .... 2 of the goals by San Jose were a direct result of Senator defensive breakdowns. It is hard to fault Korpisalo when Ottawa gives up 2 prime chances like that. We only allowed 18 shots on our net, which I view as a defensive play win for the Sens (okay ... against San Jose, but they have to start somewhere). But we still give up too many danger zone chances, and we still make some basic d-zone brain farts.

But this team is still too soft. Not enough shot blocking when needed. Forwards still lack basic knowledge in d-zone coverage and who they need to take/cover.

I am not negative on Tarasenko. He is solid in his defensive responsibilities. He is finally beginning to figure out how to take advantage of playing with Timmy (and vice versa). Looks like he is on pace for 65 points with a team high +/- in the range of +20. Tarasenko and Timmy could be very solid in the second half of the season.

I was saying it at the time...... what's frustrating with acquiring an Alex DeBrincat 2 years ago - is that you could've had a player like Pavel Mintyukov RIGHT NOW on this team. Now, even if we get a 7th-10th pick overall - we wait another 3 years from now before they even play/contribute. This is ridiculously obvious.

What I would do as GM? Either trade the 1st (with top 5 protection) in a package to address our right side D-man. OR for the love of god get a Artyom Levshunov or Sam Richardinson !

Why Dorion thought he was the answer in goal is a mystery.
He is a career .902 goalie. Average at best.
- Rang

Dorion pushed his chips into the centre of the table this off-season. Hindsight is 20/20, but we should be critical of new ownership for entrusting so much long term latitude to somebody with a clear self-interest in impressing the new boss. Looking at the goalie market, it behooved to commit to another one or two year Talbot-esque stopgap. Gods... to think Linus Ullmark could be a trade target or the UFA pickup instead of Korpi... Boston won't be able to pay Swayman unless they offload Linus. That guy's stat consistency across multiple teams/qualities of defence for 8 straight seasons is truly undeniable.

Dorion pushed his chips into the centre of the table this off-season. Hindsight is 20/20, but we should be critical of new ownership for entrusting so much long term latitude to somebody with a clear self-interest in impressing the new boss. Looking at the goalie market, it behooved to commit to another one or two year Talbot-esque stopgap. Gods... to think Linus Ullmark could be a trade target or the UFA pickup instead of Korpi... Boston won't be able to pay Swayman unless they offload Linus. That guy's stat consistency across multiple teams/qualities of defence for 8 straight seasons is truly undeniable.
- Bartacus

Several things .... Boston will NEVER trade Ullmark within the conference (especially to a team that will be competing for a playoff spot against them.

A secondly, there was no ownership when officially in place when Dorion made a lot of his decisions. And even if you argue that unofficially the Andlauer group could have made decisions (but I doubt they could until their ownership was given the go-ahead by the NHL Board of Governors), remember that Andlauer literally had no hockey people in place to judge the moves Dorion was making.

I was saying it at the time...... what's frustrating with acquiring an Alex DeBrincat 2 years ago - is that you could've had a player like Pavel Mintyukov RIGHT NOW on this team. Now, even if we get a 7th-10th pick overall - we wait another 3 years from now before they even play/contribute. This is ridiculously obvious.

What I would do as GM? Either trade the 1st (with top 5 protection) in a package to address our right side D-man. OR for the love of god get a Artyom Levshunov or Sam Richardinson !
- AlfieisKing

Mintyukov .... 19 points in 40 games but is -11. Don't we have enough players like this who can play offence but forget there is a defensive side?
DeBrincat deal is done. time for everyone to get over it and put it in the rearview mirror. New ownership, new management, new coaching. Get over it and move on. Worry about what happens next. It serves no purpose looking back on what could have been.


Richardinson shoots left on defence. Don't we have enough of them? I have no doubt we will be getting a top 10 draft pick this year. We'll see if we pick high enough to get Levshunov. But I'd be happier winning the lottery and getting the #1 pick.

Most of what needs to be done will probably have to wait until the off season when teams can play more with their cap space. But I don't really see a top level Right Defence or top level goalie being available. Free agents are always hard to attract to Ottawa unless we overpay them. And I believe that until we fix our overall team defence (hello forwards, come on down), then quality goaltending may be hard to come by. The goalie market kind of looks this way in Ottawa .... Good Goalie ... comes to Ottawa and becomes bad goalie ..... leaves Ottawa and becomes good goalie again. The common thread .... something happens in Ottawa like bad defensive structure (hello DJ Smith). So until, we change, goaltending will always be suspect.

Pending UFA RDs that are not pure offensive/too old/aren't guaranteed to re-sign with their team of note, in descending order of what I'd call 'a good fit':

Pesce
Demelo
Dumba
Roy
Myers
C. Miller
Jokiharju

It's not worth trading for any of these contracts right now, so I'm not quite sure what the objective to find 'veteran support' might be, seeing as we have zero cap room to manœuvre. Bolster the locker room and the training/support/bench staff, hope for the best.
- Bartacus

Guenette is ready for NHL RD 6'2" 205 lbs.

Mintyukov .... 19 points in 40 games but is -11. Don't we have enough players like this who can play offence but forget there is a defensive side?
DeBrincat deal is done. time for everyone to get over it and put it in the rearview mirror. New ownership, new management, new coaching. Get over it and move on. Worry about what happens next. It serves no purpose looking back on what could have been.

Richardinson shoots left on defence. Don't we have enough of them? I have no doubt we will be getting a top 10 draft pick this year. We'll see if we pick high enough to get Levshunov. But I'd be happier winning the lottery and getting the #1 pick.

Most of what needs to be done will probably have to wait until the off season when teams can play more with their cap space. But I don't really see a top level Right Defence or top level goalie being available. Free agents are always hard to attract to Ottawa unless we overpay them. And I believe that until we fix our overall team defence (hello forwards, come on down), then quality goaltending may be hard to come by. The goalie market kind of looks this way in Ottawa .... Good Goalie ... comes to Ottawa and becomes bad goalie ..... leaves Ottawa and becomes good goalie again. The common thread .... something happens in Ottawa like bad defensive structure (hello DJ Smith). So until, we change, goaltending will always be suspect.
- OttawaB

"time for everyone to get over it and put it in the rearview mirror"

This line is what I hate maybe more than anything in hockey. I know how you meant it, but there is NOTHING worse than making an error and not LEARNING from it in hockey. You have to learn if you want to get serious about winning a cup - otherwise what the fck is the point? Pittsburgh Penguins won 3 cups, but Crosby, Malkin and others also lost to Sens in 2007 before they went to the cup finals. They also lost in 2008 in the CUP FINALS. Then they won 3 out of the next 9 Stanley cups.

I can agree regarding the goaltending, I think it's the most fickle position every few years. It's not like a goalie players 7-9 seasons straight with strong numbers (very few in fact) but having said that I agree we need an upgrade.

But defense is a BIG problem and that's all 18 players. Team defense of the Sens in 2007 was unreal - that's how they went on their run. If the Sens are going to get better defensively they either need to draft high or trade a very good package for a player (perhaps chabot and bring in a 3rd team to absorb some cap). Regarding Richardson, on hockeydb it said Right shot but yes he is a left shot.

Dylan Demelo, Brett Pesce, Matt Roy, and Sean Walker are good potential free agent options

Guenette is ready for NHL RD 6'2" 205 lbs.
- way i c it

Great point. Guenette was a steal of a draftee! Late round picks that make it always have a chip on their shoulder, something to prove. Guenette could follow Alfie, Stone, Batherson in that regard.

Several things .... Boston will NEVER trade Ullmark within the conference (especially to a team that will be competing for a playoff spot against them.

A secondly, there was no ownership when officially in place when Dorion made a lot of his decisions. And even if you argue that unofficially the Andlauer group could have made decisions (but I doubt they could until their ownership was given the go-ahead by the NHL Board of Governors), remember that Andlauer literally had no hockey people in place to judge the moves Dorion was making.
- OttawaB

Sorry... no hockey people around him? He was part owner of the Habs. He's owned the Bulldogs since 2003. I imagine he's a fine hockey mind in his own right, but to suggest he doesn't have hockey people around him? He's had them around him for decades. Also - he paid a billion dollars - of course he had influence over how Dorion approached FA and spent his money. He chose to give Dorion carte blanche to go to cap. I am sure he's now reconsidering his decision to do so.

Sorry... no hockey people around him? He was part owner of the Habs. He's owned the Bulldogs since 2003. I imagine he's a fine hockey mind in his own right, but to suggest he doesn't have hockey people around him? He's had them around him for decades. Also - he paid a billion dollars - of course he had influence over how Dorion approached FA and spent his money. He chose to give Dorion carte blanche to go to cap. I am sure he's now reconsidering his decision to do so.
- Bartacus

Proof please? Other then saying he paid a billion and still had to wait to late Sept for the NHL to approve the sale. Hunches don't count. His name is not on any of those contracts. Staios did not come on board until later (and could not have consulted since he was working for Edmonton).
He might have been involved in ownership of the franchises you mentioned, but he never oversaw the actual trading and deal making. In fact, one could argue that Montreal was mismanaged in the end by Bergevin. Molson ran that show. As for the Bulldogs, etc .... Staios ran that show. Andlauer was the owner and I don't think possessed the knowledge needed for all those amateur players, nor did he pull the trigger on deals/trades. He "okayed" them, but Staios basically set them up.

"time for everyone to get over it and put it in the rearview mirror"

This line is what I hate maybe more than anything in hockey. I know how you meant it, but there is NOTHING worse than making an error and not LEARNING from it in hockey. You have to learn if you want to get serious about winning a cup - otherwise what the fck is the point? Pittsburgh Penguins won 3 cups, but Crosby, Malkin and others also lost to Sens in 2007 before they went to the cup finals. They also lost in 2008 in the CUP FINALS. Then they won 3 out of the next 9 Stanley cups.

I can agree regarding the goaltending, I think it's the most fickle position every few years. It's not like a goalie players 7-9 seasons straight with strong numbers (very few in fact) but having said that I agree we need an upgrade.

But defense is a BIG problem and that's all 18 players. Team defense of the Sens in 2007 was unreal - that's how they went on their run. If the Sens are going to get better defensively they either need to draft high or trade a very good package for a player (perhaps chabot and bring in a 3rd team to absorb some cap). Regarding Richardson, on hockeydb it said Right shot but yes he is a left shot.

Dylan Demelo, Brett Pesce, Matt Roy, and Sean Walker are good potential free agent options
- AlfieisKing

I didn't say or imply you don't learn from mistakes. But it serves no purpose to continually talk about the mistakes and the players we could have had. Its time to move on and deal with what we have. All the people involved (Melnyk, Dorion, Smith) in the previous errors are all gone. Its just time to let the new leadership flesh out the organization since Melnyk had stripped it bare. It will take time.

So here is a question. Would you rather have a new coach hired now and deal with everything, and probably cause the team to rise in the standings. Or just keep that new coach on the sidelines and let Martin and Alfredsson deal with the structure and the judgement of the players in place. In any business, you have the new mangers come in and make the poopty choices of restructuring and cutting personnel. Then they leave and you bring in the management who will run the new organization. Alfie and Jacques will be doing the player assessments. Staios will do the trading with help from Bowness and Poulin. Then at season end you bring in your coach after a thorough search, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Staios take a bit of a step back and let Bowness be the front man (like in Montreal) with Poulin advising.

I was also at the game.

I didn't have a problem with the Korpisalo signing then, I don't now. He's a fine goalie. His confidence is shot because this team has forgotten how to play defense. And the forwards don't help with the amount of "no-look" backhand passes they make. I stopped counting at 20, and Timmy alone made 3-4 per shift. He's Jason Spezza. If they coulda benched Tim, they would have. They couldn't afford it until now. I'd love to see him sit all week.

Kubalik was just yzerman sticking it to dorion. Brilliant move unloading him as part of the DeBrincat trade.
Tarasenko has been fine.
I also didn't mind the Korpisalo move because Dorion, like all of us here and pundits everywhere looked at that D and went.....hmm Zub, Sanderson, Chychrun, Chabbot....easily one of the best d corps in the league. So a career .902 guy should be well insulated. Now, we're ready to run 2 of them out of town. And blame it all on the goalie.

The big plus for me, and for this owner, should be the size of the crowds despite this team being in a funk. They're going to get murdered by Colorado. But there will be 18K there to see it. The building has been rocking. Building staff have been good. Inhouse entertainment is atrocious...but that's consistent at least.

Sens promote Justin Peters from Belleville to replace Zac Bierk as goaltending coach, assigning Bierk as a scout instead. Good timing to maintain the coaching relationship with Sogard coming up long term as Forsberg looks slated for months on LTIR. Hopefully it has a positive impact on Korpi's game as well

I didn't say or imply you don't learn from mistakes. But it serves no purpose to continually talk about the mistakes and the players we could have had. Its time to move on and deal with what we have. All the people involved (Melnyk, Dorion, Smith) in the previous errors are all gone. Its just time to let the new leadership flesh out the organization since Melnyk had stripped it bare. It will take time.

So here is a question. Would you rather have a new coach hired now and deal with everything, and probably cause the team to rise in the standings. Or just keep that new coach on the sidelines and let Martin and Alfredsson deal with the structure and the judgement of the players in place. In any business, you have the new mangers come in and make the poopty choices of restructuring and cutting personnel. Then they leave and you bring in the management who will run the new organization. Alfie and Jacques will be doing the player assessments. Staios will do the trading with help from Bowness and Poulin. Then at season end you bring in your coach after a thorough search, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Staios take a bit of a step back and let Bowness be the front man (like in Montreal) with Poulin advising.
- OttawaB

Change management is far more complex than it often appears. The downturn in results under Jacques Martin were predictable. I think the team will come back in the second half and have better results. The best we can hope for is a more entertaining second half and some further growth in the younger players (Steutzle, Sanderson, Grieg, Pinto, Klevens, JBD).

I think Chychrun will be moved sooner than folks think. And, Tarasenko would help any team with serious Stanley Cup hopes.

Not sure we want to get involved in dealing for picks and prospects. Winnipeg transformed their team by weeding out some attitude and adding depth into the line up. Signing a world class goalie to a long term deal also helped.

PLD has not proven out to be a great fit in LA.

After a great start to the season, the Kings have been struggling.

I would do Chychrun for PLD.

Change management is far more complex than it often appears. The downturn in results under Jacques Martin were predictable. I think the team will come back in the second half and have better results. The best we can hope for is a more entertaining second half and some further growth in the younger players (Steutzle, Sanderson, Grieg, Pinto, Klevens, JBD).

I think Chychrun will be moved sooner than folks think. And, Tarasenko would help any team with serious Stanley Cup hopes.

Not sure we want to get involved in dealing for picks and prospects. Winnipeg transformed their team by weeding out some attitude and adding depth into the line up. Signing a world class goalie to a long term deal also helped.

PLD has not proven out to be a great fit in LA.

After a great start to the season, the Kings have been struggling.

I would do Chychrun for PLD.
- spatso

You make a lot of good points but your iterative aspirations for PLD are not one of them. He's already been in two small market teams that he doesn't want to play for, all signs point to a poor chemistry, diva attitude player, like a Zegras or Drouin. Now dramatically overpaid at 8.5*8 for less than .5PPG production, relegated to the fourth line on one of the best teams in the league. LA would have to live up to their name and pay a king's ransom to offset PLD's negative value, let alone to get Chychrun.

and Chychrun WANTS to be here.

I'd keep him.
I'd just start using him. Especially since Norris is out or may be out.....figure out a power play that keeps teams guessing where the shot will come from. Norris or Chych.
Fire Cappuano already, especially if he's your power play guy.

You make a lot of good points but your iterative aspirations for PLD are not one of them. He's already been in two small market teams that he doesn't want to play for, all signs point to a poor chemistry, diva attitude player, like a Zegras or Drouin. Now dramatically overpaid at 8.5*8 for less than .5PPG production, relegated to the fourth line on one of the best teams in the league. LA would have to live up to their name and pay a king's ransom to offset PLD's negative value, let alone to get Chychrun.
- Bartacus

I am entirely irrational when it comes to big bodied centres that play a strong defensive game. I have always liked PLD and he can be very effective playing against elite talent. You are probably right about the attitude and the chemistry. But, when PLD decides he wants to play he can go head to head with the best centres in the league. But, he does have a reputation of not wanting to play on too many nights.

I didn't say or imply you don't learn from mistakes. But it serves no purpose to continually talk about the mistakes and the players we could have had. Its time to move on and deal with what we have. All the people involved (Melnyk, Dorion, Smith) in the previous errors are all gone. Its just time to let the new leadership flesh out the organization since Melnyk had stripped it bare. It will take time.

So here is a question. Would you rather have a new coach hired now and deal with everything, and probably cause the team to rise in the standings. Or just keep that new coach on the sidelines and let Martin and Alfredsson deal with the structure and the judgement of the players in place. In any business, you have the new mangers come in and make the poopty choices of restructuring and cutting personnel. Then they leave and you bring in the management who will run the new organization. Alfie and Jacques will be doing the player assessments. Staios will do the trading with help from Bowness and Poulin. Then at season end you bring in your coach after a thorough search, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Staios take a bit of a step back and let Bowness be the front man (like in Montreal) with Poulin advising.
- OttawaB

Yes I agree with what your saying. I think there are a few major mistakes that we can learn from.

are nay of OTTs G able to make a save, holy crap soft goals left right and center...

How about a trade between Ottawa and Calgary?

We all know that Calgary will be trading Hanifan and Lindholm at some point.

To Ottawa .... Markstrom and Weeger (yes, Weeger would have to waive his NTC).

To Calgary .... Chabot and Norris

Straight up. Nobody eats salary. Yes, it would put Calgary over the cap right now. They send out 12.5 million and take back 18 million. But once Hanifan and Lindholm are traded, they have room.

Of course, Ottawa's risk here is to get Chychrun to re-sign and Chychrun has the bargaining power now.


Good game by Ottawa vs Colorado so far. That big line from Colorado can sure do some damage. But I feel Stutzle is on the brink of scoring a goal .... he just seems a bit more confident. Would also like to see Greig get his hattrick.

Good night! Sweet dreams. I hope I dream about fishing. No more hockey nightmares needed.