Something admirable about a team with nothing to gain by winning, trying their best against a superior opponent, and doing well in spite of the odds.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Something more admirable about a team that many people didn't expect to be competing for a playoff spot and are 1 point back. Even if they miss, their young players (Raymond, Seider, Rasmussen, Veleno, Edvinsson) all get great experience. I would switch spots with the Red Wings - even if it meant Brady and Stutzle miss the playoffs to a team like PIT. I'm sorry, I know what you are saying but winning games when it ACTUALLY matters is what develops regular players into real players

Something more admirable about a team that many people didn't expect to be competing for a playoff spot and are 1 point back. Even if they miss, their young players (Raymond, Seider, Rasmussen, Veleno, Edvinsson) all get great experience. I would switch spots with the Red Wings - even if it meant Brady and Stutzle miss the playoffs to a team like PIT. I'm sorry, I know what you are saying but winning games when it ACTUALLY matters is what develops regular players into real players
- AlfieisKing

You are falling into the trap of making the playoffs your gold standard.

Potential of winning a Stanley Cup should be our objective measure on progress.

I would argue that multiple teams including New Jersey, Ottawa, Anaheim and Chicago are ahead of the Red Wings.

Clearly the Sens have regressed this year under Staios and Martin.

But, change is complex. And, all change involves a dislocation cost.

New ownership, new management, new coach within the first few months of this new regime.

I believe the Sens will come back strong next year. But they need to be careful not to impose too many changes. A goaltender. A stud, physical Dman. A power forward to take some of the focus off Brady. That is enough.

Well. It was a win.

The radio people were going about how it has to be Chabbot or Chychrun. I dont see why. And they were leaning on moving Chychrun why? Because his contract would be easier?

Well. It was a win.

The radio people were going about how it has to be Chabbot or Chychrun. I dont see why. And they were leaning on moving Chychrun why? Because his contract would be easier?
- Octavarium

Don't trust folks who want to create movement for the sake of movement. Media has a vested interest in promoting change. Gives them something to report...talking, noise.

Sanderson has turned the long term options on defence upside down. I would like to see more of Kleven. But, why would you move Chabot or Chychrun unless you are getting a very good player coming back.

Not long ago Buffalo had nice young roster but failed to consolidate. So, they ended up trading away some of their elite young talent. Vegas and Florida benefitted greatly. Sabres lost 5 more years and are now at 12 years in the rebuild wilderness.

Sens need to be careful. There are talking heads wanting huge changes.

Don't trust folks who want to create movement for the sake of movement. Media has a vested interest in promoting change. Gives them something to report...talking, noise.

Sanderson has turned the long term options on defence upside down. I would like to see more of Kleven. But, why would you move Chabot or Chychrun unless you are getting a very good player coming back.

Not long ago Buffalo had nice young roster but failed to consolidate. So, they ended up trading away some of their elite young talent. Vegas and Florida benefitted greatly. Sabres lost 5 more years and are now at 12 years in the rebuild wilderness.

Sens need to be careful. There are talking heads wanting huge changes.
- spatso

You only get rid of one of them if you have a LD in the system that you feel is ready for regular NHL icetime. I have to assume Kleven is that guy.

And then you only get rid of one of them if you get equal value in return. And especially if you get what you need - minute eating RD.

I feel Chychrun has more value at the trade deadline next year. And he has played better since Martin took over.

Spend your cap space on a right D and then fill in the two open F spots with short term, veteran players. Get the right coach and THEN see what is what.

If their isn't an improvement - and especially a good start - next year, THEN you have to say its the core.

But goaltending solves everything. Forsberg DID play well last night.

Forsberg gave the fire helmet to Korpisalo. That made me laugh because I think Tkachuk yelled out, "Well deserved!"

That means Ottawa will suck for at least 2 games!

I was tossing around this idea, where 2 teams can shake up/change their core pieces. Both teams need the shakeup.

Ottawa trades Tkachuk, Norris, Chychrun, Boston's first round pick. Maybe toss in Jarventie. A lot to give up, but it creates more oxygen in the room for other players to emerge.

St. Louis trades Thomas, Kyrou, Parayko (a right d-man).


Ottawa
Thomas, Stutzle, Batherson
Kyrou, Pinto, ???
Joseph, Greig, Giroux
Kelly, Kastelik, Crookshank/??

Sanderson/Zub
Chabot/Parayko
Klevin/JBD/???

In free agency go get a forward to play on the 2nd line .... with some size and grit.
On defence, go get some depth for backup unless they feel Guenette is capable.

Now all we need to do is replace one of the goalies.


Or , just figure out a Colton Parayko trade with St Louis if he waives his NTC to Ottawa. I would do Parayko for Chychrun straight up.

I feel the goaltending has been playing better of late .... just the "eye test". Is that because of better team defence play? Or are they playing better and making the team defence look better?
I disagree with the comment that the Sens are playing worse under Staios and Martin. The previous regime was a poop show and had .... absolutely had to go, regardless of the timing. The fact that players "felt hurt" or whatever is not relevant. Suck it up, its a business and get to work. But they didn't, and sulked and played poorly under the new regime.
DJ Smith is not head coach material. Maybe assistant coach he can excel at. And Dorion just made too many mistakes that were allowed to pile up. Both men had these jobs in Ottawa because Melnyk was cheap and both accepted lower pay then their colleagues.

I look forward to the offseason and changes coming to the scouting department who are also underperforming. Now the rubber hits the road and we see what players take their offseason training seriously. I look forward to seeing some changes in the makeup of a squad who obviously does not know what it takes to win when it counts. We need guys who will show up on a regular basis and play the way they need to play.

Who is safe ..... Sanderson, Tkachuk, Stutzle, Batherson, Giroux, Pinto, Greig, Chabot, Zub, Klevin, Kelly. Not saying they are all safe, unless a very good trade comes around.

Who is possible trade material ...... Norris, Joseph (he has peaked now, this is what it is), Kastelik, Chychrun, Forsberg, Korpisalo, anyone on Belleville. I'm not saying all should go, but these are the guys who are tradeable with a good hockey trade.

In Belleville, guys like Jarventie and Boucher are hard to value because of injuries this year. Next season is crucial to them. Halliday, Ostapchuk, and Guenette are guys I would definitely keep and develop as I feel they are the only reasonable quality prospects we still have in the system.

"Spend your cap space on a right D and then fill in the two open F spots with short term, veteran players. Get the right coach and THEN see what is what.

If their isn't an improvement - and especially a good start - next year, THEN you have to say its the core."


I agree with all of this.

For anyone that thinks there's not much of a difference between a 7th and 8th pick. In 2018 Quinn Hughes was drafted (7th) just ahead of Adam Boqvist (8th). Boqvist had a career high 5 goals and 24 points last season. Hughes has 91 points so far this season and is +40.

Never believed changing coach would make a difference in the Sens season.

If anything, they appear to have gone backwards since Martin was appointed.

I think there were a bunch of fans who believed that replacing Smith would be a difference maker. But it seldom works that way.

I would not be opposed to the Sens offering Smith another shot at the job. It would be an extremely popular move with the players.

For anyone that thinks there's not much of a difference between a 7th and 8th pick. In 2018 Quinn Hughes was drafted (7th) just ahead of Adam Boqvist (8th). Boqvist had a career high 5 goals and 24 points last season. Hughes has 91 points so far this season and is +40.
- AlfieisKing

Carolina took Haydon Fleury at #7. Leaf took Nylanader at #8. But a year later Arizona took Clayton Keller at #7 and buffalo took Nylander at #8. You win some, you lose some.

"Spend your cap space on a right D and then fill in the two open F spots with short term, veteran players. Get the right coach and THEN see what is what.

If their isn't an improvement - and especially a good start - next year, THEN you have to say its the core."


I agree with all of this.
- Octavarium

This is probably the correct path to take - but it's the safe path... the new front office has been extremely safe, deliberate, arguably too slow/have no idea what they are doing/are terrified to actually take ownership to date. Staios might as well be a wax figurine - nothing he has done, or not done, has been impressive to date. Fully reactive. I wonder if there's any internal or perceived pressure to do something a bit wild this off season after all this heel dragging and unimpressive deadline. The problem with hiring your friends! They don't want to let you down, so the safest move is to do nothing at all and blame it on the last guy.

I would add a competent third string goalie making league min to the 'add' list. Usually there's a Stolarz, Lyon, Jones, Nedelkovic type lurking around, waiting for a contract - Mike Smith or Brian Elliott could've been had for 775*1 on a two way deal at any point of this season, not saying either are saviors but when your goalies repeatedly biff game after game after game, just... try something. Look how the Jones option let the Leafs give Sam a chance to find his game again.

We used to lament how terrible DJ was at experimenting, how he'd never give young players like Lassi any kind of prolonged shot, how he wouldn't try Stutzle at C UNTIL injury forced his hand. When you've lost the season, for crying out loud - cycle more AHL young guys through the show, give them a taste. Try folks on their off wing. Instead they just sat there, obliviously smashing a pile of horse bits into a fine paste. It's like they all played a game where they got hit in the head too much. I sincerely hope this group proves to be proactive rather than reactive - I'd like to see a big move in the off season just to prove this group has the cojones to try something, anything to right this ship.

Until then, stop fricken winning Sens, it's bumming me out.

For anyone that thinks there's not much of a difference between a 7th and 8th pick. In 2018 Quinn Hughes was drafted (7th) just ahead of Adam Boqvist (8th). Boqvist had a career high 5 goals and 24 points last season. Hughes has 91 points so far this season and is +40.
- AlfieisKing

Using that logic is the reason why Ottawa traded up to draft Logan Brown. Drafting is a bit of a crapshoot.

Something more admirable about a team that many people didn't expect to be competing for a playoff spot and are 1 point back. Even if they miss, their young players (Raymond, Seider, Rasmussen, Veleno, Edvinsson) all get great experience. I would switch spots with the Red Wings - even if it meant Brady and Stutzle miss the playoffs to a team like PIT. I'm sorry, I know what you are saying but winning games when it ACTUALLY matters is what develops regular players into real players
- AlfieisKing

Only thing I was trying to get at was the competitive spirit of professional athletes and collective aim of a team to do well. Everyone wants a tank or a higher draft pick. Meanwhile the players are playing their game, playing hard to win and do well, because it is not easy for them stop. Tanking is hard because of the human element.

I was tossing around this idea, where 2 teams can shake up/change their core pieces. Both teams need the shakeup.

Ottawa trades Tkachuk, Norris, Chychrun, Boston's first round pick. Maybe toss in Jarventie. A lot to give up, but it creates more oxygen in the room for other players to emerge.

St. Louis trades Thomas, Kyrou, Parayko (a right d-man).


Ottawa
Thomas, Stutzle, Batherson
Kyrou, Pinto, ???
Joseph, Greig, Giroux
Kelly, Kastelik, Crookshank/??

Sanderson/Zub
Chabot/Parayko
Klevin/JBD/???

In free agency go get a forward to play on the 2nd line .... with some size and grit.
On defence, go get some depth for backup unless they feel Guenette is capable.

Now all we need to do is replace one of the goalies.


Or , just figure out a Colton Parayko trade with St Louis if he waives his NTC to Ottawa. I would do Parayko for Chychrun straight up.
- OttawaB

parayko sucks, his defensive metrics are worst than Chabots, no thanks

Never believed changing coach would make a difference in the Sens season.

If anything, they appear to have gone backwards since Martin was appointed.

I think there were a bunch of fans who believed that replacing Smith would be a difference maker. But it seldom works that way.

I would not be opposed to the Sens offering Smith another shot at the job. It would be an extremely popular move with the players.
- spatso

I don't think they've gone "backwards" ..... I think Martin is a very demanding coach in terms of defensive coverage and working through details. I don't see Martin as a coach that has an IMMEDIATE impact (Bruce Boudreau, Guy Boucher, John Torterlla, etc) but rather has an affect on a team over time.

Only thing I was trying to get at was the competitive spirit of professional athletes and collective aim of a team to do well. Everyone wants a tank or a higher draft pick. Meanwhile the players are playing their game, playing hard to win and do well, because it is not easy for them stop. Tanking is hard because of the human element.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Yeah I see what your saying, it's true

Woohoo! Watching Arizona. Matias Maccelli with the game winner

New Updated Standings (Saturday April 13)

5. Montreal - 73
6. Ottawa - 74
7. Arizona - 75
8. Calgary - 77 (Up 3-0 over ANA, assuming they win)

*I am 100% on this team loosing all remaining games, but ESPECIALLY against the Habs. It would give us such great odds to draft in the top 2 AND pretty much secure a 5th/6th pick. Conversely if we win the final 2 or 3 games (highly unlikely), it may result in a 9th or 10th pick overall.

You are falling into the trap of making the playoffs your gold standard.

Potential of winning a Stanley Cup should be our objective measure on progress.

.
- spatso

To have a chance to win the cup, you first have to make the playoffs. It would be a gold standard, to give the team a shot at it every year and gain valuable experience.
The gold standard in ottawa has been failure. Hence 7 years in, and their still at the bottom of the league

It would not surprise me if this is the year the leafs break through. The past 7 years they made tt in, with dissapointing results .Those chances have brought invaluable experience to their core

Using that logic is the reason why Ottawa traded up to draft Logan Brown. Drafting is a bit of a crapshoot.
- PogBoi

Drafting Logan Brown was the wrong choice.

C'mon you can call the draft a crap shoot later in round 1, not in top 10 and not around top 5. Sure some teams miss on players (Yzerman taking Zadina over Quinn Hughes for example) but most teams will find a great piece at 5th or 6th overall. Also it's better odds for the top 2 picks. Sens need to stop being so short sited or we'll never get anywhere for the next decade too!

Thanks Cole Caufield

Who do you sign to play with Chabot ....

July 1, 2024

A) Dylan DeMelo (31) 21:47 TOI. 30 points. +43

B) T.J. Brodie (34) 21:44 TOI. 25 points. +19

C) Matt Roy (29) 20:58 TOI. 20:58. 24 points. +20

D) Brett Pesce (29.5) 20:17 TOI. 13 points. +10

E) Chris Tanev (34.5) 19:39 TOI. 19 points. +22

F) Sean Walker (30) 19:09 TOI. 28 points. +7

G) Alexandre Carrier (27) 18:50 TOI. 19 points. +6

Max Guenette made the starting lineup out of 2023-24 training camp, he's 6'3" 208lbs, he's a 22 year old RD, right shot, he's always produce 40+ points at every level, looked NHL ready when he was recently called up but on this blog he's irrelevant. But signing a 30+ year old RD on the decline at 5+mil. for 5 years is a priority. ????????????????????????????????????