Hoping that Toronto beats Boston (ugggg). I want that higher Boston draft pick.

In many ways Brady Tkachuk reminds me of a player I like a lot - captain too - Gabriel Landeskog. Obviously a lot tougher, although Landeskog is a warrior.

Other than the one year Patrick Roy came in, the Avs missed the playoffs first 5 of 6 years. 4 years following, the Avs at least made the second round and won a stanley cup.

I think Brady is the perfect captain for the Sens but he needs help. He needs Stutzle, Sanderson and I believe one strong piece (either D-man or center). I would love if the Sens get a top 2 pick, it could change the game. Otherwise Staios needs to make some moves because Chychrun, Chabot, and Norris are pieces that should be making 5-6M, not more than that

To Calgary: Josh Norris, Joonas Korpisalo, 2025 1st (BOS)
To Ottawa: Blake Coleman, Jacob Markstrom

Sign William Carrier 3 years @1.75M
Sign Ryan Carpenter 1 year @0.8M
Sign Jake DeBrusk 7 years @5M
Sign TJ Brodie 3 years @4.5M
Sign Chris Tanev 2 years @4M

2024 - 2025 Ottawa Senators

Head Coach: Gerard Gallant
A. Coach: Mike Kelly (Veteran - Chabot + Joseph first coach)
A. Coach: Ryan Craig (won cup in 2023 - next head?)
*All 3 coaches took VGK to cup finals in first year - 2018*

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Blake Coleman
Jake DeBrusk - Shane Pinto - Drake Batherson
Mathieu Joseph - Ridly Grieg - Claude Giroux
William Carrier - Ryan Carpenter - Parker Kelly

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - TJ Brodie
Tyler Kleven - Chris Tanev

Jacob Markstrom
Anton Forsberg

*Carrier & Carpenter both went cup finals with coaches in 2018. Carrier won cup in 2023. Carrier I would sign 100%

To Calgary: Josh Norris, Joonas Korpisalo, 2025 1st (BOS)
To Ottawa: Blake Coleman, Jacob Markstrom

Sign William Carrier 3 years @1.75M
Sign Ryan Carpenter 1 year @0.8M
Sign Jake DeBrusk 7 years @5M
Sign TJ Brodie 3 years @4.5M
Sign Chris Tanev 2 years @4M

2024 - 2025 Ottawa Senators

Head Coach: Gerard Gallant
A. Coach: Mike Kelly (Veteran - Chabot + Joseph first coach)
A. Coach: Ryan Craig (won cup in 2023 - next head?)
*All 3 coaches took VGK to cup finals in first year - 2018*

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Blake Coleman
Jake DeBrusk - Shane Pinto - Drake Batherson
Mathieu Joseph - Ridly Grieg - Claude Giroux
William Carrier - Ryan Carpenter - Parker Kelly

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - TJ Brodie
Tyler Kleven - Chris Tanev

Jacob Markstrom
Anton Forsberg

*Carrier & Carpenter both went cup finals with coaches in 2018. Carrier won cup in 2023. Carrier I would sign 100%
- AlfieisKing

I'd do it but don't know if Calgary would.

And I'd do the signings other than Brodie and Carrier.

You have to figure one D (6/7 guy) and one W (Belleville) would step up internally.

I would hope they spend the offseason money on a long term top pairing RD solution.

Matthews looks like he's still stuck on 69, instead of being playoff-ready. Maybe the Leafs will actually show up on time for Game 2.

I'd do it but don't know if Calgary would.

And I'd do the signings other than Brodie and Carrier.

You have to figure one D (6/7 guy) and one W (Belleville) would step up internally.

I would hope they spend the offseason money on a long term top pairing RD solution.
- GrimmdaGoalie

I'm so glad I put DeBrusk in there before his 2 goals in game 1

DeBrusk just strikes me as a player that will show up in the playoffs! He played in the 2019 finals.

Yeah originally I was going to add Demelo, Tanev. Walker or Roy will be solid additions as well. I don't see Pesce or Skecji here but that would be an amazing pair to sign. Don't see Hurricanes letting them walk, or them leaving.

William Carrier - he looks like a SOLID 4th liner. Veteran. Cup ring. Plays really well and chipped in both cup runs (he's been to the finals twice in the past 6 years). He has 74 playoff games under his belt and he's not even 30. Bidy body, smart, can play defensively

To Calgary: Josh Norris, Joonas Korpisalo, 2025 1st (BOS)
To Ottawa: Blake Coleman, Jacob Markstrom

Sign William Carrier 3 years @1.75M
Sign Ryan Carpenter 1 year @0.8M
Sign Jake DeBrusk 7 years @5M
Sign TJ Brodie 3 years @4.5M
Sign Chris Tanev 2 years @4M

2024 - 2025 Ottawa Senators

Head Coach: Gerard Gallant
A. Coach: Mike Kelly (Veteran - Chabot + Joseph first coach)
A. Coach: Ryan Craig (won cup in 2023 - next head?)
*All 3 coaches took VGK to cup finals in first year - 2018*

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Blake Coleman
Jake DeBrusk - Shane Pinto - Drake Batherson
Mathieu Joseph - Ridly Grieg - Claude Giroux
William Carrier - Ryan Carpenter - Parker Kelly

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - TJ Brodie
Tyler Kleven - Chris Tanev

Jacob Markstrom
Anton Forsberg

*Carrier & Carpenter both went cup finals with coaches in 2018. Carrier won cup in 2023. Carrier I would sign 100%
- AlfieisKing

All the moves are good moves. But, maybe it is too many moves.

You are adding 7 new players into your starting line up plus a complete makeover behind the bench. It is a lot of change. Excessive change can sometimes produce a spectacular result. More often, it just leads to more change for the sake of change.

I hope the Sens hold to 3 significant roster changes.

I like Markstrom. Also, one of the Boston goalies will get a lot of off season attention.

I hope we add a veteran physical Dman in addition to giving Kleven and Guenette a chance to move up.

Brady Tkachuk may already be the best young power forward in the NHL. Sens would be a formidable challenge if they could add someone like a DeBrusk on their second line. It is not a popular opinion but I would also keep close to what the LA Kings might ask for Pierre Luc Dubois (if they decide to trade him).

Veteran teams win Stanley Cups. Teams that play a heavy game go deep in playoffs. Skill teams (eg., Leafs) often hit a wall when the game goes heavy in the palayoffs.

To Calgary: Josh Norris, Joonas Korpisalo, 2025 1st (BOS)
To Ottawa: Blake Coleman, Jacob Markstrom

Sign William Carrier 3 years @1.75M
Sign Ryan Carpenter 1 year @0.8M
Sign Jake DeBrusk 7 years @5M
Sign TJ Brodie 3 years @4.5M
Sign Chris Tanev 2 years @4M

2024 - 2025 Ottawa Senators

Head Coach: Gerard Gallant
A. Coach: Mike Kelly (Veteran - Chabot + Joseph first coach)
A. Coach: Ryan Craig (won cup in 2023 - next head?)
*All 3 coaches took VGK to cup finals in first year - 2018*

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Blake Coleman
Jake DeBrusk - Shane Pinto - Drake Batherson
Mathieu Joseph - Ridly Grieg - Claude Giroux
William Carrier - Ryan Carpenter - Parker Kelly

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - TJ Brodie
Tyler Kleven - Chris Tanev

Jacob Markstrom
Anton Forsberg

*Carrier & Carpenter both went cup finals with coaches in 2018. Carrier won cup in 2023. Carrier I would sign 100%
- AlfieisKing

easy pass on Marsktrom, he is 34YO, he has maybe 2-3 years left if lucky at being anything good.

pass on coleman, career year ya no thanks CGY will ask for the moon.

no way on brodie, enough TOR sloppy seconds ffs

To Calgary: Josh Norris, Joonas Korpisalo, 2025 1st (BOS)
To Ottawa: Blake Coleman, Jacob Markstrom

Sign William Carrier 3 years @1.75M
Sign Ryan Carpenter 1 year @0.8M
Sign Jake DeBrusk 7 years @5M
Sign TJ Brodie 3 years @4.5M
Sign Chris Tanev 2 years @4M

2024 - 2025 Ottawa Senators

Head Coach: Gerard Gallant
A. Coach: Mike Kelly (Veteran - Chabot + Joseph first coach)
A. Coach: Ryan Craig (won cup in 2023 - next head?)
*All 3 coaches took VGK to cup finals in first year - 2018*

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Blake Coleman
Jake DeBrusk - Shane Pinto - Drake Batherson
Mathieu Joseph - Ridly Grieg - Claude Giroux
William Carrier - Ryan Carpenter - Parker Kelly

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - TJ Brodie
Tyler Kleven - Chris Tanev

Jacob Markstrom
Anton Forsberg

*Carrier & Carpenter both went cup finals with coaches in 2018. Carrier won cup in 2023. Carrier I would sign 100%
- AlfieisKing

To Calgary Shane Pinto, Ott 2024 1st, Bos 2024, 1st
To Ottawa Rasmus Anderson, Jacob Markstrom, Cal 2024 2nd

What a game! Winnipeg 7 vs Colorado 6.

I tried watching a bit of Vancouver vs Nashville afterwards but had little left in my emotional tank for fan enthusiasm.

The Leaf/Bruins on Saturday night was boring. Bruins took the Leafs apart piece by piece. Have to believe Leafs can do better.

Rangers looked really good. Patrick Roy got a good game out of the Islanders. But, Carolina toughed through and won. Carolina will be a really hard out in any match up.

Florida/Tampa was just as good as Winnipeg/Colorado but with goaltending.

Overall a good start to playoffs. But, shame on NHL for scheduling the Leafs as the only game on Saturday night. More scheduling like that will turn us all into NBA fans.

To Calgary Shane Pinto, Ott 2024 1st, Bos 2024, 1st
To Ottawa Rasmus Anderson, Jacob Markstrom, Cal 2024 2nd
- DEDDIE

7th/8th overall pick? That's what you through in there too

easy pass on Marsktrom, he is 34YO, he has maybe 2-3 years left if lucky at being anything good.

pass on coleman, career year ya no thanks CGY will ask for the moon.

no way on brodie, enough TOR sloppy seconds ffs
- Mithos

Hmm... who would you bring in / what moves would you make?

To Calgary Shane Pinto, Ott 2024 1st, Bos 2024, 1st
To Ottawa Rasmus Anderson, Jacob Markstrom, Cal 2024 2nd
- DEDDIE

1) NO trade for a goalie making more than $4M will not include Korps
2) NO trade will include Ottawa's top pick
3) Pinto is an excellent piece flames want but here's a fair trade

To Calgary: Jakob Chychrun (8 x 6.5), Joonas Korpisalo, BOS 1st
To Ottawa: Rasmus Andersson, Jacob Markstrom

7th/8th overall pick? That's what you through in there too
- AlfieisKing

Actually I came in to say something similar to this.

Essentially your trade to Calgary was Norris.....may never play again, and if he does he's one hit away from being an 8million dollar albatros. And don't tell me about insurrance and buy outs. He's still on the books somehow. THEN you added Korpisalo who, I think will be better, but right now is a 4 year anchor with terrible numbers and unproven ability.

And in return you want Calgary's pretty good starting goalie + + + ?

IF Staois doesn't think Korpi is the guy.......(I think he is but I dont' count)

Then you have to pay to get rid of him. Not expect some other team to think he has value and they can remake him in their system. So why would Calgary, who value Markstrom as a legit starting goalie who's proven......take on our guy who want to get rid of for free. OHhhh you attached Turris 2.0 ???

Everyone values their people higher than others do.

Stick with Korpi.
Sign DeMelo, maybe one more D. Coach is the X factor. HAS to be a good one. PLayers have to buy in.

IF Staois doesn't think Korpi is the guy.......(I think he is but I dont' count)

Then you have to pay to get rid of him. Not expect some other team to think he has value and they can remake him in their system. So why would Calgary, who value Markstrom as a legit starting goalie who's proven......take on our guy who want to get rid of for free. OHhhh you attached Turris 2.0 ???

Everyone values their people higher than others do.

Stick with Korpi.
Sign DeMelo, maybe one more D. Coach is the X factor. HAS to be a good one. PLayers have to buy in.
- Octavarium

You think a goaltender that is a career 901 save percentage at 29/30 tears old is the guy?

We're stuck with him but he might have to be an overpaid backup at this point because it would be likely too expensive to offload him but no way in hell is korpi our number 1 if we want to get into the playoffs let alone winning anything when we get there.

To be fair to him IF the Sens were to get into the playoffs he seems like a guy who can just turn it on all of a sudden but you need to get there.

You think a goaltender that is a career 901 save percentage at 29/30 tears old is the guy?

We're stuck with him but he might have to be an overpaid backup at this point because it would be likely too expensive to offload him but no way in hell is korpi our number 1 if we want to get into the playoffs let alone winning anything when we get there.

To be fair to him IF the Sens were to get into the playoffs he seems like a guy who can just turn it on all of a sudden but you need to get there.
- TDBSenatoR

I think they are stuck with Korpi until his numbers rise. Too much term and $$$ to trade. Or buyout. You stick with him because you can't really replace him, unless he is part of a bigger deal. You stick with him because you hope a better RD setup, better defensive structure, better coaching all improves him next year.

So then....we get rid of Forsi......and carry 2 starters....whoever that second is going to be that is traded for

Actually I came in to say something similar to this.

Essentially your trade to Calgary was Norris.....may never play again, and if he does he's one hit away from being an 8million dollar albatros. And don't tell me about insurrance and buy outs. He's still on the books somehow. THEN you added Korpisalo who, I think will be better, but right now is a 4 year anchor with terrible numbers and unproven ability.

And in return you want Calgary's pretty good starting goalie + + + ?
- Octavarium

Bang on with Norris and thats why he was in the original proposal.

1) NO trade for a goalie making more than $4M will not include Korps
2) NO trade will include Ottawa's top pick
3) Pinto is an excellent piece flames want but here's a fair trade

To Calgary: Jakob Chychrun (8 x 6.5), Joonas Korpisalo, BOS 1st
To Ottawa: Rasmus Andersson, Jacob Markstrom
- AlfieisKing

So a late 1st, a pending UFA with injury history and 4 years of a 1B goalie at best on a bad contract for 2 years of Ras and Marky on good contracts?
I would do Marky and our 2024 2nd for Chychrun.

1) NO trade for a goalie making more than $4M will not include Korps
2) NO trade will include Ottawa's top pick
3) Pinto is an excellent piece flames want but here's a fair trade

To Calgary: Jakob Chychrun (8 x 6.5), Joonas Korpisalo, BOS 1st
To Ottawa: Rasmus Andersson, Jacob Markstrom
- AlfieisKing

I am as much a Sens homer as any, and I can affirm that is nowhere *near* a fair trade. Asking anybody to eat a 4*4 Korpi contract after this year's numbers will cost a lot more than a very low 1st. Flip that Boston 1st for Ottawa's 1st and *maybe* it could work, but I still think it's too low from Ottawa. Anderson is by *far* the best player in this deal and he is on a significantly better and 2 years longer Goldilocks contract compared to Chychrun. To be clear, I'm not advocating we make this trade, let alone trade that OTT 1st at all, but let's try to make suggestions that are grounded in some degree of reality here.

What a game! Winnipeg 7 vs Colorado 6.

I tried watching a bit of Vancouver vs Nashville afterwards but had little left in my emotional tank for fan enthusiasm.

The Leaf/Bruins on Saturday night was boring. Bruins took the Leafs apart piece by piece. Have to believe Leafs can do better.

Rangers looked really good. Patrick Roy got a good game out of the Islanders. But, Carolina toughed through and won. Carolina will be a really hard out in any match up.

Florida/Tampa was just as good as Winnipeg/Colorado but with goaltending.

Overall a good start to playoffs. But, shame on NHL for scheduling the Leafs as the only game on Saturday night. More scheduling like that will turn us all into NBA fans.
- spatso

Game 1 between the Jets/Avalanche is going to hard to beat in terms of pure entertainment value. It was just fast, relentless, high-scoring hockey with all kinds of back-and-forth momentum, and no shortage of physical edge (>100 hits). I could honestly watch those two teams go at it all day long, especially in front of the white-out crowd in Winnipeg. There's no way they'll be able to sustain that manic pace in Game 2, but even a fraction of that energy would be great viewing.

I was looking at some Avalanche-based podcasts and discussion boards, and found it interesting that there seems to be a prevalent concern about Georgiev despite him leading the NHL in wins, with some fans almost guaranteeing that he'll be moved in the off-season. Now many of their criticisms sounded awfully familiar to those often made about Korpisalo, but I just thought it was interesting because the last time OTT traded with COL for a struggling goaltender they wound up with Craig Anderson. Of course COL would likely be targeting someone like Markstrom, Saros, or Ullmark, but OTT could be a 3rd team in such a trade if those teams weren't looking to take back a $3.5M goaltender in return.

So then....we get rid of Forsi......and carry 2 starters....whoever that second is going to be that is traded for
- Octavarium

Sad reality is that much like Korpi, we probably have to attach a sweetener to get rid of Forsberg's contract. 2.75M is 1B tandem salary value, not unreliable backup value. Dorion had a knack for handing out inflated multi-year contracts to replacement-level goalies, all after they went on the singular outlier miracle runs of their careers (Hammond, Condon, Forsberg, you can even argue Korpi). All of these signings were SMH inducing, immediately look bad on paper deals. So you either pin Forsberg as an innocuous add to a larger deal, or you look to flip a late pick with him somewhere that isn't expecting to compete next year, like San Jose. We should probably just run them both back and hope for better, or alternatively buy out Forsberg's last year.

Sad reality is that much like Korpi, we probably have to attach a sweetener to get rid of Forsberg's contract. 2.75M is 1B tandem salary value, not unreliable backup value. Dorion had a knack for handing out inflated multi-year contracts to replacement-level goalies, all after they went on the singular outlier miracle runs of their careers (Hammond, Condon, Forsberg, you can even argue Korpi). All of these signings were SMH inducing, immediately look bad on paper deals. So you either pin Forsberg as an innocuous add to a larger deal, or you look to flip a late pick with him somewhere that isn't expecting to compete next year, like San Jose. We should probably just run them both back and hope for better, or alternatively buy out Forsberg's last year.
- Bartacus

Think they move out Forsberg if they can. Hopefully for a better goalie option or a cheaper one with the same metrics (to free up cap space). If not, you hold on to him to get better numbers and try to trade him to a team desperate for a goalie due to injuries next year.

Or you include him in some deal. Like Chychrun and Forsberg for Ullmark. Or Chychrun and Forsberg
+ to LA for a RD. Or Chychrun and Forsberg to Calgary for Markstrom or Weeger.

BTW - I think Calgary are idiots on how they handled their goaltending situation this year. And I'm not as impressed with Dustin Wolf as some others are. but I also think that Philadelphia with the right goalie this year is in the playoffs.

Offseason is going to be fun.

So here's an interesting stat - based on average age of team, not a single one of the 10 youngest teams in the league in 2023-2024 made the playoffs. The 11th youngest team, the Canucks, are the first playoff team on the list.

At the other end, three of the ten oldest teams did not make the playoffs - MIN, SEA, and the oldest team on the list - PIT (only team to average over 30 yo). The year prior (2022-2023), only one of the 10 youngest in the LA Kings made the show. For all the lamenting of older players, the data suggests there is indeed stock to the argument that veteran experience helps win games. Not saying we should sign Joe Thornton and Jaromir Jagr, but some low value seasoned adds for our anemic bottom 6 would not be the worst idea - Pavelski, Patches, Perry, Okposo, Maroon types on a one year.