Folks talk about a UFA market where teams will have a lot of choice.

The numbers tell us something very different. Half the teams are hard pressed just to be able to sign their own players.

More important, there are 6 teams that have a combined total of over $200 m. in free cap space. Utah, San Jose, Anaheim, Chicago, Detroit and Nashville. I think it is safe to say that these teams have the cap space and are going to poach all the leading UFAs.

UFA season this year will be very different. Maybe Utah and Chicago sign the top 5 or 6 picks. They are going to make it very expensive, if not impossible, for about 1/2 the teams to even get in on the opening bids.
- spatso

the Roys, Pesce, and Montours are not going to go to rebuilding, bottom teams..

the Roys, Pesce, and Montours are not going to go to rebuilding, bottom teams..
- Mithos

Normally, I would agree with this. But, now. we are in a situation where most of the contenders are squeezed on the cap and struggling to try and keep their rosters together.

On the other hand, teams like Utah and Chicago can pitch players on their ability to offer bigger paydays and the opportunity of improving quickly by chasing multiple signings of UFAs.

Vegas developed the blueprint for accelerated rebuild strategy. This July we might be looking at Vegas 2.0 being played out by multiple teams having the luxury of substantial cap space.

Normally, I would agree with this. But, now. we are in a situation where most of the contenders are squeezed on the cap and struggling to try and keep their rosters together.

On the other hand, teams like Utah and Chicago can pitch players on their ability to offer bigger paydays and the opportunity of improving quickly by chasing multiple signings of UFAs.

Vegas developed the blueprint for accelerated rebuild strategy. This July we might be looking at Vegas 2.0 being played out by multiple teams having the luxury of substantial cap space.
- spatso

OTT has the cap space to land one of them and OTT theoretically is ahead of CHI/SJS

OTT has the cap space to land one of them and OTT theoretically is ahead of CHI/SJS
- Mithos

Sens have upwards of $28m cap space if they can move Chychrun and Korpisalo and if they choose to buy out Norris.

They will need to sign Pinto. So, yes they do have the cap space for a significant signing or trade.

My best cap sensitive deal for the Sens would be Chychrun and Korpisalo to LA for PLD. Or maybe the same offer to Columbus for Laine.

I believe the Sens will do a big deal for top 6 forward. Less confident they can make changes in goal. Top 4 RHD is a tough ask.

Sens have upwards of $28m cap space if they can move Chychrun and Korpisalo and if they choose to buy out Norris.

They will need to sign Pinto. So, yes they do have the cap space for a significant signing or trade.

My best cap sensitive deal for the Sens would be Chychrun and Korpisalo to LA for PLD. Or maybe the same offer to Columbus for Laine.
- spatso

you really need to stop with the whole PLD crap, he bad and there is talk of him being a buyout candidate and no thanks on Laine sheesh enough with the dam head case players....

I agree with the PLD and Laine issues. Neither have the requisite "personality" or leadership abilities that the Sens desire in a player. Both players have been been headcases where ever they have played.

PLD idea is worth talking about (because that's what sites like this are for! I'm not going to rip anyone for just proposing idea) however, the Laine ones are more intriguing because he only has 2 years left and will essentially be playing for his next contract. Say what you want about athletes, all of them have to bring home the $ so he should be incentivized to score.

I think trading Norris + Korpisalo to CBJ would be an excellent decision.

To Ottawa

Patrik Laine
Adam Boqvist

To Columbus

Josh Norris
Jakob Chychrun (8 x 7.25M)
Joonas Korpisalo (1.6M retained by Ottawa)

Thoughts?

PLD idea is worth talking about (because that's what sites like this are for! I'm not going to rip anyone for just proposing idea) however, the Laine ones are more intriguing because he only has 2 years left and will essentially be playing for his next contract. Say what you want about athletes, all of them have to bring home the $ so he should be incentivized to score.

I think trading Norris + Korpisalo to CBJ would be an excellent decision.

To Ottawa

Patrik Laine
Adam Boqvist

To Columbus

Josh Norris
Jakob Chychrun (8 x 7.25M)
Joonas Korpisalo (1.6M retained by Ottawa)

Thoughts?
- AlfieisKing

Laine has very little value, CBJ might not be able to trade him without retention, and frankly rather have Norris than Laine or PLD both wont help OTT and both would screw with the locker room.

I’m not a fan of the Markstrom push. The cost will be significant and doubled trying to include Korpisalo. At the end of the day, bad goalies that leave Ottawa show improvement right away and good goalies that come to Ottawa decline immediately.

Put the money/trade assets into shoring up the D and hope that the coaching addresses that team defence. That RD is by far the #1 priority to me. I’d be okay with insulating Korpisalo with a strong backup, but selling the farm on another 34 year old goalie just seems like repeating past mistakes.


As for the draft, BPA. Just take the best player, the Sens aren’t overstocked on any prospect position, so just keep it simple.

I agree with the PLD and Laine issues. Neither have the requisite "personality" or leadership abilities that the Sens desire in a player. Both players have been been headcases where ever they have played.
- OttawaB

I agree, people can keep proposing offers and talk about why they want these guys, but Staios has been pretty clear in his desire to bring in guys to help this team mature. They aren’t bringing in guys viewed as difficult.

the reason these names keep being bandied about is because they were both "once" highly touted talented prospects. Ottawa would be buying very low on both. AND both would be very motivated to prove themselves on yet another team. There's even a case that could be made for dumping a goalie that some aren't convinced is the answer. So....we get one of those two big power forwards, on the cheap, maybe move Korpi and pray our scratch n win ticket pays off.

I’m not a fan of the Markstrom push. The cost will be significant and doubled trying to include Korpisalo. At the end of the day, bad goalies that leave Ottawa show improvement right away and good goalies that come to Ottawa decline immediately.

Put the money/trade assets into shoring up the D and hope that the coaching addresses that team defence. That RD is by far the #1 priority to me. I’d be okay with insulating Korpisalo with a strong backup, but selling the farm on another 34 year old goalie just seems like repeating past mistakes.


As for the draft, BPA. Just take the best player, the Sens aren’t overstocked on any prospect position, so just keep it simple.
- CooCooKaChoo

I get Staios didn't make that call, but trying to offload Korpisalo in a deal for a goalie on the back nine who hasn't put up good numbers in two years seems pretty foolish. Fix the defense and run Korpisalo back. Forsberg you could probably offload for a seventh or future considerations. I think Korpisalo will cost a fortune to move.

Button's latest has Sens drafting Zayne Parekh. We all know RHD is a weakness for this team, but Parekh really seems like wrong kind of mould for this team. Button has Tij to Utah at 6.

Button's latest has Sens drafting Zayne Parekh. We all know RHD is a weakness for this team, but Parekh really seems like wrong kind of mould for this team. Button has Tij to Utah at 6.
- Bartacus

1000%

Write on the Senators post not to take this player!! I like him, sure he's a great guy, but man ---- mentally I can see this guy is not going to be a good enough D-man. He is all offense and there's a HUGE difference between junior and NHL. Everyone in the NHL was pretty much superstars where they were. He's not Makar, at best he'll be a Joe Corvo

or Codi "look at me now" Ceci.

Button's latest has Sens drafting Zayne Parekh. We all know RHD is a weakness for this team, but Parekh really seems like wrong kind of mould for this team. Button has Tij to Utah at 6.
- Bartacus

In terms of RHD, I like Carter Yakemchuk - 6'3", 194 pounds - very mobile, solid defender and a heavy hitter. The team needs more guys whose names end in 'chuk - Tkachuk, Ostapchuk...

Button's latest has Sens drafting Zayne Parekh. We all know RHD is a weakness for this team, but Parekh really seems like wrong kind of mould for this team. Button has Tij to Utah at 6.
- Bartacus

I really don't see them taking Parekh... for many of the same reasons. I'd far rather see them draft a guy like Sam D!ckinson at LHD, if only because Chabot might be gone in 4 years, and they need to just keep drafting quality D-men who can actually play defence. Plus, the place to get the kind of RHD that actually fits the bill of what they're looking for is with the 25th overall pick, where they could potentially get one of EJ Emery or Charlie Ehlick. There's even a University of North Dakota cross-over with Emery, which makes for a very obvious choice if he's still on the board.

Any d-men we draft (R or L) will not be NHL ready for at least another year or 2. So whether the d-man is a R or L doesn't really matter. If Richardenson is available at 7th .... I'd be drafting him. Tij Iginla .... no .... he is not his dad. Too much hooplah surrounding him because of his pedigree.

So where to go to get a right d-man ..... hello Philly. Trade them Chychrun, Norris, Joseph, Kastelik (Brannstrom?). Plus maybe another Belleville piece or 2 (Jarventie). In return we get Bonk (R-dman in juniors), Laughton, and Farabee. Farabee is definitely in Tortorella's poop house. Laughton is beyond his best before date on the other side of 30 years old. Bonk will be a top 4 d-man when he hits his prime.

Then you go out and use the 25th pick to track down your top 6 forward. Then you go get a R defenceman in free agency to bridge the gap between when Bonk is ready. Richardenson would be seen as a replacement for Chabot in a few years.

Matthew Tkachuk's Best Cup Years
7-13th seasons

Brady Tkachuk's Best Cup Years
Entering his 7th season

In his 7th year, which was last year, Matthew got traded to FLA - after 4 years in the playoffs. He put up hundred points and made the finals. Brady has never seen the playoffs AND it's a tall order to put up those stats.

We need to have a huge year to keep this guy here

Radio commentary yesterday saying Chicago has an interest in Chychrun.

Chychrun is an interesting case study. He has spent his entire career playing as a #1 at all levels. He comes to Ottawa where they slot him in as a #3 playing behind Sanderson and Chabot. And, people wonder why he did not thrive.

Exactly the same for PLD in LA. Spends his entire career as a top 6 player. Goes to LA and spends the entire year playing 3rd line with a couple of stiffs and produces like a 3rd line player with 16 goals. 16 goals is not bad for a 3rd line player.

Reports out of LA are consistent. He is good in the dressing room, gets along with everyone. He is not a problem. It is just a bad fit.

The Chychrun and Dubois stories are the same story.

the reason these names keep being bandied about is because they were both "once" highly touted talented prospects. Ottawa would be buying very low on both. AND both would be very motivated to prove themselves on yet another team. There's even a case that could be made for dumping a goalie that some aren't convinced is the answer. So....we get one of those two big power forwards, on the cheap, maybe move Korpi and pray our scratch n win ticket pays off.
- Octavarium

I understand the argument for these players, but it really doesn’t seem like Staios wants a project that we hope and pray works out. There was enough of that with Dorian.

If the Sens can get PLD on the cheap I would jump at the opportunity. It's not everyday that you can get a 6'4" 225lbs 25 year old C that's already a proven 30 goal scorer with a good 200' game. Right now it's not like we're loaded with talent at the C position. Our #1 C Stutzle is smallish, timid, unreliable with the puck and physically weak(not too promising for playoffs). Norris has a history of injuries and Pinto has a decent 200' game but doesn't see the ice very well and misses too many grade A scoring chances. Why not PLD if we can get him at the right price.

If the Sens can get PLD on the cheap I would jump at the opportunity. It's not everyday that you can get a 6'4" 225lbs 25 year old C that's already a proven 30 goal scorer with a good 200' game. Right now it's not like we're loaded with talent at the C position. Our #1 C Stutzle is smallish, timid, unreliable with the puck and physically weak(not too promising for playoffs). Norris has a history of injuries and Pinto has a decent 200' game but doesn't see the ice very well and misses too many grade A scoring chances. Why not PLD if we can get him at the right price.
- granpa

no, because he is s basket case, locker room cancer, floater that LAK want to get rid of.

Matthew Tkachuk's Best Cup Years
7-13th seasons

Brady Tkachuk's Best Cup Years
Entering his 7th season

In his 7th year, which was last year, Matthew got traded to FLA - after 4 years in the playoffs. He put up hundred points and made the finals. Brady has never seen the playoffs AND it's a tall order to put up those stats.

We need to have a huge year to keep this guy here
- AlfieisKing

All this talk about Brady walking is frankly nonsense. It's enough that other fanbase goofs (read: Leafs) say this to irk us to deflect from their own toxic contract issues, it's another to fuel it within our own ranks. Brady is not a d0uchey head case like PLD, giving up on the ice because he's a giant idiot man child who didn't get his way. Brady is signed for 3 more years, so let's revisit that conversation in 2028, when it actually matters.