I think Ullmark is a significant upgrade on Korpisalo. His save percentage has been over .915 for 5 seasons. I like the trade overall. Hard not to be a bit pessimistic about the contract situation given the experience with the Debrincat and Chychrun deals, but I am willing to see it play out as I did those deals.

Ullmark will not singlehandedly turn this team into a playoff team, let alone a contender. There are still roster issues to address. I am speculating that the defense will be shaken up and that some quality depth forwards will be added.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

if OTT can land one of Montour, Pesce or Roy and Green is only half as bad as DJ, OTT should push hard for a WC spot or make the playoffs.

i honestly think that if OTT DONT make the playoffs, Brady, chabot and Ullmark are gone next summer, and those are the start

I think Ullmark is a significant upgrade on Korpisalo. His save percentage has been over .915 for 5 seasons. I like the trade overall. Hard not to be a bit pessimistic about the contract situation given the experience with the Debrincat and Chychrun deals, but I am willing to see it play out as I did those deals.

Ullmark will not singlehandedly turn this team into a playoff team, let alone a contender. There are still roster issues to address. I am speculating that the defense will be shaken up and that some quality depth forwards will be added.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Agree that Ullmark wont single handedly turn the team around, but I"m curious to see how the team performs with a goalie they can have confidence in. Those continued back breaking goals can have such an impact on the psyche of a team.

Anticipate another move in the near future.

I don't see how you can qualify this as anything but a comically one-sided win for Staios. To sidle Korpi's albatross salary with a divisional rival and get one of the most statistically consistent goalies of the past decade for a first, Kastelic, and 25% retention is larceny, even without an extension. To cap this deal off, when the Bruins have to waive Bussi because of Sweeney's idiocy, claim him and put Forsberg in the minors. That would be LOL.

For context, we blamed Ottawa's defence for Korpi's crappiness last year, but metrics show that's just not true. Ottawa's expected goals against at even strength were 14th in the league - numbers don't lie - our defence was not nearly as bad as we've made it out to be. Yet despite that we were a bottom 5 teams in goals against. That's all goaltending. Even accounting for quality of shots, Ottawa had the absolute worst goaltending in the league by a decent margin. They were making comments about Korpi needing Lasik for crying out loud. This is a home run, and as it stands, hurts a divisional rival for four years. Really starting to feel optimistic about this off-season.

if OTT can land one of Montour, Pesce or Roy and Green is only half as bad as DJ, OTT should push hard for a WC spot or make the playoffs.

i honestly think that if OTT DONT make the playoffs, Brady, chabot and Ullmark are gone next summer, and those are the start
- Mithos

I think Montour is out. He will be too expensive. I wouldn’t mind either Roy or Pesce. Both would be good fits on the right side.

Sens also have a great opportunity to reshape the bottom 6 forward group. Only 7 forwards signed from last year’s roster, not including Pinto. I also think it’s safe to assume that MacEwan will be gone one way or another. We saw the importance of quality bottom 6 forwards in the playoffs.

I think Montour is out. He will be too expensive. I wouldn’t mind either Roy or Pesce. Both would be good fits on the right side.

Sens also have a great opportunity to reshape the bottom 6 forward group. Only 7 forwards signed from last year’s roster, not including Pinto. I also think it’s safe to assume that MacEwan will be gone one way or another. We saw the importance of quality bottom 6 forwards in the playoffs.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Montour is not going to get more than 7M from any team, well maybe leafs throw 10M at him.

Montour is not going to get more than 7M from any team, well maybe leafs throw 10M at him.
- Mithos

I am not sure about the numbers.

There are 10 teams that have more than $20m available to complete their rosters. Most of the other teams are struggling to resign their existing roster. Multiple teams are looking to do deals to offload players and create cap space.

This year might cause some sticker shock. Teams like Utah, Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim, Seattle as well as a few others can drive prices up and make it very difficult for other teams to connect with the better UFAs that might be available.

In the past, the teams with cap space have used their budget flexibility to help out top spending teams by eating all or a portion of some bad contracts. Not going to happen this year.

Top UFAs will be well paid.

There will be some very good players available at a discount as some teams try to create cap space.

I am not sure about the numbers.

There are 10 teams that have more than $20m available to complete their rosters. Most of the other teams are struggling to resign their existing roster. Multiple teams are looking to do deals to offload players and create cap space.

This year might cause some sticker shock. Teams like Utah, Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim, Seattle as well as a few others can drive prices up and make it very difficult for other teams to connect with the better UFAs that might be available.

In the past, the teams with cap space have used their budget flexibility to help out top spending teams by eating all or a portion of some bad contracts. Not going to happen this year.

Top UFAs will be well paid.

There will be some very good players available at a discount as some teams try to create cap space.
- spatso

Roy and Pesce are not going to go to a rebuilding team like CHI , SJS or ANA, Utah and SEA can make some noise tho, Montour can chose money or go for another cup. OTT has a good chance, having Ullmark now, to land one of them if Staios go after them.

Pesce ... rumours he may be going to New Jersey who has the space.
Montour .... I think Montour , Reinhart, Lundell all find a way to stay in Florida ... no/low tax state.
Roy ??
Tanev ... if he doesn't stay in Dallas, it sounds like Toronto may have the inside track.
All these guys will be starting at at least 5-6 million and up. Good d-men will not come cheap.

But the reality is that top end right D-men will be hard to get as UFA's. Ottawa will not be the first stop.

However, before Ottawa starts jostling for right d-men and forwards, I want to see them sign Pinto first.

Pesce ... rumours he may be going to New Jersey who has the space.
Montour .... I think Montour , Reinhart, Lundell all find a way to stay in Florida ... no/low tax state.
Roy ??
Tanev ... if he doesn't stay in Dallas, it sounds like Toronto may have the inside track.
All these guys will be starting at at least 5-6 million and up. Good d-men will not come cheap.

But the reality is that top end right D-men will be hard to get as UFA's. Ottawa will not be the first stop.

However, before Ottawa starts jostling for right d-men and forwards, I want to see them sign Pinto first.
- OttawaB

NJD has Marino, Nemec and Hamilton on the right side, no room for Pesce. with Hughes to sign next season and Mercer this season, they can trade Marino but then there is Nemec problem.

FLA cannot keep everyone, Reinhart will get 9M, they have Bennet, Ekblad and Carter to sign next year as both will get raises and they got Lundel to sign this year too and have 19M in cap pace, 10 after reinhart signs.

throw 7M at Roy and be done with it.

Per Mendes at the Athletic....

Available RHD UFAS and their projected contracts:

Brandon Montour
30
$6.5 M AAV (3 years)
Matt Roy
29
$6.1 M AAV (5 years)
Brett Pesce
29
$5.5 M AAV (6 years)
Sean Walker
29
$4.9 M AAV (5 years)
Dylan DeMelo
31
$4.9 M AAV (4 years)
Chris Tanev
34
$4.8 M AAV (4 years)
Alexandre Carrier
27
$4.4 M AAV (4 years)
Matt Dumba
29
$3,8 M AAV (3 years)
Justin Schultz
33
$3.1 M AAV (3 years)
Colin MIller
31
$3 M AAV (3 years)
Tyler Myers
34
$2.4 M AAV (1 year)
Tyson Barrie
32
$1.8 M AAV (1 year)
Tony DeAngelo
28
$1.8 M AAV (1 year)
Jani Hakanpaa
32
$1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Ilya Lyubushkin
30
$1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Erik Johnson
36
$1.1 M AAV (1 year)


the number was RIGHT on for DeMelo. So would you be okay with Roy at 6.5 x 6 or 7?

NJD has Marino, Nemec and Hamilton on the right side, no room for Pesce. with Hughes to sign next season and Mercer this season, they can trade Marino but then there is Nemec problem.

FLA cannot keep everyone, Reinhart will get 9M, they have Bennet, Ekblad and Carter to sign next year as both will get raises and they got Lundel to sign this year too and have 19M in cap pace, 10 after reinhart signs.

throw 7M at Roy and be done with it.
- Mithos

I think you are right in your Florida assessment. Players don't walk away from a championship team.

Roy at $7m would push the Sens right to the max.

A few pieces would need moving.

Per Mendes at the Athletic....

the number was RIGHT on for DeMelo. So would you be okay with Roy at 6.5 x 6 or 7?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Personally, I would be open to investing that much - especially since Roy provides a much-needed physical element that's hard to find among the available RHD. Plus, addressing this need via UFA saves the team the asset cost of a major trade, and they can focus some of their trade assets on forwards with more manageable contracts. The blue line is also where you can kind of afford to have a bit of extra money allocated, just because of the inevitable injuries. Having a quality #5D who can step in readily is a good use of cap space, just to reduce the number of games where you're scrambling to keep quality D-pairings on the ice.

So what does Sens cap room look like with some additions and subtractions ......

Let's assume we manage to trade Forsberg and retain 25% of salary ... so $750,000 retained by Ottawa (rougly).
Buyout Hamonic and save $733,000
Trade Chychrun
Trade Brannstrom
Send McKewan to AHL
Trade Joseph
Trade JBD

Re-sign Pinto at $3.5 million
Re-sign Kelly at $1.25 million

Overall that gives us $17-18 million in cap space.

Now go out and start filling up the spots. We would have 12 guys signed to the team.

Tkachuk, Giroux, Stutzle
Norris, Pinto,
Greig, Batherson
Kelly
Need 4 more forwards ..... Crookshank, Jarventie, Ostapchuk ?????? maybe 2 free agents

Sanderson, Zub, Chabot, Klevin, ... need 2 more d-men , free agents ... + Guenette from AHL if ready.

Ullmark, ..... need another goalie ... free agent .... Broissoit, Stolarz, ?????



And none of this takes into account if we end up making another trade with Philly (for example) to fill some spots.

It’s hard not to like this deal for both sides:

The Sens offload a goalie that didn’t workout and could bounce back as a backup for the bruins. At 3m korp could be a bargain (the term is the issue).

Bruins get their 1st back, even though we need to restock the cupboards, we are in playoffs or bust mode..so that pick would likely not help.

Kasty had his moments, but nothing to lose sleep over.

Sens get arguably the best available goalie on the market. Even though it comes with no extension, it’s still a gamble worth taking.

I’m willing to wait and see with Ullmark before signing to an extension regardless. I think it’d be a mistake to extend before seeing how he meshes with the club. Put the pressure on him to perform and reward him if he proves his worth. If he walks..Sens can use the cap to address it next offseason.

So what does Sens cap room look like with some additions and subtractions ......

Let's assume we manage to trade Forsberg and retain 25% of salary ... so $750,000 retained by Ottawa (rougly).
Buyout Hamonic and save $733,000
Trade Chychrun
Trade Brannstrom
Send McKewan to AHL
Trade Joseph
Trade JBD

Re-sign Pinto at $3.5 million
Re-sign Kelly at $1.25 million

Overall that gives us $17-18 million in cap space.

Now go out and start filling up the spots. We would have 12 guys signed to the team.

Tkachuk, Giroux, Stutzle
Norris, Pinto,
Greig, Batherson
Kelly
Need 4 more forwards ..... Crookshank, Jarventie, Ostapchuk ?????? maybe 2 free agents

Sanderson, Zub, Chabot, Klevin, ... need 2 more d-men , free agents ... + Guenette from AHL if ready.

Ullmark, ..... need another goalie ... free agent .... Broissoit, Stolarz, ?????



And none of this takes into account if we end up making another trade with Philly (for example) to fill some spots.
- OttawaB

Curious why you think dealing Forsberg would be a good idea?

Curious why you think dealing Forsberg would be a good idea?
- Trilla

Just getting a fresh start with the goalies .... and Forsberg also has that issue of early goalies scored after a few minutes. So let's just clean house.

If we get Nabokov in the draft, I could also see Sogaard being traded away after this season (as he will be waiver exempt and his game needs to improve to be NHL ready). As it is, I see Mandolese being let go/traded at some point as well. Just no room to give them all time in net. Merilainen is a keeper for now. Develop him more.

Thanks for the blog!

The trade is a win for the Senators, even if Ullmark is not extended. They unloaded $3M x 4 years on a goalie that lets in deflating goals and has a near bottom of the league save percentage. He simply is not a 1A nor 1B. The team gets at least 1 year of the reigning Vezina goaltender who has a 9 year track record of solid seasons. The cost was a 25th overall pick plus an out of favour 4th line center, who has not progressed as hoped by many.

I do expect Ullmark to be extended when the time comes.

The bonus is that getting this trade done now makes the team a more desirable destination for UFAs who want to play on a competitive team.

The next few days will be interesting.

Per Mendes at the Athletic....

Available RHD UFAS and their projected contracts:

Brandon Montour - 30 - $6.5 M AAV (3 years)
Matt Roy- 29 - $6.1 M AAV (5 years)
Brett Pesce- 29 - $5.5 M AAV (6 years)
Sean Walker - 29 - $4.9 M AAV (5 years)
Chris Tanev - 34 - $4.8 M AAV (4 years)
Alexandre Carrier - 27 - $4.4 M AAV (4 years)
Matt Dumba - 29 - $3,8 M AAV (3 years)
Justin Schultz - 33 - $3.1 M AAV (3 years)
Colin Miller - 31 - $3 M AAV (3 years)
Tyler Myers - 34 - $2.4 M AAV (1 year)
Tyson Barrie - 32 - $1.8 M AAV (1 year)
Tony DeAngelo - 28 - $1.8 M AAV (1 year)
Jani Hakanpaa - 32 - $1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Ilya Lyubushkin - 30 - $1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Erik Johnson - 36 - $1.1 M AAV (1 year)

the number was RIGHT on for DeMelo. So would you be okay with Roy at 6.5 x 6 or 7?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Ian Mendes - what is he smoking with some of the contracts? My view of this:

Montour - 7-8Y @6.5-7M is what he's worth - he'll sign 6.? in FLA
Roy - 6-7Y @4.5-5.25M is what he's worth - NO to >5M
Pesce - 5Y @4.5-5M is what he's worth - CAR will low ball @<5M
Tanev - 3Y @4.5-4.75M is what he's worth - too old for 4y
Myers - 4Y @4.5-5M is what he's worth - see him staying out west

My Contracts on the table
Matt Roy - 7 years @4.5M or 5 years @4.75M
Chris Tanev - 3 years @4.5M

Ian Mendes - what is he smoking with some of the contracts? My view of this:

Montour - 7-8Y @6.5-7M is what he's worth - he'll sign 6.? in FLA
Roy - 6-7Y @4.5-5.25M is what he's worth - NO to >5M
Pesce - 5Y @4.5-5M is what he's worth - CAR will low ball @<5M
Tanev - 3Y @4.5-4.75M is what he's worth - too old for 4y
Myers - 4Y @4.5-5M is what he's worth - see him staying out west

My Contracts on the table
Matt Roy - 7 years @4.5M or 5 years @4.75M
Chris Tanev - 3 years @4.5M
- AlfieisKing

11 teams have the cap space today to sign a UFA in the $8m to $10m range. Bidding will be ferocious. Smart teams will do nothing. Need to be patient and wait. There are going to be some really bad contracts awarded next week that folks will begin to regret even before the season starts.

Per Mendes at the Athletic....

Available RHD UFAS and their projected contracts:

Brandon Montour
30
$6.5 M AAV (3 years)
Matt Roy
29
$6.1 M AAV (5 years)
Brett Pesce
29
$5.5 M AAV (6 years)
Chris Tanev
34
$4.8 M AAV (4 years)
Alexandre Carrier
27
$4.4 M AAV (4 years)
Matt Dumba
29
$3,8 M AAV (3 years)
Colin MIller
31
$3 M AAV (3 years)
Jani Hakanpaa
32
$1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Ilya Lyubushkin
30
$1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Erik Johnson
36
$1.1 M AAV (1 year)


the number was RIGHT on for DeMelo. So would you be okay with Roy at 6.5 x 6 or 7?
- GrimmdaGoalie

IMO we should pounce on Hakanpaa at that price tag. Giant, hits, defensive, RD. Wrong side of 30 and a less sexy name, but a good placeholder for an internally drafted RD to develop, especially if the strongest RD UFAs out there find a way to avoid Ottawa. 15th in the league in hits, 68th in blocks despite averaging only 18.5 minutes a game. I'd pay him 2M for 2 or 3 years. Alternatively, I still think fishing around NYR about Trouba with half retained if buyout rumours are true is an idea with merit.

Per Mendes at the Athletic....

Available RHD UFAS and their projected contracts:

Brandon Montour
30
$6.5 M AAV (3 years)
Matt Roy
29
$6.1 M AAV (5 years)
Brett Pesce
29
$5.5 M AAV (6 years)
Sean Walker
29
$4.9 M AAV (5 years)
Dylan DeMelo
31
$4.9 M AAV (4 years)
Chris Tanev
34
$4.8 M AAV (4 years)
Alexandre Carrier
27
$4.4 M AAV (4 years)
Matt Dumba
29
$3,8 M AAV (3 years)
Justin Schultz
33
$3.1 M AAV (3 years)
Colin MIller
31
$3 M AAV (3 years)
Tyler Myers
34
$2.4 M AAV (1 year)
Tyson Barrie
32
$1.8 M AAV (1 year)
Tony DeAngelo
28
$1.8 M AAV (1 year)
Jani Hakanpaa
32
$1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Ilya Lyubushkin
30
$1.5 M AAV (1 year)
Erik Johnson
36
$1.1 M AAV (1 year)


the number was RIGHT on for DeMelo. So would you be okay with Roy at 6.5 x 6 or 7?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Ottawa is not a destination, so getting those top three seems unlikely. Carrier stands out to me, right age, right price, plays the game well.

Nice TSN interview here with Ullmark:
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/vi...w-dangerous-and-g~2947427

Sounds like he's legitimately very positive about the move, especially with the opportunity to be a clear #1G on a team with a bright future. Forsberg seems to be someone he knows well, so you can forget about him being traded or bought out anytime this season. Nice to hear so many other players reached out to him and his wife, as these things can make a big difference long-term - especially if the player has a family.

Nice TSN interview here with Ullmark:
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/vi...w-dangerous-and-g~2947427

Sounds like he's legitimately very positive about the move, especially with the opportunity to be a clear #1G on a team with a bright future. Forsberg seems to be someone he knows well, so you can forget about him being traded or bought out anytime this season. Nice to hear so many other players reached out to him and his wife, as these things can make a big difference long-term - especially if the player has a family.
- khawk

If no buyouts, means Norris coming back 100%?

If no buyouts, means Norris coming back 100%?
- AlfieisKing

Probably. Staios is clear in saying the Sens will not exercise a buy out option this week.

But, it does not preclude trading a player who subsequently bought out by the new team.

But, I doubt Staios would split his meaning around the options. So, we have to assume Norris is staying as is Hamonic.

If no buyouts, means Norris coming back 100%?
- AlfieisKing

Can't buy out an injured player. As of now, Norris would not yet be cleared to play even if there were games to play.

I'm just pissed that they aren't buying out Hamonic. He can't play anymore, and his full NMC prevents him from being sent to Belleville.