As far as i can tell.....if the Sens don't offer Kelly anything (which I'm okay with)...going into free agency the sens needs are:

- 2nd line LW (ie Tarasenko 2.0)
- 3rd line LW (until Norris comes back and they figure out what they are doing with Norris and Grieg on that 3rd line)
- a complete 4th line
- RHD

You gotta figure one or two of the 3rd line spots get filled from Belleville. And the 7/8 D positions can be filled by Kleven and Guennette and Hamonic as needed.

And it looks like we have $11.5 million to do all that?

Going to be tight....


And they still gotta sign Pinto...

As far as i can tell.....if the Sens don't offer Kelly anything (which I'm okay with)...going into free agency the sens needs are:

- 2nd line LW (ie Tarasenko 2.0)
- 3rd line LW (until Norris comes back and they figure out what they are doing with Norris and Grieg on that 3rd line)
- a complete 4th line
- RHD

You gotta figure one or two of the 3rd line spots get filled from Belleville. And the 7/8 D positions can be filled by Kleven and Guennette and Hamonic as needed.

And it looks like we have $11.5 million to do all that?

Going to be tight....


And they still gotta sign Pinto...
- GrimmdaGoalie

Yes! A few moves are needed.to add players and stay within the cap.

LA and Ottawa talking. We know they like Chychrun. But, they cannot deliver Roy.

As far as i can tell.....if the Sens don't offer Kelly anything (which I'm okay with)...going into free agency the sens needs are:

- 2nd line LW (ie Tarasenko 2.0)
- 3rd line LW (until Norris comes back and they figure out what they are doing with Norris and Grieg on that 3rd line)
- a complete 4th line
- RHD

You gotta figure one or two of the 3rd line spots get filled from Belleville. And the 7/8 D positions can be filled by Kleven and Guennette and Hamonic as needed.

And it looks like we have $11.5 million to do all that?

Going to be tight....

And they still gotta sign Pinto...
- GrimmdaGoalie

The top-4 RHD is the #1 priority, without question. Best not to fool around too much with Pinto either, because he's now effectively a core forward. Next, I'd say the 3rd line role is actually the most critical vacant forward position, because outside of Greig/Joseph they just don't have anyone ready for that kind of high-end defensive role. Norris should be given the #2LW role whenever he's healthy... and quite frankly if that isn't the plan they should have bought him out. As for the 4th line, I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of Katchouk/Rees were given a look, but they'll need an established #4C to provide structure.

I'm also not convinced they won't keep Kelly around. He's certainly not great, but he did lead the team in SH ice time and SH goals, and registered more hits than anyone on the team not named Tkachuk. He was also one of just 4 forwards to play 80GP last season. Unless he's expecting some kind of major salary increase, it's just a lot of hard, thankless minutes you'll have to replace.

The top-4 RHD is the #1 priority, without question. Best not to fool around too much with Pinto either, because he's now effectively a core forward. Next, I'd say the 3rd line role is actually the most critical vacant forward position, because outside of Greig/Joseph they just don't have anyone ready for that kind of high-end defensive role. Norris should be given the #2LW role whenever he's healthy... and quite frankly if that isn't the plan they should have bought him out. As for the 4th line, I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of Katchouk/Rees were given a look, but they'll need an established #4C to provide structure.

I'm also not convinced they won't keep Kelly around. He's certainly not great, but he did lead the team in SH ice time and SH goals, and registered more hits than anyone on the team not named Tkachuk. He was also one of just 4 forwards to play 80GP last season. Unless he's expecting some kind of major salary increase, it's just a lot of hard, thankless minutes you'll have to replace.
- khawk

You have convinced me that Kelly makes sense unless there is something here that we don't understand (like a big ask from his agent).

Starting with Tampa, there are lots of teams trying to move out players carrying big salaries. There are also teams trying to upgrade their defence.

I think this is the time to stay patient.

Make no mistake, we know multiple teams are going to run out of salary runway very quickly. The other side of this is that players will be shocked by how quickly their options dry up once teams blow their money to sign some of the prime UFAs sitting at the top of the market.

Just like Tarasenko last year, multiple guys looking for a $7m+ payday will need to settle for a lot less.

Sign Pinto long term. Go slow on trading Chrychrun and his very good $4.6m contract. After the dust settles tomorrow on the rush to empty the treasury for the top UFAs, there will be some nice players available at a much better price.

Should the Senators make Brannstrom a qualifying offer or let him go to UFA status? Is it worth signing him and moving him for some kind of a return or do you avoid the risk of not being able to move him if he is not in the Senators plans for the future? It would certainly depend on what the interest is for him but I am curious as to how this scenario pans out. The current management has no attachments to him so that will not be an obstacle.

Should the Senators make Brannstrom a qualifying offer or let him go to UFA status? Is it worth signing him and moving him for some kind of a return or do you avoid the risk of not being able to move him if he is not in the Senators plans for the future? It would certainly depend on what the interest is for him but I am curious as to how this scenario pans out. The current management has no attachments to him so that will not be an obstacle.
- HoweHatrick

Just announced (thankfully) its expected they are going to let him walk, not qualifying him.

Just announced (thankfully) its expected they are going to let him walk, not qualifying him.
- RyeDog13

I agree. Doing nothing is, in fact, a decision to do something.

Letting Braanstrom walk creates both roster and cap space. Maybe Guenette and Kleven moving up.

Wonder if this signals an even larger move on D involving a trade of Chychrun and a larger salary coming back.

Ranger goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s representatives are seeking a contract extension that would be worth 14 percent of the Rangers’ cap hit. That would be $12.9 million annually under an expected cap of $92 million for 2025-26.

lol Rangers dont want to win a cup if they sign him to that

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Steve Staios tried to wheel and deal at the draft but couldn’t find any suitable offers for Jakob Chychrun, Mathieu Joseph, Erik Brannstrom, and Jacob Bernard-Docker in the trade market.

A restricted free agent, Brannstrom could become a UFA if the Senators don’t qualify his rights by 5 pm ET on Sunday. That could happen if he’s unwilling to accept a pay cut. It’ll cost the Senators $2 million to qualify his rights.

Limited salary-cap space could mean the Senators won’t qualify forward Parker Kelly’s rights.

Garrioch expects the Senators could target a defenseman like Brandon Montour or Matt Roy if they hit the open market on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Garrioch indicated the Senators only have $11.5 million available. They won’t win a bidding war for Montour. They could have better luck with Roy but that depends on what the market looks like for defensemen after Montour, Brady Skjei, and Brett Pesce are snapped up.

I get a little tired of hearing the Sens only have 11.5 million in cap space. In actuality we would have around $16 million in cap space because I make the distinction in the fact that Chychrun will not be part of the team going forward. We will be trading him at some. So adding a premier top 6 guy, a right d-man for the top 4, and re-signing Pinto can all be done comfortably. You save money by bringing up Kleven for 5th /6th d-man role.
Sanderson/Roy
Chabot/Zub
Kleven/??? not sure Guenette is ready

Hey everyone ... how about Stamkos at $6.5 million for 3-4 years ? Where else can he fit in for that amount.

Stamkos 6.5
Roy 5.0
3 guys 4rth liners $5 million total (Ostapchuk, Crookshank + 1 or 2 UFA's)


Is Norris going to start year on LTIR ? When will he be ready to play?

Trade Chychrun
Trade Joseph
Buyout Hamonic in 2nd buyout window

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Steve Staios tried to wheel and deal at the draft but couldn’t find any suitable offers for Jakob Chychrun, Mathieu Joseph, Erik Brannstrom, and Jacob Bernard-Docker in the trade market.

- Mithos

The team is doing a full reset on the non-core players and have no ties to any of the current players.
Staios and friends did well on the Ullmark acquisition/Korpisalo contract unload. It is refreshing to see patience instead of forced deals.
Brannstrom is a useful depth defenceman at $1M to $1.4M but not at $2M a season - thus no trade partner. Bernard-Docker does not inspire confidence and Max Guennette looks much more NHL ready. Mathieu Joseph is a useful NHLer but seems to disappear when the games get rough and has professional standards issues that saw him benched for a game - time to move on. As for Chycrun, he is not the RHD option he was supposed to be - so it is a Chabot v. Chycrun choice for the organization in the near term.

The team is doing a full reset on the non-core players and have no ties to any of the current players.
Staios and friends did well on the Ullmark acquisition/Korpisalo contract unload. It is refreshing to see patience instead of forced deals.
Brannstrom is a useful depth defenceman at $1M to $1.4M but not at $2M a season - thus no trade partner. Bernard-Docker does not inspire confidence and Max Guennette looks much more NHL ready. Mathieu Joseph is a useful NHLer but seems to disappear when the games get rough and has professional standards issues that saw him benched for a game - time to move on. As for Chycrun, he is not the RHD option he was supposed to be - so it is a Chabot v. Chycrun choice for the organization in the near term.
- SensFan25

This is good analysis of situation. Especially the need for patience.

Tomorrow, asking prices will be very high. There should be some very good players available when the market evens out over the next couple of weeks.

Sergachev is not going to be the last big salary to be moved this summer. Remember how Florida did not hesitate to move Huberdeau two summers ago. Well this year there are rumblings Florida will need to move Ekblad (RHD) in order to sign their own UFA and RFA players. Rangers are looking for a buyer for Trouba (RHD) and reports indicate they are willing to eat 30% of the 2 years remaining on his contract . And, Calgary is sniffing around looking for a buyer for Weeger. NJ already moved Marino (RHD) to Utah. Tampa is passing on Stamkos. This is not the time to rush into quick deals. Prices will come way down before they drop the puck on next season.

Domi signed with Toronto for more than $1m less than he thought he would get. Prices are coming down. Just wait.

Just announced (thankfully) its expected they are going to let him walk, not qualifying him.
- RyeDog13

No doubt it will be the proudest day of Steve Staios' career as GM.

This is good analysis of situation. Especially the need for patience.

Tomorrow, asking prices will be very high. There should be some very good players available when the market evens out over the next couple of weeks.

Sergachev is not going to be the last big salary to be moved this summer. Remember how Florida did not hesitate to move Huberdeau two summers ago. Well this year there are rumblings Florida will need to move Ekblad (RHD) in order to sign their own UFA and RFA players. Rangers are looking for a buyer for Trouba (RHD) and reports indicate they are willing to eat 30% of the 2 years remaining on his contract . And, Calgary is sniffing around looking for a buyer for Weeger. NJ already moved Marino (RHD) to Utah. Tampa is passing on Stamkos. This is not the time to rush into quick deals. Prices will come way down before they drop the puck on next season.

Domi signed with Toronto for more than $1m less than he thought he would get. Prices are coming down. Just wait.
- spatso

Trouba was obviously struggling with the NYR later in the season, but let's not forget that was a President's Trophy winning team, with Adam Fox as a RHD and a young stud like Braden Schneider coming up through the ranks. Trouba may not be worth $8.0M, but at $5.5M with such a limited term gives the team all kinds of benefit without the risk of having to give up 5/6 years of term to one of the bigger-name UFA options. The toughness and leadership qualities in Trouba alone are worth the trade, especially in terms of mentorship potential for Sanderson/Kleven. Plus, his supposed terrible season included leading the NYR with 191 hits by a D-man, and he led the 3rd best PK in the NHL with 183 blocked shots and 2:51 of SH ice time.

I don't know... just feels like a very mutually beneficial solution, where Trouba could be playing a more appreciated veteran role.

Nils Lundkvist did not get a qualifying offer - high upside, low risk. I would jump on that.

I also look at Sam Steel

Trouba was obviously struggling with the NYR later in the season, but let's not forget that was a President's Trophy winning team, with Adam Fox as a RHD and a young stud like Braden Schneider coming up through the ranks. Trouba may not be worth $8.0M, but at $5.5M with such a limited term gives the team all kinds of benefit without the risk of having to give up 5/6 years of term to one of the bigger-name UFA options. The toughness and leadership qualities in Trouba alone are worth the trade, especially in terms of mentorship potential for Sanderson/Kleven. Plus, his supposed terrible season included leading the NYR with 191 hits by a D-man, and he led the 3rd best PK in the NHL with 183 blocked shots and 2:51 of SH ice time.

I don't know... just feels like a very mutually beneficial solution, where Trouba could be playing a more appreciated veteran role.
- khawk

I doubt that Trouba wants to move to another Canadian team.

sens fans better prepare for a hole lot of disappointment today

Earlier this morning, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reported that forward Shane Pinto may be leaning towards requesting a trade from the Ottawa Senators. Following up on the initial report, Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period confirms Pinto has officially requested a trade from the organization.

The implosion begins.

Staios becoming a worst GM than Dorion

I'm told Chabot's 10 team no trade list is the following....

Montreal, Florida, Tampa, Carolina, Dallas, Vegas, Nashville, LA, SJ, and Anaheim.

Per Shawn Simpson (Twitter)

sens fans better prepare for a hole lot of disappointment today
- Mithos

Always a beacon of positivity.

I get they are going to be patient. I've accepted that about the new ownership. So I'm not worried...yet.

I think there are deal to be had by waiting. And I think there are cost effective trades still to be had. All of which be beneficial to the team, simply by waiting.

But kinda bummed they weren't in on John Marino. And out of all the ufa RHD available only Walker, Roy, and Dumba still available. Assuming Carrier will resign.

It's hard watching EVERY other team in our division already doing something. Except for Buffalo.

I get they are going to be patient. I've accepted that about the new ownership. So I'm not worried...yet.

I think there are deal to be had by waiting. And I think there are cost effective trades still to be had. All of which be beneficial to the team, simply by waiting.

But kinda bummed they weren't in on John Marino. And out of all the ufa RHD available only Walker, Roy, and Dumba still available. Assuming Carrier will resign.

It's hard watching EVERY other team in our division already doing something. Except for Buffalo.
- GrimmdaGoalie

you forgot Pinto asking to be traded. worried now.

Chychrun to caps ? For?