Sanderson did play against the other team's best players. He led the team in both total and SH ice time among D-men, and Zub is undeniably the primary defensive RHD. And for whatever issues Chabot had last year, I'm not sure why they're regarded as more problematic than Chychrun's... given that Chabot outperformed him both offensively and defensively by a pretty clear margin when they were in the lineup.

The only thing last year proved is that Chychrun was most effective when Chabot was out of the lineup, and he could play his natural LHD position - which brings into question why he was ever traded for in the first place (i.e. they already had Chabot/Sanderson playing his role). It also underscores why having natural RHD in the top-4D is so important, especially if they're expected to be the defensive conscience of the D-pairing. Despite his age, Jensen should be able to help with that at least, and hopefully keep the game a bit cleaner in front of Ullmark.
- khawk

Chychruns biggest flaws were that he wasn’t physical for his size. He also got beat around the net too often and for some reason he gave the puck away too much (Sanderson however had more giveaways).

I think the whole reason behind trading for chychrun was that he was able to play both sides (which is what we were sold on). Maybe Dorian also felt he’d be Chabot’s long term replacement?

And my one glimmer of hope with this deal…maybe the fact most Sens fans are crapping on this deal is good…because the last few deals we thought were wins for the Sens didn’t workout (debrincat, chychrun).

So dealing in reverse psychology may be a shining light?

Eh, JC trade is tough to rationalize, but if I was to offer something, perhaps its a character trade/tweak as they believe the core is still viable and only needs a few adj. Still tough to rationalize though.

Chychrun's "hockey sense" left a lot to be desired. I still believe he was overvalued by the fan base who became enamoured by Dorion's sell job. Much like Duchesne ..... Chychrun became the guy we had to chase come hell or high water. Don't you find it strange that nobody from the Coyotes really lamented his leaving ? And yet, here in Ottawa, many are are crying about a guy who was -31. Guy was in Zaitsev and Ceci territory but they still love him.

The need for a right handed d-man was glaring. We just happened to have got one of the best ones AVAILABLE TO OTTAWA ... ie ... he didn't have a NTC, he wasn't a free agent looking for a low tax State or a competitive team, and they didn't want to live in Ottawa and suffer through the winter here. Not a lot of veteran, stable d-men out there. This guy may not be flashy but is probably able to do some of what we need him to do. Sure, I wish we could have done better .... like a 2nd round pick with the 3rd rounder. But I just don't think we were going to get much more then a Jensen type d-man.

Plus, look at the bright side. He has only 2 years left on a manageable contract. In 2 years, we will probably see Yakemchuk come on board as the premium righty to replace him. And Eliasson may join him to pound the crap out of forwards entering the zone (dang that is a violent hockey bit of this kids checking ability).


As was stated by several analysts, Staios needed to start to change the mentality of this hockey team to make them tougher, quicker, and harder to play against .... develop a team identity. He started the process with going and getting Ullmark, and then the draft, and now some veterans to help Giroux.

Next up ... some trades for draft picks (Joseph, JBD, Forsberg et al), re-signing Pinto, and maybe another major trade we are not seeing or thinking about yet.

Am I the only one that is waiting for the "other shoe to drop"? Like something else.....a trade or something with Pinto?

Jensen is better than DeMelo. That's a decent trade. We're losing Chychs offense, but I'd rather have stability on D then the chaos Chych can bring.

Perron is a signing I don't understand at all.

Amadio and Gregor are just plugging holes.

How happy I am - 0-10

Linus Ullmark trade (9.5) - Absolutely amazing deal. Only way it improves to perfection is if Ottawa didn't return any salary - still, very happy with this trade

Michael Amadio (8) - Absolutely stellar player for Vegas, especially when they won the cup. Whenever you score 5 goals and 10 points in the playoffs, you remind me of guys like JP Pageau, Nick Paul, Chris Kelly.

Jacob Chychrun trade (3.5) - 'Buy low, sell high'. Best practice when exchanging assets. Sens bought Chychrun with 2023 1st (12th overall pick) AND 2024 2nd round pick (49th overall). High price to pay for what many feel is a #2/#3 D-man when healthy. Nick Jensen is a good D-man but he is not the value of Chychrun. I think if Chychrun stays healthy, he will have strong offensive numbers in Washington. Sens should've had a better deal and I would've brought him back or ensured a contract extension was in place - even if that means we eat a small amount of this year. We need long terms assets here since we have missed on too many young players/prospects.

David Perron (7.5) - Old player yes, but cost no roster players or prospects. Also has been to 2 of the past 7 cup finals, with 1 cup ring, contributing big time. Scored almost 50 points last year, that would put him 5th behind Batherson, Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Giroux

Who got the better return Stone or Chychrun?

Seriously. Stop the whining.

Are you kidding me Matt Roy signed for 7 years @$5.750.

Teams only got a $4m bump on the cap for next year. But a few teams have pushed spending right off the charts. Love Stamkos. But does it make any sense to commit to a long term plan that will include a 40 year old player @ $8m.

They are celebrating Stamkos in Nashville. Brisbois is taking lots of heat in Tampa. Brisbois is the smartest GM in hockey and he keeps proving it over and over again. John Tavares will not win you a Cup. But if you overpay him for too long......

2027 is the Sens Cup year. All the kids will be hitting their prime.

Sometimes more is less.

Don't just look at the adds.

Ask yourself, why is Korpisalo gone? Why is Kastelic gone? Why is Chychrun gone? Why is Kelly gone (for now)? Why is Joseph (soon) to be gone? Why is Braanstrom gone?

If the acquisition of Ullmark and the changes on overall team D results in the Sens cutting out 1/2 goal per game next season they will make the playoffs.

It's interesting to hear some of the media reactions to the Chychrun trade, which for the most part are not nearly as negative as the reactions here.

Steve Staios - Media Availability
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hzjmQCLy7M

TSN Free Agency Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMG5LNmDsDo

Coming in Hot Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSqtAePSxTA&t=183s

There seems to be virtually no suggestion that trading Chychrun wasn't the right move, and very little suggestion that Nick Jensen won't be a significant improvement defensively. Staios rather coldly refers to Chychrun as a "good player", but made it clear how lean the RHD market is, and how much he values the return in combination with being disciplined re: the UFA market. Jason York even had Nick Jensen identified by name almost a year ago as a good fit for the Senators. TSN did reference making additional changes to the D-group, but I don't think that's in the cards - unless they mean adding Kleven, which seems like a foregone conclusion at this point.

[quote=Trilla]

I have to admit when I saw the return for Chychrun I thought it was a misprint, that maybe the part about a first rounder had been missed.
Amadio is a sneaky good signing, he will do well.

It seems that Pinto has not asked for a trade.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/ot...requested-trade-1.2143347

A team is built around a concept. Sometimes the concept is hard to explain but you will know it when you see it. Look at Boston or Florida or Tampa or Toronto and you can see how the different concepts (vision) begins to emerge. Often the concept gets shaped around a few of your top players. The Rangers' success, for example, is conditioned by having the best goaltender in hockey playing behind them.

There are multiple parts and roles that need be addressed.

Pierre Dorion had a vision and it appeared most of the trades/signings he made. Lots of folks disagreed with his outlook. Pierre Dorion was not a patient man. He seemed to prioritize offensive play and the need to score more goals.

Steve Staios and his advisors have a vision. It is clearly far more conservative, deliberate and long term.

It strikes me as being somewhat ironic that the folks who were highly critical of Dorion are becoming the first to become highly critical of Staios.

Dorion was an impatient man who tried to hit a home run on every deal. He kept trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Staios seems to be a dull plodder who appears committed to the idea of reducing goals against (think Ullmark) rather than scoring more goals (think DeBrincat and Chychrun).

Those of you who are fans of Buddha know that the pathway towards enlightenment calls on us to choose less rather than more.

Nashville finished the regular season with 99 points. Ottawa had 78 points. My guess is that Ottawa will achieve a better year to year point increase than Nashville.

One thing I liked hearing out of Staios was the consistent talk of potential.

Reminded me of John Wooden and I have to think he probably read his book.

There are multiple sources indicating the Chychrun trade needed to happen for a number of reasons. I am convinced Jacques Martin identified a few "addition by subtraction" players and JC was one of them. Additionally, this management group was never going to sign JC to an extension and he has spent 1/3 of his NHL career injured. Time to move on.

One thing I liked hearing out of Staios was the consistent talk of potential.

Reminded me of John Wooden and I have to think he probably read his book.
- TDBSenatoR

Yes!

Will the moves made this past week help players achieve a better individual result. Will the moves help the team as a whole better attain their full potential?

There are multiple sources indicating the Chychrun trade needed to happen for a number of reasons. I am convinced Jacques Martin identified a few "addition by subtraction" players and JC was one of them. Additionally, this management group was never going to sign JC to an extension and he has spent 1/3 of his NHL career injured. Time to move on.
- HoweHatrick

Had not thought of it. You make a really important point.

Anybody who lived through the Jacques Martin era in Ottawa understood that it was about not allowing goals. People forget how elite Alfedsson and Marion Hossa were as defensive players. We understood how much Jacques Martin loved their play. And, remember how frustrated he got by Jason Spezza's defensive play despite his gifted and incredibly creative offensive play.

Yes or No!

Delete: $14m

#25
Korpisalo
Kastelic
Chychrun
Braanstrom
Kelly
Joseph (probable)

Add: $16.5m

Ullmark
Jensen
Amadio
Perron
Gregor

It's interesting to hear some of the media reactions to the Chychrun trade, which for the most part are not nearly as negative as the reactions here.

- khawk

The media has a vested interest in maintaining a high level of enthusiasm amongst the fanbase. That said, some of the takes here are apoplectic.
The organization has done exactly what it said it would do: improve goaltending, add good veteran leadership in forward ranks with a solid two way game, improve the defense. The team should be meaningfully better next year due to better team defense and much better goaltending.
The Chycrun trade return was less than stellar. I am wondering whether a better offer was available a week ago. But Chycrun had to go and the team is better with Nick Jensen than Chycrun.
The free agent signings appear to be reasonable adds without tying the team to expensive long term signings. Like many here, I had hoped that the team could have added a premium RHD at a slight overpay.

Yes or No!

Delete: $14m

#25
Korpisalo
Kastelic
Chychrun
Braanstrom
Kelly
Joseph (probable)

Add: $16.5m

Ullmark
Jensen
Amadio
Perron
Gregor
- spatso

Yes. But i think joseph is staying. He is speedy and they need that as much as they needed size and veterans. Its too bad this management team wasn't in place 8 years ago. ..oh well onwards and upwards

Yes. But i think joseph is staying. He is speedy and they need that as much as they needed size and veterans. Its too bad this management team wasn't in place 8 years ago. ..oh well onwards and upwards
- spazzbot

So, they need to sign Pinto, and make room for Kleven? That means at least one player had to be moved out, and unfortunately Joseph may make the most sense, as much as I dislike it. At least they wouldn't have to add in this scenario.

[quote=Rang]

The issue with Amadio is it’s a 3yr deal. Bottom 6 players are the most interchangeable and you need as much cap flexibility as possible.

We’re literally trying to give up Joseph for making slightly more..but both offer similar play outside of the hitting.

I don’t dislike the signing, I dislike the term. I get it’s free agency and sometimes you have to overpay in price or term..but you shouldn’t be doing it with your bottom 6.

I’m also still pissed with our return with Chychrun so that could possibly be the reason my negativity is trickling down to the other signees lol

[quote=Trilla]

It looks like with armodio and perron both ight have sign3d here for the extra term.

Sidenote. Just read that wheeler said the second pick thus year is the most undisciplined player he's ever scouted. Should be interesting to watch him develop.

I'm a little calmer about the trade now. I'm still wondering about the lack of other UFA moves. Perron is a little weird, given term and money. And the fact he dirt napped one of our players and got suspended for it. #awkward

So long as Kleven is equal to/little less than Chychrun and Jensen is equal to/little less than Zub, I think its okay.

Still think we need another RHD, since JBD doesn't seem to be the answer. And another forward.

Pinto HAS to sign a bridge deal now. Less than $3.5 for 2 years.

Lines look like this (???):

Forwards:
LW C RW
Tkachuk Stützle Giroux
Norris(?) Pinto Batherson
Perron Greig Amadio
Joseph Gregor MacEwen/BELLEVILLE?

Defensive Pairings
Sanderson - Zub
Chabot – Jensen
Kleven – JBD/Hamonic

Yes or No!

Delete: $14m

#25
Korpisalo
Kastelic
Chychrun
Braanstrom
Kelly
Joseph (probable)

Add: $16.5m

Ullmark
Jensen
Amadio
Perron
Gregor
- spatso

Yes.

I think there is a very good chance that Sens trade Joseph, JBD, Forsberg, and buyout Hamonic ..... because they need the cap space to add Pinto and a few other pieces to the bottom 6 and defence (3rd pairing). I also believe they would move Norris along if it wasn't for the shoulder issue.

Yes.

I think there is a very good chance that Sens trade Joseph, JBD, Forsberg, and buyout Hamonic ..... because they need the cap space to add Pinto and a few other pieces to the bottom 6 and defence (3rd pairing). I also believe they would move Norris along if it wasn't for the shoulder issue.
- OttawaB

Yes to Joseph and JBD, especially before the season starts and especially to sign for other players. Forsberg can be a TDL move (get more then). Hamonic is what he is. I'm okay with him on roster as 7 D or getting bought out...so long as the buy out gets them Pinto signed or another roster player.

Again...first 10 games, and American thanksgiving are the two markers for this team. If they aren't better than last year at those points, then a LOT of players could be moved at TDL.

And, yes...it still looks like they need a player or two. Or they are making some assumptions about some B-Sens players, especially at the forward poisitons.