Trevor Shackles: Five Positive Developments This Season Five positive things for the Senators in 2018-19

Good read today.

While I like Brady Tkachuk and he will be a fan favourite, I am not sure his upside is as high as some people would lead you to believe. He has a tooth and nails type of game rather than natural skill. While that is fine if he is going to get dirty goals, I am not sure that’s going to translate into the makings of a star/top line winger. I think he can def slide into a top 6 role with skilled forwards on any given night.

Chabot is great offensively but brutal defensively. While obviously the Karlsson/Chabot comparison is silly, the biggest difference I notice of the two in terms of their play is that Karlsson had the ability to defend and quickly translate a turnover into offense. Chabot’s offense comes from the powerplay and breakouts. If Chabot can work on his defensive side of the game to create fast transitions to offense, he can be in the Norris talk. Without that, he’s just an offensive d-man.

Final comment is that I think the defence is still a mess. Chabot and Brannstrom are fine. Wolanin should be an ok 3-6 guy. These are 3 offensive minded d-men, who are pretty “meh” defensively. The rest of the crop is a crapshoot. Hoping Bernard-Docker becomes a top pairing d-man just shows the grasping for straws. It just doesn’t look as big a mess as the lack of talent at forward due to the ratio of bodies your need in a line up, 6:12.

Next two drafts are extremely important, obviously. Would like to some trades as well, if they are going full rebuild. Guys like Pageau, Ceci, Anderson, etc no longer really have a place on this team.

Yikes. Chabot is most certainly not in the top 31 of dmen in the NHL. Nowhere close.

He scored points in his hot start. then was closer to a 40 point pace from about January on. he faded starting in December. A 20 game hot streak doesn't come close to establishing a player as a top 30 dman.

And he's an abortion defensively. Just like his predecessor, who Sens fans claimned only bled goals with him on the ice because of the team behind him, and Sharks fans are now finding out they'll bleed goals with him on the ice too. Chabot was leading the league in on ice ES goals against by a wide margin until he got injured. It's like deja vu.

Yikes. Chabot is most certainly not in the top 31 of dmen in the NHL. Nowhere close.

He scored points in his hot start. then was closer to a 40 point pace from about January on. he faded starting in December. A 20 game hot streak doesn't come close to establishing a player as a top 30 dman.

And he's an abortion defensively. Just like his predecessor, who Sens fans claimned only bled goals with him on the ice because of the team behind him, and Sharks fans are now finding out they'll bleed goals with him on the ice too. Chabot was leading the league in on ice ES goals against by a wide margin until he got injured. It's like deja vu.
- prock

Chabot is a huge talent who will continue to get better.

Chabot is a huge talent who will continue to get better.
- spatso

He's a talented young dman who will get better.

He is not, as the writer claims, a top 31 dman.

Batherson lmao really??? AHL success rarely translates to the NHL. If he was that good he would have been good enough to play on the WORST NHL team in the league

Batherson lmao really??? AHL success rarely translates to the NHL. If he was that good he would have been good enough to play on the WORST NHL team in the league
- Bubbs613

Bratherson is a good one. I'll be the first to bash all things sens, but i'd take bratherson on the leafs in a second.

Batherson lmao really??? AHL success rarely translates to the NHL. If he was that good he would have been good enough to play on the WORST NHL team in the league
- Bubbs613

Batherson is a middling prospect who has had success in the AHL. Can’t really predict if he will be a legit top 6 NHL forward or not. It was unnerving to see him fall off at the NHL level once he didn’t get time with Duchene when he was called up, but he is quite young. Nothing wrong with believing he will be good and nothing wrong with believing he will flop. He is that kind of prospect.

Btw I'm not trying to bash him, I've just seen it happen with my Wings before.

Btw I'm not trying to bash him, I've just seen it happen with my Wings before.
- Bubbs613

I don’t really find it bashing. The argument used that he can’t make the worst team in the NHL is a little misguided. He is 20 years old (21 later in the month). That’s more a reflection on development rather than his ability to play in the NHL. Not many 20-year old’s are going to play in the NHL and make an impact right away, unless they are going to be a super star. Batherson doesn’t really fall into the superstar group.

He’s a make or break prospect that may turn out and may not. Just like 100s of players before. I can see arguments on both sides in his case.

I am optimistic that Batherson will be a second line player or better. I do believe that it will take more than 2 full seasons before he becomes a 50+ point fixture in the NHL.
Tkachuk will be a 70+ point player within 3 seasons and will be a huge part of the team's success going forward.
Chabot is the real deal. He will continue to improve defensively with time.
If we add another high end right shot Defense prospect, the defense looks like it will be the team strength going forward.

Good blog.

Brady also has more goals than matt. I'm not sure if he*ll equal those numer in two years unless he gets some help though. Will depend on the development of other guys.

I keep debating what's better, a higher first, or a first plus an extra pick if it means said first would be later with karlsson (and duchene, to a similar situation)

Either way, theres a better chance duchene re signs if they beat tampa, which would be pretty sweet although in fairly indifferent to each team.

Today @ 11:30 AM ET
Is Brannstrom hurt? He didn’t play the last few games

Yikes. Chabot is most certainly not in the top 31 of dmen in the NHL. Nowhere close.

He scored points in his hot start. then was closer to a 40 point pace from about January on. he faded starting in December. A 20 game hot streak doesn't come close to establishing a player as a top 30 dman.

And he's an abortion defensively. Just like his predecessor, who Sens fans claimned only bled goals with him on the ice because of the team behind him, and Sharks fans are now finding out they'll bleed goals with him on the ice too. Chabot was leading the league in on ice ES goals against by a wide margin until he got injured. It's like deja vu.
- prock

So are you saying that Karlsson isn't a top-31 defenseman either then?

Batherson lmao really??? AHL success rarely translates to the NHL. If he was that good he would have been good enough to play on the WORST NHL team in the league
- Bubbs613

You clearly weren't following the team, that's ok. He was kept down in Belleville to help with their playoff push. Did you see his comparables over the past 8 seasons? He's in very good company

So are you saying that Karlsson isn't a top-31 defenseman either then?
- Trevor Shackles

Have you watched him lately? All these claims about his issues being due to the team around him being a tiee fire are obviously crap. The sharks are a better team without him.

Have you watched him lately? All these claims about his issues being due to the team around him being a tiee fire are obviously crap. The sharks are a better team without him.
- prock

"The Sharks are better without him" is an all-time take

Shapovalov had a weak match yesterday. Felix was on TSN at 5am this morning against Londero. Kid is going to be a massive star. He played on an outer court this morning but the stands were packed for him. Next up Zherev...it will be on centre court.

"The Sharks are better without him" is an all-time take
- Trevor Shackles

oh? The Sharks goals against skyrocketed with Karlsson in the lineup this year. Quelle surprise. They were a second round team without him, and will bow out in the first this year, due mostly to the fact that he's a trainwreck, and Vegas has taken advantage of him being on the ice every opportunity they get, scoring 11 of their 13 goals with him on the ice.

Vegas is literally going to beat the Sharks by scoring goals when Karlsson steps on the ice.

He was never very good defensively, but at least at times he was passable. But now, he's a nightmare. He's a serious liability. Have you watched any of the games? He's house league level.

oh? The Sharks goals against skyrocketed with Karlsson in the lineup this year. Quelle surprise. They were a second round team without him, and will bow out in the first this year, due mostly to the fact that he's a trainwreck, and Vegas has taken advantage of him being on the ice every opportunity they get, scoring 11 of their 13 goals with him on the ice.

Vegas is literally going to beat the Sharks by scoring goals when Karlsson steps on the ice.

He was never very good defensively, but at least at times he was passable. But now, he's a nightmare. He's a serious liability. Have you watched any of the games? He's house league level.
- prock

In his prime Karlsson dominated when he was on the ice.

However, I think there may be some truth in the observation that his overall game has declined. In particular, he seems to be missing the explosive first step.

You have to wonder if San Jose is prepared to offer a max contract given the questions some have about his overall physical fitness.

In his prime Karlsson dominated when he was on the ice.

However, I think there may be some truth in the observation that his overall game has declined. In particular, he seems to be missing the explosive first step.

You have to wonder if San Jose is prepared to offer a max contract given the questions some have about his overall physical fitness.
- spatso

With Tampa looking done, you gotta wonder about the rumours he wants to sign there. Does them losing effect that?? How much will they offer him and how long? I know hes hurt, but his bff Hedman has looked lost out there too...

With Tampa looking done, you gotta wonder about the rumours he wants to sign there. Does them losing effect that?? How much will they offer him and how long? I know hes hurt, but his bff Hedman has looked lost out there too...
- forbetterorWORSE

I'd say there is almost zero chance Tampa would/can offer him a contract, no matter how he's playing.

they only have about 11 mil of cap space to play with. they need to re-sign Point (which will probably eat 70-75% of that available cap space) and they only have 4 dmen under contract next year.

Unless Karlsson signs a 3 million dollar deal I can't see any way they can afford him.

I'd say there is almost zero chance Tampa would/can offer him a contract, no matter how he's playing.

they only have about 11 mil of cap space to play with. they need to re-sign Point (which will probably eat 70-75% of that available cap space) and they only have 4 dmen under contract next year.

Unless Karlsson signs a 3 million dollar deal I can't see any way they can afford him.
- sensarmy_11

Gonna be interesting on July 1st. I really have no idea where hell end up. Hopefully he stays with the Sharks.

Gonna be interesting on July 1st. I really have no idea where hell end up. Hopefully he stays with the Sharks.
- forbetterorWORSE

wherever he ends up, that team will regret it.

Have you watched him lately? All these claims about his issues being due to the team around him being a tiee fire are obviously crap. The sharks are a better team without him.
- prock

He played a huge role in Ottawa beating Boston in the playoffs in 2016-2017. What he does in San Jose is of no consequence to us now.