Kevin Francis: Filip Gustavsson development this season? New HC and GM scenarios!

BSens play this Wednesday at 3pm. Why not fly Gus back to start that game?

That would be one way to keep McGuire off of national broadcasts!

That would be one way to keep McGuire off of national broadcasts!
- HenryHockey

Fair enough. I don't think he goes back to that again, he wants to be the GM of a team!

What a great post!

I think Gustavsson is our best goalie by far!

Liam Maguire is so energetic and entertaining, he would be a great addition to the Sens front office. Liam would definitely fire up the Senators fan base. One Liam story was about the first time he met Tony Esposito, Tony said it’s great to meet the person who knows more about my career than me! Hilarious!

Pierre McGuire as GM, awesome same with Shawn Simpson a assistant GM and Trevor Timmons as Chief Amateur Scout if the position came available. Chris Phillips too! Daniel Alfredsson quit on us twice, correction on Eugene Melynk twice.

Thanks for this blog!

Playing Forsberg has increased his value at the deadline but I think you're right when you say Gus should be playing in Belleville.

I suspect that Smith likes being a HC and that putting as much of a shine as possible on his resume is the consideration that drives a lot of his decision making.

Personally I would prefer that the team have a better HC because I think Smith is out of his depth and his own self interest will end up hurting the franchise, some players more than others. I don't really care if Brady likes him.

Per Your story today, which was good, You have PM penciled in as new GM. With His recent behavior do You want to re-think this ? Or has He already had His way ?

What a great post!

I think Gustavsson is our best goalie by far!

Liam Maguire is so energetic and entertaining, he would be a great addition to the Sens front office. Liam would definitely fire up the Senators fan base. One Liam story was about the first time he met Tony Esposito, Tony said it’s great to meet the person who knows more about my career than me! Hilarious!

Pierre McGuire as GM, awesome same with Shawn Simpson a assistant GM and Trevor Timmons as Chief Amateur Scout if the position came available. Chris Phillips too! Daniel Alfredsson quit on us twice, correction on Eugene Melynk twice.

Thanks for this blog!
- Barrykerr1

Thanks for the kind words and always stopping by to read the blogs!

Liam as you said, would spark that front office big time! Off the ice is a big issue here, you have an owner that is almost never here but at the same time has destroyed so many relationships off the ice with businesses, etc....

Love the Liam story and I can only imagine the response to Espo's comment lol!

Alfie, like you said it was all Eugene. I'm actually quite surprised nobody in the local media in this town or on TSN1200 has ever talked about the "real" story when Alfie left for Detroit. I can say, I know for a fact, when he entered the final year of his deal, making 1 Million dollars btw, that Eugene promised him a 2 year extension! Eugene went back on his word, offered him a 1 year deal. Then that was the first year that players had that 48 hour window to talk with any team prior to free agency. Eugene thought there wasn't a chance Alfie would leave.....Bryan Murray tried to mend the fences.....but the Wings over him 2 years and he left based on principle! Could you blame him? Anyways, there is so much to the story that materialized over that final season that Alfie played here, but I was told that from someone on the coaching staff during his final season here. Sad it ended that way.

Playing Forsberg has increased his value at the deadline but I think you're right when you say Gus should be playing in Belleville.

I suspect that Smith likes being a HC and that putting as much of a shine as possible on his resume is the consideration that drives a lot of his decision making.

Personally I would prefer that the team have a better HC because I think Smith is out of his depth and his own self interest will end up hurting the franchise, some players more than others. I don't really care if Brady likes him.
- Whatisavailable

Yes it absolutely has, but at some point, what is more important the development of the goalie who is supposed to lead your team for the next 5 years plus or more.....or focus on winning meaningless games when management has said its youth movement time. So what is it? If they want to play Forsberg, fine, but then get Gus down to Belleville to get game action!

As for your comments on DJ, you are 100% correct! Plus, a new coach would care if pissed off Brady or his buddies, he would do what's best for the future of the team!

Per Your story today, which was good, You have PM penciled in as new GM. With His recent behavior do You want to re-think this ? Or has He already had His way ?
- henny1953

Ok, I missed it, what happened? Or is this one of your funny side stories about PM?

What a great post!

I think Gustavsson is our best goalie by far!

Liam Maguire is so energetic and entertaining, he would be a great addition to the Sens front office. Liam would definitely fire up the Senators fan base. One Liam story was about the first time he met Tony Esposito, Tony said it’s great to meet the person who knows more about my career than me! Hilarious!

Pierre McGuire as GM, awesome same with Shawn Simpson a assistant GM and Trevor Timmons as Chief Amateur Scout if the position came available. Chris Phillips too! Daniel Alfredsson quit on us twice, correction on Eugene Melynk twice.

Thanks for this blog!
- Barrykerr1

Liam Maguire actually responded to me on twitter about the blog I wrote. If you're on Twitter you can check out my account to see it. Better yet, Shawm Simspon also liked the tweet and reply from Liam plus liked the blog too! They would be a great combo here in Ottawa in those roles.

This was Liam's reply 2 hours ago on Twitter. Liam rocks!
Hey Kevin, nice job, well written and I appreciate the shoutout. Certainly new ownership whenever that happens will be a game changer. I like your goalie thoughts. I can tell you I tried for several years 91-97 or so to get on the marketing/PR dept. I had some great visions. Smiling face with smiling eyes

Ok, I missed it, what happened? Or is this one of your funny side stories about PM?
- Kevin Francis

No side story about PM is meant to be funny, He has a serious addiction. He needs help, not GM.

No side story about PM is meant to be funny, He has a serious addiction. He needs help, not GM.
- henny1953

I get it. but yes, I've heard stuff over the years, regardless, he would be far better as the GM here than PD!

I get it. but yes, I've heard stuff over the years, regardless, he would be far better as the GM here than PD!
- Kevin Francis

Oh, okay.

So the NHL made the Sens play Sun. Nov. 14th at home to Calgary with 10 players out due to Covid protocol. The Flames won 4-0. But the league postpones the Oilers game on Monday night because the Oilers have 10 players in covid protocol! Hmmm.....I wonder....does the NHL want to make sure EDM makes the playoffs?!

Just saying, as a blogger at this site, that you post blogs with analysis and research that not many do. I hope Sens fans realize they have one of the better bloggers at this site. You put thought into your work. Keep it up.

Asst. General Manager - Shawn Simpson

Ya....he's a reactionary individual. He'd trade Gustafson for magic beans.

I like the rest of your front office and your coaching staff too.

The games aren't being played because of covid. They're being postponed because of money. 100%. They're even saying it.

Josh Brown and Branstrom. Poor kid. Proudest moment eh? That pair will be a -4

Good blog as always, Kevin. I don’t have enough knowledge to breakdown each front office position, but from a fan point of view, I don’t think Pierre McGuire and Luke Richardson are a dream combo for GM and head coach. I think Pierre McGuire is the most realistic option right now for GM (other than Dorion) and Luke Richardson has connections to the city where it would be nice to see him in the head coaching role. Are these dream guys for the roles though? I don’t know.

The Senators have always been most successful when experience is leading the way. John Mucklar and Bryan Murray had resumes of dreams and the results of those teams were positive. However, there are a lot of promising names out there who just need a shot at these gigs and have a high probability of success. I have always though Kevin Weeks deserves a shot in a management position somewhere.

If you want change/a new direction, I do think bringing in outside people would be beneficial as opposed to always having guys with Ottawa roots or promoting from within. Sticking to a familiar pool can lead to just the same problems as before but if you bring in outside guys witch no previous ties, there can be a fresh perspective – experience or not.

Kevin, I like your effort you put in the blog. But if the new ownership hired this management group. Not gonna last long before another boycott

Sanderson going to the olympics.

So, are there any other big name prospects that we can expect to see there? Will any player that's signed an ELC be inelligbile?

Just saying, as a blogger at this site, that you post blogs with analysis and research that not many do. I hope Sens fans realize they have one of the better bloggers at this site. You put thought into your work. Keep it up.
- PuckPix

Thanks my friend, means a lot! I've said it before, you do a bang up job on the Puckpix blog, that you post daily!

Sanderson going to the olympics.

So, are there any other big name prospects that we can expect to see there? Will any player that's signed an ELC be inelligbile?
- david22

I think they cant be playing in the NHL.....but could be in the AHL....not sure! I wish they would do for hockey what they do for soccer at the Summer Olympics, make for under 23....if you arent going to send NHLers.....

Asst. General Manager - Shawn Simpson


- AdamFrench

He was an Asst. GM in Washington and was a high up exec with the Leafs too.....he interviewed for the Asst. GM job last year with PD. Then PD hires MacTavish who had zero AHL or NHL management experience which basically told me, he was afraid of a Type A personality under him, PD was probably worried Simmer would upstage him. Not that it wouldn't be hard to do. Which is why PD never would've hired PM, it had to come from the owner.....

I'm so surprised nobody in here is commenting on how the Sens are mismanaging one one of their top future prospects in Gus!

Like stunned.....it sounds like he wont even dress as the back up in either game this week! You got to be kidding me if that happens! Meanwhile the BSens play Wed/Fri/Sat/Mon......4 games in 6 nights.....Gus should be on a plane back here now! Get him action....he hasn't played since Dec. 7th....just nuts!