Michael Stuart: Evaluating Mike Reilly's Early Play in Ottawa

Thanks for writing. The guy can skate. He will never be top four but a good six or seven. For the price paid, fair

Thanks for writing. The guy can skate. He will never be top four but a good six or seven. For the price paid, fair
- Hardbalz

I've always liked his game. Looks like he can provide more on the offensive side of the puck, he's got a nice set of mitts.

Wolanin is getting ready to return.

Multiple young guys in the system who could be fighting for playing time on defence next year either in Ottawa or Belleville (Braanstrom, Thomson, Bernard-Docker).

I think Demelo will be moved. Not sure I agree as he has been a very stable factor for the Sens all season.

Drysdale has quietly moved up the draft rankings. Good chance he will rank #3 by draft day. Hard for the Sens to ignore him if they have that pick.

Is there a growing concern that Braanstrom has difficulty in adapting to coaching and team concepts and may not be a good Ottawa fit?

Need to assume that next year's Sens will be very young, fast and entertaining. But, they still have at least one more year to go as a top contending lottery team. Unlike this year, next year is not expected to be a great draft year.

Reilly is a place holder....he was on the Habs...until he has a brain freeze...and another...and another...then he will sit.

Reilly is a place holder....he was on the Habs...until he has a brain freeze...and another...and another...then he will sit.
- Hockey Pucker

agreed, he's here so that Brannstrom can spend this year in the AHL, and so that JBD and Thomson don't need to be rushed next year. Rielly won't see a game in Ottawa beyond next years TDL, if he even makes it that far.

I’ve liked his play. Smooth skater and can work the puck on the blue line. He’s not going to suddenly enter the Norris conversation anytime soon, but certainly looks like a guy who you can rely on for a regular shift in a depth pairing.

Excellent stopgap until some of the younger guys are ready to go.

Most fair deal for Pageau, #44:

4.4m for 4 years

Most fair deal for Pageau, #44:

4.4m for 4 years
- AlfieisKing

any deal signed by pageau, that isn't signed by a team other than Ottawa, will be a disappointment

any deal signed by pageau, that isn't signed by a team other than Ottawa, will be a disappointment
- sensarmy_11

Agreed😃

Ottawa is shaping up to have an excellent draft this year. Hertl now out for the season. You guys are lucking out big time.

Most fair deal for Pageau, #44:

4.4m for 4 years
- AlfieisKing

4 years is too long. Up the $000 offer and shorten term.

CAP space is an asset.

We are seeing contending teams today trade away picks in order to do deals to create CAP space (Marleau) in order to retain their own good young players (Mariner).

4 years from now Sens will have a lot of high end talent coming off entry level and similar deals.

Brannstrom right now is a mess when he carries the puck because he doesn't know when to do it & his shot very seldom gets to the net. He has to learn to make the right reads at the Pro level. He's not there yet. The only D that could make Ottawa next year is Jaros. But then who knows with Smith running things.

...Dorion really needs to watch his numbers going into the Kraken Draft.

Could a deal with the bruins involving backes be a possibility?

Its rumored theyre looking to move him, and would retain salary. Hes signed for one more year and I think hes got the kind of contract the sens love.

Trade them pageau for backes++

...Dorion really needs to watch his numbers going into the Kraken Draft.
- Octavarium

Sens will be fine........the worst that could happen is that the team loses someone like Chlapik or Englund.....not ideal, but minimal impact

Could a deal with the bruins involving backes be a possibility?

Its rumored theyre looking to move him, and would retain salary. Hes signed for one more year and I think hes got the kind of contract the sens love.

Trade them pageau for backes++
- david22

Read an idea for a Backes trade on the Athletic. I can’t see him being brought in without diluting the deal with another bad contract going Boston’s way. Like Phanuef/Gaborik or Condon/Callahan. Would be nice to get Backes and some picks/prospects for taking him on, but with Eugene at the helm, I have doubts.

Read an idea for a Backes trade on the Athletic. I can’t see him being brought in without diluting the deal with another bad contract going Boston’s way. Like Phanuef/Gaborik or Condon/Callahan. Would be nice to get Backes and some picks/prospects for taking him on, but with Eugene at the helm, I have doubts.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

gaborik and Callahan take up cap space and are paid mostly through insurance......i'd say ZERO change that melnyk approves a deal moving them for another cap dump that he has to actually pay out of his pocket.

pageau is worth a 1st on his own, without having to take a cap dump......so unless those ++ are another 1st, I wouldn't be interested

gaborik and Callahan take up cap space and are paid mostly through insurance......i'd say ZERO change that melnyk approves a deal moving them for another cap dump that he has to actually pay out of his pocket.

pageau is worth a 1st on his own, without having to take a cap dump......so unless those ++ are another 1st, I wouldn't be interested
- sensarmy_11

What's the Sens situation to get to the floor for the next year?

They may need to take on contracts. Depends what they save by it being backes over someone else.

What's the Sens situation to get to the floor for the next year?

They may need to take on contracts. Depends what they save by it being backes over someone else.
- david22

Could be wrong, but it looks like they are committed to about 42 mill? That also includes injury reserve players. Not sure what the cap floor will be next season either. I just don’t see Eugene adding 6 mill for picks (which he should totally be doing).

Could be wrong, but it looks like they are committed to about 42 mill? That also includes injury reserve players. Not sure what the cap floor will be next season either. I just don’t see Eugene adding 6 mill for picks (which he should totally be doing).
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I'm on mobile, but unless I'm misreading his capfriendlybpage it's a lower salary than his actual cap hit.

Got my worst Tankathon draw ever at 7 and 8 for Ottawa/San Jose. Checked on their prospect rankings which had Rossi and Perfetti in the 7/8 slot. Ottawa does not need to do much more except to be patient in order to ensure a great draft.

Mike how about evaluating DJ Smith

Mike how about evaluating DJ Smith
- granpa

I don't really think my position has changed since the last time I wrote about him: https://hockeybuzz.com/bl...Ottawa-to-date/173/102471

He makes some questionable lineup decisions from time to time, like any coach, but he's got a team that has a tremendous lack of NHL-quality talent playing around the middle of the pack in terms of expected goal share. He's done a nice job.