Jared Crozier: Do The Sens Have Any Hope For Short Term Improvement From Within?

Doesn't seem so, no

Jared.

You have essentially the same 3 forward lines for next season as I but I have serious reservations about MacArthur's concussion issues & I hope Ottawa has a back up plan should he not be able to finish his contract, never mind career.

Ottawa will be better next season but unless they add serous depth at D in the #5 & 6 spots they are in trouble. This is really a very young team. Stone, Hoffman, Pageau, Zibanejad, Lazar, a significant chunk of the core at forward are just kids & all have tons of development & growth coming over the next 2 to 3 years. I don't think Turris has peaked yet & Peumpel & Paul will start to see more exposure & responsibility.

Getting Phaneuf seriously helped shore up Ottawa's top 4. Prior to this acquisition Ottawa may have had the worst defense in the NHL. Phaneuf helps greatly but after those 4 Ottawa doesn't have a legitimate NHL Dman & this needs to be addressed if Ottawa has any hopes of being a playoff team. Ceci like those forwards mentioned above is just a kid with years of growth & development ahead of him. Wideman may be an NHL Dman but he's not ready to play a regular role & needs to be moved to the #7 spot seeing limited minutes & helping to cover for injuries.

Ottawa is fine in net. Anderson gives Ottawa a chance to win almost every night.

nope. Next question please

Jared Crozier: Do The Sens Have Any Hope For Short Term Improvement From Within?
- JaredCrozier

My knowledge of the Ottawa senators is limited, but from an outside observer adding a top six forward and it's 2nd pair defense is really all I think Ottawa needs. You have decent pieces in place just need to finish the job. Whether you have that internally I guess is the real question.

Your blog for options coming outside the organization will be more productive. We once had a great pool in the AHL to pick from, but that has dried up faster than the snow here in Ottawa this week.

Paul will likely get a look for a roster spot, but other than that it's slim pickings. I am hesitant to say Macarthur will be back playing, even more hesitant to say he will back playing and play effectively. Trades and free agency signings will have to occur.

There is not much for growth with the current players I only see Ceci, Dzingel and Lazar making meaningful progress.

Nick Paul is a surefire roster player next season. I'd like to see him in the top-6 myself next to Turris and Ryan

The forward position was not this team's downfall. Yes it can be improved but if they don't overhaul that blue line then it doesn't matter. No one's scoring from their own end.

The biggest internal change/improvement will be a new coach.

From within is possible if the within is traded for missing parts.

I see a chance for filling needed gaps with what we have.

We need a power forward and a top skilled center.

A signed Hoffman + Turris + Colin White should be able to acquire something like a Duchesne + Simmonds/Saad + big, solid 4th liner.

Duchesne Ryan Simmonds
Stone Zibby Smith/MacArthur
Smith/MacArthur Pageau Dzingel
Paul Neil Acquisition

That is a playoff line up with more speed and toughness, to go with a good top 4 defense. Still very young outside of Neil and MacArthur, and we pick early enough to add something this year too.

And that doesn't even include Lazar, who could be used to upgrade somewhere.

If the management geniuses had just grabbed Maroon when he was available for the 4th line, we could have even upgraded on defense with extra value.

The biggest internal change/improvement will be a new coach.
- punchanello77

Agree 100%..... but not just coaching/system - players buying in + playing!

Below are players that will be x-factors for different reasons:

Hoffman - Zibanejad - Ryan
MacArthur - Turris - Stone
Smith - Pageau - Lazar

X-factors to mean, yes not important but don't know what they'll bring.

Ryan: need to work on core strength (falling) - power, drive to net, pot 30g!
Zibanejad: good finish next year but can he step up all season (promised to)
Hoffman: everyone knows best off F but will he be here? 200 ft player?
MacArthur: health big concern. What sucks is that you've already committed $
Lazar: will he develop and play in top 6 when needed. Offensively more to give

Phanuef brings what they hoped Cowen would..... but at more than double the cost on the cap. Uncle Eugene has to let Dorion a) get a solid coach that can get the most of his players which will help b) get hoffman and develop the players mentioned - expect Ryan + Mac to be leaders c) trade Hoffman or Ryan if not going to be a part of a contender starting in June 2018

There are all sorts of rumors flying today that the Sens are gonna grab Stamkos in the offseason by offering up a huge deal.

The closest thing to a source I've been able to find is the mention by Don Brennan that the Sens SHOULD pursue Stamkos. Aside from the asinine post by Brennan ( of course they should TRY, who wouldn't? ), he isn't saying that it is likely they would succeed, or even that Stamkos would WANT to come to Ottawa. Stamkos has control over where he goes. If he doesn't want to come to Ottawa, he won't.

Seems like an example of something being taken out of context after being circulated around twitter etc. I highly doubt Stamkos ever plays for the Sens.

EDIT -

Newly minted national champ Drake Caggiula spent the morning with his old coach and Flyers GM Ron Hextall in Philly.
- Dave IsaacVerified account
‏@davegisaac

There are a bunch of teams in on him. Philly and Sens are leading that way. Being in philly while they are in the playoffs might be persuasive.

There are all sorts of rumors flying today that the Sens are gonna grab Stamkos in the offseason by offering up a huge deal.

The closest thing to a source I've been able to find is the mention by Don Brennan that the Sens SHOULD pursue Stamkos. Aside from the asinine post by Brennan ( of course they should TRY, who wouldn't? ), he isn't saying that it is likely they would succeed, or even that Stamkos would WANT to come to Ottawa. Stamkos has control over where he goes. If he doesn't want to come to Ottawa, he won't.

Seems like an example of something being taken out of context after being circulated around twitter etc. I highly doubt Stamkos ever plays for the Sens.

EDIT -


There are a bunch of teams in on him. Philly and Sens are leading that way. Being in philly while they are in the playoffs might be persuasive.
- MaxTLimit

You lost all credibility when you admitted you read Don Brennan!