Michael Stuart: Did the Senators Just Get Charlie Browned?

They still fell ass backwards into prime positioning with the Sharks collapse this season, which no one thought would be this extreme.
Virtually every media outlet and “expert” thought them a lock playoff team, and the Sharks as an organization had Cup aspirations despite their weaknesses.

They have 2 high-odds shots at No. 1 and LaFreniere, and can pick no lower than 5 & 6 in a draft reputed to be the best and deepest in years.

No tears for Ottawa here my friend.

Rossi to Ottawa confirmed

^ HUGE

The combined odds of Ottawa/San Jose getting the #1 pick is 25%, exactly the same as the day the league pulled the plug on play. The combined odds of Ottawa/San Jose landing a top 3 pick is around 75%, exactly the same as the day play stopped.

The team that gets Lafreniere wins the draft. That is the way it has always been. But, the Sens are guaranteed picking 2 out of the top 8 players.

Lafreniere
Byfield
Stutzle
Drysdale
Rossi
Holtz
Raymond
Perfetti

I hope the Sens win the lottery and get Lafreniere. But after that I am not going to worry about their order of picks. After Lafreniere, my hope is the Sens get Rossi and another top player. Would I trade the Sens top 2 for a guarantee of taking Lafreniere. No!

This is a fabulous detailed review on Rossi's potential. It has been written from the perspective of his potential as a NJ Devil pick. It is an impressive piece of detailed work.

https://www.allabouttheje...awa-67s-ohl-point-machine

Don't the Sens have a 3rd first rounder? What's the story with that is the team loses the play in... Isn't that another shot at first.

They still fell ass backwards into prime positioning with the Sharks collapse this season, which no one thought would be this extreme.
Virtually every media outlet and “expert” thought them a lock playoff team, and the Sharks as an organization had Cup aspirations despite their weaknesses.

They have 2 high-odds shots at No. 1 and LaFreniere, and can pick no lower than 5 & 6 in a draft reputed to be the best and deepest in years.

No tears for Ottawa here my friend.
- nyr1980

Fair points. Apparently the isles pick could go as high as 13th too under this format.

Don't the Sens have a 3rd first rounder? What's the story with that is the team loses the play in... Isn't that another shot at first.
- kaptaan

Lottery protected.

The o ly issue I have with this is that very high teams could win the lottery.

From the last vlog:

Just spitballing, but a lottery where eliminated teams had a set number of spots to move up seems better? ( yes I am biased)

So if Pittsburgh for example gets the short end of the stick with this uncommon system, they still get say, the 10th overall in a deep draft. But a team like Montreal could still win 1st overall since they fi ished low.

Don't the Sens have a 3rd first rounder? What's the story with that is the team loses the play in... Isn't that another shot at first.
- kaptaan

No, it is lottery protected. So, if Islanders lose to Panthers they would fall somewhere in the 13-15 range and Ottawa would use the pick. However, the Islanders would also qualify for the lottery and if the pick became a #1,2 or 3 the Islanders would retain the pick and Ottawa would get their 2021 first rounder.

The o ly issue I have with this is that very high teams could win the lottery.

From the last vlog:

Just spitballing, but a lottery where eliminated teams had a set number of spots to move up seems better? ( yes I am biased)

So if Pittsburgh for example gets the short end of the stick with this uncommon system, they still get say, the 10th overall in a deep draft. But a team like Montreal could still win 1st overall since they fi ished low.
- david22

Relax friend. The Penguins only get the 1st overall in suspicious circumstance when they really need a franchise player to replace the old one. So they will get it in 2022 and draft Shane Wright for Crosby to pass the torch.

Relax friend. The Penguins only get the 1st overall in suspicious circumstance when they really need a franchise player to replace the old one. So they will get it in 2022 and draft Shane Wright for Crosby to pass the torch.
- AdamFrench

What's a better time for suspicious circumstances than a global pandemic?

Relax friend. The Penguins only get the 1st overall in suspicious circumstance when they really need a franchise player to replace the old one. So they will get it in 2022 and draft Shane Wright for Crosby to pass the torch.
- AdamFrench

hahaha

What's a better time for suspicious circumstances than a global pandemic?
- david22

Doesn't follow the pattern. They need a generational Canadian centre.

The o ly issue I have with this is that very high teams could win the lottery.

From the last vlog:

Just spitballing, but a lottery where eliminated teams had a set number of spots to move up seems better? ( yes I am biased)

So if Pittsburgh for example gets the short end of the stick with this uncommon system, they still get say, the 10th overall in a deep draft. But a team like Montreal could still win 1st overall since they fi ished low.
- david22

I think winning the lottery would be a huge gain for the Sens. Lafreniere is an elite talent. But, once Lafreniere is off the board, nobody is really sure of the two next best players. Ottawa has two picks guaranteed to be in the top 6.

I would be happy with Byfield/Stutzle, Holtz/Raymond, Rossi/Perfetti. And you can never go wrong in taking the top Dman (Drysdale). You can mix and match the combinations in any way and I will still be happy.

With their third first round pick the Sens will have a shot at Mercer or Zary or one of the top rated Dmen. I think they will still have some good talent available at the top of the 2nd round Lapierre or Jarvis. The Sens are going to come out of this draft with some real firepower.

I think winning the lottery would be a huge gain for the Sens. Lafreniere is an elite talent. But, once Lafreniere is off the board, nobody is really sure of the two next best players. Ottawa has two picks guaranteed to be in the top 6.

I would be happy with Byfield/Stutzle, Holtz/Raymond, Rossi/Perfetti. And you can never go wrong in taking the top Dman (Drysdale). You can mix and match the combinations in any way and I will still be happy.

With their third first round pick the Sens will have a shot at Mercer or Zary or one of the top rated Dmen. I think they will still have some good talent available at the top of the 2nd round Lapierre or Jarvis. The Sens are going to come out of this draft with some real firepower.
- spatso

One center is a safe bet for one of the top two picks.

I still really ike Perfetti if they do drop down.

Perfetti Raymond/Rossi would be great.

I think the Sens if they can manage to find a decent goalie are going to have a real chance to make the playoffs next year.

3 top 20 kids ... with a solid chance @ AL plus all the talent they have accumulated ...If they get any of the top C's and Drysdale along with another scorer later ... watch out.

I think the Sens if they can manage to find a decent goalie are going to have a real chance to make the playoffs next year.

3 top 20 kids ... with a solid chance @ AL plus all the talent they have accumulated ...If they get any of the top C's and Drysdale along with another scorer later ... watch out.
- dozerD10

I love the optimism, but I think theres another year close to the basement before they contend for a playoff spot.

It's certainly possible, for the reasons you outlined, but I think a lot needs to go right, draft wise, including many prospects finding that next gear and transitioning smoothly (which rarely happens in bulk).

Hogberg showed potential though, but I think the defence will be their Achilles heel once again.

So, a year with lots of young players making mistakes, scoring goals, with a 5-7 improvement in the standings.

The combined odds of Ottawa/San Jose getting the #1 pick is 25%, exactly the same as the day the league pulled the plug on play. The combined odds of Ottawa/San Jose landing a top 3 pick is around 75%, exactly the same as the day play stopped.

The team that gets Lafreniere wins the draft. That is the way it has always been. But, the Sens are guaranteed picking 2 out of the top 8 players.

Lafreniere
Byfield
Stutzle
Drysdale
Rossi
Holtz
Raymond
Perfetti

I hope the Sens win the lottery and get Lafreniere. But after that I am not going to worry about their order of picks. After Lafreniere, my hope is the Sens get Rossi and another top player. Would I trade the Sens top 2 for a guarantee of taking Lafreniere. No!

This is a fabulous detailed review on Rossi's potential. It has been written from the perspective of his potential as a NJ Devil pick. It is an impressive piece of detailed work.

https://www.allabouttheje...awa-67s-ohl-point-machine
- spatso

Good write up, I'm not sure how I feel about perfetti (for some reason, maybe because of the size) but the rest are SOLID and I agree with the order as well

If Ottawa was to draft byfield and rossi, this is what their "C" looks like:

Colin White (23)
Logan Brown (22)
Josh Norris (21)
Quinton Byfield (18 - in Aug!)
Marco Rossi (19 - in sept)

*not to mention Shane Pinto, but he's likely playing RW. I would be VERY happy with Raymond and Holtz coming together on this team. We just need Logan Brown to step up or trade him (not at a low value). This year will tell us A LOT about our 3 centers

Good write up, I'm not sure how I feel about perfetti (for some reason, maybe because of the size) but the rest are SOLID and I agree with the order as well
- AlfieisKing

Perfetti was named best student/athelete in OHL this year. Not always, but, sometimes the most elite players are very bright. Conner McDavid fits into the profile of great student/athelete. Zdeno Chara is a huge man. He is also highly intelligent.

Byfield, Rossi, Perfetti, Mercer, Zary, Jarvis, Lapierre. I am hoping the Sens get 4 of those guys on draft day.

If Ottawa was to draft byfield and rossi, this is what their "C" looks like:

Colin White (23)
Logan Brown (22)
Josh Norris (21)
Quinton Byfield (18 - in Aug!)
Marco Rossi (19 - in sept)

*not to mention Shane Pinto, but he's likely playing RW. I would be VERY happy with Raymond and Holtz coming together on this team. We just need Logan Brown to step up or trade him (not at a low value). This year will tell us A LOT about our 3 centers
- AlfieisKing

When Logan Brown plays he is usually the best guy on the ice (Belleville). But, he gets hurt a lot.

Did Mann not suggest that Norris would be very effective playing wing.

The situation is what is, but whats Bettmans back up plan? Its a real possibilty none of this may happen. Under that possibilty the football may really get pulled away.

The situation is what is, but whats Bettmans back up plan? Its a real possibilty none of this may happen. Under that possibilty the football may really get pulled away.
- spazzbot

I understand what you're saying, but at the very least, the NHL can have a draft lottery. I think they should've had it in 2-3 weeks at the most. Why until the end of June

Why not have 3 draws over the course of 3 weeks:

(example: draft 3rd overall next week; 2nd overall week after; 1st overall after that)..... it's exciting and can give the teams outside the playoffs (not SJ lol) something to really look forward to every week

When Logan Brown plays he is usually the best guy on the ice (Belleville). But, he gets hurt a lot.

Did Mann not suggest that Norris would be very effective playing wing.
- spatso

I don't know if he's the best guy on the ice, I actually don't know. Maybe he is. I think Norris and Batherson have surpassed him and that says a lot consider where he was selected. That said, I think your bang on with the health --- Mann has said, if he stays healthy, he can hit career numbers no doubt