Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Kryptonite

If they can stay the course, this Sens team will be money in a few seasons. Even though the Oilers won every single game, i've been very impressed with how the Sens played us, especially the last two games.

If they can stay the course, this Sens team will be money in a few seasons. Even though the Oilers won every single game, i've been very impressed with how the Sens played us, especially the last two games.
- Slappywaggle

Easy there cowboy. They will need to start to pay Tkachuk soon. If Stutzel turns out, they'll need to pay him too. Its one thing to draft good young players and another to develop great young players and another to have the $$$$ to pay them when they are good and need to get paid. I'll believe it when I see it with this owner. Players now want most of the salary as part of a signing bonus. We shall see

Sens played a really good game last night. This is what we want want. Good games, strong compete levels, but, still in the hunt for the elusive draft lottery win for this year.

I think Chabot played his typical game. The reason he looked so good is that the supporting cast all stepped up with a really strong effort.

This morning was my first draw on the Tankathon lottery simulator. Came up Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo.

But hard to get excited when there is no feel or real debate around who are the best prospects.

Maybe this is the year a team gives up the first overall pick in a trade for an elite player.

Who might be the best player available to a team willing to offer up the #1 overall? Look especially close at the teams that are in the worst cap squeeze. Some big salary moves need to be made. Does Kucherov get offered up by Tampa?

McDavid: stupid idea, but disrespectful not to notice he is the best.
McKinnon: just as silly an idea
Draisaitl: waste of time thinking about it
Matthews: nope
Eichel: maybe
Marner: cap hit too big for a perimeter player (no show in playoffs)
Nylander: less than Marner, rather have Connor Brown
Lafreniere: I would do it, maybe, not sure
Cary Price: Nothing left, just a dumb idea
Tavares: even worse option than Cary Price
Patrick Laine: let me think about that one for awhile.
Byfield: yes, but LA really likes him
Matthew Tkachuk: only if Keith comes out of retirement

This morning was my first draw on the Tankathon lottery simulator. Came up Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo.

But hard to get excited when there is no feel or real debate around who are the best prospects.

Maybe this is the year a team gives up the first overall pick in a trade for an elite player.

Who might be the best player available to a team willing to offer up the #1 overall? Look especially close at the teams that are in the worst cap squeeze. Some big salary moves need to be made. Does Kucherov get offered up by Tampa?

McDavid: stupid idea, but disrespectful not to notice he is the best.
McKinnon: just as silly an idea
Draisaitl: waste of time thinking about it
Matthews: nope
Eichel: maybe
Marner: cap hit too big for a perimeter player (no show in playoffs)
Nylander: less than Marner, rather have Connor Brown
Lafreniere: I would do it, maybe, not sure
Cary Price: Nothing left, just a dumb idea
Tavares: even worse option than Cary Price
Patrick Laine: let me think about that one for awhile.
Byfield: yes, but LA really likes him
Matthew Tkachuk: only if Keith comes out of retirement
- spatso

def some well though out unbiased opinion here

Maybe this is the year a team gives up the first overall pick in a trade for an elite player.

Who might be the best player available to a team willing to offer up the #1 overall? Look especially close at the teams that are in the worst cap squeeze. Some big salary moves need to be made. Does Kucherov get offered up by Tampa?

McDavid: stupid idea, but disrespectful not to notice he is the best.
McKinnon: just as silly an idea
Draisaitl: waste of time thinking about it
Matthews: nope
Eichel: maybe
Marner: cap hit too big for a perimeter player (no show in playoffs)
Nylander: less than Marner, rather have Connor Brown
Lafreniere: I would do it, maybe, not sure
Cary Price: Nothing left, just a dumb idea
Tavares: even worse option than Cary Price
Patrick Laine: let me think about that one for awhile.
Byfield: yes, but LA really likes him
Matthew Tkachuk: only if Keith comes out of retirement

this entire post is ridiculous

the only player on that list that isn't worth Ottawa's 1st, and a poop load on top of that, is price

Would you sign Dougie Hamilton in the off season?
Or does that eat up too much of our Tkachuk money?

Would you sign Dougie Hamilton in the off season?
Or does that eat up too much of our Tkachuk money?
- Octavarium

i would.....assuming his ask isn't ridiculous.

chabot - hamilton would be one of the best top pairings in the league

Finally DJ understood his mistakes by leaving too long Tierny with Stutzle!...Timmy needs a skilled/speedy C to provide him the passes on his stick with full speed...Yesterday Chabot made 3 tremendous passes to Stutzle on the wing, but Batherson was off side: "shade"!...but that's the way a top C will boost Timmy's potential and points! this kid has elite skills but need to be better surounded...Although, future is bright for the Sens by adding JBD, Pinto and maybe Sokolov/Abramov/L.Brown (still some hope that he will pan out) in next year's line up + our N°1 draft pick in this coming draft, + one skilled RD in the UFA market. OK Pierre let's get it done!

Spatso, meth is one hell of a drug, huh?

Spatso, meth is one hell of a drug, huh?
- AxlRose91

Finally DJ understood his mistakes by leaving too long Tierny with Stutzle!...Timmy needs a skilled/speedy C to provide him the passes on his stick with full speed...Yesterday Chabot made 3 tremendous passes to Stutzle on the wing, but Batherson was off side: "shade"!...but that's the way a top C will boost Timmy's potential and points! this kid has elite skills but need to be better surounded...Although, future is bright for the Sens by adding JBD, Pinto and maybe Sokolov/Abramov/L.Brown (still some hope that he will pan out) in next year's line up + our N°1 draft pick in this coming draft, + one skilled RD in the UFA market. OK Pierre let's get it done!
- SensGatineau

Right... except the 'A' Plan seems to be for Stutzle to become that skilled/speedy C, because there's nothing like that in the system. I'd really like to see them start to move Stutzle over to the #2C spot quite soon, and start getting used to the game from the C perspective... with maybe the likes of Paul or White on the wing to handle the high-risk faceoffs. Otherwise, if they're wrong about his ability to play C, and they find themselves back to drafting in the 15-20 range without a clear-cut #1C in the system after years of bottom-dwelling and top-5 picks, that will be a major failure on Dorion's part.

Right... except the 'A' Plan seems to be for Stutzle to become that skilled/speedy C, because there's nothing like that in the system. I'd really like to see them start to move Stutzle over to the #2C spot quite soon, and start getting used to the game from the C perspective... with maybe the likes of Paul or White on the wing to handle the high-risk faceoffs. Otherwise, if they're wrong about his ability to play C, and they find themselves back to drafting in the 15-20 range without a clear-cut #1C in the system after years of bottom-dwelling and top-5 picks, that will be a major failure on Dorion's part.
- khawk

Maybe a major failure on Dorion's part. It's quite conceivable that no clear cut #1C will have been available to them during that timeframe. (Too early to tell on all the guys they passed on to take Sanderson)

Interesting to see what happens this draft. Beniers screams Dorion type player, even if it is very unlikely they are able to nab him.

Would you sign Dougie Hamilton in the off season?
Or does that eat up too much of our Tkachuk money?
- Octavarium

$9M a season. I highly think he would come to Ottawa

$63M (9 x 7) OR he gets $68M (8.5 x 8)

$9M a season. I highly think he would come to Ottawa

$63M (9 x 7) OR he gets $68M (8.5 x 8)
- AlfieisKing

Melnyck won't and can't afford to pay bonuses. Players all want the contracts structured with small salaries and big bonuses. All our good kids will be gone when they become UFAs. Wait till Tkachuk negotiates his next contract.

Melnyck won't and can't afford to pay bonuses. Players all want the contracts structured with small salaries and big bonuses. All our good kids will be gone when they become UFAs. Wait till Tkachuk negotiates his next contract.
- granpa

Good points - please tweet this to Melnyk!