Kevin Francis: Ottawa Senators start hectic stretch/Pierre Dorion & Pierre McGuire speak!

Who is LeBlanc?

Why in the world would Pierre" Proudest Day of My Life" Dorion look to acquire anyone at the trade deadline when prices are at their highest? Any legitimate contender looking to shore up their lineup is not likely to want to get rid of a top six guy but then again this is Pierre"Proudest Day of My Life" we're talking about. Teams looking to rebuild don't want to load up on bottom six guys.

Take Dorion's phone away from him and lock him up in an undisclosed location as the trade deadline approaches.

When did PM get out ?

Friedman report Melnyk reach the league, if the Sens can play his home game in the USA

I have often wondered if rebuilding teams make a huge mistake by failing to be buyers at the deadline. Most hockey fans do not understand how commodities are valued and traded. When someone says to a smart commodities trader you could have bought an asset cheaper if..... it is usually a sign you are talking to an amateur trader. Successful traders pay (and, very often overpay) to get what they believe will perform for them.

Say, for example, Chycrun is on the market at the deadline. Why would non playoff contenders want to be left out of the bidding? I understand player rentals is an entirely different market.

Why would a team not do a deal that will help them next year (as opposed looking for a pick that might work three or four years from now?

Love the draft and I think teams make a huge mistake when they trade away picks to try and help their declining team hang on to its competitive window by making desperate moves to try and get a small playoff connection.

However, it also works the other way. When teams are rebuilding and close to becoming playoff contenders they are too slow at making moves. For example, I think the Flyers will go all in on a rebuild. The one guy on the Flyer roster that instantly makes the Sens a much more serious team is Sean Couturier. If the Flyers float Couturier's name at the deadline, I want the Sens to step up and be counted.

If it costs the equivalent of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd (pick or prospect) it would work for me. (Note: I do have a concern about Couturier and that is the length of his contract relative to the quality of his skating. He is not a great skater and you want to be very careful in taking on long term deals with guys who are not good technical skaters. Poorer skaters will see their game decline much more rapidly than the players who are strong technical skaters).

Folks would howl, "it is a huge overpayment"...but you get the right guy, a right guy that is a great fit for your team.

I didn't know Norris' injury was serious and that he'd had surgery. Guess I was under a rock or couldn't hear because of the blaring horns.

how bad is his shoulder?

Good write up Kev..
Unfortunately as a betting man - I'll lay money the coach will do the exact opposite of everything you proposed unless forced to out of necessity.

Friedman report Melnyk reach the league, if the Sens can play his home game in the USA
- Crosside

Gary Bettman said this at his presser on Thursday or Friday at his All-Star presser that OTT/MTL/TOR all have approached the league to play home games in another city. This isn't news at all.

I didn't know Norris' injury was serious and that he'd had surgery. Guess I was under a rock or couldn't hear because of the blaring horns.

how bad is his shoulder?

Good write up Kev..
Unfortunately as a betting man - I'll lay money the coach will do the exact opposite of everything you proposed unless forced to out of necessity.
- Octavarium

He had the surgery while at Michigan. When Ottawa acquired him he was still recovering from surgery.

Well, I truly hope DJ learns from his mistakes now or his shelf life wont last past this season. He needs to grow and learn from mistakes now, this team cant afford to have him repeat the same ineptitude over and over!

Who is LeBlanc?
- Reubenkincade

It says who is in my article.

Why in the world would Pierre" Proudest Day of My Life" Dorion look to acquire anyone at the trade deadline when prices are at their highest? Any legitimate contender looking to shore up their lineup is not likely to want to get rid of a top six guy but then again this is Pierre"Proudest Day of My Life" we're talking about. Teams looking to rebuild don't want to load up on bottom six guys.

Take Dorion's phone away from him and lock him up in an undisclosed location as the trade deadline approaches.
- Whatisavailable

It needs to be a calculated move, but PD really sounds like he wants pretty the same roster post trade deadline that will be the opening day roster come next fall. He was quite adamant about it in his interview. Have a listen to it if you haven't yet. You will see how much he talked about the correlation of the continuity post trade deadline and through summer has also affected the slow starts to the season.

I have often wondered if rebuilding teams make a huge mistake by failing to be buyers at the deadline. Most hockey fans do not understand how commodities are valued and traded. When someone says to a smart commodities trader you could have bought an asset cheaper if..... it is usually a sign you are talking to an amateur trader. Successful traders pay (and, very often overpay) to get what they believe will perform for them.

Say, for example, Chycrun is on the market at the deadline. Why would non playoff contenders want to be left out of the bidding? I understand player rentals is an entirely different market.

Why would a team not do a deal that will help them next year (as opposed looking for a pick that might work three or four years from now?

Love the draft and I think teams make a huge mistake when they trade away picks to try and help their declining team hang on to its competitive window by making desperate moves to try and get a small playoff connection.

However, it also works the other way. When teams are rebuilding and close to becoming playoff contenders they are too slow at making moves. For example, I think the Flyers will go all in on a rebuild. The one guy on the Flyer roster that instantly makes the Sens a much more serious team is Sean Couturier. If the Flyers float Couturier's name at the deadline, I want the Sens to step up and be counted.

If it costs the equivalent of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd (pick or prospect) it would work for me. (Note: I do have a concern about Couturier and that is the length of his contract relative to the quality of his skating. He is not a great skater and you want to be very careful in taking on long term deals with guys who are not good technical skaters. Poorer skaters will see their game decline much more rapidly than the players who are strong technical skaters).

Folks would howl, "it is a huge overpayment"...but you get the right guy, a right guy that is a great fit for your team.
- spatso

You make some very valid points and you are correct, you need to overpay a bit to get the right fit for your roster. But if PD does that he needs to be very calculated and patient!

Gary Bettman said this at his presser on Thursday or Friday at his All-Star presser that OTT/MTL/TOR all have approached the league to play home games in another city. This isn't news at all.
- Kevin Francis

Better than 10 days ago

Alain Sancartier confim this week-end in french radio, than Dorion and Montreal talking trade

Henny I am curious as to where you think they've been keeping PM this whole time lol, especially with the nose of a Basset hound.

I'd love to see this lineup without any injuries for once, it might actually look passable today.

Kevin somebody once made a post that indicated buying out Zaitsev in the off-season would make a lot of sense financially, but looking at the 4M owed in bonuses over the last two years I'm wondering if I dreamed that. Since the cap implications don't matter for this floor team, insofar as I can tell the team would still be on the hook to pay him 7.3M in real money, a total savings of 1.3M and losing a body on the back end, which from a Melnyk perspective suggests he might be sticking around longer. Does a Zaitsev buyout make sense?

Alain Sancartier confim this week-end in french radio, than Dorion and Montreal talking trade
- Crosside

If it involves a Tyler swap, Toffoli for Boucher, colour me intrigued. But that won't happen. I don't see what the Habs have that Ottawa would want or need.

If it involves a Tyler swap, Toffoli for Boucher, colour me intrigued. But that won't happen. I don't see what the Habs have that Ottawa would want or need.
- Bartacus

Not mention name, but said Montreal want a D that can move the puck. Toffoli we are in the final two when he sign for Montreal. Maybe Branns for Toffoli could make sense. Anderson retain could be a possibility too

Kevin somebody once made a post that indicated buying out Zaitsev in the off-season would make a lot of sense financially, but looking at the 4M owed in bonuses over the last two years I'm wondering if I dreamed that. Since the cap implications don't matter for this floor team, insofar as I can tell the team would still be on the hook to pay him 7.3M in real money, a total savings of 1.3M and losing a body on the back end, which from a Melnyk perspective suggests he might be sticking around longer. Does a Zaitsev buyout make sense?
- Bartacus

Yes, I'd posted that idea earlier. I was under the impression that signing bonus $$$ wouldn't have to be paid, but it's only performance bonus $$$ that doesn't have to be paid in a buyout scenario. As such, they're most likely stuck with Zaitsev for the duration of his contract, which unfortunately is going to be a major pain in terms of Bernard-Docker and Thomson getting ice time at RHD... unless they get a high-value trade offer for Zub. It might not be the worst idea to consider, given how much more valuable a top-4-capable RHD at $2.5M/yr for two post-season runs would be to a "win-now" playoff team with very limited cap space.

Not mention name, but said Montreal want a D that can move the puck. Toffoli we are in the final two when he sign for Montreal. Maybe Branns for Toffoli could make sense. Anderson retain could be a possibility too
- Crosside

I’d take Josh Anderson to play with Stutzle I think that would pump up Stutzle toughness lol
Plus Anderson can skate and keep up with Stutzle and Formenton 🤙

Better than 10 days ago
- Crosside

When your President of Business Operations goes on CFRA and NOT TSN1200, no sports fan would know that. So that is the problem. So your smart-ass remark isn't appreciated but then again isn't surprising. Why don't you call the Sens front office and ask them why they aren't putting their front office on the sports radio station? That is what happens in every North American city in any pro sports market, but it doesn't happen here. Just as Pierre McGuire goes on Belleville radio to talk about the prospects, throw the sports radio station in Ottawa an olive branch where these prospects will play soon, asking them if you would like PM on your station. Just as Dorion won't go on the morning show for fear of getting asked real questions! So instead PD goes on the mid-day show with Steve Lloyd who throws softballs questions.
You mean to tell me that JR and Simmer wouldn't be glad to have him come on their show since he did a morning segment on Ottawa radio for 20 years! Give me a break. This entire management, coaching staff and front office operate in reverse. This kind of crap wouldn't fly in any other market.

I’d take Josh Anderson to play with Stutzle I think that would pump up Stutzle toughness lol
Plus Anderson can skate and keep up with Stutzle and Formenton 🤙
- sens4life1971

Yes, not a bad option!

Yes, I'd posted that idea earlier. I was under the impression that signing bonus $$$ wouldn't have to be paid, but it's only performance bonus $$$ that doesn't have to be paid in a buyout scenario. As such, they're most likely stuck with Zaitsev for the duration of his contract, which unfortunately is going to be a major pain in terms of Bernard-Docker and Thomson getting ice time at RHD... unless they get a high-value trade offer for Zub. It might not be the worst idea to consider, given how much more valuable a top-4-capable RHD at $2.5M/yr for two post-season runs would be to a "win-now" playoff team with very limited cap space.
- khawk

One of DJ's pets. But let's not forget, DJ has told the media here numerous times that Zaitsev is an "elite" defenseman, what a joke!

Not mention name, but said Montreal want a D that can move the puck. Toffoli we are in the final two when he sign for Montreal. Maybe Branns for Toffoli could make sense. Anderson retain could be a possibility too
- Crosside

Toffoli would be terrible here and he is one of the biggest jerks in the NHL, it's well known in league circles. Vancouver didn't want him back, he wanted to go back there but nobody there wanted him. LA was quite glad to rid of him. TF was like this going back to junior here in Ottawa. Pompous self-righteous teammate, he puts himself ahead of the team. Montreal giving him and Hoffman those crazy contracts on the downside of their careers was insane. Pierre Gauthier used to call those retirement contracts when he was GM here in Ottawa and those 2 contracts are exactly that. TF would be a healthy scratch here in no time with DJ. He plays the perimeter just like Hoffman. Those 2 players score the majority of the goals when the game isn't in question, or are the players begging their HC to be on the ice when they can score an empty netter.

Josh Norris is out at least another 2 weeks. He will be re-assessed again Feb. 21st.

It's absolutely amazing how JBrown gets 7:12 vs. 5:24 TOI for Brannsrom. Lets keep mailing the youth on the blueline to the bench for no reason!