Trevor Shackles: Thursday Think Tank: Coaching Decision Coming Soon Thoughts on when Ottawa will hire their new coach, the Cup Finals, Patrick Roy, and more

Karlsson is merely a wisp of the talent he once displayed.

Teams would take a severe risk if offering up a max term contract.

Tampa is too shrewd. They will not get stung.

Rangers, not so smart.

San Jose put in a strong playoff run. They triumphed in the face of great physical adversities before St. Louis finally shut them down. In the end, they looked very fragile. Could only wonder if this was their final run before commencing a rebuild,

The first round 2020 San Jose pick may have greater value to the Sens than first projected. It makes little sense for the Sharks to resign Karlsson if they are headed into rebuild mode.

I can't see Roy being here - isn't he strong-headed? Wouldn't that be a big issue with Melnyk sticking his face everywhere?

Although I guess the resulting theatricals would be 'par for the course' in this town lately, hockey-wise.

San Jose put in a strong playoff run. They triumphed in the face of great physical adversities before St. Louis finally shut them down. In the end, they looked very fragile. Could only wonder if this was their final run before commencing a rebuild,

The first round 2020 San Jose pick may have greater value to the Sens than first projected. It makes little sense for the Sharks to resign Karlsson if they are headed into rebuild mode

It will be interesting to see what happens if Karlsson and Thornton leave.

There's still a lot of talent on that team, but most of their core guys are aging.

Speaking of, Sens need to sign Norris.

It will be interesting to see what happens if Karlsson and Thornton leave.

There's still a lot of talent on that team, but most of their core guys are aging.

Speaking of, Sens need to sign Norris.
- david22

it sucks that we don't get the extra 1st, and likely not the extra 2nd even.....but I have a feeling that SJ is going to have a HUGE fall off next year, so the 1st we already have might end up being pretty good. unlikely to sniff the top 10, but not unrealistic to think that could be in the 15-16 range

I can't see Roy being here - isn't he strong-headed? Wouldn't that be a big issue with Melnyk sticking his face everywhere?

Although I guess the resulting theatricals would be 'par for the course' in this town lately, hockey-wise.
- Panzer_IVA

the team won't be competitive for a while, so at least having Roy there, and watching him and Melnyk fight, will be entertaining.

F you Spatso, Karlsson is still awesome... don't drag him down...

If Karlsson would sign for 7 years at $11M/season I'd gladly welcome him back on the Sens... He did so much for our brand and while he may not be as good as he once was, he's still a top 5 D man in the league and I don't think that's debatable....

Trevor, I believe there's a very slight (but just about zero) chance Ottawa can get another 1st from SJ. If for some stupid reason they deal his rights to Tampa or the Rangers before July 1st, then Ottawa would get another 1st because he'd be on an Eastern Conference teams reserved list in the 18-19 season. I think so... anyway, that's not happening..

No thank you to "Caught Hot Dogging" Patrick.

Jacque Martin is "good" choice. Still runs a local summer hockey camp here in Ottawa. He would be good.

I still think Ted Nolan should have been interviewed.

And regarding that San Jose first. I've been corrected on two other website/blogs regarding the specifics of that pick. I said the same thing Trevor did. All that had to happen was that San Jose had to make the finals. Apparently that's not it. They had to make the finals AND he had to resign with San Jose. Not OR. So as soon as they didn't make it to the finals, it mattered not if he re-signed there or not.

F you Spatso, Karlsson is still awesome... don't drag him down...

If Karlsson would sign for 7 years at $11M/season I'd gladly welcome him back on the Sens... He did so much for our brand and while he may not be as good as he once was, he's still a top 5 D man in the league and I don't think that's debatable....

Trevor, I believe there's a very slight (but just about zero) chance Ottawa can get another 1st from SJ. If for some stupid reason they deal his rights to Tampa or the Rangers before July 1st, then Ottawa would get another 1st because he'd be on an Eastern Conference teams reserved list in the 18-19 season. I think so... anyway, that's not happening..
- riceroni

If you watched Karlsson through the playoffs he showed nothing that would make you think of his play from the Sens run to the conference finals three years ago.

I do not dispute he could recover next year and play much better than he did against St. Louis. However, I believe, injury risk is far too high and most teams, including Tampa and San Jose, will pass at this time.

Rangers have the cap space to sign him and they can front load the deal with bonus payments making it easy to trade him they should have to move the contract at some point in the future.

No thank you to "Caught Hot Dogging" Patrick.

Jacque Martin is "good" choice. Still runs a local summer hockey camp here in Ottawa. He would be good.

I still think Ted Nolan should have been interviewed.

And regarding that San Jose first. I've been corrected on two other website/blogs regarding the specifics of that pick. I said the same thing Trevor did. All that had to happen was that San Jose had to make the finals. Apparently that's not it. They had to make the finals AND he had to resign with San Jose. Not OR. So as soon as they didn't make it to the finals, it mattered not if he re-signed there or not.
- Octavarium

Yes, that is correct. If he resigns with San Jose, the Sens get a 2nd round pick. The upgrade to a first required that two conditions be met (resigning and making SCF).

If you watched Karlsson through the playoffs he showed nothing that would make you think of his play from the Sens run to the conference finals three years ago.

I do not dispute he could recover next year and play much better than he did against St. Louis. However, I believe, injury risk is far too high and most teams, including Tampa and San Jose, will pass at this time.
- spatso

Imagine a D lineup of
Chabot-Karlsson
Brannstrom-Demelo
Wolanin-Jaros

We would have a much easier time moving the puck out of our end....

Imagine a D lineup of
Chabot-Karlsson
Brannstrom-Demelo
Wolanin-Jaros

We would have a much easier time moving the puck out of our end....
- riceroni

If....

DJ Smith named Head Coach

DJ Smith named Head Coach
- JACMAN

No idea who that is... good luck to him though

DJ smith is not the coach the senators need, but the coach the senators deserve.

DJ smith is not the coach the senators need, but the coach the senators deserve.
- Tumbleweed

the only thing that matters is that he plays the young guys. standings and victories are irrelevant at this point, just put a good system in place to allow the young kids to develop.

unlikely this guys is the coach beyond 2-3 years, so whatever.

at least it's a fresh face....but was really hoping it would be Mann

the only thing that matters is that he plays the young guys. standings and victories are irrelevant at this point, just put a good system in place to allow the young kids to develop.

unlikely this guys is the coach beyond 2-3 years, so whatever.

at least it's a fresh face....but was really hoping it would be Mann
- sensarmy_11

Who the hell is Mann?

Who the hell is Mann?
- LeafGuy89

Troy Mann, head coach for the Belleville Senators in the AHL.

Troy Mann, head coach for the Belleville Senators in the AHL.
- Mpepe1084

Ahh okay, thanks. Never heard of him till now

Ahh okay, thanks. Never heard of him till now
- LeafGuy89

same with me and D.B Cooper.
I mean J. D Smyth.

DJ smith is not the coach the senators need, but the coach the senators deserve.
- Tumbleweed

Id be worried about my own coach if I were you.

Looks like they went with the No-Name option. Cheaper for sure

Colour us all surprised

the only thing that matters is that he plays the young guys. standings and victories are irrelevant at this point, just put a good system in place to allow the young kids to develop.

unlikely this guys is the coach beyond 2-3 years, so whatever.

at least it's a fresh face....but was really hoping it would be Mann
- sensarmy_11

Smith is signed for 3 years. It is possible he will just be a stopgap and they bring Mann up after when Ottawa is (hopefully) more competitive.

Karlsson not re-signing with San Jose may be a good thing since we have San Jose's first round pick in 2020. If San Jose has a performance drop off next year, we may be picking around 16th-20th overall in what is expected to be one of the best drafts since 2015.