Michael Stuart: Bobby Ryan, Bobby Ryan, Bobby Ryan

I start every game hoping the Sens play well, but lose. Last night I found myself hoping they would win right from the start and I enjoyed every moment of the game.

Yes to Balcers. Also thought that Norris did not look out of place and had multiple good chances.

Crowd was good as well, they obviously had much to cheer about.

Bobby Ryan made us proud!

The Canucks are a division contenders ahead of Edmonton and Calgary in the Pacific with a 21 yo Pettersson and 20 yo Hughes. With Games in hand, best team plus minus in Pacific. Yeah they lost last night to Ottawa, Ottawa just beat Dallas and Boston didn't they. Good for them btw. Also the Canucks didn't go all in this year. Is why they did not trade for Tyson Barrie. Miller and Toffoli for a 20's first, second and 7th best prospect Madden and whatever else isn't selling the farm to go all for it all this year. I bet Toffoli resigns and Miller has found a home both 27 playing with Pettersson.
Also congratulations to Bobby Ryan.

Last night could have gone better looking at the other teams. But it could have gone worse too.

Michael Stuart: Bobby Ryan, Bobby Ryan, Bobby Ryan
- Michael_Stuart

Probably the best feel good story of this year

What a great evening for Bobby Ryan. Found myself excited for a Sens game (without being there) for the first time in a long time. Hope he can keep up the good play.

Well done, Bobby. Well done.

I can't believe he's only 32. I thought he was like Spezza's age.

Always cheer for Bobby to do well...

Michael Stuart: Bobby Ryan, Bobby Ryan, Bobby Ryan
- Michael_Stuart

Canucks are where we want to be in a year- good elite, young core players (Elias and Hughes) and youngish veterans to support (Miller, Myers, and Horvat). Ottawa was very lucky and can thank Hogberg. Canucks were transitioning easily and had several point blank chances to score

regardless of the team someone follows... you can't help feel great watching a guy return in that fashion.

congrats to Ryan and Senators for supporting him

need more of these genuine feel good stories

Canucks are where we want to be in a year- good elite, young core players (Elias and Hughes) and youngish veterans to support (Miller, Myers, and Horvat). Ottawa was very lucky and can thank Hogberg. Canucks were transitioning easily and had several point blank chances to score
- AlexBoucher

The Canucks have salary cap problems all over the place despite being so early in their transition to competitiveness. If we're the Canucks in a year, we're in trouble.

Pettersson, Hughes, Miller, Horvat are all nice pieces (Myers is horrendous), but it's not enough to stay competitive without Markstrom playing out of his mind. They signed third and fourth liners to huge contracts and now don't have the money they need to take that next step forward.

The Canucks have salary cap problems all over the place despite being so early in their transition to competitiveness. If we're the Canucks in a year, we're in trouble.

Pettersson, Hughes, Miller, Horvat are all nice pieces (Myers is horrendous), but it's not enough to stay competitive without Markstrom playing out of his mind. They signed third and fourth liners to huge contracts and now don't have the money they need to take that next step forward.
- Michael_Stuart

this.....for the next 2-3 seasons, Eriksson, Myers and Luongo are eating up something like 16-17 mil in cap space. that's (frank)ing horrendous, and none of it can be eaten by LTIR

I'm not a Senators fan, but that is friggin' awesome!!

The Canucks have salary cap problems all over the place despite being so early in their transition to competitiveness. If we're the Canucks in a year, we're in trouble.

Pettersson, Hughes, Miller, Horvat are all nice pieces (Myers is horrendous), but it's not enough to stay competitive without Markstrom playing out of his mind. They signed third and fourth liners to huge contracts and now don't have the money they need to take that next step forward.
- Michael_Stuart

Good point- goaltending could be an issue. I think Roussel and Beagle are decent bottom six guys, but not worth the term they got

this.....for the next 2-3 seasons, Eriksson, Myers and Luongo are eating up something like 16-17 mil in cap space. that's (frank)ing horrendous, and none of it can be eaten by LTIR

Can a team trade for the Luongo salary cap recapture the Canucks have to eat on Luongo? Seems like an easy move for Ottawa to make with no money out the door. $3 MM for the next 2 years would be pretty easy to swallow.

Could also look at trading for Eriksson after his bonus is paid out. Would only be $1M salary next year with a $6M cap hit. A Melnyk special that would get them to the floor. The second year might be tougher to swallow. But you would think you could easily get what Marleau got as compensation for taking on his contract +++ as its for 2 years. Another 1st rounder +++ would be pretty sweet.

I'm not a Senators fan, but that is friggin' awesome!!
- djc1877

Ditto. Although I've got nothing against the Sens. Not only happy about Bobby Ryan but was really happy the Sens actually got a great return on Pageau. How many tough situations and questionable trades have they dealt with.

This is what makes sports so great. You never know when a game will turn into something special.

not ashamed to say I teared up a bit last night....

how can you not root for this guy?

hope we see a new rejuvenated bobby, like he was in 2017 playoffs.

not ashamed to say I teared up a bit last night....

how can you not root for this guy?

hope we see a new rejuvenated bobby, like he was in 2017 playoffs.
- Torontosensfan

Same here! Coming back from addictions is challenging and seeing how hard Bobby Ryan has had to work to overcome his demons was inspiring. I teared up too, especially during his post game interview.

This team has a remarkably dark history of driving players into substance abuse, or exacerbating existing addictions. Ryan, Lehner, McGrattan, Nate Thompson, Emery, there are more; my question is, what about Ottawa drives people to drink?

This team has a remarkably dark history of driving players into substance abuse, or exacerbating existing addictions. Ryan, Lehner, McGrattan, Nate Thompson, Emery, there are more; my question is, what about Ottawa drives people to drink?
- Bartacus

You assume that none of those players had issues before arriving in Ottawa......that’s pretty presumptuous.

I’m sure they all had issues in their lives, starting long before arriving in Ottawa, that led to their substance abuse.

I saw Marco Rossi play last night....my overall thoughts:

I was t overwhelmed to be honest. Keep in mind my expectations were very high though. When someone could be the best player in the ohl, you obviously come in with high expectations.

That said playing on a team with Bahl made Rossi look like Frodo standing next to Gandalf. Rossi was shifty but in a more simplistic way that a lot of Russian forwards; seemed more calculated. One thing that caught my eye was how he was playing on the PK in the third period defending the lead before the 67s pulled away.

He was actively looking at each possible play and had a really active stick. Not overly active like a fish out of water but again more calculated and reacting quickly to the generals’ PP

Overall I think the sens will draft 5-6 players before him. His size concerns me but again I only saw 1 game and I’m not a scout lol

Cheer for New Jersey or LA today?

The three point game goes without saying.

This team has a remarkably dark history of driving players into substance abuse, or exacerbating existing addictions. Ryan, Lehner, McGrattan, Nate Thompson, Emery, there are more; my question is, what about Ottawa drives people to drink?
- Bartacus

The poopty public transport.

You assume that none of those players had issues before arriving in Ottawa......that’s pretty presumptuous.

I’m sure they all had issues in their lives, starting long before arriving in Ottawa, that led to their substance abuse.
- sensarmy_11

Partially fair, though it's pretty well documented that their substance abuse accelerated considerably in Ottawa. Don't know if you ever went to Gracie's back in the pizza line days - these guys partied hard.

While the comment was intended to be partially tongue in cheek, Ottawa is also depressing as heck, and the way the franchise has been managed can't help these guys. Take it from an Ottawa boy who developed his own dependencies living in the city.