https://www.tsn.ca/cash-i...-dealing-phaneuf-1.998449
- Doctor DOOM

Right, that was indeed part of his rant back in December, not as part of this trade.

Real talk, the Sens are in a real tough spot with this draft pick. Give it up this year and try to soften the blow in 2019 loading up to win.

But to load up you would have to spend money in order to do so and that could hurt the the team trying to save up for Karlsson salary

You need Karlsson to lessen the 2019 pick, but if hes not wanting to sign an ext July 1st. Do you trade him to do a rebuild.

Honestly this teams direction for the next 5 years can be dictated this offseason. Its a fascinating story line to watch
- DDM-Coga

they have no direction.

Right, that was indeed part of his rant back in December, not as part of this trade.
- sportsdataguy

uhhh...basically said the cost cutting moves are coming. and now they are here.

hoffman, you're up!

Who cares about the trade. Pens are rolling! What a goal by Geno! GO PENS GO BIG WIN!!
- bochangs

LOL did you forget who they were playing?

It's annoying to see anything written this morning in the blog about whether trading Phaneuf was a net positive, given the extent to which he's been repeatedly postured as some kind of "albatross" contract that's destroying the team's future. Playing 20ming/gp on the 2nd pairing, wearing an "A", and chipping in 25pts/yr meant he was at least playing a useful and generally thankless role on the team. Now they're left with a bizarre glut of expensive top-6 forwards (apparently now the most expensive collection in the NHL), but without a single fixed pairing on their entire blue line... in a situation where they have to try to be a substantially better team next year.

Now they either a) waste a primary trade return on bringing in a top-4 defenceman, b) waste more money on the UFA market than they saved in the trade, or c) repeat the mistake of the past by over-committing to unproven young players in top-4 defence roles (eg. Cowen, Wiercioch). Unfortunately, this perspective seemed to be generally lost on people who just saw a big contract and thought that was the real problem on the team.

uhhh...basically said the cost cutting moves are coming. and now they are here.

hoffman, you're up!
- Tumbleweed

Not arguing that, just the timing of the quote. You'll find very few Melnyk apologists here, or anywhere else.

If Hoffman is traded after finally finding some chemistry with Duchene, PD needs to go.

My guess is they are better off keeping their first round pick this year then anyway. The player they draft is 1 year closer to playing on the team then worrying about who they draft in 2019.

Unless of course they get first overall 2019.
- Aaron_85

And if that happens, congrats to the Avs, I'd be okay with that. At least it's a different conference. Have to go with what you know to be a decent pick.

Real talk, the Sens are in a real tough spot with this draft pick. Give it up this year and try to soften the blow in 2019 loading up to win.

But to load up you would have to spend money in order to do so and that could hurt the the team trying to save up for Karlsson salary

You need Karlsson to lessen the 2019 pick, but if hes not wanting to sign an ext July 1st. Do you trade him to do a rebuild.

Honestly this teams direction for the next 5 years can be dictated this offseason. Its a fascinating story line to watch
- DDM-Coga

I disagree. On paper we are a very good team. The problem is the system, ownership and having a GM with no vision.

We should be contending for a top 3 pick this year.... no point in giving that up.

I think some tweaking needs to be done but our team is much better then our record shows. Trading Hoffman, Duchene, Stone, Chabot, Karlsson, Dzingle, White, Brown, Formenton.

Trade guys like JGP, Smith, Oduya, Ceci, etc

Just a tweak not a rebuild

they have no direction.
- Tumbleweed

Not entirely true, it's headed pretty much straight down at the moment.

Which also means hopefully, they can only head upwards again in the next few years?

Not entirely true, it's headed pretty much straight down at the moment.

Which also means hopefully, they can only head upwards again in the next few years?
- sportsdataguy

i think not having a 1st next year and trying to stay competitive for duchene and karlsson will haunt you guys.

this TDL, you guys will be selling like crazy.

this summer will be all about moves to get you guys into the playoffs.

by December, it'll be firesale again.

Actually reading the comments on here, what a train wreck. Haters hating, Sens fans lost in what actually is going on, or the odd reasonable reasoning.

This is the first move of many that Dorion will make. It's a pretty lateral move on-ice wise, but gives a little more flexibility down the road. I'll wait until after the trade deadline to fully judge how Dorion made out. When you are trying to move out assets, you have to look at it all as a whole rather than piece by piece.

As for the the plan moving forward, I don't know what people expect. People say you can't move Dion cause of the contract, he is moved, and then people laugh or say it's a terrible move.

The plan moving forward is to try any retool and move out pieces that just will not work going forward. It does not happen overnight. The Dion trade was the first step. This isn't EA Sports NHL 18, where you just go on the trading screen and retool in 15 minutes. These things take time. There's many conversations. There's many factors that we have no idea about.

Fans and haters need to take a step back and just let the next couple of weeks unfold before ranting about picks, Karlsson, and rebuilding. After the trade deadline, there can be an assessment of how Dorion made out. The summer/draft will be another opportunity to assess.

Times suck right now, but at least the management/ownership has finally come to realize that significant moves will need to be made. This teams core is absolutely fine. You just need better supporting players that aren't getting paid an arm and a leg.

In the long run this makes his team worse so how much money does it actually save?

The Kings got a 2nd pairing d man who plays all season and the Sens got a player who plays 55 games a season scoring 12 goals or lower. For 1 million less in cap hit this makes the Sens much worse.(after the 25% retained)
- Santo_44

No longer paying 7m for a second pairing d man. They save some money to try and give to Karlsson. Making their team worse now seems like a good thing, they might get 1st overall. Then sign their big contracts while acquiring some valuable rookies.

i think not having a 1st next year and trying to stay competitive for duchene and karlsson will haunt you guys.

this TDL, you guys will be selling like crazy.

this summer will be all about moves to get you guys into the playoffs.

by December, it'll be firesale again.
- Tumbleweed

Can you tell me which stock will sky rocketing by December too?

Can you tell me which stock will sky rocketing by December too?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

no.

melnyk is very predictable. stock market, not so much.

It's actually not as tough as you've stated. Already gave my reasoning.

Next year is indeed up in the air, depending on a bunch of factors. Karlsson is at the center of that, and we won't know his likelihood to sign until July. Hope PD refuses to listen to anything but fantastic offers. Otherwise focus should be on signing him, or even a sign-and-trade.
- sportsdataguy

banking on 37 year old goalie going into next season to have his good year...is a pretty scary thing to bank on IMO

http://www.eliteprospects.com/article.php?id=259
- Jordo

We all know that the draft lottery is fixed. Teams needing a new stadium or a franchise player to rescue the team always win the draft lottery. Reference the Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid draft lottery wins.
Ottawa will be drafting Rasmus Dahlin. Book it!

I disagree. On paper we are a very good team. The problem is the system, ownership and having a GM with no vision.

We should be contending for a top 3 pick this year.... no point in giving that up.

I think some tweaking needs to be done but our team is much better then our record shows. Trading Hoffman, Duchene, Stone, Chabot, Karlsson, Dzingle, White, Brown, Formenton.

Trade guys like JGP, Smith, Oduya, Ceci, etc

Just a tweak not a rebuild
- Maverick1818

You have 1.5 lines and 1 D pairing. The rest is a dime ad dozen NHL fill ins. On Paper Sens dont look so hot.

no.

melnyk is very predictable. stock market, not so much.
- Tumbleweed

I honestly thought him taking a portion of a players salary to play somewhere else would never happen. But I guess you predicted that as well?

We all know that the draft lottery is fixed. Teams needing a new stadium or a franchise player to rescue the team always win the draft lottery. Reference the Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid draft lottery wins.
Ottawa will be drafting Rasmus Dahlin. Book it!
- SensFan25

This actually sort of makes sense.

We all know that the draft lottery is fixed. Teams needing a new stadium or a franchise player to rescue the team always win the draft lottery. Reference the Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid draft lottery wins.
Ottawa will be drafting Rasmus Dahlin. Book it!
- SensFan25

Dahlin-Karlsson
Chabot-Ceci (hopefully somebody better to be honest)

banking on 37 year old goalie going into next season to have his good year...is a pretty scary thing to bank on IMO
- DDM-Coga

I said "could", not "will". The trainwreck could very well continue, but he also hasn't been helped by the D in front of him most nights.

Fans and haters need to take a step back and just let the next couple of weeks unfold before ranting about picks, Karlsson, and rebuilding.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

But ... we're fans ... on a hockey rumour site ... ? Ranting is therapeutic!

Removing Dion's contract is a win no matter what when it comes to the guys we have to sign the next two offseasons (even when you hold on to 25%). Gaborik could be serviceable, BUT I assume Dorion has at least some type of plan to flip him/send him to LTIR, otherwise we are truly (frank)ed for the next 4 years.

Dahlin-Karlsson
Chabot-Ceci (hopefully somebody better to be honest)


- AdamFrench

Nah they gucci fam. Ceci is the back up plan to be Top Pair RHD if Karlsson leaves

But ... we're fans ... on a hockey rumour site ... ? Ranting is therapeutic!
- sportsdataguy

Ranting is fine.

Honestly, most of it is good. It's the 5 or so bad apples that make you want to toss your computer out the window.