Jared Crozier: Senators Need Blueline Insurance, Not Necessarily Upgrade, Next Season

first !!

Grant Clitsome would be nice to have for a year or two!
Plus he's a homeboy from Gloucester I bet he would play
his heart out for the Sens

Chabot will play. He can do a year as a 5/6 and grow his game being spotted into the right game situations. He is a player and is going to be a huge talent for the Sens.

^^^
I would't mind Chabot playing next year, but I really .

dont want the Sens to rush him if he's not 100% ready

Has phaneuf fit in well with the core group?
Do you feel confident with him in the back end?

Has phaneuf fit in well with the core group?
Do you feel confident with him in the back end?
- spirovski

Phaneuf has been very good for Sens, especially the younger players. A surprisingly good fit. I was pleased they dealt for him. But it looks even better.

Phaneuf has been very good for Sens, especially the younger players. A surprisingly good fit. I was pleased they dealt for him. But it looks even better.
- spatso

Bit of a stretch. First couple games he played well but after that he looked pretty Phaneuf like (skating in quick sand, constantly being beaten on the outside).

I am hoping he can turn his career around but won't hold my breath. I do think he will do much better playing on the second pairing and not having to deal with opposing teams top players.

Bit of a stretch. First couple games he played well but after that he looked pretty Phaneuf like (skating in quick sand, constantly being beaten on the outside).

I am hoping he can turn his career around but won't hold my breath. I do think he will do much better playing on the second pairing and not having to deal with opposing teams top players.
- SENS 613

I thought he was solid in the context of what was going on with the Sens. Not so strong on pk....but who was strong on penalties.

I have no problem with this teams top 4. Karlson/Methot/Ceci/Phanuef is enough to get you by. However, I do not like that top 4 if you are only going to rely on them, in a similar fashion Chicago leans on their top 4 d-men. That's why the bottom pairing needs a retool in my mind. Allows the top 4 guys to get a decent break and adds insurance when injuries occur.

I felt Ceci really started to come into his own at the end of last season. Looked confident defensively but also finally started to act confident with the puck. Having Phanuef on his side seemed to be a blessing for hm. That said Phanuef played ok since coming over. Obviously every Sens fan wants to act like we won the trade by a landslide, but ignoring the trade and looking at him as a Sens d-man, he certainly could improve. He is definitely a step up from what we had. Ceci and Dion will be very important in this team making a turn around next year.

Hope people ready what I wrote in the last thread - main points: Andy, 35 in a month, that's a problem. Team spending not the issue - it's where they invest. 7.25M for Ryan (22 goals >Smith 25) leading the charge there. Phaneuf same thing. Investing star money in players that are 2nd line & 2nd pairing D-men isn't smart but MAY work (not likely). They will have to elevate. Team talks the talk of trying to build a contender but walks the walk of trying to be a playoff team.

Defense: Karlsson has been amazing but needs support and to simplify + refine his game a little. I like the top 4 if all healthy. Don't like bottom pair. Sens should sign a 6th D-man to play with Borowieci. Hamhuis would be nice but would cost a lot and isn't the same player he use to be; but imagine the leadership on D.

Phaneuf has been very good for Sens, especially the younger players. A surprisingly good fit. I was pleased they dealt for him. But it looks even better.
- spatso

If Ottaw doesn't upgrade it's D with a #5 guy that has top 4 abilities & a solid #6 they will miss the playoffs next year again. After the top 4 none of the remaining D are worth retaining.

Chabot isn't ready & shouldn't be rushed. Season him the minors for at least a season.

There will be injuries to the top 4. Very hard for any NHL player to play 82 games never mind a Dman. You need depth in place should it happen not necessarily as it will happen.

If Ottaw doesn't upgrade it's D with a #5 guy that has top 4 abilities & a solid #6 they will miss the playoffs next year again. After the top 4 none of the remaining D are worth retaining.

Chabot isn't ready & shouldn't be rushed. Season him the minors for at least a season.

There will be injuries to the top 4. Very hard for any NHL player to play 82 games never mind a Dman. You need depth in place should it happen not necessarily as it will happen.
- striker777

Chabot is ready. His progression this season has been incredible. He came to Team Canada this year as an injury replacement at tryout camp. By the end of the world juniors he was easily Canada's best Dman. He will get 10 games and if he holds his own, he stays!

Pay attention to the Q semi finals. Great result for Ottawa prospects. Thomas Chabot is among the scoring leaders with 17 points in 12 games. Francis Perron has 14 points in 7 games (he was suspended for 2 games). Gabriel Gagne has 6 goals and 6 assists in the 12 games. Tonight Gagne and Chabot square off in one series. Perron returns this evening after serving his suspension to play against Moncton in the other semi final.

I'd consider someone like Roman Polak as well. He's a strong physical presence who's a natural RD, and though better suited to 3rd pairing work can play up the lineup for a short stretch if necessary. As for Chabot, his development far exceeds any requirement to play the likes of Borowiecki or Wideman in the lineup. Personally, I don't mind them running 8-deep on the blueline to start the year (which won't last, given inevitable injuries), plus it would give them a solid balance of RD/LD and styles for both the top-4 and depth pairings.

Pay attention to the Q semi finals. Great result for Ottawa prospects. Thomas Chabot is among the scoring leaders with 17 points in 12 games. Francis Perron has 14 points in 7 games (he was suspended for 2 games). Gabriel Gagne has 6 goals and 6 assists in the 12 games. Tonight Gagne and Chabot square off in one series. Perron returns this evening after serving his suspension to play against Moncton in the other semi final.
- spatso

Chabot will probably be suspended for a couple games after knocking Gagne out with a hit to the head. Has no one told these guys they will likely be playing together soon?

Sens don't necessarily need a blue line upgrade?

- Pecafan Fan

I'd consider someone like Roman Polak as well. He's a strong physical presence who's a natural RD, and though better suited to 3rd pairing work can play up the lineup for a short stretch if necessary. As for Chabot, his development far exceeds any requirement to play the likes of Borowiecki or Wideman in the lineup. Personally, I don't mind them running 8-deep on the blueline to start the year (which won't last, given inevitable injuries), plus it would give them a solid balance of RD/LD and styles for both the top-4 and depth pairings.
- khawk

Any advice I could give would involve stay away from ex Leafs players

Chabot will probably be suspended for a couple games after knocking Gagne out with a hit to the head. Has no one told these guys they will likely be playing together soon?
- MaxTLimit

I was listening to the game and had a huge duh!

Any advice I could give would involve stay away from ex Leafs players
- walshyleafsfan

You might be a little discouraged if you went around the league and make a list of ex Leaf players that are doing okay.

You might be a little discouraged if you went around the league and make a list of ex Leaf players that are doing okay.
- spatso

A very short list compared to the ones who are not doing OK. I can think of about 10-12 that are doing OK, and about 50 that aren't

Watching these playoffs - we have some serious holes to fill through out lineup. I just can't see how Wide,an, Hoffman, Puempel would handle these playoffs. It's so physical - it makes me realize how far Ottawa is from being even a team that can think about a Cup.

Serious upgrades in size, physicality and we need guys who want to take the game into their hands. We do t really have a player who ups the emotion of a series by hard play. Maybe Dion or Boro, but nobody at forward who is an instigates contact (Ryan White, Shaw,

But our bottom Pairing defence, we need an upgrade in size, presence and physicality.should of kept Gryba, he seemed to do well in the playoffs.

Ottawa needs help killing penalties & shutting down the other teams scorers to reduce their goals against. If you think a 19 year old kid, Chabot is going to help in that regard good on you but that would put him in pretty exclusive company. In a group less than 1% of NHL Dman stepping into the NHL as a 19 year taking anything remotely close to a regular shift. Going from Major junior to the AHL is a huge step for any player. Few teenagers can step into the NHL & make an impact or even take a regular shift at 19 never mind a defensemen.

Here are the ages of this seasons top 10 Dman in rookie scoring & only a few had decent production, Gustafsson finished 10th in scoring with 14 points but I just use it as a reference to give you some example of the ages of Dman entering the NHL. Only 1 of the 10 was under 20, Hanafin. Their ages 23, 22, 23, 19, 21, 23, 21, 22, 24 & 24.

If you throw Chabot to the wolves as a 19 year old on a bad defensive team that will do more harm than benefit & slow his development especially with a new coach coming on board.