Jared Crozier: What Is The Biggest Question/Concern For Senators Heading Into The Season?

All big questions. This time around, we're better off if Turris goes down. Stone and JGP were able to support the second line last time, zibby just couldn't fill the number one shoes. Brassard can.

This team will not be able to survive if karlsson goes down. Not unless ceci takes a huge step this year. He won't though. Not a big enough one anyways. Dion could likely shore it up for a time, not a season.

What I really think is left unsaid though, our goaltending. I love Andy. Sadly, he's in decline. He's good for a bad goal a game and doesn't have the foot speed to recover when playing the puck. Boucher needs to play Hammond to keep Andy fresh for playoffs. Hammond needs to post average backup numbers to make that a viable option.

We have questions at every single position. Let's just hope the injuries are to replacement level players.

The good news is the odds are in your favour. 80% of the roster are replacement level players

I don't see why this team can't finish second in the Atlantic behind Tampa.

The good news is the odds are in your favour. 80% of the roster are replacement level players
- Justman1000

Our top-9 is very solid.
4th line is iffy, but show me a team with a solid 4th line, and I'll show you ten without one.

I'm very curious to see if and how Guy Boucher has learned from his mistakes in Tampa and what he did to correct them over in Europe.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this roster is ok on paper, but when you start comparing it to top teams, you can see where there are problems/holes.

This probably relates to Jared's depth notion, but a lack of true 1st liners upfront is definitely an issue. When you compare our forwards to teams (just looking at Eastern teams for now) like Washington, Pittsburgh, and Tampa, we aren't very close in terms of talent/depth. They are about on par with the rest of the East.

I know people like to use Karlsson as an weapon to mitigate the lack of talent up front, but it doesn't erase the fact. We haven't won anything much with that strategy so far.

If Stone can take another step and Ryan can find consistent chemistry with Brassard, the need for an additional gifted forward becomes less necessary.

To me if you add another top level forward it creates better depth. You push guys like Macarthur, Smith, etc down the depth chart where they belong.

The same can be said for the defence. Born and Wideman are not a pairing that I see helping this team make any kind of a run. Adding a depth d-man or even upgrading Methot and putting him on the 3rd pairing would be a strong roster move. It's good to hear Dorian is looking to address this.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this roster is ok on paper, but when you start comparing it to top teams, you can see where there are problems/holes.

This probably relates to Jared's depth notion, but a lack of true 1st liners upfront is definitely an issue. When you compare our forwards to teams (just looking at Eastern teams for now) like Washington, Pittsburgh, and Tampa, we aren't very close in terms of talent/depth. They are about on par with the rest of the East.

I know people like to use Karlsson as an weapon to mitigate the lack of talent up front, but it doesn't erase the fact. We haven't won anything much with that strategy so far.

If Stone can take another step and Ryan can find consistent chemistry with Brassard, the need for an additional gifted forward becomes less necessary.

To me if you add another top level forward it creates better depth. You push guys like Macarthur, Smith, etc down the depth chart where they belong.

The same can be said for the defence. Born and Wideman are not a pairing that I see helping this team make any kind of a run. Adding a depth d-man or even upgrading Methot and putting him on the 3rd pairing would be a strong roster move. It's good to hear Dorian is looking to address this.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I don't see how people can justify that, look at the other top teams, Pitt-Letang, Tampa-Hedman, Wash-Carlson/Niskanen

The other teams have high end forwards with high end defenseman, that's what make them so dangerous. I like the Sens top 2 lines, but personally I think they are lacking that elite center. Turris is good, but he's no Backstrom/Sid/Geno/Kopitar/Bergeron/etc. and who's the other C now? Brassard? IMO both Turris and Brassard are great 2Cs, and but I think being on the 1st line, facing top talent, they're in over their head.

Jared Crozier: What Is The Biggest Question/Concern For Senators Heading Into The Season?
- JaredCrozier

A stingy owner not willing to spend the money for the team to escape mediocrity.

I don't see how people can justify that, look at the other top teams, Pitt-Letang, Tampa-Hedman, Wash-Carlson/Niskanen

The other teams have high end forwards with high end defenseman, that's what make them so dangerous. I like the Sens top 2 lines, but personally I think they are lacking that elite center. Turris is good, but he's no Backstrom/Sid/Geno/Kopitar/Bergeron/etc. and who's the other C now? Brassard? IMO both Turris and Brassard are great 2Cs, and but I think being on the 1st line, facing top talent, they're in over their head.
- j.boyd919

Good post. Pretty much bang on. Karlsson is a great and gifted player, but I don't see how he can do it all with players playing out of their realm. Like you, I think Brassard and Turris are an ok 1-2 punch, but they will most likely loose every matchup against top teams.

Too many fans (even management/ownership last year) only look at this teams depth chart and ignore the other 29 teams in the NHL and their rosters. Have to take off the fan goggles once in awhile to get a clear view of everything.

This roster as it stands right now, is basically where it's been for the past 3-5 years. Fringe team that could make the playoffs, but could easily not as well due to the log jam of similar teams fighting for the same 4 or so spots.

I don't see why this team can't finish second in the Atlantic behind Tampa.
- TheCalSen

Apart from, perhaps, that team that finished 6 points ahead of Tampa last time...?

That Melnyk will run out of money and force Dorion to sell off even more players and trade for crappier ones that are on the cheap??

I don't see why this team can't finish second in the Atlantic behind Tampa.
- TheCalSen

Eugene, Is that you?

Good post. Pretty much bang on. Karlsson is a great and gifted player, but I don't see how he can do it all with players playing out of their realm. Like you, I think Brassard and Turris are an ok 1-2 punch, but they will most likely loose every matchup against top teams.

Too many fans (even management/ownership last year) only look at this teams depth chart and ignore the other 29 teams in the NHL and their rosters. Have to take off the fan goggles once in awhile to get a clear view of everything.

This roster as it stands right now, is basically where it's been for the past 3-5 years. Fringe team that could make the playoffs, but could easily not as well due to the log jam of similar teams fighting for the same 4 or so spots.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Sens don't spend to the cap every season do they?

Sens don't spend to the cap every season do they?
- j.boyd919

A real question or are you mocking that they don't?

A real question or are you mocking that they don't?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Real question, I don't follow the Sens THAT closely. If I recall, they don't but I dunno.

Real question, I don't follow the Sens THAT closely. If I recall, they don't but I dunno.
- j.boyd919

No. They don't spend to the cap. Likely never will as long as Eugene Melnyk is owner. They are budgeting better this year than they have in the past however. But still unlikely to simply add a big player without moving money out elsewhere.

Can Boucher improve the PP PK and GA difference which should result in a playoff spot?

That Melnyk will run out of money and force Dorion to sell off even more players and trade for crappier ones that are on the cheap??
- TheGame316

Such an important point.

The Sens have a budget and I truly believe the owner talks the talk of - we will spend wisely while working towards building a cup contender - but actually walks the walk of - spend wisely and maximize return while being competitive enough to make the playoffs (to generate more $)

I get that the Sens are a business but there's no way that the capital city of the country where hockey is by far the national sport - and best country in the world at it - why we can't build the brand enough. I'm very confident about the move to Belleville, because it's about time that eastern Ontario and even Western Quebec start to add to the Sens fan base. I really like the move to Lebreton because people from Quebec can start to go to games as well.

Can Boucher improve the PP PK and GA difference which should result in a playoff spot?
- SENS 613

I firmly believe that the Sens can make the playoff next season if everyone's healthy.

Last season was a wreck. MacArthur missed 78 games. Turris missed more than half the season (played but was CLEARLY hurt). Add two top 6 forwards; then add Phanuef (a legit 2nd pairing D-man to play with Ceci); then add Brassard who replaces a guy that takes half a season to get started (Zibanejad) and you have a team that's already better on paper.

I think the potential is there and the work off ice - with Crawford and others - is already taking place.

All that said, goaltending could be an issue if Andy struggles or isn't healthy. I will also say that the team may struggle at first because of chemistry. But I'll bet they make the playoffs and I even think Dorion will add more at the deadline if the team needs that push to contend.

Sens actual salaries this season:

1. $ 7.50m - Phanuef
2. $ 7.25m - Ryan
3. $ 7.00m - Karlsson
4. $ 5.00m - Brassard (falls to 3.5 next season)
5. $ 4.90m - Methot
6. $ 4.75m - Anderson
7. $ 4.50m - MacArthur
8. $ 4.00m - Turris

The Salaries of Phanuef, MacArthur, and Ryan are a combined $ 19.25m; more $ than the combined salaries of the entire team not on the list ! (x-factors)

Sens actual salaries this season:

1. $ 7.50m - Phanuef
2. $ 7.25m - Ryan
3. $ 7.00m - Karlsson
4. $ 5.00m - Brassard (falls to 3.5 next season)
5. $ 4.90m - Methot
6. $ 4.75m - Anderson
7. $ 4.50m - MacArthur
8. $ 4.00m - Turris

The Salaries of Phanuef, MacArthur, and Ryan are a combined $ 19.25m; more $ than the combined salaries of the entire team not on the list ! (x-factors)
- AlfieisKing

Better than when we had Cowen, Michalek, Greening, Wiercioch, and to a lesser extent Phillips eating up salary at the start of last year.

Better than when we had Cowen, Michalek, Greening, Wiercioch, and to a lesser extent Phillips eating up salary at the start of last year.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I absolutely agree.
I simply mean Phanuef and Ryan.... and to a lesser extent MacArthur.... have to prove their worth and impact on the team; which is scary when they have a combined age of 91.5 years.

I've lived in OTT for 2 years. I'm a Leaf fan. Most of what I say could be argued as "well yeah your team finally rebuilt, and that's fair" But. here we go.

The Sens have some great young talent. Hoffman is legit. Mark Stone... when you actually watch the games and not just stats(he has those too) you know that he is a sniper. He is a talent. I haven't seen enough to talk about guys like Methot or Ceci but still...

I do feel like Ottawa will perpetually be a 7th-10th place team in the East. They have good young talent. Like that Zibane...nevermind. But they do have young talent.

Unfortunately right now they don't have contender talent. And if you are looking at the future - despite Ott's young talent - they will be playing in a division with teams who rebuilt. Buffalo and Toronto could be ahead of Ottawa this year(unlikely...too much youth) but they will both be real contenders long before Ottawa.

And Ottawa is not a contender now.(TB, FLA, WAS, PIT) and you might even throw in NYI, NYR and PHI who are in another division, but are probably better than Ottawa.

Ottawa is treading water. I live in Ottawa. I enjoy watching a Sens game vs. Predators for $18 instead of watching an OHL 67's game for $22.

The Sens have some great young talent. Stone is my fav. But the Sens look like they are destined form 6th-10th - forever.(see my leaf fan disclaimer above)

And... as Leaf fan, I would like to pretend Montreal is total garbage, nothing would make me more happier...but who knows...really who knows.

Sens are F'ed. The owner says...we need to make round 1 of the playoffs. Man. I live in walking distance of Lebreton Flats(the new proposed arena location) and I believe it would make a huge difference.

Before I lived here, and worked in suburbs I though..."You idiots have an NHL team. COMMUTE!" Then I worked in an East end suburb.(Sens play in a west end suburb). These weirdo's I worked with have children and stuff... they won't travel from 30km east of the city to 30km west of the city for a hockey game. THey get home at midnight.(in my mind who cares, but that's reality. Normal ppl have children and sleep at normal times).

Summary:
Ottawa is toiling.
Ottawa in Lebreton Flats(close enough to downtown) would be HUGE.
Also Ottawa will soon be launching a Subway system. That won't reach Kanata until the Sens are in downtown, but it would help the suburban pop come downtown to watch games.

As a Leaf Fan:
Ottawa Sucks. Leafs suck. I want both to be good so we can our rivalry back.

I absolutely agree.
I simply mean Phanuef and Ryan.... and to a lesser extent MacArthur.... have to prove their worth and impact on the team; which is scary when they have a combined age of 91.5 years.
- AlfieisKing

As in they are not good? Or not worth what they are paid?

Dion will be a solid #3/4 guy. A little overpaid, sure, but you have to pay a hefty price for quality d-men in this league. Jeff Petry is getting like 6 mill per in Montreal for crying out loud.

Ryan has been disappointing in terms of consistency. However, when he is on, he is the best forward by a mile. But that only seems to happen about 20-30 games of the year unfortunately. But again, he'll always get you at least 20 goals and 30 assists, that costs money.

Jury out on Mac until we see if he is healthy or not.

Bottom line, you have to over pay a little sometimes to get something you need. Not all your players will be on cap friendly "Turris" like contracts. It just doesn't work that way.