Jared Crozier: Senators road woes continue in loss to Preds

....and 65 somehow gets a pass for one HIS worst give aways of the season.(there's one or two to chose from nightly)

Brutal.
Brutal timing.

I'm kind of viewing everything positive for the Sens at this point.

It's a win-win

We lose - We get closer to a better draft pick and hopefully Dahlin
We win - We build team chemistry for next year and raise a bit of trade value for our players

Preds are clearly a very good team.

Sens are a team that needs a lot of work. I actually thought they looked pretty good at times during the game though. They sustained pressure for long periods of time.

I think Chabot is looking better every game. He's gaining more confidence and going to be getting more ice time.

Preds are clearly a very good team.

Sens are a team that needs a lot of work. I actually thought they looked pretty good at times during the game though. They sustained pressure for long periods of time.

I think Chabot is looking better every game. He's gaining more confidence and going to be getting more ice time.
- david22

Chabot is already awesome and just going to get better.

My worry at this point is that they will blow up the team and get rid of Hoffman, Brassard, Duchene, etc.

I think that would be a dumb idea. I also worry a bit that Duchene will see all this going on and not want to resign here.

Chabot is already awesome and just going to get better.

My worry at this point is that they will blow up the team and get rid of Hoffman, Brassard, Duchene, etc.

I think that would be a dumb idea. I also worry a bit that Duchene will see all this going on and not want to resign here.
- Maverick1818

with good reason...

"It was something I sat on for a long time. I wanted to wait and see how things panned out," Duchene said. "Last year when it happened, it was around the time I saw the writing on the wall in terms of the future of that franchise, in terms of the rest of my contract. We had a horrific year last year, and I could see a rebuild coming. It was something I've been a part of, multiple times, and I just couldn't do it."

The biggest issue with another rebuild? That Duchene has barely tasted playoff hockey, especially in comparison with John Tavares (24 playoff games) and Victor Hedman (65), the two players drafted ahead of him in 2009.

"I wanted to play playoff hockey. I have eight playoff games to my name right now. For me, that's not where I want to be at this point in my career," Duchene said about joining the Senators, who made the Eastern Conference finals in coach Guy Boucher's first season in 2016-17.

"I only have one shot at this. I get to play this game for however long my body lets me play it."

Chabot is already awesome and just going to get better.

My worry at this point is that they will blow up the team and get rid of Hoffman, Brassard, Duchene, etc.

I think that would be a dumb idea. I also worry a bit that Duchene will see all this going on and not want to resign here.
- Maverick1818

We will have to wait and see the direction they go, if it is indeed full rebuild there is a good chance he won’t want to stay for that. If they think it is a one off year and they can bounce back, maybe we see an extension. Wait and see.

Chabot is a bright spot.

I would be afraid that they are going to back up the truck for Karlsson and try to retain everyone.

I think the team needs a pretty significant overhaul.

We will have to wait and see the direction they go, if it is indeed full rebuild there is a good chance he won’t want to stay for that. If they think it is a one off year and they can bounce back, maybe we see an extension. Wait and see.
- Makesnosens

I honestly believe they do not need a rebuild. I've said from the beginning if PD trades Hoffman or Karlsson.... He should be fired.

Fans would never forgive him for trading Karlsson and Hoffman is our fastest skater, who can score and has the best chemistry with Duchene. There is no point in trading the building core of our team

Chabot is a bright spot.

I would be afraid that they are going to back up the truck for Karlsson and try to retain everyone.

I think the team needs a pretty significant overhaul.
- Aetherial

I 100% disagree.

Ottawa needs something but a full rebuild is not it.

#1. They need to resign Karlsson and Duchene
#2. This year is a write off so work on getting a high draft pick... cough cough Dahlin
#3. Trade away the fillers for young prospects and draft pics.
#4. Retain the core... Hoffman, Duchene, Stone, Brassard, Karlsson, Chabot etc.
#5. Bring in the young guys to get them in the Sens System early for next year... Brown, White, Formenton, Chlapik etc

By doing all that moving forward next year, we have a very competitive top 6 and top D, and a very good young core for the bottom lines and with any trades we rebuild out pick and prospect pool for the future.

From there the only thing to worry about is goal tending... Maybe new ownership hahaha

Chabot is a bright spot.

I would be afraid that they are going to back up the truck for Karlsson and try to retain everyone.

I think the team needs a pretty significant overhaul.
- Aetherial

took awhile for the Leafs to figure this out. the denial band aid quick fix is painful when you finally rip it off...

I 100% disagree.

Ottawa needs something but a full rebuild is not it.

#1. They need to resign Karlsson and Duchene
#2. This year is a write off so work on getting a high draft pick... cough cough Dahlin
#3. Trade away the fillers for young prospects and draft pics.
#4. Retain the core... Hoffman, Duchene, Stone, Brassard, Karlsson, Chabot etc.
#5. Bring in the young guys to get them in the Sens System early for next year... Brown, White, Formenton, Chlapik etc

By doing all that moving forward next year, we have a very competitive top 6 and top D, and a very good young core for the bottom lines and with any trades we rebuild out pick and prospect pool for the future.

From there the only thing to worry about is goal tending... Maybe new ownership hahaha
- Maverick1818

Dude this is next to impossible to do all of this plus fix our issues, love your optimism but I would be surprised if we dont lose at least one if not two of your #4

While I agree with what you're saying- I'd tinker with your comments.

1) Brassard is gone.
2) Stone needs to be re-signed, and he wants to resign here- that is probably our #1 priority right now, because it is the most impending in terms of signing.

I think we can get something decent done for Stone. 5 years, 7.5/8 million.

Karlsson is anybody's guess. I can very reasonably see the arguments on both sides, and am prepared to see him traded if need be. If he wants north of $12m on an 8 year contract, I think that's difficult to give.

If he's traded, it's for a MASSIVE return.

took awhile for the Leafs to figure this out. the denial band aid quick fix is painful when you finally rip it off...
- systemtool

The difference is that the Leafs had next to zero good pieces- they were awful forever.

They didn't have a Karlsson, a Stone, a Hoffman, a Chabot, in their roster, and they didn't have the depth of prospects in their stable. They sucked for several years, got lucky with high draft picks in really good drafts, and ended up hitting on them.

Ottawa needs work, for sure, but they are nowhere near as bad as they have been this year. Everything went right for them last year, everything is going wrong for them this year.

The reality is, they should be competing for a playoff spot this year- and if it wasn't for completely atrocious goaltending and a wildly horrible stretch of games to follow the Sweden trip- the talk of a rebuild would be completely ridiculous.

Typical overreaction in a Canadian market.

I agree, I think if anyone is gone it should be Brassard. Bit more development and White should be ready for the 2nd line C.

I agree with you on Karlsson, but considering his lack of leadership in the past and how bad it's been this year. I don't think him asking that much is reasonable.

If I'm Karlsson I start at 8 years $12M if Im the Sens I start at 8 years 10M and work into the middle from there.

I honestly believe they do not need a rebuild. I've said from the beginning if PD trades Hoffman or Karlsson.... He should be fired.

Fans would never forgive him for trading Karlsson and Hoffman is our fastest skater, who can score and has the best chemistry with Duchene. There is no point in trading the building core of our team
- Maverick1818

On the positive side ,it would net a huge return.Dreger believes up to 4-6 first round picks and include Ryan on the deal plus get prospects or good now players in return.
if this does come to pass,then the SEns should not make any other moves.Except Burrows,Oduya...Need to go.Keep the team intact for another year -65.
On the flipside it would be very beneficial to keep 65 for many many many reasons.
either situation does not mean a rebuild

IMO its a no lose situation if the return is as big as some think it could be. Or a star player that would power the core for another 5 years remains in Ottawa

The difference is that the Leafs had next to zero good pieces- they were awful forever.

They didn't have a Karlsson, a Stone, a Hoffman, a Chabot, in their roster, and they didn't have the depth of prospects in their stable. They sucked for several years, got lucky with high draft picks in really good drafts, and ended up hitting on them.

Ottawa needs work, for sure, but they are nowhere near as bad as they have been this year. Everything went right for them last year, everything is going wrong for them this year.

The reality is, they should be competing for a playoff spot this year- and if it wasn't for completely atrocious goaltending and a wildly horrible stretch of games to follow the Sweden trip- the talk of a rebuild would be completely ridiculous.

Typical overreaction in a Canadian market.
- Jordo

i agree the sens need to adapt the leafs denial model. just a quick fix away. just band aid it. two years in a row they cant score more than they allow. but excuses.

Chabot is a bright spot.

I would be afraid that they are going to back up the truck for Karlsson and try to retain everyone.

I think the team needs a pretty significant overhaul.
- Aetherial

its more than obvious at this point

i agree the sens need to adapt the leafs denial model. just a quick fix away. just band aid it. two years in a row they cant score more than they allow. but excuses.
- systemtool

Not to say you're entirely wrong, but Ottawa does have more talent on the roster than Toronto did during its lean years. Don't get me wrong, Ottawa shouldn't be trading away their version of 2 1sts and a 2nd for their version of Kessel at this point. But burning the franchise to the ground doesn't seem any likelier to turn out well than a retool.

If we finish dead last, we stand a better chance of drafting 4th than 1st. 4th overall picks are fine, but the Chicago, Pittsburgh model of the past is dead. If we lose Karlsson, I'd say Ottawa would have less than a 20% chance of getting a player as good as him again over 5 years of tanking.

I'm kind of viewing everything positive for the Sens at this point.

It's a win-win

We lose - We get closer to a better draft pick and hopefully Dahlin
We win - We build team chemistry for next year and raise a bit of trade value for our players
- Maverick1818

You'd make a good Sens fan

I'm kind of viewing everything positive for the Sens at this point.

It's a win-win

We lose - We get closer to a better draft pick and hopefully Dahlin
We win - We build team chemistry for next year and raise a bit of trade value for our players
- Maverick1818

Honestly, if the Sens don't get a top 4-5 pick, their done IMO. Unless EVERYTHING goes right, like it did last year, this team won't get over the hump to get to the cup finals

Dude this is next to impossible to do all of this plus fix our issues, love your optimism but I would be surprised if we dont lose at least one if not two of your #4
- tryhard

I agree. Yes it was a good post but the fact is that this team is looking to shed salary. You can't shed salary AND try to make the playoffs next year AND try to get top end young talent AND try to retain Karlsson... it's like their trying to go into different directions.

Karlsson wants to win now but management (owner!) have done a poor job of building this team for cup contention. They talk the talk of contender but walk the walk of year to year playoff hopeful

How's Gaborik working out for you guys? Better than for us, I hope.

Oh yea, thanks for Phaneuf. The guy has been amazing for us so far.

^Good for you, I hope he does well and you guys make the play offs! Never disliked Phaneuf, just that huge contract... With 25% retained he's not bad!

How's Gaborik working out for you guys? Better than for us, I hope.

Oh yea, thanks for Phaneuf. The guy has been amazing for us so far.
- tkecanuck341

I always liked Dion and he was very underrated and underappreciated in Toronto.

IF Karlsson is being traded, I only see 3 options for some reason: Tampa, Dallas, or Pittsburgh. If it's at the draft (which is most likely if he's not staying in Ottawa), here's what I would look at:

To Dallas or Tampa
Alex Burrows
Bobby Ryan [5.75]
Erik Karlsson

To Ottawa
Martin Hanzal
Miro Heiskanen
Julius Honka
2018 1st [top 10 protected]

OR

To Ottawa
Ryan Callahan
Mikhail Sergachev
Connor Ingram
Cal Foote OR Slater Koekkoek
2018 Conditional 1st (if lighting make cup finals)
2019 2nd round pick as well if Lighting win cup

Could add zack smith + alex kilron

*Sens should try and land Dahlin, target UFAs