Jared Crozier: Looking at the bottom 6 forwards

Forward depth will be an issue again this year. I'm expecting Gaborik and Burrows to be bought out this off-season. Given that the organization is thinking on a 3 to 5 year time horizon, it's time to create slots for the prospects who are ready for the NHL such as White and Chlapik.

I'm hoping that the re-sign Paajarvi to a one year deal. He's a good depth player for a ~$1M salary.

Forward depth will be an issue again this year. I'm expecting Gaborik and Burrows to be bought out this off-season. Given that the organization is thinking on a 3 to 5 year time horizon, it's time to create slots for the prospects who are ready for the NHL such as White and Chlapik.

I'm hoping that the re-sign Paajarvi to a one year deal. He's a good depth player for a ~$1M salary.
- SensFan25

I feel the same. I keep hoping Paul can make the jump, and he always is lack luster in his time.

I wouldn't be surprised if the bottom 6 next year looks like this:

Brown/White/Chlapik - young energy, skating line with some upside.
McCormick/Pyatt/Paul - little bit of grit, burn minutes.

This is of course, hoping that Burrows and Gaborik get bought out. Might be a pipe dream.

Can't imagine they bring back Pajaarvi

So Round 2 is:

BOS vs TB
WAS vs PIT

WPG vs NSH
SJ vs VGK

Predictions?

I wouldn't be surprised if the bottom 6 next year looks like this:

Brown/White/Chlapik - young energy, skating line with some upside.
McCormick/Pyatt/Paul - little bit of grit, burn minutes.

This is of course, hoping that Burrows and Gaborik get bought out. Might be a pipe dream.

Can't imagine they bring back Pajaarvi
- Jordo

it troubles me you put Brown + White outside the top 6 but have Smith + Pageau there

I wouldn't be surprised if the bottom 6 next year looks like this:

Brown/White/Chlapik - young energy, skating line with some upside.
McCormick/Pyatt/Paul - little bit of grit, burn minutes.

This is of course, hoping that Burrows and Gaborik get bought out. Might be a pipe dream.

Can't imagine they bring back Pajaarvi
- Jordo

Gaborik will not be here next year. The sens save a lot real $$ buying him out and Melynk will jump all over that

So Round 2 is:

BOS vs TB
WAS vs PIT

WPG vs NSH
SJ vs VGK

Predictions?
- AlfieisKing

Don't Jynx it. If Toronto comes back I'm blaming you.

So Round 2 is:

BOS vs TB
WAS vs PIT

WPG vs NSH
SJ vs VGK

Predictions?
- AlfieisKing

TB in 7
Caps in 6

Nash in 6
Not sure about this one, I think SJ in 7 but I'm kind of hoping Vegas in 7

All I can say is I hope they don't play their top-end prospects on the 3rd and 4th lines. Guys like White and Brown need playing time with top talent to meet their potential.

All I can say is I hope they don't play their top-end prospects on the 3rd and 4th lines. Guys like White and Brown need playing time with top talent to meet their potential.
- AlfieFever

I liked seeing White and Stone together, but I 100% think Brown could do well on that line as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if the bottom 6 next year looks like this:

Brown/White/Chlapik - young energy, skating line with some upside.
McCormick/Pyatt/Paul - little bit of grit, burn minutes.

This is of course, hoping that Burrows and Gaborik get bought out. Might be a pipe dream.

Can't imagine they bring back Pajaarvi
- Jordo

I think Formenton may be more NHL ready than any other Sens prospect. He plays a very strong defensive game. The inability to play D is what keeps kids from moving up.

Svechnikov is NHL ready. Perhaps Zadina as well.

If the Sens trade Karlsson, I believe they have a shot at going into this draft having parlayed the trade into a second top 5 pick.

I think Formenton may be more NHL ready than any other Sens prospect. He plays a very strong defensive game. The inability to play D is what keeps kids from moving up.

Svechnikov is NHL ready. Perhaps Zadina as well.

If the Sens trade Karlsson, I believe they have a shot at going into this draft having parlayed the trade into a second top 5 pick.
- spatso

Another top 5 pick would likely mean Karlsson heads to Buffalo, Detroit, Arizona, Montreal or Vancouver. I'm thinking he wouldn't agree to be traded to Arizona, Buffalo, Montreal and possibly Vancouver, leaving only Detroit who is in rebuild mode and has limited assets to trade with the pick. If the Rangers or Blackhawks get a top five pick, the chances are greater I guess. Otherwise it'll have to be a three team trade so he can land somewhere he's willing to go.

Another top 5 pick would likely mean Karlsson heads to Buffalo, Detroit, Arizona, Montreal or Vancouver. I'm thinking he wouldn't agree to be traded to Arizona, Buffalo, Montreal and possibly Vancouver, leaving only Detroit who is in rebuild mode and has limited assets to trade with the pick. If the Rangers or Blackhawks get a top five pick, the chances are greater I guess. Otherwise it'll have to be a three team trade so he can land somewhere he's willing to go.
- AlfieFever

Teams can trade up to get top 5 pick. Rangers, for example, have three first round picks, including their own lottery chance. I think the teams that have the best shot at Karlsson (in terms of resources to make it happen) are Rangers, Sabres, Oilers, Lightening and Knights.

If Buffalo does not win lottery (Dahlin), they put on a huge push for Karlsson. Same goes for Oilers. They have world class forwards without the Dman to get them to promised land. All those teams can make a very strong offer and all of them could make a very convincing case to Karlsson about their being serious contenders.

The only way next year's result will be any different than this year is if:
a) the top-4 defence issue is resolved
b) the young forwards are given a chance

The latter means serious roles for multiple young players throughout the lineup, as opposed to some kind of rookie line that won't get any significant ice time. I'd suggest that they consider a 2:1 veteran to rookie proportion for each line, with the following as an example (assuming the buyouts that many are speculating):

Hoffman-Duchene-White
2018Pick-Pageau-Stone
Dzingel-Brown-Ryan
Pyatt-Smith-Formenton

Obviously, some of these players might not make the transition as well as others... but with the possibility of swapping with the likes of Chlapik, Batherson, Luchuk, and Paul it doesn't seem unreasonable to be focusing on youth development. It's also the only way I can see them being able to afford to resolve my first condition, which involves bringing in at least 1 solid top-4 defenceman. They simply can't go into another season believing that Harpur/Claesson/Wideman/Borowiecki is anything but a collection of 3rd pairing stopgaps.

Teams can trade up to get top 5 pick. Rangers, for example, have three first round picks, including their own lottery chance. I think the teams that have the best shot at Karlsson (in terms of resources to make it happen) are Rangers, Sabres, Oilers, Lightening and Knights.

If Buffalo does not win lottery (Dahlin), they put on a huge push for Karlsson. Same goes for Oilers. They have world class forwards without the Dman to get them to promised land. All those teams can make a very strong offer and all of them could make a very convincing case to Karlsson about their being serious contenders.
- spatso

Oilers maybe, don't see it happening with Buffalo. They'll draft Zadina or Svechniokov to play on Eichel's wing.

Either of them would be amazing with him. They're not going to make a crazy trade after Murray got them into this mess by doing just that.

it troubles me you put Brown + White outside the top 6 but have Smith + Pageau there
- AlfieisKing

Smith should be traded. I can't believe he wasn't traded at the deadline. I just don't see his role here anymore.

My top 6 is:

Hoffman-Duchene-Ryan
Dzingel-Pageau-Stone

I've always considered the 3rd line to be an energy line. I'm not sure White/Brown are ready for top 6 minutes. And who knows- maybe they light it up and get promoted. Doesn't hurt to have them pressuring the guys above them for time.

Smith should be traded. I can't believe he wasn't traded at the deadline. I just don't see his role here anymore.

My top 6 is:

Hoffman-Duchene-Ryan
Dzingel-Pageau-Stone

I've always considered the 3rd line to be an energy line. I'm not sure White/Brown are ready for top 6 minutes. And who knows- maybe they light it up and get promoted. Doesn't hurt to have them pressuring the guys above them for time.
- Jordo

It's possible no one wanted Smith.

If they go into next season with Pageau as their second line centre they are in trouble. Great as a #3 centre (I'd say one of the better guys in that role in the league) but he is over his head (no pun intended) as a #2.

This team needs a lot of work. If Karlsson is still here they still need another top 4, they need a #2 centre and they need at least a couple of their rookies to have strong contributing seasons.

This doesn't even take into consideration how much of a bounce back they need from their goalies.

There are a lot of "ifs' ahead for our boys.

Does everyone think JG Pageau will be our #2 center in 8 months from now and not Logan Brown?

Does everyone think JG Pageau will be our #2 center in 8 months from now and not Logan Brown?
- AlfieisKing

I think that Logan Brown would benefit from at least a half season in Belleville before coming to the NHL. Pageau or Colin White would be better choices for the number 2 center spot to start the season.

So Round 2 is:

BOS vs TB
WAS vs PIT

WPG vs NSH
SJ vs VGK

Predictions?
- AlfieisKing

TBD vs TB

I think Formenton may be more NHL ready than any other Sens prospect. He plays a very strong defensive game. The inability to play D is what keeps kids from moving up.

Svechnikov is NHL ready. Perhaps Zadina as well.

If the Sens trade Karlsson, I believe they have a shot at going into this draft having parlayed the trade into a second top 5 pick.
- spatso

summer talk?

summer talk?
- senstroll

sens spring talk.

spring is the new summer in sensville.

sens spring talk.

spring is the new summer in sensville.
- Tumbleweed

Coming from a leafs fan? Really?

The Sens have made the playoffs more times in the past 4 seasons that the leafs did the last 14 years