Trevor Shackles: Cheap Free Agent Targets: Defense & Goalies Looking at which defense and goaltenders could be cheap targets in free agency

Only additions I would be interested in are goalies, if we move Anderson.

Right now our line-up should be play offs or bust, so many youngsters please (yes, I just inked Karlsson in there, deal with it):

Boedker Duchene Stone
Dzingel Brown Ryan
Smith Pageau White
Paajarvi Chlapik Gaborik
McCormick

Chabot Karlsson
Wolanin Ceci
Borowiecki Wideman
Harpur

Anderson Condon

Pretty slim pickings... I will offer you garret sparks for fifty shawarmas from three brothers shawarma.

Aside from a few players who are out of options, I cant see anyone choosing Ottawa over virtually any other team in the league right now. They need to sell the team and gut out their plethora of management issues . Not the place to be in my opinion.

So no one outside the organisation (& a fair few within it), really knows what is going on. No one knows what Karlsson is going to do now Hoffman & his psycho partner (if we can believe reports), have gone. What's Duchene going to do?

So, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Sens come out & play a solid season. Leave the noise to those outside the team & just play with a chip on its shoulder. Now I'm not saying they will win Stanley, but at the same time I doubt the Avs get a top 3 pick - unless it's their own!

So no one outside the organisation (& a fair few within it), really knows what is going on. No one knows what Karlsson is going to do now Hoffman & his psycho partner (if we can believe reports), have gone. What's Duchene going to do?

So, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the Sens come out & play a solid season. Leave the noise to those outside the team & just play with a chip on its shoulder. Now I'm not saying they will win Stanley, but at the same time I doubt the Avs get a top 3 pick - unless it's their own!
- Aussiepenguin

You couod be right, but probably wont be.

You couod be right, but probably wont be.
- HonkyTonkMan

Well at this stage, the teams that lack a goalie & played poorly this past season would be in line for a lottery pick - apart from at this stage Montreal who have a good goalie but.........

So then who are up? Detroit, Habs, Buffalo (they have a poopload of things to sort out ), maybe the Sens, Yotes (will they or won't they), I'll throw the Hawks in there as well. If Tavares leaves I think you can count the Isles in there as well. The Oil? The Nucks?

Well at this stage, the teams that lack a goalie & played poorly this past season would be in line for a lottery pick - apart from at this stage Montreal who have a good goalie but.........

So then who are up? Detroit, Habs, Buffalo (they have a poopload of things to sort out ), maybe the Sens, Yotes (will they or won't they), I'll throw the Hawks in there as well. If Tavares leaves I think you can count the Isles in there as well. The Oil?
- Aussiepenguin

Good post. I think the Sens may be wise to keep Karlsson in the line up until Christmas or until the trade deadline.

It is going to take some time for the ownership of the Sens to clarify.

As bad as the situation is today it looks even more bleak without Karlsson. If Melnyk is driving the ship the future appears hopeless. Hopelessness can destroy what is left of a very fragile fanbase.

Good post. I think the Sens may be wise to keep Karlsson in the line up until Christmas or until the trade deadline.

It is going to take some time for the ownership of the Sens to clarify.

As bad as the situation is today it looks even more bleak without Karlsson. If Melnyk is driving the ship the future appears hopeless. Hopelessness can destroy what is left of a very fragile fanbase.
- spatso

I think, knowing Karlsson's feelings towards the franchise right now, it was a mistake to keep this year's pick. And the mistake was compounded by drafting for intangibles over skill.

I can definitely see the state of the franchise causing some more fragile fans to start cheering for another franchise.

I think, knowing Karlsson's feelings towards the franchise right now, it was a mistake to keep this year's pick. And the mistake was compounded by drafting for intangibles over skill.

I can definitely see the state of the franchise causing some more fragile fans to start cheering for another franchise.
- Feeling Glucky?

Just another reason the team will try & be as successfull as it can be. I can't see them tanking.

Hey just thought I'd share a thought ..you can have trolls come in and act like asshotts. And say whatever (their obviously really young!) ..but this is what happens when's you get incompetent ownership. .and the rest ..Dorian is maybe great at drafting? .and if he is?..to bad he won't be able to draft Hughes. .his trading has been a mess. Don't have to mention the obvious ..but if fans?..might start a campaign to oust Mel. .and hopefully get new ownership. .that's what truly needs to happen. Unfortunately I know this all to well .the leafs for decades .since the balard year's ..and we were in a constant spin. .trading away picks prospects ..and especially 1st rounders ..and bad free agents signings .anyway if ownership can't be changed then hopefully the gm! ..what a franking disaster ..my sympathy. .and hope! .for a better future. .theirs some great prospects on the way! ..so theirs that ..all the best in the offseason .

Just another reason the team will try & be as successfull as it can be. I can't see them tanking.
- Aussiepenguin

Yes. I think your correct.

I am fairly certain that control of finances now rest with creditors. Melnyk insists however in wanting to be face of franchise. Nothing will ever change for fans until Melnyk disappears.

BY Trading Karlsson at deadline team retains some sense of control and hope for the future.

Hutton (Buf) and Mrazek (Car) apparently already have deals in place. Bernier (Det) and Cam Ward (Chi) as well.

Best bet would be to take a run at Lehner or Khudobin. Dont know where could trade Anderson too, proabably would have to buy out one of him or condon if you really want to make a change but with whats out there, are you really getting an upgrade anywhere?

Hutton (Buf) and Mrazek (Car) apparently already have deals in place. Bernier (Det) and Cam Ward (Chi) as well.

Best bet would be to take a run at Lehner or Khudobin. Dont know where could trade Anderson too, proabably would have to buy out one of him or condon if you really want to make a change but with whats out there, are you really getting an upgrade anywhere?
- DDM-Coga

I think Lehner is decent, albeit he had a bad season last year.

Hey just thought I'd share a thought ..you can have trolls come in and act like asshotts. And say whatever (their obviously really young!) ..but this is what happens when's you get incompetent ownership. .and the rest ..Dorian is maybe great at drafting? .and if he is?..to bad he won't be able to draft Hughes. .his trading has been a mess. Don't have to mention the obvious ..but if fans?..might start a campaign to oust Mel. .and hopefully get new ownership. .that's what truly needs to happen. Unfortunately I know this all to well .the leafs for decades .since the balard year's ..and we were in a constant spin. .trading away picks prospects ..and especially 1st rounders ..and bad free agents signings .anyway if ownership can't be changed then hopefully the gm! ..what a franking disaster ..my sympathy. .and hope! .for a better future. .theirs some great prospects on the way! ..so theirs that ..all the best in the offseason .
- MR.Hunter

i'm not young

I think Lehner is decent, albeit he had a bad season last year.
- DutchSenators

The thing is finding that trade partner. Looks like the Sens almost have a full roster signed

Unless Eugene is ready to put 1 way NHL Money in the ahl or they purge out a few more guys in trades, roster might be pretty much set. Being a sens fans suck knowing you have an owner like that

Just another reason the team will try & be as successfull as it can be. I can't see them tanking.
- Aussiepenguin

I don't think they have a choice.

The problem is they might wind up sacrificing the future to avoid giving up the 1st overall.

Yes. I think your correct.

I am fairly certain that control of finances now rest with creditors. Melnyk insists however in wanting to be face of franchise. Nothing will ever change for fans until Melnyk disappears.

BY Trading Karlsson at deadline team retains some sense of control and hope for the future.
- spatso

Waiting until the deadline is a big risk. He might get injured again, or Dorion, being as inexperienced as he is, might out play himself as he did this deadline, and wind up not trading him at all.

Waiting until the deadline is a big risk. He might get injured again, or Dorion, being as inexperienced as he is, might out play himself as he did this deadline, and wind up not trading him at all.
- Feeling Glucky?

doughty is apparently on the verge of signing an 8 year extension. This will set Karlssons contract value. Could be a terrible omen for the Sens if its a mega deal that the Sens cant match.

If teams know what the money is to sign him and that the sens cant make that work, gotta wonder how much do they use that as leverage against the Sens....take the trade bc he will just walk for free

Friedman/Karlsson: “I think the market for him has been a little softer than they would have hoped, and I think that’s also because teams know that they can play hardball with them.” #Sens 960

— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) June 29, 2018

Even the pros are saying that...Sens are in a bad spot that they put themeslves in big time

I hope the Kings are dumb enough to give Doughty the 11/12 Mil that he thinks he is worth, that would put them over $50 Mil for their top 4 Fwd, Top 2 D, and 1 goalie.

I hope the Kings are dumb enough to give Doughty the 11/12 Mil that he thinks he is worth, that would put them over $50 Mil for their top 4 Fwd, Top 2 D, and 1 goalie.
- wilkobecks

How does that help the Sens?

doughty is apparently on the verge of signing an 8 year extension. This will set Karlssons contract value. Could be a terrible omen for the Sens if its a mega deal that the Sens cant match.

If teams know what the money is to sign him and that the sens cant make that work, gotta wonder how much do they use that as leverage against the Sens....take the trade bc he will just walk for free

Friedman/Karlsson: “I think the market for him has been a little softer than they would have hoped, and I think that’s also because teams know that they can play hardball with them.” #Sens 960

— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) June 29, 2018

Even the pros are saying that...Sens are in a bad spot that they put themeslves in big time
- DDM-Coga

Not surprising teams are playing hardball, it's in their interest. If a trade is going to happen though, hopefully some GM decides to break off and increase what their offering.

I would conceivably only take one GM to get the bidding to increase all around.

How does that help the Sens?
- Feeling Glucky?

It most certainly does not.

How does that help the Sens?
- Feeling Glucky?

It doesn't at all, but it always a bit amusing to see the result when players get huge deals like that then everyone but the player (and agent) regrets it almost immediately

Not surprising teams are playing hardball, it's in their interest. If a trade is going to happen though, hopefully some GM decides to break off and increase what their offering.

I would conceivably only take one GM to get the bidding to increase all around.
- david22

Fluid situation but appears likely scenario for Erik Karlsson is....
1) Gets traded to Vegas with Bobby Ryan sooner rather than later...
2) Senators look to free agency to fill open D spot as opposed to what would come back from Vegas.

— Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) June 29, 2018

If Mike Green is your EK replacement....I am going to feel very bad for you guys