Quinton Byfield & Marco Rossi --> OHL?

Lafreniere has played 3 seasons in the Q. Byfield and Rossi both have 2 years and some have said that both can benefit going back to the OHL and simply dominating the league. That said, if the Sens draft those 2 and neither make the big team, how could fans stomach that? Even if it's Raymond or Perfetti, do we want the Sens to have 1 more top 5 pick in 2021?

I think having Logan Brown, Josh Norris, Colin White, and then Quinton Byfield is way more than enough at center. Thomas Chabot, Lassi Thomson, JBD, and Erik Brannstrom should be enough on D. It's at wing that gets thin after Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson. That is unless the Sens draft a winger like Raymond, Holtz, or Perfetti.

I personally want the Sens to go out and sign a top 6 forward or top 4 D-man, or acquire one. If these kids are going to develop with the big team THIS upcoming season, they should do it around vets, much like Vancouver this year

Boro RIGHT NOW is better than every d-man outside Chabot and Zaitsev; Boro is better defensively than Zaitsev most nights.

Also Brannstrom wanted to play the right side but management / the team was pushing him to play LD
- AlfieisKing

Jesus Christ........is boro a good guy and am I sad he’s leaving, absolutely, but this take is ridiculous. Boro had one single 50 game stretch where he was a decent player, the other 5-6 years of his career he wasn’t even an NHL caliber dman. Having boro on contract ABDOLUTELY takes a roster spot from a better player.

It's easy to look at shot handleness and say what side a player should play but when in actuality, it's been well documented that Branstrom has played and prefers the right side. If anything, putting him on the left side, hurts his development. I get the Sens probably want him on the left side as that is the natural position, but his pedigree is what it is. He may end up playing on the right side with or without Boro in the lineup.

I am all for moving on from Boro but the "taking ice time away from other left hand shots" argument is thin.

This is about money and moving with the rebuild.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

The org has watched him for 2 years now.......he may like RD better, but the fact that the org continues to put him at LD (despite there being an obvious hole at RD) leads me to believe he’s probably better at LD, despite his preference

The org has watched him for 2 years now.......he may like RD better, but the fact that the org continues to put him at LD (despite there being an obvious hole at RD) leads me to believe he’s probably better at LD, despite his preference
- sensarmy_11

I don't disagree that the organization wants him on the left side, but there is good info out there that leads one to believe, that may not be the best move for him: https://www.sportsnet.ca/...prospect-erik-brannstrom/

It could be easily argued the Sens should have him on the right side where he has had success.

It will be interesting to see his development going forward but it's a thin view to only assume Boro was only let go because he would take ice time away from other left defencmen. It probably did play a facto but there are several other factors at play.

Boro RIGHT NOW is better than every d-man outside Chabot and Zaitsev; Boro is better defensively than Zaitsev most nights.

Also Brannstrom wanted to play the right side but management / the team was pushing him to play LD
- AlfieisKing

Damn you got no knowledge at all about hockey.Boro got 1 decent season and most of it was due with playing with Demelo.

Chabot,Wolanin,Reilly,Zaitsev and even Brannstrom in his short tenure was better than him.Boro and Hainsey are nothing more than 7th dmen at best in ANY good team.Senators are a weak team thats why both were playing more than they should have.

I don't disagree that the organization wants him on the left side, but there is good info out there that leads one to believe, that may not be the best move for him: https://www.sportsnet.ca/...prospect-erik-brannstrom/

It could be easily argued the Sens should have him on the right side where he has had success.

It will be interesting to see his development going forward but it's a thin view to only assume Boro was only let go because he would take ice time away from other left defencmen. It probably did play a facto but there are several other factors at play.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

i didn't say that was the only reason he wasn't brought back, i said it was probably a consideration. another consideration is that, regardless of what side he plays, him signing a longer term deal (which is likely what he wanted) would have eventually taken a roster spot away from a younger dman (Brannstrom, JBD, Wolanin, Thompson, Tychonik, etc). also, coming off a career year, he probably wanted to cash in on his next deal (realizing it was probably the only chance he'll ever get), it would be a terrible mistake to give a guy a deal based on a 50 game sample, when the rest of his career his was arguably an AHL dman at best.

boro was a great guy, amazing in the community, and i'll be sad he's not in Ottawa anymore.....but letting him go was ABSOLUTELY the right decision to make

Jesus Christ........is boro a good guy and am I sad he’s leaving, absolutely, but this take is ridiculous. Boro had one single 50 game stretch where he was a decent player, the other 5-6 years of his career he wasn’t even an NHL caliber dman. Having boro on contract ABDOLUTELY takes a roster spot from a better player.
- sensarmy_11

Bro, no offence but you need to learn to accept someone else's opinion if they don't agree with you - as you deserve the same right.

I will say this about Boro-cop: he was one of the most liked and honourable players to wear a Sens jersey. Who played more mins than him? Zaitsev, Chabot, maybe Mike Rielly. And yet, only Chabot had more even strength points than him this year on the back end. #2 in hits after Tkachuk, #1 in shots blocked per game (>7.5!), #17 on the team in terms of giveaways per game. What the numbers don't reflect is the affect he has on the other players, the fans. One well known analyst said he would've given Boro a new contract just for what he brings on and off the ice. I get if you don't want him back or even if you think it'll take away from Wolanin, Brannstrom but to say he's not NHL caliber d-man or that he isn't a lose to the blue line is simply not true imo

"Seriously the hockey itch I have is killing me.... The playoffs just don’t do it for me if the Sens aren’t playing. I just need SOMETHING to happen, whether that’s a contract extension or a trade or the new jersey. We have like 10 players on the roster with less than a month till free agency WHERE IS THE NEWS??? Is Pierre even alive?? The lack of Sens news since the LA game is driving me nuts and quite frankly is starting to make me concerned. With pretty much purely negative PR coming out (Staff salary cuts, Boro leaving) you’d think they’d do SOMETHING... All I can think is that they’re waiting for the Stanley cup to be awarded before making moves... But pretty much everyone is out at this point? Anyways can’t (frank)ing wait for the draft, just needed to rant a bit." Tweet of the day

saw this tweet from someone and this is exactly how i feel too.. can the EM be selling the team, and PD is waiting around until something is up. but i think something is up.. long waits for whatever news about sens.

With Free Agency starting on Oct 9th, it also means that signing bonuses will have to be paid to the players who have one.

Fortunately for Melnyk, we have one of the lowest amounts of bonuses in the league. Unfortunately for Melnyk he will still have to pay out a large amount of money at one time.

Bobby Ryan: $2,000,000

Artem Anisimov: $1,500,000

Brady Tkachuk: $92,500

Josh Norris: $92,500

Artem Zub: $92,500

Lassi Thomson: $92,500

Olle Alsing: $92,500

Jonathan Davidsson: $87,500

Kevin Mandolese: $85,000

Jonathan Gruden: $82,500

Mark Kastelic: $80,000

Jonathan Aspirot: $30,000

Total: $4,327,500

I have a hard time believing that Melnyk will be able to make that payment with all that has gone on recently.

Bro, no offence but you need to learn to accept someone else's opinion if they don't agree with you - as you deserve the same right.

I will say this about Boro-cop: he was one of the most liked and honourable players to wear a Sens jersey. Who played more mins than him? Zaitsev, Chabot, maybe Mike Rielly. And yet, only Chabot had more even strength points than him this year on the back end. #2 in hits after Tkachuk, #1 in shots blocked per game (>7.5!), #17 on the team in terms of giveaways per game. What the numbers don't reflect is the affect he has on the other players, the fans. One well known analyst said he would've given Boro a new contract just for what he brings on and off the ice. I get if you don't want him back or even if you think it'll take away from Wolanin, Brannstrom but to say he's not NHL caliber d-man or that he isn't a lose to the blue line is simply not true imo
- AlfieisKing

How exactly do you expect me to accept an opinion when it isn’t based in fact, logic, common sense, or any sense of rational thought? You constantly make all these ridiculous claims, trade offers, etc, on multiple threads, and then get all upset and defensive when people call you on it.

Before this season, boro was barely an NHL dman.....the only real thing he brought to the team was physicality. He played exactly one half season of okay hockey, not great but okay, and all of a sudden you’re saying he’s the 3rd best dman in the team.......come on man.

who cares about BORO he seems like a awesome character off the ice.. But we need better players that will help us get to a competitive level again. i was so pissed for signing hainsey last year, i dont wanna see sens roster full of bums LOL! lets get these kids in and shake off the nerves of their first season so they know what there up against, thats the only way of experience.

who cares about BORO he seems like a awesome character off the ice.. But we need better players that will help us get to a competitive level again. i was so pissed for signing hainsey last year, i dont wanna see sens roster full of bums LOL! lets get these kids in and shake off the nerves of their first season so they know what there up against, thats the only way of experience.
- SENS-sational

Ding ding ding, here’s the right answer.

For too long this team has been filled with “character guys” or “nice guys” or “guys with intangibles” but very few guys who could actually play hockey. Now that we have lots of these young talented guys knocking at the door, people are upset that the team didn’t re-sign a mediocre player who’s a nice guy.

How exactly do you expect me to accept an opinion when it isn’t based in fact, logic, common sense, or any sense of rational thought? You constantly make all these ridiculous claims, trade offers, etc, on multiple threads, and then get all upset and defensive when people call you on it.

Before this season, boro was barely an NHL dman.....the only real thing he brought to the team was physicality. He played exactly one half season of okay hockey, not great but okay, and all of a sudden you’re saying he’s the 3rd best dman in the team.......come on man.
- sensarmy_11

1) when I post something it may just be an idea or opinion in the moment I had or someone else suggested to me. It’s not something I’m putting on the GM’a table the next morning so relax
2) I don’t care if you or any few others were to “call me out”. What does that even mean. I’m calling u out on the fact that instead of debating with someone you tend to belittle and become rude to that poster for no reason - just say you disagree, share why, and move on with some dignity (if you are capable of showing some)
3) Boro leaving is not a big loss to me - only when taken into context of Sens letting all vets that were valuable leader and decent players. I think boro is hands down better than Rielly and unless they proves it to me, most of the players we think are already nhl ready. Hainsey’s numbers are not bad do I don’t know what some people are smoking

Ding ding ding, here’s the right answer.

For too long this team has been filled with “character guys” or “nice guys” or “guys with intangibles” but very few guys who could actually play hockey. Now that we have lots of these young talented guys knocking at the door, people are upset that the team didn’t re-sign a mediocre player who’s a nice guy.
- sensarmy_11

I agree

i can make a list of trash players on our team. Craig Anderson im so F*king happy hes gone.. what a lazy goalie as soon as defense messes up anderson would not even try to save a goal. i seen it too many times. Our records in the past years could have been way better due to those plays.

"Seriously the hockey itch I have is killing me.... The playoffs just don’t do it for me if the Sens aren’t playing. I just need SOMETHING to happen, whether that’s a contract extension or a trade or the new jersey. We have like 10 players on the roster with less than a month till free agency WHERE IS THE NEWS??? Is Pierre even alive?? The lack of Sens news since the LA game is driving me nuts and quite frankly is starting to make me concerned. With pretty much purely negative PR coming out (Staff salary cuts, Boro leaving) you’d think they’d do SOMETHING... All I can think is that they’re waiting for the Stanley cup to be awarded before making moves... But pretty much everyone is out at this point? Anyways can’t (frank)ing wait for the draft, just needed to rant a bit." Tweet of the day

saw this tweet from someone and this is exactly how i feel too.. can the EM be selling the team, and PD is waiting around until something is up. but i think something is up.. long waits for whatever news about sens.




- SENS-sational

interesting take, I feel you on the first paragraph ... good thing is we have the draft and free agency next month and by end of nov we'll start seeing sens hit the ice!!

i didn't say that was the only reason he wasn't brought back, i said it was probably a consideration. another consideration is that, regardless of what side he plays, him signing a longer term deal (which is likely what he wanted) would have eventually taken a roster spot away from a younger dman (Brannstrom, JBD, Wolanin, Thompson, Tychonik, etc). also, coming off a career year, he probably wanted to cash in on his next deal (realizing it was probably the only chance he'll ever get), it would be a terrible mistake to give a guy a deal based on a 50 game sample, when the rest of his career his was arguably an AHL dman at best.

boro was a great guy, amazing in the community, and i'll be sad he's not in Ottawa anymore.....but letting him go was ABSOLUTELY the right decision to make
- sensarmy_11

Without really knowing what Boro will get on the open market, I'm also ok moving on. I struggle with the "taking ice time" from someone else argument, but I get it. I've always hated the underlined notion that a middling roster player is holding back a younger player. If they are good enough, they will find a way to get them in. However, I get the general idea of wanting to get young players ice time.