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Forums :: Blog World :: Kevin Francis: Sens Gameday/Vegas players to target?!
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Sens Writer
Location: Vancouver, BC
Joined: 08.19.2013

Jan 13 @ 6:31 PM ET
He has some good years in Toronto and quite honestly, his production has dropped this year....not trying to be harsh, but he truly has fallen off this year. He still have over 50 games to get it back on track so lets hope he does!
- Kevin Francis

Fallen off to his best-ever PPG pace, where he's 4th on the team in scoring, and just 5pts away from Tkachuk/Norris? Mentioning him in the same breath as Tierney, Paul, and Murray is definitely harsh.
hello it's me 2050
Location: AR
Joined: 05.14.2021

Jan 13 @ 7:03 PM ET
Giroux
- Crosside

How much more is Ottawa adding?
Whatisavailable
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.20.2021

Jan 13 @ 7:04 PM ET
No a Leafs fan, but getting Mrazek would allow the Sens to buyout Murray this offseason!
- Kevin Francis

Why would you want to buy out Murray? Bury him in the minors and get rid of that contract ASAP while you still have the cap room. You don't want to be dealing with Matt Murray buyout money two years down the road when it could cost you a good player.

And in what universe is Mrazek a better option than either Forsberg or Gus?
Crosside
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.14.2019

Jan 13 @ 7:36 PM ET
How much more is Ottawa adding?
- hello it's me 2050

If we can come with an extension agreement , I add Tampa 2 rnd and Kelly
Crosside
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.14.2019

Jan 13 @ 7:38 PM ET
Pretty much the first things that crossed my mind too... the only issue there is that if Giroux is serious about coming to Ottawa, then he'd be serious about signing as a UFA instead of having to give up Brannstrom.
- khawk

Because you have not the chance to lose him, if trade for another team this year. And like it and want to sign with his new team
Crosside
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.14.2019

Jan 13 @ 7:55 PM ET
Kevin, for a Vegas player. Why not Marchessault. I heard rumor in the past that Dorion was interested
Sens Writer
Location: Vancouver, BC
Joined: 08.19.2013

Jan 13 @ 8:01 PM ET
Why would you want to buy out Murray? Bury him in the minors and get rid of that contract ASAP while you still have the cap room. You don't want to be dealing with Matt Murray buyout money two years down the road when it could cost you a good player.
- Whatisavailable

Let's face it... cap space in the long-term isn't the issue, real dollars in the short-term is the issue. The Murray buyout would result in a cap hit that varies from $750K-$2.5M over the next 4 years, but also free up $10M in real dollars over the next 2 years, and $5M overall. It's the same thing with Zaitsev... where buying him out for $833K/yr over the next 4 years saves them from paying $4.5M/yr over the next 2 years (i.e. $3.3M vs. $9.0M total). That's over $10M in real $$$ back in Melnyk's pocket, for a couple of players who at this point are effectively additions by subtraction... at a time when they have all sorts of young players looking for ice time, while on cheap ELC/RFA deals.

No brainer.
Crosside
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.14.2019

Jan 13 @ 8:07 PM ET
Kevin, to come back to yesterday about the potential future owner. I do my research, this is billionaire from Ottawa. Bill Malhotra 1.45b , family Greenberg 1.57b , Terry Matthews 1.69 b and the dream Tobias Lutke with 11.86 but was pretty clear in a couple interview, that not interested
Whatisavailable
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.20.2021

Jan 13 @ 8:34 PM ET
Let's face it... cap space in the long-term isn't the issue, real dollars in the short-term is the issue. The Murray buyout would result in a cap hit that varies from $750K-$2.5M over the next 4 years, but also free up $10M in real dollars over the next 2 years, and $5M overall. It's the same thing with Zaitsev... where buying him out for $833K/yr over the next 4 years saves them from paying $4.5M/yr over the next 2 years (i.e. $3.3M vs. $9.0M total). That's over $10M in real $$$ back in Melnyk's pocket, for a couple of players who at this point are effectively additions by subtraction... at a time when they have all sorts of young players looking for ice time, while on cheap ELC/RFA deals.

No brainer.

- khawk

I get the Zaitsev buyout and would do it and I understand your reasoning for Murray and if I thought this crew would use those savings wisely I probably would reluctantly support that as well but man I can't make myself believe that.
Bartacus
Ottawa Senators
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 01.08.2019

Jan 13 @ 9:17 PM ET
No a Leafs fan, but getting Mrazek would allow the Sens to buyout Murray this offseason!
- Kevin Francis


Oof. Gotta disagree on this - we shouldn't be trading one problem for another. UFA goalies are a dime a dozen - there are more NHL goalies out there than there are NHL goalie spots, no need to take on the terrible deals for such a critical position.

We coulda bought much lower like Dallas did with Holtby, for example. Does mentioning Dorion's name in the same sentence as 'UFA' scare me? You betcha, but I'd still opt for that highly likely debacle than the obvious certainty of a long term bad deal. See: Zaitsev, Nikita.
Bartacus
Ottawa Senators
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 01.08.2019

Jan 13 @ 9:22 PM ET
Fallen off to his best-ever PPG pace, where he's 4th on the team in scoring, and just 5pts away from Tkachuk/Norris? Mentioning him in the same breath as Tierney, Paul, and Murray is definitely harsh.
- khawk


Agree, Brown can play, though IMO he remains a third liner getting second line minutes, and it's looking that will continue next year. Worry playing him higher up more than he should will yield a $5M+ extension expectation. More or less what NYI ended up falling for with Pageau.
Bartacus
Ottawa Senators
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 01.08.2019

Jan 13 @ 9:29 PM ET
Because you have not the chance to lose him, if trade for another team this year. And like it and want to sign with his new team
- Crosside


Giroux has a full NMC and has hinted in the past he wouldn't waive it unless maybe to go home to Ottawa. He's got two kids under 3 and is the team's longest ever tenured captain - I've got a hunch the Flyers definitely approach him, but suspect he tells them to go away. Ottawa and any other interested team can check him out in UFA, makes far more sense then.
Whatisavailable
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.20.2021

Jan 13 @ 10:51 PM ET
So this is where Smith goes into full blown defensive mode to protect the lead for the whole third period. Everybody fall back and collapse on the net and everybody play goalie. Works every time.
Benny Blanco
Montreal Canadiens
Location: Islip, Long Island, NY
Joined: 07.25.2020

Jan 13 @ 11:35 PM ET
PM seen at the Game tonight in Calgary in the Press Box, in a compromised position like Kodak Black. I'm sure He had enough alcohol to get goofed but what about the flight tonight to Edmonton and bars still being open when they arrive. Who's going to save the Young Players from this Demon. Talk amongst yourselves.
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Jan 14 @ 5:27 AM ET
PM seen at the Game tonight in Calgary in the Press Box, in a compromised position like Kodak Black. I'm sure He had enough alcohol to get goofed but what about the flight tonight to Edmonton and bars still being open when they arrive. Who's going to save the Young Players from this Demon. Talk amongst yourselves.
- Benny Blanco


Gratefully, we are beginning to see less Covid talk. Quebec is removing all its sanctions on Monday. Going back to normal except unvaccinated folks who will remain uninvited to everything.

Octavarium
New York Islanders
Joined: 01.03.2007

Jan 14 @ 8:52 AM ET
I love connor brown and nick paul and both have been misused by the coach this year hence their down numbers. They're very effective players when used correctly.

I'll be the first to admit that somehow, the defense looked ok last night the way the coach played them.

was there a rumor out yesterday that Yzerman offered something for Branstrom?
Sens Writer
Location: Vancouver, BC
Joined: 08.19.2013

Jan 14 @ 12:31 PM ET
Agree, Brown can play, though IMO he remains a third liner getting second line minutes, and it's looking that will continue next year. Worry playing him higher up more than he should will yield a $5M+ extension expectation. More or less what NYI ended up falling for with Pageau.
- Bartacus

Brown can more than play - any criticism of him without evidence is pretty unwarranted, as far as I'm concerned. Sure, his goals are down, but he's on pace for 15G/60Pts, and the guy's still playing 20min/GP from the 2nd line... which is top-30 in the entire league in forward ice time. It's like Chabot playing 27min/GP... that kind of limits your ability to go all-out during your shifts. On another team, where his ice time would be more responsibly managed, he would be a very effective supporting winger. However, there's no way he should be retained past the term of his current deal. They should make him a prime trade deadline target next year, and get decent value back while he's still in his prime.
Octavarium
New York Islanders
Joined: 01.03.2007

Jan 14 @ 2:27 PM ET
well now C.Brown isn't going to be playing at all...
Sens Writer
Location: Vancouver, BC
Joined: 08.19.2013

Jan 14 @ 3:09 PM ET
Pretty solid road effort last night - and clearly a good night the much-maligned 2nd line, with a combined 3G-3A production from Paul, Brown, and Formenton. As for the 1st line, I thought Norris looked a bit lost at times, but Tkachuk played a good game, and Batherson had a number of sneaky chances, including the one he snuck past Markstrom late in the 2nd period. Sabourin looked like he dislocated a finger or something in the Lucic fight... but good for him for hanging in there.

On D, it looks liked Brannstrom was trying to do too much at times - but he was skating well, and chipping in where he could. Still, it was a very undisciplined penalty early-on that could have put them behind, and some of the puck decisions were questionable. It's hard to see him as developing into more than a #5 guy, with 2nd-unit PP time. Bernard-Docker looked far more effective while cast in a top-4 role with Chabot, as did Thomson during his call-up. Factor in Sanderson, and there just isn't going to be room for Brannstrom beyond the 3rd pairing.
Sens Writer
Location: Vancouver, BC
Joined: 08.19.2013

Jan 14 @ 3:23 PM ET
well now C.Brown isn't going to be playing at all...
- Octavarium

Bad luck with the broken jaw. I'd like to think they'll shift one of Ennis or Gambrell over to compensate, or that it could give Sokolov a chance to play the #2RW role for a while... but they're just as likely to do something absurd like try to play Watson or Sabourin there.
Bartacus
Ottawa Senators
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 01.08.2019

Jan 14 @ 4:44 PM ET
Factor in Sanderson, and there just isn't going to be room for Brannstrom beyond the 3rd pairing.
- khawk


Agreed sir, it's just a bummer they couldn't have run him out a bunch, mistakes and all, boost his stats so we could flip him.

I am afraid the 'star' piece in the Stone trade - the 'proudest' piece, if you will - is going to get a L. Brown level of return.
Sens Writer
Location: Vancouver, BC
Joined: 08.19.2013

Jan 14 @ 6:47 PM ET
Agreed sir, it's just a bummer they couldn't have run him out a bunch, mistakes and all, boost his stats so we could flip him.

I am afraid the 'star' piece in the Stone trade - the 'proudest' piece, if you will - is going to get a L. Brown level of return.

- Bartacus

You're right to be afraid. They effectively f#$%ed Brannstrom the minute they drafted Sanderson, and have inexplicably done nothing in the past year to resolve the situation. I mean, if you're not going to balance out your drafting for positional need, then you better damn well grow a pair when it comes to trading from a positional strength. When Holden/Del Zotto were brought in, it should have been perfectly clear that Brannstrom should be traded ASAP. Instead, he's gone from a player with 13pts/30GP (NHL) and 5pts/4GP (AHL), to a player with 0Pts/4GP (NHL) and 3Pts/9GP (AHL). Combined with Dorion's idiotic over-enthusiastic reaction to the Stone trade, and you have what is no doubt their crowning achievement in prospect mismanagement.
Crosside
Ottawa Senators
Joined: 08.14.2019

Jan 14 @ 6:54 PM ET
Another good interview by Dorion at Edmonton radio with Bob Stauffer. PD talk a lot lately, nice.
PuckPix
Joined: 01.12.2021

Jan 15 @ 1:56 AM ET
Another good interview by Dorion at Edmonton radio with Bob Stauffer. PD talk a lot lately, nice.
- Crosside


Why is this so called GM doing interviews on Edmonton radio and dodges Ottawa radio? As an outsider, this smells. He's following his owner Melnyk who only does Toronto sports radio lol.
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