Ovi has a solid chance to catch gretzky. 2 of my favourite players of last 10 years malkin and ovechkin. Quintessential power forwards.
I tuned in to pitts and wash home feeds to get a different perspective. Both well done. Both giving ottawa glowing reviews for whats to come for the team . The washington broadcast felt like they were talking more about the sens then the caps. All positive.

Busy with work and family this weekend, wasn't able to be around the blog last night. If you want to have a game preview for the game today, jump over to Zak's blog, the Jackets blogger at HB! Have a read.

Stutzle!

He is very good.

Stutzle!

He is very good.
- spatso

What a goal!

Nice game winner. 1 shot 1goal.

Stutzle

First 21 games - 1 goal, 7 assists - 8 points (0.381 ppg)
Last 13 games - 6 goals, 5 assists - 11 points (0.846 ppg)

Someone's heating up. He needs to play center!

Watched columbus feed. Those guys knew the Sens past 5 game history. Were giving out stats on sens players . Well studied on the opponent. Hats off to the Columbus broadcast team.

I will have a blog up this afternoon, working on it during lunch today.

Stutzle

First 21 games - 1 goal, 7 assists - 8 points (0.381 ppg)
Last 13 games - 6 goals, 5 assists - 11 points (0.846 ppg)

Someone's heating up. He needs to play center!
- AlfieisKing

This was by necessity due to injury. It wasn't because this coaching staff wanted it, once again DJ not doing what he should do. Just like Brannstrom wanting to play RD but he kept saying no, now look where Erik is!

Watched columbus feed. Those guys knew the Sens past 5 game history. Were giving out stats on sens players . Well studied on the opponent. Hats off to the Columbus broadcast team.
- spazzbot

They are actually pretty good, I watch a bunch of hockey and listen to different duos, they are always spot on that crew.

100 percent agree, Kevin. Gus needs to see regular game time rather than pissing around with Forsberg. There's a reason he has been placed on waivers in the past.

It's hard to tell what's going on with Murray but I don't think anyone has him penciled in as the Sens goalie of the future.

I like your D prediction. I don't think it will happen because Smith likes Zaitsev and Brown too much but we can always hope.
- Whatisavailable

Thanks! Send Gus down now, get him some games this weekend in Belleville! I really think the one guy who gets bought out is Zaitsev and not Colin White. If White has a good year next season, he has value but nobody will touch Zaitsev in this league....so you buy out the guy that has no value to anyone.

Thanks! Send Gus down now, get him some games this weekend in Belleville! I really think the one guy who gets bought out is Zaitsev and not Colin White. If White has a good year next season, he has value but nobody will touch Zaitsev in this league....so you buy out the guy that has no value to anyone.
- Kevin Francis

Zaitsev at 50% off seems like a reasonable add for a 5/6 defenceman. I think that some teams may find that to be a decent price. That would be cheaper than a buyout and the cap hit does not linger beyond his contract.

Zaitsev at 50% off seems like a reasonable add for a 5/6 defenceman. I think that some teams may find that to be a decent price. That would be cheaper than a buyout and the cap hit does not linger beyond his contract.
- SensFan25

Fair enough, he's fine in the 5/6 role because then he doesn't see the top 2 lines much at all! Teams in the West are thin on defense. The Kraken lost Carson Soucy early in the game last night, they are super thin!

Thanks! Send Gus down now, get him some games this weekend in Belleville! I really think the one guy who gets bought out is Zaitsev and not Colin White. If White has a good year next season, he has value but nobody will touch Zaitsev in this league....so you buy out the guy that has no value to anyone.
- Kevin Francis

The only reason I can think of why the Sens are giving Forsberg so much work lately is because they are showcasing him for a trade. That, and the fact Matt Murray is made of glass and/or a complete headcase.

This was by necessity due to injury. It wasn't because this coaching staff wanted it, once again DJ not doing what he should do. Just like Brannstrom wanting to play RD but he kept saying no, now look where Erik is!
- Kevin Francis

Oh jeez I just checked the lineups. Riding shotgun on the right side with Chabot. 2D.

I mean, I get that we're all armchair GMs here but it's been beaten to death on this forum that
a) Brannstrom should get more time and
b) maybe the coaching staff should try listening to what the player says about their playing preference and just give it a go?

I get that coaches are conditioned to believe certain things, and get all rigid about lefty left side and righty right... but when you're clearly not going to make the playoffs, the unwillingness to try things out, especially when those opportunities are spelled out for you, is exceedingly myopic. In Ottawa's case, the pandemic absences and injuries have forced this hand, not the initiative of the people behind the bench making decisions. Sad to say, coach COVID has done a lot for this team.

The only reason I can think of why the Sens are giving Forsberg so much work lately is because they are showcasing him for a trade. That, and the fact Matt Murray is made of glass and/or a complete headcase.
- GrimmdaGoalie

This. Forsberg's numbers are the best of our bunch by a noticeable margin, and his age, pending UFA and low cap hit would make him a valuable pickup for a team needing goaltending depth. Capable goalies coming off down years, like AF, are always available in FA. GMPD would do well to wait until the musical chairs of overpriced FA contracts are handed out day 1 to fish for a decent 30 something backstopper on a cheap 1/2 year deal, like Dallas did with Holtby. Heck, you could probably snag Forsberg himself on such a deal if so desired.

They are actually pretty good, I watch a bunch of hockey and listen to different duos, they are always spot on that crew.
- Kevin Francis

Right on. Its fun watching the other feed.

Those guys are way superior then Kevin Bieska. In fact every show ive seen know more about a Canadian team then then the hack cbc has.

Zaitsev at 50% off seems like a reasonable add for a 5/6 defenceman. I think that some teams may find that to be a decent price. That would be cheaper than a buyout and the cap hit does not linger beyond his contract.
- SensFan25

That's not true... a buyout is $1.17M cheaper in real dollars, with a relatively small difference in cap hit. Plus, it avoids the scenario of Melnyk having to pay nearly 1/2 the remaining money owed as bonuses, regardless of GP or injury. So unless someone hands over something Melnyk thinks is worth more than $1.17M plus the trouble of having to pay $1M on July 1st of each of the next 2 summers, they'll go the buyout route.

Oh jeez I just checked the lineups. Riding shotgun on the right side with Chabot. 2D.

I mean, I get that we're all armchair GMs here but it's been beaten to death on this forum that
a) Brannstrom should get more time and
b) maybe the coaching staff should try listening to what the player says about their playing preference and just give it a go?

I get that coaches are conditioned to believe certain things, and get all rigid about lefty left side and righty right... but when you're clearly not going to make the playoffs, the unwillingness to try things out, especially when those opportunities are spelled out for you, is exceedingly myopic. In Ottawa's case, the pandemic absences and injuries have forced this hand, not the initiative of the people behind the bench making decisions. Sad to say, coach COVID has done a lot for this team.
- Bartacus

Coach Covid and Assistant Coach Injury are the only reason Stutzle is at the C position and Formenton on the left side. I've posted in the past that I think first chance Smith gets Stutzle goes back to the LW and Formenton gets moved down to the fourth line. I really hope I'm wrong.

This was by necessity due to injury. It wasn't because this coaching staff wanted it, once again DJ not doing what he should do. Just like Brannstrom wanting to play RD but he kept saying no, now look where Erik is!
- Kevin Francis

Fair enough, he's fine in the 5/6 role because then he doesn't see the top 2 lines much at all! Teams in the West are thin on defense. The Kraken lost Carson Soucy early in the game last night, they are super thin!
- Kevin Francis

That's a good idea.

Zaitsev is very popular among the coach (the main reason I imagine why he's here). DJ said he's an "elite defender". I don't know about that.

Methot, Phillips, and Volchenkov were elite defenders in my eyes. Zaitsev may have his moments and again I agree he's better as a 5/6 role and a cap hit of 3-3.5m.