Not a big fan of trading Nick Paul. Team is going to need quality depth players if they are ever going to compete. Last time I felt this way was when the Sens chose not to resign Boro. Character matters. Kids need some support that is more than just more kids.
- spatso

My feeling exactly. They talk about getting vets so why trade away those quality vets for late round picks?

wow, what a shot by Stutzle

wow, what a shot by Stutzle
- Mithos

Nice!

Every time I start putting together my piece today, more info comes in to me from various sources. I will be posting something late night, 100% on rumours, etc...with March Break, busy day with the kids and family.

Is anybody else getting tired of these stupid offensive zone penalties by Tkachuk?

Not a big fan of trading Nick Paul. Team is going to need quality depth players if they are ever going to compete. Last time I felt this way was when the Sens chose not to resign Boro. Character matters. Kids need some support that is more than just more kids.
- spatso

Yes I agree on losing Boro was not good. But at one point do you stop overpaying for guys that are good in the room. 2 years from now, will that 4yrs/10 mil look bad if Paul is on the 4th line? This game is going to more and more speed, Paul's footspeed is already an issue. I guess if you got a haul for him that helps immediately by using those prospects and picks you get for Paul to translate that into a top 4 D or top 6 forward, then you do it. I guess time will tell. But I do get where you are coming from.

Is anybody else getting tired of these stupid offensive zone penalties by Tkachuk?
- Whatisavailable

He does take quite a lot of careless penalties. Its something that you would hope that coaching staff talks to him about.....oh wait, they wont.....only if you are Brannsrom or White will they give you a tongue lashing.

I like Nick Paul. I like the penalty kill and chemistry with Brown. Like....actual chemistry. They know each other so well on the ice. That's worth bumping it up to 2.8.

This team needs some fan support. Too bad we couldn't rally a sell out. These kids need to hear what 18.5 sounds like.

I also think some coach fantasy going on here. Pretty sure the bridges have been burned on Luke Richardson. I'd be shocked if he even picked up the phone were PD to call.
- Octavarium

As long as PD is there, agreed on Luke.

My God, that's a crazy price tag. Even a 2nd round pick or one of those prospects for Paul would be very good value, let alone something approaching that boatload.
- khawk

2 first round and 2 fourth round picks plus 2 prospects, man that is a ridiculous haul!

2 first round and 2 fourth round picks plus 2 prospects, man that is a ridiculous haul!
- Kevin Francis

the 2 fourths are going to tampa, CHI get 2023 and 2024 1st and Katchouk and Raddysh for a guy signed 2 more years after this at 1.5M having a career year

Not a big fan of trading Nick Paul. Team is going to need quality depth players if they are ever going to compete. Last time I felt this way was when the Sens chose not to resign Boro. Character matters. Kids need some support that is more than just more kids.
- spatso

I wasn't really endorsing the decision to trade Paul, so much as identifying the relative value he might be able to yield if he wasn't interested in re-signing. That's the part of the equation that people never seem to quite process... you can't just will a player to sign an extension. There's also a legitimate question of whether he would continue to get played well over his head (i.e. 2nd line), if they were to bring him back on a multi-year contract extension.

I would be happy with being in the mix for the playoffs untill the last week. And would be estatic if they squeaked in.

How to get there? Its really going to take a quantum turn from where their at now. Many troubles in many areas.

Pinto and sanderson will be a boost but not enough next year. As well as a big pick at this draft. Best case scenario with Sanderson and a big pick this year is at least 2 seasons (3??) away from being impactfull

They need a a legit top 2 dman via trade if possible.

I think the scoring can sustain them as is. But wouldnt hurt to be looking for that legit # C via trade.
Both those options are easier said then done. But imo the D man is where the focus needs to be.
I remember before Melynk making fun of the Leafs. Saying they forgot about defence .
Goaltending. Is what it is. Forsberg has proven to be capable enough. 90% of the teams are not comfortable with their goal situation. But what a position , that makes the difference.
Gm and coaching, well enoughs been said.
Ditto ownership...but thats the 1 position that is most secure. Like it or not.
- spazzbot

Yup they beyond need D! That has to be what they acquire first for next season!!!

I wasn't really endorsing the decision to trade Paul, so much as identifying the relative value he might be able to yield if he wasn't interested in re-signing. That's the part of the equation that people never seem to quite process... you can't just will a player to sign an extension. There's also a legitimate question of whether he would continue to get played well over his head (i.e. 2nd line), if they were to bring him back on a multi-year contract extension.
- khawk

Dean Brown said it very well on the air, all the time and $, extra coaching they put into Nick Paul to get him to the point he is at, to be a valuable guy and now cash in at free agency, you would hope all that time and investment meant something. He said how maybe Paul doesn't fit into another teams systems or lineup the same way as he does here should be something Paul thinks about. He's not saying hometown discount but if Ottawa hadn't been patient, maybe he's in Europe by now playing hockey and not in the NHL.

the 2 fourths are going to tampa, CHI get 2023 and 2024 1st and Katchouk and Raddysh for a guy signed 2 more years after this at 1.5M having a career year
- Mithos

Ah ok, they were talking on the pregame show about it, kids in the car, they just said the 6 pieces.....ok that makes sense then. but still nice haul.

Ah ok, they were talking on the pregame show about it, kids in the car, they just said the 6 pieces.....ok that makes sense then. but still nice haul.
- Kevin Francis

real bad if he regresses to 3rd/4th line numbers his last 2 years

Looking on to next season, what are the realistic ways this team manages to take the next step we were hoping would have occured this year.

Does adding Pinto and Sanderson, coupled with the development of the young players make enough of a difference, and is anyone in Belleville ready, like JBD?

If they get lucky and add a big name player from the draft, that could make a big difference, but much of that will depend if the player is NHL ready from the start.
- david22

Thomson and JBD are getting remarks from Troy Mann in Belleville. I would like to see these guys again before the end of the season even if for a few games to see how they are look compared to back in January.

real bad if he regresses to 3rd/4th line numbers his last 2 years
- Mithos

That is what I have been saying all week, in 2 years is Paul a 4th liner?! Who knows. but it's something you got to ask yourself with all the prospects coming.

That is what I have been saying all week, in 2 years is Paul a 4th liner?! Who knows. but it's something you got to ask yourself with all the prospects coming.
- Kevin Francis

hes a 3rd liner now, OTT got plenty of prospects better than him waiting 2m/year for 2-3 years is what he should get max, he is not a high point producer either

hes a 3rd liner now, OTT got plenty of prospects better than him waiting 2m/year for 2-3 years is what he should get max, he is not a high point producer either
- Mithos

The one thing that does worry me about Paul is that plus/minus and in talking with a few people in the org, I guess the team has felt that his play away from the puck this year has been a struggle.

The one thing that does worry me about Paul is that plus/minus and in talking with a few people in the org, I guess the team has felt that his play away from the puck this year has been a struggle.
- Kevin Francis

for a guy who is supposed to be good defensively, he is at -18 but there are 5 other guys on the ice with him..

It doesnt matter who plays with Zaitsev, he's great at one thing, making his defense partner look awful. Zaitsev is truly captain chaos out there. That Flyers goal, ugh!

for a guy who is supposed to be good defensively, he is at -18 but there are 5 other guys on the ice with him..
- Mithos

Outside of Stutzle's -22, nobody is close to Paul in that dept. Crazy to see Mete with -15 and only 31 games played, yikes! MDZ -9 in 10 games or Brannstrom -14 in 31 games but number is in large part due to JBrown.

would love too see how OTT would do with a actual NHL coach....

would love too see how OTT would do with a actual NHL coach....
- Mithos

You and many others! I guess we can wish!

would love too see how OTT would do with a actual NHL coach....
- Mithos

Being there the other night, I've not seen a head coach do so little, be so quiet behind the bench. He truly has no presence on the bench. We were 5 rows up from the bench, it was silence.