Ottawa could've easily outdone LA on a deal but like you and a few others said, use the pick on someone that this team needs!!!
- Kevin Francis

Ottawa no doubt could've offered the Wild more but that 7 year deal, no thanks.

Do you have see other big name rfa sign yet. And for Zub can be re-sign before 13 July
- Crosside

You are right as usual. Sometimes folks just don't know what they are talking about. Others are just premature speculators. Chicago speculators led by some sports writers are getting themselves all hot and bothered with the idea that Dibrincat is headed our our way for the #7 and a second round pick (from Tampa). Chicago would take back contracts of Murray and Zaitsev. In addition, Hawks would like Ridley Grieg and a defensive prospect (perhaps Thompson). Not a player I would want.

I have my list of forwards starting with Dubois. If you could figure out how to do an Eastern, physical version of the Sedins. What would I offer for Mathew Tkachuk? What would he want as a top number on a 7 year deal?

You are right as usual. Sometimes folks just don't know what they are talking about. Others are just premature speculators. Chicago speculators led by some sports writers are getting themselves all hot and bothered with the idea that Dibrincat is headed our our way for the #7 and a second round pick (from Tampa). Chicago would take back contracts of Murray and Zaitsev. In addition, Hawks would like Ridley Grieg and a defensive prospect (perhaps Thompson). Not a player I would want.

I have my list of forwards starting with Dubois. If you could figure out how to do an Eastern, physical version of the Sedins. What would I offer for Mathew Tkachuk? What would he want as a top number on a 7 year deal?
- spatso

Probably want something like 7 x 9.5M

It really shows you how the Wild didn't get much for a guy who is now making 8 million. He had a career year, who knows if he duplicates it again. The Wild gets a 7th ranked prospect from the Kings organization and a bottom half first round pick.

- LawyerSens4Life

I found the timing of this deal weird. Not sure, but I think Minnesota would have got more in a 1st, 2nd and 3rd pick had LA waited and been forced into making an offer sheet at those dollar levels. The market is really soft for players looking to cash in on a big pay day. Most of the usual teams wanting to make big off season moves are dead in the water because of their own cap issues.

Rangers are sending out signals that they are unhappy with Panarin and may also be open to moving Lafreniere. They may not even make an RFA offer to extend Kakko. This is all about cap and nothing else. Rangers went too fast in adding salary. They might limp through this summer. But next year they are the new Minnesota. But...Leafs, Bolts, Calgary, Vancouver and others are caught in the same three more years of frozen cap.

You are right as usual. Sometimes folks just don't know what they are talking about. Others are just premature speculators. Chicago speculators led by some sports writers are getting themselves all hot and bothered with the idea that Dibrincat is headed our our way for the #7 and a second round pick (from Tampa). Chicago would take back contracts of Murray and Zaitsev. In addition, Hawks would like Ridley Grieg and a defensive prospect (perhaps Thompson). Not a player I would want.

I have my list of forwards starting with Dubois. If you could figure out how to do an Eastern, physical version of the Sedins. What would I offer for Mathew Tkachuk? What would he want as a top number on a 7 year deal?
- spatso

Simmer said teams are free to talk with them both right now that the league wont stop them, they just cant make it official until July 13th.

I found the timing of this deal weird. Not sure, but I think Minnesota would have got more in a 1st, 2nd and 3rd pick had LA waited and been forced into making an offer sheet at those dollar levels. The market is really soft for players looking to cash in on a big pay day. Most of the usual teams wanting to make big off season moves are dead in the water because of their own cap issues.

Rangers are sending out signals that they are unhappy with Panarin and may also be open to moving Lafreniere. They may not even make an RFA offer to extend Kakko. This is all about cap and nothing else. Rangers went too fast in adding salary. They might limp through this summer. But next year they are the new Minnesota. But...Leafs, Bolts, Calgary, Vancouver and others are caught in the same three more years of frozen cap.
- spatso

TSN1200 played the Bill Guerin clip after the trade, just now on the radio. Guerin said LA was the only team that was serious, that a few other teams kicked the tires on it, that was it. Good job Dorion, you could've outdone that trade return so easily. Dorion better have one heck of a plan the next 3 weeks or he will be left standing with nothing yet again, like has done the last 2 summers. Like you said spatso, teams are in bad spots, GM's need to capitalize on those players, if they were smart. Unfortunately the word smart and Dorion never go in the same phrase.

Happy the Fiala noise is gone. Now there is this obsession with moving the number 7 pick. Dorion has got to do it or the world will end!

I will be happy if Dorion just signs Norris, Zub, Formenton and Joseph to reasonable deals and uses the pick to add another top prospect. Please let there not be another Dorion "proudest day of his life" moment.
- Whatisavailable

Agreed, having Fiala off the board is a relief. If they do a good job with their RFA, and draft a quality top-10 player, that would hardly be the worst thing in the world. However, I'm concerned with their apparent level of desperation to move the #7 overall pick... it's just a solution looking for a problem, and I'm worried Dorion might actually go out and find one. Fortunately, he seems scared off by RFA players who need new deals. Personally, my money is on Arizona being the only team that really fits their situation, with all of Keller, Chychrun, or Schmaltz being of potential interest.

Probably want something like 7 x 9.5M
- Crosside

Sens could make Calgary a wickedly good offer. But Mathew would need to accept a contract in the range of $8m. Getting the players to buy into the Brady cap is really important. When the cap goes to $96m three years out you need to have your top 6 salaries at or around $48m (50% of cap).

Brady Tkachuk
Norris
Stutzle
A power forward to be named later
Chabot
Sanderson

Still lots of cap space to have another 6 players averaging in the $5m range (Goalie, Formenton, Batherson, Zub and another top 4 D). There would be lots of cap space to finish off filling in the pieces if you hope to be a serious contender.

Weird timing on this one to say the least.
Of course Fiala will look great in LA's quick rebuild/turnaround line up. But the long term hit on that deal is gonna be like a Turris deal.

Certainly an underwhelming offer.

TSN1200 played the Bill Guerin clip after the trade, just now on the radio. Guerin said LA was the only team that was serious, that a few other teams kicked the tires on it, that was it. Good job Dorion, you could've outdone that trade return so easily. Dorion better have one heck of a plan the next 3 weeks or he will be left standing with nothing yet again, like has done the last 2 summers. Like you said spatso, teams are in bad spots, GM's need to capitalize on those players, if they were smart. Unfortunately the word smart and Dorion never go in the same phrase.
- LawyerSens4Life

That is really encouraging news.

As much as we would like to see something big happen this summer, the cap stress on multiple clubs will be even more severe next summer. Just as important, we are not going to see a lot of bidders when the UFA season begins.

Once the high profile RFAs and UFAs sign deals, players will need to lower their expectations.

Guerin saying he only had one serious buyer (LAK) tells us this market is very soft and is going to get even more wobbly for the sellers.

Weird timing on this one to say the least.
Of course Fiala will look great in LA's quick rebuild/turnaround line up. But the long term hit on that deal is gonna be like a Turris deal.

Certainly an underwhelming offer.
- Octavarium

OH yes on the Turris deal, so true.

Sens could make Calgary a wickedly good offer. But Mathew would need to accept a contract in the range of $8m. Getting the players to buy into the Brady cap is really important. When the cap goes to $96m three years out you need to have your top 6 salaries at or around $48m (50% of cap).

Brady Tkachuk
Norris
Stutzle
A power forward to be named later
Chabot
Sanderson

Still lots of cap space to have another 6 players averaging in the $5m range (Goalie, Formenton, Batherson, Zub and another top 4 D). There would be lots of cap space to finish off filling in the pieces if you hope to be a serious contender.
- spatso

I could get on board with that deal.

That is really encouraging news.

As much as we would like to see something big happen this summer, the cap stress on multiple clubs will be even more severe next summer. Just as important, we are not going to see a lot of bidders when the UFA season begins.

Once the high profile RFAs and UFAs sign deals, players will need to lower their expectations.

Guerin saying he only had one serious buyer (LAK) tells us this market is very soft and is going to get even more wobbly for the sellers.
- spatso

There will be a huge drop off after the first 2 days of UFA, plus many teams will have hard a time retaining all of their RFA's. This cap thing is going to force teams to do things they probably wouldn't want to do.

There will be a huge drop off after the first 2 days of UFA, plus many teams will have hard a time retaining all of their RFA's. This cap thing is going to force teams to do things they probably wouldn't want to do.
- LawyerSens4Life

Over the last couple of months the Sens are making a lot of "right" choices.

Something has changed in the decision making tree or at least in how decisions are being presented to the fan base.

Whatever the Sens do they will want to market the choice in the most effective manner possible. We will not see Alex Trebek on draft day. However, I think it will be a big day that reflects a very positive note on where ownership wants to go. Whatever they do, it will be packaged to encourage season ticket sales.

Thank goodness LA set a price for a pending RFA. Its a second half of the first round pick and a middling prospect. A top ten pick should be worth much more, commensurately. Imagine this deal happened after the sens sent the 7, Brannstrom and Jarventie for PLD.

Over the last couple of months the Sens are making a lot of "right" choices.

Something has changed in the decision making tree or at least in how decisions are being presented to the fan base.

Whatever the Sens do they will want to market the choice in the most effective manner possible. We will not see Alex Trebek on draft day. However, I think it will be a big day that reflects a very positive note on where ownership wants to go. Whatever they do, it will be packaged to encourage season ticket sales.
- spatso

Huh?! On the ice, awful lately. Trade deadline they get Hamonic when they didn't have too, nor give up a 3rd because your GM says he didn't have a 4th so he gave the Canucks 3rd. Then they fire PM then they lose Peter Mac. Nothing hockey related has gone well the last few months. Plus how they wouldn't pay Nick Paul 200-300k more per year, that is nickel and diming at it's finest.

Just because Alfie is in the HOF now or that they got an arena go ahead, but no further ahead then they were in 2018, has nothing to do with the on ice product for next year. Nothing.

Thank goodness LA set a price for a pending RFA. Its a second half of the first round pick and a middling prospect. A top ten pick should be worth much more, commensurately. Imagine this deal happened after the sens sent the 7, Brannstrom and Jarventie for PLD.
- Bartacus

Great point.

Huh?! On the ice, awful lately. Trade deadline they get Hamonic when they didn't have too, nor give up a 3rd because your GM says he didn't have a 4th so he gave the Canucks 3rd. Then they fire PM then they lose Peter Mac. Nothing hockey related has gone well the last few months. Plus how they wouldn't pay Nick Paul 200-300k more per year, that is nickel and diming at it's finest.

Just because Alfie is in the HOF now or that they got an arena go ahead, but no further ahead then they were in 2018, has nothing to do with the on ice product for next year. Nothing.
- LawyerSens4Life

If you look at the larger picture, the Sens will take off more than $25m. from payroll in next three years (or less). Hated to see Nick Paul go and will be same for Connor Brown. But this team is being set up to contend. You need the rotation of salary dollars out in order to accommodate the legitimate demands of the kids as they grow.

If you look at each transaction as an end in itself you will find many things that could have been better. But Hamonic and Del Zotto, for example, need to be understood as place holders . Warm bodies eating up more than $5m but they serve a useful purpose in transition because they have little term remaining on their deals. Most important, they are gone at the end of this year, just in time for the Sens to re-up Zub. Zaitsev at $4.5m is gone in two years when the Sens will have to look at a long term deal for Sanderson. Murray $6.250m x2 and White $4.750x3 are more problematic and Sens will need to make a few sweet moves in order to free up their dollars.

Thank goodness LA set a price for a pending RFA. Its a second half of the first round pick and a middling prospect. A top ten pick should be worth much more, commensurately. Imagine this deal happened after the sens sent the 7, Brannstrom and Jarventie for PLD.
- Bartacus

My season ticket deposit is in the mail.

Right now, this morning, my priorities in order of preference of players where it has been hinted the player might be moved are:

PLD
M. Tkachuk
Lafreniere
Evander (trade with San Jose off arbitration ruling)

I don't want anybody small. Maybe Clayton Keller if a smaller player was considered. And, if Arizona took back Colin White as part of the package along with picks and prospects (Keller has a nice contract).

DeBrincat
Chychrun

Simmer hinted at a big move to Arizona.

DeBrincat
Chychrun

Simmer hinted at a big move to Arizona.
- Octavarium

Really. Does not seem to make sense for either team. Perhaps they are making nice with each other to create some buzz because they are not getting the interest or offers they were hoping to get.

My season ticket deposit is in the mail.

Right now, this morning, my priorities in order of preference of players where it has been hinted the player might be moved are:

PLD
M. Tkachuk
Lafreniere
Evander (trade with San Jose off arbitration ruling)

I don't want anybody small. Maybe Clayton Keller if a smaller player was considered. And, if Arizona took back Colin White as part of the package along with picks and prospects (Keller has a nice contract).
- spatso

For a perennial 60 point player yes but for a 40 point player no, keller would be a disaster if a trade imo. Too much of a risk

For a perennial 60 point player yes but for a 40 point player no, keller would be a disaster if a trade imo. Too much of a risk
- Mithos

Interesting.

Just read Garrioch's column from this morning.

He is usually pretty close on his Sens inside information.

Garrioch says Sens are making noises about moving out White (buy out or possibly a trade to Montreal) moving Zaitsev (Arizona), considering possible move of Connor Brown and buying out or trading Murray.

A trade with Montreal would involve the #7 going, I assume Anderson and/or a Dman would be coming our way. Not a fan of giving up the #7 in this kind of deal.

Still think Ottawa and Philly match up.

You want a top 6 wing. Travis Konecny could be had. His numbers are comparable to Fiala over his career and also only a 5.5mil cap hit.

Garrioch has inside information because he's essentially on the team payroll. He releases what they tell him to release and makes it sound nice. Very little actual reporting or sleuthing or contacts with him beyond what PD tells him.