One thing to remember, so far, the Senators have not lost a single prospect this off season.

They are flush with assets and can easily improve the defence.
- HoweHatrick

Yes, exactly....so lets go PD.....

Honestly, to say marginally influential is way off....talk to any NHL GM or past/current coach....they will tell you otherwise. Even PD said a very good NHL coach can get you an extra 10 points a season.....that is telling!
- Kevin Francis

I believe a good coach can get a better result. I do believe a bad or stale coach can ride his team down or fail to make approriate adjustments. I am not saying coaches are unimportant. But coaches are jockies, maybe he is able to get more from the horse than another rider. But, in the end, it is really about what the horse is capable of doing.

I just hope that if the Sens get off to a great start we do't have to listen at length to folks claiming that Smith has done a great coaching job.

2016 was a great draft class. Looking at them and their current contract status may provide some insight into why teams are shifting and wanting to sign more recent elite RFA's to long term deals.

1. Auston Matthews is a UFA in only two years and Leaf fans are hyper anxious about his walking (I believe he will resign in Toronto for close to a max contract that could be 20% of $90m =$18m.) . 2. Patrick Laine is currently an RFA has already been traded once and has been pretty open about wanting to play in California. 3. Pierre Luc Dubois already flipped for Laine and says he will not sign long term deal, he wants to play in the East (perhaps Montreal). 4. Jesse Puljarrvi does not want to resign with Edmonton, has asked to be traded on multiple occasions. 6. Matthew Tkachuk is causing nervousness in Calgary, they fear he will only sign minimum term RFA deal and go directly into free agency as soon as possible.

The $8m deal for Norris (2017 draft) will begin to look like a $6m contract soon enough.

If his production holds, the Batherson contract is looking amazing. Having him locked up until the end of the 26-27 season at $5M is and will continue to be outstanding value for the team. I hope they find a way to kick the man some alternate income doing commercials or the like.

If his production holds, the Batherson contract is looking amazing. Having him locked up until the end of the 26-27 season at $5M is and will continue to be outstanding value for the team. I hope they find a way to kick the man some alternate income doing commercials or the like.
- HoweHatrick

Nathan Mackinnon $6.3m. 4th best on the Colorado payroll. Maybe he goes to 5th if Kadri resigns.

Batherson will have his chance to catch up.

I wonder if Kadri, like Klingberg, have priced themselves out of the market. And now they've both missed their window.

Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
· Mar 29
The #NHL reiterated today that the projection is the $1 billion debt held by the players will be repaid to owners by the end of the 2024-25 season.

If that projection holds, 2025-26 is the first season the salary cap could rise significantly.

This is now the dead cap era. Multiple teams like the Rangers, Flyers, Las Vegas, Leafs and at least 10 more rosters are totally dead in in the water. They will struggle to be able to resign their own players over the next three years.

Klingburg will not be alone in searching for a short term placement.

Star players will always get their money but cost of older players will come down as all the young guys suck up the free cash.

Jesse Winchester said Greig has been incredible at dev camp....he has looked good when I have been there. PD said Boucher will be the type of player that will help you win a Stanley CUp on that show....high praise. Greig will get to play WJ's too....he should have a hell of a camp!
- Kevin Francis

Still a little perplexed at the Boucher pick, regardless of how strong his camp is going.

These comments seem to reiteate something someone else said on these boards, that the Senes were at the point of contention, and they needed a guy like Boucher more than a high level prospect.

Not to take away from the strong strides they've made this off-season, but I still think the higher level prospect would have been the better move.

But it is what it is. We'll see if this team will start to make strides, and maybe Boucher will be that guy to help them when things get tough.

Not true! Dubas did not call about uniting Zaitsev with Mete on the Leafs 3rd pairing

Talks with Klingberg has picked up. He can get more money elsewhere but he’s very interested in what the Sens are doing. Sens would do five years.
- Cup 06

Brief update;

Market has slowed down. The sense is that if nothing happens this weekend, they will remain patient and let the deal come to them. Klingberg is weighing options. Trade talks have both cooled with Florida and Arizona. Only new development is that the Avs are listening/some say shopping (wink wink) Girard. They would like to find a way to keep Kadri. Sens have had preliminary convos there. Could a Brannstrom+ deal get it done?

Still a little perplexed at the Boucher pick, regardless of how strong his camp is going.

These comments seem to reiteate something someone else said on these boards, that the Senes were at the point of contention, and they needed a guy like Boucher more than a high level prospect.

Not to take away from the strong strides they've made this off-season, but I still think the higher level prospect would have been the better move.

But it is what it is. We'll see if this team will start to make strides, and maybe Boucher will be that guy to help them when things get tough.
- david22

Project out to year three of Giroux's contract:

Debrincat-Stutzle-Giroux
Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Greig-Pinto-Boucher
Formentum-Kastelic-Joseph

Chabot- ?
Sanderson-Zub
Klevin-JBD/Thomson

Most should be right in their prime.

Brief update;

Market has slowed down. The sense is that if nothing happens this weekend, they will remain patient and let the deal come to them. Klingberg is weighing options. Trade talks have both cooled with Florida and Arizona. Only new development is that the Avs are listening/some say shopping (wink wink) Girard. They would like to find a way to keep Kadri. Sens have had preliminary convos there. Could a Brannstrom+ deal get it done?
- Cup 06

Great stuff!

Like Girard a lot, but do we not need more size?

Does Kadri not being moved signal just how dead the market has become? Will it be worse next year.

LA Kings are supposed to be one of the lead bidders on Chychrun. But they have no cap space. How can they dump salary?

Tomas Hamara signed an ELC today.

Now this feels more like a classic Dorion off-season move...
https://www.tsn.ca/jacob-...-year-contracts-1.1825541

It's basically a depth AHL/NHL blue liner in Larsson, plus a depth AHL/ECHL goaltender in Bibeau. Larsson at least has 1st round pedigree and has played 165GP in the NHL, but wasn't extended a QO by the Ducks. Bibeau was briefly the young goalie darling of the Maple Leafs, but it's not hard to deduce how that played out. This should really help them not run out of human beings over the course of the year.

Now this feels more like a classic Dorion off-season move...
https://www.tsn.ca/jacob-...-year-contracts-1.1825541

It's basically a depth AHL/NHL blue liner in Larsson, plus a depth AHL/ECHL goaltender in Bibeau. Larsson at least has 1st round pedigree and has played 165GP in the NHL, but wasn't extended a QO by the Ducks. Bibeau was briefly the young goalie darling of the Maple Leafs, but it's not hard to deduce how that played out. This should really help them not run out of human beings over the course of the year.
- khawk

Yeah I am curious if Larsson will clear waivers on that contract, the deal is two way so clearly playing primarily with Belleville/used as big league insurance for injury is the aspiration. Bibeau I guess is the backup if one of our top goalies go down? I find that signing a bit more confusing - to me it makes more sense to give one of our waiver-immune young guys a shot if one of Forsberg or Talbot go down, since we have three of them. It's harmless provided he doesn't take meaningful minutes away from Sogard or Mando/Merilainen in Belleville.

Yeah I am curious if Larsson will clear waivers on that contract, the deal is two way so clearly playing primarily with Belleville/used as big league insurance for injury is the aspiration. Bibeau I guess is the backup if one of our top goalies go down? I find that signing a bit more confusing - to me it makes more sense to give one of our waiver-immune young guys a shot if one of Forsberg or Talbot go down, since we have three of them. It's harmless provided he doesn't take meaningful minutes away from Sogard or Mando/Merilainen in Belleville.
- Bartacus

They need to have Sogaard and Mandolese in Belleville.....nobody else. Merilainen will be in Kingston again this year?

I wonder if Kadri, like Klingberg, have priced themselves out of the market. And now they've both missed their window.
- Octavarium

Kadri was a 2C and they don't get 8 or 9M.....Anaheim has pushed hard for him though. But that is the reality of the flat cap.....guys are getting flushed out on big deals...having to settle for shorter deals.....

It was like last year when the Jays in MLB signed Marcus Sieman to that 1 year deal at 9M.....everyone those Marcus would get 25M per year but he waited too long then there was no money! So he parlayed his 45 homers into a crazy deal with Texas this past off season 7 years, 175M and he isn't living up to last years numbers as he was protected in a great Jays hitting lineup! So can Klingberg hope to do the same thing?

Saw this on Twitter.

Dubas lets Kristian Rubins walk - a 6’5”, 225lb d-man who the #Leafs have been developing for 4 years - & instead signs Victor Mete, a 5’9” d-man who Montreal waived & Ottawa dumped. So building depth with bad teams’ rejects is the new strategy? #FireDubas

Saw this on Twitter.

Dubas lets Kristian Rubins walk - a 6’5”, 225lb d-man who the #Leafs have been developing for 4 years - & instead signs Victor Mete, a 5’9” d-man who Montreal waived & Ottawa dumped. So building depth with bad teams’ rejects is the new strategy? #FireDubas
- Kevin Francis

i think this is dubas last year as GM

what domino is waiting to fall for OTT to finally get rid of Zeitsev and bring in a real top 4 RD.

what domino is waiting to fall for OTT to finally get rid of Zeitsev and bring in a real top 4 RD.
- Mithos

PD needs to trade Zaitsev before he brings in a top 4 D....that I know.....many in the org are on him to get that done so then when a trade he likes comes up....he doesn't need to trade Zaitsev first....then do the deal.

i think this is dubas last year as GM
- Mithos

The players he's signing for depth is wild....2 former Sens....Mete and Gaudette...pretty comical.

The players he's signing for depth is wild....2 former Sens....Mete and Gaudette...pretty comical.
- Kevin Francis

he aint got money to sign good depth, he overpaid 3 players

They need to have Sogaard and Mandolese in Belleville.....nobody else. Merilainen will be in Kingston again this year?
- Kevin Francis

Maybe stick Bibeau in the ECHL then, insurance I guess. He's two way, 100k in the minors.

he aint got money to sign good depth, he overpaid 3 players
- Mithos

Yeah it's funny that Nylander is the name that keeps getting brought up for trade. Matthews and Marner aren't really overpaid IMO, but Tavares is the ticket that drove up their deals. If they don't win a cup I don't know if AM sticks around unless they do the 20% of cap deal which should be around 18M per year. That much invested in one player would be enough to nail the team into obscurity for another 8 years. I love that city, but their team is perpetually treading water. Great but not superb. I like Dubas, but he might be at the end of the line if this isn't their year.