I'd be happy if Giroux signs, but I just don't understand why he would. I'm assuming he wants to try his best to win the cup, right? Unless he thinks Ottawa has a good shot? I dunno, I just don't see it happening, but that could be me being pessimistic. I don't see the Sens competing this year (ie 5-10 points out of a playoff spot). The year after? Maybe? Stutzle's development is what I'm most interested in seeing. I'd also love to see Joseph continue his hot streak.
- PogBoi

It all depends on what happens with other teams in the Atlantic and in the East for that matter. I hear ya though!

I was told 6M AAV for Giroux, lets see if it's 3 or 4 years.

Had a great source reach out to me from Dallas, saying Klingberg feels he should get a deal similar to Dougie Hamilton.....ouch! Which is why the Stars said no thanks....7x9M for Hamilton....we all know that deal won't age well.

I like Klingberg for 3 years at most.

I like Klingberg for 3 years at most.
- PogBoi

He will get 7 years and that's what Seattle will sign him too....or maybe Carolina if they can make the dollars work. He ain't signing for 3 years anywhere.

There's no doubt PD is looking at the next 2 years....I've had those I know in the Sens building tell me that....but lets face it, 5 years of losing and no hope.....if he goes about the next 48 hours correctly....Sens fans will have more than hope, they will be hoping for a wildcard spot come April.
- Kevin Francis

I think they will get there wish. I would be very surprised if the Sens are not playing meaningful games in the Spring especially if they dump Zaitsev and bring in a legitimate top 4 D. Not another Hamonic.

I've given up on trying to communicate the idea that they probably already have that top 4D in their system. I think they do but there's just very little patience out there!

Bettman must be very pleased to see what's happening in Ottawa.

I think they will get there wish. I would be very surprised if the Sens are not playing meaningful games in the Spring especially if they dump Zaitsev and bring in a legitimate top 4 D. Not another Hamonic.

I've given up on trying to communicate the idea that they probably already have that top 4D in their system. I think they do but there's just very little patience out there!

Bettman must be very pleased to see what's happening in Ottawa.
- Whatisavailable

Thomson could be very well be that guy by the middle of the season, but he truly ain't there yet. I do hear ya that they have some great kids coming.....Thomson is the closest but he didn't get the reps he should've got last year, which is why DJ failed here so big....because last year by mid season there were no expectations and he said to the media they would play youth but he didn't do nearly enough of it. Had they have allowed Thomson to grow and learn from mistakes rather than play JBrown, the team might not be looking to add a top 4 Dman.

If Brown and Formenton move out all of a sudden our third line looks suspect. Totally hear where the talk is coming from, but if those are pieces out, we should be thinking beyond exiling Zaitsev and adding a 4D, we will need third liners as well, either by FA or trade.

If Brown and Formenton move out all of a sudden our third line looks suspect. Totally hear where the talk is coming from, but if those are pieces out, we should be thinking beyond exiling Zaitsev and adding a 4D, we will need third liners as well, either by FA or trade.
- Bartacus

Pinto and Joseph 3rd line....if you lose Brown and Formenton. Tons of RFA's that weren't qualified, who many teams will get on bargain contracts.....

Giroux aint going to the Oilers, Kane signs 4 years/ 5.125 AAV.

He certainly is, but his name is coming up a lot lately for a reason....just saying. There's always moving pieces behind closed doors as they say.

I have some great contacts in Florida and management is feeling a lot of unrest after the Gaudreau announcement tonight.....they truly don't want the same thing happening with Huberdeau which should open a move with Weegar. Time will tell.
- Kevin Francis

I think it's coming up because Alex Formenton is a very effective, fast, and defensively effective player (he lead the NHL in short handed goals and points - only Trevor Moore was tied with him)

With Nick Paul gone, Connor Brown on his way out potentially, and then DeBrincat and Joseph coming in this year - having effective PK, 200 foot fast players outside the top 6 is very important IMO. If it lands a solid top 4, then I'm open to it but those guys are still important

I think they will get there wish. I would be very surprised if the Sens are not playing meaningful games in the Spring especially if they dump Zaitsev and bring in a legitimate top 4 D. Not another Hamonic.

I've given up on trying to communicate the idea that they probably already have that top 4D in their system. I think they do but there's just very little patience out there!

Bettman must be very pleased to see what's happening in Ottawa.
- Whatisavailable

It's an important point. The biggest difference between upgrading the scoring lines/goaltender vs. upgrading the defence is the nature of their prospect system. Beyond Tkachuk, Norris, Batherson, and Stutzle there really hasn't been a single high-end forward drafted, and Sogaard is the closest thing to a potential #1G in the system. So there aren't viable long-term solutions in their development system to address these needs, which is why DeBrincat/Giroux and Talbot make sense. But on D, they're about to add Sanderson and offer Zub a $5M AAV extension, they've got Thomson/Bernard-Docker pushing for NHL ice time, Kleven could be in the fold as early as next year, and they've got multiple young D-men in the longer-term pipeline.

So they really shouldn't be chasing $8M AAV/max-term players like Klingberg, or giving up 1st round picks or Formenton to address this need with players like Chychrun or Marino, who will just inevitably fall into conflict with their long-term solutions. In many ways, someone like Tyler Myers at $6.0M AAV x 2yrs would be a better option, particularly if the deal could involve a 3rd team with major interest in Connor Brown vs. being pressured to include their 1st round pick in 2023.

Dorion starts today about $15m under the $75m. internal cap set by the team. They can free another $8m from their internal cap by moving Zaitsev and Connor Brown.

Dorion needs $12m cap space to resign Norris, Formenton and Joseph.

So, Dorion has about $10m to add another forward and top 4 Dman today.

Really, really impressive financial stick handling by the Sens.

Kane and the Oilers agree to a 4 x $5.125M deal.

I think they will get there wish. I would be very surprised if the Sens are not playing meaningful games in the Spring especially if they dump Zaitsev and bring in a legitimate top 4 D. Not another Hamonic.

I've given up on trying to communicate the idea that they probably already have that top 4D in their system. I think they do but there's just very little patience out there!

Bettman must be very pleased to see what's happening in Ottawa.
- Whatisavailable

How long can a team rebuild before you move out of the window where you have high end players available on entry / bridge deals? How long can you wait before you price the team out of several $8M+ players (formerly on entry / bridge deals) and end up having to move those players? At what point do you get the missing pieces and jump into the mix and compete and give your young core some meaningful hockey experience for their growth and development? When do you start growing a winning culture? At what point does the rebuild end?

The Sens have a huge amount of young talent right now. Shane Pinto, Jake Sanderson, Ridly Greig, Lassi Thomson, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Mads Sogaard, Egor Sokolov, Tyler Kleven. None of these, save Pinto, are static roster players. They cannot keep all of these players and they cannot give most of these players a roster spot. Do they need to collect more and continue to rebuild? Most certainly, keep drafting quality players and keep the development going.

How long can you stay in rebuild mode? At what point do you push your chips in and say it is time to fill your rosters deficiencies and take a step towards competing?

It isn't an easy call to make but at some point you will have waited too long and the financials / timing of the core and youth will no longer line up and you will find yourself stuck in mediocrity and / or in another rebuild.

How long should an NHL rebuild take?

https://www.tsn.ca/travis...hl-rebuild-take-1.1819611

How long can a team rebuild before you move out of the window where you have high end players available on entry / bridge deals? How long can you wait before you price the team out of several $8M+ players (formerly on entry / bridge deals) and end up having to move those players? At what point do you get the missing pieces and jump into the mix and compete and give your young core some meaningful hockey experience for their growth and development? When do you start growing a winning culture? At what point does the rebuild end?

The Sens have a huge amount of young talent right now. Shane Pinto, Jake Sanderson, Ridly Greig, Lassi Thomson, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Mads Sogaard, Egor Sokolov, Tyler Kleven. None of these, save Pinto, are static roster players. They cannot keep all of these players and they cannot give most of these players a roster spot. Do they need to collect more and continue to rebuild? Most certainly, keep drafting quality players and keep the development going.

How long can you stay in rebuild mode? At what point do you push your chips in and say it is time to fill your rosters deficiencies and take a step towards competing?

It isn't an easy call to make but at some point you will have waited too long and the financials / timing of the core and youth will no longer line up and you will find yourself stuck in mediocrity and / or in another rebuild.

How long should an NHL rebuild take?

https://www.tsn.ca/travis...hl-rebuild-take-1.1819611
- HoweHatrick

100%

The Sens need to be all in. Rebuild is over.

Need to make up 27 points over last year to get into playoffs.

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
24m
All signs point to the Ottawa Senators being the front runners to land UFA star Claude Giroux when the market opens today.
@TSNHockey

@TheAthletic

LeBrun is always ahead of everyone when it comes to Claude Giroux.

I am not a huge fan of signing Giroux but admit to being very impressed the way the Sens have rolled this story out over the last few weeks.

This morning I saw a tweet saying Giroux was in an Ottawa gym (Tony Grecco) following his regular fitness drills.

I am not sold on signing Giroux. He is 34 and this is probably going to be his last deal. I cannot see him taking a team friendly deal.

If the contract is offered to CG, what does it look like from the Senators perspective?

What term and amount can the team live with without sacrificing flexibility down the road?

How good is Marino? His numbers seem pretty meh. Is he a legit top 4?

I am not sold on signing Giroux. He is 34 and this is probably going to be his last deal. I cannot see him taking a team friendly deal.

If the contract is offered to CG, what does it look like from the Senators perspective?

What term and amount can the team live with without sacrificing flexibility down the road?
- HoweHatrick

I agree but do not want to poop on anyone's parade, especially today.

I do see the benefit that some guys are claiming that Giroux will be a great mentor and line mate for Stutzle. But, I like big and physical. Stutzle, DeBrincat and Giroux are not big bodies.

I agree but do not want to poop on anyone's parade, especially today.

I do see the benefit that some guys are claiming that Giroux will be a great mentor and line mate for Stutzle. But, I like big and physical. Stutzle, DeBrincat and Giroux are not big bodies.
- spatso

Giroux finished second in Panthers playoff scoring, ahead of both Huberdeau and Barkov. He is still a very good player. 3 x $6M.

Giroux finished second in Panthers playoff scoring, ahead of both Huberdeau and Barkov. He is still a very good player. 3 x $6M.
- SensFan25

Also 65 points.in 75 games

Giroux finished second in Panthers playoff scoring, ahead of both Huberdeau and Barkov. He is still a very good player. 3 x $6M.
- SensFan25

I know. I know.

Remember I thought Brady was a really bad draft pick.

Hope I am way off on this as well.

One of the hidden gems in everything being discussed is that Ottawa should have an awesome third line. Pinto with Brown/Formenton and Joseph. 4th of Kestellec, Watson and Grieg/Kelly/Gambrell/.....

I do not think any of these players (Manson, Strome and Chiarot) are on the Sen's radar.

Buyers beware: Three prime candidates for overpayment in NHL free agency

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...yment-in-nhl-free-agency/

Top bargains to watch out for ahead of NHL free agency

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ahead-of-nhl-free-agency/

Sens are signing Giroux tomorrow (unless someone way overbids)regardless of dumping Zaitsev and/or making a trade. It should happen relatively fast.

Like I said previously, the Chychrun talk cooled right after the draft when Dorion decided to land DeBrincat instead with the 7th.

If I was to rank likelihood of becoming a Sen from the available defencemen I would go:

1.Weegar
2.Klingberg
3.Marino
4.Chychrun
5. Rutta
- Cup 06

Zito keeps moving the goalposts. The Sens have zero pressure on them. They can wait him out.

EK reporting Burns to the Senators is a possibility.

Good grief.