Word on the street was that Boucher was having an excellent camp but was cut for a "retaliatory" hit on Aidan Thompson.
- HoweHatrick

Hm. Interesting, have you seen a clip of the hit? Where did you hear this?

Word on the street was that Boucher was having an excellent camp but was cut for a "retaliatory" hit on Aidan Thompson.
- HoweHatrick

Please. So what excuse will they find in December at the next WJ camp to cut him? Sens/Tyler Boucher apologists, it has to stop. So if it was a retaliatory hit on Aidan, then why didn't anything happen to Thompson for a questionable hit? He got cut, end of story. I have covered and bet on all sports, at all levels, university/junior/amateur, you name it and to hear someone say he was cut for something that had nothing to do with his talent, I have a hard time believing that. Here is how fans should look at it. If Tyler Boucher was supposedly having a great camp, if you are that much better than your peers or in the top half of the forwards at camp, then a hit like that shouldn't get him cut. They want to bring the best to the tournament. End of story.

Aidan Thompson likely done for the tournament after a knee on knee collision, USA coach Nate Leaman said. He’d had an excellent camp so far — Leaman called him the camp’s biggest surprise by far. Really tough news. Thompson seemed destined for a legit role on this summer's World Juniors team until Boucher came out of the box like a missile looking to lay him out.

You can’t have a roster full of skilled top 6 forwards. You might not need, but you want a guy like Boucher in your bottom 6. Has an NHL skill set and plays like a friggin wrecking ball. Has playoff performer written all over him.

Aidan Thompson likely done for the tournament after a knee on knee collision, USA coach Nate Leaman said. He’d had an excellent camp so far — Leaman called him the camp’s biggest surprise by far. Really tough news. Thompson seemed destined for a legit role on this summer's World Juniors team until Boucher came out of the box like a missile looking to lay him out.

You can’t have a roster full of skilled top 6 forwards. You might not need, but you want a guy like Boucher in your bottom 6. Has an NHL skill set and plays like a friggin wrecking ball. Has playoff performer written all over him.
- Whatisavailable

Interesting and great points. I wonder if this Boucher prospect will ever figure it out.

Interesting and great points. I wonder if this Boucher prospect will ever figure it out.
- PuckPix

Hopefully he'll learn to temper his aggressiveness a little bit. If he turns out to be another Chris Neil or similar I'd be quite happy.

Hopefully he'll learn to temper his aggressiveness a little bit. If he turns out to be another Chris Neil or similar I'd be quite happy.
- Whatisavailable

No offense to Chris Neil but that is not what you want out of a top 10 pick. For a player that plays a physical style in the top 10, you want a Tkachuk or a Tom Wilson not a Neil or Watson.

No offense to Chris Neil but that is not what you want out of a top 10 pick. For a player that plays a physical style in the top 10, you want a Tkachuk or a Tom Wilson not a Neil or Watson.
- dcz28

Chris Neil was a great asset and he made the Sens a better team. Many players drafted in the first round will never get a serious look in the NHL. Teams miss a lot more on their picks than they hit.

Hm. Interesting, have you seen a clip of the hit? Where did you hear this?
- Jacob Billington

A fellow was live tweeting the tryouts. It went something like TB took a penalty and as soon as it expired he went right after the Aidan fellow. Apparently it was a knee on knee hit.

Please. So what excuse will they find in December at the next WJ camp to cut him? Sens/Tyler Boucher apologists, it has to stop. So if it was a retaliatory hit on Aidan, then why didn't anything happen to Thompson for a questionable hit? He got cut, end of story. I have covered and bet on all sports, at all levels, university/junior/amateur, you name it and to hear someone say he was cut for something that had nothing to do with his talent, I have a hard time believing that. Here is how fans should look at it. If Tyler Boucher was supposedly having a great camp, if you are that much better than your peers or in the top half of the forwards at camp, then a hit like that shouldn't get him cut. They want to bring the best to the tournament. End of story.
- PuckPix

I wasn't offering any excuse. I was reporting what I had read. You are free to take it or leave it.

That said, regarding your post, there are plenty of instances where a player is cut for doing something stupid despite having the skill / tryout to make a team. Similarly, there are players traded away at a "loss" or have their contracts terminated for something the team does not like.

Chris Neil was a great asset and he made the Sens a better team. Many players drafted in the first round will never get a serious look in the NHL. Teams miss a lot more on their picks than they hit.
- spatso

We are talking about a top 10 pick not just a late 1st round pick here. A lot easier to find a good NHL player in the top 10 and a 4th line player is not what you want out of a pick like that. Sens more than likely could of had Boucher in the 2nd round with the 39th pick since most had him going mid to late 2nd round or even in the 3rd round. If the Sens had done that and picked someone else with that 10th pick nobody would be talking about Boucher and PD wouldn't be out constantly trying to justify the pick.

In the top 10 you want a player that will be an impact player that plays in the top of your roster. Anything else is a fail unless the draft turns out to be very weak.

Chris Neil was a great asset and he made the Sens a better team. Many players drafted in the first round will never get a serious look in the NHL. Teams miss a lot more on their picks than they hit.
- spatso

I love Chris Neil, and recognize his value, but I think we're getting a little carried away here.

Players in the top ten of the draft are much more of a sure thing than in the first round overall. When high skilled players are still on the board its basic asset management to take one of them.

Not to mention the fact that Chris Neil types are the added piece contending teams need on top of all the talent. They need to be a contending team first, and to acquire that talent in the first place. Which is most often done, at the draft.

I love Chris Neil, and recognize his value, but I think we're getting a little carried away here.

Players in the top ten of the draft are much more of a sure thing than in the first round overall. When high skilled players are still on the board its basic asset management to take one of them.

Not to mention the fact that Chris Neil types are the added piece contending teams need on top of all the talent. They need to be a contending team first, and to acquire that talent in the first place. Which is most often done, at the draft.
- david22

Chris Neil actually scored in junior, unlike Boucher.

If it was me I’d give Heatherington the chance at Top 4 shutdown he’s big played 20 games 2pts and a +6
And let Thomson and JBD grow but what do I know lol

Is J. Bernard-Docker trade bait at all?

Is he close on making the bottom 3 D-men in NHL?
- Tee56

He got a dozen games last year in Ottawa, or so. He will challenge for the 3rd pairing, naturally a lot depends on who is there at camp as JBD is waiver exempt so that makes it easier to send him down to the AHL.

If it was me I’d give Heatherington the chance at Top 4 shutdown he’s big played 20 games 2pts and a +6
And let Thomson and JBD grow but what do I know lol
- sens4life1971

He is a serviceable 3rd pairing guy. Not top 4 material.

Chris Neil actually scored in junior, unlike Boucher.
- AdamFrench

Tyler played with the 67s after he left BU. 24 games.

We are talking about a top 10 pick not just a late 1st round pick here. A lot easier to find a good NHL player in the top 10 and a 4th line player is not what you want out of a pick like that. Sens more than likely could of had Boucher in the 2nd round with the 39th pick since most had him going mid to late 2nd round or even in the 3rd round. If the Sens had done that and picked someone else with that 10th pick nobody would be talking about Boucher and PD wouldn't be out constantly trying to justify the pick.

In the top 10 you want a player that will be an impact player that plays in the top of your roster. Anything else is a fail unless the draft turns out to be very weak.
- dcz28

like you said, you want high end skill when taking a player in the top 10. Lets see how Boucher does with a full year in Junior this season.

Sens development camp and most recently the team USA camp were raving about him. Not actual games of course but at least some positive news. Lol

Being a local product Arizona might place a little more value on him. Not many Arizona born players in the NHL outside Matthews.
- andyman998

He born out there when his dad, Brian was playing for the Yotes.

If Kleven has a strong WJC can he opt to sign with the Sans and come to training camp rather than do another year at North Dakota?
- spatso

Good question. With Boucher leaving BU last season to go play with the 67s, I would imagine Kleven could leave N.Dakota anytime to turn pro.

First off, I would make that trade. It's not easy to give up those pieces, but at the end of the day, I feel it would be worth it. We've done a lot of addition without (roster) subtraction this off-season. So now would b the time to give in order to get.

I can't help but wonder how much the legal situation surrounding Formenton is playing a factor in his inclusion in this deal. Or is it just a matter of contract negotiations going sour? He is a great fit on this team. At least on the ice, I have no idea what secrets might lie behind closed doors. He's an extremely versatile player, and his incredible speed is noticeable every game. I'd much rather keep him over Crouse.

Tkachuk Norris Batherson
DeBrincat Stützle Giroux
Crouse Pinto Joseph
Kelly Gambrell Watson
kastelic

Chabot Chychrun
Sanderson Zub
Holden Hamonic
Brännström

Forsberg
Talbot
Søgaard


That's a pretty good looking line-up. Personally, I'm not 100% sold on throwing Sanderson onto the second pairing for his first NHL game. I'd prefer swapping him with Holden. But everyone else seems to want him on that second pairing with either Zub or Chychrun.

The addition of Chychrun seems inevitable at this point. And even without adding him, this is gonna be such a fun roster in regards to chemistry. Often times you gotta try to force lines. But this year, there's gonna be so much opportunity to move guys up and down and allow chemistry to dictate line combos. For all we know, Giroux and Joseph will be amazing together. And depending on the third guy on that line, that could either be line 2 OR 3.

GO SENS GO!!
- PavohnDatsvares

Great post, right on!

Despite coming from three different draft years there is only a one year age difference between Brannstrom, JBD and Thomson. Less than 3 years between oldest (Brannstrom) and youngest (Sanderson).

Brannstrom, 5' 10" 185 lbs, born Sept 1999, drafted 2017 15th overall
JBD, 6' 187 lbs, born June 2000, drafted 2018 26th overall
Thomson, 6' 186 lbs, born Sept 2000, drafted 2019 19th overall
Kleven, 6' 4" 214 lbs, born Jan 2002, drafted 2020 44th overall
Sanderson, 6' 2" 185 lbs, born July 2002, drafted 2020 5th overall

Although we wonder about the defensive depth of the current roster, there are some very good reasons for hope it will improve significantly. Great fit if we could have the 24 year old Chychrun at 6' 4" and 220 lbs playing with the 25 year old 6' 2" 25 year old Chabot. Zub is 26 years old at 6' 2" and 198 lbs and is a really important and stable part of the mix. I like Holden as a depth player.

We talk about the inadequacy of the Sens defensive roster. It should get better very quickly starting this year.

dp

For me Lassi is the strongest candidate out of that bunch. Had the coach given him more of a leash last year we might not be looking at Chycrun. Yes. I have him slotted over over a #5 pick who’s hand is in pieces and hasn’t played a single NHL game.

Tyler played with the 67s after he left BU. 24 games.
- Kevin Francis

I know. I'm a season ticket holder.

Maybe with the forward lines we have now hopefully the team will be in the Offensive zone more often then the Defensive zone so just play
Chabot Thomson
Sanderson Zub
Holden Hamonic
Instead of giving up our prospects 🤙
At trade deadline
Trade Holden and Hamonic
Bring up JBD and Heatherington for 3rd pairing 🤷‍♂️