what a shot by Pinto

Tkachuk norris batherson seems to have e somehow lost chemistry in the off-season. Playing like they will be the third line.

Think batherson hockey canada issue have anything to do with this or reading way too far into it?

Well that was pretty boring. Fortunately Ottawa is playing a bad team or they would have been in trouble. Guys like Suzuki, Caufield and Evans were very effective and noticeable while they dismantled the Sens in their D zone whereas Ottawa's top line guys didn't show much. A good team will destroy this D with the team's non existent D zone structure.

Stutzle tries hard but doesn't seem to be able to read whomever he's playing with and always seems isolated and playing by himself. Maybe he's trying to do too much?

Pinto keeps looking good. I wouldn't be surprised if Pinto ends up centering Giroux and DeBrincat. What a disaster it would have been if some of you would have gotten your wish to make him part of a package for Chychrun!

Kastelec looks to be able to handle himself as well as playing a solid number 4 C role.

Anyway we'll see what happens when they eventually face a tough opponent.

Well that was pretty boring. Fortunately Ottawa is playing a bad team or they would have been in trouble. Guys like Suzuki, Caufield and Evans were very effective and noticeable while they dismantled the Sens in their D zone whereas Ottawa's top line guys didn't show much. A good team will destroy this D with the team's non existent D zone structure.

Stutzle tries hard but doesn't seem to be able to read whomever he's playing with and always seems isolated and playing by himself. Maybe he's trying to do too much?

Pinto keeps looking good. I wouldn't be surprised if Pinto ends up centering Giroux and DeBrincat. What a disaster it would have been if some of you would have gotten your wish to make him part of a package for Chychrun!

Kastelec looks to be able to handle himself as well as playing a solid number 4 C role.

Anyway I've got to go and try to wake up.
- Whatisavailable

I did like Kastelac. I thought his wing mates were not very effective. Pinto, Motte and Joseph look really good in a lot of ways. Timmy has never had to play with guys that are as good as he is and he needs to be more disciplined. He is a fast learner.

Norris, Tkachuk and Batherson are out of sync with each other.

Sanderson is going to be very, very good.

Tkachuk norris batherson seems to have e somehow lost chemistry in the off-season. Playing like they will be the third line.

Think batherson hockey canada issue have anything to do with this or reading way too far into it?
- TDBSenatoR

Established players usually have awful/underwhelming preseasons. If they're like this after 5 games in the regular season then I'd worry. Like, Chabot was trash this game. Gave away the puck a ton. I'm not worried, preseason means nothing for them.

It's basically a showcase of rookies/bottom 6 type players to fight for spots. It's fun to see. Motte/Pinto/Joseph has been my favourite line.

5-4 wins..... how many of those can we win this year?

I think the Sens are good enough to not get a top 10 pick and not good enough on D to make the playoffs (of course I could be wrong if some young D step up)

what a shot by Pinto
- Mithos

No kidding. Man I really hope he has a fire under him with missing a whole year..... that must've been tough + frustrating

Tkachuk norris batherson seems to have e somehow lost chemistry in the off-season. Playing like they will be the third line.

Think batherson hockey canada issue have anything to do with this or reading way too far into it?
- TDBSenatoR

I think it's way too early to tell but your thinking isn't wrong. Off ice issues can always play a part in play.... again I think these guys have SERIOUS chemistry. I would not break them up unless it went really south. More curious to sign Formenton and if you do, put him with Pinto and Joseph or keep Motte there? That line has looked really good in the small time I've seen them

Montreal is a really, really bad team.

If Sens are serious about wanting to be a playoff contender they are going to need to learn how to shut down the other guys. Over the last few years the Sens have usually been playing catch up. It was far too sloppy. They gave Montreal far too much space in the 3rd period.

Well that was pretty boring. Fortunately Ottawa is playing a bad team or they would have been in trouble. Guys like Suzuki, Caufield and Evans were very effective and noticeable while they dismantled the Sens in their D zone whereas Ottawa's top line guys didn't show much. A good team will destroy this D with the team's non existent D zone structure.

Stutzle tries hard but doesn't seem to be able to read whomever he's playing with and always seems isolated and playing by himself. Maybe he's trying to do too much?

Pinto keeps looking good. I wouldn't be surprised if Pinto ends up centering Giroux and DeBrincat. What a disaster it would have been if some of you would have gotten your wish to make him part of a package for Chychrun!

Kastelec looks to be able to handle himself as well as playing a solid number 4 C role.

Anyway we'll see what happens when they eventually face a tough opponent.
- Whatisavailable

I'm sure Pinto ends up with DeBrincat and Giroux. Stutzle is totally lost with those 2 players and he couldn't play with Batherson last year. After 2+ years he still is an elite talent without vision and creativity that avoids dirty areas.

Montreal is a really, really bad team.

If Sens are serious about wanting to be a playoff contender they are going to need to learn how to shut down the other guys. Over the last few years the Sens have usually been playing catch up. It was far too sloppy. They gave Montreal far too much space in the 3rd period.
- spatso

Team defense and defensive zone structure are still problems. That is a coaching issue.

It was only a pre-season game and Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson / Chabot - Zub did not seem to be dialled in.

If these issues continue into the season, then Dorion is going to have to switch things up behind the bench.

Dorion had a great summer with the additions of Debrincat, Giroux, Talbot, Motte and subtractions of Murray, White. A top 4D and a new coach were not addressed.

I'm sure Pinto ends up with DeBrincat and Giroux. Stutzle is totally lost with those 2 players and he couldn't play with Batherson last year. After 2+ years he still is an elite talent without vision and creativity that avoids dirty areas.
- way i c it

Easy there... they're not going to demote Stutzle right after signing him to the biggest contract in team history, just because of a few early pre-season results. Pinto has looked good with DeBrincat/Giroux on the PP, where he's been taking advantage of the space those guys create, but there's no question at 5-on-5 which of Stutzle/Pinto is the scoring line player and which is the two-way line player. Pinto will end up playing #3C, with some combination of Joseph, Motte, and Formenton.

That said, it's been really impressive to see how quickly chemistry has developed between DeBrincat and Giroux. He may not be Patrick Kane, but Giroux is a very capable puck-distributor and has exceptional PP instincts. Part of me had been a bit concerned about DeBrincat being able to match his CHI production, but after seeing how natural his goal scoring ability is I think there's a very good chance that he'll wind up leading the team in both goals and points this year.

Team defense and defensive zone structure are still problems. That is a coaching issue.

It was only a pre-season game and Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson / Chabot - Zub did not seem to be dialled in.

If these issues continue into the season, then Dorion is going to have to switch things up behind the bench.

Dorion had a great summer with the additions of Debrincat, Giroux, Talbot, Motte and subtractions of Murray, White. A top 4D and a new coach were not addressed.
- SensFan25

Can we focus on the fact that at no point during that last game was the team ever trailing or playing from behind? Yeah not the greatest night from some NHL regulars on the defensive side but it was never a question of if we were at risk of losing. I'll take that 100% of the time with this team, as would any fan of any team.

Our d corps will be fine. Sanderson already looks NHL ready, Chabot and Zub look healthy, Hamonic in a contract year with everything to play for will open eyes, Holden, Brannstrom and the prospects (JBD, Lassi and Larsson, who's looked pretty decent) will hold the third pairing roles interchangeably over the year until we find a trade for a D man that makes sense.

Zaitsev will be demoted or traded or both.

Easy there... they're not going to demote Stutzle right after signing him to the biggest contract in team history, just because of a few early pre-season results. Pinto has looked good with DeBrincat/Giroux on the PP, where he's been taking advantage of the space those guys create, but there's no question at 5-on-5 which of Stutzle/Pinto is the scoring line player and which is the two-way line player. Pinto will end up playing #3C, with some combination of Joseph, Motte, and Formenton.

That said, it's been really impressive to see how quickly chemistry has developed between DeBrincat and Giroux. He may not be Patrick Kane, but Giroux is a very capable puck-distributor and has exceptional PP instincts. Part of me had been a bit concerned about DeBrincat being able to match his CHI production, but after seeing how natural his goal scoring ability is I think there's a very good chance that he'll wind up leading the team in both goals and points this year.
- khawk

Stutzle just needs to relax and let the game situations come to him. He is trying too hard to repay the huge vote of confidence he just got. He is overplaying every shift and trying to do too much. I have no doubt both Giroux and DiBrincat will be able to get him to take a step back. Part of the reason everyone around the team is so high on him is because he is so coachable.

Lots of chatter from multiple sources that Sens are trying to get DeBrincat signed long term before season starts.

Similar but opposite chatter that Dubas will not be resigned in Toronto even if they win a playoff round.

World is changing far too fast! Hard to keep up.

Preseason Goals

4 - Pinto, Logan Brown, Dylan Holloway, Yegor Chinakhov, Daniil Gushchin

*DeBrincat is tied with 6th (interesting Burns, Caufiled, Eichel are too)

Preseason Points

7 - Duchene, Meier, Pinto, Nicholas Robertson

*Tied with 5th is Tyler Motte !

Preseason Goals

4 - Pinto, Logan Brown, Dylan Holloway, Yegor Chinakhov, Daniil Gushchin

*DeBrincat is tied with 6th (interesting Burns, Caufiled, Eichel are too)

Preseason Points

7 - Duchene, Meier, Pinto, Nicholas Robertson

*Tied with 5th is Tyler Motte !
- AlfieisKing

You forgot the number of games.

You forgot the number of games.
- granpa

thanks granpa

Tkachuk norris batherson seems to have e somehow lost chemistry in the off-season. Playing like they will be the third line.

Think batherson hockey canada issue have anything to do with this or reading way too far into it?
- TDBSenatoR

reading too far into it, pre-season is for your rookies and fringe players. There is a reason the "Brandon Bochenski Award" is the pre-season MVP

reading too far into it, pre-season is for your rookies and fringe players. There is a reason the "Brandon Bochenski Award" is the pre-season MVP
- Jman6687

hahaha..... is that an actual thing anywhere?

hahaha..... is that an actual thing anywhere?
- AlfieisKing

My memory is slipping me a little, but it was either Senschirp or Travis Yost back in the day that started that one. Anyone who's been on these blogs for a few years now may be able to verify for me which it was (I'm leaning towards Senschirp).

Hellberg's Sens pads are looking sharp!!

Sounds like they've got Chychrun to the Senators as an (e4). The 'will they/won't they' nature of this trade negotiation is getting very tiresome. It's like a Grade 7 dance, where both sides are too socially awkward to do anything but keep leaning up against the gym wall. Time to either spike the punch or shut it down.

Better game to watch. Stutzle stood out. Batherson played better. Tkachuk even made a little effort. Sanderson looked good. Chabot is always solid. Giroux played well. Most of the guys were trying.

I liked mixing up the lines a bit putting Stutzle with Tkachuk and Batherson. Would like to see Pinto with Giroux and DeBrincat for a bit next game.

I don't like splitting a power play between two units because it just seems too disjointed. If you want to give two crews a look make it game to game rather than minute to minute.

Anyway it is Montreal after all so I look forward to a better team.

I really hope they don't shackle themselves with DeBrincat long term. I don't think he gets much more than 25 goals if that this season and he would be totally invisible in a playoff scenario. There's no rush. Let's see what happens this year and see what happens with the cap because you don't want to lose Sanderson or Pinto because of this guy.

New blog up!