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.
- Whatisavailable

Good post, but 2 games in a row, Ottawa wins by a goal against a team much inferior!

Good post, but 2 games in a row, Ottawa wins by a goal against a team much inferior!
- Kevin Francis

Three games now. Don't get me wrong because I have steadily maintained that the Sens can become a perennial Cup contender if they don't squander assets and don't sign stupid contracts.

I like Chychrun and if the team was going to challenge for the Cup this year I would reluctantly support an overpay for that one missing piece but that's not the case here. Plus Chychrun is a left shot LD with a long injury history so that makes me pretty disinterested unless the asking price comes down a lot which it won't.

DeBrincat is just too small for my taste. He may put up numbers during the regular season but unless he really surprises me I don't see a player that will do well in physical playoff hockey. I could be wrong but I say there's no rush so let's see what happens this year. Personally I would be surprised if he reaches 30 goals. The whole team will struggle with Smith as coach and he's not going to be scoring ridiculously easy PP goals against marginal AHL players.

I don't know how the cap will work out but I would be sick if the team had to move on from the likes of Pinto or Norris or Stutzle because they've overpaid DeBrincat and can't move the contract. Right now the worst that can happen is that they can just walk away from any arbitration ruling and let him become a UFA.

I like Kastelec and would prefer Brassard over Gambrell. Send Zaitsev to Belleville but don't give up a valuable asset to unload him just so you can throw money at DeBrincat. Sign Zub for gods sakes. Thomson belongs back in Belleville and so does JBD for now but I've said that he will be a really solid defensive minded Dman and they should keep him. Forget this Chychrun nonsense.