anyone else get the feeling that the sens will have a worst start to the reg season than the last 2 years.

anyone else get the feeling that the sens will have a worst start to the reg season than the last 2 years.
- Mithos

It all boils down to the defense, everyone says they added goals to the line up but more importantly they need to reduce goals as much if not more.

It all boils down to the defense, everyone says they added goals to the line up but more importantly they need to reduce goals as much if not more.
- Kevin Francis

I will be shocked if they do not add a top 4 Dman before the season starts.

I will be shocked if they do not add a top 4 Dman before the season starts.
- spatso

They are playing an AHL team. I don't think there is a Dman in the league that will fix them. What they need is a coach.

I will be shocked if they do not add a top 4 Dman before the season starts.
- spatso

I truly hope they do! But what's troubling to me is how we have 4 NHL capable dmen playing tonight and Forsberg in goal, against a Marlies team....and same results when it comes to the defense! There is absolutely NO defensive structure. This is off 3 days of practice too.....when you would think structure would be a key component to practice. There is a lot of talent on the blueline, so it's not a lack of talent but rather a lack of coaching!

JBD has struggled tonight too, Thomson is far more ready for the NHL.

As an outsider, will Brannstrom make the team?
- PuckPix

It's a very fair question..... but with this contract, I think for what he brings (skating ability/potential, offensive awareness and puck movement) I don't see a situation where he doesn't play. I can't see too many of the D-men playing that can't play PP. I can see Brannstrom playing instead of Hamonic or Sanderson. God knows we need Zaitsev gone!!

Thomas Chabot - Artem Zub
Nick Holden - Nikita Zaitsev
Jake Sanderson - Travis Hamonic

It's a very fair question..... but with this contract, I think for what he brings (skating ability/potential, offensive awareness and puck movement) I don't see a situation where he doesn't play. I can't see too many of the D-men playing that can't play PP. I can see Brannstrom playing instead of Hamonic or Sanderson. God knows we need Zaitsev gone!!

Thomas Chabot - Artem Zub
Nick Holden - Nikita Zaitsev
Jake Sanderson - Travis Hamonic
- AlfieisKing

Brannstrom was relegated with Zaitsev yesterday at practice.....as the 7-8 pairing on the team....Branny has been worse than Thomson and JBD by quite a lot so far. Lets see how Saturday night goes!

It is hard to argue against the additions made this summer. But....

The first priority was to upgrade the defence.

It is hard to argue against the additions made this summer. But....

The first priority was to upgrade the defence.
- spatso

But your team has a GM that thought upgrading scoring was more important than stopping but going in your net

But your team has a GM that thought upgrading scoring was more important than stopping but going in your net
- PuckPix

No. Clearly not the case.

Dorion said repeatedly that the first priority was to upgrade the top 4 on D.

He has not executed on that priority.

But your team has a GM that thought upgrading scoring was more important than stopping but going in your net
- PuckPix

Upgrading scorning was available, getting the Dman has been harder. The real problem isn’t the D right now, it’s the coach.

It's just going to be another year of the same, confused, unstructured chaos and getting fleeced for an injury prone, left shot LD is not going to change that. As a matter of fact it will just add one more piece to the indecipherable puzzle of an already over taxed, inadequate, coaching brain.

Report: Sens looking for top D-man; could be Mitch Marner
- AlfieisKing

- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Brannstrom was relegated with Zaitsev yesterday at practice.....as the 7-8 pairing on the team....Branny has been worse than Thomson and JBD by quite a lot so far. Lets see how Saturday night goes!
- Kevin Francis

Yess.... Brannstrom with Zaitsev is always the case, but one of them has to be scratched.

I think Jake Sanderson and Lassi Thomson have to start in the line up (if they earn it). People say Sanderson can't play too much but Jamie Drysdale already has 100 NHL games underneath his belt!

Question: If you could draft 1 player, at the age of 18 (put aside injuries), who are you taking: Victor Hedman or Erik Karlsson?

It got me thinking with the Sanderson and Drysdale debate (not saying it's the same of course)

Question: If you could draft 1 player, at the age of 18 (put aside injuries), who are you taking: Victor Hedman or Erik Karlsson?

It got me thinking with the Sanderson and Drysdale debate (not saying it's the same of course)
- AlfieisKing

No injuries, it's Karlsson and it's not even close. Before his injury big injury, there was serious discussion around the league if he was the best player in the NHL regardless of position. That injury robbed Karlsson, fans, and the NHL of a really special player.

If Brannstrom would do that a little more often I could get to like him. I'm talking about that great rush he made around the 14 minute mark.

Sanderson looks so good!

Kastelic is dynamite again tonight....Gambrelle better not be in the lineup on opening night over Mark.

If Brannstrom would do that a little more often I could get to like him. I'm talking about that great rush he made around the 14 minute mark.
- Whatisavailable

Agreed! Saw that too....problem is it happens once every 30 games.

No injuries, it's Karlsson and it's not even close. Before his injury big injury, there was serious discussion around the league if he was the best player in the NHL regardless of position. That injury robbed Karlsson, fans, and the NHL of a really special player.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Ditto!

My goodness......Zaitsev looks so bad yet again....that Habs goal....all on him!

Time to move on from Zaitsev and Branstrom in my opinion. Branstrom showed some flash that period that might win him a few key shifts this game but we have been fooled before.

Zaitsev brings negative value when he is on the ice.

While Dorion's offseason was good, it's a bit perplexing we are observing the same defensive issues with the same players as last season in preseason.

Time to move on from Zaitsev and Branstrom in my opinion. Branstrom showed some flash that period that might win him a few key shifts this game but we have been fooled before.

Zaitsev brings negative value when he is on the ice.

While Dorion's offseason was good, it's a bit perplexing we are observing the same defensive issues with the same players as last season in preseason.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

as long as smith is HC, Zeitsev is not going anywere.

Sens fans should be very worried with the sens getting their butts handed to them every game in the pre-season