I can take blogs H-M if that if ok with everyone? I'll be busy the beginning of March (work) and beginning of April (vacation) but can hold the fort down for the dog days of March.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Sounds good - if we're doing clusters, then I'll take the N-R portion at the end of the season. That just leaves the next 3 blogs unaccounted for, including the trade deadline. Also, if anyone wants a turn at being a guest writer later in the season, you're welcome to have any of the blog spots I just signed up for. Please just let me know - this schedule is just to ensure that we have someone covering off those time periods. The main purpose being that we don't go back to having issues with the blog falling off the main screen, or having 400 comments under one article relating to multiple weeks of games.

Updated Guest Writer Schedule:

Blog E - Sat. Feb. 25 (CAR/MTL) -
Blog F - Tue. Feb. 28 (DET/DET) -
Blog G - Sat. Mar. 4 (NYR/CBJ) -

Blog H - Thu. Mar. 9 (CHI/SEA) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog I - Sun. Mar. 12 (VAN/CGY) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog J - Thu. Mar. 16 (EDM/COL) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog K - Sat. Mar. 18 (TOR) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog L - Tue. Mar. 21 (PIT/BOS) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog M - Sat. Mar. 25 (TB/NJ) - Gord_Wilson_2.0

Blog N - Thu Mar. 30 (FLA/PHI) - khawk
Blog O - Sun. Apr. 2 (TOR/CBJ) - khawk
Blog P - Thu. Apr. 6 (CAR/FLA) - khawk
Blog Q - Mon. Apr. 10 (TB/CAR) - khawk
Blog R - Thu. Apr. 13 (BUF) - khawk

Sounds good - if we're doing clusters, then I'll take the N-R portion at the end of the season. That just leaves the next 3 blogs unaccounted for, including the trade deadline. Also, if anyone wants a turn at being a guest writer later in the season, you're welcome to have any of the blog spots I just signed up for. Please just let me know - this schedule is just to ensure that we have someone covering off those time periods. The main purpose being that we don't go back to having issues with the blog falling off the main screen, or having 400 comments under one article relating to multiple weeks of games.

Updated Guest Writer Schedule:

Blog E - Sat. Feb. 25 (CAR/MTL) -
Blog F - Tue. Feb. 28 (DET/DET) -
Blog G - Sat. Mar. 4 (NYR/CBJ) -

Blog H - Thu. Mar. 9 (CHI/SEA) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog I - Sun. Mar. 12 (VAN/CGY) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog J - Thu. Mar. 16 (EDM/COL) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog K - Sat. Mar. 18 (TOR) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog L - Tue. Mar. 21 (PIT/BOS) - Gord_Wilson_2.0
Blog M - Sat. Mar. 25 (TB/NJ) - Gord_Wilson_2.0

Blog N - Thu Mar. 30 (FLA/PHI) - khawk
Blog O - Sun. Apr. 2 (TOR/CBJ) - khawk
Blog P - Thu. Apr. 6 (CAR/FLA) - khawk
Blog Q - Mon. Apr. 10 (TB/CAR) - khawk
Blog R - Thu. Apr. 13 (BUF) - khawk
- khawk

Looks great. Thank you for doing this.

Well I called that game wrong.
I thought they'd get blown out.

Sleepy teams. It was a tight game, but seriously the Bruins barely being able to score on the AHL back up.
- Octavarium

This is what concerns me... all kinds of things have gone right for them, including having a pair of AHL goaltenders give them a very fair chance to win every game they've played, Stutzle being named the first star of the week, and catching the Bruins in something other than beast mode. And yet they're back to being just 3-2-1 after the all-star break, which is really not good enough to support a legitimate playoff run. This is especially true when you factor in the brutal stretch they have coming in March, where immediately after a 6-game road trip, they head right into a 6-game stretch against COL, TOR, PIT, BOS, TB, and NJ.

The goaltending situation has become interesting, though. The injury to Forsberg would seem to make a Talbot trade unlikely, however the tandem of Sogaard/Mandolese really has exceeded all reasonable expectations. The question now becomes whether the play of Sogaard has been promising enough for Dorion to consider a Forsberg/Sogaard tandem for next season. If so, this could save the team $3M in terms of a 1B goaltender salary, and provide some much-needed cap space to help resolve the team's three biggest off-season issues: re-signing DeBrincat and adding a top-4D.

How do we feel about the Parayko rumors?

I would have preferred him a couple years ago. They can have Zaitsev, a 2nd round pick and one of Lassi or JBD (which inexplicably the team seems to have soured on)

These were first round picks. They need to play in the NHL without fear of being sent down or benched instantly after a mistake. This coach is a buffoon.

How do we feel about the Parayko rumors?
- GrimmdaGoalie

I think folks need to realize why the likes of Weegar and Parayko are in the rumor mill. Both would like be an improvement to the existing defense but those are quite long contracts for guys about to enter their 30s. My concern is steep regression but maybe they would be fine for 3 years or so and you deal with the regression and contract in 4 or 5 years. It’s far from a no-brainer type deal for me but intriguing in the sense the existing defense would be immediately improved.

I think folks need to realize why the likes of Weegar and Parayko are in the rumor mill. Both would like be an improvement to the existing defense but those are quite long contracts for guys about to enter their 30s. My concern is steep regression but maybe they would be fine for 3 years or so and you deal with the regression and contract in 4 or 5 years. It’s far from a no-brainer type deal for me but intriguing in the sense the existing defense would be immediately improved.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I get that but the other options are UFAs like Dumba and Sverson in the offseason. Who will probably have to be signed for a higher AAV and will eventually end up the same type of contract. Who everyone else will go after.

Better to get Parayko now, on a cheaper AAV. 6.5 will end up being nothing for a top 4 D in three, four years when the cap increases. I don't mind one of JBD and prospect, maybe Sokolov or Formenton. Plus a pick. They probably want a first. They definitely going to want a seperate 2nd rd pick for Zaitsev....every team is going to want that.

I get that but the other options are UFAs like Dumba and Sverson in the offseason. Who will probably have to be signed for a higher AAV and will eventually end up the same type of contract. Who everyone else will go after.

Better to get Parayko now, on a cheaper AAV. 6.5 will end up being nothing for a top 4 D in three, four years when the cap increases. I don't mind one of JBD and prospect, maybe Sokolov or Formenton. Plus a pick. They probably want a first. They definitely going to want a seperate 2nd rd pick for Zaitsev....every team is going to want that.
- GrimmdaGoalie

The concern with Parayko is that there has been regression following a back injury. St. Louis is apparently looking to unload the contract which explains the low asking price.

My preference is for new owners come in before any major new additions, trades or contracts.

I get that but the other options are UFAs like Dumba and Sverson in the offseason. Who will probably have to be signed for a higher AAV and will eventually end up the same type of contract. Who everyone else will go after.

Better to get Parayko now, on a cheaper AAV. 6.5 will end up being nothing for a top 4 D in three, four years when the cap increases. I don't mind one of JBD and prospect, maybe Sokolov or Formenton. Plus a pick. They probably want a first. They definitely going to want a seperate 2nd rd pick for Zaitsev....every team is going to want that.
- GrimmdaGoalie

You wouldn’t be getting the same Parayko as when the Blues won the cup. There has been regression in his game. Blues are likely being proactive to move him now while they can before he regresses further.

Will he regress further? That’s the 6.5-million-dollar question. I agree that the UFA route will likely be challenging but it’s going to be a weird summer. Not a whole lot of teams have an abundance of cap room to give out blank cheques.

I am not against adding Parayko or Weegar, totally. I am a little apprehensive when it’s well-documented most players regress entering their 30s other than very gifted players. However, either would be close to helping to solidify the defense group immediately.

I think folks need to realize why the likes of Weegar and Parayko are in the rumor mill. Both would like be an improvement to the existing defense but those are quite long contracts for guys about to enter their 30s. My concern is steep regression but maybe they would be fine for 3 years or so and you deal with the regression and contract in 4 or 5 years. It’s far from a no-brainer type deal for me but intriguing in the sense the existing defense would be immediately improved.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Well, that's just it... the team has established a 5yr competitive window after this season, which is defined by the remaining term of the Tkachuk/Chabot contracts. So the key question is whether 2-3yrs of moderate benefit at high-$$$ for a top-4D upgrade is worth it, given that they'll likely regret it Zaitsev-style for twice as many years afterwards, and probably lose DeBrincat in the process. From what I can see, they really just need ~2yrs of a veteran top-4D to bridge the gap between now and when: a) they'll have a new coach in place (i.e. preferably one who understands the concept of team-defence), b) Sanderson gets his RFA extension, and c) they'll have a far better perspective on the development of their younger D-men.

If you look around the NHL, it's relatively clear that for the majority of NHL teams #4D is not a $4M+ role, let alone a $6M+ role. In fact, most playoff teams have their top-4D rounded out with a 28-34yo player making ~$3M-$4M... Hamonic is actually not far off the mark in that regard. So unless they're planning a long-term reassessment of Chabot-Zub-Sanderson as the core of their top-4D for the next 4yrs, I'd rather see them target someone like Savard/Edmundson out of MTL, McCabe out of CHI, or Myers out of VAN (with salary retention). It's not impossible that Schenn could be an option as well, if they felt he could be re-signed.

Most recent practice lines:

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Giroux
DeBrincat-Pinto-Batherson
Brassard-Greig-Gauthier
Joseph-Gambrell-Watson

Chabot-Zub
Sanderson-Hamonic
Brannstrom-Zaitsev

Talbot-Sogaard

Sanderson returning to the 2nd D-pairing is obviously huge, while Joseph on the 4th line isn't a great sign... though you never know who they might be trying to showcase for trade (Watson, Brassard, Gambrell, etc.). The whole bottom-6 is a bit of a $hit-show, tbh. I'd really like to see Crookshank get a look at LW before the end of the season. There's a good mix of speed/tenacity to his game, plus he's now the top goal-scorer in Belleville. Feels like maybe another 5th-7th round dark-horse forward pick by the scouting staff.

Zaitsev, a second in 2023 and fourth 2026 for future considerations to Chicago.

Zaitsev, a second in 2023 and fourth 2026 for future considerations to Chicago.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

finaly hes gone

Hope future considerations fits in well with the Sens!

Zaitsev, a second in 2023 and fourth 2026 for future considerations to Chicago.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Why is ottawa trading that before the deadline? Seems like an off-season move. Are they buyers at deadline? Or taking some dead cap space for picks? Seems odd.

Zaitsev, a second in 2023 and fourth 2026 for future considerations to Chicago.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Are the Sens about to make a deal to acquire a top 4 Dman?

Zaitsev, a second in 2023 and fourth 2026 for future considerations to Chicago.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Worth it just for the closure... though it's unclear what it will lead to in terms of additional roster changes for the Senators or Blackhawks.

That said, don't count Jake McCabe out as an option for Ottawa... he's listed as LD/RD (just like Chychrun), has a $4.0MAAV contract for 2yrs after this season (i.e. far less term than Parayko/Weegar), and is 100% available from CHI for the right price. Plus, it's clear from the DeBrincat/Zaitsev deals that CHI is: a) quite comfortable dealing with Dorion, and b) quite happy to receive picks/prospects, which plays strongly into the Senators' hand.

You could also consider Connor Murphy as a potential CHI target, as he's a natural RHD with a bit more size (6'4, 210), and a similar contract ($4.4MAAV x 3yrs after this season). Interestingly, on a CHI team where the other 2 top-4 D-men have -25 ratings, McCabe/Murphy are the only players on the entire team with >5GP to have positive ratings (+5/+1, respectively).

Zaitsev, a second in 2023 and fourth 2026 for future considerations to Chicago.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Clearing up space for the next overpaid, over age d man I am afraid.

Worth it just for the closure... though it's unclear what it will lead to in terms of additional roster changes for the Senators or Blackhawks.

That said, don't count Jake McCabe out as an option for Ottawa... he's listed as LD/RD (just like Chychrun), has a $4.0MAAV contract for 2yrs after this season (i.e. far less term than Parayko/Weegar), and is 100% available from CHI for the right price. Plus, it's clear from the DeBrincat/Zaitsev deals that CHI is: a) quite comfortable dealing with Dorion, and b) quite happy to receive picks/prospects, which plays strongly into the Senators' hand.

You could also consider Connor Murphy as a potential CHI target, as he's a natural RHD with a bit more size (6'4, 210), and a similar contract ($4.4MAAV x 3yrs after this season). Interestingly, on a CHI team where the other 2 top-4 D-men have -25 ratings, McCabe/Murphy are the only players on the entire team with >5GP to have positive ratings (+5/+1, respectively).
- khawk

McCabe has a 7 team no trade list. Supposedly all Canadian teams except Toronto are on it.

Murphy has a 10 team no trade list. No idea who is on it, but if Dorion was interested in him why not expand the Zaitsev trade to get him? That leads me to believe that Ottawa is on the list and Murphy nixed it.

The 2024 Washington second rounder for Brown helps to offset the loss of our 2023 second in the Zaitsev move.

After talking about it for years, getting that top 4 RHD is the final move Dorion makes as GM. At the post trade presser he gets to say "I told you I'd get a top 4 RHD!". Book it.

McCabe has a 7 team no trade list. Supposedly all Canadian teams except Toronto are on it.

Murphy has a 10 team no trade list. No idea who is on it, but if Dorion was interested in him why not expand the Zaitsev trade to get him? That leads me to believe that Ottawa is on the list and Murphy nixed it.
- boilermaker100

That may be true. It may also be true that the prospect of playing out the prime of their careers on a team that's on track for a very difficult multi-year rebuild isn't all that appealing. It could also be that having a former teammate like DeBrincat playing for the Senators might influence their opinion... as might having a number of good young American-born players on the team, including Tkachuk, Norris, Pinto, and Sanderson. We'll see what happens, but there are certainly worse fates in the NHL than having a chance to play 20min/GP on the top-D pairing of a very young and talented team, alongside a player as skilled as Thomas Chabot.

the 2nd rounder for Zaitsev was on the table at the draft from Chicago. Pay his bonus. Done deal. The Art Howe of a coach convinced PD to keep this "ELITE" defender. Finally Billy Bean got rid of this guy and our coach now must play the right people in the right spots. We'll see if he actually does.

It's certainly not my idea, but I agree with the general sentiment that PD is about to get fleeced on Parayko---so that St.Louis can turn around and retool with Chychrun.

PD is a terrible judge of pro talent. This vacuum on defense scares me. He's gonna do something dumb here.

or He's gonna re-sign Hamonic and possibly DeBrincat

So, I heard (sports radio) that San Jose is prepared to take back enough salary to get Karlsson's cap hit down to $8m for the 4 years remaining on his deal.

Apparently there are very few teams that are able to do any deal because of their cap situation next year, even if they could get the cap hit down to $8m. Edmonton wants to do a deal for Karlsson but the numbers next year would be brutal for them.

San Jose is not asking a huge return from any trade.

Chychrun will cost the equivalent of 3 1sts. Karlsson's cost might be shockingly low, as little as a 2nd round pick.

The 2024 Washington second rounder for Brown helps to offset the loss of our 2023 second in the Zaitsev move.

After talking about it for years, getting that top 4 RHD is the final move Dorion makes as GM. At the post trade presser he gets to say "I told you I'd get a top 4 RHD!". Book it.
- SensFan25

Fact: This team CANNOT have a shot at the playoffs unless they had a legit top 4 D-man that can play quality mins. Also they need to get solid goaltending from goalies that combine for career games I can count on my 2 hands

Gordwilson 2.0, I hear you point on TEAM D and structure! I just think when players are not good enough - especially D-men, it throws the structure out the window (or off)........ex players tend to overcompensate or overplay pucks, etc......