Pinto played a great game. Kleven and JBD looked OK. It's pretty obvious that they need to add a couple of solid guys to fill in that middle 6. If they do that and find a reliable goalie I think that if they stay reasonably healthy then not only will they make the playoffs but they will go deep, maybe even the finals. It's all there. Just a few pieces missing.

Lock up Sanderson and Pinto both long term this summer.
- Whatisavailable

I agree. The hockey Gods sent us a clear message in the picture of the casualty list all sitting together watching the game.So, we had Zub, Sanderson, Kleven, Brannstrom, Holden and JBD manning the blue line while Chabot, Chychrun and Hamonic watched from above.

Broadcast highlight of the night was play by play commentators stressing on multiple occasions that Matthews was having a great season and was matching Stutzle in the point column.

Duh! Stutzle just turned 21 is on the last year of his rookie deal. He will make $8.3m over the next 8 years. Matthews is entering into the last year of his deal and will be looking for $15m a year from the Leafs or Desert Dogs. Alex I will take "Who is Tim Stutzle?"

Broadcast highlight of the night was play by play commentators stressing on multiple occasions that Matthews was having a great season and was matching Stutzle in the point column.

Duh! Stutzle just turned 21 is on the last year of his rookie deal. He will make $8.3m over the next 8 years. Matthews is entering into the last year of his deal and will be looking for $15m a year from the Leafs or Desert Dogs. Alex I will take "Who is Tim Stutzle?"
- spatso

Stutzle is a very good player and any team in the league would want to have him. He was deserving of where he was drafted.
When he gets to 60 goals or even 40 ( as Matthews did as an 18 year old) let me know and we can actually compare the two.

Stutzle is a very good player and any team in the league would want to have him. He was deserving of where he was drafted.
When he gets to 60 goals or even 40 ( as Matthews did as an 18 year old) let me know and we can actually compare the two.
- Rang

Sorry, the point I was trying to stress was about contract value. Sens have decisions to make on Pinto, Sanderson, Debrincat and Chychrun over the next couple of years. All these guys are 24 or under. They can resign all of them. I believe that has been made possible as a direct result of previous signings including Stutzle at $8.3mx8, Tkachuck $8.1x8, Norris $7.9x8 and Chabot $8.0x8.

It was not Matthews skill as a player I was challenging. My comment had more to do with time series and the contract choices made by the Leafs. The Leafs will likely need to pay upwards of $15m to extend Matthews, with Marner on deck.

Boston is the model everyone should want to duplicate when it comes to finding an effective team compensation concept.

Go Buffalo!

Good for league to see Pittsburgh and Washington embark on rebuild programs. Tampa is coming soon and, surprisingly Boston is as well. Devils and Sabres are the teams the Sens will be chasing soon enough.

Sorry, the point I was trying to stress was about contract value. Sens have decisions to make on Pinto, Sanderson, Debrincat and Chychrun over the next couple of years. All these guys are 24 or under. They can resign all of them. I believe that has been made possible as a direct result of previous signings including Stutzle at $8.3mx8, Tkachuck $8.1x8, Norris $7.9x8 and Chabot $8.0x8.

It was not Matthews skill as a player I was challenging. My comment had more to do with time series and the contract choices made by the Leafs. The Leafs will likely need to pay upwards of $15m to extend Matthews, with Marner on deck.

Boston is the model everyone should want to duplicate when it comes to finding an effective team compensation concept.
- spatso

Agreed Boston has a great team first culture lead by Bergeron.
Will be interesting to see how Matthews balances greed vs ability to win in his next contract.

Pinto played a great game. Kleven and JBD looked OK. When healthy their D core will be very good.

It's pretty obvious that they need to add a couple of solid guys to fill in that middle 6 up front. Once you get past Tkachuk, Stutzle, Giroux, Pinto, Batherson and Norris there just isn't much there.

I like Kastelec and Watson but Watson won't be around much longer. Nor Brassard. Greig looked good his first two games but then something happened and he's been invisible or injured ever since. Guys like Gauthier, Kelly, Joseph, Gambrell and Patrick Brown aren't going to cut it.

If they use this summer to fill out that middle six up front and find a reliable goalie and if they stay reasonably healthy I think that not only will they make the playoffs next year but they will go deep, maybe even the finals. It's all there. Just a few pieces missing.

As far as this year goes I wouldn't mind if Washington or St Louis leap frogged them in the standings. Good test for Kleven and JBD. Sanderson and a lot of Sens fans might begin to fully appreciate what Chabot has been dealing with for years. Actually it' was even worse for Chabot because Zub is a lot better partner than Zaitsev was and the top six weren't nearly as well developed.

Don't piss around and just lock up Sanderson and Pinto both long term this summer.

Pinto played a great game. Kleven and JBD looked OK. When healthy their D core will be very good.

It's pretty obvious that they need to add a couple of solid guys to fill in that middle 6 up front. Once you get past Tkachuk, Stutzle, Giroux, Pinto, Batherson and Norris there just isn't much there.

I like Kastelec and Watson but Watson won't be around much longer. Nor Brassard. Greig looked good his first two games but then something happened and he's been invisible or injured ever since. Guys like Gauthier, Kelly, Joseph, Gambrell and Patrick Brown aren't going to cut it.

If they use this summer to fill out that middle six up front and find a reliable goalie and if they stay reasonably healthy I think that not only will they make the playoffs next year but they will go deep, maybe even the finals. It's all there. Just a few pieces missing.

As far as this year goes I wouldn't mind if Washington or St Louis leap frogged them in the standings. Good test for Kleven and JBD. Sanderson and a lot of Sens fans might begin to fully appreciate what Chabot has been dealing with for years. Actually it' was even worse for Chabot because Zub is a lot better partner than Zaitsev was and the top six weren't nearly as well developed.

Don't piss around and just lock up Sanderson and Pinto both long term this summer.
- Whatisavailable

I think you are correct with some greater depth up front the Sens will be a force.
Team defense is also just OK at this point but that can be learned. Batherson for example always leaves the zone early.
Having Norris back will help big time.

I think you are correct with some greater depth up front the Sens will be a force.
Team defense is also just OK at this point but that can be learned. Batherson for example always leaves the zone early.
Having Norris back will help big time.
- Rang

Well that team defense thing is a coaching issue and many of us here in Ottawa don't feel that will improve so long as Smith is in that position. Recognizing team needs and addressing them falls more on the GM and once again many of us hope to see the last of Dorion once the new ownership is in place.

Well that team defense thing is a coaching issue and many of us here in Ottawa don't feel that will improve so long as Smith is in that position. Recognizing team needs and addressing them falls more on the GM and once again many of us hope to see the last of Dorion once the new ownership is in place.
- Whatisavailable

OK but the guy deserves at least some credit for putting together the core of a team that has a chance to be very good.

OK but the guy deserves at least some credit for putting together the core of a team that has a chance to be very good.
- Rang

Lots of luck involved in getting those guys together but there were several good choices it's true but there also were way too many really bad moves to ignore. I wouldn't trust him moving forward.

Why is Gambrell playing 2nd line like wow!
Cause we all know he’s gonna light it up 🙄😏
Like just sniff his jock and get it over with DJ Gambrell must have something on DJ🤦‍♂️

2 shots 2 goals and he wants North to 5million 😳

2 shots 2 goals and he wants North to 5million 😳
- sens4life1971

we can only be thankful he turned down a contract extension twice, just shows you dorion is a moron

he lets in 4 goals on 11 shots vs phily...if was in nets last game the leafs would have won 8-0 or more

we can only be thankful he turned down a contract extension twice, just shows you dorion is a moron

he lets in 4 goals on 11 shots vs phily...if was in nets last game the leafs would have won 8-0 or more
- Mithos

Dorion is not going to give up on Talbot just you watch and see.

He can't afford to look stupid if he wants to keep his job because he knows he will never ever see another GM job once he leaves Ottawa. That's why DeBrincat and his agent know they have him by the short and curlies. They know that no other GM will give them 8 million or even 7 million. Not a chance. Their only shot is Dorion and if the new owners keep Dorion on then they are laughing all the way to the bank while Dorion figures out excuses to get rid of one or more good players in a year or two while singing the praises of guys like Parker Kelly.

Gus for talbot the trade that keeps on screwing over OTT

we can only be thankful he turned down a contract extension twice, just shows you dorion is a moron

he lets in 4 goals on 11 shots vs phily...if was in nets last game the leafs would have won 8-0 or more
- Mithos

Actually nothing is being risked or lost at this time of the season. Clearly Talbot is not the answer and nobody will say the Sens need to pay up to keep him. I am okay with Forsberg and the kids for next year.

Actually nothing is being risked or lost at this time of the season. Clearly Talbot is not the answer and nobody will say the Sens need to pay up to keep him. I am okay with Forsberg and the kids for next year.
- spatso

I'd be okay with Forsberg as part of a deal for a more established keeper (Gibson, Demko) with Mads backing up.

Talbot looked disinterested. Didn't raise his globe hand on a couple of the goals. I pray the sens don't make a 3rd offer on the guy.

I'd be okay with Forsberg as part of a deal for a more established keeper (Gibson, Demko) with Mads backing up.

Talbot looked disinterested. Didn't raise his globe hand on a couple of the goals. I pray the sens don't make a 3rd offer on the guy.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Talbot rejecting whatever offers were made looks to be a blessing in disguise. If Talbot goes to FA I suspect he finds himself in a similar position as Anthony Duclair and will be playing for less than he's making right now. I don't see a need to trade assets out for a goalie - there will be good, cost effective net options for a 1 year deal in FA. Gibson especially - he's been bad for four consecutive years now - it'd be like the Murray gamble all over. I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.

If your team is good enough, a competent netminder is all you need. Pittsburgh riding Murray and signing Jarry at 3.5 when Murray wanted too much $ and went to Ottawa. Colorado trading for Kuemper and then letting him walk to Washington to earn his 5M, signing Georgiev to 3.5M. Pens are not backing up the brinks truck to resign Jarry at 5*5 this off-season - watch and see, they'll go out and find a less proven goalie with upside on a similar 3-4M for 2-3 year deal than pay Jarry. It's the Washingtons (Kuemper), Edmontons (Campbell), and Ottawas (Murray) of the world who gets suckered into offering those guys the deals they want, when the real wheelers and dealers like the Pits and Cols are finding the next brand new bag. I think shorter lower value deals like Vanecek, Georgiev, Vejmelka will be the new norm for competitive teams. You should not be allocating such a huge portion of your cap hit to the position.

The only time a netminder should earn more than 4M per is when they *consistently* put up .915 every single season AND win hardware, like a Vasilevskiy, who IMO is still being paid way, way too much of that team's total cap. Some goalies are more or less sure bets, but most are magic beans until you see them in front of your systems and blue line. Colorado won the cup with a .908 over 16 games from Kuemper.

If your team is good enough, a competent netminder is all you need. Pittsburgh riding Murray and signing Jarry at 3.5 when Murray wanted too much $ and went to Ottawa. Colorado trading for Kuemper and then letting him walk to Washington to earn his 5M, signing Georgiev to 3.5M. Pens are not backing up the brinks truck to resign Jarry at 5*5 this off-season - watch and see, they'll go out and find a less proven goalie with upside on a similar 3-4M for 2-3 year deal than pay Jarry. It's the Washingtons (Kuemper), Edmontons (Campbell), and Ottawas (Murray) of the world who gets suckered into offering those guys the deals they want, when the real wheelers and dealers like the Pits and Cols are finding the next brand new bag. I think shorter lower value deals like Vanecek, Georgiev, Vejmelka will be the new norm for competitive teams. You should not be allocating such a huge portion of your cap hit to the position.

The only time a netminder should earn more than 4M per is when they *consistently* put up .915 every single season AND win hardware, like a Vasilevskiy, who IMO is still being paid way, way too much of that team's total cap. Some goalies are more or less sure bets, but most are magic beans until you see them in front of your systems and blue line. Colorado won the cup with a .908 over 16 games from Kuemper.
- Bartacus

G are to unpredictable to over long term big dollar contracts, just look at Bobrovski and Price, 5M is max a team should pay for G that has a proven tract record with that team. You don't need a 9M G to win a cup, look at COL, STL, WSH, PIT, BOS ect. a good team + good G can win cups a 9M+G can screw your cap structure and if they fall off a cliff, well you end up like the Panthers with a 10M G who cant stop a beach ball

Why.
Why was Gustavson an obvious GOOD goalie prospect unable to succeed here. Coaching? Confidence?

This coaching staff has down right RUINED prospects. I would not want to be in this organization.

Why.
Why was Gustavson an obvious GOOD goalie prospect unable to succeed here. Coaching? Confidence?

This coaching staff has down right RUINED prospects. I would not want to be in this organization.
- Octavarium

Gus was never put into a position to succeed.
Shut down when he lost, never allowed to ride the wave when he won. The mantra was always defer to the elder player when he's healthy. It's like how we used Ben Bishop. We didn't know what we had until it was gone. Sucks in retrospect because if you look at Gus' stat line with Ottawa, you'd have no way to predict what he has shown he is capable of this season.