Dorion better start looking at depth - still not much movement on the bottom 6, which needs a facelift. Wish we'd gotten Sprong.
- Bartacus

maybe he forgot he had to upgrade the bottom 6

maybe he forgot he had to upgrade the bottom 6
- Mithos

Think Debrincat is holding everything up.

Think Debrincat is holding everything up.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Think you're right. Factor in his QO, there's not much space left to tinker. Still, you could add a few league min contracts without issue. Probably will need to wait for FA dust to settle for teams to figure out how much space is left, if any, to take on AD. Nashville makes a lot of sense.

DeBrincat trade is there - apparently it's about term. If I'm a team that acquires him, I'm gunning for 8 x 8 area. Or he's 25 so give him 4 years @7.75-8.5M. He will score big time and it gives the team time.

Dallas, Carolina, Nashville, Detroit, NY Islanders --- I won't be surprised if he signs a shorter deal now (4 year deal) and cash when the cap goes up

ooof Sorokin 8.25M for 8 years at 28

with DJ still the HC, Sens will be elliminated from playoff contention in november so that will not be a problem
- Mithos

Are you forgetting that DJ said he would coach the team differently this year...so...yeah.

I know everyone is keen to move things along a get signings done. But, there are some advantages having cap and roster space still needing to be filled. There are some very good players still available and the price comes down the longer you can wait. Most of the usual suspects are now fully spent on their cap. .

Sens talking to Tarasenko? Now THAT could be a nice add

Gotta get the Cat stuff dealt with though. Sooner the better at this point.

Rangers need to move Barcley Goodrow. He is a solid 3rd line player at $3.6m. Motte is a UFA and really solid vet. He was a really nice player when he was with the Sens. If we are talking Rangers, I think Lafreniere RFA might be a really popular target.

Would the Rangers do a deal of Lafreniere and Goodrow for DeBrincat?
- spatso

Why would you want that?

Fisher signs in Detroit. I think the Sens will miss out on some decent, affordable players while waiting on the Debrinicat situation to pan out. Still need two forwards imo.

But the waiting might be to the teams advantage. I think both Hamnoic and Debrinicat are seeing there isn't much of a market for them.

Cam Talbot signing in LA makes me chuckle since the Sens probably offered more than a million at the end of the season.

Lot of money spent yesterday but most of it reasonable.

Except for the Varlamov contract.....for a backup? Until he is 40?

Curious to see how many teams now have 3 goalies on their rosters or signed a 3rd goalie yesterday. (Pitt, FLA, LAK, for example). New trend?

Curious to see how many teams now have 3 goalies on their rosters or signed a 3rd goalie yesterday. (Pitt, LAK, for example). New trend?
- GrimmdaGoalie

The Kings will need 3 tenders with Talbot on the roster.

Sens talking to Tarasenko? Now THAT could be a nice add

Gotta get the Cat stuff dealt with though. Sooner the better at this point.
- Roadrunner75

Not a fan of the Korpisalo signing. Career 3.01 GAA with a .904 save percentage. He was ok last year but when it came to playoff time was a sub .900 goalie (granted against a high offensive Oilers team, but still).

Korpisalo has played in the NHL 8 seasons and has never played more than 37 games in a season. Hopefully injuries are a thing of the past. The term is is pretty ridiculous. Not sure how he commanded a 5 year term. If it doesn't work out, it could be a cap killer.

I just don't trust Dorion and his ability to sign goalies. Way too much money tossed around for sub par goaltending in his tenure.

With all this said, I really hope it works out. If Korpisalo can sustain a .910+ save percentage and remain healthy, that will be worth the contract. The contract does have the potential to being a great value contract if Korpisalo can sustain number 1 goalie play.

Still some qulaity names out there to help the depth of this team in both the RFA and UFA streams. Not sure Dorion will be able to do much with the Debrincat situation up in the air. I'd like to see Max Domi added for bottom six depth. Should not command a giant contract. Tomas Tatar might be an interesting veteran option as well. Both might be a little too pricey but Dorion needs to address the bottom six in a big way somehow. Espeically, if Debrincat will be moved. I am not overly excited about the Tarashenko rumours. If the rumours are true that he needs to take a shorter term deal somewhere, I'd rather keep Debrincat short term or add a couple of depth players like mentioned above.

Not a fan of the Korpisalo signing. Career 3.01 GAA with a .904 save percentage. He was ok last year but when it came to playoff time was a sub .900 goalie (granted against a high offensive Oilers team, but still).

Korpisalo has played in the NHL 8 seasons and has never played more than 37 games in a season. Hopefully injuries are a thing of the past. The term is is pretty ridiculous. Not sure how he commanded a 5 year term. If it doesn't work out, it could be a cap killer.

I just don't trust Dorion and his ability to sign goalies. Way too much money tossed around for sub par goaltending in his tenure.

With all this said, I really hope it works out. If Korpisalo can sustain a .910+ save percentage and remain healthy, that will be worth the contract. The contract does have the potential to being a great value contract if Korpisalo can sustain number 1 goalie play.

Still some qulaity names out there to help the depth of this team in both the RFA and UFA streams. Not sure Dorion will be able to do much with the Debrincat situation up in the air. I'd like to see Max Domi added for bottom six depth. Should not command a giant contract. Tomas Tatar might be an interesting veteran option as well. Both might be a little too pricey but Dorion needs to address the bottom six in a big way somehow. Espeically, if Debrincat will be moved. I am not overly excited about the Tarashenko rumours. If the rumours are true that he needs to take a shorter term deal somewhere, I'd rather keep Debrincat short term or add a couple of depth players like mentioned above.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Quite frankly, there were not a lot of goalie choices out there as free agents ... and thus we get them for "free" without giving up any pieces. People talk about trades .... Gibson, Hart, Vladar (a joke ... he has worse numbers then Korpisalo), etc. Many of these like Hellybuyck will not accept trades to Ottawa. Andersen and Raanta (I believe) were always going to re-sign in Carolina so they were not really an option either. I believe we got one of the better deals out there in Korpisalo. And it seems like he wants to come to Ottawa. He and Forsberg will likely share the load so I am not concerned with the number of games he has played in past seasons.
So ... all of you who do not like the Korpisalo signing .... step up and tell us what legit choices you would have rather seen in Ottawa. I get tired of reading criticisms without offering alternative.

At $4 million ... that number is not a bad number. At 5 years, I'm not fond of the term but as I said before .... for Ottawa to sign free agents, there is an "Ottawa Premium" to get players to come here. To think there is no premium to pay is a bit naive.

Quite frankly, there were not a lot of goalie choices out there as free agents ... and thus we get them for "free" without giving up any pieces. People talk about trades .... Gibson, Hart, Vladar (a joke ... he has worse numbers then Korpisalo), etc. Many of these like Hellybuyck will not accept trades to Ottawa. Andersen and Raanta (I believe) were always going to re-sign in Carolina so they were not really an option either. I believe we got one of the better deals out there in Korpisalo. And it seems like he wants to come to Ottawa. He and Forsberg will likely share the load so I am not concerned with the number of games he has played in past seasons.
So ... all of you who do not like the Korpisalo signing .... step up and tell us what legit choices you would have rather seen in Ottawa. I get tired of reading criticisms without offering alternative.

At $4 million ... that number is not a bad number. At 5 years, I'm not fond of the term but as I said before .... for Ottawa to sign free agents, there is an "Ottawa Premium" to get players to come here. To think there is no premium to pay is a bit naive.
- OttawaB

Folks are absolutely right that goalie options were limited. That doesn't automatically make the Korpisalo a "win" as a result. That's always the danger with free agency. I am not a fan of the inital signing but will hope that he can put together a strong career in Ottawa. That would be great and then the contract is actually, quite a great signing.

My trading targets would have been Swayman in Boston and Logan Thompson in Vegas. Yes, you'd have to give up assets but potentially be able to get a more term friendly deal. Although, I feel Thompson has probably earned a decent contract with his performance during the season before getting injured. The realistic possibility of trades is another thing. Some more feasible than others and some details we as fans, just don't know. I don't doubt that Korpisalo was likely the "best" option to acquire. Do you need to do that deal though? A healtly debate I think. Teams have been burnt at free agency for seemingly signing the best option.

My biggest issue with sizable contracts for goalies is that the position is so random. We just saw Vegas win the cup with a guy that they acquired for a 4th rounder. The year prior Kuemper won with Colorado with an expiring contract that was acquired via trade. Seems more and more goalies are lightning in a bottle with the expection of 5 or so guys who are consistent year in and year out.

I think it is ok for fans to be skeptical of a signing of a goalie who has never played more than 40 games in a season and has a career statistics that are underwhelming. However, it's equally fair that folks can be pleased with the signing after his performace down the stretch with the Kings to get into the playoffs. Lets hope that trend continues and he can be one of the better valued goalied in the NHL. These forms would be quite dull without some good old debates.

I also liked the Talbot and Murray moves at one point. Maybe my feelings towards this move will shift our luck.

Not always, but most often, the best goaltending numbers are for the goalie who benefits from being able to play behind a strong defensive team.

Also heard talking heads engaged in lots goaltender discussion over weekend saying teams should think in terms of using 3 goalies over the season and Sogaard should expect to get 15 games or so.

Bertuzzi and Domi put the Leafs at $8m over cap. Who is going? Where? Leafs are going to be a stronger physical presence. Maybe offer better push back in playoffs. But, they are going to be have to give up a ton of offence. I thought Nylander was there best playoff performer and it looks like he is the guy that is going (either St. Louis or Nashville). I wonder if they could move Tavares? Chicago?

Maybe what the Leafs are offering up will explain, in part, why some teams are holding back on closing a deal for DeBrincat.

Bertuzzi and Domi put the Leafs at $8m over cap. Who is going? Where? Leafs are going to be a stronger physical presence. Maybe offer better push back in playoffs. But, they are going to be have to give up a ton of offence. I thought Nylander was there best playoff performer and it looks like he is the guy that is going (either St. Louis or Nashville). I wonder if they could move Tavares? Chicago?

Maybe what the Leafs are offering up will explain, in part, why some teams are holding back on closing a deal for DeBrincat.
- spatso

I wonder if the holdup on a Nylander deal is having to take the last year of Matt Murray with him.

Like Nylander and Murray for some part of a Karlsson deal?

Not always, but most often, the best goaltending numbers are for the goalie who benefits from being able to play behind a strong defensive team.

Also heard talking heads engaged in lots goaltender discussion over weekend saying teams should think in terms of using 3 goalies over the season and Sogaard should expect to get 15 games or so.
- spatso

I agree with the Sogaard take. Give Korpisalo and Forsberg 30-35 games each and let Sogaard handle the rest, while giving Sogaard and Merilainen 35-ish games each in Belleville (and bring in Mandolese to handle the rest (Mandolese gets ECHL games).

As for the Leafs ..... don't forget they have $5-ish million on LTIR in Jake Muzzin which will lessen their amount of being over the cap. The idea of trading Nylander + for Karlsson is an interesting idea. I actually like the idea (and I'm not a Leaf fan). But that could be a good hockey trade.

I have no clue where the Sens send DeBrincat, and almost wonder if we keep him if DeBrincat signs an extra year or 2 beyond next year (doubtful). But here would be an interesting trade idea IMO ..... with Calgary. Ottawa gets Elias Lindholm, age 28, at $4.85 million for 1 more year (he may?? want out of Calgary) but only if he re-signs for a longer term (3-5 years, 6-6.5 million per year). Calgary gets Drake Batherson + (draft pick , 2nd or a player like Lassi Thompson). Calgary gets a player (Batherson) who they can keep for 4 more years. And Thompson is no longer waiver exempt so Ottawa can't send him to Belleville unless he clears waivers. Ottawa's second line of Norris and Lindholm + Jarventie/Sokolov or is there someone else in free agency that could fit. Maybe even try to add Tanev (for a bit more muscle on the backend) and trade Brannstrom as well as part of Calgary package. Then we could bring in Hamonic as the 6th or 7th d-man ..... Benard-Docker would be 5th d-man.
Just a thought.

Filip Zadina on waivers. No brainer waiver claim?

I agree with the Sogaard take. Give Korpisalo and Forsberg 30-35 games each and let Sogaard handle the rest, while giving Sogaard and Merilainen 35-ish games each in Belleville (and bring in Mandolese to handle the rest (Mandolese gets ECHL games).

As for the Leafs ..... don't forget they have $5-ish million on LTIR in Jake Muzzin which will lessen their amount of being over the cap. The idea of trading Nylander + for Karlsson is an interesting idea. I actually like the idea (and I'm not a Leaf fan). But that could be a good hockey trade.

I have no clue where the Sens send DeBrincat, and almost wonder if we keep him if DeBrincat signs an extra year or 2 beyond next year (doubtful). But here would be an interesting trade idea IMO ..... with Calgary. Ottawa gets Elias Lindholm, age 28, at $4.85 million for 1 more year (he may?? want out of Calgary) but only if he re-signs for a longer term (3-5 years, 6-6.5 million per year). Calgary gets Drake Batherson + (draft pick , 2nd or a player like Lassi Thompson). Calgary gets a player (Batherson) who they can keep for 4 more years. And Thompson is no longer waiver exempt so Ottawa can't send him to Belleville unless he clears waivers. Ottawa's second line of Norris and Lindholm + Jarventie/Sokolov or is there someone else in free agency that could fit. Maybe even try to add Tanev (for a bit more muscle on the backend) and trade Brannstrom as well as part of Calgary package. Then we could bring in Hamonic as the 6th or 7th d-man ..... Benard-Docker would be 5th d-man.
Just a thought.
- OttawaB

Much prefer the cap friendly, multi year contract of Batherson opposed to one year of Lindholm who will be looking to cash in in his next contract.

If Debrincat ends up taking a short term deal with the Sens, the Sens may need to move some other contracts. In my mind, contracts of Joseph and Forsberg could and should be looked at to move. Whether you can is another discussion. The Branstrom signing also ends up looking perhaps slightly permature. Still need to figure out Pinto as well.

Dorion is really at a fork in the road. How he navigates this situation could be the difference of Ottawa moving into being a contender or setting up for more years of building.

Filip Zadina on waivers. No brainer waiver claim?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

We still need 2 forwards even if Debrinicat stays. So, sure.

Looking more and more like Debrinicat is on the opening night roster.

Filip Zadina on waivers. No brainer waiver claim?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Someone has to claim him at this point. Easy, low risk move to take. Crazy how far he's fallen.

And funny considering how many here wanted him over Brady, myself included.

We still need 2 forwards even if Debrinicat stays. So, sure.

Looking more and more like Debrinicat is on the opening night roster.
- GrimmdaGoalie

100% !