So, let's say strictly for the purpose of discussion we do the deal for a player that is long rumoured to want to be moved like Clayton Keller at $7.15m on the cap. It is a great long term contract.

How do you move out equivalent salary? If Pinto is part of the package you probably only need to find another $4m. I have no interest in dealing Pinto. But, the point remains. The Sens have the assets to pull off a blockbuster.

The Sens can do Kocecny or Laughton.

I think a deal is still combining.
- spatso

Will have to come if Pinto is going to be on this roster.

Correct me if I'm wrong...but a team can be over the cap by 10% just before the start the season?

Does signing Pinto at $2.5 get them under the 10%?

At that point, they just wait til the start of the season and demote Parker Kelly. Or put Joseph on Waivers.

Or they trade away the cap hit from one of their dead contracts for a 4th.

Pinto and Sokolov will be interesting. They can't ask for much but they still put Sens in some cap trouble when they get signed.

Its been so long that we've been a cap team, it feels weird.

Correct me if I'm wrong...but a team can be over the cap by 10% just before the start the season?

Does signing Pinto at $2.5 get them under the 10%?

At that point, they just wait til the start of the season and demote Parker Kelly. Or put Joseph on Waivers.

Or they trade away the cap hit from one of their dead contracts for a 4th.

Pinto and Sokolov will be interesting. They can't ask for much but they still put Sens in some cap trouble when they get signed.

Its been so long that we've been a cap team, it feels weird.
- GrimmdaGoalie

It really is that simple. There are no challenging cap issues for this year.

Correct me if I'm wrong...but a team can be over the cap by 10% just before the start the season?

Does signing Pinto at $2.5 get them under the 10%?

At that point, they just wait til the start of the season and demote Parker Kelly. Or put Joseph on Waivers.

Or they trade away the cap hit from one of their dead contracts for a 4th.

Pinto and Sokolov will be interesting. They can't ask for much but they still put Sens in some cap trouble when they get signed.

Its been so long that we've been a cap team, it feels weird.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Waiving Joseph saves 1.1 mil but you still have to replace him with a player which will cost a little over 800K so you only save about 300K not even. That still doesn't leave the Sens enough to sign Pinto and ice a full lineup.

Not sure what you mean by they trade away the cap hit from one of their dead contracts. If you mean the cap hits from contracts they bought out or Murray that they retained salary on...as far as i know, you cannot trade those at all.

Waiving Joseph saves 1.1 mil but you still have to replace him with a player which will cost a little over 800K so you only save about 300K not even. That still doesn't leave the Sens enough to sign Pinto and ice a full lineup.

Not sure what you mean by they trade away the cap hit from one of their dead contracts. If you mean the cap hits from contracts they bought out or Murray that they retained salary on...as far as i know, you cannot trade those at all.
- dcz28

This is correct. Sens have positioned themselves to gain over $20m in free cap next summer. Sanderson gets $7m increase and Chychrun needs a boost in the range of $3.5m. It will mean the Sens will have 6 young players making $8m on long term deals.

Next year the Sens will be able to add one more $8m player, age 24 or under. If they want to add a top player this year they need to wait for the trade deadline or move out the equivalent salary, if they want a deal this summer. Pinto is not much more than a bookkeeping entry and they can manage around his contract fairly easily.

If they want to add a Kocecny or Keller type salary before training camp, it means the 2 first round picks go and they would need to include the equivalent of the incoming dollars. Any mix involving Zub ($4.5) Joseph ($2.9) Kubalik ($2.5) Braanstrom ($2.0m) Forsberg ($2.75) works. Sens have great depth in their young talent pool. Teams will ask about Grieg, Kleven and even Pinto but that does not work for the Sens.

The even easier answer is to make a trade for an LTIR contract.

Arizona ... trade for Bryan Little .... $5.291 million cap hit for 1 year. Then it comes off the books. Sending a 2nd or 3rd round pick, or a player like Thomson or Guenette, or Sokolov to Arizona in return.

The even easier answer is to make a trade for an LTIR contract.

Arizona ... trade for Bryan Little .... $5.291 million cap hit for 1 year. Then it comes off the books. Sending a 2nd or 3rd round pick, or a player like Thomson or Guenette, or Sokolov to Arizona in return.
- OttawaB

The problem with trading for AZ's LTIR is they actually need Little's contract on the books to hit the floor. You should never pay 2/3 rounders for guaranteed LTIR, unless you're desperate. Thomson for Little I could possibly see, even though he's a former first rounder. Thomson feels like he's edged out of our line and is gonna get claimed or fade into obscurity - he might actually find ice time in the desert, so give him the chance.

The problem with trading for AZ's LTIR is they actually need Little's contract on the books to hit the floor. You should never pay 2/3 rounders for guaranteed LTIR, unless you're desperate. Thomson for Little I could possibly see, even though he's a former first rounder. Thomson feels like he's edged out of our line and is gonna get claimed or fade into obscurity - he might actually find ice time in the desert, so give him the chance.
- Bartacus

I don't understand how the net calculation on LTIR works for teams that are already at or over their cap allowance. I have always thought of LTIR as a neutral offset. But teams are using it to leverage for additional cap space. I have read the discussion around it but still can't figure out the $000 calculation for how a team benefits by directly taking on dead LTIR cap (eg., Little).

I don't understand how the net calculation on LTIR works for teams that are already at or over their cap allowance. I have always thought of LTIR as a neutral offset. But teams are using it to leverage for additional cap space. I have read the discussion around it but still can't figure out the $000 calculation for how a team benefits by directly taking on dead LTIR cap (eg., Little).
- spatso

It's a valid question, I think the issue is whether a team 'puts them on LTIR' - if an LTIR contract doesn't get 'put' on LTIR, then it still counts against the cap. I could be wrong, but I think it's up to the team to decide whether they want the cap hit or the cap relief when the season starts. I would assume, though, that insurance only covers contracts 'put' on LTIR - you'd assume, say, Arizona would only 'ice' Little if insurance is covering the bill, but wouldn't the insurance company only cover the contract if Little is put on LTIR? That's what I don't get with all this.

https://canucksarmy.com/n...roster-stay-compliant-why


One of the better explanations I have seen. But have fun following it.

https://canucksarmy.com/news/ltir-explained-exactly-how-canucks-set-opening-day-roster-stay-compliant-why


One of the better explanations I have seen. But have fun following it.
- OttawaB

Oh that was painful. Too much math. Maybe being a GM isn't all that easy?

Is Sokolov waiver exempt? Will it matter if he is? Maybe just sign him to a two way deal and dare someone to claim him. Same thing with Thomson.

Maybe you package Joseph and Thomson together.

Still feel there is another move coming....

https://thehockeynews.com...solve-senators-cap-crunch

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/features/top-5-possible-trade-candidates-to-solve-senators-cap-crunch
- david22

i think We will see either Branny or Joseph only be moved after training camp, for 1. to see if Kleven is ready for 3rd pairing role thus making Branny expendable and or to see of another one of OTT prospect can replace Jospeh

i think We will see either Branny or Joseph only be moved after training camp, for 1. to see if Kleven is ready for 3rd pairing role thus making Branny expendable and or to see of another one of OTT prospect can replace Jospeh
- Mithos

Brannstrom is expendable. He is a puck moving Dman. But there are already 3 D-men who are better puck handlers. And at least 4 who have better size and a stronger defensive presence.

I want Hamonic in my starting 6. I would like to see JBD and Kleven both get playing time with Hamonic. He did a really nice job working with Sanderson. Would like to see him help bring a couple more rookies into the league.

Veterans with a strong work ethic and a great team presence help bring the young guys along better than what most coaches are able to achieve.

Brannstrom is a good player and there are several teams where he could probably be on their #1 power play unit. It is never going to happen in Ottawa, so trading him may also be a favour to his career.

I saw the Hamonic situation different than most. He did not make Sanderson better. Sanderson made him look good, covered his warts and gave them a serviceable pair after Zub and Chabbot.

I would not have brought him back.

I saw the Hamonic situation different than most. He did not make Sanderson better. Sanderson made him look good, covered his warts and gave them a serviceable pair after Zub and Chabbot.

I would not have brought him back.
- Octavarium

Overall the Ottawa D had reasonable numbers. Chabot was -11 playing against the best players every game. Zub was a solid +2. Sanderson and Hamonic were -6 and -5. Brannstrum was +5 on the season. Chychrun was +8 in 22 games for the Coyotes and -1 with Ottawa in 12 games. Numbers are about what you would expect for a young team that missed the playoffs by 6 points.

It is the differential on the forwards that tells us more. First line was okay Stutzle was -3, Tkachuk -10 and Giroux was a very impressive +4. But, second line was a complete fail: Pinto -21, DeBrincat -31 and Batherson -35. Third and Fourth line had mixed results and were not a significant difference maker on the overall season.

I think the Sens will improve significantly over last year. You would like to see Stutzle, Tkachuk and Giroux end the season with a positive differential.

But, they will not make a significant improvement in the standings if the second line does not do a better job of defending.

Batherson, should he play come September, needs to significantly improve his back checking. For a guy with his size and mobility it's surprising his two way game has been so poor. I'm more inclined to blame him than Debrincat for that second line leaking opportunity.

I saw the Hamonic situation different than most. He did not make Sanderson better. Sanderson made him look good, covered his warts and gave them a serviceable pair after Zub and Chabbot.

I would not have brought him back.
- Octavarium

Bringing him back made sense for the veteran presence.

I wouldn't have given him the 2nd year, though. And maybe you wanted to wait on him until Pinto resigned, who is more important.

Points Per Game Ranking

1.15 - Stutzle
1.01 - Tkachuk
0.96 - Giroux
0.83 - Norris* (2021-2022)
0.76 - Batherson
0.73 - Tarasenko (1.09 in 21-22)
0.56 - Kubalik

Ice Time Ranking

21:16 - Stutzle
18:48 - Giroux
18:38 - Tkachuk
18:36 - Batherson
17:59 - Norris
17:31 - Tarasenko
15:59 - Pinto
14:55 - Kubalik

Based on this my lines:

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson
Stutzle - Giroux - Tarasenko
Grieg - Pinto - Kubalik

*Play Stutzle PK and PP1 and/or 2. Also I don't see how Pinto can play 3rd line center and not play significant PK time. That's why I want to trade the guy. Yea he's great on faceoffs but much more important he's a defensive asset

Points Per Game Ranking

1.15 - Stutzle
1.01 - Tkachuk
0.96 - Giroux
0.83 - Norris* (2021-2022)
0.76 - Batherson
0.73 - Tarasenko (1.09 in 21-22)
0.56 - Kubalik

Ice Time Ranking

21:16 - Stutzle
18:48 - Giroux
18:38 - Tkachuk
18:36 - Batherson
17:59 - Norris
17:31 - Tarasenko
15:59 - Pinto
14:55 - Kubalik

Based on this my lines:

Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson
Stutzle - Giroux - Tarasenko
Grieg - Pinto - Kubalik

*Play Stutzle PK and PP1 and/or 2. Also I don't see how Pinto can play 3rd line center and not play significant PK time. That's why I want to trade the guy. Yea he's great on faceoffs but much more important he's a defensive asset
- AlfieisKing

Despite his horrible plus/minus number Pinto is a good defensive player and the problems last season was on both his wings. DeBrincat comes back and he appears to want to play a solid defensive game but he just always got burned and Batherson seems to be having the same struggles.

Despite his horrible plus/minus number Pinto is a good defensive player and the problems last season was on both his wings. DeBrincat comes back and he appears to want to play a solid defensive game but he just always got burned and Batherson seems to be having the same struggles.
- spatso

Can someone please tell me how Pinto is a "good defensive player" when he ranked 12th in PK time for the Sens (260th in the NHL)

Can someone please tell me how Pinto is a "good defensive player" when he ranked 12th in PK time for the Sens (260th in the NHL)
- AlfieisKing

I'm still not really sure what Pinto is. He's anointed our third line centre - the production is there but the stats are confusing. We'll see. Get him away from Batherson for sure.

We will require a new blog soon. This one is gonna get bumped off the main page.

You know what I like most about our new owner? We haven't heard a peep from him.
When the time is right. The time will be right...... or nigh LOL

Saw a rumor that five players could face suspensions for the 2018 sexual assault scandal.

If this is the information right now, the story may be about to drop.

Formenton most likely on that list. From what I've read, mostly conjecture, Batherson is not thought to be, and may have even been the player who reported the incident.

But who knows.

Saw a rumor that five players could face suspensions for the 2018 sexual assault scandal.

If this is the information right now, the story may be about to drop.

Formenton most likely on that list. From what I've read, mostly conjecture, Batherson is not thought to be, and may have even been the player who reported the incident.

But who knows.
- david22

Formenton is history, really hope Batherson wasn't involved. I imagine the Senators would have been given the old heads-up if he was and wouldn't have played.