I prefer the guest writer situation for now. You guys are doing a great job. Maybe hard to sync it all up, but it is appreciated.
- OttawaB

I definitely agree. It allows different perspectives to be brought forward/to be discussed. Hopefully the writers feel the same about the situation.

Did anyone catch what Brent Wallace said on their podcast (Wally/York/Ryan) regarding the official release of Mann, which apparently happened again ... but this time officially. Wallace won't comment until after Dorion is gone and will then speak to all the stuff going on in the front office.

What is this all about now?
- OttawaB

House cleaning before the New Big Boss comes in the office?

I'm still hoping (Patrick) Roy and Alife are hired by the franchise.

No to Patrick Roy.

I'd like to see Dave Poulin hired as GM. Dorion can call himself the Pres. of Hockey Ops. I don't care if he sticks around. He has a good head for drafting but is pretty weak on NHL talent.

Poulin was offered the same job that Pierre McGuire took but he declined Melnyk's offer----because it was Melnyk and Poulin knew he was crazy.

Dave has a good hockey brain.

No to Patrick Roy.

I'd like to see Dave Poulin hired as GM. Dorion can call himself the Pres. of Hockey Ops. I don't care if he sticks around. He has a good head for drafting but is pretty weak on NHL talent.

Poulin was offered the same job that Pierre McGuire took but he declined Melnyk's offer----because it was Melnyk and Poulin knew he was crazy.

Dave has a good hockey brain.
- Octavarium

I'd be happy with any other option than what we have now.

GUY BOUCHER NOW A.COACH FOR LEAFS

No to Patrick Roy.

I'd like to see Dave Poulin hired as GM. Dorion can call himself the Pres. of Hockey Ops. I don't care if he sticks around. He has a good head for drafting but is pretty weak on NHL talent.

Poulin was offered the same job that Pierre McGuire took but he declined Melnyk's offer----because it was Melnyk and Poulin knew he was crazy.

Dave has a good hockey brain.
- Octavarium

Andlauer likes Steve Staios and worked with him with the Hammer Bulldogs. Dollars to donuts he's got one of those vacant AGM positions where he'll patiently wait for Dorion's next misstep.

Herein lies the issue with Dorion. Do you think he can work with a hand picked guy by the owner ? I think Dorion would feel too threatened by a Staios hire as AGM. Apparently the firing of Mann was not job performance related (I think from Mendes). Which means he was a Dorion hire a year ago, and now fired by Dorion.
I look at the Leafs operation (as an example) .... I think I counted 8 guys hired to support the head coach (assistants, power play, penalty kill, "eye in the sky", video, etc. Plus much more in upper offices.
Not saying the Sens need to expand that much, but Dorion also likes to run a sparse ship. I don't know if he can function with a more fleshed out staff. Does Dorion play well with others. It seems like all he does is kick people out of his sandbox.

Herein lies the issue with Dorion. Do you think he can work with a hand picked guy by the owner ? I think Dorion would feel too threatened by a Staios hire as AGM. Apparently the firing of Mann was not job performance related (I think from Mendes). Which means he was a Dorion hire a year ago, and now fired by Dorion.
I look at the Leafs operation (as an example) .... I think I counted 8 guys hired to support the head coach (assistants, power play, penalty kill, "eye in the sky", video, etc. Plus much more in upper offices.
Not saying the Sens need to expand that much, but Dorion also likes to run a sparse ship. I don't know if he can function with a more fleshed out staff. Does Dorion play well with others. It seems like all he does is kick people out of his sandbox.
- OttawaB

Great points. I wonder if Dorion got a little comfortable leveraging Melnyk's frugality to keep people out of his play pen. He certainly froze out Pierre McGuire, I wonder if he'll have that agency with a new, more profligate owner.

It would be irresponsible for new ownership not to take direct control of asset management. On the business side, the job of President has been vacated and rumours have Cyril Leeder, an advisor to Andulaur, joining the Sens in that role.

On the player side, a President of Hockey Ops makes great sense. Someone accountable to the Board for all player and hockey related issues. Everything else would remain the same with Dorion staying for at least another year. But, long term I do not see Dorion remaining as GM. (Dorion would be a great fit in Vancouver that desperately needs a rethink on their rebuild). Montreal might also be having second thoughts about their front office).

Smith remains head coach as long as Brady wants him in the job.

It would be irresponsible for new ownership not to take direct control of asset management. On the business side, the job of President has been vacated and rumours have Cyril Leeder, an advisor to Andulaur, joining the Sens in that role.

On the player side, a President of Hockey Ops makes great sense. Someone accountable to the Board for all player and hockey related issues. Everything else would remain the same with Dorion staying for at least another year. But, long term I do not see Dorion remaining as GM. (Dorion would be a great fit in Vancouver that desperately needs a rethink on their rebuild). Montreal might also be having second thoughts about their front office).

Smith remains head coach as long as Brady wants him in the job.
- spatso

The two of them (PD and DJ) have the first twenty games of the year to keep their jobs. If they Sens go .600 in those games, they will keep their jobs for the year. If they go less than .500, new owner will use that as an excuse to fire everyone and instill his guys. If they go, say, 2-9 or 3-8, DJ will be fired quickly by PD in order to save his job.

Their fates are entwined. And this new owner seems to be decisive. And looking for an excuse to put his stamp on the team and bring his guy (Staios) in.

Twenty games.....

The two of them (PD and DJ) have the first twenty games of the year to keep their jobs. If they Sens go .600 in those games, they will keep their jobs for the year. If they go less than .500, new owner will use that as an excuse to fire everyone and instill his guys. If they go, say, 2-9 or 3-8, DJ will be fired quickly by PD in order to save his job.

Their fates are entwined. And this new owner seems to be decisive. And looking for an excuse to put his stamp on the team and bring his guy (Staios) in.

Twenty games.....
- GrimmdaGoalie

Yes I think your numbers are right on the negative side.

The two of them (PD and DJ) have the first twenty games of the year to keep their jobs. If they Sens go .600 in those games, they will keep their jobs for the year. If they go less than .500, new owner will use that as an excuse to fire everyone and instill his guys. If they go, say, 2-9 or 3-8, DJ will be fired quickly by PD in order to save his job.

Their fates are entwined. And this new owner seems to be decisive. And looking for an excuse to put his stamp on the team and bring his guy (Staios) in.

Twenty games.....
- GrimmdaGoalie

There's a clear goal for this team to make the playoffs, so it's time to start playing that level of hockey. There needs to be zero tolerance for any kind of slow start, and that should be made explicitly clear at training camp. If you look at the Senators' schedule, they will have 15 of their first 20 games at home, nearly half of which are against non-playoff teams. Coming out of that with anything less than a .500 record would make it very difficult for them to make it to the post-season. And if DJ can't take them past the 'meaningful games' development phase, then it's time for him to go as well.

I'm not sure if they can wait to make changes. If after 20 games they fire Dorion and Smith .... then its another 20 games (or more) for the new staff to implement their systems. By then it is too late to make the playoffs.
I think ownership needs to be decisive this summer and implement their long term plans. If that means changes, then rip the band-aid off now. Otherwise you live with the tandem for the season and make changes then.

For me, Andlauer comes in and speaks directly to Dorion and Smith and then with the core group of players (individually). Then proceed from there with changes if needed. The goal is to make the playoffs and you need to determine if this is the right group to get you there.

I'm just not sure which route to take because we really don't know the inner workings of the team mechanics.

I'm not sure if they can wait to make changes. If after 20 games they fire Dorion and Smith .... then its another 20 games (or more) for the new staff to implement their systems. By then it is too late to make the playoffs.
I think ownership needs to be decisive this summer and implement their long term plans. If that means changes, then rip the band-aid off now. Otherwise you live with the tandem for the season and make changes then.

For me, Andlauer comes in and speaks directly to Dorion and Smith and then with the core group of players (individually). Then proceed from there with changes if needed. The goal is to make the playoffs and you need to determine if this is the right group to get you there.

I'm just not sure which route to take because we really don't know the inner workings of the team mechanics.
- OttawaB

We fans obviously want the playoffs, and Dorion has basically promised playoff hockey for a few years now, but I don't think it's imperative for the new owner to have a playoff team first year. Dude's got money, yes, but also hockey acumen.
Obviously Andlauer would like to make the playoffs, and he likes the team enough to a) keep the GM and coach and b) buy it. I think the past few comments have been sound - another slow start provides the rationale to replace Dorion and Smith, but I like that Andlauer hasn't walked in thinking everything needs to be burned to the ground immediately.
It says he thinks there's a lot to like about the roster and locker room culture the team already has, and is willing to leave it up to his own eye test and judgment where changes should be made. I really don't believe in Smith personally, but I think Andlauer likely sees Dorion and DJ as a package deal at this point; if the team once again falls into the old habit of losing early and often, especially after adding Chychrun, I think both are gone together.

there is no longer a "board" to be accountable to.
There is only Andlauer.

I love the train failing for the additional push it will put on A) no new rink--keep the perfectly fine one we have but replace the seats though. B) avoid the NCC at all costs and build a new one some place else.

How about those RedBlacks.

there is no longer a "board" to be accountable to.
There is only Andlauer.

I love the train failing for the additional push it will put on A) no new rink--keep the perfectly fine one we have but replace the seats though. B) avoid the NCC at all costs and build a new one some place else.

How about those RedBlacks.
- Octavarium

Sources for the Andlauer news

Leafs $12.4m over cap. Safe to assume they buy out Murray?

Murray buy out will free $1m cap space for Sens.

They will have about $6.5m to sign Pinto and finish off their roster (Sekalov?).

If they are going to add another scorer (Tarasenko) they will need to move out some salary.

Seen a few soft reports that Rangers are talking very quietly to a few teams about moving Lafreniere. Would I give up a mid first round pick plus a second for Lafreniere. You could probably steal him with an offer sheet at the cost of a second round pick.

I would prefer Lafreniere over Tarasenko.

Leafs $12.4m over cap. Safe to assume they buy out Murray?

Murray buy out will free $1m cap space for Sens.

They will have about $6.5m to sign Pinto and finish off their roster (Sekalov?).

If they are going to add another scorer (Tarasenko) they will need to move out some salary.

Seen a few soft reports that Rangers are talking very quietly to a few teams about moving Lafreniere. Would I give up a mid first round pick plus a second for Lafreniere. You could probably steal him with an offer sheet at the cost of a second round pick.

I would prefer Lafreniere over Tarasenko.
- spatso

Sokolov is an interesting player. Decent numbers in the AHL, not sure his skating will ever be there to be overly effective in the NHL, but would like to give him a shot at camp.

Well now Matt Murray is magically on LTIR, perhaps Ottawa should 'help' the Leafs out of their cap deficit by relieving them of Calle Jarnkrok for a seventh round pick or perhaps waiver eligible Lassi Thompson. Jarnkrok at 2.1 for 3 years strikes me as good economics.

Well now Matt Murray is magically on LTIR, perhaps Ottawa should 'help' the Leafs out of their cap deficit by relieving them of Calle Jarnkrok for a seventh round pick or perhaps waiver eligible Lassi Thompson. Jarnkrok at 2.1 for 3 years strikes me as good economics.
- Bartacus

Not Nylander?

Seen reports Nylander wants $10m from Leafs. Hard number to believe. I doubt there is any team that would turn their internal cap upside down and pay hime that kind of money.

My guess is he ends up with another team and signs in the $7.8m range.

Well now Matt Murray is magically on LTIR, perhaps Ottawa should 'help' the Leafs out of their cap deficit by relieving them of Calle Jarnkrok for a seventh round pick or perhaps waiver eligible Lassi Thompson. Jarnkrok at 2.1 for 3 years strikes me as good economics.
- Bartacus

the league needs to investigate this with a impartial 3rd party, Murray was fine to starts vs the panthers and be the back up for 2 games in the first round but now he is magically injured for the long term, in the offseason and TOR will not release details of his injury, total BS. the NHL is a corrupt clown league if they do nothing

the league needs to investigate this with a impartial 3rd party, Murray was fine to starts vs the panthers and be the back up for 2 games in the first round but now he is magically injured for the long term, in the offseason and TOR will not release details of his injury, total BS. the NHL is a corrupt clown league if they do nothing
- Mithos

The problem is trying to prove a player still suffers a bit from concussions. With Murray's history of concussions, and the lack of knowledge of concussions .... how is the league or any 3rd party going to prove he still does not have lingering affects? Under no circumstances would anyone want their name attached to a report that goes against a team or player saying they have lingering affects.

the league needs to investigate this with a impartial 3rd party, Murray was fine to starts vs the panthers and be the back up for 2 games in the first round but now he is magically injured for the long term, in the offseason and TOR will not release details of his injury, total BS. the NHL is a corrupt clown league if they do nothing
- Mithos

The NHL has had lockouts to get a hard salary cap. It seems that the NHL and NHLPA need to have a serious discussion about alleviating the salary cap in some way. While I don’t have specific numbers so this might be completely off, but you can’t have players’ contracts rise in the same number of years when the salary cap rises at a slower rate. At the same time, you have old contracts still lingering around while trying to accommodate new ones.

Salary cap circumvention is the new way to get around the cap. It would be silly for Toronto to not use this option considering the Lightning and Knights have had significant success doing just that. Surely the Leafs are in no rush to give cap relief to an up-and-coming division rival with a Matt Murray buy out.

There should be stricter parameters for players going on LTIR. It’s annoying to see players come back ready just for playoff time when the salary cap for some reason, just goes out the window. Equally annoying is seeing players on LTIR purely due to retirement purposes. However, hockey is synonymous with players playing hurt and most hockey players have some kind of nagging/lingering injury that could easily be used as a reason to stay on an injured list.

The current salary landscape seems more of a mess than when there was no cap.

the league needs to investigate this with a impartial 3rd party, Murray was fine to starts vs the panthers and be the back up for 2 games in the first round but now he is magically injured for the long term, in the offseason and TOR will not release details of his injury, total BS. the NHL is a corrupt clown league if they do nothing
- Mithos

Agreed - all signs point to this being a back room agreement between Murray and Treliving, and seeing as he was cleared to play at the end of the playoffs last year smells very fishy. As other commenters have noted, concussions are a grey area, and Murray is a headcase, so he might just feel it's in his best interest to go LTIR as he ends up with more money in his pocket than with a buyout. But it also affirms 'I won't play at all next year' which, if he is indeed healthy, is defeatist headcase nonsense and probably signals the end of his career.

We'll never know for sure - all we know is he was medically cleared to be dressed at the very end of last year, and we didn't hear about him having any falls or getting into any car accidents since, so apparently his symptoms got worse with rest, which is not how healing works.

Aho 9.75M, Stu and Brady's deal keeps on being a steal, they need to win now befoire their deal ends and they wants north of 10M+