How many contracts are there in the league they could trade for to acquire dead cap space?
- david22

There are a few, but most of them are being leveraged for cap space by the teams that have them on books (Vegas, Toronto, Tampa, Colorado, Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary and Washington all have LTIR contracts but need them).

It is not ideal to carry LTIR for cap management and Dorion would want a deal that expires after this season, so you can rule Ryan Ellis out. The Yotes are not using LTIR, rather keeping the IR players active so they can hit the salary floor, which is why they need to keep Weber and Voracek around.

So your options are slim. Brian Little is the unicorn here because his deal expires and AZ doesn't need his cap hit of 5.3M to reach the floor. You have to think Armstrong knows this though, and is/would be asking a price PD is not willing to pay. Paying a steep/ish cost for a player who will never play for the team would be poor new owner optics as a direct price for Dorion getting us into this crunch in the first place, though it could make a ton of sense in opening a door for a longer term contract with Pinto in the 5*4 range while also allowing the team to carry a full roster.

Not posting this as any kind of justification, but Lassi having a rough start in Anaheim, pre-season or no. Hopefully he can pull it together.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1710306487807950852

Its all well and fine to talk about replacing Dorion and/or Smith once the year starts. But who are you going to hire to replace them. What's out there of any value other then retread coaches.
I would think the GM of interest would be Mathieu Darche from Tampa .... as has been mentioned before. Or John Gruden, coach of the Toronto Marlies to replace Smith. These have been linked to Andlauer and Staios in the past.

But I can't see teams giving Ottawa permission to talk to their people during the season. So, other then a bunch of retread coaches and GM's, there is not a lot out there waiting on jobs.

Not posting this as any kind of justification, but Lassi having a rough start in Anaheim, pre-season or no. Hopefully he can pull it together.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1710306487807950852
- david22

...that highlight was UGLY.

...that highlight was UGLY.
- Octavarium

And there's two. Minutes apart. Really feel for the guy.

And there's two. Minutes apart. Really feel for the guy.
- david22

Unfortunately he needs more time in the AHL which he won't get. My guess is that he goes back to Sweden next year to play.

Its all well and fine to talk about replacing Dorion and/or Smith once the year starts. But who are you going to hire to replace them. What's out there of any value other then retread coaches.
I would think the GM of interest would be Mathieu Darche from Tampa .... as has been mentioned before. Or John Gruden, coach of the Toronto Marlies to replace Smith. These have been linked to Andlauer and Staios in the past.

But I can't see teams giving Ottawa permission to talk to their people during the season. So, other then a bunch of retread coaches and GM's, there is not a lot out there waiting on jobs.
- OttawaB

Players love Smith. If it gets to the point where it is decided to replace him...the season is already essentially lost.

Fans over value the importance of a coach. Sure some coaches are losers because they believe their structure is more impotent than their best players natural talents. The best coaches get the most out of each players natural ability.

Just a couple of years ago we learned the highly talented Devils were a failure because of Lindy Ruff. Devil fans hated him. Lucky for Ruff he was young enough and able to completely change his coaching philosophy.

I think Smith is going to remain Sens coach for a very long time. Not so sure Dorion remains as GM beyond this year.

Unfortunately he needs more time in the AHL which he won't get. My guess is that he goes back to Sweden next year to play.
- OttawaB

If LT keeps doing that kind of thing he'll get waived again in short order, and if it happens in the next few weeks, Ottawa gets first dibs to reclaim him and the ability to move him to the AHL without waivers.

Its all well and fine to talk about replacing Dorion and/or Smith once the year starts. But who are you going to hire to replace them. What's out there of any value other then retread coaches.
I would think the GM of interest would be Mathieu Darche from Tampa .... as has been mentioned before. Or John Gruden, coach of the Toronto Marlies to replace Smith. These have been linked to Andlauer and Staios in the past.

But I can't see teams giving Ottawa permission to talk to their people during the season. So, other then a bunch of retread coaches and GM's, there is not a lot out there waiting on jobs.
- OttawaB

I'm pretty sure Staios will be made GM in addition to PoHO if Dorion slips up. There is a larger conversation to be had about who would replace Smith.

I'm pretty sure Staios will be made GM in addition to PoHO if Dorion slips up. There is a larger conversation to be had about who would replace Smith.
- Bartacus

I'm still convinced the replacement GM would be Darche but not until the end of the season. I agree that Staios could take it over, but short term to finish this season.

I actually like the defensive structure we are starting to see with the Sens over the last few games. An aggressive swarming defense based on speed, which the Sens now have plenty of.


As for trading for an LTIR .... Arizona does not need Lyttle or Voracek to make the cap floor anymore. Both only have 1 more year on their contracts so would disappear from the Sens overall cap structure next season. So what would you rather do .....

1) Keep all your signed players and trade a 1rst or 2nd overall draft pick to get an LTIR player. Then sign Pinto at 3x 2.5 million, carry 13 forwards and 7 d-men. And still have room to jiggle the lineup if needed.

2) Trade away Joseph and sign a first round or 2nd round pick as a sweetener. Then sign Pinto, and barely have enough to carry 13 forwards and 7 d-men and always be close to the cap where injuries can throw a wrench into the whole affair.

Maybe they toss Norris onto LTIR for 10 games until he is better ... if he gets better. Or maybe he stays longer on LTIR. Either way I think we will find out on Saturday. If Norris doesn't play .... I expect he'll go to LTIR, and Pinto will be signed .... and they will kick the can down the street for another day to deal with trades, etc. ...... or someone else gets hurt and goes to LTIR.

Not posting this as any kind of justification, but Lassi having a rough start in Anaheim, pre-season or no. Hopefully he can pull it together.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1710306487807950852
- david22

wowww
thanks for posting

Sens should've traded the F'in 1st pick rather than drafting this guy.

Players love Smith. If it gets to the point where it is decided to replace him...the season is already essentially lost.

Fans over value the importance of a coach. Sure some coaches are losers because they believe their structure is more impotent than their best players natural talents. The best coaches get the most out of each players natural ability.

Just a couple of years ago we learned the highly talented Devils were a failure because of Lindy Ruff. Devil fans hated him. Lucky for Ruff he was young enough and able to completely change his coaching philosophy.

I think Smith is going to remain Sens coach for a very long time. Not so sure Dorion remains as GM beyond this year.
- spatso

You don’t think coaching is important? Smith doesn’t get the best out his players, he routinely holds back younger players, makes bad strategic decisions, and doesn’t adapt to the other team at all.

Hopefully he actually listens to the new analytics guy like he says he’s going to and stop playing the fourth line after every goal.

The one thing you’re correct on is that if Smith gets fired, the season is likely lost, which is why he should’ve been fired months ago. Now we get to collectively hold our breath for the first ten games and hope he doesn’t drill this team into the ground.

I would let Joseph play - I think he could play his way into having trade value. Sign Pinto to a one year league min with performance bonuses up to 3M, kind of like Brown in Edmonton. The extra comes off the cap next year. Done.
Unsure why this deal hasn't been figured out yet, they've waived lots of potential to clear space and it would be super helpful to get Pinto up to speed on ice.

I would let Joseph play - I think he could play his way into having trade value. Sign Pinto to a one year league min with performance bonuses up to 3M, kind of like Brown in Edmonton. The extra comes off the cap next year. Done.
Unsure why this deal hasn't been figured out yet, they've waived lots of potential to clear space and it would be super helpful to get Pinto up to speed on ice.
- Bartacus

Was announced that Norris won't play today, not cleared yet. So I expect that after the game, Norris will be placed on LTIR and will miss the first 2-3 weeks of the season (because of actual issues .... Sens would not put him there just for poops and giggles). That way they will probably sign Pinto shortly, and start the year with 13 forwards and 7 d-men and 2 goalies. Kicking the can down the road. Nobody gets traded ... yet.

My best guess to start the season ....

Tkachuk/Stutzle/Tarasenko
Batherson/Pinto/Giroux
Kubalik/Jarventie/Joseph
Smejkal/Kastelik/Grieg

Kelly ..... MacEwen would be sent to Belleville to improve
Bailey will be released from PTO
There is enough size and grit to look after things. Maybe not a "fighting" lineup, but the NHL is changing. By the time Norris is ready, either someone else will be injured, or Joseph might actually play himself into a tradeable asset.

Was announced that Norris won't play today, not cleared yet. So I expect that after the game, Norris will be placed on LTIR and will miss the first 2-3 weeks of the season (because of actual issues .... Sens would not put him there just for poops and giggles). That way they will probably sign Pinto shortly, and start the year with 13 forwards and 7 d-men and 2 goalies. Kicking the can down the road. Nobody gets traded ... yet.

My best guess to start the season ....

Tkachuk/Stutzle/Tarasenko
Batherson/Pinto/Giroux
Kubalik/Jarventie/Joseph
Smejkal/Kastelik/Grieg

Kelly ..... MacEwen would be sent to Belleville to improve
Bailey will be released from PTO
There is enough size and grit to look after things. Maybe not a "fighting" lineup, but the NHL is changing. By the time Norris is ready, either someone else will be injured, or Joseph might actually play himself into a tradeable asset.
- OttawaB

Your lineup is based on how people have played in preseason. Based on who deserves the roster shot. Kelly should be sent down no matter what. But since Smejkal and Jarventie are waiver exempt, I suspect it is them and not Kelly and MacEwen sent down.

Was announced that Norris won't play today, not cleared yet. So I expect that after the game, Norris will be placed on LTIR and will miss the first 2-3 weeks of the season (because of actual issues .... Sens would not put him there just for poops and giggles). That way they will probably sign Pinto shortly, and start the year with 13 forwards and 7 d-men and 2 goalies. Kicking the can down the road. Nobody gets traded ... yet.

My best guess to start the season ....

Tkachuk/Stutzle/Tarasenko
Batherson/Pinto/Giroux
Kubalik/Jarventie/Joseph
Smejkal/Kastelik/Grieg

Kelly ..... MacEwen would be sent to Belleville to improve
Bailey will be released from PTO
There is enough size and grit to look after things. Maybe not a "fighting" lineup, but the NHL is changing. By the time Norris is ready, either someone else will be injured, or Joseph might actually play himself into a tradeable asset.
- OttawaB

It would be a lot to ask Pinto to step in and command 2C right away. I would rather run him at 3 with his expected linemates (Kubalik + Joseph), shift Giroux to 2C, Batherson up to 1R, flip Tara to his favored side at 2R, and then a Jarventie/Smejkal/Grieg rotation to see who gels at 2L. At least to start - Pinto needs to get up to game speed, and it makes sense to leverage Giroux's impeccable faceoff acumen on another line, give Stu more draws.

Now it is up to Dorion to get off his "be patient" a$$ and get Pinto signed. No more mind games, or playing chicken. To start the year short of 2 out of your top 3 centremen is playing with fire just to save a few dollars. If the Sens suffer because of this, then I hope they axe Dorion asap. I don't want to see his smirky weasley grin tell me to be patient anymore. Poop or get off the pot time.

Interesting that McKewen left the game tonight . Injury time ? He has not played well enough to make the team. He only saw 4 minutes of ice time.
On the plus side, Guenette saw 24 minutes and ended up a +1 on the night. Not bad.

Greig, Jarventie, Smejkal, Bailey, Kelly all saw 18-20 minutes of ice time. Again I say that Bailey has not played well enough for a contract ... he is slow and often lags. But I am afraid that Smith and Dorion with their penchant for salting in veterans will keep both Bailey and MacEwen on the team. Nobody will take MacEwen off waivers if the Sens send him down (his 3 year term and one way contract will see to that).

But I agree that if Pinto is signed, starting him off on the 3rd line is best. We may even want to slide Giroux into centre on line 2 between Kubalik and Batherson. Then have Jarventie and Greig sharing time with Pinto and Joseph. Hopefully our defence can stay strong and healthy as well as our goaltending .... to allow the line blends to figure it all out.

I just have this feeling that Norris is going to be out a while.

Come on Staios .... screw Dorion and get Pinto signed.

Roster update: The #Sens have assigned defenceman Max Guenette and forward Jiri Smejkal to @BellevilleSens.


Roster update: The #Sens have released forward Josh Bailey from his PTO.

Lineup at practice today .....

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Giroux
Joseph-Greig-Batherson
Kubalik-Chartier-Tarasenko
?? -Kastelic-Kelly
I assume MacEwen on the 4rth line wing.

Chychrun-Chabot
Sanderson-Zub
Brannstrom-Hamonic

Slice it however you want, that is not a playoff team. No centre depth with Norris and Pinto out. And a 4rth line that is slow, can't score, and is unplayable. But Dorion and Smith will play it. Better hope we don't get any d-man injuries.

Roster update: The #Sens have assigned defenceman Max Guenette and forward Jiri Smejkal to @BellevilleSens.


Roster update: The #Sens have released forward Josh Bailey from his PTO.
- Mithos

Probably for the best for Smejkal. Give him some time to adjust, and let him get called up in the near future.

Lassi waived by the Ducks, which didn't take long. Should the Sens claim him?

Spezza helping out more of his buddies. Colin White signs 2-way deal with Pens.

Probably for the best for Smejkal. Give him some time to adjust, and let him get called up in the near future.

Lassi waived by the Ducks, which didn't take long. Should the Sens claim him?
- david22

Sens should reclaim LT, stick him in the minors.

Ottawa reclaims Lassi Thomson off waivers and will be able to send him to Belleville if no other team put in a waiver claim. All the worry for nothing. Now let's see if we can develop him into something more valuable.

Ottawa reclaims Lassi Thomson off waivers and will be able to send him to Belleville if no other team put in a waiver claim. All the worry for nothing. Now let's see if we can develop him into something more valuable.
- OttawaB

That has to be one of the sneakiest insider deals. Not a huge deal if nobody but Ottawa wanted him. I be we see some future trade go a bit more Anaheim's way.

So if Norris is placed on LTIR later today, just under $1M is added to the cap space for the Senators for the 2023-2024 season (10 games salary for Norris).
I'm hoping Pinto will be signed by Saturday.