If Norris is back and doesn't re-aggravate his injury, Pinto has even less leverage moving forward. Irrespective of that, hoping the best for Norris - he's had a raw deal with his shoulder and this team sure could use him back in full form.
- Bartacus

The one problem is they don't have enough cap space for Pinto regardless atm. Although I guess it would effect if they want to trade Brannstrom or Joseph, or Kubalik.

If they trade Brannstrom, they need to bring someone up I think to have six Dmen?
So they'd need to subtract that cap hit from the spcae for Pinto.

Pretty low for a bridge deal, even if its one year, and he'd lose arbitration rights as mentioned above.

I expect/suspect/hope the Sens are waiting to see how Norris's return goes. I he can make it through this stretch (Washington, Detroit, Buffalo) without any issues then I expect the trade to go through to activate and sign Pinto.
If Norris has issues, then they put him on LTIR and now they have room to sign Pinto. They would deal with a trade later in the year when Norris could get reactivated.

I guess we'll see tonight. I expect Norris to play sparingly, maybe 8-14 minutes to get up to game speed. I doubt he well see much if any of Tom Wilson. I expect Wilson to be deployed against Brady and Tim.

Now we will see how the Sens defence will play against a bonafide star in Ovechkin who has scored at random it seems vs the Senators during Ovechkin's career. Sanderson and Zub should have fun tonight trying to stop him.

Norris is having a great game! Love to see it.

DJ Smith continuing to put out the 4th line immediately after scoring... I will never understand why.

edit - neat stat shown during the game - If the Sens score one more goal, that will be a Sens record for most goals scored in the first 4 games to start the season.

Edit 2 - after 6 minute (!) replay, boom, there it is. Most goals in Sens history after first 4 games of the season!

I personally think an offside like that shouldn't be reviewable. It was in the zone for awhile and had no effect in the play. If it's an offside that put someone on a breakaway, or they scored immediately on the rush, then yeah, I get that.

Surprised by that call. Maybe inconclusive I guess?

Surprised by that call. Maybe inconclusive I guess?
- david22

bingo, the play was most likely offside but they could not prove it because you cannot see were the puck is from any of the camera angles thus the on-ice call stands making it on side thus good goal.

The one problem is they don't have enough cap space for Pinto regardless atm. Although I guess it would effect if they want to trade Brannstrom or Joseph, or Kubalik.

If they trade Brannstrom, they need to bring someone up I think to have six Dmen?
So they'd need to subtract that cap hit from the spcae for Pinto.

Pretty low for a bridge deal, even if its one year, and he'd lose arbitration rights as mentioned above.
- david22

I know it's still early but Kubalik doesn't seem to bring anything so far... he's 6-7 years older then Pinto, UFA at season's end, and I think Pinto could match if not surpass Kubalik's point production... trade Kubalik and you have more then enough to sign Pinto...

Timmy had a 3 point game. Sanderson was a beast. Grieg drove Wilson and several other Caps to distraction. 2020 was a vintage year. When you add in Norris (two goals tonight). Norris was part of the trade package that brought the #3 pick (Timmy). Remarkable aggregation of positive coincidence.

Hell of a fun game to watch tonight and great to see Norris return and do so well. Big impact.

Nice tidy win tonight. Forsberg made some really nice saves .... key saves .... in the first period and then the Sens overall pace was too much for the Capitals.
I also think we are slowly picking up our defensive game. Hopefully Zub's ear is okay and he is ready for Saturday. I really want to bury the Wings and Sabres in the next 2 games. It would be good for the Sens to let everyone know that they are contenders for the Atlantic Division.

Anybody get a look at the ESPN Top 100 NHL players list. Yikes, what a strange set of rankings. Malkin just gets no respect .... he is not in the list. And Bedard who had not played an NHL game was ranked 85th.

If Sanderson stays healthy, man he's going to improve on his numbers. He might steal Chabot's spot on the first pp unit

Great game to attend in person.

Thoughts.
Crowd was...small. Not sure what announced attendance was but, looked like 14-15K ? Maybe. the 300's were in a mood. Incessant "woo'ing" was ridiculously funny and could be heard on the tv and radio broadcasts. In house entertainment was perfect===there was none.

The game. So....before we go all sunny roses on the Sens sloppy play. Washington is BAD...really bad. They looked tired, uninterested and if Kuemper is Canada's best option in international play--ouch.

Yes the Sens played well. You need to see Sanderson live to get it. Holy crap he's good. More than once i turned to my kid and said "damn....I dont' want to trade Joseph". Fast, fast on the puck, fast on the forecheck, makes the hit or takes the hit. He looked good. The fourth line has looked ok this year but far too many times last night they got caught out there. Against a good team, probably a goal against.

I hope Zub is ok.

Great game to attend in person.

Thoughts.
Crowd was...small. Not sure what announced attendance was but, looked like 14-15K ? Maybe. the 300's were in a mood. Incessant "woo'ing" was ridiculously funny and could be heard on the tv and radio broadcasts. In house entertainment was perfect===there was none.

The game. So....before we go all sunny roses on the Sens sloppy play. Washington is BAD...really bad. They looked tired, uninterested and if Kuemper is Canada's best option in international play--ouch.

Yes the Sens played well. You need to see Sanderson live to get it. Holy crap he's good. More than once i turned to my kid and said "damn....I dont' want to trade Joseph". Fast, fast on the puck, fast on the forecheck, makes the hit or takes the hit. He looked good. The fourth line has looked ok this year but far too many times last night they got caught out there. Against a good team, probably a goal against.

I hope Zub is ok.
- Octavarium

Should be a better crowd Saturday afternoon. I think the family afternoon games are fast becoming a huge attraction.

Agree on Sanderson and Joseph. Someone texted me last night saying all the improvement in offence comes from the back end being able to maintain possession and break out of the their own zone.

Sanderson makes huge plays. But he always appears to be in control, not flashy. He may be even better than he looks.

If this pace keeps up to any meaningful degree, you'd have to think Pinto would want to get on the ice ASAP. If this team somehow manages to average over 4 goals a game, a ton of players will be having career years and will be compensated thusly.

^^that^^

and despite the crowd's that "we want Pinto"....we don't NEED Pinto. His agent might want to take that into consideration. I think the big issue for him is even if he takes a smaller show-me deal he loses arbitration rights.

^^that^^

and despite the crowd's that "we want Pinto"....we don't NEED Pinto. His agent might want to take that into consideration. I think the big issue for him is even if he takes a smaller show-me deal he loses arbitration rights.
- Octavarium

Pinto is going to be an elite defensive forward. His skill set becomes more valuable the deeper he goes into the season. It is about 9 weeks until the Sens are in a position to sign a 2024-25 longer term deal when they have far more cap flexibility.

I am guessing the numbers and term are notionally agreed upon and Pinto and his agent are being patient and waiting for the trade/injury that triggers everything falling into place for this year. Without the long term carrot, my guess is they would be howling.