I'd do Chabot, Pinto and Forsberg for leon. Maybe a conditional draft pick added if he signs with sens
- GrimmdaGoalie

Forsberg wasn't good enough for the Oilers the first time. They're not taking him back again. And they're not taking Pinto and his suspension. The Oilers are looking for quality not quantity to get them back in the playoff race. Not some other fringe teams spare parts.

Goalie-centric...but how is signing Matt Murray not on this list? Or trading away Gus for Cam Talbot?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Good points.

This team hasn't had we a good history of goalies. Wish we had a star goalie like Tampa, Montreal, Nashville and others have had.

Forsberg wasn't good enough for the Oilers the first time. They're not taking him back again. And they're not taking Pinto and his suspension. The Oilers are looking for quality not quantity to get them back in the playoff race. Not some other fringe teams spare parts.
- wreckage

Why do people think that when trade offers are put on the table that we WANT those players gone? Pinto is a SOLID player and will bounce back very hard. Chabot is also a great offensive D-man but is not living up to his contract.

Oilers just lost to San Jose! I agree trading Leon is not the answer, I also agree with quality but these players are not spare parts by any stretch of the imagination

Good points.

This team hasn't had we a good history of goalies. Wish we had a star goalie like Tampa, Montreal, Nashville and others have had.
- AlfieisKing

FWIW, Gus is one of the worst goalies in the NHL at the moment, while Talbot has been stellar in LA. Ottawa seems to attract goalies that overperform for a short window, then get overpaid, whether it's here or elsewhere. Hammond, Condon, Forsberg, Murray, Gerber, and *possibly* Gus and Korpisalo (IMO both are owed a longer look) all fit this category. Andy aside, we haven't had reliable 910+ stability in net since expansion. Outside a precious few uniquely reliable unicorns, most goalies swing up and down season by season and are basically magic beans.

Why do people think that when trade offers are put on the table that we WANT those players gone? Pinto is a SOLID player and will bounce back very hard. Chabot is also a great offensive D-man but is not living up to his contract.

Oilers just lost to San Jose! I agree trading Leon is not the answer, I also agree with quality but these players are not spare parts by any stretch of the imagination
- AlfieisKing

Pinto and his career .4343 point per game pace? And is an American and we have seen recently how Americans like to stay in western Canada. And is suspended for the first half of the season so will be of no help getting the Oilers out of their current funk. No thanks.

Chabot had a great feeling as a prospect and hasn't lived up. Would be the 3rd pairing RD on the Oilers behind Nurse and Ekholm at 5x5. And behind Bouchard for PP time. 8M per for far too long, and has a MNTC starting next year. Thanks but no thanks. He can remain a burden for your team.

And as previously stated, Forsberg couldn't make the Oilers his first time around. And is no better than what they currently have.

I responded to Grimms post stating he would do those 3 and a conditional pick at most for one of the top 5 players in the game. If the Sens want Draisaitl the conversation starts with Stuetzle Sanderson or Tkachuk. Anything less and the phone is immediately hung up.

And IF Drai was actually made available, I imagine it would be for a goalie to cover up some of their defensive deficiencies. Not a package of lesser players who don't push the needle, in the right direction of where they were expected to be at the start of the season.

Pinto and his career .4343 point per game pace? And is an American and we have seen recently how Americans like to stay in western Canada. And is suspended for the first half of the season so will be of no help getting the Oilers out of their current funk. No thanks.

Chabot had a great feeling as a prospect and hasn't lived up. Would be the 3rd pairing RD on the Oilers behind Nurse and Ekholm at 5x5. And behind Bouchard for PP time. 8M per for far too long, and has a MNTC starting next year. Thanks but no thanks. He can remain a burden for your team.

And as previously stated, Forsberg couldn't make the Oilers his first time around. And is no better than what they currently have.

I responded to Grimms post stating he would do those 3 and a conditional pick at most for one of the top 5 players in the game. If the Sens want Draisaitl the conversation starts with Stuetzle Sanderson or Tkachuk. Anything less and the phone is immediately hung up.

And IF Drai was actually made available, I imagine it would be for a goalie to cover up some of their defensive deficiencies. Not a package of lesser players who don't push the needle, in the right direction of where they were expected to be at the start of the season.
- wreckage

Draisaitl would command a king's ransom, and Ottawa doesn't have what Edmonton needs, end of story. Boston appears to makes sense, except what's the incentive? Why would the Bruins mess with a machine that's already working? Oil are in a tough spot. There's not enough Dawn in the world to fix that spill.

Just to be clear...trading for Leon won't do as much for the Sens as a better coach with a more structured defensive system will.

It would be nice to have a top 5 player in the world and the mini German connection but ain't what this team needs.

Edm should just suck it up this year and go after swayman after the season.

DJ Smith needs to keep playing Korpisalo. PERIOD!

I have a feeling about Edmonton. Everybody is playing them tough. They have issues with their D and goaltending. All fixable.

I think Edmonton will be the favourite to win Cup once we get beyond Christmas.

Leon stays. Conor stays. Oilers win multiple Cups.

I have a feeling about Edmonton. Everybody is playing them tough. They have issues with their D and goaltending. All fixable.

I think Edmonton will be the favourite to win Cup once we get beyond Christmas.

Leon stays. Conor stays. Oilers win multiple Cups.
- spatso

When Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin went to their first 2 of 4 cup finals (2008, 2009) they had others on their team to help them get there. Lets start with the obvious on defense - Ryan Whitney, Kristopher Letang, Brooks Orpik, Darryl Sydor, and of course HHOF level D-man Sergei Gonchar. Then you go to the goalie - 1st overall pick, future HHOF goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury. 0.921 SV% in 2008. Then go back to the center ice and they had one of the best two-way centers in the world in Jordan Staal. Then we add HHOF Marian Hossa. That year, they STILL lost in the finals!

In 2009, everything was the same, minus Hossa, add Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz.

In 2016-2017, Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, and of course Matt Murray played a HUGE role.

So with Edmonton, E.Kane, Hyman, Nurse are all going to have to play at their high level. Evan Bouchard looks solid which is huge. Then of course Skinner and their goaltending has to be MUCH better. With goalies, people look at GAA and SV% but I think timely saves in key moments of the game or season make or break a team

Looks like the wait in Edmonton is over as Woodcroft and Manson have been fired ..... or the nicer phrase .... relieved of their duties.

Kris Knoblauch is the new head coach, from the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL.


If Ottawa was thinking of replacing the coaches, then now is the ideal time to do it. They don't play again until Thursday, then on Saturday, and then not until Friday Nov. 24th. That would give the new coaches plenty of time to start to drill into a new system. And it gives a nice road trip for everyone to get acquainted. After this time, Ottawa's schedule becomes more compacted as they start to make up the games in hand they have on the rest of the league. Good luck with any coaching changes at that time.

Looks like the wait in Edmonton is over as Woodcroft and Manson have been fired ..... or the nicer phrase .... relieved of their duties.

Kris Knoblauch is the new head coach, from the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL.


If Ottawa was thinking of replacing the coaches, then now is the ideal time to do it. They don't play again until Thursday, then on Saturday, and then not until Friday Nov. 24th. That would give the new coaches plenty of time to start to drill into a new system. And it gives a nice road trip for everyone to get acquainted. After this time, Ottawa's schedule becomes more compacted as they start to make up the games in hand they have on the rest of the league. Good luck with any coaching changes at that time.
- OttawaB

to me it seems the new ownership is a dumb as the old, they would rather burn another year on the sens players team friendly contracts and miss the playoffs than fire DJ in season

to me it seems the new ownership is a dumb as the old, they would rather burn another year on the sens players team friendly contracts and miss the playoffs than fire DJ in season
- Mithos

I think they are prepared to burn this season as they turn things over. First up is to fill the GM role, and flesh out the front office and scouting staff. Then the new GM and Staios decide on the coach and coaching staff. Staios and Andlauer are very deliberate and slow in how they run things, so it may take the rest of the season. Then there are internal player issues to decide on .... how does Chabot fit into the scheme (too many left handed d-men?? and Chabot is not a 3rd pairing guy). But also, will they be able to re-sign Chychrun? Where does Pinto/Joseph fit in? What do they do with Formenton? And then there is the draft where they have 2 first rounders in a pretty decent draft so if they tank a bit, then that moves up their picks. Maybe trading Brannstrom grabs another higher draft pick. I expect Klevin and JBD are making an arguement that they should be on the team. Lots of decisions ..... but first they need to relax, slow it down and observe how everything is working. No need to jump quickly and potentially make mistakes.

FWIW, Gus is one of the worst goalies in the NHL at the moment, while Talbot has been stellar in LA. Ottawa seems to attract goalies that overperform for a short window, then get overpaid, whether it's here or elsewhere. Hammond, Condon, Forsberg, Murray, Gerber, and *possibly* Gus and Korpisalo (IMO both are owed a longer look) all fit this category. Andy aside, we haven't had reliable 910+ stability in net since expansion. Outside a precious few uniquely reliable unicorns, most goalies swing up and down season by season and are basically magic beans.
- Bartacus

Agreed

I think they are prepared to burn this season as they turn things over. First up is to fill the GM role, and flesh out the front office and scouting staff. Then the new GM and Staios decide on the coach and coaching staff. Staios and Andlauer are very deliberate and slow in how they run things, so it may take the rest of the season. Then there are internal player issues to decide on .... how does Chabot fit into the scheme (too many left handed d-men?? and Chabot is not a 3rd pairing guy). But also, will they be able to re-sign Chychrun? Where does Pinto/Joseph fit in? What do they do with Formenton? And then there is the draft where they have 2 first rounders in a pretty decent draft so if they tank a bit, then that moves up their picks. Maybe trading Brannstrom grabs another higher draft pick. I expect Klevin and JBD are making an arguement that they should be on the team. Lots of decisions ..... but first they need to relax, slow it down and observe how everything is working. No need to jump quickly and potentially make mistakes.
- OttawaB

Very good and well reasoned reflections on what new management is facing.

It would be crazy to make rash, short term decisions in order to try and attain the best short term result. New owner and management have signed on for the long term. You might not be able to make short term moves in order to win it all. But you can make short term moves that risks blowing it up for the next few years.

Most important for everyone is they had a sell out and a win on Saturday night against Calgary. This is a great franchise and stabilizing the business end of the franchise needs to be near the top of the agenda.

So far they are ahead of their early season performance from last year and the year before.

I believe they are going to work themselves into the playoff race.

Let's be patient and see what happens over the next 6 weeks.

I don't know if I trust Steve Staios and others.

The Sens CANNOT wait and let another year go by!! Look where the Los Angeles Kings are, look at what the Detroit Red Wings have done early in the year (without the kind of development the Sens have seen) - what happens when Buffalo figures it out? Are we going to wait until Montreal passes us in the rebuild?

The Sens need to continue to add and I think they need to start moving their 1st rounders. Loosing one is frustrating but they can make it the 2026 1st.

I don't know if I trust Steve Staios and others.

The Sens CANNOT wait and let another year go by!! Look where the Los Angeles Kings are, look at what the Detroit Red Wings have done early in the year (without the kind of development the Sens have seen) - what happens when Buffalo figures it out? Are we going to wait until Montreal passes us in the rebuild?

The Sens need to continue to add and I think they need to start moving their 1st rounders. Loosing one is frustrating but they can make it the 2026 1st.
- AlfieisKing

Trade all the first round picks you want .... it means that salary is coming back in any trade. Sens don't have the cap space to make any sizable deals unless we start trading some of our big pieces. Problem is, nobody of relevance can take on a cap hit like Chabot (for instance). Any major "piece" changes need to be done in the summer unless you just want to give it away.

Wait until next year before making any big player moves. Way more cap space next year. We gain $4.2m in dead cap space alone.

Wait until next year before making any big player moves. Way more cap space next year. We gain $4.2m in dead cap space alone.
- GrimmdaGoalie

This - observing a full season of a team with 3 top line LD should force a hand. My hunch is they trade Chabot to beef up our prospect pool/bottom 6, possibly land a good, mobile stay at home RD. Though Demelo might be there in free agency....

Sens should consider bringing in Jay Woodcroft.

Video coach for Datysuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom when the red wings won the championship for Detroit in 2008.

Then he coached several years as an assistant with Thornton, Marleau, Couture, Burns, Hertl and others in San Jose.

Then he goes to the AHL, wins calder cup, and then is head coach to 2 of the best players in the league. His record was 76-32-12. I've never a coach with THAT good of a record fired so early as a head coach. I think he will be rehired VERY soon

Sorry AK that's completely riddiculous.
The guy just fired for not being able to implement a system using the 2 of the top five players in the world. Lock down team defense would have showed that their goaltending was "reasonably" ok. I watched the amount of 2 on 1's and 3 on 2's they were giving up? Hasek would have been lucky to have gotten ties or wins in Edmonton. That Cody Ceci is in their top pair? Looking at that defense it's not terrible either. There's simply no structure to their game. Ottawa already has a coach who doesn't preach or even comprehend structure. Just "throw em out there and hope for the best".

How's that working in both cities? It's not. We are not even a .500 team and Edmonton has to try and slow the Titanic down and start turning it around. I don't want the captain of the ship, they just fired, coming here.

Andrew Brunette please. Oh wait. We missed that guy. Luke Richardson. Oh wait. we missed that guy.

Sorry AK that's completely riddiculous.
The guy just fired for not being able to implement a system using the 2 of the top five players in the world. Lock down team defense would have showed that their goaltending was "reasonably" ok. I watched the amount of 2 on 1's and 3 on 2's they were giving up? Hasek would have been lucky to have gotten ties or wins in Edmonton. That Cody Ceci is in their top pair? Looking at that defense it's not terrible either. There's simply no structure to their game. Ottawa already has a coach who doesn't preach or even comprehend structure. Just "throw em out there and hope for the best".

How's that working in both cities? It's not. We are not even a .500 team and Edmonton has to try and slow the Titanic down and start turning it around. I don't want the captain of the ship, they just fired, coming here.

Andrew Brunette please. Oh wait. We missed that guy. Luke Richardson. Oh wait. we missed that guy.
- Octavarium

Good points man.

Maybe I'm wrong about Jay Woodcroft, maybe I'm just so desperate to change coaches here ! lol.

me too brother.
me too.

Now go and refute that Ranger nerd who thinks LaFrenniere is going to be better than Tim.