Kevin Francis: How Pierre Dorion screwed up the Sens defense over the last 3 years?!

I think Dorion has done an admirable job thus far In this rebuild, Not so sure that Smith Is the coach to get this team to the next level.

DeMelo is the only real mistake that they made along the way, IMO. The signings and employment aren't great to be sure, but to me that seems more of a budget issue than anything else. I can't image that a healthy scratch D from Detroit is the solution to what ails you now. Even DeMelo is only playing 15 min a night for the Peg so far this year, maybe you could reacquire him.

It's all about 'Pain for Shane' What GM would actually sign MDZ and think it would help his team be competitive.

One more year of lottery picks and hopefully they'll be ready to go. Sanderson and one of JBD or Thomson should be in the line up next year or later this year which will help too.

Umm Soucy has been in 6 of 11 games and only recently scratched in favor of Fleury. Hackstol flips them for “matchups”. Yes scratched 3 of last 4 but with lack of depth they’re not trading for him and the Kraken like his heavy physical game.

As for Dorion I think he has done an okay job. You forget not all players are going to want to stay or come to Ottawa. They are rebuilding and that is limiting and then there is the Melnyk factor too. Its clearly a build from within and through the draft as frustrating and annoying as that may be. D is frustrating and takes a good while to build the young guys up. Welcome to the pain of a rebuild. Not sure Dorion isnt handtied pretty good and hust doing the best he can around a bad owner and internal budget.

DeMelo is the only real mistake that they made along the way, IMO. The signings and employment aren't great to be sure, but to me that seems more of a budget issue than anything else. I can't image that a healthy scratch D from Detroit is the solution to what ails you now. Even DeMelo is only playing 15 min a night for the Peg so far this year, maybe you could reacquire him.
- Beergu

DeMelo was a bad mistake... they obviously felt they needed to cheap out on D-men until their high-end D prospects were ready, but they would have been FAR better off with DeMelo at $3.0M/yr than going with Del Zotto at $2.0M/yr plus Brown at $1.3m/yr... especially if that also gave you a chance to let Brannstrom develop at the NHL level before the other D prospects start really fighting for more NHL ice time.

In a recent article, Mann suggested that Brannstrom was taking a lot of punishment in the AHL because of more chaotic play, and less reliable support from his teammates. Case in point, he literally lost 3 teeth from a high hit a short while back... which he's managed to play through, but it's certainly a big reason for his low point totals. At some point you'd think that - just maybe - a high-skill puck-moving D-man might actually develop more productively by playing at a level where his first thought in the D-zone with his back turned to the forecheck pressure isn't wondering whether his partner is actually going to do what he's supposed to do to help him out.

I don't have huge concerns over the D other than after the first pairing they are not very good. Holden seems solid but needs a stronger partner capable of carrying the puck out his own end.

We will see Brannstrom and JBD called up soon enough.

Of all the guys they gave up on, it seems like Riley might be the one who could help them most at this time.

I don't have huge concerns over the D other than after the first pairing they are not very good. Holden seems solid but needs a stronger partner capable of carrying the puck out his own end.

We will see Brannstrom and JBD called up soon enough.
- spatso

Wouldn't hold my breath on that, unless injuries start piling up. When interviewed recently, Mann stated that Aspirot was Belleville's #1D right now (some may recall he was also on last year's taxi squad right out of training camp), acknowledged that Brannstrom has had a very rough start to the AHL season, and suggested that Bernard-Docker is where Thomson was a year ago in terms of pro-level adaptation. That said, I agree that Holden would be a good stay-at-home match for Mete or Brannstrom. Unfortunately, any permutation of Zaitsev, Brown, and Del Zotto is pretty much an inevitable tire fire.

Also, someone please let me know when it's okay to seriously question the pick of Tyler Boucher (1G/1A in 8GP in NCAA) vs. Cole Sillinger (3G/2A in 9GP in NHL) in this year's draft... given that Sillinger is also a natural scoring C, who's already gone 34-35 in the faceoff circle so far (i.e. considerably better than Pinto), and is seriously pushing Jack Roslovic for #2C ice time. Meanwhile, Boucher is a team-worst -6 for Boston University, with it being uncertain if he'll get even a 4th line role opportunity with the USA WJC team.

That guy better hit like nothing we've ever seen before in the NHL, because it's not clear that he's all that good at playing hockey.

Also, someone please let me know when it's okay to seriously question the pick of Tyler Boucher (1G/1A in 8GP in NCAA) vs. Cole Sillinger (3G/2A in 9GP in NHL) in this year's draft... given that Sillinger is also a natural scoring C, who's already gone 34-35 in the faceoff circle so far (i.e. considerably better than Pinto), and is seriously pushing Jack Roslovic for #2C ice time. Meanwhile, Boucher is a team-worst -6 for Boston University, with it being uncertain if he'll get even a 4th line role opportunity with the USA WJC team.

That guy better hit like nothing we've ever seen before in the NHL, because it's not clear that he's all that good at playing hockey.
- khawk

the second his name was said as 10th OA it was ok to question the pick

I have trouble digesting ideas like adding a D that can't crack the lineup of another team. We have enough of those guys already.

Can't see the wisdom in adding and overpaying at the trade deadline either. Why on Earth would you do that?

I can only hope that Dorion and Smith are deliberately tanking the team this year because if they're not, and I seriously doubt they are, then I get depressed thinking about their contract extensions and the mind boggling incompetence those contracts represent.

Well I am all for it if that is what he needs to do to increase discussion activity on the Sens thread!
- spatso

Stay true to yourself. after all you're the guy who trolled the Leafs from church. #discussion

When you go all in on Laine should have been drafted over Matthews, you've made it clear that logic, coherenecy and common sense all should take a back seat so your voice can be heard. eh spitso?

Also, someone please let me know when it's okay to seriously question the pick of Tyler Boucher (1G/1A in 8GP in NCAA) vs. Cole Sillinger (3G/2A in 9GP in NHL) in this year's draft... given that Sillinger is also a natural scoring C, who's already gone 34-35 in the faceoff circle so far (i.e. considerably better than Pinto), and is seriously pushing Jack Roslovic for #2C ice time. Meanwhile, Boucher is a team-worst -6 for Boston University, with it being uncertain if he'll get even a 4th line role opportunity with the USA WJC team.

That guy better hit like nothing we've ever seen before in the NHL, because it's not clear that he's all that good at playing hockey.
- khawk

I watch the Boston U box scores and they appear to confirm your concerns. At the time of the draft, I momentarily thought they had some inside information or special insight that moved them in the direction of Boucher. So far, we have seen nothing that confirms their thinking on the matter.

Would be nice to know who was the inside voice that advocated for this pick. At first I thought it seemed entirely consistent with many Dorion picks. He loves pedigree and it is no accident that Tkachuk, Norris, Grieg, Batherson, Sanderson and Boucher all have Dad's who played pro hockey. But, not only did Cole Sillinger's Dad play in the NHL, he had a brief stint with the Sens.

I watch the Boston U box scores and they appear to confirm your concerns. At the time of the draft, I momentarily thought they had some inside information or special insight that moved them in the direction of Boucher. So far, we have seen nothing that confirms their thinking on the matter.

Would be nice to know who was the inside voice that advocated for this pick. At first I thought it seemed entirely consistent with many Dorion picks. He loves pedigree and it is no accident that Tkachuk, Norris, Grieg, Batherson, Sanderson and Boucher all have Dad's who played pro hockey. But, not only did Cole Sillinger's Dad play in the NHL, he had a brief stint with the Sens.
- spatso

Dorion likes going off the board with a large number of his picks, JBD, Thomson Kleven were all seen as reaches.

The Boucher pick was just the most glaring example of that, when before he was making picks at 25 which would nomrally be 32. Dorion certainly seems to think he has an inside track on many of his picks.

Speaking of Boxscores, Brannstrom appears to have had a big game last night.

Also, someone please let me know when it's okay to seriously question the pick of Tyler Boucher (1G/1A in 8GP in NCAA) vs. Cole Sillinger (3G/2A in 9GP in NHL) in this year's draft... given that Sillinger is also a natural scoring C, who's already gone 34-35 in the faceoff circle so far (i.e. considerably better than Pinto), and is seriously pushing Jack Roslovic for #2C ice time. Meanwhile, Boucher is a team-worst -6 for Boston University, with it being uncertain if he'll get even a 4th line role opportunity with the USA WJC team.

That guy better hit like nothing we've ever seen before in the NHL, because it's not clear that he's all that good at playing hockey.
- khawk

I like to think that Trent Mann knows what he's doing. He's made some good calls in the past so for now I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

Congrats to Brady for the Captaincy!!!

one loss closer to Shane Wright

one loss closer to Shane Wright
- Mithos

I like to try to see as many games as possible as I do the handicapping on the NHL, but Ottawa is playing like it will get a top 5 pick. Long season ahead, a lot can change but when you have a team with a defense like this, it's going to be hard to win many games because Ottawa doesn't have the firepower to go toe to toe in a high scoring game and they can't seem to stop the opposition from getting quality chances. Just an outsiders point of view.

Congrats to Brady for the Captaincy!!!
- BluesDroogie

He seems like a great fit, but how did it take so long to announce?

I don't have huge concerns over the D other than after the first pairing they are not very good. Holden seems solid but needs a stronger partner capable of carrying the puck out his own end.

We will see Brannstrom and JBD called up soon enough.

Of all the guys they gave up on, it seems like Riley might be the one who could help them most at this time.
- spatso

As an outsider but a guy who watches all the Canadian teams closely, why would you call up Benard-Docker if he isn't ready? From all I have read, from the team to the AHL staff they all say he needs at least a year in the AHL.

lets go back to 2016 draft and look at the Dmen we could have gotten to strengthen our D core.

Charlie McAvoy
Jake Bean
Jakob Chychrun
Dante Fabbro




any of these D men would have been helpful if we drafted them. instead we took Logan Brown ladies and gents.!!!

but every year Dorion decides to bring in pylons to compete with a complete D core teams.

lets go back to 2016 draft and look at the Dmen we could have gotten to strengthen our D core.

Charlie McAvoy
Jake Bean
Jakob Chychrun
Dante Fabbro




any of these D men would have been helpful if we drafted them. instead we took Logan Brown ladies and gents.!!!

but every year Dorion decides to bring in pylons to compete with a complete D core teams.


- SENS-sational

Yikes, that's some quality D a scouting staff shouldn't look past. Well I just finished watching the Jackets beat the Avs in a home and home series. I really think they have tuned out their coach, even the announcers alluded to it a bit. If the poor start continues, could the Avs be the next to fire their coach.

lets go back to 2016 draft and look at the Dmen we could have gotten to strengthen our D core.

Charlie McAvoy
Jake Bean
Jakob Chychrun
Dante Fabbro




any of these D men would have been helpful if we drafted them. instead we took Logan Brown ladies and gents.!!!

but every year Dorion decides to bring in pylons to compete with a complete D core teams.


- SENS-sational

Hindsight is always wonderful. I remember that I liked Chychrun a lot but I also remember thinking that Logan Brown was a good, solid pick with great scouting reports and lots of potential upside.

If you go through Ottawa's picks since 2016 I would give Trent Mann a good passing grade and I will be curious to see how their picks from this summer pan out in the years to come.

I'm more concerned about Dorion's seeming lack of business acumen when it comes to trades and what looks like a low hockey IQ. I find him to be a very scary guy. I'm not particularly crazy about the coach either but given what he's had to work with it's hard to say.

Good things coming down the pike. Let's hope they don't find a way to screw it up.

The knock on Dorion and Sens scouting is that they are great at scouting amateurs for the draft but they miss the boat time and again with their pro-scouting. That can’t change with Dorion at the helm. Time for McGuire to take the job he was obviously brought in for and start brining in some talent and not guys that are physically past their prime and painfully slow.