Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Senators Pitch Convincing Victory Over Vancouver

Love the direction of the Sens, this year's spoilers.

Good blog. That was a good analysis. I believe the young guys were always good but DJ is forced to play them since the other guys are now gone.

This team is shaping up quite well. I think we're quite under the radar this year but in the next upcoming years if and when we continue to develop, We're going to be a big threat.

Did Mete really score?! He had 4 goals in 185 games with us, mark your calendars, you'll need to wait a long time for the next one!

As an aside, if he manages to pull it together with you guys, good for him.

Interesting talk about the offseason on the radio today.

They were saying how Seattle will be in a position to benefit from the flat cap when making their selections, in addition to teams like Ottawa. Obviously Ottawa will be hindered by internal salary constraints.

Did Mete really score?! He had 4 goals in 185 games with us, mark your calendars, you'll need to wait a long time for the next one!

As an aside, if he manages to pull it together with you guys, good for him.
- YodaOldBoy

Scored a beautiful goal, he has looked really good so far.

Did Mete really score?! He had 4 goals in 185 games with us, mark your calendars, you'll need to wait a long time for the next one!

As an aside, if he manages to pull it together with you guys, good for him.
- YodaOldBoy

we don't need him to score, or be a huge point producer. We need him to be effective at moving the puck, at zone exits/entries, and to use his skating and speed to help the team..............so far, he's been excellent.

the kid is never gonna be a 40-50pt dman. maybe that was the problem in Mtl, is that people were expecting too much from him.

Did Mete really score?! He had 4 goals in 185 games with us, mark your calendars, you'll need to wait a long time for the next one!

As an aside, if he manages to pull it together with you guys, good for him.
- YodaOldBoy

He already has been pulling it together, and quite frankly has looked like everything you'd want from a 3rd pairing mobile D, with offensive upside. He's even managed to do this while being frequently partnered with Josh Brown, which is no easy task. It was a pretty significant error in GM judgment to leave Mete exposed to waivers. They might have even gotten Seattle to bite on picking him at the expansion draft pick, and protecting 1 more quality roster player.

He already has been pulling it together, and quite frankly has looked like everything you'd want from a 3rd pairing mobile D, with offensive upside. He's even managed to do this while being frequently partnered with Josh Brown, which is no easy task. It was a pretty significant error in GM judgment to leave Mete exposed to waivers. They might have even gotten Seattle to bite on picking him at the expansion draft pick, and protecting 1 more quality roster player.
- khawk

I've been impressed with Mete's game. I know the NHL is supposed to be moving away from big defencemen (broadly speaking), but does Ottawa want both Brannstrom and Mete on the team 3-4 years down the road, or is there really only space for one of those type of dmen on the team.

I've been impressed with Mete's game. I know the NHL is supposed to be moving away from big defencemen (broadly speaking), but does Ottawa want both Brannstrom and Mete on the team 3-4 years down the road, or is there really only space for one of those type of dmen on the team.
- david22

I would want a maximum of 1 small defenceman on the active roster going into the playoffs. Both Mete and Brannstrom are listed at 5'9" and are noticeably small. I think having Mete under team control going into next year gives us the ability to add a defenceman on a 1 year contract at reasonable cost instead of signing a UFA. After 2021-2022, Jake Sanderson should be joining the team and anchoring the second D pairing.
Long term, my hope that we would have Tyler Kleven as the 3rd pairing left D-man, which would push Brannstrom to the right side.

I've been impressed with Mete's game. I know the NHL is supposed to be moving away from big defencemen (broadly speaking), but does Ottawa want both Brannstrom and Mete on the team 3-4 years down the road, or is there really only space for one of those type of dmen on the team.
- david22

I was considering this the other day. Especially with Sanderson coming down the pike. If they don't want to move Brannstrom to the right (his preferred side) then there is a potential log jam.

From the small sample size, I think I actually prefer Mete's game to that of Brannstrom so far. He just looks confident out there and wanting to create opportunities. His timing and awareness isn't quite there but that could come.

I do have a concern as long as Ottawa doesn't let Brannstrom play on his preferred side, he will constantly be trying to catch up and relearn the game to some degree which could hurt development.

Either way, Ottawa has time to experiment with both. No rash decisions need to be made regarding the two now. Give them a chance to show their worth full time next season.

This team is shaping up quite well. I think we're quite under the radar this year but in the next upcoming years if and when we continue to develop, We're going to be a big threat.
- Maverick1818

geez, that's a lot of qualified confidence. I'll say it: they're making the playoffs next year - if the goaltending holds up

DJ Smith - With Mete sometimes the 2nd or 3rd team you play for the light goes on. He didn't have confidence in Montreal with being a healthy scratch all the time. It happens a lot with young players.

...he has to be at least somewhat aware of what he's saying here.

Let's not forget that the Sens are playing in a very weak division. In the regular NHL alignment the Scotia North division has 1 legitimate playoff team, Toronto, 2 bubble teams, Edmonton and Winnipeg and 4 non playoff teams Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa and they play each other roughly 9 times. If the same people are in charge next season, I expect worst results because of the competition.

Let's not forget that the Sens are playing in a very weak division. In the regular NHL alignment the Scotia North division has 1 legitimate playoff team, Toronto, 2 bubble teams, Edmonton and Winnipeg and 4 non playoff teams Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa and they play each other roughly 9 times. If the same people are in charge next season, I expect worst results because of the competition.
- granpa

Teams are either improving or sliding backwards. Question becomes fundamentally basic. Does an improving team gain more than a declining team slides back? I think there is a growing consensus among most commentators that Ottawa is competitively stronger than most of the non playoff teams in the East. Let's make an exception for the Rangers. But, as one TSN commentator said last week, Ottawa is a solid team compared to the other bottom teams and it is not even close.

I doubt that Ottawa makes the playoffs next year but they will be a tough out. I would not change anything they are doing in bringing this team along. Perhaps one change, I would sign Ollie Oglethorpe in order to take the pressure off Brady to drop the gloves.