Trevor Shackles: Reasons to Watch the Final 13 Games

Seeing if Tkachuk can hit 20 will be interesting, i certainly think he can.

Given the possibility of Crawford getting a shot going into next year and the large crop of UFA'S,
is there anyone that will likely be targeted that fits into the internal budget?

Given the possibility of Crawford getting a shot going into next year and the large crop of UFA'S,
is there anyone that will likely be targeted that fits into the internal budget?
- ktownfan

With how much money has been traded away, I'm not sure an internal budget matters anymore, we have so much room even from where we were last year.

I still wouldn't be shocked if Duchene were to resign here in the summer. TSN was talking about it a couple of nights ago saying that he loved it here and only didn't resign because he wants at least one run at a cup.

My big worry with that is where his head will be if they don't make the playoffs. It'll be the 3rd team that fell off the map with him leading it.

I have a feeling that Wolanin gets traded for picks or slightly less than equal value of a different position at some point.

He may be a placeholder over the next season, maybe two but Chabot and Brannstrom are likely better at what he does and I cannot see him being a 1-3.5 mil cap hit 3rd pairing guy (if he is as good as Trevor thinks he is).

I think once Brannstrom is ready to go Wolanin is expendable unless he signs a bargain contract to be on that 3rd pairing for some solid depth but we aren't Tampa and have a wizard for a GM so it is likely he gets moved for a good centre prospect or defensive minded right side d-man.

I like Wolanin and think he has great character but until the Stone trade I figured he would be the second pairing LD but I don't see how he fits anymore.

I have a feeling that Wolanin gets traded for picks or slightly less than equal value of a different position at some point.

He may be a placeholder over the next season, maybe two but Chabot and Brannstrom are likely better at what he does and I cannot see him being a 1-3.5 mil cap hit 3rd pairing guy (if he is as good as Trevor thinks he is).

I think once Brannstrom is ready to go Wolanin is expendable unless he signs a bargain contract to be on that 3rd pairing for some solid depth but we aren't Tampa and have a wizard for a GM so it is likely he gets moved for a good centre prospect or defensive minded right side d-man.

I like Wolanin and think he has great character but until the Stone trade I figured he would be the second pairing LD but I don't see how he fits anymore.
- TDBSenatoR

I could see it, but we could always have one of the 3 play the other side and be setup for one timers on the right.

If nothing else the future of Ottawa's D is looking great.

I'd say the main thing we need to figure out when it comes to D is what's going to happen with Ceci

A few Gord Wilson points:

I think Chabot is fine offensively. The numbers will go down losing the “big 3” and playing with rookies and 3rd and 4th liners. That’s to be expected. I want to see some improvement defensively. For the most part, he is brutal in his own end and watching him back check on rushes is anything but inspiring. If he works on that, he should be thrown in the conversation of being on his way to being an elite defenceman. Right now, it’s not there yet.

I think Duclair will be back next year. He likely will get a Eugene friendly contract and he is young. The train has passed on him being an elite talent, but he seems to be a guy you could plug in the 2nd and 3rd lines. The biggest question to me is his attitude. 5th team in the NHL already. They have all given up on him. If that’s not thin ice, I don’t know what is.

Tkachuk should be fine where he is right now. It would have been nice to have some more veteran presence around him but here we are. His style of play doesn’t scream out of having a huge ceiling, but it would be nice to see him step up a bit to see some potential of a 60-point level player.

I was a Crawford advocate when the team was looking for a coach when they hired Boucher. I am not sure that holds true now, but nice to have a window to see if maybe he’d be a guy to go with for a young re-building team. I’m not sure why everyone is so fascinated with the accountability statements since the roster is basically a joke. I do find it interesting Chris Kelly is behind the bench now and seemed to have quite a bit of input on plays and such. Maybe they go the route of a young new coach rather than an experienced guy?

I still don’t fully see the hype for Wolanin. He has ok puck skills and is mediocre defensively right now. I think he can be an NHL defenceman, but I am not sure the ceiling is any higher than a 5th/6th guy. Don’t really buy the playing with Ceci excuse because every player on this team is playing with a plug essentially. Wolanin wouldn’t be in the NHL right now in a lot of systems and I am not sure would be considered a top prospect in many of them either. He is where he is right now because of the mediocre Ottawa blueline. I think he would be a fine 5th/6th guy for a puck moving d-man behind Chabot and Brannstrom going forward, but I don’t see him leaping that much higher.

With how much money has been traded away, I'm not sure an internal budget matters anymore, we have so much room even from where we were last year.

I still wouldn't be shocked if Duchene were to resign here in the summer. TSN was talking about it a couple of nights ago saying that he loved it here and only didn't resign because he wants at least one run at a cup.

My big worry with that is where his head will be if they don't make the playoffs. It'll be the 3rd team that fell off the map with him leading it.
- Maverick1818

Interesting take- by all accounts Duchene did great here/loved it here. He got a fair offer but I don't think he's worth more than 8 mill per year- he will probably get more than that on the open market. I think he would be perfect in terms of what we need though: veteran skilled centre that can help the powerplay and put up points until other young guys are ready

Interesting take- by all accounts Duchene did great here/loved it here. He got a fair offer but I don't think he's worth more than 8 mill per year- he will probably get more than that on the open market. I think he would be perfect in terms of what we need though: veteran skilled centre that can help the powerplay and put up points until other young guys are ready
- AlexBoucher

I loved having Duchene here, I'm one of the few who didn't even mind the trade to get him here. If i could go back, I'd still do that trade.

Where I think the problem is, Duchene wants a chance at a cup. Where I think PD failed to resign him, has nothing to do with money. I think he did an extremely poor job of convincing Duchene, Stone and Dzingel that our youth are going to be very good and this rebuild is going to be a quick turn around.

For most players to make an NHL franchise to be a destination that players want to come too. You need a few things.
#1. Nice city and community - We have that
#2. Passionate Fan base - We have that
#3. Money - obviously contract offers have to be there
#4. A commitment to winning - This is the one Ottawa has never really had

For most players to make an NHL franchise to be a destination that players want to come too. You need a few things.
#1. Nice city and community - We have that
#2. Passionate Fan base - We have that
#3. Money - obviously contract offers have to be there
#4. A commitment to winning - This is the one Ottawa has never really had

I don't think players care one way or the other with this. I think usually players are scared off by rabid fan bases especially in Canada.

Also the money factor always works against Canadian teams because we have ridiculous taxes... Wish we didn't have such left leaning governments or maybe we could get top dollars players here for cheap like San Jose, Tampa, Vegas and such.

I loved having Duchene here, I'm one of the few who didn't even mind the trade to get him here. If i could go back, I'd still do that trade.

Where I think the problem is, Duchene wants a chance at a cup. Where I think PD failed to resign him, has nothing to do with money. I think he did an extremely poor job of convincing Duchene, Stone and Dzingel that our youth are going to be very good and this rebuild is going to be a quick turn around.

For most players to make an NHL franchise to be a destination that players want to come too. You need a few things.
#1. Nice city and community - We have that
#2. Passionate Fan base - We have that
#3. Money - obviously contract offers have to be there
#4. A commitment to winning - This is the one Ottawa has never really had
- Maverick1818

Eugene is the reason none of these guys are here. Essentially, the reason why Duchene, Karlsson, and Stone are not here is because there is zero plan from ownership to be an elite team. What you say, a commitment to winning.

It was reported that Duchene got mixed messages about what this team was going to be going forward. These are the same mixed messages Dorion reports to the media (ie Gives Boucher a vote of confidence and then fires him a week later).

They can say they are “rebuilding” all they want, but if you just end up developing guys into quality players to only have them moved come big-time-pay-day unless they are willing to sign for less, who in the right mind wants to sign up for that?

It’s also worth noting Stone’s new contract had a good amount of signing bonuses which Eugene will just never do.

Personally, I don’t see any big time free agent coming here until there is new ownership is in place.

Eugene is the reason none of these guys are here. Essentially, the reason why Duchene, Karlsson, and Stone are not here is because there is zero plan from ownership to be an elite team. What you say, a commitment to winning.

It was reported that Duchene got mixed messages about what this team was going to be going forward. These are the same mixed messages Dorion reports to the media (ie Gives Boucher a vote of confidence and then fires him a week later).

They can say they are “rebuilding” all they want, but if you just end up developing guys into quality players to only have them moved come big-time-pay-day unless they are willing to sign for less, who in the right mind wants to sign up for that?

It’s also worth noting Stone’s new contract had a good amount of signing bonuses which Eugene will just never do.

Personally, I don’t see any big time free agent coming here until there is new ownership is in place.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I lumped all of those into the "commitment to winning" part.

I agree, I think EM and PD both have done a horrible job and need to go.

Duchene and Stone not staying is a slap in the face to fans from ownership and management.

Karlsson, for me personally, he might as well be dead to me. I'm still convinced he was one of the biggest problems causing a lot of unwanted drama. (Some of it was his fault, some was not)

Moving forward I'm hoping that ownership gets the message that fans wont support this team while he is here and he either sells the team or starts trying to over compensate by spending to the cap

I don't think players care one way or the other with this. I think usually players are scared off by rabid fan bases especially in Canada.

Also the money factor always works against Canadian teams because we have ridiculous taxes... Wish we didn't have such left leaning governments or maybe we could get top dollars players here for cheap like San Jose, Tampa, Vegas and such.
- TDBSenatoR

I 100% agree with you.... don't worry there is no way that idiot Trudeau is getting back in again.... should be in jail

But my point in writing that was that no hockey player wants to go to a city and play in front of no one. Athletes have big egos and want to be cheered for.

I loved having Duchene here, I'm one of the few who didn't even mind the trade to get him here. If i could go back, I'd still do that trade.

Where I think the problem is, Duchene wants a chance at a cup. Where I think PD failed to resign him, has nothing to do with money. I think he did an extremely poor job of convincing Duchene, Stone and Dzingel that our youth are going to be very good and this rebuild is going to be a quick turn around.

For most players to make an NHL franchise to be a destination that players want to come too. You need a few things.
#1. Nice city and community - We have that
#2. Passionate Fan base - We have that
#3. Money - obviously contract offers have to be there
#4. A commitment to winning - This is the one Ottawa has never really had
- Maverick1818

Yes- he flip flopped in less than a year from a competitive team to try and save Karlsson, to rebuilding. Duchene was an unfortunate casualty. I didn't mind the trade at all. Also, Dorion didn't get a great return on the Karl trade- okay, but a significant piece would have helped to convince a Stone/Duchene/Dzingle to buy in

Seeing if Tkachuk can hit 20 will be interesting, i certainly think he can.
- david22

Is this a threat to "take him out" before he turns 20 years old

Is this a threat to "take him out" before he turns 20 years old
- AlfieisKing

Don't do that, this team needs future stars for us to let walk for nothing when they get fed up with ownership and management

Trevor, i'm in 100% agreement with you about Wolanin. the guy is probably the most underrated player in our organization. he's EASILY the 3rd best dman on the NHL roster, obviously behind Chabot and probably just behind Demelo.

the guy is light years ahead of boro, ceci, harpur, and Jaros....both in ability, potential, and most importantly, hockey IQ. the fact that he was a regular scratch, and not cemented into our top 4, is one of the main reasons why i was ecstatic to see Boucher get canned.

he's EXACTLY the kind of player a budget team needs. he's underrated, and cheap. at less than a mil, he brings as much or more than most 4 million dollar guys.

Trevor, i'm in 100% agreement with you about Wolanin. the guy is probably the most underrated player in our organization. he's EASILY the 3rd best dman on the NHL roster, obviously behind Chabot and probably just behind Demelo.

the guy is light years ahead of boro, ceci, harpur, and Jaros....both in ability, potential, and most importantly, hockey IQ. the fact that he was a regular scratch, and not cemented into our top 4, is one of the main reasons why i was ecstatic to see Boucher get canned.

he's EXACTLY the kind of player a budget team needs. he's underrated, and cheap. at less than a mil, he brings as much or more than most 4 million dollar guys.
- sensarmy_11

How the bolded anything to be excited about?

He's the 3rd best d-man on the worst team in the NHL. Impressive.

He's better than a handful of guys that shouldn't be playing in the NHL at all. Really impressive.

He's 24 in a week. Him reaching a level to anything more than a 5/6 d-man is reaching in my opinion.

Gotta take a step back and look at the prospects in this organization objectively.

Gotta take a step back and look at the prospects in this organization objectively.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Agreed... the only d-man prospects worth getting excited about at this point are Brannstrom and Bernard-Docker. Wolanin, Lajoie, and Jaros are viable supporting guys, but none have really shown any kind of readiness for top-4 work. Give Tychonick a couple of seasons at UND and there might be an interesting PP specialist in the making, but it will take some work. Regardless, with Chabot-Brannstrom looking like the future left side of the blue line, the focus needs to be getting quality RHD into the system.

I would really love to believe that Duchene could sign in the off-season... but Jesus, does anyone really think that's possible at this point? The fact that Dorion wasted a potential asset in securing a conditional re-signing pick suggests that he knows that's an unlikely outcome. But if he managed to pull it off, it would certainly be an interesting way to generate positive attention away from handing a lottery pick to Colorado just days earlier.