Trevor Shackles: Thursday Think Tank: Get Chabot Signed Newest thoughts for this week

Also helps players in divorce proceedings..... 50% of $700,000 earnings/salary is much less than 50% of $11.5 million lol

If chabot asks for anything over 6M with SB, OTT will trade him. i predict he will NOT be a sens in OCT 2020.

What benefit is there for chabot to sign his deal now? Why would his agent even entertain that notion?

The rfa class next year is so weak in comparison to this one and you could make the argument he would be #1 target for most teams. He would garner maybe even more attention then any current rfa player based on position, age and the broke team he plays for.

Chabot seems like a guy who knows his capabilities and would bet on himself..I personally don’t see a contract extension occurring unless, as you pointed out, there is a huge incentive (large bonus).


As for Paul, at this point he is who he is. I don’t think he’s capable of making and staying on the big club. He was great during the juniors but I feel he’s done now.

Really liked our short time with Enzo. He's a likeable player, not the guy you're going to be complaining about during his shifts. Doesn't need to play with top talent to be useful. He also seemed to be well liked by his teammates.

If chabot asks for anything over 6M with SB, OTT will trade him. i predict he will NOT be a sens in OCT 2020.
- Athrin

Then you're almost certainly going to be proven wrong. They offered more than that to all of Karlsson, Stone, and Duchene, and Chabot is essentially the core of their future roster. They're also set to free up nearly $9M next year in freeing up the money going to Anderson and Boedker alone, let alone the potential trade of numerous other players nearing the end of their contracts. In short, it would take a lot more than $6M+ and signing bonuses to force their hand when it came to Chabot.

No reason for RFA’s to take any discounts these days with what’s happening around the league, especially for rebuilding franchises.

I have full confidence this team will screw itself up on Chabot. Buuuuut there's a tiny part of me that still holds out some hope something positive will get done. An even tinier part of that hopes it will get done this summer.

At this point though, we're looking at subatomic levels of hope.

Wolanin signed 2 year bridge deal......now, after 2 years when he’s proved he’s a solid Top 4 dman, he’ll be priced out of Ottawa.

They’ll probably do the same with White.

This organization is so (frank)ing shortsighted.

What benefit is there for chabot to sign his deal now? Why would his agent even entertain that notion?

The rfa class next year is so weak in comparison to this one and you could make the argument he would be #1 target for most teams. He would garner maybe even more attention then any current rfa player based on position, age and the broke team he plays for.

Chabot seems like a guy who knows his capabilities and would bet on himself..I personally don’t see a contract extension occurring unless, as you pointed out, there is a huge incentive (large bonus).


As for Paul, at this point he is who he is. I don’t think he’s capable of making and staying on the big club. He was great during the juniors but I feel he’s done now.
- Trilla

He's capable of being a shutdown, defense-first 4C

Wolanin signed 2 year bridge deal......now, after 2 years when he’s proved he’s a solid Top 4 dman, he’ll be priced out of Ottawa.
They’ll probably do the same with White.
This organization is so (frank)ing shortsighted.
- sensarmy_11

What makes you think Wolanin was interested in signing a longer-term deal, when he's not even proven he's worth $1M/yr? It's not like players are lining up to sign sweetheart contracts just because you think it might be a good idea.

What makes you think Wolanin was interested in signing a longer-term deal, when he's not even proven he's worth $1M/yr? It's not like players are lining up to sign sweetheart contracts just because you think it might be a good idea.
- khawk

How has he not proven it? He was EASILY the 2nd or 3rd best dman on the team last year.

Have you even looked at his numbers, both traditional or advanced. He is ABSOLUTELY a top 4 dman in the NHL right now. This team tries to suppress it though so they can get him signed to cheaper deals.

At the end of this deal he’ll likely ask for/ have earned a 5-6 mil deal, when the team could likely have had him signed for like 5 years at 3 mil right now

I’ve brought up the signing bonus problem for Ottawa and no one seemed to respond but this is the future of NHL deals. More money upfront rather than spread out overtime. This is disastrous when you have an owner relying on income from the hockey team to pay players. While the Sens can compete with cap hits in the current environment, they will not be able to complete with signing bonuses. Apparently, this was one of the many issues for Karlsson when he was negotiating his contract in Ottawa.

Your timeline seems about right assuming everything goes accordingly to plan. Easier said than done. Rebuilds in the NHL are all over the place. Hell, Edmonton can’t get over the hump with the greatest player in the world.

How has he not proven it? He was EASILY the 2nd or 3rd best dman on the team last year.
Have you even looked at his numbers, both traditional or advanced. He is ABSOLUTELY a top 4 dman in the NHL right now. This team tries to suppress it though so they can get him signed to cheaper deals.
- sensarmy_11

Really? If he's proven it, then why didn't he play more games in the NHL than in the AHL last season? If Wolanin knows this, why on Earth would he sign any deal for only $0.9M AAV over 2 seasons, of which the first year is still a 2-way deal? If everyone in the league knows that he's ABSOLUTELY a top-4 d-man, then someone should have at least given him an RFA offer-sheet for $2.1M/yr, at the risk of nothing more than a 3rd round pick.

Those things didn't happen, because he's only played 40 career games in the NHL, with less ice time than either Harpur or Lajoie. I know some people are big Wolanin fans, but should we maybe see if he can effectively play a full season in the NHL before offering up 5yr deals? I'm pretty sure that's how things actually work in the NHL, regardless of the owner.

Really? If he's proven it, then why didn't he play more games in the NHL than in the AHL last season? If Wolanin knows this, why on Earth would he sign any deal for only $0.9M AAV over 2 seasons, of which the first year is still a 2-way deal? If everyone in the league knows that he's ABSOLUTELY a top-4 d-man, then someone should have at least given him an RFA offer-sheet for $2.1M/yr, at the risk of nothing more than a 3rd round pick.

Those things didn't happen, because he's only played 40 career games in the NHL, with less ice time than either Harpur or Lajoie. I know some people are big Wolanin fans, but should we maybe see if he can effectively play a full season in the NHL, before offering up 5yr deals?
- khawk

Really, I can draw it in crayon for you.

The reasons he wasn’t in the NHL more:

1. Our coaches were terrible, these are the same geniuses who played Ceci 25 mins a game, and who gave boro and Harper top 4 minutes in key shutdown roles

2. Due to our brilliant GM handing out 1way deals to bad players, and our owner being to cheap to pay said bad players millions to play on the AHL, wolanin was the easy choice to send down.

The guy has limited NHL experience, but in that limited time he has absolutely proved he’s a capable top 4 NHL dman.

He signed that deal because he had no arbitration rights.....and as for offer sheets, the reason he didn’t get one is the same reason nobody else (other than like 1 guy per decade) gets one....it helps nobody but the player. Sens obviously match a deal of 2.5, and the team that offered it look like Richards for breaking the “unwritten rule” just like bergevin does now

Really? If he's proven it, then why didn't he play more games in the NHL than in the AHL last season? If Wolanin knows this, why on Earth would he sign any deal for only $0.9M AAV over 2 seasons, of which the first year is still a 2-way deal? If everyone in the league knows that he's ABSOLUTELY a top-4 d-man, then someone should have at least given him an RFA offer-sheet for $2.1M/yr, at the risk of nothing more than a 3rd round pick.

Those things didn't happen, because he's only played 40 career games in the NHL, with less ice time than either Harpur or Lajoie. I know some people are big Wolanin fans, but should we maybe see if he can effectively play a full season in the NHL before offering up 5yr deals? I'm pretty sure that's how things actually work in the NHL, regardless of the owner.
- khawk

Ya. I am in the same boat. I don’t get the narrative why Wolanin is a sure thing top-4 d-man. He was one of the better d-men on the worst defensive team in the league. That’s not high praise. Arguably, wouldn’t make 20 other NHL rosters at this point in time.

He’s a good piece to go forth with, but lets not get crazy and give long term deals to every young player that has a lick of good potential.

Ya. I am in the same boat. I don’t get the narrative why Wolanin is a sure thing top-4 d-man. He was one of the better d-men on the worst defensive team in the league. That’s not high praise. Arguably, wouldn’t make 20 other NHL rosters at this point in time.

He’s a good piece to go forth with, but lets not get crazy and give long term deals to every young player that has a lick of good potential.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

At some point this team needs to realize the potential and start offering long term deals. They have a horrible history of cheating out with short term deals on players who have lots of potential (or who are already established) and then getting (frank)ed when those deals are over and those players ask for double the cash (Hoffman, Stone, karlsson(they could have signed him for 8 and offered him 6 at lower $$ instead), now Wolanin....and I have NO DOUBT they’ll do it with White and Chabot too.

A cap crunched team needs to take risks like that and get good players locked up long term, for reasonable AAV, if they ever want to be competitive.

He signed that deal because he had no arbitration rights.....and as for offer sheets, the reason he didn’t get one is the same reason nobody else (other than like 1 guy per decade) gets one....it helps nobody but the player. Sens obviously match a deal of 2.5, and the team that offered it look like Richards for breaking the “unwritten rule” just like bergevin does now
- sensarmy_11

Do they "obviously" match that deal? Or, to go back to your earlier post, do you really think they would have matched the 5yr/$15M contract that you'd initially suggested? I wouldn't be surprised if they elected to take the 2nd round pick in compensation and move on, because if they're going to start giving out 5yr+ deals like that it should be first and foremost for the likes of Chabot, Tkachuk, and White.

I really think you need to calm down about this Wolanin deal... it's a pretty standard deal for a young player just starting to establish their career, and in no way is an objectively bad move by the organization.

Do they "obviously" match that deal? Or, to go back to your earlier post, do you really think they would have matched the 5yr/$15M contract that you'd initially suggested? I wouldn't be surprised if they elected to take the 2nd round pick in compensation and move on, because if they're going to start giving out 5yr+ deals like that it should be first and foremost for the likes of Chabot, Tkachuk, and White.

I really think you need to calm down about this Wolanin deal... it's a pretty standard deal for a young player just starting to establish their career, and in no way is an objectively bad move by the organization.
- khawk

If you think that those 3 players are being signed for 5 years and 15 mil, you’re INSANE and not even worth debating with.

Chabot, if it’s 5 years, is likely getting similar money to Nylander (or more). White would probably be 5/22.5 or so. Tkachuk I suspect will get similar money to Chabot.

5/15 for Wolanin would end up being a massive bargain

Do they "obviously" match that deal? Or, to go back to your earlier post, do you really think they would have matched the 5yr/$15M contract that you'd initially suggested? I wouldn't be surprised if they elected to take the 2nd round pick in compensation and move on, because if they're going to start giving out 5yr+ deals like that it should be first and foremost for the likes of Chabot, Tkachuk, and White.

I really think you need to calm down about this Wolanin deal... it's a pretty standard deal for a young player just starting to establish their career, and in no way is an objectively bad move by the organization.
- khawk

It is bad if they could have gotten him for an extra 3 years at only a million or 2 more on AAV

The Sens problems start and end with the ownership situation. Melnyk was good in the beginning, but after he buggered up his business dealings he has become an albatross.

If you think that those 3 players are being signed for 5 years and 15 mil, you’re INSANE and not even worth debating with.
- sensarmy_11

Okay, you really need to calm down a little bit. I said if the team were in the business of making 5yr deals right now, then players like Chabot, White, and Tkachuk would be the priority... not that they would all be signed for $3M/year.

The point being that given the wealth of young players that will be rotating through the system over the next few years, the team will almost certainly be making its long-term commitments with a strong focus on core talent... not just on the off-chance that it might (and only might) save them a bit of money in 4-5 years' time on secondary players. Especially secondary players who in that time could very well find themselves displaced by some of the team's quality prospects.

He's capable of being a shutdown, defense-first 4C
- Trevor Shackles

Maybe, but I don’t see it with this team, there are guys that are younger, potentially have better upside then Paul that could do that. I get he’s only 24 but to me the ship has sailed. With the guys soon to come up I don’t see them wasting a roster spot on him.

At some point this team needs to realize the potential and start offering long term deals. They have a horrible history of cheating out with short term deals on players who have lots of potential (or who are already established) and then getting (frank)ed when those deals are over and those players ask for double the cash (Hoffman, Stone, karlsson(they could have signed him for 8 and offered him 6 at lower $$ instead), now Wolanin....and I have NO DOUBT they’ll do it with White and Chabot too.

A cap crunched team needs to take risks like that and get good players locked up long term, for reasonable AAV, if they ever want to be competitive.
- sensarmy_11

This isn’t a video game. Players with potential won’t sign long term deals to end up with less money in the long term. I am not even sure why Wolanin is being mentioned in the same sentence as Stone, Hoffman, and Karlsson.

Sens got a good deal on a player that may or may not pan into a top 4 d-man. Remember we are rebuilding. This lineup will look massively different in 3-5 years. No need in flipping out about prospects currently in the system that is looking to restock. I know you love Wolanin, but his ceiling is not crazy high. I can understand more if this was a Chabot 2-year deal.

Everything that has happened in the last year is entirely consistent with a company reorganizing its affairs in prior to being sold. The Senators have cut expenses to an absolute minimum and, at the same time, they have maximized their long term interest by positioning themselves with future assets (picks and prospects).

I don't think Melnyk can afford Chabot's next contract. He could not afford Karlsson, Stone, Duchene, Dzingle, Methot, Zibanejad and others.

When the team is finally sold by Melnyk (or his estate) the rebound of the Sens will be dramatic and very rapid.

There has been no discussion of LeBretton or the sale of the team. Everything is dead silent. There is nothing despite the fact that lawsuits have been filed and the ownership issues are still bubbling on the back burner.