Michael Stuart: Learn from the Leafs: Chabot Doesn't Belong with Zaitsev or Hainsey

The problem is who do you pair Chabot or Brannstrom with? I think maybe a veteran isn't a bad idea. I get that Zaitsev has not been a top line performer and Hainsey is near the end of his career, but aren't a ton of options.

I thought demelo played well with chabot last year...

I'd like to see;

Hotsam Batcho / Demelo
Wolanin or brannstrom / zaitsev
hainsey jaros
boro

keeps everyone on their natural side

Although Dorion mentioned the other day wolanin practiced entire offseason on his off side. Also he said brannstrom prefers playing on right side.

I thought demelo played well with chabot last year...

I'd like to see;

Hotsam Batcho / Demelo
Wolanin or brannstrom / zaitsev
hainsey jaros
boro

keeps everyone on their natural side

Although Dorion mentioned the other day wolanin practiced entire offseason on his off side. Also he said brannstrom prefers playing on right side.
- Torontosensfan

This is sort of where my mind went when I was going through the data for this piece as well.

The problem is who do you pair Chabot or Brannstrom with? I think maybe a veteran isn't a bad idea. I get that Zaitsev has not been a top line performer and Hainsey is near the end of his career, but aren't a ton of options.
- Aetherial

I'm honestly not opposed to the Sens putting two younger guys together. We know they're going to be bad this year. I'd rather they be bad because young guys are learning, taking chances, playing their own game, etc. than because the young guys are being held back by guys who can't keep up.

Years ago Jacques Martin said that the media paid way too much attention to a coaches early season opinions on what might happen. He explained that it was really the players who decided on line combinations and pairings based on their training camp and exhibition play.

What he was stressing was that most outcomes became obvious and easily decided if you just watch the play.

Zaitsev and Hainsey replace Ceci and Harpur. I would expect when everything is settled they will play similar on-ice roles to the guys they are replacing on the roster. I believe they represent a small upgrade over last year.

I expect Chabot will play 23-25 minutes most nights. Wolanin and Jaros should get a larger share of ice time from last year. Brannstrom will start in Belleville and be the first call up. He will be a regular before Christmas.

would n ot surprise me if they put anchors with Chabot to lower his stats so they can offer him less than he is worth on his next contract, remember who the owner is.....

would n ot surprise me if they put anchors with Chabot to lower his stats so they can offer him less than he is worth on his next contract, remember who the owner is.....
- Athrin

All the music being played by the Sens suggests the Chabot deal is already fully baked.

If the Sens contend for a playoff spot, Chabot will be in the discussion for a Norris!

Contend for a playoff spot....lol

Smith LOVES Zaitsev, so I imagine he’ll want to pair him with Chabot, if possible

Zaitsev’s really not that bad, as much as he got $hit on last year

Contend for a playoff spot....lol

Smith LOVES Zaitsev, so I imagine he’ll want to pair him with Chabot, if possible

Zaitsev’s really not that bad, as much as he got $hit on last year
- AxlRose91

Same goes for Ceci. Both may benefit from the change.

Garrioch: Wolanin torn labrum. Out minimum of four months #Sens

Sucks about Wolanin. Four months from falling on the ice, maaaaan that is the return of the luck trends of yesteryear.

It helps make the questions about the D much less intriguing in camp. I believe we see an opening lineup like this after pre-season:

Duclair-White-Tkachuk
Ryan-L. Brown-Batherson
C. Brown-Anisimov-Pageau
Ennis-Tierney-Formenton
ex: Boedker, Balcers

Chabot-DeMelo
Hainsey-Brannstrom
Jaros-Zaitsev
ex: Borowiecki

Anderson
Nilsson

Line ordering is pretty interchangeable. The Anisimov line would be used as the main shutdown line for top units of other teams while the top two would go up against the second and third lines of opponents. That fourth line actually looks sneakily dangerous and fast, could be a secret weapon in some close games.

Wolanin replaces Jaros when he returns and that looks like a team capable of maybe being on the bubble if all things break right for them.

Put Zaitsev and Hainsey together. Maybe they cancel out each others suck.

I'm honestly not opposed to the Sens putting two younger guys together. We know they're going to be bad this year. I'd rather they be bad because young guys are learning, taking chances, playing their own game, etc. than because the young guys are being held back by guys who can't keep up.
- Michael_Stuart

Part of that I get. But while they are bad it might be good to have them learn from a veteran?

Put Zaitsev and Hainsey together. Maybe they cancel out each others suck.
- AlfieFever

would n ot surprise me if they put anchors with Chabot to lower his stats so they can offer him less than he is worth on his next contract, remember who the owner is.....
- Athrin

Preach

All the music being played by the Sens suggests the Chabot deal is already fully baked.

If the Sens contend for a playoff spot, Chabot will be in the discussion for a Norris!
- spatso

You could make the case chabot will be the best rfa or at least best dman next year. I wouldn’t count on an extension.

Hainsey will be a trade deadline candidate, so they’ll need to show he’s capable of playing with top pairing dmen to get decent return. Wouldn’t be surprised if he played with chabot or bran throughout the course of the season.

Its a good read. I doubt Smith anchors him. Pretty sure he knows the mandate regardless of wins or losses. Likely be a Demelo or lajoie.
My prediction is Chabot signs 8 x 10.2

Its a good read. I doubt Smith anchors him. Pretty sure he knows the mandate regardless of wins or losses. Likely be a Demelo or lajoie.
My prediction is Chabot signs 8 x 10.2
- spazzbot

10.2 is a very large number for a defenceman coming out of entry level. I think 8 x 8M or 8 x 8.5M should be tops for his contract.
Werenski was 3 x $5M coming out of entry level.
Trouba was 7 x $8M going with 1 year before UFA.

Chabot is better offensively but not as established defensively.
Hell, Karlsson got $11.5M per season and he already has 2 Norris trophies.

so i didn't think that Bransstrom had a chance in hell of making this team out of camp......but with Wolanin out, do they give him a chance or do they give the job to someone like Lajoie or Englund instead, and let Bransstrom have a full year on the top pair in Belleville?

Brady Tkachuk looks physically bigger this year. He was at development camp 2 yrs ago and weighed in at 190lbs.
Tipped the scales at 212 lbs this year.

They mixed up one of the years, but still, good news.

Analytics can be interesting and meaningful, however it would be a mistake to dismiss a coach's assessment of a player, or what they feel positively contributed to the player's development. In the case of Zaitsev, it's been clearly indicated that he was being played away from his strengths over the past 2 seasons, so it's no surprise that looking at the analytics for 2017/18 and 2018/19 will show that he struggled. The more relevant question is what was different, and working better in the year where he put up 36pts, and outscored Rielly by nearly 10pts? For instance, maybe not inexplicably shifting all of his special teams play from the PP to the PK would help him contribute. Presumably that is more the direction Smith wants to go with his deployment, especially if he went out of his way to endorse his acquisition.

As for Hainsey, you're talking about a basic veteran presence to help Chabot manage the expectations of playing the position at the highest level. The point isn't to get immediate results in the coming year, because that's just not the purpose of the 2019/20 season for this team. The point is to make Chabot a better player when they need him to lead this team in 2-3 years. That's the whole point of development, and why analytics need to be kept in place when it comes to more nuanced decisions involving matters beyond maximizing short-term efficacy.

Analytics can be interesting and meaningful, however it would be a mistake to dismiss a coach's assessment of a player, or what they feel positively contributed to the player's development. In the case of Zaitsev, it's been clearly indicated that he was being played away from his strengths over the past 2 seasons, so it's no surprise that looking at the analytics for 2017/18 and 2018/19 will show that he struggled. The more relevant question is what was different, and working better in the year where he put up 36pts, and outscored Rielly by nearly 10pts? For instance, maybe not inexplicably shifting all of his special teams play from the PP to the PK would help him contribute. Presumably that is more the direction Smith wants to go with his deployment, especially if he went out of his way to endorse his acquisition.

As for Hainsey, you're talking about a basic veteran presence to help Chabot manage the expectations of playing the position at the highest level. The point isn't to get immediate results in the coming year, because that's just not the purpose of the 2019/20 season for this team. The point is to make Chabot a better player when they need him to lead this team in 2-3 years. That's the whole point of development, and why analytics need to be kept in place when it comes to more nuanced decisions involving matters beyond maximizing short-term efficacy.
- khawk

A+