Michael Stuart: Mike's Mailbag: Trades, the Draft, Prospects, and More

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Personally, I think Balcers would be at the top of the list of players to be on the team come next year, perhaps even at the deadline when some players get moved out.

(Looking at forwards)

1. Balcers
2. Batherson
3. Abromov

Norris is a dark horse and already looking great, I have been optimistic about him since mid last year.

Formenton is scoring goals, and may benefit from a longer stint to develop a scoring touch (he's also the youngest of their prospect bunch).

LOVE how they keep zooming in on Torts after each Duclair goal.

LOVE how they keep zooming in on Torts after each Duclair goal.
- david22

It's hilarious

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Personally, I think Balcers would be at the top of the list of players to be on the team come next year, perhaps even at the deadline when some players get moved out.

(Looking at forwards)

1. Balcers
2. Batherson
3. Abromov

Norris is a dark horse and already looking great, I have been optimistic about him since mid last year.

Formenton is scoring goals, and may benefit from a longer stint to develop a scoring touch (he's also the youngest of their prospect bunch).
- david22

Balcers should probably be up right now, so I don't see how he's not up to start next season.

On Norris, I just think that there's going to be a real opening for a player like him to come in and earn a spot if all the expected deadline deals come to fruition.

To sign Demelo it's going to take $4M+ a year to get it done. Every defensive pair he is on produces great results. Considering he is a UFA, why would he take less than the league average salary?

To sign Demelo it's going to take $4M+ a year to get it done. Every defensive pair he is on produces great results. Considering he is a UFA, why would he take less than the league average salary?
- SensFan25

Because the market is typically pretty soft for guys who are viewed as third-pairing defenders w/ low offensive totals, regardless of how good the underlying numbers might be.

I don't discount the possibility that some smart team could offer a ton of money like that, but it would be a bit surprising to me.

DeMelo laughs all the way to arbitration at 4x$2M. All he has to do is point at Zaitsev's contract to prove he's EASILY worth $4M.

You didn't answer my Seattle Seahawks question... for the second mailbag in a row. So now I'm mad at you. 😡

DeMelo laughs all the way to arbitration at 4x$2M. All he has to do is point at Zaitsev's contract to prove he's EASILY worth $4M.

You didn't answer my Seattle Seahawks question... for the second mailbag in a row. So now I'm mad at you. 😡
- PavohnDatsvares

Yeah, I mean there's certainly that x-factor...

When you have Marshawn Lynch, you give Marshawn Lynch the ball.

Yeah, I mean there's certainly that x-factor...

When you have Marshawn Lynch, you give Marshawn Lynch the ball.
- Michael_Stuart

Adding - as I look at more comparables, $3-4M seems fairer.

Yeah, I mean there's certainly that x-factor...

When you have Marshawn Lynch, you give Marshawn Lynch the ball.
- Michael_Stuart

F sportsball, f matched lunch, or whatever that poop can is named... Lol this is hockey buzz. Not sportsball garbage.

Anyways, Duclair with another solid performance. Ottawa should sign long term or trade this guy at the deadline for another 1st to a bubble team that hopefully doesn't make it in... Get another 1st this draft.

what about Duclair. Do you think the sens re-sign him or trade him?

Would be a good 2nd 3rd liner on a contender this year. Also young enough that the sens could sign him for a few years and he'd still be around when the rebuild is done. If he ends up getting 30 this year, seems as if he'd earn himself a multi-year deal.

Adding - as I look at more comparables, $3-4M seems fairer.
- Michael_Stuart

I love you too much to stay mad at you... but whether it is Pageau or DeMelo, you and I clearly don't see eye to eye when it comes to money. Xoxo

Would really like to see this up front next year:

Tkachuk - Pageau - Batherson
Brown - Brown - Duclair
Balcers - AA - White
Paul - Chlapik - Davidsson

Would like to keep Abramov and Norris longer in the AHL, better to give them the time. Chlapik is fine as 4C.

We trade Nam, Boedker, Tierney, Ennis before the TDL.

Would really like to see this up front next year:

Tkachuk - Pageau - Batherson
Brown - Brown - Duclair
Balcers - AA - White
Paul - Chlapik - Davidsson

Would like to keep Abramov and Norris longer in the AHL, better to give them the time. Chlapik is fine as 4C.

We trade Nam, Boedker, Tierney, Ennis before the TDL.
- DutchSenators

Logan Brown hasn't done Sh*t. 1 goal in 18 games, guy is turning 22 in March. Also unless Sens management are going for a top pick AGAIN, NEXT year (2021) only then I'm down for that line up. Also the fact that Colin White is on the 3rd line there says enough about the panic about our center ice moving forward.

This team will win NOTHING unless their center ice improves

2015 - Colin White
2016 - Logan Brown
2017 - Josh Norris
2019 - Shane Pinto

How many of these guys are franchise centers? NONE
How many of these guys are future #1 centers? MAYBE 1
How many of these guys will be #2 centers? MAYBE 2
How many of these guys will likely not be top 2 centers on a cup contender?
Possibly all of them. I think Brown and White have a solid chance, but the other two still have a lot to prove.

It makes me so frustrated that we don't talk about how this franchise has failed to EVER have 2 solid centers (in terms of a true contending team). I can name 10 teams just right now who have that

Michael Stuart: Mike's Mailbag: Trades, the Draft, Prospects, and More
- Michael_Stuart

Thanks for the response. A lot of fans have been focusing on the early picks. I was just curious if there was anyone you had your eye on if the San Jose pick was in the 15-30 range.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the response. A lot of fans have been focusing on the early picks. I was just curious if there was anyone you had your eye on if the San Jose pick was in the 15-30 range.

Keep up the good work!
- Mpepe1084

I wish I had a better answer for you, but I've always felt uncomfortable piggybacking off others' scouting reports to draw conclusions on players I really haven't seen. It's a lot easier to build informed opinions on the top guys.

I wish I had a better answer for you, but I've always felt uncomfortable piggybacking off others' scouting reports to draw conclusions on players I really haven't seen. It's a lot easier to build informed opinions on the top guys.
- Michael_Stuart

A guy who’s stick is dropping (almost entirely due to a freak blood clot keeping him off the ice) and who I hope sens can snag with a 2nd rd pick, is Justin Barron out of Halifax. Right shot dman who is offensively gifted, but great in all 3 zones and has a bit of a physical bite to his game.

Was pegged as a top 10 pick to start the year, but is no longer projected in the 1st rd, like I said, due to not playing much

A guy who’s stick is dropping (almost entirely due to a freak blood clot keeping him off the ice) and who I hope sens can snag with a 2nd rd pick, is Justin Barron out of Halifax. Right shot dman who is offensively gifted, but great in all 3 zones and has a bit of a physical bite to his game.

Was pegged as a top 10 pick to start the year, but is no longer projected in the 1st rd, like I said, due to not playing much
- sensarmy_11

Depends where you look I think. Snet has him at 12 right now.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ospect-rankings-november/

Depends where you look I think. Snet has him at 12 right now.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ospect-rankings-november/
- david22

Pretty much any ranking or mock draft done in December has him outside the 1st round. He’s missed like 8-10 games, and is out indefinitely......and Halifax is a pretty bad team this year.

Interesting how many in the media (including MacKenzie) are now citing the experience of the Senators in dealing Karlsson, Stone and Duchene as the template for the Devils (Taylor Hall).

Quietly Pierre Dorion is getting lots of positive strokes for his work over the past year.

and who doesn't like a positive stroke.