Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Senators Create Chaos vs. Calgary

Commentators kept talking about it being the Sens best game of this season so far.

I did not see it that way. They played a tired team and a goalie that gave up a few soft ones. But you don't want to complain about a win.

Interesting to see TSN finally discover the North Dakota Fighting Sens. Big news Sens have some really good young players in their system.

Could the Sens catch some of the teams ahead of them in the standings? Vancouver? Montreal? Calgary? Do we want that as an outcome for this season?

The addition of Dzingle's speed next week works well for me.

I love watching winning Sens hockey.

Line me up, and let me spend money. Tickets,beer,food,merchandise

Sens could catch Vancouver or Calgary if things keep going the same way for all three teams I don't want them to but they are within reach.

Somebody gonna get fired in Calgary if the Sens win sat afternoon.

Sens could catch Vancouver or Calgary if things keep going the same way for all three teams I don't want them to but they are within reach.

Somebody gonna get fired in Calgary if the Sens win sat afternoon.
- GrimmdaGoalie

So, Sens beat Montreal back to back.

Calgary, it would be curios if we see another chop job after Saturday.

My guess is Calgary comes out smoking and we see an entirely different team, more like the team that took 3 of 4 points against the Leafs.

Flames looked completely disinterested right off the bat and never recovered. Sens can capitalize on teams taking Sens games for granted and just going through the motions. You can really tell teams just mailing it in with this COVID era games. Nevertheless, it is always nice to see the young guys play well.

Commentators kept talking about it being the Sens best game of this season so far.

I did not see it that way. They played a tired team and a goalie that gave up a few soft ones. But you don't want to complain about a win.

Interesting to see TSN finally discover the North Dakota Fighting Sens. Big news Sens have some really good young players in their system.

Could the Sens catch some of the teams ahead of them in the standings? Vancouver? Montreal? Calgary? Do we want that as an outcome for this season?

The addition of Dzingle's speed next week works well for me.
- spatso

I had the same thought. What's the best outcome? Get some wins and finish say 27th or so, or stay lower and maximize the draft potential.

Looking at the standings, with games in hand even thta would be tough though.

I had the same thought. What's the best outcome? Get some wins and finish say 27th or so, or stay lower and maximize the draft potential.

Looking at the standings, with games in hand even thta would be tough though.
- david22

(frank) the draft.....win as much as you can and start building the winning culture with this young team

Commentators kept talking about it being the Sens best game of this season so far.

I did not see it that way. They played a tired team and a goalie that gave up a few soft ones. But you don't want to complain about a win.

Interesting to see TSN finally discover the North Dakota Fighting Sens. Big news Sens have some really good young players in their system.

Could the Sens catch some of the teams ahead of them in the standings? Vancouver? Montreal? Calgary? Do we want that as an outcome for this season?

The addition of Dzingle's speed next week works well for me.
- spatso

That interview with Brandon Bochenski (now somehow the Mayor of the town where UND plays in Grand Forks) was pretty funny. World is a small place and never know where the next blast from the past will be.

Good game overall, Brannstrom is really shining now and Zub too on the blue line. Wanna also say how impressive Zaitsev has been. You can see the blue line of the future taking shape:

Chabot-Sanderson
Bernard-Docker-Brannstrom
Zaitsev/Wolanin/UFA-Zub

Lots to like there

(frank) the draft.....win as much as you can and start building the winning culture with this young team
- sensarmy_11

X 10, thats the next step

(frank) the draft.....win as much as you can and start building the winning culture with this young team
- sensarmy_11

Without a consensus 1st overall, bombing doesn't seem to have much of an advantage.

I am all for building a little bit of a winning culture, but let's not get too carried away with a nice little winning streak. Baring a Hamburglar miracle run, the only team Ottawa can realistically leapfrog in the division is Vancouver.

That said, the North division is mediocre, so anything could happen.

Without a consensus 1st overall, bombing doesn't seem to have much of an advantage.

I am all for building a little bit of a winning culture, but let's not get too carried away with a nice little winning streak. Baring a Hamburglar miracle run, the only team Ottawa can realistically leapfrog in the division is Vancouver.

That said, the North division is mediocre, so anything could happen.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Oh, don't get me wrong, i'm not under any illusion that this team will make a playoff run or anything.

just saying that, unlike last year, we shouldn't be cheering for better draft position, we should be cheering for wins.

Oh, don't get me wrong, i'm not under any illusion that this team will make a playoff run or anything.

just saying that, unlike last year, we shouldn't be cheering for better draft position, we should be cheering for wins.
- sensarmy_11

I'm certainly enjoying watching the team win games this year, and I agree its different from last year.

At the start of the Season I felt a finish round 25th -26th was realistically optimist. Even with the Sens strong play of late, that would be difficult due to the losing streak(s) at the start of the year.


I still think this team could really use one more high end forward prospect. With the draft being such a crap shoot this year, we could see the team finish on a positive note, and still nab such a player by drafting from a somewhat high position.

(frank) the draft.....win as much as you can and start building the winning culture with this young team
- sensarmy_11

Agreed - they've been a bottom-2 team for several years, and never had their own pick be higher than 4th. Conversely, the young players have stepped up in a big way over the past month, and fully taken over the identity of the team. This is precisely what you want to see in a young team. It's time to start learning how to win, and whatever talent they're able to add with the 1st/2nd/2nd round picks in the next 2 seasons will continue to add more depth of talent regardless of whether it's a top-5 pick or a top-15 pick.

Winning culture is necessary and the youngsters are proving that they are becoming more and more confident in their plays...Even if we finish in the 25th-28th range it's still a lottery pick...which needs to be a talented sniper F such as Guenther!...this would bolster our offense for the years to come....And in the back, we are all set for the future with our impressive D's at UND with Sanderson; JBD & Kleven.
So far we just need to get another stud at C, maybe Pinto or L. Brown could be the one we are waiting for so long!...Grieg should also be in the conversation (2C or 3C)...Future is bright in Ottawa...finally!

The Sens finished the first quarter of the season at 2 and 12 and already halfway through the second quarter they are 5 and 3, Nice Improvement however I don't see a Stanley Cup In there future until Melnyk Is gone.

Hey Michael - any thoughts or details on the Chlapik waive?

Oh, don't get me wrong, i'm not under any illusion that this team will make a playoff run or anything.

just saying that, unlike last year, we shouldn't be cheering for better draft position, we should be cheering for wins.
- sensarmy_11

People can cheer for what they want.

I get what you're saying but at this point the development of young players (Chabot, Tkachuk, Batherson, Stutzle, Norris, Brannstrom, White) is key for this year. This wave of players that were drafted 2015-2020 will need to be supported by Sanderson, BernardDocker, 2021 1st pick, etc.

The Sens still need to hit on 1 more top pick IMO with L.Brown being a flop. The RW and C need to be improved and defense is still TBD - but looking very strong if Brannstrom and Bernard Docker develop as expected. I'm not sure about Thomson

People can cheer for what they want.

I get what you're saying but at this point the development of young players (Chabot, Tkachuk, Batherson, Stutzle, Norris, Brannstrom, White) is key for this year. This wave of players that were drafted 2015-2020 will need to be supported by Sanderson, BernardDocker, 2021 1st pick, etc.

The Sens still need to hit on 1 more top pick IMO with L.Brown being a flop. The RW and C need to be improved and defense is still TBD - but looking very strong if Brannstrom and Bernard Docker develop as expected. I'm not sure about Thomson
- AlfieisKing

According to scouting reports, There isn’t a player in this draft who’s close to NHL ready. Even if they “hit” in this draft, it’s a kid who’s probably not a factor on the NHL roster for probably 3 years.

Much rather trade that pick for someone who’s ready now.

What I don’t get why is Peca playing why not let L.Brown slip in somewhere just so annoying seeing Haley or Peca play over other players

According to scouting reports, There isn’t a player in this draft who’s close to NHL ready. Even if they “hit” in this draft, it’s a kid who’s probably not a factor on the NHL roster for probably 3 years.

Much rather trade that pick for someone who’s ready now.
- sensarmy_11

Fair enough man, that's actually a good point. I just hope if the Sens DO miss the playoffs they don't get a pick outside the top 5. I strongly believe another top 5/6 pick.

Along with Tim Stuzle, Jake Sanderson, and Brady Tkachuk - that's enough top end talent for years 2023-2030ish with the depth their developing. Fingers crossed

According to scouting reports, There isn’t a player in this draft who’s close to NHL ready. Even if they “hit” in this draft, it’s a kid who’s probably not a factor on the NHL roster for probably 3 years.

Much rather trade that pick for someone who’s ready now.
- sensarmy_11

That timeline fits right into the Sens window (assuming things go optimistically). And despite many players not being NHL ready right away, many still have top line potential.

Berniers really screams Sens type of player.

Fair enough man, that's actually a good point. I just hope if the Sens DO miss the playoffs they don't get a pick outside the top 5. I strongly believe another top 5/6 pick.

Along with Tim Stuzle, Jake Sanderson, and Brady Tkachuk - that's enough top end talent for years 2023-2030ish with the depth their developing. Fingers crossed
- AlfieisKing

I agree. Another high end pick (preferably a center) would be a real asset.

We could potentially have a situation where everybody gets what they want. After the hole they dug themselves into at the start of the season, a strong second half could still see them finish in the bottom five.

That timeline fits right into the Sens window (assuming things go optimistically). And despite many players not being NHL ready right away, many still have top line potential.

Berniers really screams Sens type of player.
- david22

Every scouting report I’ve read on Beniers says he projects as a 2-way 2nd or 3rd line center........or exactly like What we already have an abundance of.

A lot of bad turnovers today. Defence was looking weak. Anyways thats the tribulations of playing a mostly young team, their learning hopefully to know how to come back with another strong effort. Love Stutzle and want him to stay but its obvious for this year he is not strong enough.
Lets see what happens Monday. Go Sens.