Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Senators Lose More than the Game

Thumbs down - DJs (frank)ing ridiculous handling of the D on this team......sitting Branny, never sitting gudbrandson, HORRIBLY overplaying Chabot, giving Wolanin less than 10 minutes......

the mind-boggingly stupid roster/ice time decisions he's made with this d corps just defies logic

Wasn't the score 3-2 in shootout

Wasn't the score 3-2 in shootout
- MisterBrown

Yes. Not sure what I was thinking...

Thumbs down - DJs (frank)ing ridiculous handling of the D on this team......sitting Branny, never sitting gudbrandson, HORRIBLY overplaying Chabot, giving Wolanin less than 10 minutes......

the mind-boggingly stupid roster/ice time decisions he's made with this d corps just defies logic
- sensarmy_11

Yeah, I really don't get the handling of the D. Take 5 of Chabot's minutes and give them to Wolanin, who was having a great night, and things look so much better even if not perfect.

Yeah, I really don't get the handling of the D. Take 5 of Chabot's minutes and give them to Wolanin, who was having a great night, and things look so much better even if not perfect.
- Michael_Stuart

that.....and insert brannstrom into the lineup and fire Gudbrandson into the (frank)ing sun

that.....and insert brannstrom into the lineup and fire Gudbrandson into the (frank)ing sun
- sensarmy_11

Giddy shouldn't be getting a tonne of minutes. Maybe 10 min a night would be good.

Yes. Not sure what I was thinking...
- Michael_Stuart

No sweat. I went and double checked myself. LoL. I wish it was 4-3, More points for the rookies.

Speaking of which, the Sens made out like bandits with Stutzle and Norris.

so when are we trading for zibby? Yes! Ha! Ha! Ha! Yes!. lol

It seems that the organization has taken the decision to play Wolanin in enough games to avoid him becoming a group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of this year. DJ Smith's deployment of Wolanin suggests that he was forced to include Wolanin in the lineup. While Wolanin had a rough start to the year, he has looked quite good in the last 2 games. The benching of Wolanin in the third period appears to be a situation where DJ Smith has made up his mind about the player and punishes him for any minor transgression, despite playing well overall. Not a good look for DJ Smith.

There has been a question about accountability all year. Regarding the defence, it's hard to be too critical of Smith given the quality of talent he has to work with, but the last couple of weeks, it is quite eyebrow raising. I did not think Wolonin had a great start to the year and even conceded he may have gotten passed on the depth chart, but he played well in the 2 games against Vancouver and wasn't rewarded. It is a little strange. Especially, when Chabot isn't playing Norris caliber hockey but getting the minutes.

Gudbranson will never be scratched. While his overall game isn't great, he does bring some intangibles that are nice to see in terms of sticking up for teammates, having some NHL experience, and using the body. Coaches will always love him. That said, I hope he is replaced by next season.

It seems that the organization has taken the decision to play Wolanin in enough games to avoid him becoming a group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of this year. DJ Smith's deployment of Wolanin suggests that he was forced to include Wolanin in the lineup. While Wolanin had a rough start to the year, he has looked quite good in the last 2 games. The benching of Wolanin in the third period appears to be a situation where DJ Smith has made up his mind about the player and punishes him for any minor transgression, despite playing well overall. Not a good look for DJ Smith.
- SensFan25

Smith doesn't care if your NHL ready he'll send you to the minors or scratch you if he doesn't like your style or something about you. He'll come up with any excuse like work ethic, need to improve your shot, need work on faceoffs, need to be better in puck battles or in Brannstrom's situation improve on breaking cycle in D zone etc. etc. These are all things that can be improved at the NHL level during practice or by playing regularly. If your NHL ready usually coaches will find a fit for you in the lineup and work with you. The Sens have trouble scoring goals maybe 18 min. of Brannstrom or Wolanin would help even if they're not defensive studs.

^^^ Sorry but, no^^^(for GW 2.0)

I don't care if he's Methot's buddy, or an Ottawa guy. It's over. He simply can't skate at the level he needs to. The intangbiles aren't enough even to keep him in the line-up.

I can't agree more with all the takes in this thread already about the D handling on this team. Somehow they have amazing D prospects playing and coming and they'll screw it up.

Agreed tkachuk, its something only the eye test can tell you.

Dj smith , is a very personable,and great at verbalizing his thoughts in a easy to understand manner. I think young players love that.
But when i see consistently line changes that are confused,ill timed. I cant help but think he is not coaching right. And yeh tone down chabots minutes, ...something like 90 minutes in 3 games? He will burn out eventually or risk injury.
Then the annoying pp...its not working.

But this year is more sorting things out...next year the rubber hits the pavement.

^^^ Sorry but, no^^^(for GW 2.0)

I don't care if he's Methot's buddy, or an Ottawa guy. It's over. He simply can't skate at the level he needs to. The intangbiles aren't enough even to keep him in the line-up.

I can't agree more with all the takes in this thread already about the D handling on this team. Somehow they have amazing D prospects playing and coming and they'll screw it up.
- Octavarium

I'm not supporting him being in the lineup, but providing reasons why he is and why he likely will never be scratched. Maybe that wasn't clear? My apologies. Maybe he will get scratched, I just find it hard to see at this point.

In my opinion, in a perfect world, he moves out and Branstrom gets to play on his preferred right side. However, if that hasn't happened yet, not sure if it will. The organization has hardly let him play on his preferred side in the AHL. Other options like J. Brown/Corburn/etc are lateral movements.

Brannstrom sent to the AHL.

Zub assigned to the taxi squad.

Curious moves.

Brannstrom sent to the AHL.

Zub assigned to the taxi squad.

Curious moves.
- HoweHatrick

Brannstrom will play for Belleville over the weekend since the Senators are off until Monday I assume.

There has been weird taxi squad moves all year due to cap reasons, I believe. If Zub is scratched on Monday...

Brannstrom will play for Belleville over the weekend since the Senators are off until Monday I assume.

There has been weird taxi squad moves all year due to cap reasons, I believe. If Zub is scratched on Monday...
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

there is no way Zub will be scratched. He's been their most consistent overall dman all year. Healthy scratching him would be a fireable offence IMO

Cheap bastards.

Cheap bastards.
- granpa

every single team in the league who can is doing it....settle down

There has been a question about accountability all year. Regarding the defence, it's hard to be too critical of Smith given the quality of talent he has to work with, but the last couple of weeks, it is quite eyebrow raising. I did not think Wolonin had a great start to the year and even conceded he may have gotten passed on the depth chart, but he played well in the 2 games against Vancouver and wasn't rewarded. It is a little strange. Especially, when Chabot isn't playing Norris caliber hockey but getting the minutes.

Gudbranson will never be scratched. While his overall game isn't great, he does bring some intangibles that are nice to see in terms of sticking up for teammates, having some NHL experience, and using the body. Coaches will always love him. That said, I hope he is replaced by next season.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Give Chabot people to play with and his game will improve exponentially. People need to chill because he is the only capable D who can play at a high level. The lineup is atrocious without him. The bigger issue is giving him capable depth who can support

The frustrating thing I find is this repeated narrative that 'veteran leadership' is needed on this team, as though that's somehow an excuse for playing sub-replacement players who are too slow to keep up with today's game. Stepan, Paquette, Coburn, Gudbranson, even Murray - somehow they wanted to validate EM's claim we'd be competitive this year and spent a bunch of EM's money and potentially useful draft picks, and all it has yielded is a team worse than it would otherwise be. At least the majority of those anchors are pending UFAs, but Murray will soon, if not already, be the new Bobby Ryan contract on this team.

every single team in the league who can is doing it....settle down
- sensarmy_11

Was I responding to your comment because if I wasn't I would appreciate it very much if you didn't respond to mine. Also what's this "settle down" comment, there's no call for that.

Was I responding to your comment because if I wasn't I would appreciate it very much if you didn't respond to mine. Also what's this "settle down" comment, there's no call for that.
- granpa

For those complaining about Duds in the lineup:

Remember that the deadline is near, and Sens need to showcase some bodies.

Gudbranson, Anisimov, Reilly...possibly Dzingel (who’s been great).