Michael Stuart: Mike's Mailbag: Goalie Woes, Trade Deadline, Prospects, and More!

I would ask...is there a chance Sanderson gets 8 games this yr. Does the fan base regret the pick over taking Drysdale...

I know I'll be forever grateful for them making that decision watching Jamie after just a couple of shifts ... He's everything advertised and so much more.

I got pretty excited watching Jamie be our best D man ... A low bar granted ... after just 2 games.

I would ask...is there a chance Sanderson gets 8 games this yr. Does the fan base regret the pick over taking Drysdale...

I know I'll be forever grateful for them making that decision watching Jamie after just a couple of shifts ... He's everything advertised and so much more.

I got pretty excited watching Jamie be our best D man ... A low bar granted ... after just 2 games.
- dozerD10

Fanbase is probably about as frustrated as NYR and LA's fanbases who took Lafrierre and Byfield over Stutlze, not very. Way too early to call out any winners and losers in the draft.

Drysdale looks very good, however.

Sanderson is in the NCAA system, so that might make for a longer professional transition. I believe I heard reports that he plans on playing next season in the NCAA. If he is as good as everyone claims he is, that is a little frustrating to hear, but defencemen are always tricky to develop. There could be fan frustration by next year if that is the case, however, it would be naive to think Drysdale will not have some rough patches at such a young age.

I think Drysdale has the potential to be the better offensive d-man, but Sanderson has the potential to be better all-around. But those views are purely based on a handful of junior/NCAA action and scouting reports.

I would ask...is there a chance Sanderson gets 8 games this yr. Does the fan base regret the pick over taking Drysdale...

I know I'll be forever grateful for them making that decision watching Jamie after just a couple of shifts ... He's everything advertised and so much more.

I got pretty excited watching Jamie be our best D man ... A low bar granted ... after just 2 games.
- dozerD10

Only thing I envy of Drysdale is which way he shoots. World Juniors when they faced off Sanderson was the better player.

Fanbase is probably about as frustrated as NYR and LA's fanbases who took Lafrierre and Byfield over Stutlze, not very. Way too early to call out any winners and losers in the draft.

Drysdale looks very good, however.

Sanderson is in the NCAA system, so that might make for a longer professional transition. I believe I heard reports that he plans on playing next season in the NCAA. If he is as good as everyone claims he is, that is a little frustrating to hear, but defencemen are always tricky to develop. There could be fan frustration by next year if that is the case, however, it would be naive to think Drysdale will not have some rough patches at such a young age.

I think Drysdale has the potential to be the better offensive d-man, but Sanderson has the potential to be better all-around. But those views are purely based on a handful of junior/NCAA action and scouting reports.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I think Sanderson is going to be really good. I would’ve been overjoyed with him also.... we’ve just never had a right handed defenseman they could skate like Jamie, and be that smooth and skilled...

I’m one of the people that think Tim is already better than either AL or Byfield... and will continue to be...he’s unreal...

I think Byfield was overrated from the start. He doesn't seem to have the smarts that Stützle does

Thanks for doing the mailbag. I think Sens should try and milk a desperate team out of their 1st for dzingle

I think Byfield was overrated from the start. He doesn't seem to have the smarts that Stützle does
- MisterBrown

I forget which TSN panelist said it, but he said Byfield will need a lot of work but his potential is through the roof. He called him an "aw gee shucks" kinda guy and it will be important for whatever team that gets him to make him play a more physical game. My guess is we won't see him probably for another 2 years. He is 10 months younger than Lafrenière and 7 months younger than Stutzle. That's a lot of developmental difference. He's still 18.

I forget which TSN panelist said it, but he said Byfield will need a lot of work but his potential is through the roof. He called him an "aw gee shucks" kinda guy and it will be important for whatever team that gets him to make him play a more physical game. My guess is we won't see him probably for another 2 years. He is 10 months younger than Lafrenière and 7 months younger than Stutzle. That's a lot of developmental difference. He's still 18.
- PogBoi

Ya, I'm still really high on QB55. He's so young and he's huge. I think he'll be a really fantastic player for the Kings and I wish him all the best. Once he matures mentally (like Stutzle and Lafreniere will too) by 22-23 they will all be dominant players in this league. I think Stutzle and Lafreniere have a little bit more physically to develop and Byfield has even more if that's possible. They all have a lot to grow on the defensive side of the game and how to think it at the NHL level.

Any of these guys could have gone 1-2-3 and any of the teams getting them would have won at the draft. Just my opinion.

For DJ Smith...after the GM dumps Gudbrandson, Pacquette, Coburn whoever else you keep sticking in the way of the kids that need minutes.

Billy Beane: Art, you got a minute?
Art Howe: Yeah. Take a seat.
Billy Beane: You can't start Peña at first tonight. You'll have to start Hatteberg.
Art Howe: Yeah, I don't want to go fifteen rounds, Billy. The lineup card is mine, and that's all.
Billy Beane: That lineup card is definitely yours. I'm just saying you can't start Peña at first.
Billy Beane: Well, I am starting him at first.
Billy Beane: I don't think so. He plays for Detroit now.

For DJ Smith...after the GM dumps Gudbrandson, Pacquette, Coburn whoever else you keep sticking in the way of the kids that need minutes.

Billy Beane: Art, you got a minute?
Art Howe: Yeah. Take a seat.
Billy Beane: You can't start Peña at first tonight. You'll have to start Hatteberg.
Art Howe: Yeah, I don't want to go fifteen rounds, Billy. The lineup card is mine, and that's all.
Billy Beane: That lineup card is definitely yours. I'm just saying you can't start Peña at first.
Billy Beane: Well, I am starting him at first.
Billy Beane: I don't think so. He plays for Detroit now.
- Octavarium

Unreal exchange... that was sooo good. A really underrated movie.

I would ask...is there a chance Sanderson gets 8 games this yr. Does the fan base regret the pick over taking Drysdale...

I know I'll be forever grateful for them making that decision watching Jamie after just a couple of shifts ... He's everything advertised and so much more.

I got pretty excited watching Jamie be our best D man ... A low bar granted ... after just 2 games.
- dozerD10

i don't regret it at all.....ottawa already has 2 PMDs who are better than Drysdale right now. Sens needed the "all around guy" like Sanderson. having a bunch of guys who can move the puck but suck at defending doesn't make this team better.....but a player like Sanderson does.

when both players have gone head to head, Sanderson was better......i'm stoked with the pick. i think Sanderson will easily be the better overall dman

i don't regret it at all.....ottawa already has 2 PMDs who are better than Drysdale right now. Sens needed the "all around guy" like Sanderson. having a bunch of guys who can move the puck but suck at defending doesn't make this team better.....but a player like Sanderson does.

when both players have gone head to head, Sanderson was better......i'm stoked with the pick. i think Sanderson will easily be the better overall dman
- sensarmy_11

Shocking take...

Shocking take...
- dozerD10

no more shocking than yours...............if you want to jerk off to drysdale, go do it in your own blog with the other 3 fans of your poop team. sens fans are happy with sanderson, who will be the better player

i don't regret it at all.....ottawa already has 2 PMDs who are better than Drysdale right now. Sens needed the "all around guy" like Sanderson. having a bunch of guys who can move the puck but suck at defending doesn't make this team better.....but a player like Sanderson does.

when both players have gone head to head, Sanderson was better......i'm stoked with the pick. i think Sanderson will easily be the better overall dman
- sensarmy_11

So, when you look at them from rookies going forward in their careers, the Sens have had 4 rookie Dmen that were regarded as elite talents. Redden, Chara, Karlsson and Chabot. After the first salary cap contract and the beginning of the hard cap era Muckler decided to offer Redden the big deal and let Chara walk with Chiarelli to Boston. Most of us thought it was a bad move at the time.

Elite shut down Dman who impose a physical presence on the game are always discounted in relation to those players who have a strong offensive upside. But give me a Pronger or Chara or Pietrangelo for 16 games if your goal is to win a Stanley Cup. Don't forget what Warenski and Jones did to the Leafs in the playoffs last year.

Offense will get you a first place regular season finish. Defense will help you win a Stanley Cup.

i don't regret it at all.....ottawa already has 2 PMDs who are better than Drysdale right now. Sens needed the "all around guy" like Sanderson. having a bunch of guys who can move the puck but suck at defending doesn't make this team better.....but a player like Sanderson does.

when both players have gone head to head, Sanderson was better......i'm stoked with the pick. i think Sanderson will easily be the better overall dman
- sensarmy_11

Im not convinced Brannstrom is better than Drysdale.

Im not convinced Brannstrom is better than Drysdale.
- forbetterorWORSE

right now he is.....easily.

MAYBE drysdale will be better, but brannstrom is absolutely better right now.

even if drysdale ends up being better, it won't be by much....my point was that they're the exact same type of player....an all offence guy who can get exposed in their own end. Ottawa can't have 3 of those guys in the top 4...........but we can certainly add sanderson to the top 4 with one of those 2 PMDs

[quote=sensarmy_11]right now he is.....easily.

MAYBE drysdale will be better, but brannstrom is absolutely better right now.

even if drysdale ends up being better, it won't be by much....my point was that they're the exact same type of player....an all offence guy who can get exposed in their own end. Ottawa can't have 3 of those guys in the top 4...........but we can certainly add sanderson to the top 4


I'm just saying if you offered me Drysdale for Brannstrom right now I'd do it, just for the right shot. I agree at this very moment though that Brannstrom is better. I wanted Sanderson over Drysdale, like you said hes exactly what we need. It also doesn't hurt his dad played, that has worked out for us so far!!!

[quote=sensarmy_11]right now he is.....easily.

MAYBE drysdale will be better, but brannstrom is absolutely better right now.

even if drysdale ends up being better, it won't be by much....my point was that they're the exact same type of player....an all offence guy who can get exposed in their own end. Ottawa can't have 3 of those guys in the top 4...........but we can certainly add sanderson to the top 4


I'm just saying if you offered me Drysdale for Brannstrom right now I'd do it, just for the right shot. I agree at this very moment though that Brannstrom is better. I wanted Sanderson over Drysdale, like you said hes exactly what we need. It also doesn't hurt his dad played, that has worked out for us so far!!!
- forbetterorWORSE

i would trade Branny for Drysdale too, based on him being younger and a right shot...............but i would also draft sanderson over drysdale again if given the chance.

no more shocking than yours...............if you want to jerk off to drysdale, go do it in your own blog with the other 3 fans of your poop team. sens fans are happy with sanderson, who will be the better player
- sensarmy_11

Like 07 bad ??? Asking for friend ... it’s ok to be jealous of Jamie ... the more you tell me how much greater Sanderson is the more I know we got the better player.

Like 07 bad ??? Asking for friend ... it’s ok to be jealous of Jamie ... the more you tell me how much greater Sanderson is the more I know we got the better player.
- dozerD10

you can keep telling yourself that. the fact that more scouts had sanderson ranked ahead of drysdale makes me feel quite comfortable in my assessment.

and the fact that you have to go back 14 years (to a time when you probably weren't even a ducks fan) to try and troll........that's just sad man. i mean, i get that half your current roster of old and useless players was playing back then, but it doesn't really help you today.

honest question though, how sad and meaningless is your life that you have to spend your days in a sens blog, pathetically attempting to troll?

if the refs called the "pick plays" on EVERY SINGLE draw in that series as the interference penalties they were.....that series goes 7 games. Maybe the Sens still lose but the fix was in from the league. California needed a win.

Watch some of the highlights. Especially the Anaheim offensive zone draws.

Like 07 bad ??? Asking for friend ... it’s ok to be jealous of Jamie ... the more you tell me how much greater Sanderson is the more I know we got the better player.
- dozerD10

You need to understand absolutely nobody in Ottawa cared about Sanderson vs Drysdale leading up to the draft. The discussion was only about why so many of us preferred that the #5 be used to take another top forward. You are trying to resurrect a story that never was and will never be. Even if Sanderson comes up short the bench jockeys will be pointing to the forward the Sens should have taken.

See if you can find something of substance that actually matters to Sens fans.

Reports on Sokolov are very positive. He is tied with Formenton at 4 goals for the team lead. Seen reports that he has been the B Sens best player most nights and is sure fire to get some starts with the big club.

Like 07 bad ??? Asking for friend ... it’s ok to be jealous of Jamie ... the more you tell me how much greater Sanderson is the more I know we got the better player.
- dozerD10

We need a Sanderson more than we need a Drysdale, simple as that. We have frigging Chabot man.... cmon!!!. Time to move on!!