Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Murray Injured, Power Play Silent

Thumbs down - The Sens pick is likely 5th, 6th or 7th overall.

After 2 seasons affected by COIVD (and no playoffs since 2017!), this GM and ownership group owes it to fans to do something big in the upcoming season. I hate to say this but the Sens have had no top 2 pick in the last 20 years; and other than Karlsson, Zibanejad, and Chabot - thus lack the ability to draft and keep* ALLSTAR talent. I'm not talking about the Spezzas and Duchenes....... and on the other end it doesn't have to be Crosby, OV, or McDavid......... but a guy like Doughty, Mackinnon, Toews, P.Kane, Draisaitl, Barkov - these are the players that compete and win championships. I get that you can't full out tank but hopefully they do something if they get out of the top 5 because this team won't get a chance to lift a trophy without getting those type of players. Otherwise it becomes extremely difficult

^
Stuetzle is an allstar talent. Whether he becomes an allstar that is something different.
Two all stars is enough (with Chabot) if the complementary roster is good enough.

We have the talent, now it's about solid roster management.

First, Stutzle clearly has the potential to be an elite player.

Chabot playing on a contending team would be a leading Norris candidate.

I would argue that among the young players Brady Tkachuk is be the best power forward in the NHL. (Ovi remains my top choice of power forward).

Sanderson has huge potential to be a top pair Dman with Chabot.

Really feeling positive about Batherson, Formenton, Norris, Brannstrom and JBD. Pinto looks like a serious player. And, there is more talent still to come.

I think this team pushes for a playoff spot next year, especially if they give us one more year of a Canadian Division. I would rather they continue to build on their compete foundation over the rest of the year. I think tanking is no longer a priority,

I think Ottawa and LA are going to be 2 powerhouse teams soon enough. There’s so much talent on this team. Obviously another high draft pick is coming this next year as well. Hopefully Ottawa has some luck retaining talent unlike the Winnipeg’s and Edmonton’s that so many players don’t want to play with.

I haven't been a fan of Brown over JBD, or the Idea he's needed to protect younger players, but not sure I agree in this specific instance of Brannstrom.

From what i saw it was two lightweights getting into a fight. Don't see any way Brown was stepping in there / needed to defend Brannstrom.

The Sens have a long way to go before they compete again for the hardware, The season highlight for Ottawa this season was going 7 and 7 In the second quarter of this season after starting 2 and 12, I think the Sens future Is bright especially If they can get solid ownership In the near future but to sit here today and talk about the power play Is Irrelevant and a waste of time.

I think Ottawa and LA are going to be 2 powerhouse teams soon enough. There’s so much talent on this team. Obviously another high draft pick is coming this next year as well. Hopefully Ottawa has some luck retaining talent unlike the Winnipeg’s and Edmonton’s that so many players don’t want to play with.
- 10inchTerror

Lol, yeah because OTT always retains their talent

Thumbs down - The Sens pick is likely 5th, 6th or 7th overall.

After 2 seasons affected by COIVD (and no playoffs since 2017!), this GM and ownership group owes it to fans to do something big in the upcoming season. I hate to say this but the Sens have had no top 2 pick in the last 20 years; and other than Karlsson, Zibanejad, and Chabot - thus lack the ability to draft and keep* ALLSTAR talent. I'm not talking about the Spezzas and Duchenes....... and on the other end it doesn't have to be Crosby, OV, or McDavid......... but a guy like Doughty, Mackinnon, Toews, P.Kane, Draisaitl, Barkov - these are the players that compete and win championships. I get that you can't full out tank but hopefully they do something if they get out of the top 5 because this team won't get a chance to lift a trophy without getting those type of players. Otherwise it becomes extremely difficult
- AlfieisKing

What the Sens need is to bring in a guy that can win Faceoffs someone like Bergeron or O’Rielly 😉

Thumbs down - The Sens pick is likely 5th, 6th or 7th overall.

After 2 seasons affected by COIVD (and no playoffs since 2017!), this GM and ownership group owes it to fans to do something big in the upcoming season. I hate to say this but the Sens have had no top 2 pick in the last 20 years; and other than Karlsson, Zibanejad, and Chabot - thus lack the ability to draft and keep* ALLSTAR talent. I'm not talking about the Spezzas and Duchenes....... and on the other end it doesn't have to be Crosby, OV, or McDavid......... but a guy like Doughty, Mackinnon, Toews, P.Kane, Draisaitl, Barkov - these are the players that compete and win championships. I get that you can't full out tank but hopefully they do something if they get out of the top 5 because this team won't get a chance to lift a trophy without getting those type of players. Otherwise it becomes extremely difficult
- AlfieisKing

This is all very antiquated, and over-generalized. The Senators have had 3 picks in the top-5 over the past 3 years, which is higher than they'd drafted since 2001 - and have high-quality assets to show for it. Even if the Senators had picked #1 in 2018 and #1/2 in 2020, the team would likely have Dahlin vs. Sanderson, Lafreniere vs. Tkachuk, and Byfield vs. Stutzle. Even if you prefer all 3 of the other players, that marginal difference is just not that significant, and really isn't what defines a championship team. You not only need good high-end talent, but also quality depth at all positions, a well-managed salary cap, limited injuries, and typically a run of good luck - like we saw in 2006/07 and 2015/16. Look how long it took the Capitals and Lightning to get there... or how many times the Bruins have just missed. Now consider the number of top-2 draft picks who have never even come that close.

Plus, this year has quite possibly the least consensus in terms of #1/2 prospect rankings in recent memory. Who exactly do you think is such a slam-dunk top-2 player in the coming draft, that would so assuredly put them over the top? Beniers projects most likely as a #2C, Power, Edvinsson, and Hughes play the same LHD position as Chabot/Sanderson (with little suggestion that any of them are better), which basically leaves Guenther and Clarke (the latter of which many predict will be available at #5 regardless). Now I'd agree that Guenther would be a nice fit, but it's typically very difficult to trade up within the top-5 of the draft. You'll recall people talking about trading #3 and #5 to get Lafreniere... anyone want to make that offer to the Rangers now?

At the end of the day, the TRUE Sens fans here want this team to succeed - and I would guess share the same ultimate goal that I have: To see this team win at least 1 stanley cup

I'm happy with the comments above because it's a POV that at times I even feel like agreeing with but at the same time I'm going to write out exactly why I think we are calling A- / A level players >>> A+ Players.

That distinction is so vital if we TRULY want to see this team get over the hump and not just make it to the finals and lose (San Jose, Nashville, Old Sens teams from the 2000s)

I like Dorian going to get a guy like Matt Duchene but it was probably a year later and the wrong center (Ryan O'Rielly from Buffalo, who was traded a bit later would've been the better choice). I know he's not a top pick but again, I'm not saying a team can't win a cup without at least a top 2 All star pick - but they are FEW. You can do everything else right and still not win a cup is what my main point is here

At the end of the day, the TRUE Sens fans here want this team to succeed - and I would guess share the same ultimate goal that I have: To see this team win at least 1 stanley cup
- AlfieisKing

Right, so why fixate on so bizarre a minor thing as whether they're drafting at #5 or #2 in a relatively weak draft year? If you're serious about winning a Stanley Cup, you should know how insignificant that is. Case in point, the 2000's Senators had Spezza, Heatley, Phillips, and Redden... all of whom were #1/2 picks, and it didn't matter a damn. Part of that is because Hossa, Chara, and Alfredsson were all actually far better hockey players, despite the fact that only 1 was even a 1st round pick... but it more had to do with bad luck in 2003/2006 when they had a better team vs. in 2007 when they actually made it to the Finals. That, and the God-awful masterclass in asset mis-management that was the decision to pick Heatley/Redden over Hossa/Chara.

Plus, you never answered my question about who you think is so great in the coming draft class to make this much fuss about. If you can't even name the player you're envisioning fulfilling this role on the team, then it's even more generalized an argument than I've criticized you for so far.

In other news, a prospect who's maybe not getting the attention he deserves right now is Ridly Greig. Beyond getting a brief look in the AHL earlier this year, he now has 30pts in 20GP (10G-20A) in Brandon playing as their #1C, and is among the WHL league leaders in multiple categories...
https://www.eliteprospect...player/413174/ridly-greig

- 6th in WHL for Points
- 4th in WHL for Shots
- 7th in WHL for Plus/Minus (+18)
- 1st in WHL for SHG (4)
- 3rd in WHL for PIM (39)

Given his NHL-family pedigree and reputation for high-energy abrasive play, he's starting to look like a player with more and more potential upside. He's already exceeding what Logan Brown did in his D+1 season in terms of scoring, and it will be very interesting to see if he gets some WJC exposure next winter.

What the Sens need is to bring in a guy that can win Faceoffs someone like Bergeron or O’Rielly 😉
- sens4life1971

Norris is at 54% on face offs in his rookie year.
Pinto was doing around 67% in college. Pinto is also over 50% in the NHL. With his speed and defensive game there is a real possibility that Pinto becomes a Ryan O’Reilly type player. Pinto has also significantly improved his skating since being drafted.

To LAK: Logan Brown

To OTT: Lias Anderson

Deal or no deal?

Norris is at 54% on face offs in his rookie year.
Pinto was doing around 67% in college. Pinto is also over 50% in the NHL. With his speed and defensive game there is a real possibility that Pinto becomes a Ryan O’Reilly type player. Pinto has also significantly improved his skating since being drafted.
- SensFan25

Not that I disagree about Pinto's potential, but in terms of FO performance Norris is under 53%, and Pinto is now at just over 41%. The latter is part of a larger concern that I have about him being thrown into a defensive role in the NHL too soon. It's impressive he can do it (at least on some nights... he was mangled with a 4-13 FO run against the Canucks a couple games back), but is that really a good idea? Pinto led his USA WJC team in goals and was 2nd in points behind Zegras, and was a Hobey Baker finalist just behind Caufield. Meanwhile, Smith is playing him like Paquette v2.0, which may severely impede his offensive development. Belleville has been a $hitshow in terms of C this year, and Pinto could be pushing for top-6 minutes, and playing with skilled linemates like Abramov, Sokolov, or Crookshank. And if you really expect Pinto to become anything like a Bergeron/O'Reilly type player, he needs broader development than what 9min/GP on the 4th line of a bad NHL team is likely going to provide.

Not that I disagree about Pinto's potential, but in terms of FO performance Norris is under 53%, and Pinto is now at just over 41%. The latter is part of a larger concern that I have about him being thrown into a defensive role in the NHL too soon. It's impressive he can do it (at least on some nights... he was mangled with a 4-13 FO run against the Canucks a couple games back), but is that really a good idea? Pinto led his USA WJC team in goals and was 2nd in points behind Zegras, and was a Hobey Baker finalist just behind Caufield. Meanwhile, Smith is playing him like Paquette v2.0, which may severely impede his offensive development. Belleville has been a $hitshow in terms of C this year, and Pinto could be pushing for top-6 minutes, and playing with skilled linemates like Abramov, Sokolov, or Crookshank. And if you really expect Pinto to become anything like a Bergeron/O'Reilly type player, he needs broader development than what 9min/GP on the 4th line of a bad NHL team is likely going to provide.
- khawk

I believe the AHL is planning some form of post season play and multiple players from the Sens roster should be available for some late season play.

Canucks first goal is why Brannstrom has had issues making the lineup. That giveaway was brutal. He desperately needs to get stronger, he is too weak. I did like the fire in him, but he is not the player you want sitting for 5 minutes.

I believe the AHL is planning some form of post season play and multiple players from the Sens roster should be available for some late season play.
- spatso

They might want to consider accelerating that redeployment, given that they're currently in last place in their division. They've also lost 3 in a row, and all of their remaining games are against the best 3 teams in their division.

To LAK: Logan Brown

To OTT: Lias Anderson

Deal or no deal?
- AlfieisKing

i'd rather keep Brown. he has as many pts in 29 games as anderson does in 80. LB has also been better during his AHL career.

I agree with this post. The Sens scouts were ecstatic that Ridly Greig was still on the board when they drafted him in the first round. He will be an important piece in the rebuild.

Good game.

Brannstrom was really effective.

Colin White played a strong game as well.

Chabot is an artist.

Good game.

Brannstrom was really effective.

Colin White played a strong game as well.

Chabot is an artist.
- spatso

Chabot was really flying out there. It would have been nice for that goal to have counted.

To LAK: Logan Brown

To OTT: Lias Anderson

Deal or no deal?
- AlfieisKing

No deal. Andersson is a bust, Brown still has a potential career ahead of him, especially if he gets fully healthy. He's (Brown) also a year younger I believe.