Kevin Francis: Sens officially last place in the NHL/First game in 9 days...finally!!!

Winnipeg is stacked up the middle with no cap space and Andrew Copp would make a good middle six center so if I had to pick one of those that's who I would go for if the price was reasonable.

I would be surprised if Winnipeg doesn't move him at the deadline when their return would be greatest so I don't think he'll be around next summer and I wouldn't overpay for him now.

Just a side note I have noticed that other than Shane Wright always at number one everyone else is all over the place. If there is a full season of play coming up the scouts should have a better idea of rankings and it looks like there will be a few centers and RWs in the top ten.

Bout time that top line got put together.

Because....you waste Stutzle putting him with checkers. And gee that second line has played well together before. What a goofy coach. Oh no...one solid line and a good checking line? How have the Bruins and Islanders managed any success with this model ? (eye roll).

Good articles Kevin.
I guess none of us really had much to do while they were on a break. But still, nice work keeping the content coming.

I didn't expect us to be last place at this point in the season but here we are.

If we are going to miss the playoffs then I hope we get as good a draft pick as possible but I hope the games are actually good. I want the young players to show up and develop. Use this year as an opportunity to realize that they need to work on their craft every damn day.

I guess.
My biggest gripe is management saying, and coaches coaching -- something we aren't.

There's two ways PD and DJ and even PM could have seen this going from the get go.

1) we brought in some vets, the young stars could develop quicker, the team will carry on with the garbage time good feels from the end of last season. The rebuild really IS over, we push for a play off spot maybe bring some prospects up.

2)….(unless they're completely naïve) not even 5 games in. This isn't happening. The vets have lost a step (except Ennis who can't do it all alone) we are painfully weak at Center and Defense---we should probably start losing on purpose but still push the narrative that we're trying to get bums in seats and keep morale up..oh crap...covid...ya we should definitely tank for a good draft pick.

And that's it. This is simple common sense analytics.

Kevin Francis: Sens officially last place in the NHL/First game in 9 days...finally!!!
- Kevin Francis

Nothing better than a Kevin Francis “The Sky Is Falling” write up to start your Monday (and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).


God this team is trash!!! I hate the coach and GM!!!!
Here’s my list of players who will help immediately win us every remaining regular season game and a Stanley cup this year!!!
*posts fringe second line/third line players stats*



My god

While Stu was a great draft choice in 2020, this rebuild hasn’t really had a player who was a consensus building block player. If the struggles continue nabbing Shane Wright would be exciting. While it would be frustrating to still be 2-3 years away from being competitive, a centre prospect like Wright could be just what the doctor ordered.

The choices of centres around the league potentially available to bring in is honestly underwhelming and require you to already have some solidified centres. This team has one in Norris and he can’t even win faceoffs. For different reasons, Tierny, White, Pinto, etc are levels below of what you’d want in centers on a contending team.

Sens missed out on the likes of Dubois and Eichel, so unless they can trade for a centre in his prime for a reasonable price. Tanking, yet again, is looking like the best course of action. In the meantime, Dorion can still try to compile low risk trades to address the depth on the Sens at nearly every position expect left wing.

Nevertheless, will be exciting to see some Sens hockey again. Who knows, maybe the forced break will reinvigorate this team.

we are all screaming for a bonifide C. Why in this world P.D & Mann did not select C. Seelinger during the 2021 draft?....He's ligths out and already play so well as a top C with Columbus....but instead they have picked a gritty sand paper 3rd/4th liner , with very limited pure talent in the name of BOUCHER!....What a joke!!!!

We are last place with 4 games in hand... not the end of the world.

Lots of unexpected things plus Dorion just not finding the right Centre and Defense options on the market have made this a tank for Wright season.

What we are cheering for this season is for Stutzle to find himself and fine the scoresheet like he was projected to and for Batherson to maintain consistency with how awesome he has been for his contract value. For this precise moment in time his contract is one of the best in the league unless he drops off.

Gustavsson is epic still and will continue to be.

Defense will skyrocket to competitiveness with each step forward Thompson, JBD and Sanderson take.

You can really only add top of the league Centre's through the draft unless you have someone ELITE on your team in another position you can afford to lose. You get lucky and add Wright to this group you have at some point Wright, Norris and Pinto as your 1,2,3 and then can trade Colin White for whatever he would be worth anymore and save on that awful contract.

This team will be fantastic for years to come with another lottery pick.

we are all screaming for a bonifide C. Why in this world P.D & Mann did not select C. Seelinger during the 2021 draft?....He's ligths out and already play so well as a top C with Columbus....but instead they have picked a gritty sand paper 3rd/4th liner , with very limited pure talent in the name of BOUCHER!....What a joke!!!!

- SensGatineau

Careful, there are some major-league snowflakes around here, who really can't handle seeing this kind of negativity written about the 2021 draft. In more positive draft news, the Senators have a couple of interesting lesser-discussed prospects in Sweden, who appear to be taking some major steps forward with Timra (SEL)...

C Viktor Lodin - 4th Round Pick, 2019
https://www.eliteprospect...layer/287856/viktor-lodin
- was somewhat written off after being arrested on drug-related-charges in 2020, but has apparently come back on a mission
- last year in the Allsvenskan he had 40pts/47GP, and this year has 11pts/14GP in the SEL to go along with 27PIM; plus he's a natural C
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8DsmJksjoc (20/21 highlights)

W/C Oliver Johansson, 3rd Round Pick, 2021
https://www.eliteprospect...r/448922/oliver-johansson
- the first high-skill player taken in the 2021 draft has had by far the most impressive start to the year, with 14pts/14GP as a Jr, plus a 7GP SEL call-up
- not impossible that he could be in the WJC conversation for Sweden, and would still be eligible for the 2023 tournament

Hard to say if either player would be able to translate effectively to the NHL, but there could be some half-decent supporting talent there, much like guys like Crookshank, Daoust, etc.

Look at top 15 players in the league in points right now:

01. Draisaitl - 3rd overall
02. McDavid - 1st overall
03. Ovechkin - 1st overall
04. Connor - 17th overall
05. Terry - 148th overall
06. Kuznetsov - 26th overall
07. Gaudreau - 104th overall
08. Marchand - 71st overall
09. Lindholm - 5th overall
10. Kadri - 7th overall
11. Svechnikov - 2nd overall
12. Stamkos - 1st overall
13. Duchene - 3rd overall
14. Nugent Hopkins - 1st overall
15. Getzlaf - 19th overall

medium:5th-7th pick. The Sens have only 3 players in the entire organization as top 7 picks: Tkachuk, Stutzle, Sanderson. Only the first two have a chance at being in the top 20 in scoring. The other two in the organization I can see being there are Batherson and Norris. The best possible models for cup winners are the Blues and Bruins. I think the Sens should get another top 5 pick this season, while developing Stutzle, Norris, Batherson, Pinto, Bernard Docker, Thomson, Formenton, and the others

Winnipeg is stacked up the middle with no cap space and Andrew Copp would make a good middle six center so if I had to pick one of those that's who I would go for if the price was reasonable.

I would be surprised if Winnipeg doesn't move him at the deadline when their return would be greatest so I don't think he'll be around next summer and I wouldn't overpay for him now.

Just a side note I have noticed that other than Shane Wright always at number one everyone else is all over the place. If there is a full season of play coming up the scouts should have a better idea of rankings and it looks like there will be a few centers and RWs in the top ten.
- Whatisavailable

I like Copp too, young, strong 200 foot game and would add a lot to the Sens down the middle! He would be ideal. If the Jets are going for it, I don't think they trade him and would rather a long post season run. I could be wrong too.

On Wright and the other top 10 players, yes thank goodness scouts will see everyone unlike last year. Then we don't have another Tyler Boucher pick on our hands.

Bout time that top line got put together.

Because....you waste Stutzle putting him with checkers. And gee that second line has played well together before. What a goofy coach. Oh no...one solid line and a good checking line? How have the Bruins and Islanders managed any success with this model ? (eye roll).

Good articles Kevin.
I guess none of us really had much to do while they were on a break. But still, nice work keeping the content coming.
- Octavarium

This Sens team isn't like the Bruins or Isles in any way, sorry. Sens have no depth or strength down the middle and that is how both of those teams have had postseason success. Sens are far from that down the middle. Again, I would love a 10 game sample size of Stutzle playing Center!

Thanks for the kind words though my friend. I'm trying to post stuff to keep the discussion going and I know we all wont agree on anything, so good hockey discussion is nice to have! Thanks for always stopping in to chime on the topics.

I didn't expect us to be last place at this point in the season but here we are.

If we are going to miss the playoffs then I hope we get as good a draft pick as possible but I hope the games are actually good. I want the young players to show up and develop. Use this year as an opportunity to realize that they need to work on their craft every damn day.
- riceroni

Exactly, no expectations so the coaching staff should play some of the young prospects. They will be better prepared for next year when this team hopes to take a big step forward!

I guess.
My biggest gripe is management saying, and coaches coaching -- something we aren't.

There's two ways PD and DJ and even PM could have seen this going from the get go.

1) we brought in some vets, the young stars could develop quicker, the team will carry on with the garbage time good feels from the end of last season. The rebuild really IS over, we push for a play off spot maybe bring some prospects up.

2)….(unless they're completely naïve) not even 5 games in. This isn't happening. The vets have lost a step (except Ennis who can't do it all alone) we are painfully weak at Center and Defense---we should probably start losing on purpose but still push the narrative that we're trying to get bums in seats and keep morale up..oh crap...covid...ya we should definitely tank for a good draft pick.

And that's it. This is simple common sense analytics.
- Octavarium

My biggest issue is that Pierre Dorion seems reluctant to trade a 2nd round pick now to upgrade the roster when he did so last year with Stepan but it was the biggest whiff and miss!!! 10 picks in the 2022 draft.....use one or two of them, you can only have so many prospects all developing at the same time.

Nothing better than a Kevin Francis “The Sky Is Falling” write up to start your Monday (and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).


God this team is trash!!! I hate the coach and GM!!!!
Here’s my list of players who will help immediately win us every remaining regular season game and a Stanley cup this year!!!
*posts fringe second line/third line players stats*



My god
- Unholy_Forward

Thanks for stopping by daily to read, much appreciated! Sorry, I don't waive my Sens poms poms or wear my Sens PJ's when I write an opinion. I know many fans in this city don't like hearing anything bad said about the team, but I will never be subjective like much of the media in this town.

So Holden is out due to conditioning, MDZ is in! Man, I cringe thinking about watching tonight's game. I really hope Ottawa survives the first 10 minutes then I hope they don't have a typical 2nd-period crapper.

Unholy, what don’t you get? Kevin is right, the Sens are in last place which is a shock to all fans. Something has gone drastically wrong after the strong finish to last season. He is correct in making suggestions and pointing the finger at Smith and Dorion. Both have seemed incapable of putting our most talented young players on the ice for slow veterans who can play Smith’s style of play.

I want to take this a step further, the invisible man, Pierre McGuire needs to take some responsibility here. I was hoping he would have some influence in helping Dorion and Smith make some better decisions. From the outside it appears the other two were not happy with McGuires signing and have no interest in his input. This may prove to be a bad move on their part!

Unholy, what don’t you get? Kevin is right, the Sens are in last place which is a shock to all fans. Something has gone drastically wrong after the strong finish to last season. He is correct in making suggestions and pointing the finger at Smith and Dorion. Both have seemed incapable of putting our most talented young players on the ice for slow veterans who can play Smith’s style of play.

I want to take this a step further, the invisible man, Pierre McGuire needs to take some responsibility here. I was hoping he would have some influence in helping Dorion and Smith make some better decisions. From the outside it appears the other two were not happy with McGuires signing and have no interest in his input. This may prove to be a bad move on their part!
- Barrykerr1

Thanks for the kind words and like I said, I don't expect us all to agree all the time, that is what sports is all about.
Great point though on McGuire. PD in particular was completely kept ouf of the loop on his PM's hiring. PD knows the cameras are on him during games so he portrays a great working friendship with PM. Lets not forget, it was McGuire who pushed both sides to meet in person down in Belleville to sign Brady! It wasn't PD!!!!
This road will be telling in how DJ manages the blueline. Lets see if he has learned from his mistakes as he has told all of us!
I do think the North Division and the way the season ended was fools gold. Even PM said this on the radio numerous times before Eugene hired him.

we are all screaming for a bonifide C. Why in this world P.D & Mann did not select C. Seelinger during the 2021 draft?....He's ligths out and already play so well as a top C with Columbus....but instead they have picked a gritty sand paper 3rd/4th liner , with very limited pure talent in the name of BOUCHER!....What a joke!!!!


- SensGatineau

Many fans would agree with you on this take. It's like Dorion is drafting a team to play like Brady and to play DJ's style. Who says DJ will be here when these players he's drafting finally are ready to play in the NHL?? For a guy who prides himself on amateur scouting, PD missed the boat badly!

Careful, there are some major-league snowflakes around here, who really can't handle seeing this kind of negativity written about the 2021 draft. In more positive draft news, the Senators have a couple of interesting lesser-discussed prospects in Sweden, who appear to be taking some major steps forward with Timra (SEL)...

C Viktor Lodin - 4th Round Pick, 2019
https://www.eliteprospect...layer/287856/viktor-lodin
- was somewhat written off after being arrested on drug-related-charges in 2020, but has apparently come back on a mission
- last year in the Allsvenskan he had 40pts/47GP, and this year has 11pts/14GP in the SEL to go along with 27PIM; plus he's a natural C
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8DsmJksjoc (20/21 highlights)

W/C Oliver Johansson, 3rd Round Pick, 2021
https://www.eliteprospect...r/448922/oliver-johansson
- the first high-skill player taken in the 2021 draft has had by far the most impressive start to the year, with 14pts/14GP as a Jr, plus a 7GP SEL call-up
- not impossible that he could be in the WJC conversation for Sweden, and would still be eligible for the 2023 tournament

Hard to say if either player would be able to translate effectively to the NHL, but there could be some half-decent supporting talent there, much like guys like Crookshank, Daoust, etc.
- khawk

Your positivity here seems a little forced.

My biggest issue is that Pierre Dorion seems reluctant to trade a 2nd round pick now to upgrade the roster when he did so last year with Stepan but it was the biggest whiff and miss!!! 10 picks in the 2022 draft.....use one or two of them, you can only have so many prospects all developing at the same time.
- Kevin Francis

Considering the frequency that Dorion whiffs on trades and free agent signings, not trading is not a terrible course of action.

What is Norris doing on that play????? OMG! 1-0 less than a minute in.....this could be a long night!

Sportsnet gives Sens fans this guy for play by play tonight??? Yikes!

Considering the frequency that Dorion whiffs on trades and free agent signings, not trading is not a terrible course of action.
- SensFan25

Fair enough! But if you can make a solid upgrade at the forward position, its ok to trade a pick, as they have so much youth.