Kevin Francis: Coaching mistakes/match ups continue to plague the Sens in 7-5 loss!

I thought it was a great game.

On the other hand, the broadcast product was atrocious. No crowd sound. Announcer totally unaware of what was happening. Sens pulled goalie and announcer did not discover it till camera focussed on empty net a half minute later.

Team is going to continue to have same struggles for most of the rest of the season. Our goal is to search for improvement over the balance of the season and hope on the future outcomes possible in adding one more elite talented player into the system.

Folks need to go careful on the idea of the Sens rushing into getting guys resigned or chasing UFAs in the off season. It is more financially complicated than it looks.

Sens have 6 players on the books for $37m for the next 3 years or more (Tkachuk, Chabot, Murray, Batherson, White and Zaitsev).

At the end of this season the Sens will likely want to resign Norris, Formenton, Brannstrom and Nick Paul (UFA). Next year it will be Stutzle, Pinto and JBD. Zub and Connor Brown are UFAs. And, the following season they will be looking at Thomson and Sanderson (assuming he signs a deal for this year once ND completes their season).

Although it might be tempting to think about current cap space the potential of Ottawa making a significant UFA signing or an RFA offer sheet is highly problematic.

Kids need to be allowed to grow and we need to work on our patience.

So, is Arizona coming to Quebec?

Sens have 6 players on the books for $37m for the next 3 years or more (Tkachuk, Chabot, Murray, Batherson, White and Zaitsev).
- spatso

The Murray, Zaitsev and White contracts are going to hurt but are survivable.

They can't afford to run around trying to sign up any more quick fixes. They will need the money to sign up the legitimate talent they have drafted and developed.

There should be a good center available to them in the next draft.

I for one am not experiencing escalating levels of frustration because I didn't have unrealistic expectations for the team this season. When both White and Pinto went down I figured that the hockey gods had decided that we needed a little more high end front end talent with both skill and speed and who am I to argue with the gods?

LT and Gus are looking good and with Sanderson, JBD and hopefully Kleven coming the team looks good on the back end.

Maybe they finally win the lottery but even if they don't there should be a great center available to them.

Things are just peachy, Kevin, thank you very much.

PS: I wish you'd quit encouraging Dorian to run around trying to sign up any more of his quick fixes. Long term contract for Kadri!!! Whose side are you on anyway?

Tarasenko is still available........

Two very different teams at the talent level. One team is loaded with talent and the other one is not. But when you get get passed the talent level both teams are very much alike. They're both badly coached. They have no structure or systems and because of that they both can't defend. And the clincher here is that both coaches have been extended for another 2 years. It's too bad because the Avs certainly have the talent to win it all but they'll disappoint again.

I can't for the life of me understand how Mete is in the NHL anymore.

And I have to mention something about our management. I usually don't rip into Dorion (because I know that Melnyk's cheapness really handcuffs him) but when it comes to our Dmen over the last couple years, I don't know what the hell the man is thinking.

We let Mike Reilly walk for 3M/yr. He was fitting in so well on this team, and he was the 2nd PP unit, puck mover, that this team so desperately needs right now.

So we trade him for a 3rd rounder at the deadline last year because we don't want to pay him 3m/yr.

Then we sign Del Zotto for 2m and Mete for 1.2M. We are spending 3.2M on two guys who would not be able to crack the lineup of any other NHL team.... while a capable 2nd PP unit puck mover that we HAD is playing elsewhere for less money than these two clowns.

And before anyone says "well they didn't want to commit to 3 years", a guy like Reilly, with one or two years left on his contract at 3m, is an easily tradeable player if we so choose when guys like Thomson or Sanderson are ready.

It would be one thing if Dorion let Reilly walk because he was super confident in Brannstrom or Thomson. But the only reason either of these guys ever got into the lineup was due to Covid and injuries. Dorion/DJ clearly didn't want these guys on the big team this year...

Was the plan really to ONLY have ONE capable puck moving Dman on this team?

I dont think any sane sens fan thought they deserved a better fate.

Im started to get annoyed with all the whining of calls or missed calls. Its becoming a epidemic on this team. Smith needs to halt that immediately.

Needs to halt the floaters at the blueline during defensive end play.

I do like gustavsson red pads.

I thought it was a great game.

On the other hand, the broadcast product was atrocious. No crowd sound. Announcer totally unaware of what was happening. Sens pulled goalie and announcer did not discover it till camera focussed on empty net a half minute later.

Team is going to continue to have same struggles for most of the rest of the season. Our goal is to search for improvement over the balance of the season and hope on the future outcomes possible in adding one more elite talented player into the system.

Folks need to go careful on the idea of the Sens rushing into getting guys resigned or chasing UFAs in the off season. It is more financially complicated than it looks.
- spatso

Soortsnet would never have a broadcast like this for the Habs or Leafs! There are holes all over the line up so they will have struggles for sure, that is a given. But the team needs to address RW and Center in the offseason. They cant waste next year with the young core if these top prospects arent insulated properly. Look at what LA and Anaheim have done this year.

I dont think any sane sens fan thought they deserved a better fate.

Im started to get annoyed with all the whining of calls or missed calls. Its becoming a epidemic on this team. Smith needs to halt that immediately.

Needs to halt the floaters at the blueline during defensive end play.

I do like gustavsson red pads.
- spazzbot

Listening to the postgame show last night, the media questions to the coach and players, now this is media on the road with the team, kept on and on about how the team deserved a better fate, it was sickening!

I dont think any sane sens fan thought they deserved a better fate.

Im started to get annoyed with all the whining of calls or missed calls. Its becoming a epidemic on this team. Smith needs to halt that immediately.

Needs to halt the floaters at the blueline during defensive end play.

I do like gustavsson red pads.
- spazzbot

I remember the days when Montreal had Robinson, Savard and Lapointe. Those were the days before those long stretch passes because the center ice line was as far as you could pass the puck out of your zone without being called off side.

Montreal's three forwards would skate in an oval between the two bluelines because they knew their defense were going to get the puck and move it into the center ice area where one of them would pick it up and the attack was on. The other team's D had to play back on their own blueline so Montreal's D only had to ever deal with three guys. It was poetry in motion but you had to have the D to do it. Ottawa's D need the forwards helping out. Maybe next year they'll be able to think more offensively but not just yet.

I can't for the life of me understand how Mete is in the NHL anymore.

And I have to mention something about our management. I usually don't rip into Dorion (because I know that Melnyk's cheapness really handcuffs him) but when it comes to our Dmen over the last couple years, I don't know what the hell the man is thinking.

We let Mike Reilly walk for 3M/yr. He was fitting in so well on this team, and he was the 2nd PP unit, puck mover, that this team so desperately needs right now.

So we trade him for a 3rd rounder at the deadline last year because we don't want to pay him 3m/yr.

Then we sign Del Zotto for 2m and Mete for 1.2M. We are spending 3.2M on two guys who would not be able to crack the lineup of any other NHL team.... while a capable 2nd PP unit puck mover that we HAD is playing elsewhere for less money than these two clowns.

And before anyone says "well they didn't want to commit to 3 years", a guy like Reilly, with one or two years left on his contract at 3m, is an easily tradeable player if we so choose when guys like Thomson or Sanderson are ready.

It would be one thing if Dorion let Reilly walk because he was super confident in Brannstrom or Thomson. But the only reason either of these guys ever got into the lineup was due to Covid and injuries. Dorion/DJ clearly didn't want these guys on the big team this year...

Was the plan really to ONLY have ONE capable puck moving Dman on this team?
- Charliebox

But didn't you hear, the rebuild is over lol! I had a blog a few weeks ago talking about the issues Dorion has caused over the last 2 years on the blueline. You left out DeMelo too don't forget, he signed for 4yrs/12M, 3MAAV and the Sens don't pay him! But you are beyond correct on Mete. The sad part is, Dorion qualified Mete after seeing him for 12 games while he had other defensemen that played a similar style, so he created a further logjam!

I remember the days when Montreal had Robinson, Savard and Lapointe. Those were the days before those long stretch passes because the center ice line was as far as you could pass the puck out of your zone without being called off side.

Montreal's three forwards would skate in an oval between the two bluelines because they knew their defense were going to get the puck and move it into the center ice area where one of them would pick it up and the attack was on. The other team's D had to play back on their own blueline so Montreal's D only had to ever deal with three guys. It was poetry in motion but you had to have the D to do it. Ottawa's D need the forwards helping out. Maybe next year they'll be able to think more offensively but not just yet.
- Whatisavailable

Listening to Jacques Martin on TSN1200 last week, he hammered home the point of the 1-2-2 and how it had to be played. Rigth now the Sens don't play in 5 man units, at all! Heck even Guy Boucher got the team to buy into his system for a year and look at the results, 1 goal from the Cup Final.

Tarasenko is still available........
- BlueTaco

Sure pick up half his contract for this year and next, plus throw in a draft pick to Ottawa for taking him off your hands and Ottawa send back......

At the end of this season the Sens will likely want to resign Norris, Formenton, Brannstrom and Nick Paul (UFA). Next year it will be Stutzle, Pinto and JBD. Zub and Connor Brown are UFAs. And, the following season they will be looking at Thomson and Sanderson (assuming he signs a deal for this year once ND completes their season).

Although it might be tempting to think about current cap space the potential of Ottawa making a significant UFA signing or an RFA offer sheet is highly problematic.

Kids need to be allowed to grow and we need to work on our patience.
- spatso

DJ clearly doesn't like Formenton, 4th least amount of TOI last night! But I agree with who they have to resign this year. The way the season is going the Sens will be saving huge dollars on Stutzles next deal due to his low numbers this year.

I for one am not experiencing escalating levels of frustration because I didn't have unrealistic expectations for the team this season. When both White and Pinto went down I figured that the hockey gods had decided that we needed a little more high end front end talent with both skill and speed and who am I to argue with the gods?

LT and Gus are looking good and with Sanderson, JBD and hopefully Kleven coming the team looks good on the back end.

Maybe they finally win the lottery but even if they don't there should be a great center available to them.

Things are just peachy, Kevin, thank you very much.

PS: I wish you'd quit encouraging Dorian to run around trying to sign up any more of his quick fixes. Long term contract for Kadri!!! Whose side are you on anyway?
- Whatisavailable

So whoever they draft this year will be 2-3 years away from having any impact at all unless they win the draft lottery and are able to draft Wright. Kleven aing playing this year or next year in the NHL. All this talk about players who arent ready doesn't help the guys who are ready to take the next step in the coming year. That is why this team needs to shore up RW and Center badly!

Two very different teams at the talent level. One team is loaded with talent and the other one is not. But when you get get passed the talent level both teams are very much alike. They're both badly coached. They have no structure or systems and because of that they both can't defend. And the clincher here is that both coaches have been extended for another 2 years. It's too bad because the Avs certainly have the talent to win it all but they'll disappoint again.
- granpa

I was surprised to see the Avs give him a 2 year extension. Avs disappoint every year. Kuemper isn't the answer either in goal!

Soortsnet would never have a broadcast like this for the Habs or Leafs! There are holes all over the line up so they will have struggles for sure, that is a given. But the team needs to address RW and Center in the offseason. They cant waste next year with the young core if these top prospects arent insulated properly. Look at what LA and Anaheim have done this year.
- Kevin Francis

Sorry, Kevin, but LA signed Danault for six years at 5.5 million a year. The high water mark in his career has been 13 goals. Thank God Dorian didn't do anything that stupid! Imagine six years of Danault as your number two C. Good luck with that.

Anaheim has got Silverberg at over five and Henrique at just under six. Good luck with that!

I think I like the odds a lot better here in Ottawa thank you very much. If a good deal for a C or RW comes along then sure but they won't be a number one C or RW and you should pay accordingly and trade accordingly.

DJ clearly doesn't like Formenton, 4th least amount of TOI last night! But I agree with who they have to resign this year. The way the season is going the Sens will be saving huge dollars on Stutzles next deal due to his low numbers this year.
- Kevin Francis

Smith is going to hurt players. I sure hope Stutzle doesn't end up in his doghouse.

But didn't you hear, the rebuild is over lol! I had a blog a few weeks ago talking about the issues Dorion has caused over the last 2 years on the blueline. You left out DeMelo too don't forget, he signed for 4yrs/12M, 3MAAV and the Sens don't pay him! But you are beyond correct on Mete. The sad part is, Dorion qualified Mete after seeing him for 12 games while he had other defensemen that played a similar style, so he created a further logjam!
- Kevin Francis

DeMelo, I can understand why they let him go. We were still a few years away at that point, and while they didn't say it, tanking was still the goal.

To me, the most glaring need this team has is a puck moving Dman. You can't really call DeMelo that. But Reilly was perfect for our transitioning team.

You can see it now. When the Sens are down by a goal with 4-5 mins left in a game, Chabot physically can't leave the ice. There is literally no one else who can pass or skate the puck from the back end. Thomson looks ok, but as I said, he was never part of the plan for this season.

And the thing is, a guy like Reilly is more valuable with years on his contract. So if we signed him and decided after this year that some of the young guys are ready, they could easily trade him, without retaining salary, and got back more than a 3rd.

Good comments all around. The Sens always look like they are playing one man down. Very rarely has this team had shifts that have overpowered other teams. It’s happened the odd time to give you a glimmer of hope, but not nearly consistent enough. The empty net goal last night was a prime example. Sens actually had a 6 on 5 but it looked like they were still shorthanded due to crap positioning and get scored on.

That’s a combination of two things, lack of skill and poor coaching. While you must empathize with DJ Smith a little with the lack of skill, there is little reason to get outshot 18-0 in one period of hockey and more or less look like a bad shinny team on the ice.

You didn’t have to look far than the game last night to see what good teams do to score goals. There is quality puck movement, skating as a unit, and players actively moving to create chances. That is how you generate quality chances. The Sens have been stationary and relying on puck luck for goals all year. To me, last night, the Sens didn’t deserve a better fate, but rather were lucky they were as close as they were to a much better team that had a pretty mediocre night for them.

Hopefully some of this was rust from a week off.

Kevin Francis: Coaching mistakes/match ups continue to plague the Sens in 7-5 loss!
- Kevin Francis

Ughh!!!!!
I hate this team I hate the coach I hate the GM and don’t even get me started on our need for right wingers and centres that will win us the cup this year!!!
Ughhhhh!!!!
Why won’t Dorian just trade Brannstrom Sanderson and Greig for a 2nd line right winger/centre ughhhhhh!!!


My god. How does one go about drawing up this negative of a view for a team they allegedly like.