Kevin Francis: Sens Gameday/Vegas players to target?!

Both the Leafs and Oilers should swap goalies with the Sens. Take Forsberg and a depth player for MK/Mrazek and 2nd. Both moves save the Leafs and Oilers 3 to 4 million in cap space, get them a goalie similar in numbers to back up, and would allow them to do further deals (better D in Leafs case, goalie and D in Oilers case)

Both the Leafs and Oilers should swap goalies with the Sens. Take Forsberg and a depth player for MK/Mrazek and 2nd. Both moves save the Leafs and Oilers 3 to 4 million in cap space, get them a goalie similar in numbers to back up, and would allow them to do further deals (better D in Leafs case, goalie and D in Oilers case)
- GrimmdaGoalie

Great idea, smart move....these GM's need to read what some fans post, not all the time, sometimes....as some of the stuff fans come up with makes a lot of sense!

If I'm not mistaken Kevin I'm pretty sure MM was an RFA when we traded for him. I don't think he had a year left on his previous deal.

With regards to Vegas, I'm not so sure I want any trades to happen, and given the uncertainty re: finances I doubt the club will take on salary, even for good futures. If we got a Reilly Smith and McNabb combo, sweetened with some Vegas B prospect or higher pick for Josh Brown and a 7th, sure I am interested. IE if the deal is a total screw turner on Vegas, fine. Otherwise there is no sense in picking up assets that might help us win and get a crappier draft pick at this junction.

If I'm not mistaken Kevin I'm pretty sure MM was an RFA when we traded for him. I don't think he had a year left on his previous deal.

With regards to Vegas, I'm not so sure I want any trades to happen, and given the uncertainty re: finances I doubt the club will take on salary, even for good futures. If we got a Reilly Smith and McNabb combo, sweetened with some Vegas B prospect or higher pick for Josh Brown and a 7th, sure I am interested. IE if the deal is a total screw turner on Vegas, fine. Otherwise there is no sense in picking up assets that might help us win and get a crappier draft pick at this junction.
- Bartacus

He was that's why I said it was like he was a UFA, because he had to qualify him first, before giving him the extension. I had mentioned in the blog he gave him the contract before he become a UFA. I think Vegas is going to have sweeten things to shed salary, Ottawa is one of those teams that has cap space, so I thought I would bring it up, considering a guy like McNabb or Smith would be great gets as they say.

Both the Leafs and Oilers should swap goalies with the Sens. Take Forsberg and a depth player for MK/Mrazek and 2nd. Both moves save the Leafs and Oilers 3 to 4 million in cap space, get them a goalie similar in numbers to back up, and would allow them to do further deals (better D in Leafs case, goalie and D in Oilers case)
- GrimmdaGoalie

I'd trade Forsberg for Koskinen plus futures (a 2023 second works) - gives the Oil cap space, and MK is a UFA and can walk later this year. But no way this group takes Mrazek's term at his AAV though, especially the way he's been playing. We already have Murray as an albatross back there.

Is there actually a game tonight? Could the legends be true?

I'd trade Forsberg for Koskinen plus futures (a 2023 second works) - gives the Oil cap space, and MK is a UFA and can walk later this year. But no way this group takes Mrazek's term at his AAV though, especially the way he's been playing. We already have Murray as an albatross back there.
- Bartacus

Fair enough, but this is Dorion we're talking about! Anything can happen with this guy.

Is there actually a game tonight? Could the legends be true?
- david22

Oh there better be a game tonight! But can you imagine if it got postponed last minute? Brady, Zub, Brannstrom are the only Sens players left that have yet to be covid positive.

Seems a bit harsh to suggest that Connor Brown has been a disappointment. He's still the best two-way forward on the team, has a consistently high-level of work ethic, and is actually on the best point-scoring pace of his career. It's just the goal scoring that's dropped back to a ~15G level, which is considerably more in line with his career numbers vs. the anomaly of his 30G pace from last year. Quite frankly, anyone who thought that would be his "new normal" was deluding themselves.

I think we need to understand that as a rebuilding team, you sign UFAs with a different objective. Many factors come into play. You're not likely to find a super star for cheap that falls in the age category that coincides with your window of opportunity. First off, it is always a tough sale to get a UFA to sign in a small Canadian market, not to mention a rebuilding team that is likely to lose a fair share of its games for the foreseeable future. Your core will be young and so you need veterans to shield them to an extent. These veterans aren't in their prime, otherwise they'd be on a contender. You usually have to overpay them to accept going to a small Canadian market. So your options are very limited. You take a gamble but realize that your failure rate will be higher than if you were running a rich contending team who tends to not have as many holes to fill. I think Dorion is doing a decent job considering the constraints he has to work with. The Murray acquisition is definitely not his finest moment while signing Zub was easily his best.

Great idea, smart move....these GM's need to read what some fans post, not all the time, sometimes....as some of the stuff fans come up with makes a lot of sense!
- Kevin Francis

I didn't realize you were such a big Leafs fan.

You guys need to stay away from the booze if you're going to come on here with these brilliant trade proposals. The really scary part is that Dorion doesn't need any booze to get him thinking these are great ideas for Ottawa.

The one that gets me is his very first trade 🤦‍♂️
I want Zibby back 🥺

Just so long as PD remembers that taking on some other teams bad contract or contract dump costs. 1st for a 5 + million dollar contract (see Marleau, Canes) and 2nds for 3 + million contract or any contract with term (see Coyotes).

I think we need to understand that as a rebuilding team, you sign UFAs with a different objective. Many factors come into play. You're not likely to find a super star for cheap that falls in the age category that coincides with your window of opportunity. First off, it is always a tough sale to get a UFA to sign in a small Canadian market, not to mention a rebuilding team that is likely to lose a fair share of its games for the foreseeable future. Your core will be young and so you need veterans to shield them to an extent. These veterans aren't in their prime, otherwise they'd be on a contender. You usually have to overpay them to accept going to a small Canadian market. So your options are very limited. You take a gamble but realize that your failure rate will be higher than if you were running a rich contending team who tends to not have as many holes to fill. I think Dorion is doing a decent job considering the constraints he has to work with. The Murray acquisition is definitely not his finest moment while signing Zub was easily his best.
- Lukus

I don't mind the Murray signing for what it represented at the time...the Sens trying to address a need and spending money. It made some sense. What didn't make sense was the lack of a show me contract first. And the entire AAV made no sense since you could have had Markstrom for the same amount and you didn't need 4 yrs if you had any sort of belief in Gus or Daccord at the time as the future in goal.

What would a trade with the flyers look like for Brannstrum?

Seems a bit harsh to suggest that Connor Brown has been a disappointment. He's still the best two-way forward on the team, has a consistently high-level of work ethic, and is actually on the best point-scoring pace of his career. It's just the goal scoring that's dropped back to a ~15G level, which is considerably more in line with his career numbers vs. the anomaly of his 30G pace from last year. Quite frankly, anyone who thought that would be his "new normal" was deluding themselves.
- khawk

He has some good years in Toronto and quite honestly, his production has dropped this year....not trying to be harsh, but he truly has fallen off this year. He still have over 50 games to get it back on track so lets hope he does!

What would a trade with the flyers look like for Brannstrum?
- hello it's me 2050

Very interesting question! Dorion doesn't want draft picks for this draft and he's go on record as saying he wont trade players who are UFAs end of the year for draft picks. To acquire Brannstrom, it would take either a player with little term but that could help this team short term or a prospect. Anyone else have an idea on what he would fetch?

The one that gets me is his very first trade 🤦‍♂️
I want Zibby back 🥺
- sens4life1971

Dorion drafted him but the two didn't get along at all. It was inevitable, sadly.....but Zibby wasn't doing any in the work in the summer so PD thought cut his losses now as he was up for a new deal the following year. Had Zibby been working out like he is now in the off-season, I have no doubt Mika would still be here.

Just so long as PD remembers that taking on some other teams bad contract or contract dump costs. 1st for a 5 + million dollar contract (see Marleau, Canes) and 2nds for 3 + million contract or any contract with term (see Coyotes).
- GrimmdaGoalie

Those are great starting points, beyond agree!!

I didn't realize you were such a big Leafs fan.

You guys need to stay away from the booze if you're going to come on here with these brilliant trade proposals. The really scary part is that Dorion doesn't need any booze to get him thinking these are great ideas for Ottawa.
- Whatisavailable

No a Leafs fan, but getting Mrazek would allow the Sens to buyout Murray this offseason!

I don't mind the Murray signing for what it represented at the time...the Sens trying to address a need and spending money. It made some sense. What didn't make sense was the lack of a show me contract first. And the entire AAV made no sense since you could have had Markstrom for the same amount and you didn't need 4 yrs if you had any sort of belief in Gus or Daccord at the time as the future in goal.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Exactly, they still controlled his rights as they qualified him right away, then PD goes and hands him a 4 year deal when he should've let him play out the RFA year.

Batherson was a shock for me to notice this season. Guy is playing on a whole new caliber. Love my boy C brown. 20 goals is looking a little dim right now but I would hardly call him a disappointment this season. I think he was one of the best Ottawa pick ups in years and will end with 45-55+ points at the very least.

Very interesting question! Dorion doesn't want draft picks for this draft and he's go on record as saying he wont trade players who are UFAs end of the year for draft picks. To acquire Brannstrom, it would take either a player with little term but that could help this team short term or a prospect. Anyone else have an idea on what he would fetch?
- Kevin Francis

Giroux

Giroux
- Crosside

Pretty much the first things that crossed my mind too... the only issue there is that if Giroux is serious about coming to Ottawa, then he'd be serious about signing as a UFA instead of having to give up Brannstrom.