Kevin Francis: Stutzle signs for 8 years/Sens announce numerous team initiatives!

Kevin Francis: Stutzle signs for 8 years/Sens announce numerous team initiatives!
- Kevin Francis

Great article.

I like Zub A LOT but Zaitsev was equally effective with Morgan Rielly in Toronto. I would wait half a year and then make that decision. I would NOT be comfortable with a long term deal UNLESS, Zaitsev was gone. Great article though kevin!

Great article.

I like Zub A LOT but Zaitsev was equally effective with Morgan Rielly in Toronto. I would wait half a year and then make that decision. I would NOT be comfortable with a long term deal UNLESS, Zaitsev was gone. Great article though kevin!
- AlfieisKing

Thanks, my friend! Glad to see the core get locked up, but the defense is still very much a work in progress. A lot can happen in the next 2 weeks before camp opens or leading up to the end of the preseason.

The Zaitsev thing really needs to be sorted out by Sept. 21st or by the end of the preseason. DJ said a few weeks ago the best players will play, so if a player is waiver exempt, but has earned a starting spot on the defense, will that player get the roster spot over a guy on a one way deal?! I wish the folks doing these interviews would ask real specific questions when he gives an answer like that. We all know that didn't happen last year! I truly hope DJ changes his way.

Saw this on Twitter, great tweet!

Tim #Stützle (20) finished his 2nd season scoring 58 points in 79 games. Fellow countryman #Draisaitl reached 51 points in 72 games in his 2nd season (as a 20 year old). If Stu gets close to 77 points in year 3 like Leon did, #Sens fans will be ecstatic!

Great column Kevin.

Huge news that Sens Foundation is coming back.

Watch. Who are the families that sign on into key roles in the renewed Sens Foundation? Might be an indicator of where future ownership investment will be sourced.

Relative to everything else accomplished this summer, adding a top 4 Dman does not seem like an overly challenging effort. Creating cap space by moving Zaitsev and giving up a 2nd is already fully baked into the cake for most hard core Sens fans.

So. Why the delay?

If something is going to happen, you want to believe it gets settled before main training camp opens.

Relative to everything else accomplished this summer, adding a top 4 Dman does not seem like an overly challenging effort. Creating cap space by moving Zaitsev and giving up a 2nd is already fully baked into the cake for most hard core Sens fans.

So. Why the delay?

If something is going to happen, you want to believe it gets settled before main training camp opens.
- spatso

Can you please tell me where you get your 96 million dollar figure from?

During the NHL Draft, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke with the NHL’s Sirius/XM Radio Network and confirmed it would be two or three more years until the cap could resume climbing at a more aggressive pace.

The NHL salary cap won't increase significantly until an estimated $1 billion in debt held by the players is repaid to the owners. Bettman said the league is projecting that debt to be paid off in "two, maybe three years." Many have speculated the cap will jump in the 2025-26 season.

When Seravalli first projected out the cap numbers for the next few years, that jump was just under $6MM, to a total of $91.4MM. Remember though, that was for the 2026-27 season, meaning if the escrow is paid off a year earlier, it will come in a little under that number.

Great article.

I like Zub A LOT but Zaitsev was equally effective with Morgan Rielly in Toronto. I would wait half a year and then make that decision. I would NOT be comfortable with a long term deal UNLESS, Zaitsev was gone. Great article though kevin!
- AlfieisKing

Maybe they wanted to make sure Zub was signed before getting rid of Zaitsev.

Still think the inclusion of Zaitsev is the holdup with a deal with AZ

So what other RD are out there that we can offer a PTO to? Subban?

Anyone else intrigued by a Nils Lundkvist deal with the Rangers? He shoots right. Like Sokolov plus?

Can you please tell me where you get your 96 million dollar figure from?

During the NHL Draft, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke with the NHL’s Sirius/XM Radio Network and confirmed it would be two or three more years until the cap could resume climbing at a more aggressive pace.

The NHL salary cap won't increase significantly until an estimated $1 billion in debt held by the players is repaid to the owners. Bettman said the league is projecting that debt to be paid off in "two, maybe three years." Many have speculated the cap will jump in the 2025-26 season.

When Seravalli first projected out the cap numbers for the next few years, that jump was just under $6MM, to a total of $91.4MM. Remember though, that was for the 2026-27 season, meaning if the escrow is paid off a year earlier, it will come in a little under that number.
- Whatisavailable

Escrow payback is 17.2% based on a shortfall of $1.2b. The fact that it is ending a year earlier than expected tells us revenues are being earned at a 20% higher pace than forecast. The calculation of cap for 32 teams is: 3.125% of 50% of Shared Revenue. So based on Betman's conservative estimate of revenue for last season at $5.2B they decided to operate on a cap of $81.5m. ($5.2b. x .5 x .03125= $81.25m).

The only reason that escrow is being paid down so fast is because earned revenues are well ahead of the projections. It does not translate directly but I am guessing that the 17.2% escrow rate (picked by the players) is not accidental and mirrors the increased revenues and the accelerated pay down. The pay down is now targeted for completion at a 35% faster rate than first projected.

So my forecast of the cap (2 years out) is $96m ($5.2b x 1.172 x .5 x .03125 = $95.2m )

Escrow payback is 17.2% based on a shortfall of $1.2b. The fact that it is ending a year earlier than expected tells us revenues are being earned at a 20% higher pace than forecast. The calculation of cap for 32 teams is: 3.125% of 50% of Shared Revenue. So based on Betman's conservative estimate of revenue for last season at $5.2B they decided to operate on a cap of $81.5m. ($5.2b. x .5 x .03125= $81.25m).

The only reason that escrow is being paid down so fast is because earned revenues are well ahead of the projections. It does not translate directly but I am guessing that the 17.2% escrow rate (picked by the players) is not accidental and mirrors the increased revenues and the accelerated pay down. The pay down is now targeted for completion at a 35% faster rate than first projected.

So my forecast of the cap (2 years out) is $96m ($5.2b x 1.172 x .5 x .03125 = $95.2m )
- spatso

You need to send a memo to Bettman and let him know.

Relative to everything else accomplished this summer, adding a top 4 Dman does not seem like an overly challenging effort. Creating cap space by moving Zaitsev and giving up a 2nd is already fully baked into the cake for most hard core Sens fans.

So. Why the delay?

If something is going to happen, you want to believe it gets settled before main training camp opens.
- spatso

A lot of people want both Sanderson and Thomson to start with the big club this year.

What does the D look like in that scenario. Is there any case where they play together on the bottom pairing while they get accustomed to the league?

A lot of people want both Sanderson and Thomson to start with the big club this year.

What does the D look like in that scenario. Is there any case where they play together on the bottom pairing while they get accustomed to the league?
- david22

That might work, but you would think they each need a veteran balance as well, so one of them should play up. I think you either try Thompson with Chabot (seemed to like playing together) or you do Sanderson with Zub on the second pairing. Either way, you're likely to have one pair that is not going to be what they need to be I suspect.

Listened to a great interview on NHL Channel 91 Serius Radio.

Gord Wilson of Team 1200 was on to speak about the Stutzle contract signing plus some of the other moves being made by the Sens this summer. He did a really fine job.

But, discussion was even more interesting after Gord finished. The hosts wondered what it means for the rest of the league if the Sens lock in all their young stars to long term deals in the $8m range.

What they really were asking was the same old question, what does this mean for the Leafs? Will a significant cap increase result in Matthews asking for $15m and Marner $13m? Does Nylander want $10m and does Tavares continue to collect his $11m? Does it put the Leafs at a disadvantage if they have to pay their top 4 players $49m and the Sens are only going to pay $32.8m to their top 4.

Maybe they wanted to make sure Zub was signed before getting rid of Zaitsev.

Still think the inclusion of Zaitsev is the holdup with a deal with AZ
- GrimmdaGoalie

From what people are saying, it sounds like the prospect that is going to Arizona (Sanderson is too large of an ask, but are the Sens willing to part of Ridly Grieg ALONG with a 1st and a young D-man, Brannstrom or Thomson)

From what people are saying, it sounds like the prospect that is going to Arizona (Sanderson is too large of an ask, but are the Sens willing to part of Ridly Grieg ALONG with a 1st and a young D-man, Brannstrom or Thomson)
- AlfieisKing

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In terms of the young players, I say no to Sanderson, Pinto and Grieg. All the other prospects should be available in any deal for Chychrun.

I really hope they get Chychrun. But if they do not, a package including a 1st and two solid prospects should enable them to add a solid Dman.

So what other RD are out there that we can offer a PTO to? Subban?
- GrimmdaGoalie

The two most obvious possibility would have to be Anton Stralman (who's 36, but could be effective in a mentorship role) and Calvin de Haan (who's a LH-shot, but can play both sides... and is from Carp). Subban just seems like way too much of a personality/ego risk, given the locker room culture they've tried to build and enhance with adding Giroux.

Great column Kevin.

Huge news that Sens Foundation is coming back.

Watch. Who are the families that sign on into key roles in the renewed Sens Foundation? Might be an indicator of where future ownership investment will be sourced.
- spatso

Thanks so much!
Yes, I agree, it is massive that the Foundation is coming back! Great point on seeing who becomes involved with the foundation as there is no way the current ownership can do the arena deal on their own, everyone in the league knows it.

The two most obvious possibility would have to be Anton Stralman (who's 36, but could be effective in a mentorship role) and Calvin de Haan (who's a LH-shot, but can play both sides... and is from Carp). Subban just seems like way too much of a personality/ego risk, given the locker room culture they've tried to build and enhance with adding Giroux.
- khawk

de Haan is definitely the guy I have been told could get a PTO if the Canucks don't sign him. Like you said Subban is way too big a personality and the last thing this team wants is him disrupting the locker room.

From what people are saying, it sounds like the prospect that is going to Arizona (Sanderson is too large of an ask, but are the Sens willing to part of Ridly Grieg ALONG with a 1st and a young D-man, Brannstrom or Thomson)
- AlfieisKing

There's a lot to Shane Doan leaving the Yotes org today....wish I could write about it but it's similar to Alfie when he left the Sens org twice.....this says a lot about ownership and the GM in AZ.

A lot of people want both Sanderson and Thomson to start with the big club this year.

What does the D look like in that scenario. Is there any case where they play together on the bottom pairing while they get accustomed to the league?
- david22

It would be ideal....but if that happens then Chabot/Zub.....Hamonic/Holden as the 3rd pair.....

Maybe they wanted to make sure Zub was signed before getting rid of Zaitsev.

Still think the inclusion of Zaitsev is the holdup with a deal with AZ
- GrimmdaGoalie

No doubt there's some substance to Zaitsev being a part of the deal is holding things up.....he needs to be gone by training camp!

Anyone else intrigued by a Nils Lundkvist deal with the Rangers? He shoots right. Like Sokolov plus?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Lots of upside! I know NYR would like to move Libor Hajek, but he's a LD.

i dont care if OTT does not get a top 4 D in a trade as long as they do not sign a pylon and get rid of Zeitsev this would be a win IMO, play Thompson with Chabot and Zub with Sanderson and hope he does not have trouble.

Chych would be the perfect trade, can play both sides, if Sanderson struggles and need time in bellville Chych can step right in the 2LD spot with ease.

Either trade for Chych or play Thompson not hard to figure out....