Kevin Francis: Sens Gameday/Norris/Brassard/Brannstrom/Gustavsson

Sens win tonight 5-2 so I win my bet lol.

When you listen to what many have said about Gus over his time in Ottawa, he sounded like he struggled with confidence issues and was a mess before any game he started, throwing up. Does he handle the pressure playing against his former team tonight? It should be interesting to see it play out.

Formenton stuff won't be resolved until the London Police close the case. The NHL and Hockey Canada investigations mean little at this point, it all boils down to if charges will be filed or not. Until then, it will be a cone of silence from the Sens front office.

Brassard is a super short term solution then when the well goes dry, you make the switch with Pinto and insert Brass on the third line. At least Dorion learned from last year, not having any depth. By claiming Hellberg and signing Brassard, the Sens can survive injuries better this year unlike the insanity that happened last year with having AHL players all over the lineup.

With Norris, I am still surprised that the team didn't get him to fix all the issues that ailed him last year with the shoulder over the summer. Kevin, I recall you saying at the time of his extension that a bridge deal would be better due to his 2 left shoulder injuries. He only had one solid season and Dorion threw him an 8 year deal. I hope it doesn't burn Ottawa long term if the shoulder becomes a chronic injury. Look no further than Couturier in Philly, the guy is always injured with the back.

Regarding attendance, I thought the Sens would build off the home opener and the team winning into far more ticket sales. That Monday announced crowd was pathetic for a Canadian hockey market that wants to be taken seriously. Twelve thousand, really? It shouldn't matter who the opponent is anymore, fans should be going to see this team not who the opponent is, or if they're a rival or a team with a superstar. Back in the Sens hey day, fans went all the time, sold-out the rink all the time regardless if the Panthers were in on a Monday night or the Islanders on a Tuesday night. Just saying.

Ottawa wins tonight 4-1.

interesting that Josh Brown will forever be linked to his 1st goal - in a big way

https://www.youtube.com/w...7iRY&ab_channel=SPORTSNET

I wish we kept Dylan Demelo. Having him on the second pair with Zub, that's what a defensive core should be. I hated Zaitsev coming here - I like Nikita as a person but he should make less than half of the $ and play on 3rd pair only

As season progresses, should Keselec not enter into the thinking when looking for a season long solution on Norris? He is good on face-offs and, so far, looks really strong when he lines up against opposing top centres.

What I don't understand about the Formenton situation is that one of the other "big three" involved in the actual doing....is still playing hockey in the NHL as if life is normal and fine.

Logan Brown looked particularly ineffective last night.

What I don't understand about the Formenton situation is that one of the other "big three" involved in the actual doing....is still playing hockey in the NHL as if life is normal and fine.

Logan Brown looked particularly ineffective last night.
- Octavarium

The weirdest part is that he's the only one possibly linked without a deal in any league.

The weirdest part is that he's the only one possibly linked without a deal in any league.
- AdamFrench

I have wondered if Formenton was a guy going to be moved no matter what the other issues might be.

I have wondered if Formenton was a guy going to be moved no matter what the other issues might be.
- spatso

Maybe, but other than maybe him overvaluing himself on a contract, why trade a 3rd line speedster PK specialist at his age as an RFA? Especially after moving Brown.

I don't want to speculate, because it isn't fair, but this one is not passing the smell test and if it was in a bigger market would have the media all over it.

Maybe, but other than maybe him overvaluing himself on a contract, why trade a 3rd line speedster PK specialist at his age as an RFA? Especially after moving Brown.

I don't want to speculate, because it isn't fair, but this one is not passing the smell test and if it was in a bigger market would have the media all over it.
- AdamFrench

Remember, when Dorion was asked before training camp, he made it clear that it was the League (Bettman I assume) who had ordered a no comment guideline on all league executives.

When everything remains this tight, it usually means that all matters are proceeding as expected and it serves everyone's interest to stay silent.

I hope Norris gets the surgery. Fix the problem. And tell him to do the training regimen that Pinto followed last year. Pinto has been a beast.

I've never been a huge Brannstrom guy because size helps on defence. But you can't argue with his on ice results which have been quite good this year. Time to cut him some slack and make sure he gets 17:00+ minutes a game. I'm starting to think that Brannstrom is a solid asset, especially if we can pair him with a defensive partner with size, solid defensive game and solid first pass ability - such as Kleven projects to be.

The flip side of the Brannstrom benching is the need to clean up the defensive game of Chabot. I believe that the coaching team has played him way too much, while giving him a pass on his defensive game.

You have to love this team's depth down the middle. Kastelic is a big part of this and I wonder if he can hold down a third line center role in the future. I agree that it is time to tell him to get a place in Ottawa.

Two year extension for Kastelic! $835K AAV.

https://twitter.com/Media...tatus/1585643754220032001

Two year extension for Kastelic! $835K AAV.

https://twitter.com/Media...tatus/1585643754220032001
- SensFan25

Good move. Even if he falls off.

Two year extension for Kastelic! $835K AAV.

https://twitter.com/Media...tatus/1585643754220032001
- SensFan25

Very nice. A little early but I think they must know his value will only increase

Now extend Pinto !!

Good move. Even if he falls off.
- AdamFrench

Great add for the Sens.

Very nice. A little early but I think they must know his value will only increase

Now extend Pinto !!
- AlfieisKing

Pinto will be harder. $8m is now the old $5m with the cap popping up over the next couple of years. Sens may have to make some hard choices. If Pinto puts up better numbers than Brady, Norris and Stutzle, he will want similar money.

Great add for the Sens.
- spatso

Can never have enough role players at league min, especially young ones with room to grow.

Can never have enough role players at league min, especially young ones with room to grow.
- AdamFrench

Too many folks look at 3rd and 4th line players and compare them to 1st and 2nd liners making 10x the salary. Saw a quote saying the entire Sens bench was cheering and inspired by the play of Keselec, Watson and Kelly against Boston. I thought they had an even better game against the Leafs.

Insiders noted that Kestelec is the only guy who may have upended WIFI through the multiple scraps in the preseason. This is not insignificant and the coming rematch is certainly well worth the $865k.

Wish Sens took Stutzle's countryman JJ Peterka instead of Roby J?

Pinto will be harder. $8m is now the old $5m with the cap popping up over the next couple of years. Sens may have to make some hard choices. If Pinto puts up better numbers than Brady, Norris and Stutzle, he will want similar money.
- spatso

I think it's still way too early to give him that much $. He will seek security and hasn't scored like those guys. I think 4-6M is much more realistic. I think 8m is the new 6-7m; 5m guys can be 6-6.5m but I don't see guys that are 2nd/3rd liners getting 7-8m

I agree it will be harder to sign him than Kastelic

I think it's still way too early to give him that much $. He will seek security and hasn't scored like those guys. I think 4-6M is much more realistic. I think 8m is the new 6-7m; 5m guys can be 6-6.5m but I don't see guys that are 2nd/3rd liners getting 7-8m

I agree it will be harder to sign him than Kastelic
- AlfieisKing

I believe Stutzle is well on his way to being the Sens best player. I think that Tkachuk is going to prove out to be the Sens best power forward. I believe Pinto will prove out to be the Sens best centre.

Boston commentators are well aware of the mistake they may have made with Pasternak. They kept his salary down by doing a 6 year deal. Now they know it is going to cost $12.5m as an entry bid to sign him this coming summer. Bridge deals for "elite" players makes for really bad math in the new NHL.

It is so much better if you can lock an elite player into an 8 year deal thru to age 30. Players hit prime at age 25. Bridging an elite player through to age 26 or 27 and then signing him until age 34 or 35 at $12.5 is not smart.

Sounds like Talbot is ahead of schedule.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/ca...ottawa-senators-1.1869216

I believe Stutzle is well on his way to being the Sens best player. I think that Tkachuk is going to prove out to be the Sens best power forward. I believe Pinto will prove out to be the Sens best centre.

Boston commentators are well aware of the mistake they may have made with Pasternak. They kept his salary down by doing a 6 year deal. Now they know it is going to cost $12.5m as an entry bid to sign him this coming summer. Bridge deals for "elite" players makes for really bad math in the new NHL.

It is so much better if you can lock an elite player into an 8 year deal thru to age 30. Players hit prime at age 25. Bridging an elite player through to age 26 or 27 and then signing him until age 34 or 35 at $12.5 is not smart.
- spatso

I'm not sure what pot you are smoking? They signed him to a 6 year deal at 6.66. The max they could have signed him was 8 year. How much more would he have gotten? Maybe bump it to 7mil solid? They got bang for their buck one of the best contracts in the past decade, up there with MacKinnon.

I'm not sure what pot you are smoking? They signed him to a 6 year deal at 6.66. The max they could have signed him was 8 year. How much more would he have gotten? Maybe bump it to 7mil solid? They got bang for their buck one of the best contracts in the past decade, up there with MacKinnon.
- AdamFrench

I agree. It is the loss of the two years and having to pay $12.5m for age 34 and age 35. There were probably better examples (Matthews), that are probably even more severe. But I did want to use something less irritating as an example. Did not want folks saying it is just about the Leafs.

The math suggests that the most cost effective option is to max out your elite players through to age 30 and accept that either they take a discount after 30 or you let them walk. There are going to be more and more 30+ plus players coming on the UFA market every year.