Sens Writer: Title: Senators Top Kraken / Scapegoat: The curious case of Thomas Chabot

Sens scored 7 of the 9 goals yesterday.

Get a NHL coach, wait a year, then evaluate, Chabot is still a hell of a good puck moving Dman, would like to see if his deficiencies are lessened or disappear when OTT has a actual NHL caliber coach behind the bench, Chabot is more valuable/important to the team then say Cat. Chabot is 26, he is already half way into his prime years.

Chych has 4 points in 4 games and is +2, he has 32 points in 40 games vs Chabot 35 in 59 and Chych was playing on one of the worst teams in the NHL an missed 1/3rd the year.

Smith needs to go asap so OTT can see what it actually has before Sanderson and Chych needs new contracts.

At the time when everyone seemed to be walking out the door, the sens were desperate to stop the bleeding and overpaid chabot. I don’t think that can be argued. He’s a decent offensive d man but his play in his own end is pretty poor for a guy you pay 8 million dollars to.

Well said! DJ has to go. Melnyk didn’t have the money to hire an experienced NHL coach so we got stuck with a guy who is turning our best D Man into a basket case. Reduce Chabot’s minutes and he will rebound. It’s that simple.

Well said! DJ has to go. Melnyk didn’t have the money to hire an experienced NHL coach so we got stuck with a guy who is turning our best D Man into a basket case. Reduce Chabot’s minutes and he will rebound. It’s that simple.
- Barrykerr1

I somewhat agree, but just watching sens games, I don’t think you can say he’s making all these mistakes in the final 10 mins of the 3rd period when he’s played 25 mins. He’s making them in the 1st aswell. I think he lacks some defensive awareness and a good d coach could help him greatly.

NHL teams do detailed game prep in advance of every match up. So, opposing teams go out with a game plan to contain Chabot. When he skates 30 minutes it makes great sense to focus on keeping him under control.

Now, with 3 reliable pairs of D in the cycle it changes everything. Soon enough we are going to see Chabot benefitting by some of that attention having to be transferred over onto Cychuran.

You are right some Ottawa fans will always need a scapegoat, someone to blame. As the increase with gambling continues expect the scapegoating to get even more pronounced.

They need to keep Chabot Sanderson Chychrun all on separate lines give a Top D on each line and give them 20mins

I feel like Chabot could have used more time with Karlsson to hone his game. Playing with Karlsson made him the defensively inclined member of the pair. As per his ice time, I just look at the numbers - clear as day, he has put up better numbers when he plays more sheltered minutes. Over the past lost years, I wonder if we had given 2 of Chabot's minutes per night to Brannstrom, EB's development arc may have been more promising. Chabot runs roughshod over lesser defensemen, but he can't consistently put up 30+ minutes a night against the NHL 's best. I don't blame him for that - nobody can.

Good comments folks!

More things to consider: Chabot’s best season came in the 18/19 season. Achieving 14 goals, 41 assists, for 55 points. Let’s look at some conditions of that season:

- Guy Boucher was coach and ultimately fired and replaced by Marc Crawford
- The first season without Erik Karlson
- Mark Stone and Matt Duchene were traded at the deadline

In that season, Stone and Duchene lead the Senators with 62 and 58 points respectively. Players on a similar pace this current season are Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Giroux. Additionally, in the 18/19 season, only Chabot was above 50 points at the season’s end (once Stone and Duchene were traded). This season, in addition to Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Giroux - Batherson and Debrincat have already surpassed that mark. It’s impressive looking back that Chabot did as well as he did in that season with a light roster of talent. Conversely, it’s a bit perplexing he won’t equal those numbers with all the offensive talent on this team.

Chabot in the 18/19 season, averaged 24.17 minutes per game. If you compare that to this season’s time-on-ice leaders for defencemen, this would slot in 12th in the NHL as opposed to 5th with his current 25.31 average.

Now, the following 3 seasons after 18/19, DJ Smith has led the charge and Chabot has played the following average minutes per game:

- 26.00
- 26.12
- 25.29

Lots of minutes to be sure but consider this, the difference in ice time between Chabot’s best season and his highest time on ice season is 1.95 minutes per game. To me, that is not enough to justify an argument of playing less will equal more. If you are going to be paid as the 14th highest-paid defenceman in the NHL. Big minutes are expected. His impressive 18/19 season was the reason for this big contract where he had big minutes and big numbers.

I can get on the coaching issue train as Chabot’s regression started as soon as DJ Smith came to town. Some bad habits, questionable decision-making, and bad timing can be instilled from a coach. At the same time, DJ Smith isn’t on the ice for some of the squandered offensive opportunities, sub-par defensive work, poor penalties. Chabot is doing that himself.

My concern is that since the 18/19 season, Chabot has had now 4 seasons where results were underwhelming. It’s only now that people are starting to talk about it. With a new coach, is it realistic to expect a turn in results or will the bad habits acquired be too much to rectify at this point in his career? Sanderson and Chychrun are now strong supporting pieces patrolling the blueline. It will be interesting going forth, especially once Chychrun gets 10 or so games under his belt.

well OTT can kiss playoffs goodbye now.

Good comments folks!

More things to consider: Chabot’s best season came in the 18/19 season. Achieving 14 goals, 41 assists, for 55 points. Let’s look at some conditions of that season:

- Guy Boucher was coach and ultimately fired and replaced by Marc Crawford
- The first season without Erik Karlson
- Mark Stone and Matt Duchene were traded at the deadline

In that season, Stone and Duchene lead the Senators with 62 and 58 points respectively. Players on a similar pace this current season are Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Giroux. Additionally, in the 18/19 season, only Chabot was above 50 points at the season’s end (once Stone and Duchene were traded). This season, in addition to Stutzle, Tkachuk, and Giroux - Batherson and Debrincat have already surpassed that mark. It’s impressive looking back that Chabot did as well as he did in that season with a light roster of talent. Conversely, it’s a bit perplexing he won’t equal those numbers with all the offensive talent on this team.

Chabot in the 18/19 season, averaged 24.17 minutes per game. If you compare that to this season’s time-on-ice leaders for defencemen, this would slot in 12th in the NHL as opposed to 5th with his current 25.31 average.

Now, the following 3 seasons after 18/19, DJ Smith has led the charge and Chabot has played the following average minutes per game:

- 26.00
- 26.12
- 25.29

Lots of minutes to be sure but consider this, the difference in ice time between Chabot’s best season and his highest time on ice season is 1.95 minutes per game. To me, that is not enough to justify an argument of playing less will equal more. If you are going to be paid as the 14th highest-paid defenceman in the NHL. Big minutes are expected. His impressive 18/19 season was the reason for this big contract where he had big minutes and big numbers.

I can get on the coaching issue train as Chabot’s regression started as soon as DJ Smith came to town. Some bad habits, questionable decision-making, and bad timing can be instilled from a coach. At the same time, DJ Smith isn’t on the ice for some of the squandered offensive opportunities, sub-par defensive work, poor penalties. Chabot is doing that himself.

My concern is that since the 18/19 season, Chabot has had now 4 seasons where results were underwhelming. It’s only now that people are starting to talk about it. With a new coach, is it realistic to expect a turn in results or will the bad habits acquired be too much to rectify at this point in his career? Sanderson and Chychrun are now strong supporting pieces patrolling the blueline. It will be interesting going forth, especially once Chychrun gets 10 or so games under his belt.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Troubleshooting 101. When did things go wrong?

End of 2018-2019: Dylan DeMelo out, Nikita Zaitsev, DJSmith in

You are welcome!

First off....Holden is awful. Softest big man ever and that one goal all him. Let the guy walk by him and then gave up chasing him down.
Second..DeBrincat had a brain fart on one goal, followed by stupidity. Third..did not see soogard get hurt. But before that, he showed the problem with big goalies...no lateral movement. Two of the goals he didn't move.

That game hurts, mostly because of the islanders losing. A night to make up points.

I really want to see how this team would perform, especially defensively, under a different coach/system.

And second, both the Chabot and Norris signings seem like panic moves and/or dice rolls now...either over payments or bets on younger players that may not pan out. Time will tell.

Giroux signing looks better and better. Have no idea where the team would be without him.

First off....Holden is awful. Softest big man ever and that one goal all him. Let the guy walk by him and then gave up chasing him down.
Second..DeBrincat had a brain fart on one goal, followed by stupidity. Third..did not see soogard get hurt. But before that, he showed the problem with big goalies...no lateral movement. Two of the goals he didn't move.

That game hurts, mostly because of the islanders losing. A night to make up points.

I really want to see how this team would perform, especially defensively, under a different coach/system.

And second, both the Chabot and Norris signings seem like panic moves and/or dice rolls now...either over payments or bets on younger players that may not pan out. Time will tell.

Giroux signing looks better and better. Have no idea where the team would be without him.
- GrimmdaGoalie

Why are people on Norris the Kid scored 35goals in his 2nd year lol a shoulder surgery will help him out just like it did Pinto 🤦‍♂️
Chabot needs to start putting on muscle and start moving guys he could t check or bump a guy off a puck if his life depended on it
Hell Brannstrom is better at that then him
I think coach should bench him for a game just so he can watch and get a reset as they call it 🤷‍♂️

People worried about Norris should consider that Brassard had, I think, very similar surgery early in his career.

1000 games later.....

This team will miss the play offs by 3 or 4 points and be able to go back and look at the chicago and vancouver games and learn for next year.
It would be nice if they got some coaching once n a while instead of just being thrown out there hoping talent will get them by

Pretty sure Giroux is coaching this team

People worried about Norris should consider that Brassard had, I think, very similar surgery early in his career.

1000 games later.....

This team will miss the play offs by 3 or 4 points and be able to go back and look at the chicago and vancouver games and learn for next year.
It would be nice if they got some coaching once n a while instead of just being thrown out there hoping talent will get them by

Pretty sure Giroux is coaching this team
- Octavarium

Don't see Smith going anywhere if they make the playoffs...

Can’t see the Sens making the playoffs after losing to the lowly Vancouver Canucks. Their remaining schedule is brutal against top teams and stuck with 2 minor league goalies. Having a minor league coach doesn’t help either!

I'd be scared to see their passing % over the last 4 games, they can't seem to connect cleanly at all right now

I want to salute what is a very interesting and thought provoking blog on a controversial topic.

I don't agree that Chabot is the team scapegoat but I could see it going in that direction. I feel that Chabot’s contract was reasonable given his offensive production leading up to the deal, with the thinking being that his defensive game would progress given his talent and raw abilities. It is fair to say that his game has regressed. Ideally, changes next year will see a new and improved Thomas Chabot.

As for making trades for cap reasons, it is a reality that the team will face if it pushes things to the cap.

Can't see this team making it through the gauntlet to come, there are still too many holes and losing both starting G isn't looking so hot anymore. The odd man rushes lately, and the shorthanded goals against... Something's gotta give.

Nope.
They aren't making it.
And most of the people in here, while hoping they would, are smart enough to know they wouldn't.

That's the point of the three point system. It keeps fans interested in the standings later and later into the season.

I hate how Ottawa fans need a whipping boy for all the problems. It's not Chabbot. It's the coaching staff.

Playoffs looking unlikely at this point, so I'll focus on Chabot. There's always been a lot to like about Chabot, and I think a lot fans still appreciate that it was his 8yr extension that really lay the foundation for the team's new identity. But his extension was also signed at a time when there was almost limitless cap space available, no team expectations of any kind, and where he was projecting as a future top-10 offensive D-man in the NHL. Fast-forward to 2022/23, when the team is better than it has been in 5yrs, yet Chabot sits 34th in the NHL in Pts/GP by a D-man. That means the majority of teams in the NHL have a D-man with more Pts/GP... including Ottawa, where Chychrun sits 17th in the NHL in that regard.

Now in fairness to Chabot, even in his draft year he wasn't being projected as a sure-fire #1D. Most draft rankings had him pegged as a 2nd pairing D with a strong transition game, and he's certainly exceeded those expectations. His offensive upside hasn't developed to the extent many had hoped, but his consistency is undeniable - having now put up Pts/GP rates of 0.55, 0.63, 0.64, 0.59 since the Karlsson trade. But the defensive limitations underlying that projected role back in his draft year still rear their head to this day. Chabot needs help to be effective, and at times even the team's top defensive D-men seem only minimally capable of meeting that need.

Conversely, just within the past year we have seen the extent to which Jake Sanderson has been able to walk onto the same team and be considerably more effective defensively... and with less help. He's also currently scored 25Pts/61GP, which is eerily similar to the 25Pts/63GP that Chabot scored as a rookie in 2017/18. Then we've seen just within the past 2 weeks how seamlessly Jacob Chychrun has been able to walk onto the same team and be very effective... again with less help. They've also put up 3pts/4pts respectively vs. 1pt for Chabot in the past 6 critical games down the stretch. Chychrun has also seen his ice time increase steadily in that time, to the extent that he's now played 24min/GP in each of the past 2GP, which is more than Chabot played in either game.

None of this is to suggest that Chabot isn't a very good D-man. However now that the team is starting to become competitive, they need to be honest in their evaluation of their blue line. They also need to honest about their intended team composition, as one reason that Chabot's numbers haven't improved in tandem with the team's scoring output is that the PP is being driven largely by forwards. If they continue on that path, then 3 elite-level D-men may not be sustainable for much longer. And he's not only the oldest of the 3, but also the least defensively capable, and his contract is about to start paying out $8M-$10M in real dollars for the next 5yrs, and he has a modified NTC that starts in 2024/25. To not realistically consider this vs. his actual performance, and within the context of the team's salary cap structure would be irresponsible.

Don't see Smith going anywhere if they make the playoffs...
- david22

They won't.
The team is much better but not ready for prime time.
The past week has proven it.
Easy to win when you are out of it. Much harder when the pressure ramps up.

Can't see this team making it through the gauntlet to come, there are still too many holes and losing both starting G isn't looking so hot anymore. The odd man rushes lately, and the shorthanded goals against... Something's gotta give.
- Bartacus

0 for 20 over the past 6 games on the power play has nothing to do with the goalies

I didn't watch the game. Chabot only played a little over 15 minutes which was the least of all defenseman. Was a message sent or did he get hurt?

I didn't watch the game. Chabot only played a little over 15 minutes which was the least of all defenseman. Was a message sent or did he get hurt?
- PogBoi

He was hurt mid 3rd period 😬 took a puck off left ankle