Sens Writer: Senators win 2 at home vs. PHI/TBL

Sanderson is a special player.

His stretch pass off the boards to Brady was so simple, yet so incredibly effective.

Great write up.
Great games on the weekend.
"righting the wrongs".

Not sure about Kubalik.

I wonder if the trend of switching goalies every game will continue. In both wins, they each look solid enough.
So far so good, i believe this team is only going to get better with every passing game.

Pretty good game last night.

I think as time goes on they'll develop a little more of a killer instinct. Outshooting and out chancing Tampa but it was tied or a one goal game. It's early and it was the bolts so can't complain too much.

Still progress though since there's a good chance they'd have lost that game last year.

Have to wonder a bit more about Stutzles reputation in the league as he wasn't getting some calls last night. That happens often with star players though, so more so something to play through.

Crosby was like that. Kept whining to the refs. He learned, so will Stutzle.

I've suggested before that Kubalik is the most likely trade candidate, but at the same time I realize that he's been given a pretty raw deal. He never asked to be traded, never asked for Dorion to overspend on Tarasenko, never got a chance to play the 2nd line scoring role he's best suited for, and never asked to start the year beside an AHL centreman. But the reality at this point is that Norris is still a major question mark, Pinto is still needing an RFA contract, Tarasenko/Joseph have managed to produce 3G-4A in the first 3GP of the season, and the team has already risked waiving Bernard-Docker to get down to 6 D-men. Meanwhile, Kubalik continues to have a blank score sheet, and hasn't been making it very hard for Smith to limit his ice time.

They'll no doubt give Norris a chance to play soon and see if he's really NHL-ready, but it that doesn't go well switching out Kubalik/Chartier for Pinto/Smejkal could be a very easily resolution to an increasingly frustrating situation. These two wins at home probably bought some time for Dorion to continue working on the situation, but if they starting losing games the situation could quickly become more urgent.

Crosby was like that. Kept whining to the refs. He learned, so will Stutzle.
- PogBoi

100% I was thinking of this too! Stutzle needs to stop taking stupid penalties. That said it shows how much he cares

Sanderson, Chycrun and the entire top line have played great so far. The production of Tarasenko, Greig and Joseph has been a positive surprise. Batherson looks to have fully healed from his high ankle sprain and has looked great. If they can get both Norris and Pinto in the lineup they should be a lock to make the playoffs.

It's unfortunate that the team didn't put Norris on LTIR as soon as the season opened. It would have provided a solid path to creating the cap space to sign Pinto while giving Norris the time to get in game shape.

I think if they were gonna flip Kubalik, Dorion would've done it in the off-season. No existing chemistry, low risk pending UFA, though as the return for AD, perhaps keeping the player was driven more by optics than need. Now the season has started, the more Kubalik plays and doesn't show up, the less likely he can be easily traded. Mathieu Joseph is currently playing himself into a tradeable asset - just as well PD didn't knee jerk flip a high pick with him to make room for Pinto - would prefer to keep Joseph over Kubalik as he's more of a known commodity and better suited to what this team needs from its bottom 6. If the team keeps up with the winning, Pinto might find himself SOL and forced to take a one year deal like Calen Addison in Minnesota, as sitting out a year will seriously hurt his stock and future earnings. Especially with Norris out - if this team can succeed without either of it's middle centres it creates less urgency to get a deal sorted. I feel for Pinto in this circumstance - if he hadn't lost a season to injury two years back, his resigning would have been given more priority.

Maybe with some of the injuries that happened the first week around the league, the Sens can free up some cap space. Kubalik and Brannstrom might be easier to move...less term and money. Patience might be the key here.

I think someone asked this before - can Pinto sign for a million with bonus (extra million for getting 20 goals, games played, etc) and that bonus only counts for next season? Is that a possibility?

I think someone asked this before - can Pinto sign for a million with bonus (extra million for getting 20 goals, games played, etc) and that bonus only counts for next season? Is that a possibility?
- PogBoi

You would think this option would be especially viable given Dorion's short leash and the amount of dead cap the team has coming off the books next year. Allows Pinto to max his qualifying offer. Perhaps Lewis Gross doesn't like it? Unsure.

I think someone asked this before - can Pinto sign for a million with bonus (extra million for getting 20 goals, games played, etc) and that bonus only counts for next season? Is that a possibility?
- PogBoi

No agent would want their client to sign that. If he blew his knee out on the first game.

I think someone asked this before - can Pinto sign for a million with bonus (extra million for getting 20 goals, games played, etc) and that bonus only counts for next season? Is that a possibility?
- PogBoi

That would be the way to go but I think Pinto doesn't qualify due to age or amount of time in league??

What happens Dec 1 if Pinto isn't signed? Ineligible for the year?

You don't think the Sens would do that?

I think they are waiting for more injuries.

I don't think Brannstrom can replace Tanev but he is a cheaper alternative.

Brannstrom to Vancouver
Garland to Nashville
2nd rounder from Nashville to Ottawa

Sign Pinto.

Brannstrom to Vancouver
Garland to Nashville
2nd rounder from Nashville to Ottawa

Sign Pinto.
- Octavarium

I'd be happy with a 3rd.

Problem is shaving $2million off might not be enough, as you have to replace Brannstrom with a league min D (Kleven or JBD) and then that only leaves you $1.3 for Pinto?

If I'm Pinto, I sign a one year deal in the hopes of getting arb rights quicker. Then, put up 20 goals again. The Sens, with more money next year, would offer more than $3 million after two 20 goal seasons.

Tick tock....

Brannstrom to Vancouver
Garland to Nashville
2nd rounder from Nashville to Ottawa

Sign Pinto.
- Octavarium

Pinto really is a perplexing situation.

Not sure what stops Dorion from just holding his nose and making a deal to move out sufficient salary

Pinto really is a perplexing situation.

Not sure what stops Dorion from just holding his nose and making a deal to move out sufficient salary
- spatso

I'm guessing he doesn't want to make a trade for Norris to go on IR?

If I'm Pinto, I sign a one year deal in the hopes of getting arb rights quicker. Then, put up 20 goals again. The Sens, with more money next year, would offer more than $3 million after two 20 goal seasons.
- GrimmdaGoalie

If Pinto signs a one year deal, he won't have arb rights next year. If he signs a two year deal, he gets arb rights. I highly suspect the holdout is because he/agent don't want to be in a position where he has zero control. If he was a year older he might well sign a one year deal, but he wants two years for a reason.

Calen Addison in Min is a perfect comparable, except Minnesota threw it's hands up and said 'we have no money, if you wanna play here's what you get'. Addison, a promising RHD signed 825k*1 after a solid year 22/23, a bargain deal that puts himself in another zero arb RFA situation next year. Why can't PD convince Pinto to do the same? Likely because of Lewis Gross. I say take Pinto right up to 4pm Dec 1, and let him sit if need be. Shane - it sucks, but sign a one year deal. You have no leverage other than 'the Sens need centres', which doesn't sell if the team is winning. You have been injured a ton. You were a deeply minus player last year. Pinto is not Nylander - play chicken with him, he'll cave.

If Pinto signs a one year deal, he won't have arb rights next year. If he signs a two year deal, he gets arb rights. I highly suspect the holdout is because he/agent don't want to be in a position where he has zero control. If he was a year older he might well sign a one year deal, but he wants two years for a reason.

Calen Addison in Min is a perfect comparable, except Minnesota threw it's hands up and said 'we have no money, if you wanna play here's what you get'. Addison, a promising RHD signed 825k*1 after a solid year 22/23, a bargain deal that puts himself in another zero arb RFA situation next year. Why can't PD convince Pinto to do the same? Likely because of Lewis Gross. I say take Pinto right up to 4pm Dec 1, and let him sit if need be. Shane - it sucks, but sign a one year deal. You have no leverage other than 'the Sens need centres', which doesn't sell if the team is winning. You have been injured a ton. You were a deeply minus player last year. Pinto is not Nylander - play chicken with him, he'll cave.
- Bartacus

Makes sense. Might piss the player, his teamates, the fans off. And I got to wonder why they take this stance with this player when they should have done the same to Norris.

Norris to play today. I wonder if Dorion continues to wait to see if he re-aggravates his injury, or if he pulls the trigger.

I'm hoping he doesn't get Tom "Wilson'd"

Tough heavy team to play against. They're old but they hit.
I'll be there.

Norris to play today. I wonder if Dorion continues to wait to see if he re-aggravates his injury, or if he pulls the trigger.
- david22

If Norris is back and doesn't re-aggravate his injury, Pinto has even less leverage moving forward. Irrespective of that, hoping the best for Norris - he's had a raw deal with his shoulder and this team sure could use him back in full form.