Ottawa Senators (present and past) TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

Brannstrom is waiver exempt this year. The Mete signing paves the way for him to start in Belleville and get top-pairing minutes in all situations, round out his game. I am assuming they will move Mete at the deadline (if not earlier) and then Brannstrom will come up to stay.

I dunno. Brannstrom had 5 points in 4 games in Belleville and 8 in 10 in the Swiss league last season. He almost scored at 0.5 ppg at the NHL level and was a + on a bad team. I'm not so sure he needs more time to develop in the AHL. His issues are his size which he can't really work on in the AHL. Sure he can get better at d-zone positioning but he's never going to be a defensive specialist. He needs PP time on unit 2 and needs to play with someone who allows him get involved offensively and can cover him defensively. Zaitsev, Zub or Holden are all good options.

To me the Mete contract is 100% tradeable. He probably would have gotten less in arbitration. I imagine they got the deal done so he could be moved?

I also like the idea of the Sens picking up Domi while his value is low.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:I dunno. Brannstrom had 5 points in 4 games in Belleville and 8 in 10 in the Swiss league last season. He almost scored at 0.5 ppg at the NHL level and was a + on a bad team. I'm not so sure he needs more time to develop in the AHL. His issues are his size which he can't really work on in the AHL. Sure he can get better at d-zone positioning but he's never going to be a defensive specialist. He needs PP time on unit 2 and needs to play with someone who allows him get involved offensively and can cover him defensively. Zaitsev, Zub or Holden are all good options.

To me the Mete contract is 100% tradeable. He probably would have gotten less in arbitration. I imagine they got the deal done so he could be moved?

I also like the idea of the Sens picking up Domi while his value is low.

You know who I’ve come around to and who the sens should be targeting while the value is low? Kuznetsov.
Apparently no one is interested in picking up his tab and he’s available for a song and dance.
It’s 7.8 for 4 more years. That’s a guy that can play the first line or second line and will produce if paired with good wingers.

He's definitely a viable option and probably someone that makes sense and could produce with Stutzle. I'm in the camp that our center depth is actually pretty good though. I think we need a top-six RW which naturally slides everyone into the right places.

In typical Vancouver fashion there doesn't seem to be any sort of plan. They have $14M in cap space but have to re-sign Pettersson and Hughes this year, and Boeser next year. Not sure how they're going to do that with no big contracts coming off the books. I can't tell for sure but it looks like they have 8 dmen under one-way contracts including Tyler Myers who is a RHD and is making a ton of money over the next few years and has a signing bonus this year. Then of course there is Boeser who would fit this rebuild like a glove. Suter could be a throw in as the vet top-six C we apparently need.

Not going to speculate on what it would cost but I we have lots of picks, a few prospects I'd be okay giving up, Tierney, L.Brown, Mete, etc

I'd think I'd rather get a top 6 centre instead of a top 6 winger at this point.

I think Norris is a 1C. He put up great numbers playing against McDavid, Tavares, McDavid, etc on a nightly basis. And he did it as a rookie. He might never be a true 1C like a Matthews or Crosby but he plays a solid 200 ft game and isn't a liability on the ice.

Pinto has a lot of room to grow but has every opportunity to develop into a 2C. I think he gets sent to the minors this year if Logan Brown isn't traded. There is also the chance they move Timmy to 2C as well though I doubt it.

Colin White is your 3C until he's passed by Greig. At that point you move White to the wing. You can also move Paul to 3C. However, given our lack of RW depth I think he's in the top-six which isn't the right place for him.

I'd personally like to see Greig make the team but I doubt it happens this year. Who I can see making the team as the 4C is Parker Kelly. I am going to pencil him in there this year

Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Stutzle-L.Brown/Pinto-White
XXXX-Paul-C.Brown
Formenton-Kelly-Watson

I think we might see a push from Greig, Crookshank or even Sokolov for the 3 LW spot this year.

The point I was making in my earlier post is if you get a RW like Boeser, Batherson slides to 2RW, White to 3C, and Paul to 3LW which I think puts everyone in the right spot.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:I think Norris is a 1C. He put up great numbers playing against McDavid, Tavares, McDavid, etc on a nightly basis. And he did it as a rookie. He might never be a true 1C like a Matthews or Crosby but he plays a solid 200 ft game and isn't a liability on the ice.

Pinto has a lot of room to grow but has every opportunity to develop into a 2C. I think he gets sent to the minors this year if Logan Brown isn't traded. There is also the chance they move Timmy to 2C as well though I doubt it.

Colin White is your 3C until he's passed by Greig. At that point you move White to the wing. You can also move Paul to 3C. However, given our lack of RW depth I think he's in the top-six which isn't the right place for him.

I'd personally like to see Greig make the team but I doubt it happens this year. Who I can see making the team as the 4C is Parker Kelly. I am going to pencil him in there this year

Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson
Stutzle-L.Brown/Pinto-White
XXXX-Paul-C.Brown
Formenton-Kelly-Watson

I think we might see a push from Greig, Crookshank or even Sokolov for the 3 LW spot this year.

The point I was making in my earlier post is if you get a RW like Boeser, Batherson slides to 2RW, White to 3C, and Paul to 3LW which I think puts everyone in the right spot.

I don’t see this forward group challenging for a playoff spot. No way does the sens slide a guy like pinto or Brown into the 2C right off the bat.

They’ll acquire a C. Not sure it’s someone we’ll be happy but it will happen.

Why not? Norris did it last year. Pinto will be 21 in November and Brown will be 23. They slid Stutzle in as an 18 year old- same with Tkachuk. Ottawa isn't afraid of putting younger guys int the lineup

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:Why not? Norris did it last year. Pinto will be 21 in November and Brown will be 23. They slid Stutzle in as an 18  year old- same with Tkachuk. Ottawa isn't afraid of putting younger guys int the lineup  

Yes but guys rarely jump from the A to a top 6 spot.
I will say it now, I think Norris has a harder time this year over last year. I think having to face more teams will be harder on the team this year. We got to play more softer opponents in the Canadian division. Having a full 82 against harder teams will show that lack of experience.
I don’t think know that I want to call it a sophomore slump but if those are our two centres then I think we have a more ch harder time.

Yeah, Flo, I think you're probably right. They'll acquire a C, and likely not a great one, more likely just another aging vet to be a short term minute eater.

tim1_2 wrote:Yeah, Flo, I think you're probably right.  They'll acquire a C, and likely not a great one, more likely just another aging vet to be a short term minute eater.

And they wonder why they can't sell tickets. This team has been waiting years to do something of significance after repeatedly losing star players. All this talk about building through the draft and a patient rebuild - we have all the pieces and cap space in the world to do something big and time and time again they sit on their hands and do nothing.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Yeah, Flo, I think you're probably right.  They'll acquire a C, and likely not a great one, more likely just another aging vet to be a short term minute eater.

And they wonder why they can't sell tickets. This team has been waiting years to do something of significance after repeatedly losing star players. All this talk about building through the draft and a patient rebuild - we have all the pieces and cap space in the world to do something big and time and time again they sit on their hands and do nothing.

It's to the point now where I'd rather they do nothing than do something dumb (i.e. potentially sell the farm to trade for Eichel). There's no need to rush anything, we're probably still two seasons away from being a real contender. That said, there have been quality centres, wingers, and defencemen traded or signed that would have been great fits here in Ottawa.

Getting tired of waiting.

tim1_2 wrote:

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Yeah, Flo, I think you're probably right.  They'll acquire a C, and likely not a great one, more likely just another aging vet to be a short term minute eater.

And they wonder why they can't sell tickets. This team has been waiting years to do something of significance after repeatedly losing star players. All this talk about building through the draft and a patient rebuild - we have all the pieces and cap space in the world to do something big and time and time again they sit on their hands and do nothing.

It's to the point now where I'd rather they do nothing than do something dumb (i.e. potentially sell the farm to trade for Eichel).  There's no need to rush anything, we're probably still two seasons away from being a real contender.  That said, there have been quality centres, wingers, and defencemen traded or signed that would have been great fits here in Ottawa.

Yeah maybe. But there’s a lot of NMC on those top C’s . They’d have to have Ottawa on their list. Which they likely don’t.

I’m not sure it would cost us something we couldn’t pay to get Eichel. Probably Brannstrom, Grieg or another top prospect, a 1st and a 2nd.
I think something like that gets it done. Maybe throw in Logan brown.

But the question is, do we really want Eichel? He’s got problematic written all over him.
We know very little about his injury problems apart from what doctors are saying about the type of surgery he wants. The problems could be bigger. And I don’t see a universe in which he resigns 5 years from now. He’s looking for a big market team from where he can get big money endorsements. Ottawa is not that market.

As far as other C’s available, they’re s got to be some that are.

If I’m Dorion I focus on two guys Kuznetsov and Hertl.
Kuz would be cheap in terms of assets and includes a little risk plus a high cap risk but his salary is 5M in singing bonus this year so who knows. Which is likely already paid out.

Hertl is one year away from UFA so he has to come with a new contract. And if he does he’s likely 7-8mill range. He’ll cost a 1st, a 2nd and a A prospect.

We are wasting time, money and letting any sort of upside with our fringe prospects expire the more we sign plugs. I don't want Eichel but do think it's time to pull the trigger and do something of significance

Flo The Action wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Yeah, Flo, I think you're probably right.  They'll acquire a C, and likely not a great one, more likely just another aging vet to be a short term minute eater.

And they wonder why they can't sell tickets. This team has been waiting years to do something of significance after repeatedly losing star players. All this talk about building through the draft and a patient rebuild - we have all the pieces and cap space in the world to do something big and time and time again they sit on their hands and do nothing.

It's to the point now where I'd rather they do nothing than do something dumb (i.e. potentially sell the farm to trade for Eichel).  There's no need to rush anything, we're probably still two seasons away from being a real contender.  That said, there have been quality centres, wingers, and defencemen traded or signed that would have been great fits here in Ottawa.

Yeah maybe. But there’s a lot of NMC on those top C’s . They’d have to have Ottawa on their list. Which they likely don’t.

I’m not sure it would cost us something we couldn’t pay to get Eichel. Probably Brannstrom, Grieg or another top prospect, a 1st and a 2nd.
I think something like that gets it done. Maybe throw in Logan brown.

But the question is, do we really want Eichel? He’s got problematic written all over him.
We know very little about his injury problems apart from what doctors are saying about the type of surgery he wants. The problems could be bigger. And I don’t see a universe in which he resigns 5 years from now. He’s looking for a big market team from where he can get big money endorsements. Ottawa is not that market.

As far as other C’s available, they’re s got to be some that are.

If I’m Dorion I focus on two guys Kuznetsov and Hertl.
Kuz would be cheap in terms of assets and includes a little risk plus a high cap risk but his salary is 5M in singing bonus this year so who knows. Which is likely already paid out.

Hertl is one year away from UFA so he has to come with a new contract. And if he does he’s likely 7-8mill range. He’ll cost a 1st, a 2nd and a A prospect.

Yes we would want Eichel but it will cost more than that I imagine. Superstar #1C and would take us over the top in a year or two. 5 years is long enough regardless if he signs after that. That’s a long term deal. Would be well worth it. That being said I think we’ll be a good contending team without him as well, as I expect them to make some other moves now or next year.

No chance they bring in Kuznetsov - he is exactly the kind of guy they don’t want on the team.

Where you play only limits your endorsement money for local campaigns. McDavid plays in Edmonton but does plenty of nation-wide ad campaigns. If Eichel is missing out it has more to do with the fact that he looks like Sideshow Bob without the charming voice, than it does with him playing in the armpit of the hockey universe.

wprager wrote:Where you play only limits your endorsement money for local campaigns.  McDavid plays in Edmonton but does plenty of nation-wide ad campaigns.  If Eichel is missing out it has more to do with the fact that he looks like Sideshow Bob without the charming voice, than it does with him playing in the armpit of the hockey universe.

Which team or market you play in factors in tremendously. McDavid is one of the top faces of the NHL. Of course that changes things. If Eichel plays for one of the bigger US market teams it’s gonna affect which sponsors he can draw in. And not only the local ones.