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

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

wprager wrote:https://www.capfriendly.com/

13 teams are over the cap, and the Sens need a top-4 RHD.  Hmm.  But they also need to move on from Zaitsev.  My gut feel is moving Zaitsev for a pricier D-man (enough difference to bring the other team under the cap) you are likely getting an over-priced player back.  Not helpful.  Arizona is reportedly asking for picks for Chychrun, but without his $4.6M cap hit they would be $3.5M under the floor.

Zaitsev ($1M retained) plus a 1st and 2023 2nd, 2024 1st and 2nd -- would that get it done?  

So my issue with giving up 1st rd picks:

- 2023 draft is deep
- When you consider the Boucher pick (huge reach), it would mean that we've essentially given up a 1st in 2021, 2022 (DeBrincat), 2023 and 2024
- Chychrun isn't worth 4 top 60 picks even if it includes getting rid of Zaitsev. That's a lot of draft capital and I'm not sure how much he actually moves the needle.
- The fact that Chychrun hasn't been traded means that Arizona is asking way too much or there isn't a lot of interest. .
- We don't know what will happen with Formenton and Batherson - Batherson being the bigger contributor of the two. I wouldn't be in a rush to get rid of my 2023 1st just yet. We don't know if DeBrincat will re-sign which also poses as risk in 2024 - but it could mean we also get a 1st back in a trade

I'd be okay giving up Brannstrom, Zaitsev, Formenton, and a 2024 1st for Chychryn but nothing more.

If we're willing to give up that much for a LHD that really isn't all that special, I'd look at other options like Dobson, Theodore, Girard - all players on teams with cap problems. I think Vegas should be looking at a mini-rebuild and a few assets/picks coming back will help them out quite a bit.

I think I messed up on updating my draft post. What I meant was 2023 2nd and 2024 1st and 2nd. Yes, 2023 is a deep draft and we may still not even make the playoffs.

I guess I was looking to kill 2 birds (Zaitsev out, top-4 RHD in) with one trade, and in that case taking advantage of a team over the cap won't work. There's just been too much chatter about Chychrun to Ottawa -- they must be talking. Looks like Arizona is asking for too much so Dorion is just waiting them out. Just don't wait too long -- injuries can happen early in the season (or even pre-season) that would force other teams to go shopping for a top-4 D.

Id wait for the price to go down. I’m sure Dorion made a decent offer. If anything in the past has shown us is that Dorion will pay a little extra than we would like In trades. So if Arizona isn’t hitting then it’s because they’re asking way too much.

A few early (and probably obvious) observations from the WJHC:

- Kleven is a physical beast but he's slow, his skating needs work, and his first pass isn't great. I suspect he'll need at least two years in the AHL after his last year at UND and I don't see him being more than a third pairing d-man

- Hamara is a poor man's Chabot. He has second pairing upside and underrated passing and skating. I actually notice him more than some of the higher profile d-men on the team.

- Jarventie is a much better passer than I thought but I was expecting him to be more dominant in this tournament considering he's played a full year in the AHL now.

- Brad Lambert will be an NHL bust. Way too selfish out there - but I am happy to see Raty have success this year in the tournament.

- Tonight will be a big test for Merilainen who has had a very average tournament. I suspect he'll get lit up and the Canadians will walk all over Finland.

- Greig is exactly the player I thought he'd be.

- I am hoping for more from Ostapchuk in the December WJHC. He's been okay this tournament but I think will flourish with more opportunities in a few months.

- Knies (Toront's 2nd rd pick) is a turnover machine and also appears to be a selfish player. He has a lot of skill but not a lot of hockey IQ. Seems like a perfect pick for the Leafs.

- Although not in the summer tournament, I am hopeful that Boucher makes the December WJHC. I think his size and forecheck prowess will be the difference for USA.

I think Kleven is a good skater for his size and has underrated passing. He’s an nhl lock but yes he’ll take time to get here. He can become a second pair shutdown guy. He’s something we’re desperately missing on defence

Boucher is a lock for the next WJC. Maybe Ostapchuk can play 2nd or 3rd line minutes there.

Ev wrote:I think Kleven is a good skater for his size and has underrated passing. He’s an nhl lock but yes he’ll take time to get here. He can become a second pair shutdown guy. He’s something we’re desperately missing on defence

Boucher is a lock for the next WJC. Maybe Ostapchuk can play 2nd or 3rd line minutes there.

I'm not sure about Kleven having top-four upside. He sort of just flicks the puck out of the zone versus using his feet to fend off the forecheck/find an outlet. He reminds me of Gryba in the way that he plays. I see him on a bottom pairing or I guess maybe as a second pairing in a very traditional stay at home d-man role. But his foot-speed and lateral movement is slow so hopefully he can work on that in the AHL.

I agree that Boucher should be a lock unless the hit left a bad taste with the coaching staff. I'm not sure Ostapchuk has the traditional top-six skill for Canada. Probably 3rd line minutes again.

How about them Latvians. Makes me wonder how NEELY is doing.

wprager wrote:How about them Latvians.  Makes me wonder how NEELY is doing.

I'm just happy there's an Ozolinsh on their team!

Grieg is a blue chip prospect. May not be a high scorer but does everything well and is smart. He can fill a sort of Gallagher Marchand role for us one day

Ev wrote:Grieg is a blue chip prospect. May not be a high scorer but does everything well and is smart. He can fill a sort of Gallagher Marchand role for us one day

I'm aiming for Mike Peca

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

wprager wrote:How about them Latvians.  Makes me wonder how NEELY is doing.

I'm just happy there's an Ozolinsh on their team!

Wai, a Latvian player's name not ending in 's'?

Ah, it's "Ozolins" -- "Gustavs Ozolins".

Not sure I see a mcdavid level player out of Bedard but he certainly will be a superstar

How did people have Finland as the best team? They look terrible

They have some firepower for sure but I'd take probably 4 or 5 Canadians before I'd take the best Finn

On that note, Greig was an absolute monster tonight. I'd still like him to play the year in Belleville but both Formenton and Pinto should be looking over their shoulders

Ev wrote:Not sure I see a mcdavid level player out of Bedard but he certainly will be a superstar

He's not as fast and he's 4 inches shorter than McDavid. Height doesn't really matter but it's McDavid's speed and ability to perform at full speed that separates him from the rest. I think Bedard will be more like Matthews in that he'll be a shoot first top-line player

I've been watching hockey for over a half century. I've watched (live, in person) Kharlamov, Lafleur, Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby, Ovechkin, Karlsson. I've never seen a player with this much acceleration, edge-work and ability to stick handle at top speed. McDavid (whom I have not seen live, in-person -- however high definition comes close) is better at most things than every one before him. I do question his so-called hockey-IQ, though. Maybe his physical tools are so far above everyone else that he never had the need to play "smart". Of course hockey IQ is not something that can be learned. The fact that he's playing in the cap era also doesn't help him, since hockey is *not* basketball and you *do* need a good supporting cast.

That's the problem with building a team in the cap era. It's hard to insulate the highest paid players. Would you rather Draistaitl and McDavid at $21M or Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson at $21M?

Matthews-Marner-Tavares-Nylander for $40M or Tkachuk-Norris-Batherson-Chabot-Stutlze-DeBrincat-Giroux for $43M?