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

I don't think so. Qualify him and move him in-year if needed. Hellybuck is going to cost the Sens Sogaard, Greig and something else at a minimum

I was strictly talking about the cap situation. With Norris and Forsberg off IR and with DeBrincat's $9M QO, assuming $1.5M for Pinto and Brannstrom and $1.2M for Hamonic the total cap (including buyouts and Murray) is just about $80M (cap is expected to be $83.5M). And that still requires at least 2F and 1G (more likely 3F + 1D + 1G). If that 1G is Hellybuyck we will need to move a large contract out.

If we move Batherson, instead, we would have $2.3M cap space left (after DeBrincat and Hellybuyck) and would still need a minimum of 3F and 1D.

Situation will be a lot better the following year as the cap is expected to go up significantly ($88M?) and we'll be done with Murray and the buyouts (White's buyout will actually be a net positive in 24-25 before it goes back up to $875K for 3 more seasons).

I'd 100% keep Bath over DeBrincat. I think Bath is the better player and he's half the price.

I can see Chabot being the odd man out. Weird take I know but he's arguably our 4th best dman. If Chych were ore reliable injury wise I'd really consider doing it.

I can also see Joseph being moved. Guy is dead cap space

But if the sense is Cat isn't going to sign you 100% move him. I'd want a top ten pick and a prospect back or two A prospects. LA and NYR make the most sense to me. Pittsburgh and Washingom too

Here's hoping he's true to his word and lets turn know before the draft.

And if he's *not* I guess you have your answer anyway.

Matthew Tkachuk is making me pretty excited for what we can expect from Brady when we make the playoffs. I haven't watched a ton of Panthers hockey but man is he ever carrying that team on his shoulders.

Timely scoring + elite goaltending seems to be the recipe for success.

Goaltending is priority #1 for Ottawa IMO. Get Hellybuck and if it means moving Cat so be it. Greig seems like another guy who if he puts on 20 lbs would be a beast in the playoffs. Boucher as well (if he ever makes it)

Sens sign Finnish RHD (undrafted free agent) to 1 year entry level contract. Nikolas Matinpalo, 24 years old, RHD, 6'2" 202 lbs. Currently playing for Finland at the Worlds. Watch him this afternoon against Canada in the quarter finals.

Just a bit of hyperbole:

@jb_murderer7 wrote:One of the most coveted defenders in the Finnish league. Could legit be as good, if not better than Jake Sanderson by the end of the season.

I like it. Create some competition for that 3 RD or maybe even 2 RD. As far as I'm concerned the only locks on D are Chabot, Chych, Zub, and Sanderson. Brann, JBD, Thomson, Kleven can all fight it out. This pretty much means Hamonic is gone IMO or at most is signed to a one-year contract. Maybe Guenette gets a sniff too

This also allows Chabot, Chych, and Sanderson to play their natural positions and approx 20 mins a night each which I think would optimize their usage. This could spell the end to Brann as well.

We need trade chips and cheap contracts if we want to bring in Hellybuck. Winnipeg needs prospects with upside

wprager wrote:Just a bit of hyperbole:

@jb_murderer7 wrote:One of the most coveted defenders in the Finnish league. Could legit be as good, if not better than Jake Sanderson by the end of the season.

Jeez. Someone was just a tad over excited.
I’ll be impressed if he’s an actual full time NHLer and not just some Belleville depth.

Neko sparks clashing with sens fans on twitter

"How would you know? Wait, you don't. Your judgment is based on what you read; unfortunately, those aren't the facts. Obviously, we're still here for a reason, and it's not spit and quarters. Line up with the other haters because we're not going anywhere."

I reference to them pulling in more people

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:"How would you know? Wait, you don't.  Your judgment is based on what you read; unfortunately, those aren't the facts. Obviously, we're still here for a reason, and it's not spit and quarters. Line up with the other haters because we're not going anywhere."

I reference to them pulling in more people

Ouf… not a good look to argue with fans.

I’m not sure I really would want to start arguments with possible owners myself.

Seems like the fan base is very divided on who they’d like as owners.

Personally, I just want an owner with deep pockets and that leaves the running of the team to management. A silent owner if possible.

I guess there is a bidding war. Sparks bit was vetted in the first round, I seem to recall he was backed by Goldman Sacks -- maybe the highest bid went above his pre-approved limit so he's scrambling to scrape together a few more 10s of millions.

Flo The Action wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:"How would you know? Wait, you don't.  Your judgment is based on what you read; unfortunately, those aren't the facts. Obviously, we're still here for a reason, and it's not spit and quarters. Line up with the other haters because we're not going anywhere."

I reference to them pulling in more people

Ouf… not a good look to argue with fans.

I’m not sure I really would want to start arguments with possible owners myself.

Seems like the fan base is very divided on who they’d like as owners.

Personally, I just want an owner with deep pockets and that leaves the running of the team to management. A silent owner if possible.

Friedman reporting the process is a mess. Can't say I'm surprised.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

Flo The Action wrote:

Hockeyhero22000 wrote:"How would you know? Wait, you don't.  Your judgment is based on what you read; unfortunately, those aren't the facts. Obviously, we're still here for a reason, and it's not spit and quarters. Line up with the other haters because we're not going anywhere."

I reference to them pulling in more people

Ouf… not a good look to argue with fans.

I’m not sure I really would want to start arguments with possible owners myself.

Seems like the fan base is very divided on who they’d like as owners.

Personally, I just want an owner with deep pockets and that leaves the running of the team to management. A silent owner if possible.

Friedman reporting the process is a mess. Can't say I'm surprised.

I heard that. Heard it be book worthy.
Maybe because it’s somewhat public.

Well, at least there’s options and someone wants the team to stay in Ottawa!

I found that comment to be a bit hyperbolic. You've got two young owners and a board helping them out -- that's got to lead to some longer turnaround times on decisions. Then you've got a surprising amount of interest in the team, primarily because of the real-estate side of things; other recent deals did not have those elements so not really easy to compare.

Listened to Dorion on LOSP. Can't help but think DeBrincat is going to get moved this summer