Opening Night Roster - 2024-2025

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Claude Giroux
Josh Norris - Shane Pinto - Drake Batherson
David Perron - Ridly Grieg - Michael Amadio
Noah Gregor - Zack Ostapchuk - Zack Macewen

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven - Travis Hamonic/JBD

Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg

Ranking Top 6: 7th-12th best in East
Ranking Bottom 6: 11th-13th best in East
Ranking Goaltending: 6th-8th best in East

Most likely finish: 11th-12th in the East
- AlfieisKing

My only changes .....
Guenette in for JBD/Hamonic
MacEwen out and Crookshank in.
Forsberg out and Sogaard in.

Ottawa and several other teams are gunning for Washington's playoff spot.

Last year Ottawa had 255 GF and 281 GA for a differential of -26.

Washington had 220 GF and 257 GA for a differential of -37.

Ottawa flipped Chychrun -30 for Jensen -9. Sens also added Ullmark.

Sens (improved defence) and Caps (more offence) are clearly choosing to move in opposite directions

Islanders were 246 GF and 263 GA for a -17 differential.

Sens are much closer than folks believe. They need to reverse the bad start to begin the season.

Just get a winning record in November for once. Or even .500 but if you can edge out a winning record in November then this team will have officially changed its course.

There are rumors that Staios is trying to get Rutger McGroarty out of WPG. That would certainly be an interesting move, and bring in a remedial high draft pick from one of the 'lost' draft years due to the DeBrincat/Chychrun trades. At the draft the asking price was speculated as a 2nd & 3rd round picks, but I have to believe if that's true the deal would have been done by now. The Senators couldn't afford to give up a 1st, because they need to keep that available for the Davydov fiasco. But they could do a 2nd-2025/2nd-2027, and personally I would because McGroarty is exactly the kind of player Staios would eventually love to have on the 2nd/3rd line.

That said, the main problem in WPG is apparently that there's no path for McGroarty to play NHL games this year, due to their roster depth. Would Staios actually let him walk into a 4th line W role? That might depend on their intentions for Ostapchuk, as you typically wouldn't be playing multiple rookies on the same line. Though if you did, Ostapchuk & McGroarty are about as mature a pair of young forwards as you're likely to find.

There are rumors that Staios is trying to get Rutger McGroarty out of WPG. That would certainly be an interesting move, and bring in a remedial high draft pick from one of the 'lost' draft years due to the DeBrincat/Chychrun trades. At the draft the asking price was speculated as a 2nd & 3rd round picks, but I have to believe if that's true the deal would have been done by now. The Senators couldn't afford to give up a 1st, because they need to keep that available for the Davydov fiasco. But they could do a 2nd-2025/2nd-2027, and personally I would because McGroarty is exactly the kind of player Staios would eventually love to have on the 2nd/3rd line.

That said, the main problem in WPG is apparently that there's no path for McGroarty to play NHL games this year, due to their roster depth. Would Staios actually let him walk into a 4th line W role? That might depend on their intentions for Ostapchuk, as you typically wouldn't be playing multiple rookies on the same line. Though if you did, Ostapchuk & McGroarty are about as mature a pair of young forwards as you're likely to find.
- khawk

I wouldn't mind this deal. If for no other reason than it is A move, and I still feel the Sens need to make one.

JBD and a 3rd?

In other news...Tarasenko signed $4.75 x 2. Would you rather have Senko at that price, or Perron at what we paid?

I wouldn't mind this deal. If for no other reason than it is A move, and I still feel the Sens need to make one.

JBD and a 3rd?

In other news...Tarasenko signed $4.75 x 2. Would you rather have Senko at that price, or Perron at what we paid?
- GrimmdaGoalie

Senko, hes younger and better and just off his second cup good vet with experience.

I wouldn't mind this deal. If for no other reason than it is A move, and I still feel the Sens need to make one.

JBD and a 3rd?

In other news...Tarasenko signed $4.75 x 2. Would you rather have Senko at that price, or Perron at what we paid?
- GrimmdaGoalie

This is what I was thinking, why not bring back Senko? He is simply a better producer than Perron and literally just won the cup.

It's not like Perron is defensively minded.

"Gabriel Eliasson is featured in Sweden’s biggest hockey publication today."

This kid was only 6 days away from qualifying for the 2025 draft. He still is not old enough for US college hockey.

He is very, very rough. But he has great size, a mean attitude and a really decent skating stride for a 6'7" kid who is still growing.

He has not committed to any league next year but was leaning towards the USHL before college in 2025.

He will talk to the Sens before making a decision. I would like to see him play OHL and close to Ottawa.

Bear in mind that I'm getting these figures from Cap Central here on HBuzz....

Sens have $3.6 milllion in space.

They have 11 forwards signed on one way contracts. They have 6 D signed on one way contracts, including JBD and Hamonic.

So, if Kleven comes up to 3rd LHD (which we all assume at this point) that means $920k comes off. Leaves approx $2.5 million (without waving anyone or sending people down...more on that later).

Bringing up just ONE of Crookshank, Ostapuchuk, Boucher, Javernite, Halliday or the newly acquired Jenik for a look on the 3rd or 4th line will cost another $900 to 775 k. So now we are down to approx $1.5 million.

Two things:
- as much as I want them to make one more signing, I think the Sens are done unless JBD's contract goes out
- and if Kleven comes up, almost guaranteed JBD gets waived to be sent down, and there is very little room for wiggle room

My only changes .....
Guenette in for JBD/Hamonic
MacEwen out and Crookshank in.
Forsberg out and Sogaard in.
- OttawaB

Fair enough! I think with Hamonic and JBD you have TONS more NHL experience. Coaches tend to go to vets.

Crookshank deserves a good look this year!

Really impressed to read Pinto is headed to Halifax later this summer and will skate with Crosby, Marchand, Batherson and others prior to training camp.

Management was extremely patient last season and took a long look at every player on the roster. JM and DA were the boots on the ground for this purpose and ultimately gave their thoughts to Staios on who was who. It is pretty obvious who Alfredsson and Martin value as players and who they do not.

The management team has certainly committed to a full clean up. Every piece that is counterproductive to or not in the future plans of the team vision has been or will be moved out.

I think there are still more moves of the "small splash" variety that will finish off was has already been started. I think this may include JBD or perhaps Hamonic. These final decisions may be made with the benefit of a training camp to gauge the how the prospects may fit in but I think these two players may not be on the opening night roster.

Wanna see this out of him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpqMFF8piJw

Thoughts on Tyler Johnson or Cal Clutterbuck? I think we have to improve our bottom 6 and get another depth D-man.

Injuries happen and this team is already thin at 3rd pair D and bottom 6

Is Ullmark enough to drag Sens back to the playoffs?

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/vi...s-back-to-the-pla~2952409

First off .... Tyler Johnston ....made $5 million last season. I don't think you get him at league minimum so he is a pass for me .... too expensive, and at 5' 8" in height he is too small for our needs.

As for Tarasenko vs Perron ..... Tarasenko is way too soft for what we need and I also question his overall leadership. At this point it is not about who can score more. Its about changing the tenor of this team. We don't need more "easy going guys" in the locker room. I think Staios and Poulin identified the types of players and personalities they wanted. Its all about fit and I don't think we need another player like Tarasenko. I just believe that Perron brings more of the personality and leadership that they want. Tarasenko is never going to stick up for a player (rough up or fight) for an egregious incident that happens on the ice. Brady Tkachuk is one of the few Sens players who does, and he needs help in policing. Perron brings this element, Tarasenko does not. Again, we were a bad team last year and there is a need to make many changes to change the attitudes and how we play.

Nice interview here with Nick Jensen on the Coming In Hot podcast...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7NaWjTzJpk

Jason York had him as one of the top best-fit D-men for them going back to a year ago, so there's definitely a favorable impression of what Jensen can bring to the table to help the team's blueline.

Nice interview here with Nick Jensen on the Coming In Hot podcast...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7NaWjTzJpk

Jason York had him as one of the top best-fit D-men for them going back to a year ago, so there's definitely a favorable impression of what Jensen can bring to the table to help the team's blueline.
- khawk

The guys on the interview also brought this up ....... Look at their interview with Ullmark and then with Jensen. You can see the type of player that Staios and Poulin et al are looking for.

Last day for Capfriendly. It disappears tomorrow.

Last day for Capfriendly. It disappears tomorrow.
- OttawaB

Ullmark is roughly the same age Anderson was when he came in and provided the only consistent stability in net this team has ever had.

I'm excited to see what this team can do with a real goalie for once. It could be a real awakening , or the team D could let them down once again. Time wil tell!

I very much liked the interview with Jensen. Down to earth veteran guy who knows his is being brought in as a role player. He knows they want him to lead by example in the work ethic department and to keep him game simple.

I hope he finds success in the role. The Senators need that role filled and the veteran presence.

I very much liked the interview with Jensen. Down to earth veteran guy who knows his is being brought in as a role player. He knows they want him to lead by example in the work ethic department and to keep him game simple.

I hope he finds success in the role. The Senators need that role filled and the veteran presence.
- HoweHatrick

Much of the criticism that I've been seeing about the moves Staios has made are about the limited contributions that might be expected from veteran like Perron/Jensen or from a pair of depth forwards. However, it seems pretty clear that Staios expects the team's improvement to be primarily driven by the growth & development of the team's core of young talent. As such, the majority of his roster changes have the singular purpose of bringing in the right players to help enable that process.

So Jensen doesn't have to match his career high in points, but he'll earn his money by not being a -30 and allowing Chabot to be more aggressive with the puck. Perron doesn't have to score 30G, but he'll earn his money by scoring a few key goals when the other scorers aren't producing, and stepping into a larger role when injuries start mounting. Ullmark doesn't have to win a Vezina, but he'll earn his money by not letting in the first shot of the game nearly 1/2 the time, and making a some key saves when the team needs it most.

In many ways, it's what Dorion "tried" to do by bringing in players like Murray, Stepan, and Gudbranson... except Staios actually made sure they: a) were okay playing in Ottawa, and b) actually reflected the character they wanted to model for the team's young players. The evaluation of these moves will come from the extent to which the team is playing each game with consistency, and giving themselves a chance to win or at least earn a point. They're not as far away as some people seem to believe - they just need to hit the ground running in October, and try to play the game more to their strengths.

^^ let's see how they play.

We are talking like these moves are so fitting to what Staios wanted - yea, got it. But how much will the impact be?

Shean Donovan and Cody Bass were solid in the 2008 playoffs for the Sens but it doesn't matter that much because the team was a poor team / not as good as the Pens (not nearly as good). So as much as Jensen and Perron can fit with this team, the overall 18 skaters are very questionable beyond 5-8 names (Stutzle, Tkachuk, Batherson, Sanderson, Giroux, Pinto, Grieg, Zub)

^^ let's see how they play.

We are talking like these moves are so fitting to what Staios wanted - yea, got it. But how much will the impact be?

Shean Donovan and Cody Bass were solid in the 2008 playoffs for the Sens but it doesn't matter that much because the team was a poor team / not as good as the Pens (not nearly as good). So as much as Jensen and Perron can fit with this team, the overall 18 skaters are very questionable beyond 5-8 names (Stutzle, Tkachuk, Batherson, Sanderson, Giroux, Pinto, Grieg, Zub)
- AlfieisKing

You have Greig on your list ahead of Perron, and missed Chabot altogether? That makes it at least a list of 9-10 quality players which is actually where most good teams are. Go look at TBL, BOS, CAR, NYI, TOR, even NYR... who do they have past their top-9/10 skaters that are so demonstrably better? Not to mention that it will be your top players that win you games. Your bottom half of the roster just has to do their job with a degree of competence. In that sense, they've made some quality upgrades, and added a goaltender that should help improve their on-ice performance.