Not sure why there's such a theme of negativity when the team is finally starting to show signs of progress. It's true that the DeBrincat/Chychrun returns weren't great in terms of raw asset returns, but in both cases a significant amount of the value was accounted for by what they avoided - including mid-season distractions, team culture issues, and long-term cap problems. Case-in-point, the Jensen trade probably saved them at least 3-4 years of severe over-payment for one of the UFA options, or an even more severe over-payment via trade. At worst, Staios did a good job of using one problem to solve another, while protecting the assets he valued most. Meanwhile, the Ullmark trade has the potential to be one of the best in team history, which all shows more strategic direction than we've seen from the team in years.

As for not developing players beyond the early first round, Chabot, Norris, Batherson, Pinto, Greig, Kleven, and Bernard-Docker fall outside that range, and account for 1/3 of the active roster. Beyond that, they have at least a half-dozen AHL players who will likely see NHL games at some point in the season, they just had one of the better quality drafts in recent memory, and the Bourgault/Jenik trades may even have yielded some NHL-potential supporting talent. That said, the team that won the Stanley Cup last year had just 3 drafted players who played at least 50GP... 2 of whom were drafted more than 7-8 years ago. The Stanley Cup champion from the year before had just 2 drafted players who played at least 50GP. I'm not trying to downplay the importance of drafting well, but developing your team culture and managing your salary cap are even more important.
- khawk

Folks need to look at the hard data on many players from each round actually get to play 50 games at the NHL level.

On average 18 out of 32 first round picks will play in the NHL. 8 2nd rounders will make the show and less than 4 3rd rounders.

If nothing else, the top-down team effort showed the kind of messaging and expectation that Travis Green has brought to this year's training camp. It will be interesting to see how it translates to the rest of the roster.
- khawk

Intense competition for roster spots also plays a role.

There is an implied message to the prospects in the organization that they will not be backing into a bottom D pairing / 4th line spot. They will need to beat an NHL calibre player.

Very interesting game... this was not supposed to be anything other than a bottom-6 audition for most of the depth forwards and a chance to see what the 3rd D-pair might look like, and they more than exceeded expectations. Jenik/Reinhardt certainly made a case for a longer look at training camp with 4 points each. Gaudette fell just short of the Gordie Howe hat trick, but scored a big goal and showed he could handle himself in the faceoff circle (7/12). Yakemchuk obviously had the benefit of playing beside Chabot for most of the game, but certainly showed his potential as a future top-4D. Despite polar opposite skill sets, I thought the 2nd D-pairing of Kleven-Addison were pretty effective, and played quite well to each other's strengths. Sogaard could have played better in the 3rd, but they were under siege for much of the period and he made a couple of key saves in OT.

If nothing else, the top-down team effort showed the kind of messaging and expectation that Travis Green has brought to this year's training camp. It will be interesting to see how it translates to the rest of the roster.
- khawk

I was impressed with Guenette especially having to play with Sebrango who has 0 NHL experience. No matter how well Guenette plays he's on a 2 way contract and Hamonic and JBD are on 1 way contracts. So he's getting shafted again this year.

I was impressed with Guenette especially having to play with Sebrango who has 0 NHL experience. No matter how well Guenette plays he's on a 2 way contract and Hamonic and JBD are on 1 way contracts. So he's getting shafted again this year.
- granpa

Guenette played relatively well on the 3rd D-pair, but it was definitely a 3rd pairing assignment with limited ice time. Confusing that with the quality of opposition ice time faced by the top-4D in that game would be questionable. Not to mention that when the season begins, the burning question will be which player is best suited to play a full NHL season beside Kleven. It's not impossible for Guenette to win that roster spot, because Yakemchuk will go back to the WHL, Addison is on a PTO, and they've already waived Bernard-Docker once. However, the reality is that he's got even less NHL experience than Kleven, and he'll have to be good enough in training camp to make them actively pass on two players with over 100GP of NHL experience. If he should fail to do that, it's not quite the same thing as being shafted.

The Senators have cut 4 players from training camp:
https://www.prohockeyrumo...ng-camp-cuts-9-23-24.html

D Matthew Andonovski (OHL-Kitchener)
F Lucas Ellinas (OHL-Kitchener)
D Gabriel Eliasson (SHL-HV71)
D Filip Nordberg (USHL-Sioux Falls)

No real surprises there, as it would just be a first camp experience for all of these players. But these are all players of interest to follow during the season, and it wouldn't be a surprise if at least 1 received a WJC invite. Interesting to note that both Andonovski and Ellinas will be in Kitchener (wearing a C/A respectively), and Norberg will be playing along with Javon Moore in Sioux Falls. It also leaves Yakemchuk as the only CHL/USHL-eligible player in training camp, which isn't unexpected given his draft pedigree and the fact that he's been getting the benefit of mentorship from Thomas Chabot.

Ullmark injured...

Ullmark injured...
- Mithos

could you imagine if Forsberg got the call, and he went down.

Ottawa's depth
Mads Sogaard (10 career wins)
Leevi Merilainen (0 career wins)

Ullmark "tweeked" something. Nobody want's to say anything. But sure. Lets get this guy signed asap.


What a lack luster boring game, once again we can't score. Jensen looks.....serviceable. And that's about as polite as I can be.

Ullmark injured...
- Mithos

All I could think of when I read this was "Hasek 2.0"...

Greig injured

Greig is back in practice today (Wed.) as a full participant.

Ullmark expects to play in game on Thursday.


Everybody happy now .... back away from the edge. The sky is not falling. This is not Hasek 2.0. Why do Ottawa fans immediately jump to Chicken Little views when it comes to our goalies.

Greig is back in practice today (Wed.) as a full participant.

Ullmark expects to play in game on Thursday.


Everybody happy now .... back away from the edge. The sky is not falling. This is not Hasek 2.0. Why do Ottawa fans immediately jump to Chicken Little views when it comes to our goalies.
- OttawaB

Realistically ....... if Ullmark comes in and provides 0.905 - 0.91 SVV and around 2.6-2.75 GAA .......... Let's say he can put in 50-55 games. Ottawa's team defence improves and we are in the playoff hunt. Granted ... all these points are ideal.

So what would you be willing to pay this 31 year old goalie, and at what term ? Overall if we ignore the above stats and Ottawa just plays a more stabilized defensive structure .... what salary and term do you think Ottawa has to pay to retain Ullmark.

Or
Regardless, what are you willing to pay him and at what term? This answer might actually show how badly goalie contracts are disrespected league why and why we will probably see goalie salaries dramatically increase in the next few years as Demko, Oettinger, etc. contracts also start to come due.

Noticing of course we have to be realistic when we see what Shesterkin, and Swayman might get .... and knowing what Bob, Vasilevskiy, Hellebuyck make.

Linus Ullmark contract worth to me: 5 years @6.5M

Linus Ullmark contract worth as UFA: 4y@7.5M OR 5y@7.25M

If Ullmark can play close to 50 games and win AT LEAST 25, imo he is worth up towards 5y@7-7.25M

Greig is back in practice today (Wed.) as a full participant.

Ullmark expects to play in game on Thursday.


Everybody happy now .... back away from the edge. The sky is not falling. This is not Hasek 2.0. Why do Ottawa fans immediately jump to Chicken Little views when it comes to our goalies.
- OttawaB

Nope.
ZUB is gone for testing to a specialist. Sky falling again. And no 007 to bail us out.

I think the bigger question for Ottawa this year is....

.....how bad will the traffic be to get to games? Its the worst I have ever seen with all this construction on the 417 heading west. And now you add game night traffic??

I think the bigger question for Ottawa this year is....

.....how bad will the traffic be to get to games? Its the worst I have ever seen with all this construction on the 417 heading west. And now you add game night traffic??


- GrimmdaGoalie

we all managed before when public servants worked full time in the office....we'll manage again...

However. To your point. The city grew over covid....it didn't shrink. There are now three barhavens...not Old barhaven and new barhaven. So. There's something to what you're saying. There's literally no reason to go to the game tonight unless you believe Ullmark and Norris might play.

Listening to game announcers on TV can so so frustrating at actually how inept they are.

They keep telling us how the Senators are being dominated and largely outshot by essentially a Rochester AHL team with players from the ECHL as well. But the announcers completely ignore the fact that the Senators are playing with basically their Bellville AHL team. I think only Pinto is the Ottawa player from last year. Sure, Klevin and Gregor are playing but both are young in the league. Ullmark looks good and got a good game in IMO.

Listening to game announcers on TV can so so frustrating at actually how inept they are.

They keep telling us how the Senators are being dominated and largely outshot by essentially a Rochester AHL team with players from the ECHL as well. But the announcers completely ignore the fact that the Senators are playing with basically their Bellville AHL team. I think only Pinto is the Ottawa player from last year. Sure, Klevin and Gregor are playing but both are young in the league. Ullmark looks good and got a good game in IMO.
- OttawaB

yes Pinto is the ONLY full time NHLer on the roster for tonights game that is not a G and ullmark had a .966 SV% in the first. Also sens have 17 PIM to BUFs 7.

Lots of guys should be sent down after that game.

I'm not sure why Gregor should keep a spot. He has not looked good in either game he has played in. I'd risk waiving him to Bellville.
Addison can have his PTO ended at any point unless he signs an AHL contract with Bellville.
Roos .... nope. Too many mistakes and sloppy play. In fact, the whole defence looked kind of shabby.
I continue to wonder how McEwen can keep a job on the 4rth line as well.

For a change, the best Senators on the ice were the goalies. I thought Ullmark and Tokarski played well given the defensive coverage.
Even Pinto looked sloppy, but that may be because he had no professional hockey player support to aid him.

Cuts to be made by the Sens brass should be pretty easy this round.

I will never know why preseason lasts so long. Games like last night were pointless. I guess a money grab.

This season is playoffs or bust for the core. I was hoping for a little more roster reinforcement in the offseason but the addition of Ulmark is good. If Ulmark is a top 15 goalie in the NHL this year, I think the Sens will squeak into the playoffs. I have 2 concerns with Ulmark. Number 1 is his ability to play behind a weaker defensive team than Boston. The underlying stats do support he’s an upgrade on Korpisalo, but it really is not hard to do that. Number 2 is his contract situation. He’s saying all the right things, but so did Chychrun and Debrincat once upon a time. Would be nice to see him start well and lock into a multi-year extension at an affordable price. I’d be weary of the Igor Shesterkin contract situation. He will likely get a contract in the 10-12 mill range. Ulmark likely is keeping a close eye on that. While it’s nice to say you have a goalie who has won the Vezina, he certainly will be using that to his advantage in any contract negotiation. How much do the Sens want to pay for a goalie?

Sanderson needs to take a step to an elite level this year and Chabot needs to be comfortable in the #2 role. There was some obvious difficulty with Chabot and Chyhrun trying to share similar roles. With the emergence of Sanderson, I hope that difficulty does not translate over. Theoretically, the defense is more defined and well rounded than it was last year.

Norris needs to be healthy or else the team needs to part ways one way or another (LTIR or trade). His salary is simply too high to hope he plays. While injuries happen, you need at least some consistency in recovery and the ability to come back. This team needs to build chemistry and move upward and that won’t happen with a top paid forward playing 10 games and sitting out 50 over and over. Some of the practice videos look promising though I am not sure why you wouldn’t dress him in one of the early preseason games.

If Travis Green can get this team to play a solid system that includes accountability and consistency, this team will be very hard to play against. I am still not sure Green is the man for the job and it didn’t inspire much confidence in me watching the game last night and the commentators saying they recognized his dumbfounded look to the teams’ poor play from his days in Vancouver.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless Gregor hits waivers, there really is only one forward spot available. And, unless Addison or Guenette really outplay Kleven or JBD, the D is pretty well sowed up too.

Unless the Sens are waiting to see what falls out from other camp's roster moves, there isn't much to figure out with training camp.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless Gregor hits waivers, there really is only one forward spot available. And, unless Addison or Guenette really outplay Kleven or JBD, the D is pretty well sowed up too.

Unless the Sens are waiting to see what falls out from other camp's roster moves, there isn't much to figure out with training camp.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but unless Gregor hits waivers, there really is only one forward spot available. And, unless Addison or Guenette really outplay Kleven or JBD, the D is pretty well sowed up too.

Unless the Sens are waiting to see what falls out from other camp's roster moves, there isn't much to figure out with training camp.
- GrimmdaGoalie

top 6 is set, top 4 D is set, G is set, 1RD spot open 3LD is Klevens, remainder playing for spots in bottom 6 and 3RD