Are you for real right now???We are stripping the team down to an expansion level,without the reward of drafting in the top 3...Nobody hates or is downplaying the kids and their effort level....Its the senseless devoiding of anything remotely close to quality experienced nhl talent,that isnt fair to anyone including our kids....
Not to mention that coming together to make a late push into the playoffs and hopefully a decent playoff run would be tremendous. It would allow them to test their mettle and show them what it takes to play in “must win” situations for weeks on end.
If they manage to squeak in and go on a run it would also create a bond between a lot of these sure fire future senators (Brown, Batherson, Wolanin, Lajoie, Balcers, Paul, Gus) which would be beneficial to the senators later on.
The sens have benefitted from AHL chemistry/winning culture in the past with the Calder cup winning team when guys like Smith, Condra, Greening, Daugavins, Cowen, Butler, Gryba, Boro, Wiercioch all came up together and already had noticeable chemistry together. Similar to the 04 lockout team where Spezza, Vermette, Kelly, Neil, Emery, Volchenkov, Schubert, McGrattan, Bochenski all played together (despite having a disappointing playoffs). There’s a definite benefit to keeping them in the AHL for this season.