Traded Egor Sokolov traded to Utah for Jan Jenik

[Icelevel]

Re Ostapchuk
I think he’d benefit from top minutes in Belleville.
Can bring him up later in the season. No rush with him.

 

[bert]

Unless there's an injury up front, that would make the fourth line Cousins-Janik-Ostapchuk with Gregor a healthy scratch?

In a scenario there is no injuries Ostapchuk may go down because he doesn't require waivers. I just think he's gonna knock down the door. They're gonna have some hard decisions to make up front which is great news.

 

[Masked]

In a scenario there is no injuries Ostapchuk may go down because he doesn't require waivers. I just think he's gonna knock down the door. They're gonna have some hard decisions to make up front which is great news.

He might also be sent down for cap reasons if we need to keep the roster below the maximum.

Re Ostapchuk
I think he’d benefit from top minutes in Belleville.
Can bring him up later in the season. No rush with him.

With his style of play, he'd benefit more from better competition than bigger minutes.

 

[GCK]

Ostapchuk could play with Ottawa but I think the numbers will push him back to Belleville to start the season.

 

[Dionysus]

Ostapchuk could play with Ottawa but I think the numbers will push him back to Belleville to start the season.

Would be fine with that. Allow him to get more offensive touches and big minutes. He has to really outplay his competition to grab a spot.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Unless there's an injury up front, that would make the fourth line Cousins-Janik-Ostapchuk with Gregor a healthy scratch?

I think Gregor is probably our best forward on the PK. For that reason alone I think he plays most nights if healthy. I think his speed will also be valued.

If Jenik keeps looking this good I think he has to make the team. In which case I think Ostapchuk goes down to start the year. At this point if I had to guess I'd say our 4th line is like this:

Cousins - Gregor - Jenik
MacEwen

We look to have some decent depth that could come up and at least play on the 4th line in case of injury (Reinhardt, Ostapchuk/Jenik, Crookshank, HIghmore). We don't have much in the way of AHL scoring depth though, with only Gaudette and possibly Halliday filling that role.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

I think it's too early to decide Jenik over Ostapchuk, it's just one game. Jenik definitely earned himself a serious look at an NHL spot after last night, but both of these guys are being considered for a 4th line role, so we need to see how they perform in that role with limited minutes before making a decision.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I think it's too early to decide Jenik over Ostapchuk, it's just one game. Jenik definitely earned himself a serious look at an NHL spot after last night, but both of these guys are being considered for a 4th line role, so we need to see how they perform in that role with limited minutes before making a decision.

Unless there are no alternatives I'm not sure what the logic would be in playing Ostapchuk in a 4th line role after a single season at the AHL level, one in which he had only 28 points in 69 games.

Play a 23 year old like Jenik in that role instead and have Ostapchuk play big minutes in Belleville in a more offensive role. Would be much better for his development.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Unless there are no alternatives I'm not sure what the logic would be in playing Ostapchuk in a 4th line role after a single season at the AHL level, one in which he had only 28 points in 69 games.

Play a 23 year old like Jenik in that role instead and have Ostapchuk play big minutes in Belleville in a more offensive role. Would be much better for his development.

Because he might be a better fit for the 4th line than Jenik.

Ostapchuk likely tops out as a bottom 6 player, which you still need to win. I don't think playing him in an offensive top 6 role in Belleville will be any better for his development than playing him in a bottom 6 role in the NHL, so long as he proves he's ready for it.