EMERGENCY FAN MEETING: The Senators are Soft, Broken, and Have No Identity - Here's My Fix. Share Yours.

[Yak]

The State of the Senators: SENATORS: NO IDENTITY, SOFT, BROKEN & LOST - I Have Solutions, What Are Yours? (A 30-Year Fan's Deep Dive)

[Warning: Grab a coffee and get comfortable. Like our playoff drought, this is going to take some time.]

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PART 1: INTRODUCTION
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1.1 The Journey

I've been here since day one - from Rick Bowness to Jacques Martin, from the Civic Centre to the Canadian Tire Center, from Laurie Boschman to Brady Tkachuk. I've witnessed the brutal 10-win season in '92-93 and felt the excitement of our Cup run against the Ducks. After 30 years of bleeding Senators red, I've seen it all - the good, the bad, and the "maybe next year." I am super passionate about this team and have kept my thoughts to myself for the most part this year, but I just can't hold back anymore.

1.2 Current State

Here we are again, watching another November meltdown torpedo our playoff hopes. Yes, we're seeing flashes of brilliance in some games, moments where we look like world-beaters. But those two points we let slip away in October and November? They don't come back in April.

The frustrating part? On paper, everything's fixed:
• New ownership ✓
• New management ✓
• New coaching staff ✓
• Fans back in the seats ✓
• Relatively healthy roster ✓

Yet here we are, still stuck in the basement, still making excuses about bounces and bad luck.

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PART 2: CORE ISSUES
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2.1 The Identity Crisis

For five years straight, we've been "searching for an identity." That's NHL-speak for "we don't know what we are." When a team with this much talent still can't define itself, there's a deeper problem. Every team claims they want to be "hard to play against" - that's like saying water is wet. We need something more concrete, something that actually means something in today's NHL.

2.2 The Leadership Dilemma

Let me preface this by saying I'm Brady's biggest fan, but here's the hard truth: we threw him into the captain's seat too young and then tried to change his game. Why? Because we had no one else ready for the 'C'. Instead of bringing in a veteran to show him the ropes, we went with trial by fire.

Here's the real kicker - we're telling a power forward to play like a finesse player. His brother just won a Cup in Florida playing the exact style we're trying to coach out of Brady. When Brady plays with edge, throws the body, and gets in your face, that's when he's at his best. That's when he's the leader this team needs.

The coaches want him to avoid fights, limit the big hits, stay out of scrums. No! That's exactly what this team needs - that's the identity we should be building around. I'll take 23 Bradys any day (heck, put one in net while we're at it).

2.3 The Clone Factory

Our roster is like a bunch of photocopies, and here's why:

Looking at our forward group:
• Tim Stützle: Skilled but not physical
• Josh Norris: Great shot, but won't win board battles
• Drake Batherson: Skilled but disappears in tough games
• Shane Pinto: Not living up to early promise
• Claude Giroux: Veteran skill but not changing the culture


We've got snipers and playmakers, but where's the edge? Where's the nasty? Brady brings it, but he needs company. Even Greig, who has some bite to his game, isn't consistent enough with it.

The bottom six? They might as well be invisible most nights. Our third and fourth lines aren't changing momentum, aren't wearing teams down, aren't making opponents pay a price.

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PART 3: DEFENSIVE ISSUES
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3.1 The Soft Blue Line

Let's break it down:
• Nick Jensen (+11): Quietly our best defensive D-man. Nothing flashy, just solid positioning and smart plays
• Jake Sanderson (-14): Great potential but getting exposed against top lines
• Thomas Chabot (+5): Making $8M to play like a #2/3 D-man. Great offensively but not the shutdown guy we need
• Artem Zub (-7): Struggling with injuries and consistency
• Hamonic: Looking done. Time to move on

The bigger issue? No physical presence. Nobody clearing the crease. Nobody making forwards pay a price for cutting through the middle. Our hits might look good on paper, but watch the games - they're love taps, not momentum-changers.

3.2 The Goalie Graveyard

Let's talk about our goaltending situation, because it's beyond ridiculous at this point. We've become the place where good goalies come to lose their mojo, and it's not by accident.

Take a look at our recent history:

• Ullmark: Walks in with swagger and an $8M contract, six weeks later looks like he's seen a ghost
• Talbot: Solid elsewhere, struggles here, Solid Elsewhere
• Forsberg: Can't find consistency
• Daccord: Leaves and suddenly looks like a Vezina candidate
• Gustavsson: Finds his game the moment he leaves

Here's the thing - we can't be this unlucky with goalies. When EVERY goalie struggles here but plays well elsewhere, that's not a goalie problem. That's a US problem. Let's break it down:

The Defense Problem:

Our "defensive" corps is about as protective as a screen door in a hurricane:
• Scattered coverage in front of the net
• No consistent net-front clearing
• Defensemen built for offense trying to play shutdown roles
• Constant positional breakdowns
• Zero intimidation factor for opposing forwards

The Coaching Issue:

We're trying to develop NHL goalies with AHL-level goalie coaching. It's like trying to fix a Ferrari with a hammer and screwdriver. Our goalie coaches seem overwhelmed and out of their depth. These aren't beer league goalies - they're elite athletes who need elite coaching.

The Mental Game:

Goalies are a different breed to begin with - they need special handling. Instead, we're:
• Hanging them out to dry defensively
• Providing inadequate technical support
• Offering zero mental health support
• Watching their confidence erode game by game

Look at Ullmark - guy showed up looking like he owned the place, had that championship swagger. Now? Six weeks in and he looks like he's questioning if he remembers how to stop a beach ball. That's not bad goaltending - that's a systematic destruction of confidence.

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PART 4: ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES
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4.1 The Money Problem

Under the old regime, we were always worried about losing players we couldn't afford. So what did we do? Backed up the Brink's truck before guys even earned it. Everyone got $8M based on potential, not production.

Think about it - if someone backs up a truck full of cash to your house, are you working as hard at your job tomorrow? These guys can retire and never play another game in their lives and be set. Where's the hunger? Where's the drive? Yes, they want to win - all players do - but that desperate edge that comes from having something to prove? That's gone.

4.2 Development Issues

We're failing our players at every level of development, but nowhere is this more evident than with our goalies and young defensemen. We're throwing kids into the deep end without proper support systems in place:
• AHL-level coaching for NHL-caliber talent
• No veteran mentorship program
• Inadequate mental preparation
• Poor physical conditioning oversight
• No clear development path

It's like we're building a house without a foundation and wondering why everything keeps falling apart.

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PART 5: THE SOLUTION
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5.1 Identity Reset

Stop trying to be something we're not. Want an identity? Look at your captain when he's playing his natural game:
• Physical presence every shift
• Making opponents pay a price
• Playing with emotion and edge
• Leading by example
• No shift off, no excuses

That's your identity right there. When Brady plays his game - the way his brother played to win a Cup - that's who we should be. Instead, we're trying to be some watered-down version of a skill team when we don't have the right mix for that.

5.2 Roster Reconstruction

Too many similar ingredients don't make a good meal. We need:
• Different player types throughout the lineup
• More edge in the top nine, not just the fourth line
• Guys who make opponents dread coming to Ottawa
• Players who complement each other instead of duplicating skills

Sometimes good players aren't good together. Having six playmakers doesn't make you six times better - it makes you predictable. We need sandpaper, we need nasty, we need guys who make opponents check the schedule and groan when they see Ottawa coming up.

5.3 Cultural Revolution

The culture needs a complete overhaul:
• Stop waiting for someone else to step up
• Play like you're down a goal even when you're up by two
• Make teams earn every inch of ice
• Hold each other accountable
• Get angry about losing
• Play like Florida - aggressive, relentless, physical

Look at what Florida did last year - they weren't the most skilled team, but they made you pay a physical price every single shift. That's what we need. That's what we're missing.

5.4 Specific Action Items

Immediate changes needed:
• Bring in a proper sports psychologist for the goalies
• Add veteran defensive presence who can actually clear the crease
• Upgrade goalie coaching to NHL caliber
• Rebuild the bottom six with purpose, not just bodies
• Let Brady be Brady - take the leash off
• Create accountability at every level

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PART 6: CONCLUSION
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6.1 Final Thoughts

This isn't about one player, one coach, or one bad stretch. This is about fundamental changes needed in how we build and play as a team. The talent's there, but the mixture is wrong. Chemistry isn't just about putting good players together - it's about putting the RIGHT players together.

6.2 The Way Forward

We need to be the team that makes you wake up the next morning feeling like you've been hit by a truck, not the team that lets you dance through the neutral zone untouched. Make Ottawa feared again - not just for skill, but for the complete package:

• Physical dominance
• Mental toughness
• Complete game
• Clear identity
• Winning culture

No fear. No excuses. The time is now.

[P.S. - Feel free to disagree and reference any section number in your replies. That's what makes these discussions valuable. But something needs to change, and it needs to change now. We can't keep doing the same thing and expecting different results - that's the definition of insanity, and we've been insane long enough.]

Click to read more...

 

[Senovision]

You get it Yak. Great takes. You actually understand the importance of physical play.
We have a lot of softy tofty figure skaters on defence and forward. And yes you build around Brady and I too would like 23 Bradys on this team.

 

[Tuna99]

When you watch a game and Gregor stands out for his speed in the offensive zone, and it’s only Gregor and Stutzle on the entire team that look fast - the team is way to slow.

Team speed to me is our biggest issue - drop Giroux, Perron, Cousins, Amadio, and add faster players.

Baseline should be speed, if you are trading or drafting you can only bring in players that increase team speed.

Sens don’t create stress, don’t care at panic, they are just there trying hard. Won’t improve with such a slow team

 

[Yak]

When you watch a game and Gregor stands out for his speed in the offensive zone, and it’s only Gregor and Stutzle on the entire team that look fast - the team is way to slow.

Team speed to me is our biggest issue - drop Giroux, Perron, Cousins, Amadio, and add faster players.

Baseline should be speed, if you are trading or drafting you can only bring in players that increase team speed.

Sens don’t create stress, don’t care at panic, they are just there trying hard. Won’t improve with such a slow team

I agree with that. I probably should have added that in there. Just so many things it was like where to start. Very good and valid points. I I know they work with Shelly the speed skater but Jesus they all look like they got concrete blocks chained to their skates when they go up ice. If it wasn't for their passing skills, they'd never get out of their own Zone.

 

[Melgene Eunyk]

When you watch a game and Gregor stands out for his speed in the offensive zone, and it’s only Gregor and Stutzle on the entire team that look fast - the team is way to slow.

Team speed to me is our biggest issue - drop Giroux, Perron, Cousins, Amadio, and add faster players.

Baseline should be speed, if you are trading or drafting you can only bring in players that increase team speed.

Sens don’t create stress, don’t care at panic, they are just there trying hard. Won’t improve with such a slow team

Exactly. It's all east west and it's too easy to defend. It also explains the inconsistency in our scoring. When it's working, they look unstoppable. When it's not, it's almost anemic.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

 

[Tuna99]

Exactly. It's all east west and it's too easy to defend. It also explains the inconsistency in our scoring. When it's working, they look unstoppable. When it's not, it's almost anemic.

Pinto looked okay last night, but it’s really only Stuztle and Brady making any impact on hockey games and the rest of the team is treading water. Ullmark recently seems like he could help, but he’s 1-3-1 in his last 5, 3 out of possible 10 points.

 

[Yak]

Pinto looked okay last night, but it’s really only Stuztle and Brady making any impact on hockey games and the rest of the team is treading water. Ullmark recently seems like he could help, but he’s 1-3-1 in his last 5, 3 out of possible 10 points.

The first line is carrying this entire team. We would be in a complete meltdown if it wasn't for them. Timmy is by far the only player improving this year. Everyone else is either the same or regressing.

Gauds is having some amazing chemistry and taking advantage of the opportunity. When other teams start focusing on him more, we'll see how he does.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

We simply need better players throughout the lineup. More skill, more speed, more brains, and more physical play. We wasted too many draft picks in the Dorian era to do a proper rebuild and the roster was constructed badly.

How to fix it......at this point, it's nearly impossible. Hope that we strike gold in the next few drafts.

 

[Tuna99]

We simply need better players throughout the lineup. More skill, more speed, more brains, and more physical play. We wasted too many draft picks in the Dorian era to do a proper rebuild and the roster was constructed badly.

How to fix it......at this point, it's nearly impossible. Hope that we strike gold in the next few drafts.

Need to find our Alfie, Kucehrov, Stone somewhere in the draft or acquire the St Louis, Hasek, Naslund in a trade to break out of this funk

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I feel like a lot of this is mental. Ullmark is finally coming around with a few strong games now and yet the team looks the worst it has this year as that comes around.

I think that If they'd gotten some results early and the goaltending hadn't tanked, the numbers show they were playing well, and I really believe things would have taken off, but now with things crumbling again, they've gotten in their heads and play has regressed. Not sure what the answer is but it's hard to believe in this team atm with how fragile they've been years in a row. They feel a little thin on talent when measuring them against good teams, but there's also no denying the underlying numbers were good, so who knows. Either way, only thing that matters is wins and they haven't gotten them.

These next 5-6 games are basically their last stand on the year before it can be written off.

 

[DueDiligence]

You get it Yak. Great takes. You actually understand the importance of physical play.
We have a lot of softy tofty figure skaters on defence and forward. And yes you build around Brady and I too would like 23 Bradys on this team.

Actually Timmy and Brady compliment each other perfectly. Fast skilled centre and a big tough winger and both will mix it up. Put a reasonably skilled shooter with them, for example Gaudette, and they are a very solid #1 line.
The problem is that the other lines are not skilled enough or tenacious enough to make a consistent impact. Guys constantly getting beaten to pucks and pushed around.
And the defense is soft as molasses.

 

[BankStreetParade]

We simply need better players throughout the lineup. More skill, more speed, more brains, and more physical play. We wasted too many draft picks in the Dorian era to do a proper rebuild and the roster was constructed badly.

How to fix it......at this point, it's nearly impossible. Hope that we strike gold in the next few drafts.

I keep seeing people repeat this. Who in the guys who are locked in long term was a bad choice? Stutzle, Sanderson, Batherson, Tkachuk, Norris, Pinto, Chabot, Zub. To say the roster was constructed badly, you'd be implying many of these names were not the right choices.

 

[PlayOn]

The fixes this season are basically:

1. Ullmark
2. Sanderson
3. Secondary scoring

The good news is Ullmark appears to be turning it around, he was solid in his last two starts.

We got someone besides the main six scoring a goal in 3/4 games since our losing streak. We registered at least a point in all three of those games. Pinto also looked the best he’s looked in awhile last night.

Sanderson… I don’t know. He’s still struggling.

I don’t know that all three things get us into a playoff spot but they’re really the main things that can drive how big a push we make. Tkachuk, Timmy, and Batherson are basically producing every night, but they need some help.

 

[DueDiligence]

Need to find our Alfie, Kucehrov, Stone somewhere in the draft or acquire the St Louis, Hasek, Naslund in a trade to break out of this funk

Alfie was complimented by guys like Neil and Fisher ; tough hard working guys that gave 100% every night. Who are those guys on the Sens?

I keep seeing people repeat this. Who in the guys who are locked in long term was a bad choice? Stutzle, Sanderson, Batherson, Tkachuk, Norris, Pinto, Chabot, Zub. To say the roster was constructed badly, you'd be implying many of these names were not the right choices.

Of all the guys you mention there's only one that any other team is worried to go into a corner with. And he's not one of your Dmen.

 

[Melgene Eunyk]

And things would look differently on the prospect front if we had hit on the boucher pick, or one of the many 2nd rounders we pissed away. Even 2 legit prospects right now would brighten the situation.

The scary thing, for me, is that we are so reliant on this 'core' figuring it out. Based on what I've seen, I don't know that it's a mentality thing. We do seem to have a lot of character guys that care. I think it's just not a good mix talent-wise.

All this being said, if we do decide to flip 'core' pieces, we need to return serious value. Flipping someone like Chabot or Norris for a 'change of scenery' isn't going to net us the assets we need. Our best bet is to flip someone like batherson for a big return.

 

[BankStreetParade]

Alfie was complimented by guys like Neil and Fisher ; tough hard working guys that gave 100% every night. Who are those guys on the Sens?


Of all the guys you mention there's only one that any other team is worried to go into a corner with. And he's not one of your Dmen.

Ok?

That's not even remotely the question. Bad roster construction means we f***ed up the draft selections (Stutzle, Sanderson, Tkachuk, Batherson, Chabot, Pinto), targeted the wrong guys in trades (Norris) and didn't do a good job with free agent signings (Zub). So, there's gotta be multiple names in there where the team went wrong. Who are they and why? How could we have done better in those spots?

 

[PlayOn]

Alfie was complimented by guys like Neil and Fisher ; tough hard working guys that gave 100% every night. Who are those guys on the Sens?


Of all the guys you mention there's only one that any other team is worried to go into a corner with. And he's not one of your Dmen.

Who did the Devils draft that people are afraid of going into a corner with?

They acquired most of those players. We continue to be too reliant on the draft for all the answers.

 

[Yak]

WARNING: The following analysis contains brutal honesty mixed with gallows humor. If you're an optimistic Sens fan, please consult your therapist before proceeding. Side effects may include uncontrollable laughing , crying , or the urge to throw your jersey on the ice

Listen up, fellow sufferers of the Senator Syndrome! Before the "Positive Petes" flood the comments with "it's not that bad" (what color is the sky in your world? ), let's dive into this beautiful mess we call a hockey team.

First, a moment of hope: We're due for some good karma. We've sacrificed enough chickens, firstborns, and liver cells watching this team that the hockey gods HAVE to notice eventually. Right? RIGHT?!

THE GREAT DEFENSE ADVENTURE
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Sanderson: The only defenseman who makes me want to keep watching hockey. He's what Chabot thinks he sees in the mirror every morning. Too bad he's a minus -14 on this season, he added some bulk and lost some hockey IQ

Chabot ($8M Man) : Has a great first pass... and that's the end of my compliments. For $8M, he should be able to hit the broad side of a barn. Instead, he's missing nets like I miss the days when we were good. It's okay, it won't be long before he's injured again.

Jensen: Playing surprisingly well for someone old enough to remember our last playoff series win.

Zub: Remember when we thought he was good? Turns out we were just comparing him to our other defensemen, which is like being the tallest dwarf in Snow White.

Hamonic: Was a good player back in his day, emphasis on 'was' and 'back in his day.' Must be telling some incredible jokes in the room because his on-ice performance has become one. Had that one good season with us, then decided to stick around like that party guest who doesn't realize the host is in their pajamas. Three seasons past his expiry date and still trying to convince everyone the milk hasn't gone sour. Someone please start a GoFundMe to buy him a gold watch and a hint.

Kleven: Young kid with potential, but spending too much time learning from Hamonic is like taking financial advice from someone who invested their life savings in Blockbuster Video. Love the physicality though - at least someone on our blue line remembers that hitting is legal in hockey.

JBD: Has he turned a corner or is everyone else just making him look better by comparison? It's like being the best-dressed person at a Walmart - the bar isn't exactly high. Not betting my Tim Hortons points on him becoming the next Karlsson anytime soon.

THE FORWARD FOLLIES
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Brady & Timmy: The heart and soul of the team. Everyone else is just along for the ride, apparently in the trunk.

Batherson: Shows up to games like I show up to work - sometimes brilliant, sometimes you wonder if he's actually there.

Giroux: Like that old dog who still knows all his tricks but needs a nap halfway through performing them.

Norris: Three surgeries later, he's playing like someone who's afraid to break a nail. Can't blame him, but also can't build around him.

Greig: Unsuccessfully playing like a playmaker when we drafted him for his gritty grinding style of play and now he's having a identity crisis.

Pinto: Not sure what is up with this kid but his head is somewhere else, maybe in Vegas...bad joke... Anyhow, he needs to focus on his game and add some bulk because he is softer than my sister on the puck.

Gaudette: Playing so far over his head he needs oxygen. It's like watching your buddy who usually shoots 120 suddenly play golf like Tiger Woods - you're enjoying it, but you're also waiting for reality to show up with the bill. Either found lightning in a bottle or we're watching the hockey equivalent of a lucky streak at the casino.

THE BOTTOM SIX COMEDY HOUR
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Amadio: Still trying to figure out what he does here. So is he.

Cousins & Gregor: Show up to games like I show up to family events - technically present but contributing nothing.

Perron: All bark, no bite. The NHL equivalent of that guy at the bar who keeps saying "hold me back!"

THE GOALIE SUPPORT GROUP
-----------------------

Ullmark: Came in looking like a Vezina winner, now looks like he's questioning his life choices.

Forsberg: Trying his best, which is like bringing a water pistol to a forest fire.

COACHING CORNER
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Green got a 4-year contract because someone needs to be here long enough to see all these primadonnas traded. Poor guy probably thought he was getting NHL players, not a group of guys who couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

FINAL THOUGHTS
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To the optimists: I admire your ability to see the bright side. I too once thought like you, but then I watched another November collapse.

To the pessimists: Welcome, brothers and sisters. The support group meets Tuesdays.

To the rest of the NHL: Yes, we know we're a mess. No need to point it out.

[P.S. - If this analysis made you depressed, remember: at least we're not the Maple Leafs. They pay way more money to disappoint their fans. ]

 

[Loach]

I feel like a lot of this is mental. Ullmark is finally coming around with a few strong games now and yet the team looks the worst it has this year as that comes around.

I think that If they'd gotten some results early and the goaltending hadn't tanked, the numbers show they were playing well, and I really believe things would have taken off, but now with things crumbling again, they've gotten in their heads and play has regressed. Not sure what the answer is but it's hard to believe in this team atm with how fragile they've been years in a row. They feel a little thin on talent when measuring them against good teams, but there's also no denying the underlying numbers were good, so who knows. Either way, only thing that matters is wins and they haven't gotten them.

These next 5-6 games are basically their last stand on the year before it can be written off.

They have to win 6 in a row to get in the mix. It's not possible. They done.

 

[PlayOn]

I keep seeing people repeat this. Who in the guys who are locked in long term was a bad choice? Stutzle, Sanderson, Batherson, Tkachuk, Norris, Pinto, Chabot, Zub. To say the roster was constructed badly, you'd be implying many of these names were not the right choices.

Some of these guys probably needed to be bridged. Not even because they aren’t worth their contracts necessarily, but because at their ages almost all of them have had significant ups and downs that mark why this team continues to struggle with consistency. There has never been a season where all of them have been on their game.

I don’t think the core is bad so much as I think that many of them are still experiencing growing pains. If we paid some of them less, we probably have better depth, which maybe helps when a guy like Pinto is struggling early in the year or when Zub gets hurt.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I keep seeing people repeat this. Who in the guys who are locked in long term was a bad choice? Stutzle, Sanderson, Batherson, Tkachuk, Norris, Pinto, Chabot, Zub. To say the roster was constructed badly, you'd be implying many of these names were not the right choices.

This year? And for the roles they're pegged for? The bolded. Sanderson not being what people hoped offensively is imo one of the biggest issues this team has faced. They have almost nothing offensively 5on5 from the backend. Pinto has been dreadful this year. One of the worst players on the team. Same with Grieg. Zub is always injured. I would also argue that group is missing another Stutzle level, or close to talent. Norris and Batherson are nice players, but they should each be one peg down on the ranks imo. Throw Ullmark in there being dreadful to start the year. Giroux looking slow. Half their core has severely underperformed this year.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

They have to win 6 in a row to get in the mix. It's not possible. They done.

Lol. I didn't say I was confident it was actually gonna happen, but that's the situation in front of them. Home stand, weaker opponents, Ullmark finally playing well, and the wild card teams are all bad this year.

 

[DueDiligence]

Ok?

That's not even remotely the question. Bad roster construction means we f***ed up the draft selections (Stutzle, Sanderson, Tkachuk, Batherson, Chabot, Pinto), targeted the wrong guys in trades (Norris) and didn't do a good job with free agent signings (Zub). So, there's gotta be multiple names in there where the team went wrong. Who are they and why? How could we have done better in those spots?

Bad roster construction means you have too main of the same type of players. In Ottawa's case they have a bunch of reasonably skilled but not hard nosed tenacious players. Sanderson, Chabot and Zub are those guys on D and Batherson, Norris, Pinto and are those on the forward group. Giroux also falls into this group.
At draft/trade time the team probably thought those guys would turn out different then what they have turned in to.

 

[BankStreetParade]

This year? And for the roles they're pegged for? The bolded. Sanderson not being what people hoped offensively is imo one of the biggest issues this team has faced. They have almost nothing offensively 5on5 from the backend. Pinto has been dreadful this year. One of the worst players on the team. Same with Grieg. Zub is always injured. I would also argue that group is missing another Stutzle level, or close to talent. Norris and Batherson are nice players, but they should each be one peg down on the ranks imo. Throw Ullmark in there being dreadful to start the year. Half their core has severely underperformed this year.

Ok.

But when someone says the roster was constructed badly it implies we could have done better with either a) a draft selection, b) a player targeted in a trade or c) a free agent signing. I've provided the list of names and I'm waiting for someone to explain to me how we could have improved upon the Sanderson draft pick? The Tkachuk draft pick? Returning Norris in the trade for Karlsson? Signing Zub in free agency? Etc.

These are the guys signed long term. We know how they got here, how could we have done better for each one? Cause if multiple people are saying the roster wasn't constructed well, it means we missed on a bunch of the guys listed. I'm eager to hear how we could have improved upon multiple players.