Prospect Info: Jacob Bernard-Docker (D) 3 year ELC signed

[armani]

That was heart breaking to watch, a high ankle sprain is a difficult recovery process. This could be the last time we see JBD in a Sens jersey, hope he can land a 2-way contract elsewhere to hopefully stick as a depth defenceman in another organization.

Kleven-Matinpalo is at least status quo vs. Hamonic or JBD as the 6th option. Needs to be sheltered with top-4 playing majority of the minutes.

 

[Micklebot]

Ugh... that really sucks for him. I wouldn't expect him back at this point, at least not expecting him to be back to his old self.

For reference, Batherson went out with a high ankle sprain on Jan 25 2022 came back end of Mar but wasn't the same for nearly the entire next season.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Lol, that’s not what you said though, you said if JBD is out long term then…….

...and JBD plays on a team with other injuries. That's the context you didn't consider.

I would love to replace Ullmark short term but that's not realistic. Neither is making a trade to 'replace' Perron.

Bringing in a bandaid 6D could be the difference between missing the playoffs and making it, and I don't want to wait months to find out. We'd be comfortably in if we didn't suffer other major injuries.

Hope that helps explain what I was getting it.

 

[bicboi64]

man that sucks for JBD. Hope his recovery goes as smooth as possible so he can still get another NHL contract

 

[Micklebot]

man that sucks for JBD. Hope his recovery goes as smooth as possible so he can still get another NHL contract

It sucks, because he will probably be healthy enough to play the last dozen games or so, but coming off a High Ankle sprain is not how you want to showcase yourself for the next contract, those games might hurt his stock more than help.

 

[Golden_Jet]

...and JBD plays on a team with other injuries. That's the context you didn't consider.

And you failed to mention, that context in your OP.
Makes a world of difference to the original meaning in your post.

If hes out long term and Staios doesn't make a move to address it, he (Staios) can be blamed for missing the playoffs.

 

[KevinRedkey]

So a 7th Dman is the key to missing the playoffs???
I think finding a reliable back up goalie is 10 times more important.

Again.. why are we pretending like it's the only injury we have?

On a team with the injuries we have - yes absolutely a 6th and 7th best Dman being injured may cost us valuable points in the standings. If we didn't have other major injuries, then it wouldn't matter as much but that's not the situation, is it?

As for a backup - there's not many options and they are more costly (value wise) than bringing in someone like Peeke (just an example). Quick would be great but he has a NTC. A lot of other options make too much money and handcuff us cap wise.

6D is the most realistic bandaid.

And you failed to mention, that context in your OP.
Makes a world of difference to the original meaning in your post.

I didn't mention we are talking about the Ottawa Senators. Do I need to mention that as well?

The current state of the team isnt context that should need to be mentioned for you to understand the importance of team injuries. It's not really on me that it went over your (and a few others apparently) head here.

 

[Micklebot]

...and JBD plays on a team with other injuries.

I said he needs to be replaced.
You ignored context.

We were likely looking for an upgrade on JBD anyways, he's our 7th D on the depth chart, and Matinpalo doesn't seem like a big drop off from him if at all (very small sample mind you).

I don't see replacing JBD as the be all and end all if we miss the playoffs, pretty much every other injury (Ullmark, Perron, Amadio, Hamonic) is likely a bigger impact, so I think your sentiment would apply more to any of them.

What this injury does do however is make us very vulnerable for the next injury (similar to how both Perron and Amadio out makes us thin on the wing). I hope Hamonic is back soon, that will alleviate some of the pressure.

 

[Golden_Jet]

It's not really on me that it went over your (and a few others apparently) head here.

Looks like it was on you, if several people all thought the same thing.

It was poorly written or wasn’t clear, for what it turns out you actually meant.
It’s ok to admit it wasn’t clear.

If hes out long term and Staios doesn't make a move to address it, he (Staios) can be blamed for missing the playoffs.

 

[Xspyrit]

Really sucks for JBD, even if sitting some games he was establishing himself even more.

I think scoring is an issue but some of that is by design. After the losing streak Green wanted the team to concentrate on defense and they have done a good job at that for the most part. But as a result guys are staying in the D zone longer and not taking as many chances allover the ice. As a result they aren't getting as many opportunities to score.
They being said a bunch of guys are sucking offensively right now. Tkachuk is by far the leader in creating expected goals 5 x 5. Whereas Batherson and Norris have been just OK this season and poorer the last 10 games. Timmy is sucking at goal scoring 5 x 5 . One even strength goal in 15 games and he's not creating chances either.

We really needed to play better team defense and we do but our scoring has been very problematic for more than 2 months... Hopefully they can start scoring more while keeping good defensive habits. There's only 2 good offensive wingers and a a 36 y/o man... not ideal. Also need to inject more talent on the 3rd line. Basically need 2 talented Top-9 wingers. Or that Perron and Giroux are both healthy and rejuvenated.

Depth is far better than last year but still an issue. Dorion left the team in a tough spot.\

Hmmm. disagree here. We have better coaching that is capable of instilling some NHL level team defense (something DJ never could) and much better goaltending too but

2023-24 vs 2024-25

Chabot 0.59 PPG vs Sanderson 0.55 PPG
Chychrun 0.50 PPG vs Chabot 0.45 PPG
Sanderson 0.48 PPG vs Jensen 0.34 PPG
Zub 0.36 PPG vs JBD 0.16 PPG
Brannstrom 0.26 PPG vs Zub 0.15 PPG

Stutzle 0.93 PPG vs Stutzle 1.05 PPG
Tkachuk 0.91 PPG vs Tkachuk 0.97 PPG
Batherson 0.80 PPG vs Batherson 0.95 PPG
Giroux 0.78 PPG vs Giroux 0.63 PPG
Tarasenko 0.72 PPG vs Norris 0.58 PPG
Pinto 0.66 PPG vs Gaudette 0.46 PPG
Norris 0.60 PPG vs Greig 0.34 PPG
Joseph 0.49 PPG vs Pinto 0.33 PPG
Greig 0.36 PPG vs Cousins 0.31 PPG

Our Top-3 forwards have a better pace so far (but tends to slow down over time) but our scoring is massively down from last year, which is what I was envisioning last summer.

The whole bunch has sacrificed some offense to play better defense, Pinto and Zub have been injured and underperformed. Giroux is getting older. Gaudette and Cousins can't replace the offense Tarasenko/Joseph provided. All of our D-men (except Sanderson due to PP pts) are producing less, it must be because they are less active offensively but it is also because we traded Chychrun and nobody can replace his offense.

 

[GCK]

Really sucks for JBD, even if sitting some games he was establishing himself even more.



We really needed to play better team defense and we do but our scoring has been very problematic for more than 2 months... Hopefully they can start scoring more while keeping good defensive habits. There's only 2 good offensive wingers and a a 36 y/o man... not ideal. Also need to inject more talent on the 3rd line. Basically need 2 talented Top-9 wingers. Or that Perron and Giroux are both healthy and rejuvenated.



Hmmm. disagree here. We have better coaching that is capable of instilling some NHL level team defense (something DJ never could) and much better goaltending too but

2023-24 vs 2024-25

Chabot 0.59 PPG vs Sanderson 0.55 PPG
Chychrun 0.50 PPG vs Chabot 0.45 PPG
Sanderson 0.48 PPG vs Jensen 0.34 PPG
Zub 0.36 PPG vs JBD 0.16 PPG
Brannstrom 0.26 PPG vs Zub 0.15 PPG

Stutzle 0.93 PPG vs Stutzle 1.05 PPG
Tkachuk 0.91 PPG vs Tkachuk 0.97 PPG
Batherson 0.80 PPG vs Batherson 0.95 PPG
Giroux 0.78 PPG vs Giroux 0.63 PPG
Tarasenko 0.72 PPG vs Norris 0.58 PPG
Pinto 0.66 PPG vs Gaudette 0.46 PPG
Norris 0.60 PPG vs Greig 0.34 PPG
Joseph 0.49 PPG vs Pinto 0.33 PPG
Greig 0.36 PPG vs Cousins 0.31 PPG

Our Top-3 forwards have a better pace so far (but tends to slow down over time) but our scoring is massively down from last year, which is what I was envisioning last summer.

The whole bunch has sacrificed some offense to play better defense, Pinto and Zub have been injured and underperformed. Giroux is getting older. Gaudette and Cousins can't replace the offense Tarasenko/Joseph provided. All of our D-men (except Sanderson due to PP pts) are producing less, it must be because they are less active offensively but it is also because we traded Chychrun and nobody can replace his offense.

You really need to grasp that the management identified our GA as the biggest issue and begun addressing that in this offseason. Our offence needs to improve but D is the priority.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Hmmm. disagree here. We have better coaching that is capable of instilling some NHL level team defense (something DJ never could) and much better goaltending too but

Also a lot of that has to do with players buying in now vs before. Which players have themselves mentioned.

2023-24 vs 2024-25

Chabot 0.59 PPG vs Sanderson 0.55 PPG
Chychrun 0.50 PPG vs Chabot 0.45 PPG
Sanderson 0.48 PPG vs Jensen 0.34 PPG
Zub 0.36 PPG vs JBD 0.16 PPG
Brannstrom 0.26 PPG vs Zub 0.15 PPG

Stutzle 0.93 PPG vs Stutzle 1.05 PPG
Tkachuk 0.91 PPG vs Tkachuk 0.97 PPG
Batherson 0.80 PPG vs Batherson 0.95 PPG
Giroux 0.78 PPG vs Giroux 0.63 PPG
Tarasenko 0.72 PPG vs Norris 0.58 PPG
Pinto 0.66 PPG vs Gaudette 0.46 PPG
Norris 0.60 PPG vs Greig 0.34 PPG
Joseph 0.49 PPG vs Pinto 0.33 PPG
Greig 0.36 PPG vs Cousins 0.31 PPG

Hmmm
Not sure why you are comparing different players from one year to another year
Vs comparing the same player from one year to another.

Like Chabot to Chabot
Zub to Zub
Norris to Norris
Etc.

Improving defense, will have an affect on offense.

 

[Xspyrit]

You really need to grasp that the management identified our GA as the biggest issue and begun addressing that in this offseason. Our offence needs to improve but D is the priority.

Why would I need to grasp something I was talking about in 2020? I understand that you don't remember but I was already talking about "team defense" back then when most were simply blaming goaltending. We were playing DJ Dorion hockey, of course our defense sucked.

The team was almost instantly much better defensively when Jacques Martin took over. We were still giving up a bunch of goals but our goalies were really struggling, IIRC even our excepted goals against were down

Defense and offense need to both be the priority, hopefully they're still adjusting and will be able to score more when habits will be stronger (already addressed in that last post)

In the post you quoted, I said "sacrificed some offense to play better defense" so you probably did not read what was written after the stats.

Hmmm
Not sure why you are comparing different players from one year to another year
Vs comparing the same player from one year to another.

Like Chabot to Chabot
Zub to Zub
Norris to Norris
Etc.

They are simply ranked from better PPG to worst PPG. The goal was more to compare the numbers than the name of the players. I could have said scorer #1, scorer #2, etc

 

[bicboi64]

It sucks, because he will probably be healthy enough to play the last dozen games or so, but coming off a High Ankle sprain is not how you want to showcase yourself for the next contract, those games might hurt his stock more than help.

Hopefully he'll get enough reps in to look good when we're a few rounds into the playoffs

 

[Micklebot]

Hopefully he'll get enough reps in to look good when we're a few rounds into the playoffs

It took Batherson a full year to look good after his high ankle sprain.

 

[KevinRedkey]

If hes out long term and Staios doesn't make a move to address it, he (Staios) can be blamed for missing the playoffs.

I'll eat crow on this. Mantipalo has been MUCH better than I expected.

 

[Micklebot]

I'll eat crow on this. Mantipalo has been MUCH better than I expected.

I think people were sleeping on him a bit, he was good overseas, and had a very strong first year in Belleville. I expected him to challenge for a roster spot at camp.

 

[Cosmix]

I think people were sleeping on him a bit, he was good overseas, and had a very strong first year in Belleville. I expected him to challenge for a roster spot at camp.

Matinplano does not look any better nor worse than JBD to me. If JBD is looking for a raise for next season, his replacement (Matinplano or other) is going to be cheaper. Perhaps Yakemchuk can make the roster next season but I doubt it; I expect he will need some AHL development first.

 

[Micklebot]

Matinplano does not look any better nor worse than JBD to me. If JBD is looking for a raise for next season, his replacement (Matinplano or other) is going to be cheaper. Perhaps Yakemchuk can make the roster next season but I doubt it; I expect he will need some AHL development first.

The big advantage he has over JBD is size and strength, they move around the ice pretty similarly, neither has a big advantage wrt puck movement, but Matinpalo has the strength to move bodies in front of the net, and the length to make guys take wider routes on the rush.

I don't think Matinpalo has the puck skills to be a top 4 guy, but I think if he can adjust to the NHL pace and speed he could be a very good bottom pair Dman.