Player Discussion Jake Sanderson (D) PART 3

[Micklebot]

Click to see Sanderson Zub

Here's what I think is wild; among D with 300+ mins,

Zub is 1st and Sanderson is 2nd in GF% and xGF% differential,

They are both around 30% in GF%, but 57% and 52% respectively in xGF%, just wild how big a gap there is between the expected result and actual result.

 

[Senscore]

Sorokin leads 3 Stars of the Week | NHL.com

Islanders goalie, Sabres forward Thompson, Senators defenseman Sanderson earn honors

www.nhl.com

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Sanderson has been an absolute monster lately.

8 points in last 4 games +3 against MN/WSH/Utah/Tor

Pretty crazy to think he's pacing 50 points. Especially in a down year for many of our forwards offensively. Many predicted he'd never score 50 once.

He's going to be an absolute superstar. He's only 22.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

You have to read this. Absolutely fantastic article.

 

[bicboi64]

Excellent read, thanks for posting. Its fun learning more about players!

"Not that he shares much about this inner life with his teammates, not about the podcasts he listens to on his commute to the rink each day, not about the journaling he does every morning and night to “try to set up my day the best I can,” as he put it. Not about the self-help books he’s devoted to, except with teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker, a fellow “big reader” with whom he trades books, a practice that dates back to their time at the University of North Dakota."

 

[Senovision]

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Wow his last 5 games log looking like EK

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

You have to read this. Absolutely fantastic article.

Wow future NHL captain.

Alfredsson mentality.

I think Stutzle has it too, and they are being mentored by Alfredsson himself.

 

[Boud]

He started the season playing the way he is playing now and was pretty good for the first few games. Then Zub got hurt and he was playing with Hamonic which is not an easy transition going from Zub.

Then Zub came back and as soon as he found his stride, Sanderson started looking better and better and you could see his confidence grow as the games went on. They complement each other perfectly. Two guys who don’t talk much, that go about their business and that are fully committed to the defensive side of the game. They are truly one of the best pairs this team has ever had.

You look at Chabot and he’s been worth every penny of that 8M$ contract this season and I suspect he will keep building on that as well. When you’re playing with a partner that’s good enough to help you, you’re instantly that much better. It’s the same for Sanderson. It’s not a surprise that he had an “off” year when you are playing every night with a partner that cannot help you. You become scared to jump in offensively, you hesitate, you always have to be the one responsible defensively and every mistake gets magnified because you are a defensemen playing 25+ minutes a night.

Our D has been the biggest reason we are where are where we are. Our top 4 is very good and we are able to get the puck to our forwards and exit our zone cleanly. It’s a lot easier to play as a team when you’re out of the Dzone on the first attempt rather than rimming it off the boards.

This is a big up to Staios. He may not have hit on every deal he’s made but we needed goaltending and defense, and he’s hit both of those perfectly.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Excellent player

 

[PlayOn]

He’s a beast

 

[BigBlackCoffee1984]

My wife agrees with me on this one, his skating is a thing of beauty. He gets around the ice so effortlessly. It's crazy.

 

[Masked]

He started the season playing the way he is playing now and was pretty good for the first few games. Then Zub got hurt and he was playing with Hamonic which is not an easy transition going from Zub.

Then Zub came back and as soon as he found his stride, Sanderson started looking better and better and you could see his confidence grow as the games went on. They complement each other perfectly. Two guys who don’t talk much, that go about their business and that are fully committed to the defensive side of the game. They are truly one of the best pairs this team has ever had.

You look at Chabot and he’s been worth every penny of that 8M$ contract this season and I suspect he will keep building on that as well. When you’re playing with a partner that’s good enough to help you, you’re instantly that much better. It’s the same for Sanderson. It’s not a surprise that he had an “off” year when you are playing every night with a partner that cannot help you. You become scared to jump in offensively, you hesitate, you always have to be the one responsible defensively and every mistake gets magnified because you are a defensemen playing 25+ minutes a night.

Our D has been the biggest reason we are where are where we are. Our top 4 is very good and we are able to get the puck to our forwards and exit our zone cleanly. It’s a lot easier to play as a team when you’re out of the Dzone on the first attempt rather than rimming it off the boards.

This is a big up to Staios. He may not have hit on every deal he’s made but we needed goaltending and defense, and he’s hit both of those perfectly.

Chabot is looking like the player he was going to be before DJ was named coach. Even getting saddled with Hamonic, he's a different player than he was for the past several years. A lot of that has to do with the coaching staff.

Having two absolute studs out there in Sanderson and Chabot playing most of the game is a huge difference. And when they're not out there, Kleven has been rather steady - a perfect guy on the third pairing.

 

[BondraTime]

We put a hit out on him for 2 months shacking him with Hamonic and not adjusting what the pairing was used for.

He looks like a Norris winner again the past month or so. He is a Norris caliber guy, and having him ply this way makes the Sens an incredibly strong team having another guy in Chabot who is playing like a league wide star.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

If Sanderson had been playing for say, Toronto or the Rangers for the past few years, he'd already be seen as a superstar, but if Ottawa can keep improving the way they've been since January, I think he'll start getting the love he deserves as more eyes turn on the Senators.

Very honorable mention to Zub for coming back and providing him with the steady presence he needed to gain back his confidence.

 

[StoicSensFan]

You have to read this. Absolutely fantastic article.

My man

 

[BankStreetParade]

He started the season playing the way he is playing now and was pretty good for the first few games. Then Zub got hurt and he was playing with Hamonic which is not an easy transition going from Zub.

Then Zub came back and as soon as he found his stride, Sanderson started looking better and better and you could see his confidence grow as the games went on. They complement each other perfectly. Two guys who don’t talk much, that go about their business and that are fully committed to the defensive side of the game. They are truly one of the best pairs this team has ever had.

You look at Chabot and he’s been worth every penny of that 8M$ contract this season and I suspect he will keep building on that as well. When you’re playing with a partner that’s good enough to help you, you’re instantly that much better. It’s the same for Sanderson. It’s not a surprise that he had an “off” year when you are playing every night with a partner that cannot help you. You become scared to jump in offensively, you hesitate, you always have to be the one responsible defensively and every mistake gets magnified because you are a defensemen playing 25+ minutes a night.

Our D has been the biggest reason we are where are where we are. Our top 4 is very good and we are able to get the puck to our forwards and exit our zone cleanly. It’s a lot easier to play as a team when you’re out of the Dzone on the first attempt rather than rimming it off the boards.

This is a big up to Staios. He may not have hit on every deal he’s made but we needed goaltending and defense, and he’s hit both of those perfectly.

It's certainly a wonderful time to be a fan of this team but I'm not sure why Staios deserves so much credit here? It's not some coincidence that the team started getting consistent results when they started getting more consistent play from Pinto, Norris, Batherson, Sanderson and Chabot. Our best points percentage run of the season has come with Ullmark out of the lineup. Meri has posted a ridiculous 7-2-1, 0.938 sv%, 1.70gaa, 3 SOs in that time. What does Staios have to do with that? By comparison, Forsberg has given us 4-3-1, 0.902 sv%, 2.67gaa, 0 SOs during Ullmark's absence. It's pretty evident that we wouldn't have this current p% without Meri's performance.

The adage "show me a good goalie and I'll show you a good coach" has always been true for a reason.

Last year, our goaltending combined for -33.7 Goals Saved Above Expected, this year we're already at +16. Last year our expected goal differential at 5on5 was -5.43 and this year it's 3.37. That last set of numbers is not massively different, yet the results are. Look at how Sogaard and Merilainen have flip-flopped in the organization. Do they play for the same coach, under the same defensive system and same structure?

The vast majority of improvements we're seeing this season have come from players that were already in the system. He deserves credit for Jensen and Ullmark (although I don't think anyone could disagree this hasn't panned out quite the way we hoped) and for not dismantling the core just yet. The players who were already here deserve almost all of the credit. They needed a different messenger and so far they've shown great commitment.

 

[Boud]

It's certainly a wonderful time to be a fan of this team but I'm not sure why Staios deserves so much credit here? It's not some coincidence that the team started getting consistent results when they started getting more consistent play from Pinto, Norris, Batherson, Sanderson and Chabot. Our best points percentage run of the season has come with Ullmark out of the lineup. Meri has posted a ridiculous 7-2-1, 0.938 sv%, 1.70gaa, 3 SOs in that time. What does Staios have to do with that? By comparison, Forsberg has given us 4-3-1, 0.902 sv%, 2.67gaa, 0 SOs during Ullmark's absence. It's pretty evident that we wouldn't have this current p% without Meri's performance.

The adage "show me a good goalie and I'll show you a good coach" has always been true for a reason.

Last year, our goaltending combined for -33.7 Goals Saved Above Expected, this year we're already at +16. Last year our expected goal differential at 5on5 was -5.43 and this year it's 3.37. That last set of numbers is not massively different, yet the results are. Look at how Sogaard and Merilainen have flip-flopped in the organization. Do they play for the same coach, under the same defensive system and same structure?

The vast majority of improvements we're seeing this season have come from players that were already in the system. He deserves credit for Jensen and Ullmark (although I don't think anyone could disagree this hasn't panned out quite the way we hoped) and for not dismantling the core just yet. The players who were already here deserve almost all of the credit. They needed a different messenger and so far they've shown great commitment.

Staios hired Travis Green.

Also Forsberg is 8-9-1 on the season with a .895 save %. Ullmark and Merilainen have carried the torch here.

Jensen has made the D much, much better. Including the effect it’s had on Chabot who does not look like the same player.

Staios deserves major props. Finding the right coach to send that messaging. Finding the right defensemen to round out the D. Finding a starting goalie. We were out of a playoff spot until Ullmark went 8-0-1 and guys started believing in themselves.

So yes, Staios has done a great job.

Start over with last year’s roster and we are well outside of the playoffs.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

It's certainly a wonderful time to be a fan of this team but I'm not sure why Staios deserves so much credit here? It's not some coincidence that the team started getting consistent results when they started getting more consistent play from Pinto, Norris, Batherson, Sanderson and Chabot. Our best points percentage run of the season has come with Ullmark out of the lineup. Meri has posted a ridiculous 7-2-1, 0.938 sv%, 1.70gaa, 3 SOs in that time. What does Staios have to do with that? By comparison, Forsberg has given us 4-3-1, 0.902 sv%, 2.67gaa, 0 SOs during Ullmark's absence. It's pretty evident that we wouldn't have this current p% without Meri's performance.

The adage "show me a good goalie and I'll show you a good coach" has always been true for a reason.

Last year, our goaltending combined for -33.7 Goals Saved Above Expected, this year we're already at +16. Last year our expected goal differential at 5on5 was -5.43 and this year it's 3.37. That last set of numbers is not massively different, yet the results are. Look at how Sogaard and Merilainen have flip-flopped in the organization. Do they play for the same coach, under the same defensive system and same structure?

The vast majority of improvements we're seeing this season have come from players that were already in the system. He deserves credit for Jensen and Ullmark (although I don't think anyone could disagree this hasn't panned out quite the way we hoped) and for not dismantling the core just yet. The players who were already here deserve almost all of the credit. They needed a different messenger and so far they've shown great commitment.

The GM picks how he wants the team to play, he hires the people who will get his team to play like that.

Staois, Martin, Green, Alfredsson all deserve massive credit in how they have turned this team around and how they have them playing.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Staios hired Travis Green.

Also Forsberg is 8-9-1 on the season with a .895 save %. Ullmark and Merilainen have carried the torch here.

Jensen has made the D much, much better. Including the effect it’s had on Chabot who does not look like the same player.

Staios deserves major props. Finding the right coach to send that messaging. Finding the right defensemen to round out the D. Finding a starting goalie. We were out of a playoff spot until Ullmark went 8-0-1 and guys started believing in themselves.

So yes, Staios has done a great job.

Start over with last year’s roster and we are well outside of the playoffs.

Agreed. I think the roster is improved but the coaching staff is the biggest difference. Green would not have been my first pick but he's come as advertised; attention to detail and accountability. He's done a great job to date. Staios deserves tons of credit for that hire alone. Re-jigging the roster has been good too.

The biggest challenge, IMO, though will be keeping the window of contention open for more than a couple of years. Our cupboards are pretty bare and it'll be difficult to back fill the roster as players age/price themselves out.

 

[darude]

My wife agrees with me on this one, his skating is a thing of beauty. He gets around the ice so effortlessly. It's crazy.

He's gonna be one of those guys that easily wins Battle of the Blades in 30 years.

 

[Micklebot]

It's certainly a wonderful time to be a fan of this team but I'm not sure why Staios deserves so much credit here? It's not some coincidence that the team started getting consistent results when they started getting more consistent play from Pinto, Norris, Batherson, Sanderson and Chabot. Our best points percentage run of the season has come with Ullmark out of the lineup. Meri has posted a ridiculous 7-2-1, 0.938 sv%, 1.70gaa, 3 SOs in that time. What does Staios have to do with that? By comparison, Forsberg has given us 4-3-1, 0.902 sv%, 2.67gaa, 0 SOs during Ullmark's absence. It's pretty evident that we wouldn't have this current p% without Meri's performance.

The adage "show me a good goalie and I'll show you a good coach" has always been true for a reason.

Last year, our goaltending combined for -33.7 Goals Saved Above Expected, this year we're already at +16. Last year our expected goal differential at 5on5 was -5.43 and this year it's 3.37. That last set of numbers is not massively different, yet the results are. Look at how Sogaard and Merilainen have flip-flopped in the organization. Do they play for the same coach, under the same defensive system and same structure?

The vast majority of improvements we're seeing this season have come from players that were already in the system. He deserves credit for Jensen and Ullmark (although I don't think anyone could disagree this hasn't panned out quite the way we hoped) and for not dismantling the core just yet. The players who were already here deserve almost all of the credit. They needed a different messenger and so far they've shown great commitment.

I think the biggest difference between this year and last are related to goaltending coaching.

Goaltending: pretty obvious.

Goals saved above x/60	2023-24	2024-25
Ullmark	NA	0.43
Merilainin	NA	0.615
Korpisalo	-0.314	NA
Forsberg	-0.279	0.112

Coaching: We've transitioned to a team that puts Defensive play first, it's cut into our offensive output, but the number of breakdowns are way down, and it really shows up in the numbers. Some of this could be associated with better team construction too, for example, Jensen is a way better fit as Chabot's partner than Chychrun.

	2023-24	2024-25
xGA/60	2.64	2.28
HDCA/60	11.36	9.8
SCA/60	28.31	24.98

Another coaching factor is how well callups have been able to integrate into the lineup and provide quality minutes. Hard to quantify how much is coaching, vs just the readiness of the player, but guys like Matinpalo, Ostapchuk, Reinhardt, Highmore, Sebrango, all deserve some credit for how well they have played

 

[BoardsofCanada]

It's certainly a wonderful time to be a fan of this team but I'm not sure why Staios deserves so much credit here? It's not some coincidence that the team started getting consistent results when they started getting more consistent play from Pinto, Norris, Batherson, Sanderson and Chabot. Our best points percentage run of the season has come with Ullmark out of the lineup. Meri has posted a ridiculous 7-2-1, 0.938 sv%, 1.70gaa, 3 SOs in that time. What does Staios have to do with that? By comparison, Forsberg has given us 4-3-1, 0.902 sv%, 2.67gaa, 0 SOs during Ullmark's absence. It's pretty evident that we wouldn't have this current p% without Meri's performance.

The adage "show me a good goalie and I'll show you a good coach" has always been true for a reason.

Last year, our goaltending combined for -33.7 Goals Saved Above Expected, this year we're already at +16. Last year our expected goal differential at 5on5 was -5.43 and this year it's 3.37. That last set of numbers is not massively different, yet the results are. Look at how Sogaard and Merilainen have flip-flopped in the organization. Do they play for the same coach, under the same defensive system and same structure?

The vast majority of improvements we're seeing this season have come from players that were already in the system. He deserves credit for Jensen and Ullmark (although I don't think anyone could disagree this hasn't panned out quite the way we hoped) and for not dismantling the core just yet. The players who were already here deserve almost all of the credit. They needed a different messenger and so far they've shown great commitment.

I tend to agree. I've always maintained it's about the players on the ice and how they execute.

I'm sure DJ was preaching attention to detail, backcheck, no cheating for offense etc. The Sens were young, inexperienced and prone to a ton of mistakes. They also weren't tough enough. They had to mature and figure it out for themselves.

That said, I do think Green has made a connection with the leaders on this team and helped take them to the next level. More and more, it's looking like Green was a smart hire.

I also think Staios has brought a calm professionalism to the top job, something Dorion didn't always display.

I didn't love Staios' draft last June. It was mixed. Yakemchuk has tons of potential but there were others that might end up even better. Eliasson was a bit of a strange pick. BMO is looking great.

Staios' biggest win was Ullmark, fixing what has been our biggest weakness for years.

 

[OD99]

It's certainly a wonderful time to be a fan of this team but I'm not sure why Staios deserves so much credit here?

He implemented the changes that have led to better results. A lot of it is coaching, which had seemed like a no-brainer switch for a couple of years, yet GMPD just wouldn't do it. Most likely budget constraints, but a smart GM would have known the team required a different voice and that increased revenue would follow with better results.

It's not some coincidence that the team started getting consistent results when they started getting more consistent play from Pinto, Norris, Batherson, Sanderson and Chabot.

Pinto and Norris are special cases due to injury and suspensions, but agree they have been playing back to their capability.

Batherson's improvement is a combination of recovery from the high ankle but more importantly proper coaching. Brady has mentioned how as wingers they have much clearer direction of "where to be when" so when he feels a bit lost, he just goes to "the spot" and is able to adjust.

Sanderson and Chabot improvements can be traced to an improved D system but more importantly in my eyes, having consistent, capable partners. Even when their regular partner has been out, the system can compensate a bit. That said, look at how Sanderson struggled when Zub was out.

Our best points percentage run of the season has come with Ullmark out of the lineup. Meri has posted a ridiculous 7-2-1, 0.938 sv%, 1.70gaa, 3 SOs in that time. What does Staios have to do with that? By comparison, Forsberg has given us 4-3-1, 0.902 sv%, 2.67gaa, 0 SOs during Ullmark's absence. It's pretty evident that we wouldn't have this current p% without Meri's performance.

I am not sure what the point is here? You want to be upset that our goalies played well? They system does have something to do with that. Leevi just had a shutout where he made 16 saves.

The adage "show me a good goalie and I'll show you a good coach" has always been true for a reason.

No argument here.

Last year, our goaltending combined for -33.7 Goals Saved Above Expected, this year we're already at +16. Last year our expected goal differential at 5on5 was -5.43 and this year it's 3.37. That last set of numbers is not massively different, yet the results are.

8 extra goals in 50 games is pretty significant.

Look at how Sogaard and Merilainen have flip-flopped in the organization. Do they play for the same coach, under the same defensive system and same structure?

Huh? Sogaard has never been the guy at the NHL level, despite a few good games in emergency a couple of years ago.

The vast majority of improvements we're seeing this season have come from players that were already in the system. He deserves credit for Jensen and Ullmark (although I don't think anyone could disagree this hasn't panned out quite the way we hoped) and for not dismantling the core just yet. The players who were already here deserve almost all of the credit.

Players always deserve most of the credit, but they underperformed and didn't have a willingness to play the right way for years. Maturity may be part of it, but I would imagine accountability from the top down is the most significant aspect.

They needed a different messenger and so far they've shown great commitment.

Winning is more fun than losing.

 

[bicboi64]

Hoping Zub stays healthy so Sanderson can keep on shining