GDT: Ottawa Senators at Colorado Snowslides| 9PM EST | TSN5, RDS1, ESPN+ | Must win situation™ - Late Night Edition

[Gil Gunderson]

Without a doubt, only reason JBD has gotten into a game is because Zub is out.

It's absolutly baffling to me, but I don't think it's going to change much. Hamonic will be in 80% of the time, whereas he should only be playing if there was an injury pregame without being able to call someone up.

 

[LuckyPierre]

Hamonic has been useful in a bottom pairing role this year. Not overly concerned if he battles with JBD for the depth spot.

My concern is with the first line. Giroux was not playing with enough pace to support it, and the move to line two was necessary. Amadio on line one, on the other hand, is not working. Batherson needs to be up there when we need a spark, and Grieg needs to get a turn. Stutzle and Tkachuk deserve a linemate who can create space and make plays.

 

[Loach]

Every coach has a guy. Sigh.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I was very confident he was going to make us look silly tonight.

I'm sure you were

 

[NyQuil]

Hamonic has been useful in a bottom pairing role this year. Not overly concerned if he battles with JBD for the depth spot.

My concern is with the first line. Giroux was not playing with enough pace to support it, and the move to line two was necessary. Amadio on line one, on the other hand, is not working. Batherson needs to be up there when we need a spark, and Grieg needs to get a turn. Stutzle and Tkachuk deserve a linemate who can create space and make plays.

As of late, Giroux is the most consistent and reliable player in the top six.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Hamonic has been useful in a bottom pairing role this year. Not overly concerned if he battles with JBD for the depth spot.

My concern is with the first line. Giroux was not playing with enough pace to support it, and the move to line two was necessary. Amadio on line one, on the other hand, is not working. Batherson needs to be up there when we need a spark, and Grieg needs to get a turn. Stutzle and Tkachuk deserve a linemate who can create space and make plays.

The Norris-Batherson chemistry has mostly been on the PP. I'd put him on the top line with Stu and Brady but I'm guessing Green doesn't trust that line defensively.

 

[BondraTime]

That's extremely worrying

 

[PlayOn]

If Zub is out, Jensen needs to be moved up, as shitty as that is for Chabot. Move JBD up with Chabot and get Hamonic back to 13ish mins.

Green is matching lines, we can't have Hamonic playing 20+ minutes, ever. It's a recipe for disaster.

Sanderson-Jensen - 25 mins - 21 mins
Chabot-JBD - 23 mins - 18 mins
Kleven-Hamonic - 16 mins - 14 mins

Ideally Hamonic isn't out there, he brings down every pair he's on, but at least on the 3rd pair it's not bringing down Sanderson and against the other teams top players

Sanderson is the Sens best player, we can't be saddling him, we need to play around him

I see your point but at some point if you say you’re gonna give Chabot a partner, it doesn’t benefit you to keep switching defensive pairs. The dmen themselves don’t like it and for long-term purposes getting Chabot/Jensen adjusted to one another and allowing them to settle in is more important imo.

Plus Chabot - Hamonic would be a disaster and Chabot - JBD hasn’t historically worked. I'm not sure it’s that much of a net positive even if Sanderson is stabilized with Jensen.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

problem with hamonic is that even if he is playing good, it's only a matter of time before he costs you a game.

 

[BondraTime]

I see your point but at some point if you say you’re gonna give Chabot a partner, it doesn’t benefit you to keep switching defensive pairs. The dmen themselves don’t like it and for long-term purposes getting Chabot/Jensen adjusted to one another and allowing them to settle in is more important imo.

Plus Chabot - Hamonic would be a disaster. I’m not sure it’s that much of a net positive even if Sanderson is stabilized with Jensen.

Absolutely, like I said, Hamonic everywhere tanks that pair. Chabot-Jensen is a very nice pair for us.

But:

If the Sens are matching lines, and the partner of Sanderson is getting 20+ mins against the top players in the league, Hamonic should not be an option. Jensen is the only option the Sens have, as unfortunate as that it for Chabot.

Chabot-Hamonic would be terrible, that's why I'd have JBD there instead. Not good, but better than saddling Chabot with Hamonic

That's why it's beneficial to have him on the 3rd pair, where it matters the least, and his minutes are the least. Our top pair is more important than the bottom pair, we should have our worst D on the bottom pair.

 

[OUT HOUSE]

 

[PlayOn]

Absolutely, like I said, Hamonic everywhere tanks that pair. Chabot-Jensen is a very nice pair for us.

But:

If the Sens are matching lines, and the partner of Sanderson is getting 20+ mins against the top players in the league, Hamonic should not be an option. Jensen is the only option the Sens have, as unfortunate as that it for Chabot.

Chabot-Hamonic would be terrible, that's why I'd have JBD there instead. Not good, but better than saddling Chabot with Hamonic

That's why it's beneficial to have him on the 3rd pair, where it matters the least, and his minutes are the least. Our top pair is more important than the bottom pair, we should have our worst D on the bottom pair.

But in current state we have two good pairs and Sanderson who, outside of the past two games, is good no matter who his partner is.

So if Sanderson continues to suck I agree, but I think this probably overall works better than destroying your other two pairings, which is what happens with Chabot/JBD and Kleven/Hamonic.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

That's extremely worrying

Hasn't called him an elite defender yet.

 

[swiftwin]

But in current state we have two good pairs and Sanderson who, outside of the past two games, is good no matter who his partner is.

So if Sanderson continues to suck I agree, but I think this probably overall works better than destroying your other two pairings, which is what happens with Chabot/JBD and Kleven/Hamonic.

I agree.

Chabot has looked very very good recently. We need to keep him with Jensen to keep that going. We also need Kleven-JBD, because they're the bottom pair going forward and they've been developing some chemistry.

Also, Hamonic actually hasn't been that bad. He's been way better than he was last year, and Sanderson has alot of familiarity with him. He's obviously not a long term top 4, but in a pinch, he's been fine so far this year.

 

[BondraTime]

But in current state we have two good pairs and Sanderson who, outside of the past two games, is good no matter who his partner is.

So if Sanderson continues to suck I agree, but I think this probably overall works better than destroying your other two pairings, which is what happens with Chabot/JBD and Kleven/Hamonic.

I think the Sanderson pairing supersedes an “ok” 14 minute a night 3rd pairing.

Sens are going to go as Sanderson goes. He needs to have Zub or Jensen. He can’t be playing the minutes and role he plays with Hamonic.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1850902298010022303

I pretty much agree exactly with what Methot is saying, our best player can’t be saddled in the role he’s in. Methot thinks it’s “anyone but Hamonic”, I don’t think JBD would work either.

 

[LuckyPierre]

As of late, Giroux is the most consistent and reliable player in the top six.

Agreed, but he doesn't have the jump to make the first line work. Tkachuk needs to be the slowest player on that line, not a player relied on to get to spots quickly.

 

[swiftwin]

Agreed, but he doesn't have the jump to make the first line work. Tkachuk needs to be the slowest player on that line, not a player relied on to get to spots quickly.

Yeah, I want to see:

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Greig
Giroux-Norris-Batherson

Greig has more skill and upside than Gregor or Amadio.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Ya I have to agree with that Methot assessment. I've been on the side of not splitting up Jensen/Chabot and still am hesitant about that, but Hamonic just flat out can't be playing this much. It's only setting him up to fail and be made the whipping boy for being put in a role he's not at all suited for at this point of his career. 10-15 minute bottom pairing he is fine.

 

[PlayOn]

I think the Sanderson pairing supersedes an “ok” 14 minute a night 3rd pairing.

Sens are going to go as Sanderson goes. He needs to have Zub or Jensen. He can’t be playing the minutes and role he plays with Hamonic.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1850902298010022303

I pretty much agree exactly with what Methot is saying, our best player can’t be saddled in the role he’s in. Methot thinks it’s “anyone but Hamonic”, I don’t think JBD would work either.

Well your other two pairings are going to play over half the game, so if you’ve got two disasters there it can easily undo the good of Sanderson-Jensen.

Anyway, I don’t entirely disagree. But outside of NYR, our next opponents aren’t anything like Vegas or Colorado, they’re all middling teams, so I don’t mind seeing if Sanderson can get back on track with Hamonic first. If it continues to be a disaster then by all means switch it up.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I think the Sanderson pairing supersedes an “ok” 14 minute a night 3rd pairing.

Sens are going to go as Sanderson goes. He needs to have Zub or Jensen. He can’t be playing the minutes and role he plays with Hamonic.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1850902298010022303

I pretty much agree exactly with what Methot is saying, our best player can’t be saddled in the role he’s in. Methot thinks it’s “anyone but Hamonic”, I don’t think JBD would work either.

When 2/3 are JBD and Hamonic its hard not to be giving at least 1 too much icetime.

Moveng Jensen with Sanderson definitely strengthens that pair but there is a cost as well. Its like there are no really obvious good options.. Changing the RDs could work and it could not. I am sure the coaching staff looks hard at it.

 

[bicboi64]

Let JBD have a chance next to Chabot or Sandy, literally can't get any worse than Hamonic and it'll help JBD's development. Give Hamonic an extra minute or two on the PK Green if you feel bad about cutting his ice time.

 

[SpezDispenser]

The Ullmark era has to begin tonight. No excuses, we need to steady the ship and it starts with goaltending and filters down.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Yeah, I want to see:

Tkachuk-Stutzle-Greig
Giroux-Norris-Batherson

Greig has more skill and upside than Gregor or Amadio.

split up Brady and Stutzle.

the best line we've put together in the last couple of years is

Brady-Norris-Batherson

not sure why they don't go back to it. they performed well enough to be a legit 1st line, which leaves Stutzle being your "2nd" line center. But really you would have two lines who on any day could be your 1st.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Hamonic has been useful in a bottom pairing role this year. Not overly concerned if he battles with JBD for the depth spot.

My concern is with the first line. Giroux was not playing with enough pace to support it, and the move to line two was necessary. Amadio on line one, on the other hand, is not working. Batherson needs to be up there when we need a spark, and Grieg needs to get a turn. Stutzle and Tkachuk deserve a linemate who can create space and make plays.

That bottom pair has seen significant improvement since hamonic left it

 

[PlayOn]

split up Brady and Stutzle.

the best line we've put together in the last couple of years is

Brady-Norris-Batherson

not sure why they don't go back to it. they performed well enough to be a legit 1st line, which leaves Stutzle being your "2nd" line center. But really you would have two lines who on any day could be your 1st.

That line hasn’t worked all that well since Norris and Batherson’s rookie seasons. They never quite clicked the same way. Maybe it’s because Norris has never really been healthy though.

Anyway not opposed to trying it again at some point, but I would keep Norris and Batherson with Giroux until they run cold.