Speculation: Simple question, Playoffs Yes or No

[Rals]

I'm in. Yes.
Brady partied with Matthew and now he's got that fire

 

[armani]

Barring injuries, this is a playoff calibre team. Ullmark makes a huge difference and having the trifecta of Stutzle-Norris-Pinto will play a major role in Sens having 3 scoring lines. They have good forward depth, not great, so they cannot sustain with any long term injury to a core player.

The bottom pair is still the iffiest, but was encouraged to see Hamonic looking more comfortable this year. JBD had a solid camp, Kleven played a simple game and will get better with experience.

Intrigued to see how Green runs his team and coaches in-game. Staios has given him a roster he can make hay with.

 

[Sun God Nika]

I was saying earlier I think they will just miss, but now I am feeling more hopeful they make it.

Can't guarantee playoffs but I think we will actually have a season where the boys are battling to the bitter end. Its gonna be a fun one.

 

[GCK]

With reasonable health for all teams I see the Atlantic getting 5 teams in.

Boston
Toronto
Florida
Tampa
Ottawa
Buffalo
Detroit




Montreal.

 

[DanyHeatley]

that is a deep skilled team though.

maybe we're missing another Stutzle but this roster should absolutely challenge for playoffs. Pinto and Greig on the 3rd line, Chabot on the 2nd pair, a well balanced top 6 and a Vezina goalie.

the only thing is they mentally suck. but roster wise it will be a disappointment if they are not in it till the end.

the last time we had a roster as good as this was 2011, and a bunch of crappier sens roster has made the playoffs in between that time.

One injury to the top 6 F or top 4 D and we are in big trouble.
Forsberg has not looked good in the pre season. I have no confidence in him. Unless we’re giving Ullmark a 70 game workload.

That looks like a pretty good lineup actually.

I think people are being too hard on the team in here. Understandable because the past few seasons haven't been up to expectations. But I would argue they were being held back quite a bit by DJ Smith, terrible goaltending, and Dorion plugging in supporting pieces that were bad fits (DeBrincat, Chychrun, Tarasenko).

The roster is absolutely good enough to make the playoffs. It's just a matter of execution at this point.

I think people here are overrating Jensen and Perron cause they are “vets” that know their “role” “play the game the right way” etc.
I think both will get exposed. Soon enough we’ll find out that both moved were lateral at best.
30/31 NHL teams would choose
Tarasenko > Perron
Chychrun > Jensen

How can you say that, this is pretty much the best lineup we've iced since the pizza line days.

I would put 2012/13, 2014/15 and 2016/17 ahead of this team

 

[GCK]

One injury to the top 6 F or top 4 D and we are in big trouble.
Forsberg has not looked good in the pre season. I have no confidence in him. Unless we’re giving Ullmark a 70 game workload.


I think people here are overrating Jensen and Perron cause they are “vets” that know their “role” “play the game the right way” etc.
I think both will get exposed. Soon enough we’ll find out that both moved were lateral at best.
30/31 NHL teams would choose
Tarasenko > Perron
Chychrun > Jensen


I would put 2012/13, 2014/15 and 2016/17 ahead of this team

lol, how is 2023/24 Chychrun better than Jensen, he and Kubalik were our worst players.

 

[StoicSensFan]

I would put 2012/13, 2014/15 and 2016/17 ahead of this team

 

[LiseL]

Not with this official start of season line up, we don’t

FORWARDS

Brady Tkachuk - Tim Stutzle - Claude Giroux
David Perron - Josh Norris - Drake Batherson
Ridly Greig - Shane Pinto - Michael Amadio
Noah Gregor - Zack Ostapchuk - Nick Cousins

Extra: Zack MacEwen, Matthew Highmore (inj)

DEFENCE

Jake Sanderson - Artem Zub
Thomas Chabot - Nick Jensen
Tyler Kleven - Carter Yakemchuk

Extra: Travis Hamonic-Jacob Bernard-Docker

GOALTENDERS

Linus Ullmark
Anton Forsberg

Yakemchuk and Ostapchuk have both been sent down to the minors. Gaudette replaces Ostapchuk and Hamonic/JBD replace Yakemchuk. They both had good camps so maybe the 3rd pairing won't be so bad after all. Kleven will need mentoring which Hamonic can provide. I expect Pinto to take another step this year, he and Amadio seem to have built some chemistry. I also think Stu will have a better year, and Norris being back in the line-up is the wild card if he remains healthy. Now if Forsberg can stop letting in softies at the beginning of games and settle in sooner, we'll be all set.

If they can play .500 when travelling out west as well as get some loser points this year, I'm cautiously optimistic they'll be fighting for a wild card spot right up to the last game of the season.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

I think in the 8-10 range is where we end up. Our forwards certainly look better than the opening day lineup from last year but a huge part of that is simply missing Norris and Pinto. Our 4th line though is just a better fit.

Tank was really good last year, Perron is going to need to replace his numbers.

The D Is certainly more balanced.

Green will have to get the big guys to forget everything they've learned under DJ, we need some injury luck, and Ullmark has to be at his best. If all those happen, I see us in 7-8. Realistically, I think we just miss.

 

[bert]

I think in the 8-10 range is where we end up. Our forwards certainly look better than the opening day lineup from last year but a huge part of that is simply missing Norris and Pinto. Our 4th line though is just a better fit.

Tank was really good last year, Perron is going to need to replace his numbers.

The D Is certainly more balanced.

Green will have to get the big guys to forget everything they've learned under DJ, we need some injury luck, and Ullmark has to be at his best. If all those happen, I see us in 7-8. Realistically, I think we just miss.

In general the team has way more depth up front. There will be no Rourke Chartier types playing in the top 9. The only places I am worried about are goaltending and LD. If one of the LD goes down then who plays? I actually liked Sebrango's camp but if Sanderson goes down they are in trouble. I think Kleven will get better as he was better at the end of last season. I think he will thrive in a more structured game.

I thought JBD had a good camp kinda dissapointed he isnt starting and Hamonic is. Hammer had a better camp than last year but he isnt as mobile or as strong moving the puck as JBD.

If Ullmark is hurt this teams in big trouble. Forsberg had a terrible camp in my opinion and I have no confidence in Soogard.

 

[DylanSensFan]

One injury to the top 6 F or top 4 D and we are in big trouble.
Forsberg has not looked good in the pre season. I have no confidence in him. Unless we’re giving Ullmark a 70 game workload.


I think people here are overrating Jensen and Perron cause they are “vets” that know their “role” “play the game the right way” etc.
I think both will get exposed. Soon enough we’ll find out that both moved were lateral at best.
30/31 NHL teams would choose
Tarasenko > Perron
Chychrun > Jensen


I would put 2012/13, 2014/15 and 2016/17 ahead of this team

Jensen is the right fit for this team. Chychrun was not.

Tarasenko coasted a lot of the time he was here. I'd rather have Perron than Tarasenko.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

In general the team has way more depth up front. There will be no Rourke Chartier types playing in the top 9. The only places I am worried about are goaltending and LD. If one of the LD goes down then who plays? I actually liked Sebrango's camp but if Sanderson goes down they are in trouble. I think Kleven will get better as he was better at the end of last season. I think he will thrive in a more structured game.

I thought JBD had a good camp kinda dissapointed he isnt starting and Hamonic is. Hammer had a better camp than last year but he isnt as mobile or as strong moving the puck as JBD.

If Ullmark is hurt this teams in big trouble. Forsberg had a terrible camp in my opinion and I have no confidence in Soogard.

But Chartier being in the top 9 last year was the result of Pinto and Norris being out. If those two guys are gone, our 3rd line is going to include Gaudette. I see value of the vet presence, I don't think the depth is all that different. If we started last year with everyone healthy/no suspensions, we'd have
Tkachuk -Stu- Giroux
Joseph-Norris-Bath
Grieg-Pinto-Tarasenko

I don't think our current top 9 is a huge upgrade. Cousins shelters us a little if there's an injury somewhere though. I expect the 4th line to just bring it with consistency, something Kelly and Kastelic didn't do. Either way, team play and defensive structure need to improve otherwise we're toast.

 

[SensFactor]

My biggest worries:
- Norris staying healthy, looking like Norris from 2 years ago.
- Bottom pair of D men being good enough
- Chabot staying healthy, playing harder, more care defensively.

 

[Race Dawg]

Sorry I'm confused? What are "playoffs?"

 

[Loach]

Yakemchuk and Ostapchuk have both been sent down to the minors. Gaudette replaces Ostapchuk and Hamonic/JBD replace Yakemchuk. They both had good camps so maybe the 3rd pairing won't be so bad after all. Kleven will need mentoring which Hamonic can provide. I expect Pinto to take another step this year, he and Amadio seem to have built some chemistry. I also think Stu will have a better year, and Norris being back in the line-up is the wild card if he remains healthy. Now if Forsberg can stop letting in softies at the beginning of games and settle in sooner, we'll be all set.

If they can play .500 when travelling out west as well as get some loser points this year, I'm cautiously optimistic they'll be fighting for a wild card spot right up to the last game of the season.

We went 0-14 on the road, combined, for 3 road trips. We go .500 and we in the playoffs.

 

[SensPerpetualRebuild]

Sens will beat the Leafs in the first round... if the Leafs make the playoffs that is.

 

[JD1]

This is hockey. Injuries happen. To both top players and fringe players.

I think we can make the playoffs if:
1. We're in the top 1/3rd in least man games lost to injuries. Guys are gonna get hurt. That's every team's reality. We need a healthy year by our standards
2. We need Ullmark to start 55-60 games. I think he's great. Our D should be a bit tighter and it really wasn't that bad last year in terms of metrics. We need a healthy Ullmark doing Ullmark things.

 

[conFABulator]

This is hockey. Injuries happen. To both top players and fringe players.

I think we can make the playoffs if:
1. We're in the top 1/3rd in least man games lost to injuries. Guys are gonna get hurt. That's every team's reality. We need a healthy year by our standards
2. We need Ullmark to start 55-60 games. I think he's great. Our D should be a bit tighter and it really wasn't that bad last year in terms of metrics. We need a healthy Ullmark doing Ullmark things.

I realize how ill-advised it is for a non-Sens fan (yep, Leafs fan) to weigh in on such a topic without being invited but I don't think I am doing anything but adding to the discussion.

I think the Sens might be the most improved team in the division, however that does not guarantee playoffs obviously.

I like your two points above, is there a third? Do you need continued growth and development from your young core? I think so, I think it is also a reasonable expectation that this happens (if they are healthy as you point out). The fourth point might be something coaching related. Green is not an elite coach based on his track record and you need him to be at least a good coach.

As I said, even if the most improved team in the division playoffs is a tall order. You need about 20 more points and to have steps back from Detroit and Tampa. Having said this, this could be the year we have five playoff teams in the Atlantic and then you only need to leap frog one of those teams (and Buffalo).

Ullmark and health.

My answer is "no", not this year. They will close the gap though

 

[JD1]

I realize how ill-advised it is for a non-Sens fan (yep, Leafs fan) to weigh in on such a topic without being invited but I don't think I am doing anything but adding to the discussion.

I think the Sens might be the most improved team in the division, however that does not guarantee playoffs obviously.

I like your two points above, is there a third? Do you need continued growth and development from your young core? I think so, I think it is also a reasonable expectation that this happens (if they are healthy as you point out). The fourth point might be something coaching related. Green is not an elite coach based on his track record and you need him to be at least a good coach.

As I said, even if the most improved team in the division playoffs is a tall order. You need about 20 more points and to have steps back from Detroit and Tampa. Having said this, this could be the year we have five playoff teams in the Atlantic and then you only need to leap frog one of those teams (and Buffalo).

Ullmark and health.

My answer is "no", not this year. They will close the gap though

ok. growth. You are a leaf fan. How familiar are you with sens injuries?

internal growth. Stuetzle went from 39-51-90 to 18-52-70. He had a wrist injury from the 4th game onward. Personally, I am of the belief that his numbers were off quite a bit last year because of injury and the growth is on the 90 point season, not the 70 point season.

i think internal growth for the age of our young players is pretty common. We are beyond the sophomore slump and turning the corner to where young players are entering their prime.

and hey, we jus signed Ullmark.

IDK what to think of Green. for years he didn't have much of a roster in Vancouver. I could compare him to say Sheldon Keefe. Lots of Leaf fans have a high opinion of him.

Green struggled to make the playoffs.
Keefe couldn't get a talented roster to commit to playing playoff hockey and was therefore unsuccessful when it matters.

I'd argue one is worse than the other. having a roster that pundits think can compete and not competing, year after year, is probably the worst thing for a coach. I honestly have no idea why he has a good rep.

 

[Micklebot]

IDK what to think of Green. for years he didn't have much of a roster in Vancouver. I could compare him to say Sheldon Keefe. Lots of Leaf fans have a high opinion of him.

I think people need to stop looking at it as just Green, and evaluate the coaching staff as a whole, Mike Yeo imo could be a HC candidate himself, and we do still have Jacques Martin advising too.

I'm not going to suggest that we have the dream team or anything, but I think our group is more fleshed out than it was with DJ. Maybe I'm being a bit of a homer here, I did not have a high opinion on guys like Cameron, Crawford or Capuano, where as I do like Yeo.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

THERE IS NO CURSE
WE WILL STAY HEALTHY

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

With Ullmark locked up and having stability for his family, plus a few more seasoned vets who can still play, I'm an unquestioned yes now. The division is a killer's row but I'm confident we're up to the challenge.

 

[GCK]

Sorry I'm confused? What are "playoffs?"

The playoffs are the extra week the leafs play after the regular season ends.

 

[UglyPuckling]

With Ullmark locked up and having stability for his family, plus a few more seasoned vets who can still play, I'm an unquestioned yes now. The division is a killer's row but I'm confident we're up to the challenge.

This is what you’d think people would be excited about and would be talking about. There’s been changes at pretty well every level now (owner, GM, coaches, management positions, players, etc.). We talk about the good core players that we’ve drafted, and about filling the holes with the offseason additions. It's time for “winning”!

 

[robsenz]

Hard no, the team doesn't have it and apparently isn't anywhere close to taking that next step. Some of the "core" players are not as important to the team as people seem to think. Either attempt to fix it by making a few bold moves or run this predictable course of being a division and league bottom dweller for a few more years. The team and fans are always making excuses for what should be completely inexcusible at this point in time.