Taking stock of where we are

[Sens of Anarchy]

JBD, Gregor at practice
No Norris
No Pinto

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Cosmix]

My cats breath smells like cat food

How does it taste?

Ullmark looking regular is my biggest concern for the remaining games - he’s been very underwhelming since his return and without him at the top of his game it’ll be tough to make the playoffs

If Ullmark get back to being superior we are a real threat, without him at the top of his game we’ll be just a hungry team looking for respect

I hope he does get back into top form; however, I was impressed by Merilainen in his short stint, and Forsberg seems to have improved his play so I am not losing hope.

 

[Relapsing]

We play 5 games before the March 7th trade deadline.

Habs Jets Sharks are at home.
Then Caps Blackhawks are on the road.

It will be interesting to see where we are after those 5 games and what will or will not be done at the trade deadline.

Looks like we're going 3/5 or 4/5 before the break. Jets and Caps gonna be tough but every other game is very winnable

FFS

 

[Cosmix]

Ullmark looking regular is my biggest concern for the remaining games - he’s been very underwhelming since his return and without him at the top of his game it’ll be tough to make the playoffs

If Ullmark get back to being superior we are a real threat, without him at the top of his game we’ll be just a hungry team looking for respect

I hope he does get back into top form; however, I was impressed by Merilainen in his short stint, and Forsberg seems to have improved his play so I am not losing hope.

What do you think this team needs to go from making the playoffs to contending for the Cup?

I think If Yakemchuk turns out to be a stud then we have the goalies (Merilainen and Ullmark) and the defensive group. I think we need a true superstar number 1 centre and another star winger.

Asking for a "true superstar number 1 center" plus a "star winger" is asking a lot.

No doubt getting those two types of players would probably make the team a true contender along with Yak (who could take another year or two to develop).

I don't know how we would acquire those two assets anytime soon as we have lost a first round pick in the next 2 drafts and the first round pick we will acquire is likely going to be in the 2nd or third quartile (11-24 range). I doubt we find a superstar center or star winger there. I don't think any team is going to trade one to us without getting something valuable back. I also don't think we will sign one, let alone both, via UFA signings.

I also don't think Staios can pull off a "Dorionesque" trade (like he did to get Stutzle) to get a top 3 draft pick in 2025 or 2026.

I don't see any existing prospects in our system that will fit those two requirements either.

I think we need 2 top 6 forwards to move into contention for the SC. We would need to get very lucky to have a player develop into a top 6 forward. If we do not sign Giroux, trade Perron, and use the salary dollars saved plus the higher cap ceiling dollars, we might be able to sign one "star forward" via UFA or trade.

 

[Cosmix]

Depth on D and Goaltending has really held this year and been the difference.

We will make the playoffs guaranteed.

The article says a 72% probability. That is not "guaranteed".
The problem we have is that Norris, Pinto, JBD & Cousins are injured. There are uncertainties with those injuries that could reduce the 72% probability.

 

[PlayOn]

I hope he does get back into top form; however, I was impressed by Merilainen in his short stint, and Forsberg seems to have improved his play so I am not losing hope.

Asking for a "true superstar number 1 center" plus a "star winger" is asking a lot.

No doubt getting those two types of players would probably make the team a true contender along with Yak (who could take another year or two to develop).

I don't know how we would acquire those two assets anytime soon as we have lost a first round pick in the next 2 drafts and the first round pick we will acquire is likely going to be in the 2nd or third quartile (11-24 range). I doubt we find a superstar center or star winger there. I don't think any team is going to trade one to us without getting something valuable back. I also don't think we will sign one, let alone both, via UFA signings.

I also don't think Staios can pull off a "Dorionesque" trade (like he did to get Stutzle) to get a top 3 draft pick in 2025 or 2026.

I don't see any existing prospects in our system that will fit those two requirements either.

I think we need 2 top 6 forwards to move into contention for the SC. We would need to get very lucky to have a player develop into a top 6 forward. If we do not sign Giroux, trade Perron, and use the salary dollars saved plus the higher cap ceiling dollars, we might be able to sign one "star forward" via UFA or trade.

Yeah, the vast majority of superstar centres are taken very early in the draft, like top 5 if not top 1.

Staios is basically just gonna have to twiddle his thumbs on that one and hope Timmy becomes a bonafide superstar. He’s our best chance at it.

 

[Norris4Norris]

I hope he does get back into top form; however, I was impressed by Merilainen in his short stint, and Forsberg seems to have improved his play so I am not losing hope.

Asking for a "true superstar number 1 center" plus a "star winger" is asking a lot.

No doubt getting those two types of players would probably make the team a true contender along with Yak (who could take another year or two to develop).

I don't know how we would acquire those two assets anytime soon as we have lost a first round pick in the next 2 drafts and the first round pick we will acquire is likely going to be in the 2nd or third quartile (11-24 range). I doubt we find a superstar center or star winger there. I don't think any team is going to trade one to us without getting something valuable back. I also don't think we will sign one, let alone both, via UFA signings.

I also don't think Staios can pull off a "Dorionesque" trade (like he did to get Stutzle) to get a top 3 draft pick in 2025 or 2026.

I don't see any existing prospects in our system that will fit those two requirements either.

I think we need 2 top 6 forwards to move into contention for the SC. We would need to get very lucky to have a player develop into a top 6 forward. If we do not sign Giroux, trade Perron, and use the salary dollars saved plus the higher cap ceiling dollars, we might be able to sign one "star forward" via UFA or trade.

So what picks do we have available in the 2025 and 2026 drafts?

Perhaps, if we acquire a 1st rounder in 2025 or 2026, we might be able will to snag another star winger.

Going back to the 2015 NHL draft Connor was selected 17th and Konecny 24th. I don't know how deep these next two drafts are, but there always seems to be 1 or 2 guys that turn into stars in the range of where we will likely be drafting.

I want to move on from Perron and Giroux. I know people love Giroux but he is just too old, unless we can get him on a real cheap deal.

Furthermore, my thinking has changed. I do believe that Stutzle will grow into that #1 superstar centre role. I love his shot, his speed and his will to compete. He is so so young at 23 years old. By the time he is 26 he will be in his prime and putting up 40 goals a year IMO.

 

[Cosmix]

I wonder if NYR would trade Lafrennier to us for our first round pick + . What + would you be willing to part with? Greig? Our second round pick?

 

[bicboi64]

I wonder if NYR would trade Lafrennier to us for our first round pick + . What + would you be willing to part with? Greig? Our second round pick?

I'd move Greig and a 1st in a deal for Laf, but we just extended Greig.

Laf with Stu would be deadly. NYR can't develop first round talent so it's one of the few organizations in our conference I'd be fine trading a 1st too (even with us having an empty cupboard).

 

[Cosmix]

So what picks do we have available in the 2025 and 2026 drafts?

Perhaps, if we acquire a 1st rounder in 2025 or 2026, we might be able will to snag another star winger.

Going back to the 2015 NHL draft Connor was selected 17th and Konecny 24th. I don't know how deep these next two drafts are, but there always seems to be 1 or 2 guys that turn into stars in the range of where we will likely be drafting.

I want to move on from Perron and Giroux. I know people love Giroux but he is just too old, unless we can get him on a real cheap deal.

Furthermore, my thinking has changed. I do believe that Stutzle will grow into that #1 superstar centre role. I love his shot, his speed and his will to compete. He is so so young at 23 years old. By the time he is 26 he will be in his prime and putting up 40 goals a year IMO.

We will have only 1 first round pick in the next 2 drafts (2025 and 2026) due to Dorion's folly.

According to PuckPedia we have the following picks in the next 3 drafts (Puckpedia seems to forget we are going to lose a first round pick):

Ottawa Senators Draftpicks, Contracts, Salary Cap, Cap Hit, Ottawa Senators Contracts | Puckpedia

puckpedia.com

[COLOR=color(srgb 0.058824 0.090196 0.164706)]

DRAFT PICK SUMMARY​

[/COLOR]
[COLOR=color(srgb 0.058824 0.090196 0.164706)]

[th]

​

​

[/th]​

[th]

ROUND 1​

[/th][th]

2​

[/th][th]

3​

[/th][th]

4​

[/th][th]

5​

[/th][th]

6​

[/th][th]

7​

[/th]​

[td]2025[/td]

[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

0​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]​

[td]2026[/td]

[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

0​

[/td]
[td]

3​

[/td]
[td]

0​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

2​

[/td]
[td]

0​

[/td]​

[td]2027[/td]

[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]
[td]

1​

[/td]​

[td]

PICK VALUE TOTAL
160.55
​

[/td]​

[/COLOR]

My previous post looked good before I posted it. Then it turned into a mess!

 

[Norris4Norris]

We will have only 1 first round pick in the next 2 drafts (2025 and 2026) due to Dorion's folly.

According to PuckPedia we have the following picks in the next 3 drafts (Puckpedia seems to forget we are going to lose a first round pick):

Ottawa Senators Draftpicks, Contracts, Salary Cap, Cap Hit, Ottawa Senators Contracts | Puckpedia

puckpedia.com

[COLOR=color(srgb 0.058824 0.090196 0.164706)]

DRAFT PICK SUMMARY​

[/COLOR]
[COLOR=color(srgb 0.058824 0.090196 0.164706)]

[th]
​

​

[/th]​

[th]
ROUND 1

[/th][th]
2

[/th][th]
3

[/th][th]
4

[/th][th]
5

[/th][th]
6

[/th][th]
7

[/th]​

[td]2025[/td]

[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
0

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]​

[td]2026[/td]

[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
0

[/td]
[td]
3

[/td]
[td]
0

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
2

[/td]
[td]
0

[/td]​

[td]2027[/td]

[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]
[td]
1

[/td]​

[td]

PICK VALUE TOTAL

160.55​

[/td]​

[/COLOR]

My previous post looked good before I posted it. Then it turned into a mess!

Wow. No 1st or 2nd round picks in 2026 (if we take the 1st this year). Fingers crossed Yakemchuk turns into Werenski.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

Stutzle is here but he needs to be surrounded better. Tkachuk and Batherson are great as #3 and #4 but we're lacking a Top-2 forward, another elite guy an offensive catalyst that will help out the other guys to produce themselves.

I think Brady is a "#2" guy if he can get back to his 80 point form but yeah, we need another 1st liner.

 

[PatrickEaves]

Wow. No 1st or 2nd round picks in 2026 (if we take the 1st this year). Fingers crossed Yakemchuk turns into Werenski.

I hope he turns into Denis Potvin.