Management UPDATE: Steve Staios GM and POHO, Dave Poulin Senior VP of Hockey Operations

[HoweHullOrr]

Staios must like the team Dorion built if he's refusing to make any moves.

Oh, I'm sure he really likes our defense (RDs especially) & goaltending.

Keep on trolling - there's one person that "likes" it.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

I'm mostly just trying to add options to what you suggested, not say you are wrong or that's who Staios was referring to.

you've got to give to get, so moving a value contract like Bath is what it likely takes if we want to add a guy like Andersson or Pesce for example,

As for Norris, you might find a team willing to take a chance on him, and steal him away at a discount hoping to get a bounce back but you aren't getting anything of value right now,

If you are talking about trades in general, yes I agree. But, with regards to Pesce, isn't he a Free Agent this summer?

 

[Micklebot]

If you are talking about trades in general, yes I agree. But, with regards to Pesce, isn't he a Free Agent this summer?

True, I was using the player names solely for the caliber of player we'd be after if trading Batherson, that said, I expect Pesce will extend with Carolina, if he doesn't we should be all over him.

 

[Tuna99]

There's a few things I picked up on listening to that recent TSN 1200 radio interview and by listening to other Staois interviews.

1. In the TSN 1200 interview, Staois said he "learned a lot about his players". When a media person followed up and asked him to elaborate on that he said the Senator players were valued. It just seemed like an odd response when you think of it from a trade deadline perspective where the GM's goal is to extract as much asset value you can for the players you are interested in moving. It seemed like an opposite type of response. It just left me wondering about a variety of different things. Although this was just a small part of the things I wondered about, I wonder if he was being coy at that point and just trying to draw attention away from the subject?

2. I'd bet Staois has had some formal training on handling media and in presentation/interview skills. His responses follow some of the classic things that are taught in these programs. He doesn't reveal much, and that seems like it's going to be the standard operating practice. I'm just observing here versus complaining.

I get the sense Staois has summer trades worked out he knows are going to work and improve the team - just that teams are loading up right now so the trades are on hold and once the playoffs are done and the summer cap crunch and resigning RFA/UFA hits the contending teams - Ottawa has the process in place to be a big part of the summer restructuring that always happens and target players

I think they also have a goalie plan in place. Don’t think Staois is a guy who’s afraid to change the goalie situation when the time comes

If Dorion had ever found a semi competent goalie to grow with this team everyone would still have their jobs and he could legit play the mad genius card with his rebuild

 

[HoweHullOrr]

True, I was using the player names solely for the caliber of player we'd be after if trading Batherson, that said, I expect Pesce will extend with Carolina, if he doesn't we should be all over him.

Yep, I agree. Would love to snag someone like Pesce.

 

[Knave]

He has been GM for 5 months. I can give it a little time.

 

[R2010]

I don’t think you’re going to get a team to rent Chychrun either. They’ll want to have a contract agreed to with a trade for a player like Chych.

Sens can, and probably should do what the Hawks did with DBC and not allow them to talk contract. Obviously it scared off pretty much every team but the Sens, but at least makes an even playing field.

If they allow teams to talk contract, it’s likely going to be a 1 team race. Because Chych, like everyone, will sign with his preferred location.

While I tend to agree. I think a player like Chychrun won't end up with only one desired location like Debrincat and Tarasenko. Speculative but I doubt he's going to turn away any of the top contending teams after his history of playing for bottom dwellers. In Tarasenko's case the family piece was obviously important but if Florida weren't a top 5 team in the league I suspect he would've been considering other options.

For Debrincat - obviously Detroit is where he wanted to go since day 1. In Chychrun's case the place people always linked him to was Ottawa...

Norris's value is nothing. He is stuck in Ottawa. No one touching even half of that contract.

Norris' injury might make it difficult to buy him out as well.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

I get the sense Staois has summer trades worked out he knows are going to work and improve the team - just that teams are loading up right now so the trades are on hold and once the playoffs are done and the summer cap crunch and resigning RFA/UFA hits the contending teams - Ottawa has the process in place to be a big part of the summer restructuring that always happens and target players

I think they also have a goalie plan in place. Don’t think Staois is a guy who’s afraid to change the goalie situation when the time comes

If Dorion had ever found a semi competent goalie to grow with this team everyone would still have their jobs and he could legit play the mad genius card with his rebuild

Well, I suppose that is one way of interpreting what was said. If he's got things all lined up and those moves occur in the summer, that would be great.

I'd think the toughest acquisition to make is the RD.

I know the focus is often goaltending and that is a favourite complaint, but I think that fixing our defensives pairing and coaching will go a long way to making whomever our goalies are more stout and productive. You can get some under the radar type goalies to play well enough for you if the team D is strong.

I also think that if adding a new goalie is the only big move, we will only see a smaller incremental improvement in our performance and standings. After a long playoff drought, I'm hoping that the goal is much more than just getting a few more wins and barely sneaking into the playoffs. IMHO, a good top 4 RD, a goalie and coaching are the big three adjustments that need to be made.

 

[Cosmix]

He certainly seems deliberate and he also isn't going to give away anything to the media. Cards played very close to his chest.

Yes he seems to reveal little about his thoughts about the team; however, I was surprised that he said he liked our goaltenders. THAT seems odd given how poorly both have played this season. Just looking at the stats, the GA/GP is horrendous and the save percentages for our goaltenders is too. His comments don't pass the stats smell test. So, is he a liar?

 

[Loach]

There's a few things I picked up on listening to that recent TSN 1200 radio interview and by listening to other Staois interviews.

1. In the TSN 1200 interview, Staois said he "learned a lot about his players". When a media person followed up and asked him to elaborate on that he said the Senator players were valued. It just seemed like an odd response when you think of it from a trade deadline perspective where the GM's goal is to extract as much asset value you can for the players you are interested in moving. It seemed like an opposite type of response. It just left me wondering about a variety of different things. Although this was just a small part of the things I wondered about, I wonder if he was being coy at that point and just trying to draw attention away from the subject?

2. I'd bet Staois has had some formal training on handling media and in presentation/interview skills. His responses follow some of the classic things that are taught in these programs. He doesn't reveal much, and that seems like it's going to be the standard operating practice. I'm just observing here versus complaining.

On your first point. Maybe it was who other teams asked about as part on trade packages. "How about you throw in that Ostapchuk kid?" Maybe Colorado called about Pinto before getting Mitlsted(spelling error)....

 

[JD1]

Yes he seems to reveal little about his thoughts about the team; however, I was surprised that he said he liked our goaltenders. THAT seems odd given how poorly both have played this season. Just looking at the stats, the GA/GP is horrendous and the save percentages for our goaltenders is too. His comments don't pass the stats smell test. So, is he a liar?

I believe he said something to the effect of when we play good D we get good goaltending

Idk, maybe he thinks even a lot of the softies are the result of poor defensive play. I disagree with that but I'm just an average fan.

Korpisalo to me is odd. He can make some spectacular saves, and a lot of them in a single game. Yet he lets in a lot of goals that an NHL goalie shouldn't let in.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

On your first point. Maybe it was who other teams asked about as part on trade packages. "How about you throw in that Ostapchuk kid?" Maybe Colorado called about Pinto before getting Mitlsted(spelling error)....

It could be a lot of different things I suppose and with what Staois said, it didn't seem like it would be easy to figure it out. I don't think any GM would be surprised to think that other GMs would value Pinto and think that he's a good player, but I know you were just giving an example.

 

[BankStreetParade]

Apparently wanted to fire DJ before the Sweden trip and didn't end up going through with it. The probability of us being in and around the playoff conversation right now would be pretty high. Such a huge evaluation error on his part, hard to not see it as anything more than inexperience at this level.

 

[Micklebot]

Apparently wanted to fire DJ before the Sweden trip and didn't end up going through with it. The probability of us being in and around the playoff conversation right now would be pretty high. Such a huge evaluation error on his part, hard to not see it as anything more than inexperience at this level.

Firing DJ after the sweden trip doesn't improve the goaltending, we aren't in a playoff with .885 team sv% no matter how early we bring Martin in.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Apparently wanted to fire DJ before the Sweden trip and didn't end up going through with it. The probability of us being in and around the playoff conversation right now would be pretty high. Such a huge evaluation error on his part, hard to not see it as anything more than inexperience at this level.

Do you have any source of Steve saying that, as that’s a new one on me, obviously wouldn’t of went 13-0.

Not really seeing it, being in playoff conversation if fired prior to Sweden.
Went 5-8 in that time.
If went 13-0 with new coach, then in mix for last spot.

 

[BankStreetParade]

Firing DJ after the sweden trip doesn't improve the goaltending, we aren't in a playoff with .885 team sv% no matter how early we bring Martin in.

I said before the trip, when we were around 10 games in at that point. The frustration that kept building in the early part of the season and kept destroying this team mentally could have had a chance to reset and let the players relax a little bit. It was also the softest part of the schedule in terms of the number of games and the opportunity to practice. They could have really turned things around. All the rest is what happened when we're talking about what was likely to happen.

 

[AchtzehnBaby]

Yes he seems to reveal little about his thoughts about the team; however, I was surprised that he said he liked our goaltenders. THAT seems odd given how poorly both have played this season. Just looking at the stats, the GA/GP is horrendous and the save percentages for our goaltenders is too. His comments don't pass the stats smell test. So, is he a liar?

Again… LIKE DORION… and any other manager: you never talk bad about the players… even if you think they are dog shit (until you trade them)

 

[Micklebot]

I said before the trip, when we were around 10 games in at that point. The frustration that kept building in the early part of the season and kept destroying this team mentally could have had a chance to reset and let the players relax a little bit. It was also the softest part of the schedule in terms of the number of games and the opportunity to practice. They could have really turned things around. All the rest is what happened when we're talking about what was likely to happen.

My bad but it still doesn't fix goaltending, which in reality was the root cause of the loses and the frustration. You can't relax when goalies can and will let in a softy at any moment.

 

[Crosside]

Do you have any source of Steve saying that, as that’s a new one on me, obviously wouldn’t of went 13-0.

Not really seeing it, being in playoff conversation if fired prior to Sweden.
Went 5-8 in that time.
If went 13-0 with new coach, then in mix for last spot.

This was on coming in hot

 

[LiseL]

Fired the coach, G.M., goalie coach, put Alfie on the coaching staff, hired Dave Poulin.

The guys been working since September and stepped into a franchise with a kitchen fire. Staois has done a great job so far

Also setup an analytics dept, hired fitness/nutrition expert. I believe I heard that there were also a lot of hires in operations as it was pretty thin. The only thing that hasn't happened yet are roster changes. Didn't he say he would evaluate first before making any changes? I don't mind that he's being patient and methodical. With limited cap space and some contracts that would be hard to get rid of (Norris, Chabot), he needs to get it right. Also, who he wants to bring in may not want to come here. We'll only be a destination when we become contenders and that's a ways off. We need to make the playoffs first, never mind actually contend for the cup which will take longer.

 

[LiseL]

Well, best in class could include not selling low on your assets like Dorion had a habit of. That also requires not backing yourself into a corner with said assets, like Dorion had a habit of as well. Staios has a situation he'll need to handle that he didn't create. I'm interested to see how he does with it, and how he positions himself with acquired players and their contracts.

I always enjoy your comments BonHoon: knowledgeable, thoughtful, articulate.

 

[LiseL]

Staois had no leverage and had to play the hand he was dealt. Tarasenko wanted to end up in Florida where his family lived and he had a NTC. Staois got what he could from Florida who was the only team Staois could trade Tarasenko to. Ottawa became a temporary, 1 year employer because better multi-year contracts were not offered to him last summer.

In retrospect, it's not surprising I suppose. About the only thing that was ultimately surprising was that his family was in Florida. I don't recall hearing anything about that until very recently.

I either heard or read somewhere recently that his son was with him in Ottawa because he was attending some kind of goalie camp, but the rest of the family was in Florida. I'm guessing he agreed to Ottawa because it's only a 3 hour flight from Ottawa to Tampa.

 

[JD1]

Apparently wanted to fire DJ before the Sweden trip and didn't end up going through with it. The probability of us being in and around the playoff conversation right now would be pretty high. Such a huge evaluation error on his part, hard to not see it as anything more than inexperience at this level.

Look where we currently are. Do you really think that firing DJ 10 games earlier would have us 20 points ahead of where we are right now? I think there's a high probability that that is nonsense. The record under Martin hasn't changed anything. Do you think that giving Jacques a bit more practice time really changes things? We've lost 7 in a row.

 

[Micklebot]

I either heard or read somewhere recently that his son was with him in Ottawa because he was attending some kind of goalie camp, but the rest of the family was in Florida. I'm guessing he agreed to Ottawa because it's only a 3 hour flight from Ottawa to Tampa.

Dean Brown mentioned it on TSN1200 the day after the trade that his family lives in Florida except his oldest son who came with him to play hockey and is a goalie. Not sure about the goalie camp part, there are some good ones here though.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Dean Brown mentioned it on TSN1200 the day after the trade that his family lives in Florida except his oldest son who came with him to play hockey and is a goalie. Not sure about the goalie camp part, there are some good ones here though.

So, this info is recent then. That's what I was thinking.