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

[GCK]

The Bowers, JBD, Thomson, Jarventie, Boucher, Ostapchuk, Roger, Nordberg and Eliasson picks also got a lot of criticism, and it turns out "Sens army" were right.

Let's not play this dumb game where we pretend the Sens scouts know best and shouldn't be questioned because they've been right before.

They've been wrong A LOT the past decade and it appears especially so the past several drafts.

Ostapchuk was a good 2nd round pick and I think Eliasson is going to be having you choke on that opinion in 3-4 years. I’m fairly certain you bought into the Kleven can’t pass better than a goalie narrative.

In fairness you had Thomson nailed on draft day lol. Your assessment of him panicking when pressured was spot on.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Ostapchuk was a good 2nd round pick and I think Eliasson is going to be having you choke on that opinion in 3-4 years. I’m fairly certain you bought into the Kleven can’t pass better than a goalie narrative.

In fairness you had Thomson nailed on draft day lol. Your assessment of him panicking when pressured was spot on.

Ostapchuk pick was fine. People sort of went overboard calling it a steal by projecting him as a Lowry-type, when it's more likely he ends up being a good 4th liner/decent bottom 6er, which is an ok return on investment for a high 2nd but nothing to get too excited about.

I wasn't big on Kleven. Picks like him rarely work out and the trade up wasn't great value, but I'm gladly eating crow as he's been great.

I also hope you're right on Eliasson but I don't think he's going to turn out like Kleven. Maybe a Xhekaj-type enforcer/liability if someone can teach him how to fight.

 

[GCK]

Ostapchuk pick was fine. People sort of went overboard calling it a steal by projecting him as a Lowry-type, when it's more likely he ends up being a good 4th liner/decent bottom 6er, which is an ok return on investment for a high 2nd but nothing to get too excited about.

I wasn't big on Kleven. Picks like him rarely work out and the trade up wasn't great value, but I'm gladly eating crow as he's been great.

I also hope you're right on Eliasson but I don't think he's going to turn out like Kleven. Maybe a Xhekaj-type enforcer/liability if someone can teach him how to fight.

Eliasson needs to play more in control for sure. I like his mobility and range. I hope he continues to show progress next year but I think he’s a great piece of clay for the development staff to mould. He’s definitely another year in OHL followed by 2 in the AHL but I see something in his tools and aggression that is tantalizing. IMO he will never be an average offensive NHL D but I think he has Erik Cernak upside It will depend on his will to be coached and our development staff.

 

[DJB]

 

[GCK]

The only way I’m okay with keeping the pick this year is if it’s required as a part of a package to improve the team. I have zero interest in drafting 21st in this draft.

 

[coladin]

All it does is show your drafting acumen, isn’t what you think it is, nothing more.

Pretty lousy, actually.

 

[Crosside]

Sound like a good possibility that Forsberg come back

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Sound like a good possibility that Forsberg come back

I highly doubt it.

 

[PlayOn]

Sound like a good possibility that Forsberg come back

Yeah it’s interesting. Staios basically said there are a few things that would need to happen but they’d like to keep their goaltending depth.

Wonder if they want him but only on a league minimum contract or something.

 

[Hotsam Batcho]

Sound like a good possibility that Forsberg come back

I don't ever remember you being right about any of your speculations

 

[PlayOn]

I don't ever remember you being right about any of your speculations

He actually flat out said it.

Reading between the lines I don’t think they want Forsberg as their #2, the writing is on the wall that that spot is going to Leevi. But he seems to want to keep Forsberg around for depth, that’s what he alluded to with “multiple things would need to happen” and saying he wishes to maintain their depth in goal.

I don’t think he will stay here so “good possibility” is likely overstating it. I’d imagine someone will give him a better deal. Maybe the Sens plan on offering him a 2-way contract or something but I can’t imagine that gets it done unless Forsberg strikes out in free agency.

 

[Big Muddy]

I don’t think you can read too much into a lot of what Staois says. He plays his cards close to the vest. I don’t think he’d trash a player in a press conference either.

We’ll find out when it happens.

I got the impression that he already has something lined up already just based on something he said, although he was being kind of coy about it.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Sound like a good possibility that Forsberg come back

I got the vibe, likely the other way, with cap and Sogie, on a one way, but behind Levi,

that has a lot would have to go right, and a discount, I think greater chance he isn’t back tbh.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Staois was pretty clear that they will try to find a way to keep Forsberg in the organization. Whether that means they would extend him for multiple years at a raise (I doubt it and hope not) or on a 2-way deal for $300k to be an AHL starter, who knows.

My guess is that him returning would eentail (1) Leevi signing two years under $1m, with the first year being 2-way and the second being 1-way; (2) Forsberg signing a 1yr deal under $1.5m; (3) trading Sogaard.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Staois was pretty clear that they will try to find a way to keep Forsberg in the organization. Whether that means they would extend him for multiple years at a raise (I doubt it and hope not) or on a 2-way deal for $300k to be an AHL starter, who knows.

My guess is that him returning would eentail (1) Leevi signing two years under $1m, with the first year being 2-way and the second being 1-way; (2) Forsberg signing a 1yr deal under $1.5m; (3) trading Sogaard.

I really doubt Forsberg would be happy playing in the AHL and take a pay cut to do it. That would be amazing for the organization though. We do need good goaltending in Belleville for development.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

The Bowers, JBD, Thomson, Jarventie, Boucher, Ostapchuk, Roger, Nordberg and Eliasson picks also got a lot of criticism, and it turns out "Sens army" were right.

Let's not play this dumb game where we pretend the Sens scouts know best and shouldn't be questioned because they've been right before.

They've been wrong A LOT the past decade and it appears especially so the past several drafts.

Well I don’t expect the scouts to be perfect. Are you really mad at them that they selected Jarventie?

Obviously since 2020 it’s been maybe the worst drafting in history.

Not sure how much lassi Thomson people watched pre draft. Could skate and shoot

 

[Hale The Villain]

Well I don’t expect the scouts to be perfect. Are you really mad at them that they selected Jarventie?

Obviously since 2020 it’s been maybe the worst drafting in history.

Not sure how much lassi Thomson people watched pre draft. Could skate and shoot

I don't either, but it still doesn't mean they shouldn't be questioned or are above scrutiny.

I didn't mind the Jarventie pick in a vacuum. Took a swing on a talented kid with good tools. I just preferred Peterka like most Sens fans around here.

Watched plenty of Thomson in his draft year. Problem with him was not his skating and shooting it was his exceptionally low hockey IQ. Dude was brain dead.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I think people are reading too much into Staios saying good things about Forsberg. I could see him offering something cheap that Forsberg will turn down, but that’s about it. We don’t have the cap space.

 

[mysens]

I am just not convinced Forsberg is back. How do you keep a kid like Levi, who proved on that 8 game or whatever stretch that he can play in the NHL from not coming up. I think that would hurt the kids development and ego. These players all have egos at this level, so it best to tread carefully with them.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Ostapchuk pick was fine. People sort of went overboard calling it a steal by projecting him as a Lowry-type, when it's more likely he ends up being a good 4th liner/decent bottom 6er, which is an ok return on investment for a high 2nd but nothing to get too excited about.

I wasn't big on Kleven. Picks like him rarely work out and the trade up wasn't great value, but I'm gladly eating crow as he's been great.

I also hope you're right on Eliasson but I don't think he's going to turn out like Kleven. Maybe a Xhekaj-type enforcer/liability if someone can teach him how to fight.

When players like Protas, Walton, He, Misa, and Battaglia were available, and we went for Eliasson... Yikes... Even getting Cole Hutson would have been much better.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I don't either, but it still doesn't mean they shouldn't be questioned or are above scrutiny.

I didn't mind the Jarventie pick in a vacuum. Took a swing on a talented kid with good tools. I just preferred Peterka like most Sens fans around here.

Watched plenty of Thomson in his draft year. Problem with him was not his skating and shooting it was his exceptionally low hockey IQ. Dude was brain dead.

Lol
ImNot above ripping the scouts.

But saying “well they should have taken peterka many Sens fans thought so. Well there was probably somewhere else in that draft where Sens fans wanted the worse player and Sens took the better one.

I don’t even remember who went after lassi. I know a lot wanted heinola. Who is not very good

 

[Micklebot]

When players like Protas, Walton, He, Misa, and Battaglia were available, and we went for Eliasson... Yikes... Even getting Cole Hutson would have been much better.

there's certainly risk with Elliasson, but I think he is very much the type of prospect you need to take a wait and see approach with.

Bigger guys always take a bit longer to come into their own,
D always take a bit longer to come into their own, and
He was the youngest(?) player in the draft

He could bust, or he could be a unicorn, time will tell I guess.

 

[branch]

It would be stupid to take Forsberg back and it would be double stupid to keep this year's draft pick

 

[OUT HOUSE]

It would be stupid to take Forsberg back and it would be double stupid to keep this year's draft pick

The Sens podcasters (Locked On, Coming in Hot) are all in favour of keeping this years pick for some reason. The only one I've heard against it was Graeme, and you could tell he was shocked everyone was onboard with it without question.

 

[Senscore]

It would be stupid to take Forsberg back and it would be double stupid to keep this year's draft pick

I understand management wanting to be optimistic about getting amnesty from the NHL but they don't give a f*** about us. They aren't going to budge.

Time to be practical and shrewd.