Which 1st Rounder to Forfeit?

[Wallet Inspector]

Our 1st being in the 20s actually means we'll be drafting a player ranked in the 40s due to our scouts being a word that will get me banned for typing it, so yeah, give up this year's 1st.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Our 1st being in the 20s actually means we'll be drafting a player ranked in the 40s due to our scouts being a word that will get me banned for typing it, so yeah, give up this year's 1st.

This. Keep that f***ing pick away from Don Boyd and the dinosaurs in our scouting staff.

 

[Sting]

I wonder how scouts get evaluated. I can't imagine its easy being a scout's manager (ie. the GM) and saying "this guy is better at evaluating talent than this guy". It'd probably take 5-7 years to make that assessment.

However I do agree, our scouts suck. Throw money at Dallas scouts please.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I wonder how scouts get evaluated. I can't imagine its easy being a scout's manager (ie. the GM) and saying "this guy is better at evaluating talent than this guy". It'd probably take 5-7 years to make that assessment.

However I do agree, our scouts suck. Throw money at Dallas scouts please.

“Have you worked on the Sens anateur scouting staff from 2021-2024?”

That’s how you should evaluate it. Jettison them.

 

[bicboi64]

100% needs to be this year.

If we make the playoffs, whoopee, but have insurance in case our mid depth takes a bit because of injuries or something.

 

[BondraTime]

Not sure I'd be able to handle heading into next season without a 1st, as a fan. The season outcome could be anywhere from 5th in the East to 13th in the East.

Not sure what a GM/President will do, they are under compoletely different circumstances, information and know how.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

You can’t give up next years pick without knowing Where we’re picking.

We know where we are picking this year. It’s not in the lottery.

 

[BondraTime]

The last NHL addition (someone who actually worked in the NHL) was Ostberg in 2017, he worked for the Blues for 3 years from 2011-2014. He was the guy who picked Lodin, he was a scout for Orebro while Lodin was coming through.

Every other hire on the roster now are first timers, other than the old fogeys that have been with the Sens forever

Boyd - First started in Ottawa in 95', rejoined in 2013 after tenure with CLB
Fargher -Joined Sens in 97', has 28 years scouting experience with Sens
Janecyk - Joined Sens in 99', has 26 years scouting experience with Sens
Ruutuu - Joined Sens in 04

De Blois - Hired 2019, did great work in the Q. No NHL experience. Was heasd scout in SJ during our 2015 draft (Chabot)
Boeser - Hired 2017, joined after asst. coaching high school. No NHL experience
Flanagan - Joined in 2019 after retiring in Belleville the season prior. No NHL experience
Stirling - Joined in 2018 after coaching tier 2 Junior in States. Dad has been with Sens org since 2010, Steve became pro scout in 2017. No NHL experience for Todd
Strumm Jr - Hired in 2016 after 3 years WHL experience. His dad was Dir of Pro scouting for CLB the same time as Boyd was Dir of Am scouting and Asst. GM in CLB. No previous NHL experience
Gordon - Hired in 2022 after retiring overseas. Long hockey career, no scouting experience.

Sens haven't made a single scouting addition of merit in over a decade.

It is unfathomable to me they haven't grabbed a tenured scout from somewhere around the league.

All scouts need to start somewhere, absolutely. There is nothing wrong with our group of first timers. But, I'd argue over half are not merit based, and they have very little in the way of developing their scouting capabilities in the year 2025 helping them from above. There is nothing wrong with that group above, but they need a new head.

They desperately, desperately, desperately need to bring in an outside hire to lead this group, at the bare minimum.

Forfeit the draft pick, bring in a new head and a new process and start in 2026

 

[Xspyrit]

And IF the league ever retracts on their decision a bit, they could end up giving us a 33rd OA pick in another draft. I'd take this over risking it the way it has been mentioned in this thread

Oh god.. a late 1st in a weaker draft vs. a complete unknown in a stronger draft.

The choice seems way too easy and logic.

There is such a huge gulf between the top ten and the next twenty picks that I’d manage my risk appropriately.

How much would we conceivably improve from this year? And what would be the consequence to our draft position?

I think it’s extremely obvious but I guess not everyone sees it the same way.

We currently have the 21st OA pick for 2025, even if we improve and finish with the 27th OA pick... I'd rather have the 27th OA pick in 2026 than the 21st OA pick in 2025

Really, the decision is a NO BRAINER.

Our 1st being in the 20s actually means we'll be drafting a player ranked in the 40s due to our scouts being a word that will get me banned for typing it, so yeah, give up this year's 1st.

Imagine they decide to keep this year pick and end up reaching ala Boucher, Roger, Thomson, etc with the 2025 pick

I'd be back to be Dorion-level pissed.

 

[ijif]

I wonder how scouts get evaluated. I can't imagine its easy being a scout's manager (ie. the GM) and saying "this guy is better at evaluating talent than this guy". It'd probably take 5-7 years to make that assessment.

However I do agree, our scouts suck. Throw money at Dallas scouts please.

I've often asked myself the same question. It's obvious how it should be done in a perfect, ideal world, but real constraints make that impossible.

It would be nice to throw some money around, but let's be real, that probably is not going to happen, so we need to find a way to recruit non-player talent early and consistently. Non-player sports jobs are "earned" through a non-rational combination of variables, and if we can exploit that fact, we can gain competitive advantages. We need experience, but we also need young, pure talent.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

At this point, I can't help but wonder....Brady's injury. What if he spends the summer trying to rehab, and in August decides to have surgery (if it's a major sports hernia) and is out for 4-6 months? What if something similar happens with Ullmark (and apparently his back issues)?

With the way the timing now is condensed between the playoffs and draft and next season, we might not get a clear view of how those injuries will heal (not to mention what we'll do with our vets) by the time the draft rolls around this summer.

 

[darude]

At this point, I can't help but wonder....Brady's injury. What if he spends the summer trying to rehab, and in August decides to have surgery (if it's a major sports hernia) and is out for 4-6 months? What if something similar happens with Ullmark (and apparently his back issues)?

With the way the timing now is condensed between the playoffs and draft and next season, we might not get a clear view of how those injuries will heal (not to mention what we'll do with our vets) by the time the draft rolls around this summer.

If both of those things happen, that's what, 16 million in cap coming off the books on LTIR?

Could be a sweet deadline if that happens.

 

[BigRig4]

Where would we pick if we lose tomorrow?

 

[dpw]

Where would we pick if we lose tomorrow?

I think 18th or 19th.

 

[Micklebot]

I think 18th or 19th.

21st actually. Could move if one of MTL, NJD, StL, or Min make it to the conference finals