Will Ottawa make the playoffs?

[Here I Pageau Again]

How great would it be for the Leafs and Oilers fans to be jawing each other all season and the Sens just walk in and take the cup?

I mean that won't happen, but I would legitimately die laughing.

I'm loving what the Sens are doing. It's unfortunate to be in a pretty stacked division where the great teams didn't take too much of a backwards step (or any at all) and the lower teams have made moves to better themselves (Ottawa, Buffalo and Detroit all made pretty decent moves and are young).

It's going to be a really tough year in this division. And it's going to be really important to win those divisional games. I actually could see this division having less disparity between the top and the bottom, which means the top teams may be closer to the middle than expected.


All this said, Ottawa needs another defender before the season starts to help their back end. They won't go too far without it.

 

[Sens Vader]

gotta figure out the defence first

 

[Spirits]

I mean that won't happen, but I would legitimately die laughing.

I'm loving what the Sens are doing. It's unfortunate to be in a pretty stacked division where the great teams didn't take too much of a backwards step (or any at all) and the lower teams have made moves to better themselves (Ottawa, Buffalo and Detroit all made pretty decent moves and are young).

It's going to be a really tough year in this division. And it's going to be really important to win those divisional games. I actually could see this division having less disparity between the top and the bottom, which means the top teams may be closer to the middle than expected.

No, you probably won’t win the cup this season. I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility that the Sens win before either the Leafs or Oilers.

My team just smoked the Oilers, they aren’t even close to icing a competitive team. No defense, no goalie and forwards that are terrified of playing defense.

I think if the Leafs get past the first round they go deep, however.

 

[thadd]

I don't know why but I feel I have to say no.
I think they need more center depth and maybe a bit more depth on the blueline, but they're a lot closer to making the playoffs now than they were a week ago.

 

[OmniSens]

Heart says yes, brain says should... Gut feeling we won't. It'll depend if we can start well and stay healthy. We'll need immediate chemistry.

 

[Akrapovince]

No, but we will be competitive in every game, even if our record does not reflect that.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I voted no but i hope they do

 

[Xspyrit]

Offense was a big issue for them in the last few years.

Debrincat + Giroux go a long way with solving that. Plus the continued growth expected from Stutzle.

If Batherson, Norris, and Stutzle can stay healthy, that's a very good top 6

Tkachuk - Stutzle - Debrincat
Giroux - Norris - Batherson

Yikes...

I think it'll be more

Debrincat - Stutzle - Giroux
Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson

Maybe Giroux and Batherson will be switched from time to time. It'll depend on chemistry

It's a great top-6, not going to lie but you can see that this team will still be limited. They're just not operating like other teams out there that are ready to do ANYTHING (even sell their mother or last born) to improve their team. They could have had an incredible 3rd line behind that Top-6 :

Formenton - Pinto - Brown

But they just DUMPED Connor Brown. They still have Mathieu Joseph and other options but a LOST opportunity to have an even better lineup. And look it up, it's not because they don't have the cap space... No, it was to be sure to respect the "money in money out"

Yes they added Giroux, Talbot and DeBrincat but they had to get rid of Brown, Murray and White to do it. The last 2 was the right decision because they were vastly overpaid but Brown was set to make only 4 M$

Maybe they'll make the playoffs a few times in the next few years but I don't see them winning it all. Maybe winning a few rounds, so basically the same story since it became expensive to operate a NHL team. What a waste of massive potential, that team was INCREDIBLY well positioned after the 2020 draft. Other cities would have built a Lightning/Avalanche out of this (obviously my post is not just based on that single move lol but more an overall observation)

 

[King Karl]

I think it'll be more

Debrincat - Stutzle - Giroux
Tkachuk - Norris - Batherson

Maybe Giroux and Batherson will be switched from time to time. It'll depend on chemistry

It's a great top-6, not going to lie but you can see that this team will still be limited. They're just not operating like other teams who will do ANYTHING (even sell their mother or last born) to improve their team. They could have had an incredible 3rd line behind that Top-6 :

Formenton - Pinto - Brown

But they just DUMPED Connor Brown. They still have Mathieu Joseph and other options but a LOST opportunity to have an even better lineup. And look it up, it's not because they don't have thecap space... No, it was to be sure to respect the money in money out.

Yes they added Giroux, Talbot and DeBrincat but they got rid of Brown, Murray and White to do it. The last 2 was the right decision because they were vastly overpaid but Brown was set to make only 4 M$

Maybe they'll make the playoffs a few times in the next few years but I don't see them winning it all. Maybe winning a few rounds, so basically the same story since it became expensive to operate a NHL team. What a waste of massive potential, that team was INCREDIBLY well positioned after the 2020 draft. Other cities would have built a Lightning/Avalanche out of this.

I think you're being a bit harsh here. The Sens have made some fantastic moves this summer, but that doesn't change the reality of their financial situation, at least for now. Particularly as we're possibly in a transitory period between ownership groups.

Look at the sentiment around the Sens board - people are talking about actually going back to games now that the team seems to be investing in itself, there's HOPE. Between that and the news on Lebreton, I think the whole city is going to be a bit more interested in the Senators, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if we see a substantial bump in attendance this year.

 

[Xspyrit]

I don't know why but I feel I have to say no.
I think they need more center depth and maybe a bit more depth on the blueline, but they're a lot closer to making the playoffs now than they were a week ago.

Center and LD are the 2 team strengths

C : Tim Stutzle - Josh Norris - Shane Pinto - Mark Kastelic (Ridly Greig, main C prospect after SP)

LD : Thomas Chabot - Jake Sanderson - Erik Brannstrom - Nick Holden (Tyler Kleven, main LD prospect after JS)

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

I think we probably need to see if G, Talbot and Cat are actually the incredible additions they are being billed as.

Not sold on Talbot behind that D, and not sold G is the player he's being advertised as. Can Cat be a 40g guy with Stutzle instead of Kane? A lot of projections are expecting the entire team to more or less have career years.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Center and LD are the 2 team strengths

C : Tim Stutzle - Josh Norris - Shane Pinto - Mark Kastelic (Ridly Greig, main C prospect after SP)

LD : Thomas Chabot - Jake Sanderson - Erik Brannstrom - Nick Holden (Tyler Kleven, main LD prospect after JS)

Giroux too if you want to put him at C

I think we probably need to see if G, Talbot and Cat are actually the incredible additions they are being billed as.

Not sold on Talbot behind that D, and not sold G is the player he's being advertised as. Can Cat be a 40g guy with Stutzle instead of Kane? A lot of projections are expecting the entire team to more or less have career years.

It's not just Stutzle though, it'll be Giroux or Batherson with them.

 

[hockey20000]

gonna say no and we finish between 85-90 ppoints

 

[Mobiandi]

They're on their way to being a top 5 team in the league

 

[Xspyrit]

I think you're being a bit harsh here. The Sens have made some fantastic moves this summer, but that doesn't change the reality of their financial situation, at least for now. Particularly as we're possibly in a transitory period between ownership groups.

Look at the sentiment around the Sens board - people are talking about actually going back to games now that the team seems to be investing in itself, there's HOPE. Between that and the news on Lebreton, I think the whole city is going to be a bit more interested in the Senators, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if we see a substantial bump in attendance this year.

That's my hope (and then an arena downtown project will need to happen)

I am also excited in general but I think more from an individual players perspective. We're really great at drafting and developing good hockey players

I just can't see the team becoming the next Lightning/Avalanche/Penguins/hawks/Kings/Devils/Wings

 

[Regal]

Center and LD are the 2 team strengths

C : Tim Stutzle - Josh Norris - Shane Pinto - Mark Kastelic (Ridly Greig, main C prospect after SP)

LD : Thomas Chabot - Jake Sanderson - Erik Brannstrom - Nick Holden (Tyler Kleven, main LD prospect after JS)

Both those are a bit dependent on development though. That Stutzle can continue his second half improvement, Pinto can look like he did at the end of ‘21 over a full season after missing more of last year, Sanderson can step in and contribute and Brannstrom can keep developing. I’d say right now, based on proven results, their top 4 wingers are their biggest strength relative to other teams

 

[Xspyrit]

Both those are a bit dependent on development though. That Stutzle can continue his second half improvement, Pinto can look like he did at the end of ‘21 over a full season after missing more of last year, Sanderson can step in and contribute and Brannstrom can keep developing. I’d say right now, based on proven results, their top 4 wingers are their biggest strength relative to other teams

I admit I said it in the same way I did before acquiring DeBrincat and Giroux lol

But yeah you're right wingers are now their biggest strength : DeBrincat, Batherson, Tkachuk, Giroux, Formenton, Joseph...

I agree there's certainly some development in there but the Wingers strength can only help these centers though. I'll copy/paste some facts on Stutzle :

Stutzle started the season as a 19 y/o and on left wing. He was mostly playing with Nick Paul and Tim Stutzle IIRC. But when forward injuries started to pile up, this happened :

- Stutzle moved to center on November 24th : 51 pts in 63 games after that : 0.81 PPG

- Turned 20 y/o on January 15th : 43 pts in 50 games after that : 0.86 PPG

- After March 5th : 31 pts in 27 games : 1.15 PPG

0.86 PPG is 71 pts per 82 games, so he has been producing as a 70+ point 1C after he turned 20 years old. And he looked like even much more than that towards the end of the season

If you look at his past linemates vs his future linemates, the fact that he is still growing older, stronger, better... he could do great things next season

Norris missed games, his playmaker missed 36 games too. Plus Chabot. He still scored 35 goals.

Pinto, for me it depends how he does now in relation to his injury

 

[thadd]

Center and LD are the 2 team strengths

C : Tim Stutzle - Josh Norris - Shane Pinto - Mark Kastelic (Ridly Greig, main C prospect after SP)

LD : Thomas Chabot - Jake Sanderson - Erik Brannstrom - Nick Holden (Tyler Kleven, main LD prospect after JS)

I'd say RW depth > Center depth.

I'm sure Jake Sanderson will turn out to be a great player. Maybe even a superstar. Maybe even worthy of making bucketloads of money;the kind of contracts that forces teams to trade players out to stay cap compliant... but I'm not crazy enough to expect him to step in and play top 4 minutes and for that team to still make the playoffs.

 

[swiftwin]

I think they need more center depth

Wut? Center depth is arguably the Sens biggest strength.

Norris (35 goals last year, on pace for 43)
Stutzle (elite talent rising quickly)
Pinto (another highly touted young player)

Plus Giroux is a natural center, so he can help if injuries happen, etc.

 

[swiftwin]

I'd give the Sens maybe a 30-40% chance if they do nothing else. If they add a top 4 defenseman (which sounds likely), I'm tempted to say closer to 70-80% chance of making the playoffs. Far from a lock, but pretty good.

 

[Xspyrit]

I'd say RW depth > Center depth.

I'm sure Jake Sanderson will turn out to be a great player. Maybe even a superstar. Maybe even worthy of making bucketloads of money;the kind of contracts that forces teams to trade players out to stay cap compliant... but I'm not crazy enough to expect him to step in and play top 4 minutes and for that team to still make the playoffs.

I'd say LW is better (edit : actually, I don't know, it's pretty damn close)

DeBrincat, Tkachuk, Formenton vs Batherson, Giroux, Joseph

But yeah I touched that in following post (#67)

Regarding Sanderson, my comp is Jaccob Slavin who was a 4th round pick and played 20:59 at 21 y/o. Jake is younger, turned 20 last week, but higher pedigree so we'll see. I'm expecting great things as long as he plays with a competent partner

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I want to say yes but I'm eager to see how they play with expectations...theoretically the new additions soften the pressure a little but they wouldn't be the first team who struggled to make that leap especially in a non-Pacific division...when teams aren't looking past you and you get their best efforts and starting goalies nightly.

But they'll definitely at least be in the mix and learn a lot this year, I'd say narrow miss, low 90s points.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

depends on when/if Boston brings their boys back and if the Islanders have a bounceback year. Remember there are only 8 playoff spots up for grabs

I say they are better than Boston now.

i'd say not since the Bruins have the 4 best players between the two and the better defense.

 

[Senscore]

If we can add a top 4 D then I think we will make it close.

Some of these perennial playoff teams have some great star players but they are starting to show their age. Could be one or two falls off. I think the opportunity will be there.

 

[ottawa]

Headed in right direction but nope, their D isn't there yet.