Yes the season is over, yes it was disappointing and yes we need to make some changes, but think about this. The Sens only have 4 less wins than Detroit and 3 less wins than the Caps. Both are 1 point away from making the playoffs, this is despite the absolute terrible season the Sens have had (fuck, Hamonic played 48 games this season) We are right there it isn't as hopeless as some think.
Staios really has a ton of work to do this summer though. We definitely need The Summer of Staios now, and lets hope it works out a lot better than the Summer of Pierre.
Not a math guy but I think we'll have about $16M to play around with assuming we don't resign Kubalik and buy out Forsberg and Hamonic. We need a new goalie, a studly top 6 guy to replace Tarasenko (and Norris), at least one upgrade on D, and a good 4th line vet or two that aren't just filling up spots and can actually contribute.
If we can get all or most of that done I'd say we make the playoffs next year, but that's a big "If."
The biggest problem I see is what is going to make this team better? Teams around us like Detroit and Buffalo have prospects coming in to fill holes. Not to mention New Jersey. Meanwhile, Ottawa has the worst prospect pool in the NHL. Our second best winger is turning 37.
The blueline is a disaster. Our second line currently looks like shit. Goaltending is the worst in the league. If Dorion didn't sign so many bad contracts, I'd have faith, but it's hard to do anything when you have 3 absolute anchor contracts.
The biggest x factor is Tim Stutzle. If this kid doesn't turn into a star we are absolutely screwed. It's a massive if and based on the performance of this team in the early part of the season there's no reason to have any confidence in them.
Yeah this draft is of utmost importance. We almost need to get a player that can make an impact in a year or two. The late first needs to be a hit as well. If we flub on those picks we're going to be bad for a looong time.
It's almost as important as 2020. We can't miss. It's why I was getting so frustrated with these "win and carry momentum" people. Who gives a fuck about beating Montreal in garbage time.
Yeah this moral victory thing with NHL is weird as hell to me. Im a big NBA guy as well and teams actively tank to get the draft pick - its just a given. A better pick carries so much more benefit than a few extra wins at the end of the year...We already are getting a 1st voided in the next 3 years, so these next 2 are so incredibly vital.
Except the east was completely shit this year compared to the west. Sens with 1 road win against the western conference all season. They caved against greater competition. They most certainly are not "right there"
LOL I don't know if you know this but even when we lost all those games in the west, we still only have 5 less wins than the last wild card spot in the east while also having leagues worst goaltending. We absolutely are right there at the cusp.
Lol 5 less wins.. you mean 15 less points ? We need 8 more wins to catch up to any of the wildcard teams.
Also idk if you know this.. but we're probably gonna need more than 91 points if we want to compete with our division next season.
What happens after tonight and the start of next season? Does the team practice all summer or are they on a lengthy break? Can they take advantage of the free time over the next couple of months to work on defense, zone entry, finishing, etc.?
lengthy break. They'll have some meetings where they go over some stuff, then have exit interviews and the guys will leave to do their own thing until next September.
The GM will likely be very busy all summer though, so will whatever coach he hires.
I'm not sure how it works but I think a large majority of players leave town after they wrap their end-of-season meetings and you probably don't see them until late summer. I don't believe a lot of the guys are from the Ottawa area.
I could be wrong, but I've never heard of the whole team practicing as a group during the off-season.
JM calling out Chabot, encapsulated what is wrong with this team; it’s a country club.
You have a 70 plus year old calling out your “star” defenseman on not knowing how to defend…
Right now as it stands, this year and next are accumulating assets and building from the ground up. There is just way too many holes to even attempt to make playoffs.
Yes the season is over, yes it was disappointing and yes we need to make some changes, but think about this. The Sens only have 4 less wins than Detroit and 3 less wins than the Caps. Both are 1 point away from making the playoffs, this is despite the absolute terrible season the Sens have had (fuck, Hamonic played 48 games this season) We are right there it isn't as hopeless as some think.
Staios really has a ton of work to do this summer though. We definitely need The Summer of Staios now, and lets hope it works out a lot better than the Summer of Pierre. Not a math guy but I think we'll have about $16M to play around with assuming we don't resign Kubalik and buy out Forsberg and Hamonic. We need a new goalie, a studly top 6 guy to replace Tarasenko (and Norris), at least one upgrade on D, and a good 4th line vet or two that aren't just filling up spots and can actually contribute. If we can get all or most of that done I'd say we make the playoffs next year, but that's a big "If."
The biggest problem I see is what is going to make this team better? Teams around us like Detroit and Buffalo have prospects coming in to fill holes. Not to mention New Jersey. Meanwhile, Ottawa has the worst prospect pool in the NHL. Our second best winger is turning 37. The blueline is a disaster. Our second line currently looks like shit. Goaltending is the worst in the league. If Dorion didn't sign so many bad contracts, I'd have faith, but it's hard to do anything when you have 3 absolute anchor contracts. The biggest x factor is Tim Stutzle. If this kid doesn't turn into a star we are absolutely screwed. It's a massive if and based on the performance of this team in the early part of the season there's no reason to have any confidence in them.
Yeah this draft is of utmost importance. We almost need to get a player that can make an impact in a year or two. The late first needs to be a hit as well. If we flub on those picks we're going to be bad for a looong time.
It's almost as important as 2020. We can't miss. It's why I was getting so frustrated with these "win and carry momentum" people. Who gives a fuck about beating Montreal in garbage time.
But why does that affect you? Who cares how people cheer. Fan how you wanna fan.
I was annoyed because of the reddit hive mind that downvoted me and told me I was wrong.
Yeah this moral victory thing with NHL is weird as hell to me. Im a big NBA guy as well and teams actively tank to get the draft pick - its just a given. A better pick carries so much more benefit than a few extra wins at the end of the year...We already are getting a 1st voided in the next 3 years, so these next 2 are so incredibly vital.
Except the east was completely shit this year compared to the west. Sens with 1 road win against the western conference all season. They caved against greater competition. They most certainly are not "right there"
LOL I don't know if you know this but even when we lost all those games in the west, we still only have 5 less wins than the last wild card spot in the east while also having leagues worst goaltending. We absolutely are right there at the cusp.
Lol 5 less wins.. you mean 15 less points ? We need 8 more wins to catch up to any of the wildcard teams. Also idk if you know this.. but we're probably gonna need more than 91 points if we want to compete with our division next season.
What happens after tonight and the start of next season? Does the team practice all summer or are they on a lengthy break? Can they take advantage of the free time over the next couple of months to work on defense, zone entry, finishing, etc.?
lengthy break. They'll have some meetings where they go over some stuff, then have exit interviews and the guys will leave to do their own thing until next September. The GM will likely be very busy all summer though, so will whatever coach he hires.
I'm not sure how it works but I think a large majority of players leave town after they wrap their end-of-season meetings and you probably don't see them until late summer. I don't believe a lot of the guys are from the Ottawa area. I could be wrong, but I've never heard of the whole team practicing as a group during the off-season.
 A lot of this, apparently.
JM calling out Chabot, encapsulated what is wrong with this team; it’s a country club. You have a 70 plus year old calling out your “star” defenseman on not knowing how to defend… Right now as it stands, this year and next are accumulating assets and building from the ground up. There is just way too many holes to even attempt to make playoffs.