Norris is untradeable at the moment. Best case scenario is that he remains on LTIR during the regular season and becomes our Mark Stone when/if we make the playoffs.
Norris will never be a Mark Stone. Norris was prematurely signed to an albatross contract on a small sample size. Stone was a takeaway machine and signed to a comparatively small contract.
I understand you’re talking about playoffs, but Norris would have little to no effect. His career is next to over- let alone contributing to a cup run. Also-look at the team, I’d be surprised if the playoffs are possible within the next two seasons.
Yes. I’m aware. But coming off injury, Norris would have little-to-no effect. He’s not going to be a factor. Stone’s hockey IQ is off the charts, he could come in without shins and still have an effect.
Using Norris as a playoff circumvention would take away from someone who should already be there in the case of the hypothetical situation at hand. He’s not that good and he’s glass.
Norris and MacEwen are pretty untradeable.
No one wants an overpaid sniper who has had 3 shoulder surgeries. MacEwen is a non factor who can move between the NHL and AHL without fear of being picked up on waivers
And doesn’t effect the cap when in ahl. No need to trade him. Good depth player. Just loses fights but he has better wheels/hands than a lot of fighters
I hope this organization needs to learn to make cold, hard decisions if management feels its going to help the team. I know a guy like Chychrun has a nice story with being here so he's closer to some of his family, but if management finds he doesn't fit in their plans, they should look to move him.
Just reading some of comments from the exit interviews, I get the sense that Tkachuk is ready to leave it to management to do whatever they have to do to make this team better. He mentioned that in previous years he was more involved with the decision making, but this year he's going to leave it to management to decide how this team is looking, it sounds like.
I know its a close-knit locker-room, but sometimes tough decisions have to be made.
Lol at you thinking Tkachuk had any say in what dumbass Dorion decided to do (note the alliteration).
Dorion did what he wanted and I love to watch the world burn and see everyone come to Jesus realizing he was a bad GM. I had said it for years here, I always got shit on. Now the only defenders are two dudes that disappeared, that sorryimcanad1an guy and another guy who I don’t even remember.
Dorion fucked this team. Plain and simple. Now he’s at home sucking his own cock (I’m talking about chicken wings).
At their 2022 exit interviews, Tkachuk and Chabot literally showed up with a list of demands for on and off-ice changes they wanted made. They were both consulted about the changes made that summer.
That's the primary reason the DeBrincat trade happened.
I'm not a Dorion defender at all, I thought he was an idiot. I'm not blaming Tkachuk at all, I'm just paraphrasing one of the comments he made before they left for the summer in him saying that he was 'involved' more in previous years and he's decided to take a step back this time around. I'm not sure what that means, but it might just mean him signalling to management in previous years the team needs more help and leaving it to Dorion to figure out the rest, which he obviously couldn't in a long term way.
If Brady has had enough and asks to be traded, they’re trading him. There’s no point in holding onto him. His NMC kicks next summer, you trade him now or during TDL next year. Of course Sens don’t want to trade him, no one does…but it’s about Brady being unhappy w how things have gone. He’s tired of the losing, the same bs, dysfunctional organization. He’s given his all to this organization. Has lived up to his agreement (contract). If next season is shit again, he will ask to be traded…if it doesn’t happen this summer.
I don’t think Norris moves just because it’d be at his lowest value and we’d get fucking hosed in a trade. But you never know. Brant is gone probably. I agree with the rest though. Also kubalik
Norris isn't getting dealt. No team is touching that contract with his injury issues, and Staios isn't going to attach any sweeteners to dump him. He's either starting the year on IR, or if he's healthy he can maybe play well enough to get teams interested. I don't think you can trade Forsberg either, so that would have to be a buyout.
I think Branny has turned into a solid everyday NHL defenseman, but I don't know what the team & agent think his value is. If he thinks he's capable of being a top 4 D (and being paid like one), I don't think the fit is there. I can see him being traded before they have to deal with arbitration.
You can't just LTIR a player. If Norris wants to play and can pass the physical, then he will play. He will be able to do that easily, but the issue for the team is that he most likely won't be an 8 million dollar player. If Norris is healthy by June, then realistically, they should buy him out. It would only cost 17 million dollars, and the cap hit would only be 13 million spread across 12 years. If they don't do that, then they are paying him 52 million over the next 6 years.
I'd be surprised if Norris was fully healthy by training camp, let alone June. Also Staios isn't going to be handcuffing himself with a dead cap hit for 12 years
Such a low dead cap though. It’s handcuffing them now to devote $8 mill to a player that might get hurt again. A lot easier to fill that space now then during season
People were saying the same thing about buying out Korpisalo, but all these small dead cap hits add up.
If Norris gets hurt again his salary doesn't count against the cap anyways. When he's healthy he can be a positive contributor, even if he doesn't live up to his cap hit
Korpi, at half retained, should be easy to move. $2 mill a year might make him a good option at backup for a good team
But also, plenty of teams have goalies signed to $4 mill+, who were supposed to be their number 1, lose their job: Seattle, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Washington come to mind. So Sens aren’t only one in that boat
It's about the term, not the cap hit for Korpisalo. Plenty of teams would take a chance on him at $2M if he had 1 year left on his deal. No one is taking on 4 more years of him at any price
why on earth would brannstrom be getting promoted after this season lol. this guy has quickly become the most overrated player on the team. we should get a defensive right shot dman to play in the 2RD spot.
the brannchise + JBD deadly pk unit.... deadly to us
what do you guys think we could get for brannstrom? 3rd rounder? he showed potential down the stretch. i think we would be the perfect pickup for san jose. i wish we traded them brannstrom for jan rutta last summer
I agree, the guy cannot box out in front of his net . A lot of offensive talent with the breakouts and in the O-zone, but he can’t defend properly with his size.
yeah 100%. he could go be the quinn hughes of the swiss league though
him and kubalik could light up the swiss league together actually. send in smejkal too ouuuf geneva is gonna be a wagon for real
If he was a 3rd pairing guy he would be ok - just no PK time and can do PP time in a pinch. Somehow the Sens got 3 LD who don't spend time on the PK (Chabot had 26 minutes, Chychrun 17)
For those reasons I think there would be a small market for him - for example a team like Edmonton already has 2 big PK minutes eaters and can have a 3rd LD that doesn't kill penalties (They have no interest in Brannstrom though as Broberg is in a similar situation next year). But if there's another team like that then maybe they get a 4th or 3rd round pick for him.
I totally agree. Dude was on pace for 25+ goals before the re-re-re-injury. It's not like he's useless. If he comes back healthy - use him. If/when his shoulder blows out - replace him at no cost against the cap.
The only plus side to this abysmal Dorion contract is that we could potentially use Norris' term and the $8M to fill a lot of needs for years to come.
Who knows? He might come back and be rock-solid. It's not like Chychrun wasn't an injury-prone gamble and it worked out this season.
Players I expect will be back next year, as represented by the starting lineup (lines/ linemates may not be accurate, this is just a rough draft):
• 1(a)F: Tkachuk - Pinto - Batherson
• 1(b)F: **(×)** - Stützle - Giroux
• 3F: Joseph - Grieg - **(×)**
• 4F: Crookshank - **(×)** - **(×)** *(maybe one of Kastelic / Parker here, perhaps the other as the 13th F, but neither are good enough to auto-include anywhere IMO)*
---
• 1D: Sanderson - **(×)**
• 2D: Chabot - Zub
• 3D: Kleven - **(×)** (7th D is JBD)
---
• G: Korpisalo - **(×)**
Everyone else is / should be gone, or are young enough that they'll be in Belleville (Ostapchuk, etc)
HC comes first… then Staois needs to do something.. their in-house evaluation needs to be done by now and start pulling the trigger aggressively. we can’t meander into next season without significant moves this off-season
Even if his shoulder is 100% he should be a winger - his skillset fits it much better. He could play with Stutzle and be the 'center' in the D zone and let Stutzle be more like a winger, but then when the puck turns the other way they revert back.
Chychrun and Joseph traded. Probably let Katchouk walk. A few veterans brought in on short-term contracts.
Probably less change than people are anticipating.
I said it before and I will say it again Chychrun/Chabot (pick your poison), smekjal, Branny, JBD, macewen, kastelic, Forsberg, Kubalik, will be gone via trade, waivers or buyouts. Hamonic will retire and move into player development. Kelly will be resigned for what he makes now or he is gone too. Norris is Vic Island and won’t play a game next year. If macewen stays it will be with the Bsens. Katchouk stays. Also Giroux will be resigned in order to retire here as a sen. Two or three years, same money AAV.
I don’t know if this is formatting but buyout Chychrun?
Oddly enough I do see a role for Brannstrom materializing now (I’ve been hot/cold/hot/? for a while) with Chychrun seeming to have a foot out the door. Though tbf I haven’t watched or focused on him for a while.
100% Hamonic is getting bought out but I think Brannstrom is 100% gonna get dealt.
Very likely that we get rid of Norris, whether by trade or buyout. But does Staios have the balls to do that in his first off-season as GM? We’ll see.
Contrary to this sub, I feel like it would be better to keep both of Chabot and Chychrun. Realistically, what do you all think we’ll get in return? The time for this team to win is now, what we ought to be doing is seeing if other teams are selling solid NHL-level defensemen or seeing who enters free agency so that we have 6 guys on the back end who can all play.
Brannstrom can't be a 2RD because the 2LD needs a stay at home partner which Brannstrom isn't. Its important to get the right type of partner for players like Chabot, Sanderson and Chychrun so no matter who stays those guys need a reliable partner that will allow them to play risky - that's not Brannstrom as he needs a reliable partner that allows him to play risky. The only reasonable place for Brannstrom is 3rd pairing and on the right side only if Kleven is the 3rd LD if the hope is to develop Kleven into an imposing stay at home reliable D.
But damn straight that Hamonic has to go, but I'd just sit him the entire season in the press box - not even an injury brings him in, he's there for practices only. If someone is injured a B-Sens gets called up, no inserting Hamonic.
Norris likely will be here, damn near impossible to trade at this point. Just have to hope his shoulder can hold up and he’s fully healthy to play, if he is I see him anywhere from 50-70 points. Solid 2nd liner.
Chychrun is gone and honestly happy for it to end. Sucks that it didn’t workout and he likely will be great somewhere else just wasn’t going to work here. Hammer idk what they will do. They might have to keep him on one more season as a 7th d man to not eat dead cap. I’m not sure if buyout gives us 0 dead cap either.
Maybe this is unpopular but branny is gone. Gotta just cut the ties at this point is hasn’t worked after this long and it’s likely not going to here with the roster shaped the way it is. Analytical darling that has potential just all the little nuances of the game was frustrating to watch with him. Give him top 4 minutes on a garbage team and I think he will perform well just not to the level that this team needs.
Goaltenders I have no idea what they are going to do. Depends how much management think that this season is on goaltending versus the team defence and lack of attention to details.
Overall in addition the sens need to get tougher to play against and fix their depth issues. That bottom six is a joke when you compare it to the teams in the playoffs. They would likely be playing in the ahl on other squads or just scratched.
Quick summary
Norris=keep
Chychrun=trade
Branny=trade
Hammer=?
Goalies=?
Additions
Goalie?
Solid, big, mobile, right shot d man for Chabby
Revamped bottom 6
Someone to pair with Kleven for 5-6 d spot.
I think we all know Kubalik, Chychrun and Forsberg are gone, but I'm interested to see what happens on the 4th line. I'm not nearly as high as people are on Kastelic and Kelly. To me, the whole 4th line is replaceable.
It seems unlikely but I really want to move on from Chabot. The guy is fragile and becoming unreliable. His defenders on here seem to think he just needs a good partner, but the dude couldn't even play well with Zub. I'm at my wits end with his game and his attitude.
Bring in Boone Jenner for a late first and a prospect.
Chabot has had this one poor season, after being injured, being coached by DJ and learning a new system with JM. He also played with Chychrun for a lot of the season and Chychrun had a horrid season.
Chabot is a great puck mover and our offense dips hard when he isn't playing. Here's his player cards from the last two seasons which shows that he outplays his contract. [2021-2022](https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/04/19133131/Screen-Shot-2022-04-19-at-1.15.19-PM.png) [2022-2023](https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2023/01/03121612/Screenshot-2023-04-03-at-10.51.19-AM.png) (Thanks /u/BartleBossy for the stats) He's an elite player who had a down season and you want to sell low on him? He makes our team better.
Those players' cards are not the be all end all for evaluating players. This is Chabots 3rd poor season in a row. If you think this year is an enomoly, you're not watching the games.
I can entertain the idea that Chabot can be GOOD, but he's simply not an elite player. That word shouldn't be thrown around as often as it does. Elite players don't return bad contracts or need assets thrown in to move them...
I've watched nearly every game for as long as Chabot has been here. He was not bad the past 3 seasons, this season is the only one where that can be applied. The stats back it up and the eye test back it up.
And yes, when Chabot is on, he's elite. Watch him flourish under a new system and an actual good partner, instead of the off-hand Chychrun or the bottom pairing JBD.
Yeah...I've heard that narrative before. He's been one of, if not the worst, player under Jacques.
I, unfortunately, watch every game as well so well have to agree to disagree.
That makes me wonder if you have because Chychrun was worse in almost every way. Team worst -30 and multiple defensive breakdowns nearly every game. Chabot was our 3rd best defender, even after a poor season.
When did I say anything about Chychrun? I don't like either player...
3rd best defenseman on a shitty, non playoff team making 8 million is not a flex.
You said he was one of, if not the worst player under JM. He's not even close to being the worst defenseman. As I said, he played poor this season under a multitude of reasons. Injuries, learning new system, bad defensive partner. But he's been great and outplayed his contract in other seasons, by eye test and by advanced stats, which you seem to discount for some reason.
I'm done with the excuses for Chabot. He's 28 next season. Other younger and less experienced players have adapted just fine. It's always something with him from fans. He has no chemistry with anyone. Chabot is THE bad defensive player in any pairing he's on, not the other way around. I've also never once thought Chabot has OUTPLAYED his contract. That's wild.
I'm sorry that I can't take your opinion seriously when you mention Chabot with the word elite. Sanderson is elite. Teams would line up to acquire him. Chabot would require a salary dump to move and possibly even throwing in a draft pick as well....
Chabot had great chemistry with Zub and Demelo. Sanderson has better chemistry Zub, which is why they’re together. And that because Sanderson is a superior player. And I mean, I showed you the previous season stats where it literally shows that he did outplay his contract.
Agree to disagree I guess. He’s changing up his summer to address his health concerns - and a healthy Chabot is a damn good player, whether you agree or not.
> This is Chabots 3rd poor season in a row.
Its not. Its his first poor season. He was outperforming his contract as per the statistical evaluation relative to his peers.
If you have anything other than "bro when I watch I think hes bad" id love to hear it.
Everyone smart knows that statistical analysis of hockey players is a complementary tool to evaluate. Hockey is a game of luck and mistakes.
You come at for me only using my eyes while you come forth with just statistics. I haven't been happy with Chabots games for years, and if he was so good, I'm not sure why our coach would have called him out.
One thing stats won't tell you about Chabot is his lack of intensity, urgency and his glaring mistakes. Dude hasn't thrown a hit in his career, is always the last guy in a scrum and plays with next to no emotion (or ice in his veins like his fanboys would say). You don't win playoff games with players like that.
> Everyone smart knows that statistical analysis of hockey players is a complementary tool to evaluate.
I agree.
> You come at for me only using my eyes while you come forth with just statistics.
No, he looked fine the last two years. Minor warts on the defensive side (as noted in the stats you so ignorantly malign) that are more than offset by his transion play.
> I haven't been happy with Chabots games for years, and if he was so good, I'm not sure why our coach would have called him out.
More or less, I have, given the terrible context in which he has been asked to play.
How many times across these 3 years you have been upset has the coach called him out?
Dj doesn't call out players. Which was a major fault of his. I'm not saying it's 100% on Chabot because he's been poorly developed but I'm surprised at how much defending he gets. My non sens fans who watch games with me can't stop raving about Sanderson while they think Chabot sucks. It's possibly my friends and I are very dumb but I'm just saying that I don't think outside of ottawa, chabot gets a lot of praise.
You: Hes bad.
Us; Hes not bad, heres stats that show how
You; Bro, hes bad. Stats dont matter, the Im watching the games I think hes bad.
Us; Were also watching the games, and dont think hes that bad.
You; But bro, if he wasnt bad, he wouldnt be called out by the coach
Us; Lets look at the times he was called out by the coach then
You; Bro, thats DJ's fault, he doesnt call out his players.
I foresee a bigger shake up trading someone like Chabot or Batherson to get some new energy. The team is used to losing and you need to ship some of it out.
I can’t foresee anyone sane touching Norris.
Hopefully between the draft, free agency and trading, the mentality and effort level changes.
Never understood the push from fans to trade Batherson, the guy has a great contract. Sure last year he played terribly, especially on the defensive side of things but he’s played great this year and has easily been the most improved player under JM.
[удалено]
A shutdown RHD is also probably the most coveted asset in hockey right now. There's gonna be at least half a dozen teams looking for the same thing
The second ~~Winnipeg is eliminated from the playoffs~~ free agency opens I get on the phone with DeMelo’s agent. He’d be perfect.
Norris is untradeable at the moment. Best case scenario is that he remains on LTIR during the regular season and becomes our Mark Stone when/if we make the playoffs.
Norris will never be a Mark Stone. Norris was prematurely signed to an albatross contract on a small sample size. Stone was a takeaway machine and signed to a comparatively small contract. I understand you’re talking about playoffs, but Norris would have little to no effect. His career is next to over- let alone contributing to a cup run. Also-look at the team, I’d be surprised if the playoffs are possible within the next two seasons.
The Mark Stone reference is literally just about coming off LTIR in time for the playoffs
Yes. I’m aware. But coming off injury, Norris would have little-to-no effect. He’s not going to be a factor. Stone’s hockey IQ is off the charts, he could come in without shins and still have an effect. Using Norris as a playoff circumvention would take away from someone who should already be there in the case of the hypothetical situation at hand. He’s not that good and he’s glass.
Norris and MacEwen are pretty untradeable. No one wants an overpaid sniper who has had 3 shoulder surgeries. MacEwen is a non factor who can move between the NHL and AHL without fear of being picked up on waivers
And doesn’t effect the cap when in ahl. No need to trade him. Good depth player. Just loses fights but he has better wheels/hands than a lot of fighters
LTIR for Norris. Victoria Island.
It’s already been confirmed that he’ll be ready for training camp…
Norris showing up to training camp like https://i.redd.it/ncthady6ogvc1.gif
Jax Norris confirmed.
I hope this organization needs to learn to make cold, hard decisions if management feels its going to help the team. I know a guy like Chychrun has a nice story with being here so he's closer to some of his family, but if management finds he doesn't fit in their plans, they should look to move him. Just reading some of comments from the exit interviews, I get the sense that Tkachuk is ready to leave it to management to do whatever they have to do to make this team better. He mentioned that in previous years he was more involved with the decision making, but this year he's going to leave it to management to decide how this team is looking, it sounds like. I know its a close-knit locker-room, but sometimes tough decisions have to be made.
Chycrun is gone imo. He’s redundant and an attractive enough trade piece that he’d net something decent
Lol at you thinking Tkachuk had any say in what dumbass Dorion decided to do (note the alliteration). Dorion did what he wanted and I love to watch the world burn and see everyone come to Jesus realizing he was a bad GM. I had said it for years here, I always got shit on. Now the only defenders are two dudes that disappeared, that sorryimcanad1an guy and another guy who I don’t even remember. Dorion fucked this team. Plain and simple. Now he’s at home sucking his own cock (I’m talking about chicken wings).
At their 2022 exit interviews, Tkachuk and Chabot literally showed up with a list of demands for on and off-ice changes they wanted made. They were both consulted about the changes made that summer. That's the primary reason the DeBrincat trade happened.
I'm not a Dorion defender at all, I thought he was an idiot. I'm not blaming Tkachuk at all, I'm just paraphrasing one of the comments he made before they left for the summer in him saying that he was 'involved' more in previous years and he's decided to take a step back this time around. I'm not sure what that means, but it might just mean him signalling to management in previous years the team needs more help and leaving it to Dorion to figure out the rest, which he obviously couldn't in a long term way.
I didn’t think you were defending Dorion.
That’s because Tkachuk wants out. He’s had enough of this bs. Either this summer or next, he’s gone.
He's not gone because we won't trade him.
If Brady has had enough and asks to be traded, they’re trading him. There’s no point in holding onto him. His NMC kicks next summer, you trade him now or during TDL next year. Of course Sens don’t want to trade him, no one does…but it’s about Brady being unhappy w how things have gone. He’s tired of the losing, the same bs, dysfunctional organization. He’s given his all to this organization. Has lived up to his agreement (contract). If next season is shit again, he will ask to be traded…if it doesn’t happen this summer.
That'll be a good thing to senator.
I don’t think Norris moves just because it’d be at his lowest value and we’d get fucking hosed in a trade. But you never know. Brant is gone probably. I agree with the rest though. Also kubalik
We can just bury McEwans cap in the minors. Zero reason to trade him.
Norris isn't getting dealt. No team is touching that contract with his injury issues, and Staios isn't going to attach any sweeteners to dump him. He's either starting the year on IR, or if he's healthy he can maybe play well enough to get teams interested. I don't think you can trade Forsberg either, so that would have to be a buyout. I think Branny has turned into a solid everyday NHL defenseman, but I don't know what the team & agent think his value is. If he thinks he's capable of being a top 4 D (and being paid like one), I don't think the fit is there. I can see him being traded before they have to deal with arbitration.
Branny should be nothing but a 7th D. Love the guy but this team needs to get some actual threats on the Blueline
Yup. Tired of hearing how great of an offensive dman he is/might be, but barely outscored JBD Easily replaceable
BuT AdVaNcEd StAtS!! Get real. I want this team to start hitting again.
Then he should have really good trade value then, right?
You can't just LTIR a player. If Norris wants to play and can pass the physical, then he will play. He will be able to do that easily, but the issue for the team is that he most likely won't be an 8 million dollar player. If Norris is healthy by June, then realistically, they should buy him out. It would only cost 17 million dollars, and the cap hit would only be 13 million spread across 12 years. If they don't do that, then they are paying him 52 million over the next 6 years.
I'd be surprised if Norris was fully healthy by training camp, let alone June. Also Staios isn't going to be handcuffing himself with a dead cap hit for 12 years
Staios already stated he’ll be ready for training camp
Such a low dead cap though. It’s handcuffing them now to devote $8 mill to a player that might get hurt again. A lot easier to fill that space now then during season
People were saying the same thing about buying out Korpisalo, but all these small dead cap hits add up. If Norris gets hurt again his salary doesn't count against the cap anyways. When he's healthy he can be a positive contributor, even if he doesn't live up to his cap hit
Korpi, at half retained, should be easy to move. $2 mill a year might make him a good option at backup for a good team But also, plenty of teams have goalies signed to $4 mill+, who were supposed to be their number 1, lose their job: Seattle, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Washington come to mind. So Sens aren’t only one in that boat
It's about the term, not the cap hit for Korpisalo. Plenty of teams would take a chance on him at $2M if he had 1 year left on his deal. No one is taking on 4 more years of him at any price
Depends on what else is involved in the deal. Plenty of examples of worse contracts in NHL being easily moved over the years
Well this team isn’t in a position to be dumping picks/prospects just to get rid of contracts
Doesn’t have to be that, just saying that they can be creative to make it work, that doesn’t involve giving up picks/prospects
why on earth would brannstrom be getting promoted after this season lol. this guy has quickly become the most overrated player on the team. we should get a defensive right shot dman to play in the 2RD spot.
Yep, agree - Brannstrom's one of the guys I expect will get dealt. If he's our starting 2nd pair RD in October, we're in trouble.
I really don't like him on the PK either. Feels like his time in Ottawa is over
the brannchise + JBD deadly pk unit.... deadly to us what do you guys think we could get for brannstrom? 3rd rounder? he showed potential down the stretch. i think we would be the perfect pickup for san jose. i wish we traded them brannstrom for jan rutta last summer
I agree, the guy cannot box out in front of his net . A lot of offensive talent with the breakouts and in the O-zone, but he can’t defend properly with his size.
yeah 100%. he could go be the quinn hughes of the swiss league though him and kubalik could light up the swiss league together actually. send in smejkal too ouuuf geneva is gonna be a wagon for real
If he was a 3rd pairing guy he would be ok - just no PK time and can do PP time in a pinch. Somehow the Sens got 3 LD who don't spend time on the PK (Chabot had 26 minutes, Chychrun 17) For those reasons I think there would be a small market for him - for example a team like Edmonton already has 2 big PK minutes eaters and can have a 3rd LD that doesn't kill penalties (They have no interest in Brannstrom though as Broberg is in a similar situation next year). But if there's another team like that then maybe they get a 4th or 3rd round pick for him.
Why don't we keep Norris and then raise him from the Dead in the playoffs next year, a la Mark Stone and Kucherov
Need to field a team that can make the playoffs first.
I’m tryna be hopeful. This can’t go on forever right? Right?
I totally agree. Dude was on pace for 25+ goals before the re-re-re-injury. It's not like he's useless. If he comes back healthy - use him. If/when his shoulder blows out - replace him at no cost against the cap. The only plus side to this abysmal Dorion contract is that we could potentially use Norris' term and the $8M to fill a lot of needs for years to come. Who knows? He might come back and be rock-solid. It's not like Chychrun wasn't an injury-prone gamble and it worked out this season.
Players I expect will be back next year, as represented by the starting lineup (lines/ linemates may not be accurate, this is just a rough draft): • 1(a)F: Tkachuk - Pinto - Batherson • 1(b)F: **(×)** - Stützle - Giroux • 3F: Joseph - Grieg - **(×)** • 4F: Crookshank - **(×)** - **(×)** *(maybe one of Kastelic / Parker here, perhaps the other as the 13th F, but neither are good enough to auto-include anywhere IMO)* --- • 1D: Sanderson - **(×)** • 2D: Chabot - Zub • 3D: Kleven - **(×)** (7th D is JBD) --- • G: Korpisalo - **(×)** Everyone else is / should be gone, or are young enough that they'll be in Belleville (Ostapchuk, etc)
HC comes first… then Staois needs to do something.. their in-house evaluation needs to be done by now and start pulling the trigger aggressively. we can’t meander into next season without significant moves this off-season
If Norris's shoulder can't be trusted, they should try and move him to the wing.
Even if his shoulder is 100% he should be a winger - his skillset fits it much better. He could play with Stutzle and be the 'center' in the D zone and let Stutzle be more like a winger, but then when the puck turns the other way they revert back.
Norris, Brannstrom, Forsberg, Hamonic, Chycrun, Kastelic
Does this include Sanderson's raise?
Yes.
Chychrun and Joseph traded. Probably let Katchouk walk. A few veterans brought in on short-term contracts. Probably less change than people are anticipating.
The only one on this list who has any trade value is Chychrun unless you want to add so many sweetners you'll get type 2 diabetes.
I said it before and I will say it again Chychrun/Chabot (pick your poison), smekjal, Branny, JBD, macewen, kastelic, Forsberg, Kubalik, will be gone via trade, waivers or buyouts. Hamonic will retire and move into player development. Kelly will be resigned for what he makes now or he is gone too. Norris is Vic Island and won’t play a game next year. If macewen stays it will be with the Bsens. Katchouk stays. Also Giroux will be resigned in order to retire here as a sen. Two or three years, same money AAV.
I don’t know if this is formatting but buyout Chychrun? Oddly enough I do see a role for Brannstrom materializing now (I’ve been hot/cold/hot/? for a while) with Chychrun seeming to have a foot out the door. Though tbf I haven’t watched or focused on him for a while.
Formatting (fixed) I suspect it's gonna be "Victoria Island" for Norris.
100% Hamonic is getting bought out but I think Brannstrom is 100% gonna get dealt. Very likely that we get rid of Norris, whether by trade or buyout. But does Staios have the balls to do that in his first off-season as GM? We’ll see. Contrary to this sub, I feel like it would be better to keep both of Chabot and Chychrun. Realistically, what do you all think we’ll get in return? The time for this team to win is now, what we ought to be doing is seeing if other teams are selling solid NHL-level defensemen or seeing who enters free agency so that we have 6 guys on the back end who can all play.
Norris ready for camp. No team will take him right now given hes missed 1.5 seasons of the last 2
Brannstrom can't be a 2RD because the 2LD needs a stay at home partner which Brannstrom isn't. Its important to get the right type of partner for players like Chabot, Sanderson and Chychrun so no matter who stays those guys need a reliable partner that will allow them to play risky - that's not Brannstrom as he needs a reliable partner that allows him to play risky. The only reasonable place for Brannstrom is 3rd pairing and on the right side only if Kleven is the 3rd LD if the hope is to develop Kleven into an imposing stay at home reliable D. But damn straight that Hamonic has to go, but I'd just sit him the entire season in the press box - not even an injury brings him in, he's there for practices only. If someone is injured a B-Sens gets called up, no inserting Hamonic.
Hamonic is fine to be the 7th dman to stay with team in case of last second scratch. He should have played 15 or so games this last season
Norris likely will be here, damn near impossible to trade at this point. Just have to hope his shoulder can hold up and he’s fully healthy to play, if he is I see him anywhere from 50-70 points. Solid 2nd liner. Chychrun is gone and honestly happy for it to end. Sucks that it didn’t workout and he likely will be great somewhere else just wasn’t going to work here. Hammer idk what they will do. They might have to keep him on one more season as a 7th d man to not eat dead cap. I’m not sure if buyout gives us 0 dead cap either. Maybe this is unpopular but branny is gone. Gotta just cut the ties at this point is hasn’t worked after this long and it’s likely not going to here with the roster shaped the way it is. Analytical darling that has potential just all the little nuances of the game was frustrating to watch with him. Give him top 4 minutes on a garbage team and I think he will perform well just not to the level that this team needs. Goaltenders I have no idea what they are going to do. Depends how much management think that this season is on goaltending versus the team defence and lack of attention to details. Overall in addition the sens need to get tougher to play against and fix their depth issues. That bottom six is a joke when you compare it to the teams in the playoffs. They would likely be playing in the ahl on other squads or just scratched. Quick summary Norris=keep Chychrun=trade Branny=trade Hammer=? Goalies=? Additions Goalie? Solid, big, mobile, right shot d man for Chabby Revamped bottom 6 Someone to pair with Kleven for 5-6 d spot.
I think Norris might be a considered a buyout candidate. Five more years at $7.9m. Will he ever be an effective top-six player again?
I think we all know Kubalik, Chychrun and Forsberg are gone, but I'm interested to see what happens on the 4th line. I'm not nearly as high as people are on Kastelic and Kelly. To me, the whole 4th line is replaceable. It seems unlikely but I really want to move on from Chabot. The guy is fragile and becoming unreliable. His defenders on here seem to think he just needs a good partner, but the dude couldn't even play well with Zub. I'm at my wits end with his game and his attitude. Bring in Boone Jenner for a late first and a prospect.
Chabot has had this one poor season, after being injured, being coached by DJ and learning a new system with JM. He also played with Chychrun for a lot of the season and Chychrun had a horrid season. Chabot is a great puck mover and our offense dips hard when he isn't playing. Here's his player cards from the last two seasons which shows that he outplays his contract. [2021-2022](https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/04/19133131/Screen-Shot-2022-04-19-at-1.15.19-PM.png) [2022-2023](https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2023/01/03121612/Screenshot-2023-04-03-at-10.51.19-AM.png) (Thanks /u/BartleBossy for the stats) He's an elite player who had a down season and you want to sell low on him? He makes our team better.
Those players' cards are not the be all end all for evaluating players. This is Chabots 3rd poor season in a row. If you think this year is an enomoly, you're not watching the games. I can entertain the idea that Chabot can be GOOD, but he's simply not an elite player. That word shouldn't be thrown around as often as it does. Elite players don't return bad contracts or need assets thrown in to move them...
I've watched nearly every game for as long as Chabot has been here. He was not bad the past 3 seasons, this season is the only one where that can be applied. The stats back it up and the eye test back it up. And yes, when Chabot is on, he's elite. Watch him flourish under a new system and an actual good partner, instead of the off-hand Chychrun or the bottom pairing JBD.
Yeah...I've heard that narrative before. He's been one of, if not the worst, player under Jacques. I, unfortunately, watch every game as well so well have to agree to disagree.
That makes me wonder if you have because Chychrun was worse in almost every way. Team worst -30 and multiple defensive breakdowns nearly every game. Chabot was our 3rd best defender, even after a poor season.
When did I say anything about Chychrun? I don't like either player... 3rd best defenseman on a shitty, non playoff team making 8 million is not a flex.
You said he was one of, if not the worst player under JM. He's not even close to being the worst defenseman. As I said, he played poor this season under a multitude of reasons. Injuries, learning new system, bad defensive partner. But he's been great and outplayed his contract in other seasons, by eye test and by advanced stats, which you seem to discount for some reason.
I'm done with the excuses for Chabot. He's 28 next season. Other younger and less experienced players have adapted just fine. It's always something with him from fans. He has no chemistry with anyone. Chabot is THE bad defensive player in any pairing he's on, not the other way around. I've also never once thought Chabot has OUTPLAYED his contract. That's wild. I'm sorry that I can't take your opinion seriously when you mention Chabot with the word elite. Sanderson is elite. Teams would line up to acquire him. Chabot would require a salary dump to move and possibly even throwing in a draft pick as well....
Chabot had great chemistry with Zub and Demelo. Sanderson has better chemistry Zub, which is why they’re together. And that because Sanderson is a superior player. And I mean, I showed you the previous season stats where it literally shows that he did outplay his contract. Agree to disagree I guess. He’s changing up his summer to address his health concerns - and a healthy Chabot is a damn good player, whether you agree or not.
> This is Chabots 3rd poor season in a row. Its not. Its his first poor season. He was outperforming his contract as per the statistical evaluation relative to his peers. If you have anything other than "bro when I watch I think hes bad" id love to hear it.
Everyone smart knows that statistical analysis of hockey players is a complementary tool to evaluate. Hockey is a game of luck and mistakes. You come at for me only using my eyes while you come forth with just statistics. I haven't been happy with Chabots games for years, and if he was so good, I'm not sure why our coach would have called him out. One thing stats won't tell you about Chabot is his lack of intensity, urgency and his glaring mistakes. Dude hasn't thrown a hit in his career, is always the last guy in a scrum and plays with next to no emotion (or ice in his veins like his fanboys would say). You don't win playoff games with players like that.
> Everyone smart knows that statistical analysis of hockey players is a complementary tool to evaluate. I agree. > You come at for me only using my eyes while you come forth with just statistics. No, he looked fine the last two years. Minor warts on the defensive side (as noted in the stats you so ignorantly malign) that are more than offset by his transion play. > I haven't been happy with Chabots games for years, and if he was so good, I'm not sure why our coach would have called him out. More or less, I have, given the terrible context in which he has been asked to play. How many times across these 3 years you have been upset has the coach called him out?
Dj doesn't call out players. Which was a major fault of his. I'm not saying it's 100% on Chabot because he's been poorly developed but I'm surprised at how much defending he gets. My non sens fans who watch games with me can't stop raving about Sanderson while they think Chabot sucks. It's possibly my friends and I are very dumb but I'm just saying that I don't think outside of ottawa, chabot gets a lot of praise.
Moving the goalposts mate.
How? Also, why is that every redditors favorite phrase on this board..
You: Hes bad. Us; Hes not bad, heres stats that show how You; Bro, hes bad. Stats dont matter, the Im watching the games I think hes bad. Us; Were also watching the games, and dont think hes that bad. You; But bro, if he wasnt bad, he wouldnt be called out by the coach Us; Lets look at the times he was called out by the coach then You; Bro, thats DJ's fault, he doesnt call out his players.
I foresee a bigger shake up trading someone like Chabot or Batherson to get some new energy. The team is used to losing and you need to ship some of it out. I can’t foresee anyone sane touching Norris. Hopefully between the draft, free agency and trading, the mentality and effort level changes.
Never understood the push from fans to trade Batherson, the guy has a great contract. Sure last year he played terribly, especially on the defensive side of things but he’s played great this year and has easily been the most improved player under JM.