Oh my god you’re back!!!!!

I missed you!!

Thank you for not launching Ryan. He’ll be great for the cap for now, since they need to hit the cap floor and he’s someone I would 100% resign later on for cheaper. He brings leadership to this team.

Cap friendly OG

Agree, I would resign him for much cheaper and I would assume he'd want to stay settled in Ottawa as well, especially when their competing and doing well

Tkachuk at 6.5mil over 8 would be a massive steal,but I'm not sure it happens though. Ottawa would be really smart to get that contract done this summer, like they did with Chabot. Tkachuk could have a huge breakout next year, and getting him done now could be the difference between him at 7 vs him at 9.

Zub... a KHL defense men... top pairing?


HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA

Doesn't work that way my dude

6.5 million would be a huge steal, but hopefully it can be done. As you said, $7 million now is much better than $9 million in a few years. I think they will lock him up this summer like they did with Chabot and White.

Then which way does it work? He is a defensive d-man. If he can be like what Methot was to Karlsson, I say he's good on that top pair with Chabot until Bernard-Docker or Thomson are ready to take that position. Right now, it's either Zub or Zaitsev on that top pair with Chabot.

I think they will as well, but the inner Sens fan in me is deeply concerned about how much the loss of revenue will impact the Sens willingness to give out expensive contracts in the recent future.

That is a really valid concern, but I think the Sens have been saving a lot of money the last few years by staying near the cap floor and having little office staff. And they've barely filled half the building this season so it's not like this will have that big of an impact on the team, they've been kind of used to not selling tickets. If anything, Melnyk will have to get a loan or sell a part of the team to someone who can help give out those expensive contracts. I don't know, I'm optimistic. I feel like the Sens have hit rock bottom and they can only rise from here.

I have to be honest. If OTT was really serious about building a contender they would sit both of them for 1 year.
They know they will suck again next year. Great. Pick high again.
You build a team after multiple years picking really high, not rushing the talent in and ending up in mediocrity.
Sit them both. Get a top pick next year, add another piece. You'll blink and you got 4-5 really solid pieces and a core to build a team around.

But that's just me .

I am for this if Ottawa lands Byfield and say Rossi/Drysdale. Nothing wrong with letting them marinate in the minors. Give them 9-game trials and send them down to dominate their own leagues respectively. Laf and Stutzle are both NHL ready, though. I'd hope that Ottawa stays in lottery territory for another couple of years to land someone like Raty or Wright.

I think Ottawa, though not great yet, is too good to be competing for the 1st overall pick again next year. With a growing core of young players, what will now be the second year under DJ Smith, and the additions of Lafrenière and/or Stützle, Ottawa will definitely be better next season. Even without adding players from this year's draft, Ottawa will improve. And honestly, I don't think Sens fans have enough patience to endure another year of being in lottery territory. Ottawa, after this draft, should have all the right pieces to be a contender soon.

The problem is that the KHL game is so different and although forwards and offensive defensemen usually adapt defensive defense men do not. For year 1 he's gonna be either 3rd pairing or AHL. If he manages to adapt he could be top 4, on a similar level to Zaitsev and if not I see him playing on the bottom pairing or going back to the KHL. I hate to be a bearer of bad news but the game is so different in the KHL he will never be a top-pairing guy. I mean, how many DFD's have signed as UFA's out of the K and are currently top-2?

We'll see

For sure I'm rooting for him. I like the sens and hope they have some better luck soon. I just don't think Zub's the answer.

Fair enough

Oh for sure but they still have to deal with a competitive Atlantic. Detroit will still be bad and maybe Buffalo but beyond that, it looks rather challenging. I still think they finish bottom 10 in the league for this year and then just outside a wildcard the following year.

I don't see the Atlantic like that honestly. The Leafs' defence isn't great, Montreal isn't great, Detroit is Detroit, perhaps Buffalo will be a little better, panthers are the panthers, and Bruins and Lightning will still be really good but Marchand is turning 32, Bergeron 35, Hedman 30, and Stamkos is 30. Yes, all these teams have really good up and coming players but I think Ottawa has the players to compete with those teams in a few years.

Key words here. I get this is the roster outlook for 2021-22. But, staying the course for a proper rebuild involves 3-4 years of bottom 5-10 finishes. I would say that this past year was year 1. The full tear down started when Stone, Duchene and Dzingel were traded. Ottawa is extremely lucky to have 2 lottery picks this year so it kind of brings them back up to speed this year. It also helps that this draft is very top heavy so they're getting 2 good players right off the bat. That, and the recent proposed draft rules would have Ottawa finish no worse than 3 and 4.

The Atlantic is still going to be strong:

Toronto's D is going to get better with Liligren and Sandin getting regular spots. Rielly and Muzzin are healthy. I would say their problem might be in goal come 2022. Boston seems to be aging like a fine wine which infuriates me to no end. Tampa Bay is going to be dominant still. Even with an "aging" core. Point, Cirelli, Sergachev, Vasilevsky? All 24 and under. Not to mention Coleman. Don't count Kucherov (25) out either with Palat (27) on the wing. Florida had an off year and looks to be, probably, off loading a bad contract either by CBO or by trade. Hopefully Ekblad becomes available and Ottawa swoops in. I'd love to see him and Chabot play 25 minutes a night. Detroit will remain bad for a few more years. A few lottery finishes puts them in a better position. Buffalo can only go up from here (I said that last year knowing full well they were going to get hot and then crash). Montreal is getting some much needed help on the blueline (Romanov) and up front with a fresh Caufield. They also have more picks in this years draft than Ottawa does. Watch for them make a push.

Ottawa has an exciting future, don't get me wrong. It's just foolish to think teams are going to start falling off a cliff by the time Ottawa becomes competitive again.