I dont know if OTT gets Poolparty +3rd for Tierney.

Tierney is worth 2nd+3rd so that implies Poolparty could be had for a 2nd.

EDM could use to dump some cap (Chiasson/Khaira/Russel), theres a better way to work this.

I think Puljujarvi is worth a 2nd at most, so I think the value there is pretty reasonable.

Trades are okay... but I don't understand why Ottawa wouldn't just keep Anisimov and his contract, helps meet the cap floor anyways, and I would never see Bozak on the top line, unless Ottawa wants to battle for another lottery pick next season. The Cernak signing is very interesting, he could be good with Chabot, but again, you signed him for 5 years when there are JBD and Lassi Thomson who should be ready before then, and Zaitsev is locked too. Also, I like Anisimov, along with Zaitsev, to help Zub integrate smoothly from Russia on and off the ice. I don't imagine Anisimov will be traded, and Zub I think is a factor in that.

Bozak is basically just a one year buffer player. Anisimov is a good 3rd/4th C, but Bozak has history playing higher than that. Basically my thought process is that Bozak can be a one year option as a centre, and it lets you comfortably trade Chris Tierney, without having to go fully young down the middle, which I'm not sure is the smartest for Development. You could in theory sign a centre on a 1 year deal, but this way let's you add a pick to accomplish the same goal. Bozak would be a good Vet leader for Ottawa for one year, and come deadline he's a very tradable asset.

He shouldn't be playing as the 1st line center, but Ottawa doesn't have any immediately better options. Colin White will likely be the top Checking centre against top lines, and that leaves you with whichever of Brown or Norris makes the team. I think you're hoping Brown/Norris can take the top spot, but you don't just hand him the job out of camp. You put him as the 2/3and make him earn it.

Also trading Anisimov is mostly just so I can have Chlapik as 4C full time, which I think needs to happen, because he was great on the 4th line this year. Zub will still have the russian Connection with Zaitsev, who isn't going anywhere for at least a couple of years.

Also as far as Cernak is concerned, I gave him 5 years, because he presumably is a long term piece on that blueline. He's 22, and you make that offersheet because you think he fits in alongside JBD and Thomson. If you view him as just a stopgap, I don't think you make the offersheet, and you look at other options.

Zaitsev isn't a player I factor into the long term. I would be surprised to see him finish that contract playing for the Sens. He's probably going to be around for another 2 years, but after that he's either bought put or Traded. After two more years, you expect JBD and Thomson to be on the Sens.

Thank you for explaining all of that, it makes all your moves really clear. And I really hope Zaitsev can improve, but if not, then hopefully as you say the Sens can find a way to move that contract eventually