Okay, the first thing is that this team is supposed to take a step forward and compete, not neccsarily make it but compete hard for a playoff spot. This is under multiple stipulations
- Ottawa does end up drafting Juraj Slavkovsky with the 3rd overall pick and Jajer Firkus with their 36 overall pick.
- Murray stays on IR and his career is technically done but no one says that and he doesn't retire so their is no cap penalty. (Pipe dream maybe)
-Zaitsev and White stay, the reasoning before you all yell, they are good players, Zaitsev especially with the way the he blocks shots, like he took one to the head for the win last night so he is dedecated, plus he will help bring over russian FA if they are able to come over, that might have been how they got Zub. This is also White's last chance to show some stuff because if he is not capable he is dealt during the TDL or the offseason to make way for paying Stutzle and Pinto. I think that White is still capable of something like a middle six career but possibly not with Ottawa, who knows though, he has looked good since coming back.
- We get Andrei Kuzmenko and he is able to come over (Also probably a pipe dream) (the coming over part)
- Greig is NHL ready along with Sanderson, Thompson, JBD, and Sokolov.
That is all the stipulations that I am making before I sign and trade for people.
- Norris signs an 8x8 which might become a steal further down the road, he is a great goal scorer and has potential to develop into an elite 2 way center. He also has an Ovechkin like shot where he just beats goalies, especially on the powerplay and he has a lot of chemistry with Batherson and Tkachuk.
- Branstromm signs a bride deal of 2.35x1, that gives him a chance to show what he has and it is a test if he will be in for the future of the Sens.
- Andrei Kuzmenko is an max AAV entry level deal that has some kind bonuses.
-Formenton sign a 3x4 as I think that he could be a Chris Kreider esque forward who is insanly fast and has some bit but he just needs to learn to finish.
-Joseph signs a 3 year 2.5 million dollar deal and is the veteran on the fourth line to help Sokolov and Greig enter the league, plus has a lot of tenacite and fist to him that will help the Sens roster, plus he can fly.
-Gambrell and Gaudette can be traded or kept as they are great depth and Gaudette is very skillfull just needs to fully tap into it, he did win the Hobby Baker. Same with Mete
-Watson is probably traded but he is a great character guy and has some great clips but he is out of a job here, I think that Ottawa may find a suiter in the central division because they like beating each other up.
-Mads Soggard will also be knocking at the door, it depends how he does in camp and in his call up games this year because Piere Dorian did say in his post TDL conference that the plan was to play Mads at some point in the year.
-Taxi Squad is for the players and propects that may earn their way onto a roster spot next year
That 2nd line is terrible. And Zaitsev is terrible. I can’t take this seriously. Also no way Greig is playing 4C in Ottawa over 1C in Belleville
Maybe, I think that you give it a chance then change this up, but I think that Ottawa will compete but probably wont make it, I think it will be the same teams + the Islanders as this year and you could probably flip Zaitsev for positive assets, now that'd be a fleecing, and White can go in the offseason if he doesn't rebound. Also we don't know about Kuzmenko but you could put Brown or Formenton on the second line, it's more of a balanced attack however.