Stu is going to be a great player for a long time, and now the Sens have him locked in for 8 years on a decent number.

I have no idea why the vote is split. This is a no-brainer yes.

I'm more surprised at how fast Ottawa has burned though their future cap-space.

If Debrincat gets $11,000,000 ... then next year they'll be locked in for:

11,000,000 x 8 = DeBrincat
$8,400,000 x 8 = Stutzle
$8,200,000 x 5 = Tkachuk
$8,000,000 x 5 = Chabot
$8,000,000 x 7 = Norris
$6,500,000 x 2 = Giroux
$5,000,000 x 4 = Batherson
$4,500,000 x 2 = Zaitsev
$3,000,000 x 3 = Joseph
$2,800,000 x 2 = Forsberg
$5,500,000 x 5 = Zubb (estimate)
$5,000,000 x 1 = Penalties (RS/BO)

That's $76,000,000 for 11 players ... and they'll still have to sign:

- A few of their top prospects
- A couple top 4 defense
- Another goaltender
- Alex Formenton

I'd argue that Chabot and Tkachuk brings much more than just points to this team but Norris and Stutz are suspicious signings, you usually see those deals on a team that has team friendly contracts on board for the close-mid future so you don't have to worry for the cap. Considering the team hasn't had success lately this could quickly blow in their face in the case of one or both new free agents just don't work out, it's always risky business but Dorion's added a couple extra layers now.
I don't know why but I have Toronto style of building a team's cap with Ottawa this offseason, spend as much as needed up front and forget the rest.

His game reminds me a lot of Jonathan Drouin ... Almost identical production at this stage in their careers too ... Interesting.

This is a great contract. Locking up a key piece for 9 more years at a reasonable caphit before his production potentially explodes...

His analytics don't suggest he's going to be a star + he made his line mates worse. I'm all for giving into the hype, but everything suggests Stutzle won't be worth this contract.

You fools, crowned fools. Senator Melnyk RIP.

Great deal. He’s going to be one of the franchise best. Good signing.

If Debrincat gets 11m, His Agent is the best Agent in the NHL

Good teams are tight to the cap. Ottawa is turning that corner. That cap looks completely manageable. Move zaitsev and bring in an rhd at the same money that is worth it.

It's a lot when the team hasn't even made the playoffs yet. Big commitment to a core with no success yet.

Commited to the team and city, unlike other RFA who want their UFA ASAP.

Good teams are tight to the cap because they already paid their top guys for their success. Like Tampa & Colorado.

Being tight to the cap before you make the playoffs is what the Sabres were when they had Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, Ristolainen, Okposo, Montour,

A great contract was the Batherson contract. Good cap hit before a guy broke out. This is the opposite. It's not a cheap deal. This is a contract you'd give a guy who already broke out. This deal makes him the 14th highest paid center in 2023-2024.

While I dont think Debrincat gets 11 he still wont come cheap as I believe his QO is 9mill. So lets just say 9.25mill x 8 years

But either way gonna be interesting to watch

Montreal is extremely tight and nowhere near doing anything speaking of teams like buffalo was @donglord23

Everyone was negative on the Thompson deal in Buffalo but I think it was a calculated risk and probably going to be a good one.

I feel the same about this one. Risk/Reward. I think you have to take same risk to mange the Cap with the few what could seem like a bargain deals in the future is the player pans out. The GM and Coaches have had a good look and know what they have in the person and player better than anyone.

Good deal

JTM: point per game player coming off a 99 point season gets less money than this guy who has almost half the production. Canucks dodged a bullet! Yikes!

I'm not gonna make friends with that comment but I have no choice to say that because Ottawa added 180M+ in contracts in this offseason only (and Formenton pending), Melnyk departure is the best thing that happened to Sens fans since forever.

This is alright. Very much a contract for expected production but if he meets that, it's good.

Time will judge this contract, but my opinion is that it is a little toon soon for this type of payout.

Right now he has not earned this contract, he hasnt shown an ability to make players around him better, I see hes 20/21 years old but his advanced stats dont support this payout.


A future outlook on the contracts on the books paints a tight cap fit for the future.

You can't blame a guy for going for the bag
NHL players dont make as much as other leagues, so many players dont actually make a ton, and definitely not enough for a long retirement

Stutzle hasn't broken out fully yet. I think he's still got more... he's only 20 years old...

Laine was only 19 years old when he had 70 points and 44 goals. That was the best year of his career so far. Guys aren't guaranteed to get better. Maybe Stutzle is just a 50-60 point guy. Giving a guy a big contract like this before they breakout is pretty risky.

All long term contracts carry risk. There's a chance the contract doesn't work out just like there was a chance Draisaitl's contract wouldn't work out; but I feel like this is a good bet.

They now Stutzle, Norris, Batherson, Tkachuk and Chabot locked up until 2027 for under 37.5M.