Player Discussion Jakob Chychrun (D)

[Ice-Tray]

I could see Chychrun for Ullmark without extensions. The logic being that Chychrun is not going to sign an extension, so even if Ullmark won't sign one, they are still in the exact same position. They presumably don't want to move Chychrun for futures. So they swap him for a different pending UFA in a greater position of need, and hope that if the team starts winning, Ullmark likes it here and agrees to stay.

If Ullmark doesn't extend, the same thing was going to happen with Chychrun, so it isn't any worse of a situation than they are already in.

Maybe include Forsberg for another player like Peeke to balance out the positions. It would be nice to get one of their big bottom 6 forwards like Frederic or Geekie, but I don't see that happening.

I would love this trade!

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Ullmark can choose where gets traded to, unfortunately.

He has a 15 team no-trade list. So there is a reasonable chance that we are on it.

If his name is still coming up through people like Garrioch, who say what you want about his tact is usually plugged in, then there is probably a chance we aren't on his list.

If we are on his list, then we probably have to offer him a very juicy extension to get him. I would be reticent to do that. I don't like big goalie contracts.

 

[Micklebot]

He has a 15 team no-trade list. So there is a reasonable chance that we are on it.

There were rumours that he blocked a trade at the deadline to LA, so presumably his list isn't the conventional "all the Canadian teams and teams that are expected to miss the playoffs"

He wants to stay in Boston, I imagine he was strategic in making his list, which might mean assuming a team that just signed a 5 year deal for a new starter wasn't going to immediately be looking for a new starter...

 

[Hale The Villain]

There were rumours that he blocked a trade at the deadline to LA, so presumably his list isn't the conventional "all the Canadian teams and teams that are expected to miss the playoffs"

He wants to stay in Boston, I imagine he was strategic in making his list, which might mean assuming a team that just signed a 5 year deal for a new starter wasn't going to immediately be looking for a new starter...

Wasn't that Markstrom? Would be weird if both of them declined trades to a historically attractive UFA destination like LA.

 

[Micklebot]

Wasn't that Markstrom? Would be weird if both of them declined trades to a historically attractive UFA destination like LA.

I thought markstrom was NJD but apparently SN was saying it was kings, that said, Ulmark to LA was apparently a thing too

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

There were rumours that he blocked a trade at the deadline to LA, so presumably his list isn't the conventional "all the Canadian teams and teams that are expected to miss the playoffs"

He wants to stay in Boston, I imagine he was strategic in making his list, which might mean assuming a team that just signed a 5 year deal for a new starter wasn't going to immediately be looking for a new starter...

15 is a fairly expansive list.

California teams may have been on it due to taxes.

In terms of strategy, players sometimes strategically don't include teams because they have strong reason to believe that those teams won't trade for them. So it's possible that we may not be on his list if he thought that the Bruins wouldn't trade him within the division.

 

[PlayOn]

He has a 15 team no-trade list. So there is a reasonable chance that we are on it.

If his name is still coming up through people like Garrioch, who say what you want about his tact is usually plugged in, then there is probably a chance we aren't on his list.

If we are on his list, then we probably have to offer him a very juicy extension to get him. I would be reticent to do that. I don't like big goalie contracts.

Quite the contrary, Bruce has claimed several times we haven’t seriously talked to the Bruins about Ullmark.

Here’s one:



If we’re to listen to Bruce, he’s essentially said we’ll look to replace Forsberg with a different back-up, so idk if we’re even interested in the bigger names.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

Quite the contrary, Bruce has claimed several times we haven’t seriously talked to the Bruins about Ullmark.

Here’s one:



If we’re to listen to Bruce, he’s essentially said we’ll look to replace Forsberg with a different back-up, so idk if we’re even interested in the bigger names.

"The Senators kicked tires on Boston’s Linus Ullmark at the deadline and the expectation is the club will circle back."

GARRIOCH: Senators GM Steve Staios has his work cut out for him in the off-season

It was a season of destiny that finished with a dose of reality. Only one word can describe this season for the Ottawa Senators: Disastrous.

ottawasun.com

That is an article from the last few days.

 

[PlayOn]

"The Senators kicked tires on Boston’s Linus Ullmark at the deadline and the expectation is the club will circle back."

GARRIOCH: Senators GM Steve Staios has his work cut out for him in the off-season

It was a season of destiny that finished with a dose of reality. Only one word can describe this season for the Ottawa Senators: Disastrous.

ottawasun.com

That is an article from the last few days.

Interesting, thanks! Well I’ll take it. Maybe the talks didn’t go far at the deadline because we were on his list and I think Friedman said Ullmark wasn’t willing to consider a team on his list until the off-season.

 

[GCK]

I've been predicting this for a while, and it's no slam on Staios. In fact, it is what he has to do - in rebuilding the rebuild he is going to have to take a step backwards, hopefully temporarily, in order to move two steps forward. Next year could feature another bottom five finish, unfortunately...

Please explain how it will/could be a worse roster.

 

[Knave]

Aside from goalie I think this is the biggest possible question mark on this team.

Chabot and Chychrun doesn't seem to work. I think you need to move one for assets and then sign a defensive defenseman that complements the player we keep whether that's Chabot or Chychrun. We need for one of them what Zub is for Sanderson. One of the big things aside from awful goaltending with this team is blowing assignments and that extends to our defense. I think it would help Chabot or Chychrun a lot if they had a stable partner who can clear things up in front of the net and in the slot.

Chabot has the contract, Chychrun doesn't so it's obvious where this goes.

 

[jbeck5]

Please explain how it will/could be a worse roster.

Well, we'll be without 50-60 point Tarasenko. We'll be without our leading scoring defender chychrun.

I don't know if the sens are in on 2-3 bigger names to replace them.

It depends on the return of the chychrun trade and who we replace Tarasenko with at free agency, but this team doesn't just need to replace them.. they need to replace them and then some, if the goal is to improve.

Also what is Norris going forward? His potential seems to have fallen.


So you can essentially say we're down 2 top 6 forwards and 1 top 4 D just based on this crappy year.

So to improve, some would think we need to get 2-3 top 6 forwards, and better ones...and 1-2 top 4 D and better ones.

How do we do this, exactly?

 

[GCK]

Well, we'll be without 50-60 point Tarasenko. We'll be without our leading scoring defender chychrun.

I don't know if the sens are in on 2-3 bigger names to replace them.

It depends on the return of the chychrun trade and who we replace Tarasenko with at free agency, but this team doesn't just need to replace them.. they need to replace them and then some, if the goal is to improve.

Also what is Norris going forward? His potential seems to have fallen.


So you can essentially say we're down 2 top 6 forwards and 1 top 4 D just based on this crappy year.

So to improve, some would think we need to get 2-3 top 6 forwards, and better ones...and 1-2 top 4 D and better ones.

How do we do this, exactly?

Chychrun replaced by a RD makes us better. Any value Tarasenko brought was offset by Kubalik.

 

[Micklebot]

Well, we'll be without 50-60 point Tarasenko. We'll be without our leading scoring defender chychrun.

I don't know if the sens are in on 2-3 bigger names to replace them.

It depends on the return of the chychrun trade and who we replace Tarasenko with at free agency, but this team doesn't just need to replace them.. they need to replace them and then some, if the goal is to improve.

Also what is Norris going forward? His potential seems to have fallen.


So you can essentially say we're down 2 top 6 forwards and 1 top 4 D just based on this crappy year.

So to improve, some would think we need to get 2-3 top 6 forwards, and better ones...and 1-2 top 4 D and better ones.

How do we do this, exactly?

Well also have Pinto for the first 41 games, along with whoever we do replace Chychrun and Tank with.

I don't think Norris will be any worse next year, he wasn't playing the way a health Norris would anyways, so any increase in play from him is a bonus.

I think our biggest issue this year was not having the right pieces rather than not having good pieces.

Chychrun is a good piece, just not the right piece for a team with Sanderson and Chabot.

Tank was a good piece, but arguably not the right piece for a team with Batherson and Giroux on the right side.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Get a collective save percentage over 900 and we will be much better overall.

 

[bicboi64]

Chychrun replaced by a RD makes us better.

Careful, not any RD will do. It has to be a defensive specialist and not another offensive minded D. Like if Staios signs Barrie, Klingberg, or Schultz, I'll be very disappointed. They're veterans, but we need to hit a homerun and get a DeMelo, Pesce, Tanev, etc...

 

[Stylizer1]

So Chychrun still a #1 caliber D and should be on the first power play right?

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Careful, not any RD will do. It has to be a defensive specialist and not another offensive minded D. Like if Staios signs Barrie, Klingberg, or Schultz, I'll be very disappointed. They're veterans, but we need to hit a homerun and get a DeMelo, Pesce, Tanev, etc...

There’s grey area between “not defensive specialists “ and “Barrie, klingberg Schultz “

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Well, we'll be without 50-60 point Tarasenko. We'll be without our leading scoring defender chychrun.

I don't know if the sens are in on 2-3 bigger names to replace them.

It depends on the return of the chychrun trade and who we replace Tarasenko with at free agency, but this team doesn't just need to replace them.. they need to replace them and then some, if the goal is to improve.

Also what is Norris going forward? His potential seems to have fallen.


So you can essentially say we're down 2 top 6 forwards and 1 top 4 D just based on this crappy year.

So to improve, some would think we need to get 2-3 top 6 forwards, and better ones...and 1-2 top 4 D and better ones.

How do we do this, exactly?

IMO we will improve three ways, hopefully anyway.

1. Internal growth. Greig, Pinto and Sanderson at the minimum will be improved players. To me Pinto and Greig will be solid second line players. Sanderson will improve and could even make the step to be one of the league's better #1 D. I think Stützle bounces back as well.

2. We become a more balanced team. Chychrun is gone. Hopefully we can replace him with a RD who gets the puck back from the other team quickly. Chychrun is a good player but he wasn't the right guy for this team.

3. We get solid coaching right out of the gate. Obviously depends on who we hire but this should be improved over years past.

Then there are things we can't control but could lead to improvement, like being extra healthy (eg. Norris and Chabot actually avoid injury) and, this is the big one, having our goalies make a f***ing save or two.

We will be better than we were last year, IMO.

 

[jhutter]

IMO we will improve three ways, hopefully anyway.

1. Internal growth. Greig, Pinto and Sanderson at the minimum will be improved players. To me Pinto and Greig will be solid second line players. Sanderson will improve and could even make the step to be one of the league's better #1 D. I think Stützle bounces back as well.

2. We become a more balanced team. Chychrun is gone. Hopefully we can replace him with a RD who gets the puck back from the other team quickly. Chychrun is a good player but we wasn't the right guy for this team.

3. We get solid coaching right out of the gate. Obviously depends on who we hire but this should be improved over years past.

Then there are things we can't control but could lead to improvement, like being extra healthy (eg. Norris and Chabot actually avoid injury) and, this is the big one, having our goalies make a f***ing save or two.

We will be better than we were last year.

I would hope so, lol.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

IMO we will improve three ways, hopefully anyway.

1. Internal growth. Greig, Pinto and Sanderson at the minimum will be improved players. To me Pinto and Greig will be solid second line players. Sanderson will improve and could even make the step to be one of the league's better #1 D. I think Stützle bounces back as well.

2. We become a more balanced team. Chychrun is gone. Hopefully we can replace him with a RD who gets the puck back from the other team quickly. Chychrun is a good player but he wasn't the right guy for this team.

3. We get solid coaching right out of the gate. Obviously depends on who we hire but this should be improved over years past.

Then there are things we can't control but could lead to improvement, like being extra healthy (eg. Norris and Chabot actually avoid injury) and, this is the big one, having our goalies make a f***ing save or two.

We will be better than we were last year, IMO.

 

[bert]

Well also have Pinto for the first 41 games, along with whoever we do replace Chychrun and Tank with.

I don't think Norris will be any worse next year, he wasn't playing the way a health Norris would anyways, so any increase in play from him is a bonus.

I think our biggest issue this year was not having the right pieces rather than not having good pieces.

Chychrun is a good piece, just not the right piece for a team with Sanderson and Chabot.

Tank was a good piece, but arguably not the right piece for a team with Batherson and Giroux on the right side.

While I like your optimism about Norris I don't really understand it. He's coming back from the injury a third time why would it be any better?

I expect the team to be better as they currently have a management team that understands how to build a competitive NHL hockey team. That hasn't been the case for a long time. They're well aware the D core needs to be revamped. There's no way that one of Chychrun or Chabot won't be dealt and the right side isn't addressed. That alone will make this team way better. Same with adding Kleven. That and the teams natural progression in its development. As you mentioned a full year of Pinto and a more developed Greig.

Tarasenko was a great fit, hope he's back but I doubt it. I expect them to get faster and harder up front as well. Hopefully a free agent goalie like Brossoit or Stolarz.

I'd personally be trying to move Chychrun for prospects or a hockey trade for a scoring winger that's competitive. I don't see a scenario where a team trades a two way RD for him or a goalie. But I could be wrong.

Chabot finally opting for wrist surgery likely makes him un movable. It also concerns me he is going to come into camp out of shape again as this will set back his training significantly. This is something he should have done years ago. Boy did the last regime really mess up this teams injury and rehabilitation. Thank goodness there's new management.

Oh unfortunately they need to buy out Hamonic or ask him to retire and give him a job in the organization.

I'd be open to trading both Chychrun and Chabot tbh. Then aggressively targeting Montour, Edmondson/Dillon and one of Demelo/Tanev/Pesce/Roy in free agency. Seems wild I know. But I think that level of change in the organization and on the back end is necessary. I truly believe in a year or 2 Kleven is gonna be a top 4 d man. He has all the tools.

 

[Loach]

While I like your optimism about Norris I don't really understand it. He's coming back from the injury a third time why would it be any better?

I expect the team to be better as they currently have a management team that understands how to build a competitive NHL hockey team. That hasn't been the case for a long time. They're well aware the D core needs to be revamped. There's no way that one of Chychrun or Chabot won't be dealt and the right side isn't addressed. That alone will make this team way better. Same with adding Kleven. That and the teams natural progression in its development. As you mentioned a full year of Pinto and a more developed Greig.

Tarasenko was a great fit, hope he's back but I doubt it. I expect them to get faster and harder up front as well. Hopefully a free agent goalie like Brossoit or Stolarz.

I'd personally be trying to move Chychrun for prospects or a hockey trade for a scoring winger that's competitive. I don't see a scenario where a team trades a two way RD for him or a goalie. But I could be wrong.

Chabot finally opting for wrist surgery likely makes him un movable. It also concerns me he is going to come into camp out of shape again as this will set back his training significantly. This is something he should have done years ago. Boy did the last regime really mess up this teams injury and rehabilitation. Thank goodness there's new management.

Oh unfortunately they need to buy out Hamonic or ask him to retire and give him a job in the organization.

I'd be open to trading both Chychrun and Chabot tbh. Then aggressively targeting Montour, Edmondson/Dillon and one of Demelo/Tanev/Pesce/Roy in free agency. Seems wild I know. But I think that level of change in the organization and on the back end is necessary. I truly believe in a year or 2 Kleven is gonna be a top 4 d man. He has all the tools.

The last paragrapgh 100%.

 

[Micklebot]

While I like your optimism about Norris I don't really understand it. He's coming back from the injury a third time why would it be any better?

Well, I think he was playing with some instability in the shoulder do to the surgery not being 100% successful, resulting in him being tentative. My baseline is a successful shoulder surgery will get him back to a similar spot, tentative and not playing to his full potential. I don't expect him to be better next year, I expect him to be similar.

I expect the team to be better as they currently have a management team that understands how to build a competitive NHL hockey team. That hasn't been the case for a long time. They're well aware the D core needs to be revamped. There's no way that one of Chychrun or Chabot won't be dealt and the right side isn't addressed. That alone will make this team way better. Same with adding Kleven. That and the teams natural progression in its development. As you mentioned a full year of Pinto and a more developed Greig.

Agreed

Tarasenko was a great fit, hope he's back but I doubt it. I expect them to get faster and harder up front as well. Hopefully a free agent goalie like Brossoit or Stolarz.

Tank did everything we could ask of him, but imo wasn't really what we needed. It's a bit like Chychrun except that tank wasn't bad. I would rather sacrifice a bit of offense and have gotten a guy that can play against top lines and on the PK. So maybe a 40 pt guy instead of a 55 pts guy, but adds some tools that the coach didn't have access to. I still like Tank and think he was a good addition, but not the ideal.

I'd personally be trying to move Chychrun for prospects or a hockey trade for a scoring winger that's competitive. I don't see a scenario where a team trades a two way RD for him or a goalie. But I could be wrong.

Do we need a scoring wing though? With Tkachuk, Batherson, Giroux and one our centers likely moving to the wing I think we are set in that regard, I think we need more of a middle six guy that plays a heavy game, that's my hope up front.
I agree we probably won't get a RHD for Chychrun, who knows apparently Tbay fans are souring on Cernek but it's a long shot for sure, but I do think Chychrun for Ulmark would be a realistic possibility if he's willing to waive.

Chabot finally opting for wrist surgery likely makes him un movable. It also concerns me he is going to come into camp out of shape again as this will set back his training significantly. This is something he should have done years ago. Boy did the last regime really mess up this teams injury and rehabilitation. Thank goodness there's new management.

There's still lots you can do in the gym while the wrist recovers, but it is a setback. The good news is if the wrist is fixed, maybe we see more of what we saw two seasons ago instead of the last two years.

Oh unfortunately they need to buy out Hamonic or ask him to retire and give him a job in the organization.

I don't think that's happening, he'll likely just be the 7/8th D

I'd be open to trading both Chychrun and Chabot tbh. Then aggressively targeting Montour, Edmondson/Dillon and one of Demelo/Tanev/Pesce/Roy in free agency. Seems wild I know. But I think that level of change in the organization and on the back end is necessary. I truly believe in a year or 2 Kleven is gonna be a top 4 d man. He has all the tools.

can't see us trading both guys, but agree with your targets, and I love the optimism on Kleven, I've been a fan of his since his draft year.

 

[aragorn]

Changes need to be made , but we don't need to gut the team.
1. Maturity - I expect that every yr these young guys should be learning more & becoming more mature. With another coach next season hopefully they get a better understandng of hockey as a business & results is all that matter. If Norris can return healthier he should be able to replace Tarasenko's pts, I expect that Sanderson & Chabot if he is still here & can also stay healthy should replace Chychrun's pts. But they need a top 4 RD who can also add pts & it would be nice to get Zub to put up more pts & also stay healthy. Health with this team seems to be a pretty big key to them doing well.

2. Goaltending - needs to change, yet how much change is possible? Getting a #1 goalie is a priority but which #1 goalie out there would come to Ottawa is another question. I like Ullmark but there is no guarantee he would come here. This could leave them with Korpisalo & move Forsberg who only has another season on his contract & it's a rather cheap contract at $2.7.

3. Defence - again which good top 4 RD will come to Ott & what will it cost to bring him here? It will be interesting to see what happens here, but I expect Kleven to replace Brannstrom as one move. I also expect that they will go after a RD in free agency, but whether they are successful or not remains to be seen & for how long. Tarasenko only came for one yr & was gone, Chychrun doesn't seem to have fit in & also one yr & maybe done. What's the backup plan if he can't sign a UFA RD? I think Guennette RD is knocking on the door although needs to show more when he is called up, maybe someone like Matinpalo surprises us next season.

4. Coaching - given this is a copycat league & we can see it watching the playoffs, the real difference is the players & coaching has less to do with things. Ice time is really their only stick & if there is a guy who isn't self motivated at this stage they shouldn't be on the team. The strategies, the systems are all similar now in the NHL & some are good motivators whle others like Torts & Roy usually wear out their welcome after a few yrs.

5. Special Teams - this group has had very good special teams before & could again by first staying healthy & getting the right players on these special teams. Greig, Pinto, Joseph & Sanderson all make the special teams better but they also need Chabot to be better on the PP & Zub & JBD to be better on the PK. IMO both Ostapchuk & Kleven will help the PK be better & a healthy Norris should help the PP.