Player Discussion 2022 7th for Dylan Gambrell

[Cosmix]

I've always been a fan of gumballs.

I have a machine full of 'em!

 

[JD1]

Ya, I don't mind the pickup. I think it's something we should have done when White went down tbh but better late than never.

We started off the season talking about how we should acquire guys like Henrique, Strome, Monahan, Reinhart, or maybe take a swing at Eichel, and that was before White got hurt. The need to add a center has always been there. I don't really think Pinto going down or us adding a defensive minded bottom 6 center in Gambrell changes it. We upgraded Shaw as far as I can tell, at a time where we are struggling to score (bottom 3 in GF/GP) and have been pretty decent at defending (top 10 in GA/GP).

You generally play devil's advocate as well as anyone on the board

Lots of ammo to play devil's advocate on the names you mentioned

Henrique doesn't add much value at half retained
Strome isn't playing in Chicago and they suck
Monahan is apparently playing 4th line in Calgary. Not a Sutter type player so likely not a DJ type player
Eichel why take the health risk, crippling trade if he can't play

Reinhart I'd do

 

[Micklebot]

You generally play devil's advocate as well as anyone on the board

Lots of ammo to play devil's advocate on the names you mentioned

Henrique doesn't add much value at half retained
Strome isn't playing in Chicago and they suck
Monahan is apparently playing 4th line in Calgary. Not a Sutter type player so likely not a DJ type player
Eichel why take the health risk, crippling trade if he can't play

Reinhart I'd do

To be fair, expectations were higher for Strome at the start of the season and has the advantage of being able to shift to the wing (I'm not a fan for what it's worth), Henrique had a good tournament with Paul and Brown, he's also seemed to have a strong start this year, defeninately would be in our top 9 right now, likely ahead of Tierney and White if everyone is healthy and good value at half retained. Again, not ideal and they were probably asking too much but he'd certainly help more than Gambrell right about now. Monahan I agree doesn't seem like a good fit, and might be damaged goods, but the point was simply that talk was all about top 9 options, guys that would be targeted to fit in a middle six role here, or in Eichel and Reinhardt's case the top line. We started the season looking for help at the top of lineup, not many were ideal fits which is likely why we opted to stand pat, lost depth and that initial need is still there. I'm happy we picked up Gambrell, but we haven't really fixed anything, aside from maybe the lose of White if we're being generous.

For what it's worth Reinhart was the only one I was interested in at the prices it would take.

 

[JD1]

To be fair, expectations were higher for Strome at the start of the season and has the advantage of being able to shift to the wing (I'm not a fan for what it's worth), Henrique had a good tournament with Paul and Brown, he's also seemed to have a strong start this year, defeninately would be in our top 9 right now, likely ahead of Tierney and White if everyone is healthy and good value at half retained. Again, not ideal and they were probably asking too much but he'd certainly help more than Gambrell right about now. Monahan I agree doesn't seem like a good fit, and might be damaged goods, but the point was simply that talk was all about top 9 options, guys that would be targeted to fit in a middle six role here, or in Eichel and Reinhardt's case the top line. We started the season looking for help at the top of lineup, not many were ideal fits which is likely why we opted to stand pat, lost depth and that initial need is still there. I'm happy we picked up Gambrell, but we haven't really fixed anything, aside from maybe the lose of White if we're being generous.

For what it's worth Reinhart was the only one I was interested in at the prices it would take.

That's just it... Asking too much. You have to look at what you give to get. None of those guys move the needle for me. Just not enough of an upgrade over what we had to give up what it would have cost

 

[Xspyrit]

Just some takes on the main board thread, maybe to temper expectations (that are probably already very low) :

"He is beyond awful"

"Gambrell is a warm body, that's about it. He took a small step forward last year but ultimately provides nothing special. Could have worse players as your #13/14F"

"Hes not worth calling up, atleast not at this point. Only provides minor defensive impact which we already get tons of. Id rather call up 2020 7th rounder Adam Raska"

"He's like a worse version of Chris Tierney"

"He's a worse version of Logan Shaw"

"Frustrating to watch. Has trouble winning board battles. He gained some strength last offseason but still had trouble using it effectively. Haven’t seen even glimpses of offensive prowess. I wanted him to do well. He tries earnestly, it just isn’t there thus far."

And 2 funny ones :

"Considering I was surprised that he wasn't claimed by Ottawa when he was put on waivers, getting a 7th for him is a win."

"Pretty stiff price to pay for Gambrell."

And this makes me wonder, have I overrated the Sens prospect pool? I mean, that's all we have!

"Gambrell improved massively last season, to the level of an acceptable 13th forward. He can probably start as the third wheel on a deep team's fourth line, and if he again improves massively this season, he might even be an acceptable 4C. Realistically, he's a waiver wire tweener bouncing between bad teams or serving as designated press box guy on a decent team with a poor prospect pool."

White, Bishop and to a lesser extent Watson were injured, Kelly may have been injured as well I don’t recall whether he was back from his concussion.

There was an obvious need for forward depth at the time, call me crazy but I wouldn’t be worried about losing Sabourin on waivers if it came to it.

I was really hoping we'd pick up at least one guy off waivers, a reclamation project or a depth guy. Worst case scenario : brings Logan Shaw and/or Scott Sabourin to the AHL where they belong.

Should be the same thing with Josh Brown. Who in their right mind would pick him up if he'd go on waivers?

 

[chipsens]

Yeah, thats not even a question imo. Ennis and Sanford can fill in, but Watson and Formenton are legit good players who can impact a game. DJ was talking about how in the NYR game, with Paul in the box for 5 and us up by 1 but on our heels, that's when you really miss a guy like Watson. And I could not agree more. Just a total warrior who plays smart, simple, balls-to-the-wall hockey. And obviously Formenton brings a level of speed that makes him dangerous all game long, plus grit, pestiness, and some skill & physicality.

I like the Gambrell trade. His stats suggest scoring promise..

Otherwise, we need to add some sandpaper, or at least get thumpers like JBrown, Sabourin (not paul) to step up to deal w cheapshots.
Reacting, not being timely aggressive..makes Sens vulnerable for cheapshots on Jimmy, and dumb fighting penalties at wrong time by Paul. Sens should bring in Professor Chris Neil for a lecture about how/when to police shenanigans. (So far, Formenton has shown no physical edge imo..how about an accidental highstick on Ovie nose after boarding Paul?!)

 

[jg729]

I'm sorry, but this guy sucks.
If you can't win FO as a 4th line C/PK C, what are you good for?

Also he's turn over machine, and in general not very good with the puck.

 

[Agent Zub]

I'm sorry, but this guy sucks.
If you can't win FO as a 4th line C/PK C, what are you good for?

Also he's turn over machine, and in general not very good with the puck.

The most vanilla player I have ever seen. He's just there. Sure he's skating hard everywhere yet manages to do nothing in any of his shifts.

 

[swiftwin]

The most vanilla player I have ever seen. He's just there. Sure he's skating hard everywhere yet manages to do nothing in any of his shifts.

I'm ok with this for our 4th line C. You don't need them to score. Just make sure nothing happens during your shift, at either end of the ice.

 

[God Says No]

I'm ok with this for our 4th line C. You don't need them to score. Just make sure nothing happens during your shift, at either end of the ice.

He's not good enough for 4th line. He doesn't bring anything positive. I mean:

3

16

16%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Liver King]

I want the 7th

 

[SensFactor]

Gambrell is a plug but at least he can skate. Outside of that he sucks.

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

Dude skates but aside from that he sucks at everything else.

 

[Hale The Villain]

There were about a dozen forwards better than him on the waiver wire earlier in the year, but the Sens pro scouting staff is so unbelievably bad.

And of course the cherry on top is wasting a pick for no good reason, AKA the Dorion special.

 

[bert]

There were about a dozen forwards better than him on the waiver wire earlier in the year, but the Sens pro scouting staff is so unbelievably bad.

And of course the cherry on top is wasting a pick for no good reason, AKA the Dorion special.

Get ready to see alot of him from here on out. Was 6th in icetime last night for forwards just behind Paul and they won. You're about to see the Zaitsev treatment.

 

[Tuna99]

I want the 7th

the 7th and Rudy Balcers

 

[Big Muddy]

You generally play devil's advocate as well as anyone on the board

Lots of ammo to play devil's advocate on the names you mentioned

Henrique doesn't add much value at half retained
Strome isn't playing in Chicago and they suck
Monahan is apparently playing 4th line in Calgary. Not a Sutter type player so likely not a DJ type player
Eichel why take the health risk, crippling trade if he can't play

Reinhart I'd do

A not important detail = Monahan was playing on the 3rd line in a Calgary game that I saw recently. And, I am not pumping Monahan's tires either just to make that clear.

 

[Big Muddy]

There were about a dozen forwards better than him on the waiver wire earlier in the year, but the Sens pro scouting staff is so unbelievably bad.

And of course the cherry on top is wasting a pick for no good reason, AKA the Dorion special.

I'm a little surprised we haven't taken more advantage of waivers to be honest. Its actually a good strategy for a budget payroll team like the Senators, and also appropriate given the current condition of the team.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

There were about a dozen forwards better than him on the waiver wire earlier in the year, but the Sens pro scouting staff is so unbelievably bad.

And of course the cherry on top is wasting a pick for no good reason, AKA the Dorion special.

Lots of teams would rather trade for a player than get them off waivers

 

[Big Muddy]

Lots of teams would rather trade for a player than get them off waivers

Contracts & cap are important variables. A lot depends on those 2 things. If its a low $ player, waivers should be a good method for player acquisition for Ottawa (imho) as they tend to have cap room.

 

[bicboi64]

He was decent defensively last night, especially on the PK. If he can stop sucking at faceoffs, he might have some value as a defensive specialist, like a dollar store version of Danault which would be awesome for us (assuming Sens keep him for next year). Hope his play keeps increasing.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Lots of teams would rather trade for a player than get them off waivers

Very few teams prefer to trade a pick for a player that could be had for zero assets.

It honestly may have been Melnyk's doing. Valued the 40-50K saved from not claiming Gambrell more than a 7th.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Very few teams prefer to trade a pick for a player that could be had for zero assets.

It honestly may have been Melnyk's doing. Valued the 40-50K saved from not claiming Gambrell more than a 7th.

It happens all the time.

 

[Cosmix]

I'm a little surprised we haven't taken more advantage of waivers to be honest. Its actually a good strategy for a budget payroll team like the Senators, and also appropriate given the current condition of the team.

Waiver pickups cost salary dollars. Trading helps to address that aspect. HOWEVER, we have Mr. no pockets who won't pay the salaries required to ice a competitive team.

 

[Big Muddy]

Waiver pickups cost salary dollars. Trading helps to address that aspect. HOWEVER, we have Mr. no pockets who won't pay the salaries required to ice a competitive team.

I agree, and I guess you have to do the math to see which of those alternative is less costly.

I was just thinking that a number of the waiver players are say a 14F on a team's depth chart (also an AHL/NHL tweener), or a younger prospect that is getting squeezed out of a lineup because of a number's game. Players of this ilk are often in the low range of NHL salaries.