Player Discussion Thomas Chabot (D) Extended 8 years 8M AAV

[Burrowsaurus]

How are people feeling about Chabot's game right now? Obviously early, but he hasn't looked like a game breaker recently to me.

Lots of mistakes that are on him. It’s easy to say it’s because of lack of skill around him but sometimes that’s not the case. I find him pretty sloppy honestly that’s the word. Sloppy

 

[aragorn]

How are people feeling about Chabot's game right now? Obviously early, but he hasn't looked like a game breaker recently to me.

The guy is a gifted skater & offensive point producer, but at the same time he takes way too many risks with the puck & is brutal defensively. I like his game a lot better when he is paired with Gudbranson than Zaitsev although Zaitsev it must be said is having a decent yr so far, so playing with either of these guys depending on the situation can work. They need to move the puck quicker as a team & make quicker decisions with & without the puck & get the puck out when you have the opportunity to do so. They could also try to be less nifty with the puck & make the safer play, they have too many passengers on most nights & get called on too many soft cheap penalties. Having said all that, they are a last place team playing like a last place team making mistakes at the worse times.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

How are people feeling about Chabot's game right now? Obviously early, but he hasn't looked like a game breaker recently to me.

Aside from our pal Nick Paul very few players have brought what we'd call an A game every game.

Regarding Chabot.. My thoughts; 2 things
1. He plays a lot of minutes and is in my view our best player and if we are going to stick with someone finding their game its him.
2. I think he got banged up in training camp and its hampering him a bit. He just isn't as dynamic or driving play like we know he can.. I think we see a difference soon.

 

[Imnotagoodposter]

He’s looking really damn rough but it’s waaaay too early in the season. I think it’s just a lack of support, he’s the only defenseman capable of breaking the puck out. Other teams are totally focused on putting pressure on him.
He’s also not really a superstar, just a solid number 1 d.

 

[Sweatred]

How are people feeling about Chabot's game right now? Obviously early, but he hasn't looked like a game breaker recently to me.

He didn’t last year either - I think he’s overplayed a bit and it limits his offence.

 

[Daffy]

He's looked terrible tbh. I like him as a player and think he will get better, although I do find him a tad overrated.

 

[coladin]

My son goes nuts when Watson makes a mistake, but hushes me down when I get mad at Chabot lol. My point to him is " Watson is a plug, mistakes are part of that level of player. Chabot is an 8yr 64M franchise player. He has to be better."

I think I have found something very worrisome about his game, and I hope I am wrong, but it seems to me that he is the last Senator you want on the ice when you are a goal down. He has some 65 tendencies, a couple of the good, but lately seems to inheriting more of the bad, and not sure if the coaches are letting him know properly.

He is a turnover, jittery machine when we are a goal down. He is like a young Alfie, a guy who cares too much and tries too hard. I am hoping he figures out that sometimes more is less

 

[SensontheRush]

Man, I must be on a different planet, because I just don't see Chabot warranting any of the criticism directed at him.

Yes, Chabot isn't "perfect", but the criticism is so vanilla that I feel like people forget that EVERYONE turns over the puck.

I think Chabot's only bad game so far was game 1 against Toronto.

Chabot has never had a decent partner to play with in his time with Ottawa. He actually looks great with Zaitsev this season, but whenever he is stuck carrying Gudbranson, well... there is only so much you can do.

 

[Emerica]

My son goes nuts when Watson makes a mistake, but hushes me down when I get mad at Chabot lol. My point to him is " Watson is a plug, mistakes are part of that level of player. Chabot is an 8yr 64M franchise player. He has to be better."

I think I have found something very worrisome about his game, and I hope I am wrong, but it seems to me that he is the last Senator you want on the ice when you are a goal down. He has some 65 tendencies, a couple of the good, but lately seems to inheriting more of the bad, and not sure if the coaches are letting him know properly.

He is a turnover, jittery machine when we are a goal down. He is like a young Alfie, a guy who cares too much and tries too hard. I am hoping he figures out that sometimes more is less

Chabot also has the puck on his stick a whole lot more than Watson does. Its only common sense that he’ll turn it over more often.

I do agree he has to be better, much better, but some players are going to turn the puck over because they take more chances and create more than others, its really that simple. Those guys can be excused easier than the others imo.

I can guarantee some people will complain about Stutzle turnovers as well once the honeymoon phase is over but as they say, no risk it no buiscuit.

 

[Alfie11]

I think Chabot is definitely suffering from trying to do too much. It's a tough situation because he's doing what you want and that's to put forth a strong effort. At the same time, the team is not going to have success if he doesn't play smart and in the teams system.

He's been here for a while and is probably sick of losing. He's also one of the teams only players that can make a real impact. Another reason the team needs to get through this rebuild shortly. Some of the young guys may develop bad habits out of pressing to get wins.

Getting him a legit partner would be a good start.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

8 million dollars a year now. Time to start playing like it Chabot. Really sick of seeing him put up his 5th stinker in a row now.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

8 million dollars a year now. Time to start playing like it Chabot. Really sick of seeing him put up his 5th stinker in a row now.

Yes, the team goes as he goes. Simply put. That second goal really deflated the team. It hasn't even been his play away from the puck, it's been his play with it.

 

[coladin]

Prophetic. As I stated yesterday, he gets one goal down, and there he is. And he didn't see the ice for some time after. Just not good enough, and his gaffes from the Winnipeg, they just don't get corrected with him, and maybe with the coaches sitting him will make him realize he has to be better, focussed and determined.

 

[Adrianopolous]

He's been pretty bad. I found that not only does he make lots of mistakes, but he comes across as weak on the puck to me. I've seen him get pushed off the puck so many times. Could be a strength issue after the long layoff but it is pretty concerning.

 

[Sensinitis]

I wasn't worried until his putrid performance yesterday. When he was behind the net and a forechecker that was at a standstill decided to chase him to get him out of there, Chabot stumbled and turned the puck over. That used to be his bread and butter, getting a forechecker to bite and blowing him out the wind. I found that odd. Then the turnover right in front of Murray that caused a goal against. A year ago he would have dangled the player that was trying to pressure him, or feathered a pass to an open man. He's playing like everyone here thought Kleven played when we drafted him...

Anyways, if anyone can turn it around it's him. I'm confident that he will.

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

It feels like he hasn't adjusted his play to the rust. Assumes that he will be able to easily shake off tight checkers and then fumbles performing moves he can normally do in his sleep. Now defenders are exploiting the vulnerability, recognizing he is "easy pickings", the last thing I ever expected out of Chabot. It doesn't help he is the only threat the forecheckers have to worry about.

Chabot needs to turn this around. Start by taking a step back and making safe plays, as his form returns he can calibrate accordingly.

 

[Tuna99]

Ottawa’s boards and out game, it’s hard for him to look good. He has shifts he looks amazing and shifts he looks like Brian Lee.

I love his spirit and compete, he just needs to find a smoother rhythm, his game right now has the will he just needs to make a few more passes and things will turn around quickly

 

[bicboi64]

Its hard for me to blame Chabot or his play given the rest of our D. I think the pressure of being the only puck mover and capable passer is getting to him.

 

[FolignoQuantumLeap]

Chabot's been playing great. Thread deserves a bump.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Chabot is only gonna get stronger and better, but at the same time dont compare him to the offensive defenceman we had before him because that wouldn't be fair to him.

 

[Xspyrit]

Chabot's been playing great. Thread deserves a bump.

Chabot graduated in 2017-18, so at the same time the team took a nose dive. The fact that he is seen as a great player despite playing on a bottom-2 team the whole time is very encouraging

Can't wait to have better players surround him. Sanderson, Brannstrom, Zub, JBD, etc behind him will make his life easier and when the forward group matures with also a few more coming (Formenton, Pinto, etc), it will also help him a lot.

 

[DJB]

Chabot's been playing great. Thread deserves a bump.

Really? To me its one of the worst stretches I've seen him play.

Coughing up the puck and skating into trouble and taking penalties. To me he looks like a player thats trying too hard to help the team and its consequently backfiring.

He obviously gets the benefit of the doubt but im befuddled by your claim FLQ.

 

[Tuna99]

Really? To me its one of the worst stretches I've seen him play.

Coughing up the puck and skating into trouble and taking penalties. To me he looks like a player thats trying too hard to help the team and its consequently backfiring.

He obviously gets the benefit of the doubt but im befuddled by your claim FLQ.

i have corrected my projection for him; I do t think he’ll be a Doughty/Keith level Dman. I think. He’s more McCavoy/ Redden level.

so instead of a HOF I think he’s an All-Star

 

[Answer]

Switch Chabot with Makar and see how things progress for them

 

[R2010]

Doubt anyone looks good on D for us at this point...