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Senators Roundtable - 2024 Free Agent Targets, Upgrading Defence or Goaltending, Stay or Go & More
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Jun 5, 2024
In this episode of The Hockey Writers Senators Roundtable, Ottawa Senators writers Jacob Billington and Paul Quinney are joined by Shawn Simpson to discuss who the Senators should target in free agency, whether they should upgrade the goaltending or the defence, and more. 0:00 Intro 1:22 Senators' Targets in Free Agency 7:27 Upgrade in Net or On Defence? 12:15 Free Agent Targets: Tyler Myers 20:50 Free Agent Targets: Ilya Lyubushkin 22:31 Free Agent Targets: Dylan DeMelo 26:57 Stay or Go? Dominik Kubalik 27:50 Stay or Go? Parker Kelly 28:58 Stay or Go? Boris Katchouk 29:50 Stay or Go? Erik Brannstrom 32:28 Stay or Go? Jakob Chychrun 33:29 Stay or Go? Thomas Chabot The Senators Roundtable crew are great writers too - Jacob Billington - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/jbillington/ Paul Quinney - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/pquinney/ Dayton Reimer - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/dreimer/
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hey everybody, welcome back to the Senators Roundtable
0:04
I'm your host Jacob Billington, joined by Paul Quinney as usual. And today we're joined by special guests, Sean Simpson
0:09
Welcome back to the show. Sean, how you doing? Well, thank you very much. Yeah, good. Been a long time
0:14
I think it was last fall. So lots has happened in Sendsland since we last spoke
0:18
So yeah, happy to be back. Yeah, back talking some hockey. And again, lots of change since we last spoke
0:25
So excited to be on with you guys. Yeah, it's a busy time in Ottawa. I mean, there's plenty of speculative
0:29
to get into before the off season and kind of what kind of stuff steos is going to be doing
0:34
because he's going to have his hands full especially with the mess pierre d'orion left him um how you doing
0:40
paul we missed you last week hey great i uh was out today and shot a decent round of golf so how bad
0:47
can it be oh exactly yeah no i hear in otto a man oh man that uh spring or summer has come
0:53
early and so getting lots of projects done and i got to be honest with i usually look at kind of
0:57
mid-June is when it hits in and these last few weeks have been outstanding. So if you're able to get out on the course, which I'm sure a lot of people are right now
1:04
you consider it to be a good day and especially on a Tuesday. That's right
1:09
It's been pretty rainy here in Nova Scotia for the last few weeks. Oh, as it, yeah
1:13
Yeah. Yeah, tough to get out. But I'm sure we'll get there soon enough. Well, for sure
1:18
So the first question I want to ask you guys, and we'll start with you on this simmer. Yeah
1:22
Whether it's the position of the player, whether it's the role of the player, what do you
1:27
think Steve Steyos needs to be looking for in free agency this year. I have a list of names that we're going to run through, but what position or role
1:34
Looking for everything, but I guess we love to spin this talk
1:38
And realistically, when you look at the defenseman, you're looking for a partner for a guy like
1:42
Shabbat, what's realistic? Are they coming to Ottawa? And this isn't an anti-Oto or anti-Canadian thing, just doing you look at a guy like Pesci
1:48
I mean, there's going to be a ton of teams. Are you willing to pay that? Are there the fits
1:53
If I'm Ottawa, I'm being realistic. I need a number one goal tenor. I need a partner for Shabbat
1:57
Am I going to move Chicker and I certainly need some help up front? I'm just not positive as to the free agents and I am always very careful with this
2:04
I'll all see guys and thought Matt Murray was a pretty good pickup. I thought Corpus Sallow
2:09
I thought some other things. But until guys get here and you see them play, I'm a little careful to react
2:13
But I'm sure they'd like to do lots of things. I just don't know how realistic it is when it comes to, you know, you go back historically with
2:19
the Ottawa Senators guys. One of the best free agent signs they probably ever had was Clark MacArthur
2:24
Now, unfortunately, his contract extension, he got. hurt. If you can find a diamond in the rough, you know, something that makes sense for both
2:31
sides, and that's great. And we can spin and throw around all these different names. I just don't
2:36
know how realistic it is to be quite honest with you. But hey, that's why we're here. We'll talk about a little bit. But my, my spidey sense is it feel like pretty more likely they're
2:45
going to do things via trades, teams up against the salary cap or maybe some moves when it comes
2:49
draft time. I agree. I think, I mean, looking historically, like you mentioned, Sean, Clark
2:55
MacArthur is definitely up there as one of the best, which he was pretty good while healthy
2:59
but that sets a pretty low bar. I would say the top two signings by Ottawa is Claude Jureau, which kind of have put an
3:06
asterisk on because he wanted to come home. Yeah, but still still give credit
3:09
You know, but yeah, and then, you know, going back to Gonsch, I mean, I had him as a player in Washington
3:14
He was terrible early in that contract. It finished smoothly. Here's a guy that goes booing through the anthem
3:19
But as far as Claude Drew, hey, lots of guys come home at the end of the career. They're terrible. You got to give credit there
3:23
But let's also not forget. this isn't an Ottawa thing. I mean, my God, go through free agency around the National Hockey League and how many misses there are
3:30
That's where, you know, you see a Panarin is, you know, is done well. You see Bobrowski now doing well, well, four years he didn't do well
3:37
So like I said, it's not just an Ottawa thing, but you've got to be so careful nowadays, not to
3:42
Unfortunately, when you look at the Corpus Sala situation, you know, lock yourself into five years of what might not work
3:47
You look at the evidence of Jack Campbell. Fortunately, it's worked out with Skinner. But that's the danger of free agency, long-term deals, big money
3:54
money and a lot of times it doesn't work out. Well, you look back to the offseason of, well, I believe it was 2016 with the year of the
4:01
kind of six by six deals passed out. You got Louis Erickson, Milan, Luchich
4:06
Like there were just so many bad deals signed that offseason and they don't always age
4:11
No, no. I mean, and this goes back pre-salary cap. There's a lot of them are guys at the end of their career
4:16
A lot of guys are handed money. You know, you'll even look at J.T. Miller. That didn't look like I was going to go well
4:21
But Rick Tockets come in and turn that around. So, no, as a. said it. And then just realistically amongst 32 teams
4:27
are players willing to come to your market? And again, not an Ottawa thing, but you're up against a lot when it comes to Canada
4:32
it comes to weather, comes to taxes, a lot of different things there. So like I said, I don't know if you're Ottawa senators, you know
4:38
you're going and, you know, I'm not trying to be negative here, but for a long time, what Buffalo did was nothing more than driving up the price for other
4:45
teams, you know, they're always getting the call. Even Mike Babcock, you know, they get that call late. Oh, man, I loved your offer
4:52
But I took the same offer from another team. So we'll see what happens come free agency
4:57
Yeah, absolutely. Paul, what do you think Ottawa should be looking at in free agency? Like, like Zimmer said, it's hard to bring in the big guys
5:03
especially because it's a bidding war at that point. Like you look at guys like Jake Gensel
5:07
Ottawa's not going to land him. There's going to be plenty of teams that can outbid. Then Ottawa doesn't necessarily need that big fish winger
5:14
It sure would help. But that's not what they're really needing in this free agency class
5:18
What do you think, Paul? Who should they be targeting? Yeah, I mean, I echo what
5:23
Cimmer and you were saying, Jacob, you know, Ottawa is a tough town to bring a big name to
5:29
And like other Canadian franchises, it forces them, well, Canadian small market franchises
5:35
it forces them to focus on the draft, pick carefully, manage their prospects
5:43
And, you know, all things that, and develop their prospects, all things I think that you can't
5:49
really accuse the Ottawa senators of having done, certainly not. not under the Pierre Dorian regime
5:56
But yeah, I mean, I think going through Staeos, his mind, he's got constraints here
6:01
He's got a budget because once you sign the Pinto, I would think he's got about $7 million left
6:09
That's it in free cap space. So you're not going out on a big shopping spree with that kind of money
6:14
It's just not a lot of money. And so I think, you know, he's going to emphasize
6:22
I mean, you can, it's a right shot defenseman, a veteran presence in the forward lines
6:31
And I was going to say a goaltender, but on the free agency market, the pickings are so slim this year
6:41
There's virtually no one there. That was the same way it was last year
6:45
Unless you want to bring Cam Talbot back. Just kidding. Yeah, yeah
6:49
But, you know, they're just aren't any good goaltenders up for grabs
6:57
You know, you could look at Ilya Sampsonoff in Toronto, but the buds aren't going to let him go
7:03
No team's going to let a good goaltender go unless, of course, they found someone better
7:08
And I hear they're working on Linus Olmark, but, you know, there's a lot in flux here
7:14
And, you know, against that backdrop, you know, you can throw up all kinds of names
7:19
but that would be the framework that he's got to work with
7:25
Yeah. And Simmer, we actually had a conversation two weeks ago, I believe it was
7:30
about does Ottawa really need an upgrade in net? And is that their biggest priority
7:35
And of course, bringing in Linus Omerk or whether it's going to be UC Saros or Jacob
7:40
Markstrom or anybody else on the market. Yeah, that would be absolutely fantastic. But where is the issue
7:46
Is it in the net or is it the defense in front of it? or like would you prioritize getting one of the big fish defensemen
7:53
So just a couple names. Yeah. Chris Tanna, Brett Pesci, Brady Shea
7:57
Would you target one of those guys or would you target? Well, yeah, I certainly targeted
8:01
I mean, look at Pesci and again, just on the surface playing in Carolina nine years, American, is he going to come to Otto
8:05
I don't know. Is he a great fit for Thomas Shabbat, which you should have solved years ago instead of
8:10
you know, getting rid of DeMello and putting sights of it. It's been a disaster. You're not getting rid of the guy, so try to make it work
8:16
Chickram would be an obvious to move along. what does that turn into? Well, yeah, I mean
8:20
an Umark to me would be an upgrade. People talk about, well, what's he going to be like? Well, his Buffalo numbers are awfully good
8:26
UC Saros makes a big difference. Internally, I don't know as far as their expectations or thoughts on Corpusalli
8:32
He was terrible last year. A guy like Forsberg, I'm very comfortable as a backup
8:36
but I can't watch Corpusalo realistically, okay, say is there better structure
8:41
Well, his time in L.A. He was pretty good, you know, but it was not great in the playoffs
8:44
Do I think as of right now that they should end up upgrading in goal Absolutely Does better structure better defense do all these things kind of help it out for sure But from what we saw last year out of him I not real excited
8:56
Now, what does Peter's a goaltender coach think of him? Does he think this is a one-off and he's going to come back and be much better along with Forsberg
9:03
You know, that's internal answers. And then realistically, okay, it'd be great if you brought in Ulmark, but who are you getting
9:08
rid of, you know, and are you going to go with Corpus Allen and Ulmark? Do you want to end up having that cap hits
9:12
So there's lots of ways to go about this on the surface looking at. it. To me, they need an upgrading goal
9:17
But if you improve the defense, he improved the structure. We saw in Vancouver this year, although they have one of the best goal tenders in
9:22
the National Hockey League. So those are internal questions to answer. I just got to say from what I said out of Casano Corpus Sala last year in a Canadian market
9:30
I'm not real excited. You know, he just didn't perform well. I mean, not being able to catch the puck can be a minor or a major issue
9:37
And to me, what I've saw out of Matt Marie and Corpus out the last couple of years
9:41
it just hasn't been very good. But like I said, that's an internal debate
9:45
If they feel like going with those two and then, you know, doing some other things with the coaching staff and other things as far as augmented the roster, then okay
9:52
But I'll certainly be in wait and see mode. To me, the priority would be to get a goaltender
9:57
But, you know, I don't think you're going to do that through free agency. But one way you could do it is deal chikrin to the Boston Bruins
10:05
They need help on defense. And Olmark is apparently surplus to their needs
10:11
So the only downside, though, again, Samara, you were talking about the drawback to the Canadian market is apparently he's got a 10-10 team
10:24
no trade list, and I'd be willing to wager Ottawa is on it. Yeah, yeah, I'm going to throw out, and I threw it out as a joke that he's from Northern Sweden
10:31
He wants to come here. You dream of having an Nacom situation where the wife is actually celebrating going from Nashville to Edmonton
10:38
So let's just put that out there. But yeah, I mean, he turned it down. You know, rumors has he turned down going to L.A
10:43
So I'd love to know what his 10 team list is. And when you talk about the California, New York teams, it could be a tax situation as well
10:49
I mean, that's what people forget as far as the way these players look around. So that would be, and let's also be honest, guys
10:54
You know, I think some of the things have been throwing out about Chick or in a first round pick, some of the other things
10:59
Historically, goaltenders just don't go for much. I mean, this is an older goaltender
11:03
I think Schneider ended up being what, Bo Horvatt, the 10th pick overall
11:08
But, you know, back to the day, Kippersoff, a second round pick. If we historically look at this, you know, I think
11:13
think on the surface a chickering for rule mark would be a very fair deal to be quite honest with you
11:17
And if Otto is able to find a right shot defense or someone to play the right side would be a
11:22
real good fit for both clubs. Yeah, I think it's really interesting. Because, I mean, we haven't seen a big goaltender traded like that in what, 10, 15 years now
11:31
Well, I just, I threw that out guys and I was just trying to think of
11:35
I mean, you know, Markstrom, well, obviously it was free agency. But, you know, you go back to the Patrick Guad deals and you go back to some of him, well, you're going way, way back
11:43
But yeah, I was hard pressed to find anybody that really, you know, again, and as I said, even in that market
11:48
tends to be a lot less than you'd expect when it becomes such an important position
11:53
I mean, a late first round pick, I guess a possibility. But there's no way if I'm the auto centers
11:57
I'm trading Chicker and a first round pick for rulemark. Not with one year left
12:02
No, not a chance. No. So we already kind of talked about Brett Pesci
12:07
It would be a luxury to have him in Ottawa. I think that he would be a perfect fit alongside Thomas Shabbat
12:12
I got some other names. I just want to get your opinions on. Yeah. Tyler Myers
12:16
That's, that name has been going around a little bit. Yeah. I wrote a piece on it for the hockey writers and kind of thought about the idea of having 13 feet of Tyler on the third pair between him. Yeah
12:27
Tyler Cleven. I think that would be fantastic. Yeah. But Simmer, what are your thoughts on Tyler Myers
12:32
Do you think you would fit in? I mean, now that Ottawa has Travis Green and Nolan Baumgardner, I mean, they, they're familiar with them
12:37
Well, and that's where I'll go to. Tyler Myers is an extremely soft hockey player
12:42
and in a Canadian market, people get on him. I mean, he got boot out of Buffalo, was tough in Winnipeg
12:46
Now he's at the latter part of, you know, are you comfortable just with a bigger man
12:51
that's not going to be physical, but is he capable of playing in the third pairing? They've got the answers to that
12:56
And I'm more, I'm all for it. I think he's passed through now where people don't have the expectations
13:00
of the crazy contract. You're not going to get a physical guy, but let's be honest as well
13:04
I don't think the national hockey league you need that right now. So on the surface, if you told me he's a third pairing defenseman
13:09
Nolan Baumgart, who I drafted in Washington, and respect. And as you said, with Green, if they feel like he's a fit and we'll talk about TANF as well
13:16
well, first of all, a couple of things, they know the fit, they know the player. I'm sure they're, you know, current on why he only played 13 minutes last year
13:23
And then the other part, this is going to take some recruiting. So it would seem on the surface
13:27
but nothing more than that. I don't expect him to come in and be a partner for Thomas Shabbat
13:31
But like I said, you got a couple of guys here in Green and Baumgartner
13:35
that can answer those questions for you. I just hope fans don't have expectations
13:39
Again, he's not a hard hockey player, but he doesn't need to be. And he could be a perfect fit for Cleven
13:43
And let's also face facts. I'm just talking about length. He is a bigger guy
13:47
There's no doubt that they have to get bigger on the back end, even if the guy's not overly physical
13:52
Right. And I think physicality looks a little bit different to everybody. He's not thrown to big hits
13:56
but he can move bodies in front of the net, which is something Ottawa really lacks on that third pair. So, yeah, I think there's a couple different levels of physicality
14:05
And the physicality that Tyler Myers brings is something that Ottawa needs on their defense
14:09
and just the going to push and shove you. He's not going to, again
14:13
lay those giant hits to change the momentum or anything. I don't even sure how much pushing and shove and he does
14:19
But again, he's bigger and he's an upgrade. And I'm not really sold. I mean
14:23
you know, Hamus is, not Hamus. I'm blanking right now on the defense
14:27
Hamannick, you know, I really can't play. I'm not sold on JBD as a full dime player
14:31
And hey, I give Brastram a lot of credit. But flat out, you just have to get bigger and better
14:36
So like I said, that may be a nice fit as long as it's thought of for the third pairing with clevin yeah uh well it's problem with meyers though is he uh i was reading
14:47
in the uh vancouver paper forget the name of it drawing a blank on it but he came right out and said
14:52
uh i don't want to leave i like it here and you know who blame them i mean they they're a cup
14:57
so you're trying to convince him to go from a cup contender to a team that's look i hate to say it
15:03
still rebuilding yeah yeah and it looks like and let's also face that you get a lot of got you know
15:09
And again, this isn't, but hey, you know, you get into Vancouver and this is the other part guys with free agency and why it's such a key, and I'll go back to the Edmonton Oilers in the 80s
15:17
The key is drafting single players that are young and come through your system
15:21
And I don't want to use the term they don't know any better. But when guys get into free agency, I mean, who's kidding
15:26
You know, if you've got a family and a wife and children and in school, who do you think has a say as to where you're going
15:32
You know, and Vancouver's a gorgeous place. Guy settled there. You know, he may be a player that lives in Vancouver the rest of his life
15:38
So there has to be, that's why free agency is so difficult. Like I said, your hope is you draft and develop and they're proud and they're the Brady
15:45
Chucks of the world and like a lot of other teams in the national hockey, even Winnipeg
15:49
They're not looking around in the same way, but convincing free agents and their families to
15:55
uproot for, as you said, a team that is very much touching go to even make the playoffs
16:00
What would be the purpose of that? Unless you just blow them out of the water financially, but financially not only in money
16:05
but certainly in the term that you're willing to give. And, you know, you echo something there similar that True Living said, Brad Treloving said, when he was in Calgary
16:14
And he was admonishing the fans who have these wild expectations about who's coming to town
16:21
And he said, look, I'm not running a fantasy hockey pool here
16:25
I can't go to the player tree and pick a couple of plum choices
16:30
You know, they didn't actually work that way. There's got to be two willing partners. And that's, and, you know, you look at the Huberto situation
16:36
I thought at the time that was a pretty good recovery. And my God, that that has literally been a complete gong show for both parties
16:43
That has been, you know, a player that I don't, obviously didn't want to be traded
16:47
And then you thought, boy, you know, you dodge this with a year out and got him on a long-term contract
16:52
And it just turned out to be a disaster. And I don't know how much of that is personal related, professionally
16:58
Basically got the coach fired and didn't work out any better this year. So, yeah, it's not easy
17:02
But, you know, that's for a lot of teams. I don't ever want to just use a Canadian angle to it
17:06
But again, finding the right fit on and off the ice. And you're very lucky in the case of Claude Drew
17:11
but I'm not also looking past that. Hey, he's come in and played beyond expectations
17:16
And when you give a guy three years, 18 million, that's not exactly a hometown discount as well
17:20
We can say that he wanted to come to Ottawa. But I don't think there was anybody else lined up given that contract
17:24
and been great for both parties so far. Yeah, it has been great
17:28
I wonder if there's frustration building up the Claude Giroux, not to get too off topic with these free agent signings
17:33
But I wonder if they frustration building that these that two years wasted already There has to be I mean again I don even know about frustration but hey you done as much as you possibly can He may even you know again I spoke to people around there
17:48
He called Florida. They didn't really want him back. You know, they offered him a one-year deal, not much money
17:52
Philly didn't want him. So he kind of looked around and, yeah, he has to be
17:56
His goal is to win a Stanley Cup. And he has played to the expectation point the last couple of years where obviously he
18:03
would have helped a team win a cup. So if he's not frustrated, then you're not a competitor, which we know he's one hell of a competitor
18:10
It's going to be really tough because I think it's either extension or trade at this year's deadline
18:14
And it's going to be incredibly hard to trade him because you can't let him walk as a free agent
18:19
You need to have him extended. No, no, no, no, for sure, for sure. And the other part that's going on guys with the organization is that they had a bunch of young players come through and it was awesome
18:28
But when you start tracking back to Bouchet 10th overall, De Brinket, 7th overall, Chicker and 12th overall
18:33
start to look at the system itself, well, all of a sudden, you're short forwards
18:37
There's nobody really in your system or in Belleville that's coming up to fill these roles
18:41
We can say whatever we about Claude Drew. There's nobody. I repeat, nobody
18:45
Now, the seventh pick overall, we'll see what ends up happening. But you're starting to thin out in a hurry here
18:50
and you have nothing to replace it with. So that's really starting to catch up with the organization
18:54
And right now, if you look at Claude Drew, I don't care how he finished the season
18:58
The last couple of years, he is still very much part of the solution here in Ottawa. And getting rid of him, like I said
19:03
You got nobody to replace him. 100%. And yeah, outside of him and Batherson, right wing depth is not great right now
19:11
So Steve Stajos has a ton of work to do. Pierre Dorian dug a big hole before he left
19:16
Very much so. Well, I mean, you really go back to it. And I know it was all flash and dash
19:20
The whole de Brinket thing was a disaster, you know, and then shifting out and getting
19:24
a late pick, Kubelik being one year and not doing anything for you
19:28
You know, now what are you picking? What, 26 overall? That's what you have to show for the seventh pick overall
19:32
absolute disaster and a rebuild. Yeah. It's miserable and it really, again, dug this big hole
19:39
And again, you have to forfeit a first round pick. You have. And it all that's just a kick in the balls
19:45
That's what it is. Let's say, let's be honest. Yeah. And it just all these things that happened
19:51
And then I broke that story when it first happened because I talked to Vegas and people
19:55
thought, ah, it's no big deal. I'm like, I got to tell you, man, if this is what I'm being told it is, this is a big deal
20:02
doctor took that law under resurface. But man, you get into these trade calls and you start fibbing about what had actually gone on
20:10
well, you're going to have to pay the price. And obviously they did. Yeah. And it all stems back to just these silly trades that Dorian made, like a second for Derek Stepon
20:19
trading a third because you didn't have a fourth for Travis Hamannick. Like, it just
20:23
Burroughs and Murray. I mean, the two picks he got for DeZingle, it ended up being Murray and Step on
20:29
And it was just again, the pro scout. But if the pro scouting the last few years here had matched up with the amateur scouting
20:35
you know, you're talking about a playoff team easily, easily with how many mistakes they've made
20:40
But hey, let's focus on the future and keep it positive on this glorious day. I got one more name for you in terms of free agency signings
20:47
We're sticking to the defense today. Ilya Lubushkin, he's had some interest in Canada for a couple years
20:53
So I don't think that's a huge deterrent for him. I know it is for some players
20:57
but doesn't seem to be. Do you think that Ilya Lubbushkin would be a good fit on this team
21:01
Well, again, I'm just a little careful, guys, because I don't want, I really liked when he played for the least a couple of years ago
21:07
And he came in, came out of nowhere for, you know, a next to nothing pick. These are the things of, and I won't go methoughton Carlson, but I'll go Philip Cuba
21:15
One of the things, and I still think, first of all, with Thomas Shabbat, I think he could be a better hockey player, but he's not going anywhere
21:21
It's making $10 million. So when you, and if I'll use this as a reverse, say Ottawa back in the day had lost methought and free agency, well, they brought in Cuba
21:29
And when Cuba played with Carlson, he won a Stanley. Cup. If Thomas Shabbat is supposed to be the
21:33
defenseman that we hope he can be and that I still hope, well, you have no choice
21:37
you don't have to find the best partner in the world. I was using my famous Jeff
21:41
Bukabum story. He couldn't play in Edmonton. He comes in with Brian Leach. I mean, and not that
21:45
this is a surprise, but we can talk that Bouchard's a good hockey player all we want. They don't
21:49
make that Elkhome trade. People are complaining about all the defensive deficiencies he had
21:53
You just have to, and if Lubushkin is the guy, I don't mind
21:57
him. But like I said, that's where your pro staff has to come and say, hey, is it
22:01
de Mello? Is it Labusian? What is it? What can we bring in to compliment Thomas Shabbat that ends up being that that's the trick of the trade right there
22:09
And I don't mind them, but I'm very careful because I haven't watched him a ton
22:13
But I know two years ago in the playoffs from a leaf standpoint, I was like, wow, that's a pretty shrewd pickup
22:19
He was a big body, kept it simple, played pretty well. So if your staff thinks that that might be a fit for Thomas Shabbat, go for it
22:26
So, Simmer, do you, go ahead. Go ahead. No, I'm just going to ask Simmer. So do you think
22:31
think then you're talking about someone you can compliment a Shabbat. What about Dylan
22:36
Well, for sure, for sure. And again, you know, and Dylan, first of all, this is so crazy how this happened
22:43
You know, I wouldn't have pretended when he was first here that you're getting Scott Stevens
22:47
or Rod Langley. But they had a fit. They had a comfort level. That Zytsav thing was so ridiculous
22:54
Like I honestly go back and I remember even Pierre McGuire said, coach is coach and
22:57
Scout, scout, this guy coming in and being four. So you imagine trying to play
23:01
with him. Like what a disaster. No hockey sense. And then all of a sudden
23:05
the market and continuing to force and the great compliment, which was also complimented by some of the
23:11
media members about him being an elite shutdown defenseman. I think other
23:15
forwards scrambled to get on the ice when he was out there. I don't mean to make this personal
23:19
but that was an absolute disaster. You know, when you look back on it. So
23:23
what I also think with Dylan DeMello, when you want to start being realistic, he loved
23:27
Ottawa. Does that give you a chance? Is it perfect? In a perfect world
23:31
I know he played a ton of minutes. Do I see him as a top board defenseman? I'm not sure. But would that be realistic for Ottawa
23:37
Absolutely. When you look at it, I'm not going to go crazy and free agency
23:41
but if Dylan was thinking, okay, I'd love to come back to Ottawa, you're going to slide him in with Thomas Shabbat
23:46
I think that's a very realistic solution. I think that's where fans have to get their head around on
23:50
what you're actually bringing in. And at the same time, it's up to Thomas Shabbat to step up and be able to find a compliment
23:56
where it's not the greatest player in the world. But I'm a $10 million dollar hockey player
24:00
I better make the other people. people around me better. And he better all of a sudden come into form here
24:04
which I hope he's able to do with a fresh dart and with a guy like Nolan Baumgartner behind the bench
24:10
Yeah, you both make a fantastic point. Ottawa doesn't need another top pair of defensemen
24:15
They just need somebody that compliments Thomas Shabbat well and plays. We don't have the dough to do it anyway
24:19
I mean, let's be honest. And, you know, Sanderson to Zube, I mean
24:24
obviously a huge Zube fan. But when I'm paying guys 10 million bucks, like I said
24:28
I don't, I shouldn't be fining another eight and nine million. a defenseman to compliment him
24:33
That's not the way the business works, whether you're a forward or a defenseman. Yeah
24:36
And I think the hope with Chikrin was that he could play on the right side, which he did not
24:40
he could not. He couldn't play defensive on the right side. And people throw this around
24:44
And I'm not, I don't, I'm not saying you have to, although it's becoming more and more difficult with the forecheck and the speed of the game
24:50
But the thing that was thrown out is, oh, they both said they'll try the right side. Yeah
24:54
Well, good luck, man. Try handling the forecheck, keeping the puck in your own zone relating to it
24:59
There was no evidence that it was ever going to work. And it really didn't
25:03
It ended up being, again, another one of those disasters, another one of those shiny trades
25:07
It was great because of the local ties. And the chicken family's awesome. And I'll also say this
25:12
I mean, he has not played up to expectations, whether he's playing the right or left side talking about chick or at the same time
25:18
Yeah. I do have, I don't know if you know this, but I have pretty interesting tidbit here
25:23
So each team has three slots on their right hand defense, assuming they're running 12
25:28
and 6. So you would assume that there's, on average, 96 right-handed defensemen in the league
25:34
Do you have any idea how many right-handed defensemen played one game this season
25:39
You know what? There aren't a lot of players around I'll go 60
25:44
81, which is. Okay. But how many are playing full-time, though? That's all
25:48
I, you know, hey, you know, go through the Ottawa media and people say they want a big right-handed
25:54
defensemen, then go through the other 31 newspapers or whatever your coverage is
25:58
I want a big rangey center that can play. Okay, again, these are things that have been repeated
26:03
But whatever reason in my lifetime, it's really shifted the other way
26:07
The amount of left-handed hockey players is astronomical where as a kid, and I'm showing my age at 55, but the majority of our hockey team was right shot
26:16
So, no, it's not easy to find. And to find a capable one that can play in your top four
26:21
Yeah. And I will add that 54 played half the season 41 games Okay okay yeah 54 right defenseman Yeah that less than to a team Yeah So that was just the last tidbit I wanted to throw in there
26:36
Very solid, very solid. I, right now we're going to do should he stay or should he go
26:43
Okay. And it can be rapid fire if you want to throw in a comment, go ahead. Okay
26:47
But all we need is a staying or going kind of answer. Okay
26:51
And again, feel free to elaborate. And I'm going to get both your answers on these. Simmer, we'll just start with you
26:57
Kubalik. Well, yeah, I mean, he should go. I mean, it didn't work
27:02
Now, having said that he goes to the World Championships and plays well, I'd like to know on the surface what happened behind the scenes
27:07
where is he not used properly, was he not comfortable, was he unhappy being here? Now, the only thing I'll say, is he a top nine forward
27:14
Absolutely. Is he better than Ottawa has? Absolutely. But did I like what I saw last year
27:19
No, but I'm intrigued to know more behind the scenes. And like I said, he goes and plays at the World Championship
27:24
like the Kubliq that we saw in Detroit. Yeah, I think in terms of bringing him back, it's absolutely not
27:31
It's just, it didn't work here once. Let's not retry it. Paul, do you have, do you concur
27:38
I saw him buying a bus ticket the other day. He's gone. We don't even have a bus station, but I got it anyway
27:46
Let's go via rail. All right, Simmer. Parker Kelly, is he coming back or no
27:51
I don't even I'll say no but I you know to me he's a minor league player
27:59
so if he came back on a two-way contract sure anything beyond that no
28:03
Paul would you bring him back you know what I'm going to say stay
28:09
you know he brings us a much needed grit to a team that desperately needs it
28:13
so you know in the absence of anything better sure stays I think he's a fine 13 forward
28:19
I don't I don't think he's a everyday NHLer at this point
28:22
He showed some good signs under Jacques Martin, but I don't think he's a full-time NHL player
28:27
Yeah, and I don't disagree. They need some, I love everything he does. I just wish he was a bigger player could make an impact
28:33
And great part about being a 13th forward and a seventh defenseman is realistically you're good in the room
28:38
but you hope you never, they never have to play you. So that's a bit of an out in my estimation
28:42
He's a great seventh defenseman. Well, I was a great third goaltender. I mean, who couldn't be
28:48
That's good. That's good. But you had a great juniors, though. Oh, exactly
28:53
I peaked at 18. Yeah. This one's a bit of a wild card that some people forget about, but Boris Kajouk
28:59
What do you think, Zimmer? I don't have any. No thoughts. Yeah
29:04
They're those players who are a dime a dozen. So like I said, two-way contracts
29:08
If you want to have guys in Belleville, sure. Paul. Yeah, I'd give him another year
29:14
You know, you look pretty good on that line with Kelly and Costellic. And, you know, if you look at his output in those 21 games he played, if he extended that over an entire season, I think people will be happy
29:26
So give another shot. Like you say, you know, Simmer was saying a two-way contract for the league minimum
29:34
What the heck? Yeah, he's one of those guys. He just kind of put some energy into the lineup
29:39
But you claim him on waivers. Most people are going to do that. Just have a burst and say, I'm here to prove myself
29:44
But you're playing for your hockey life. Yeah. Exactly. So we're going to get into some bigger names now
29:50
Eric Brandstrom, do you keep him or do you send him away? Or do you not qualify him
29:55
Well, as of right now, he would be with Chickern on the roster
29:59
He's my fifth best defenseman. So as it sits today, I'm keeping him. Now, how Clevin factors in, could he play the right side with Cleven
30:06
He's better than JBD in my estimation, although I didn't watch a ton of the end of the year
30:10
And as far as Hamanick, so as it sits as of today, I give this guy a lot of credit for
30:16
being able to turn into a pretty good defensive player. So, yeah, I'd bring him back. Hey, Paul
30:22
I'd see him go. He's another lefty and he's just too small
30:27
You know, he's getting thrown around out there. So, you know, I'd move on from him
30:32
Yeah, I don't disagree with any of that. The only thing I say to is that he is still better than what they have
30:38
But I agree. And then the trade has been crazy, you know, the way this went
30:41
And I also kind of wondered where they came up with the formula for his salary last year
30:45
didn't really make any sense as to why all of a sudden he was making that kind of dough
30:51
Yeah, it didn't make sense to me. I will give him credit. We did our player grades probably a month ago now
30:57
Simmer, and I gave him an A plus just because of the expectations on the role that he was given
31:02
I think that he turned into a fantastic kind of defensive option for that third pair
31:07
Ottawa just needs something different. I think that he did really give in the role. They just need something different
31:11
So I think it's not. I thought when they made that trade, they were getting Quinn Hughes. and that's not the case
31:15
I mean, that's realistically what you thought. And I give the fellow full marks
31:20
and man, does he, he works hard. And maybe just a fresh lease on life somewhere else
31:24
I'm not going to say offensively. But, you know, he's a guy that's at least
31:28
established himself. He can play. And there's a lot of teams out there that are just looking for
31:31
warm bodies at this point. He needs to be a top four offensive option with power play time
31:36
And he's never going to have that in Ottawa. Yeah. Well, if you're not having that in Ottawa
31:40
I don't know. You might be talking Switzerland. Well, that's fair. That's fair
31:45
But I mean, they just, they've loaded up the defense in front of them. I know, but let's be honest with where Otto sat in the standings
31:52
you know, maybe Chicago, maybe one of these other teams. But as I said
31:56
and the other part with the power play guys, to be honest with you, he has to be, he's an option in the zone
32:01
I mean, that's really his game. You know, unfortunately, he's not even a guy that, you know
32:05
he transports the, anytime he had the flashes in the past, it was always against bad teams
32:09
and everyone would get all fired up. Have a couple of rushes up the ice and then you realize who he's playing against
32:13
But yeah, good. I do think, just last thought on Branc, I do think that he's going to be the next
32:18
Sean Derzy, get moved and break out and just actually show his potential
32:23
That's just my prediction. Yeah, I really, you wish him well. Yeah, yeah. Jacob Jekron, is he going to be back or no
32:31
I would move him. You know, certainly, I look at kind of the dollars
32:34
the solution, and I'm more than comfortable. Didn't see him play a ton
32:39
But hey, with the salary kick in on Sanders, and you got Shabbat
32:42
And I want to integrate Cleven for, a lot of different reasons. And be honest with you, I'm not blaming him, but this is unfortunately
32:49
turned out to be a little bit like Matt Duchesne for whatever reason when they traded for him and
32:54
then went on that trip that started in Chicago. It's been an utter gong show. Here's some rumors about
32:59
maybe not a great fit. I know the family's outstanding, but sometimes things happen. So absolutely
33:04
he'd be a guy had been moving on and not to mention the money and only a year left on his deal
33:08
And this is also where if you're proactive, realistically, guy like that wants a contract extension
33:12
So you would think you could work that out with a hockey team and get some pretty good value for the player
33:18
Paul? I'd say state for now. He's a valuable trade ship. But, you know, let's be clear
33:24
He doesn't want to be here. Yeah. That's what it seemed like in the locker clean out
33:29
Thomas Shabbat. Is he staying or going? Well, he ain't going anywhere
33:34
And I'm only being realistic again. I don't know. I still think that there's something there
33:40
But at $10 million a year, what are you bringing back? What kind of a trade is there going to be
33:45
Like, would you be willing to go right now and trade Darnell nurse for him? You know, I mean, you know, so I, I'm of the mindset that he's going to be back
33:53
Now, am I thrilled about it? Am I thrilled about the way he's evolved as a hockey player
33:57
Absolutely not. But this is also, and I go back to J.T. Miller, I'll go back to other situations, guys
34:02
You know, this is sometimes with your own assets is finding solutions versus him going
34:06
somewhere else and taking off. So I don't think they have a choice, but I'm still going to say, hey, let's say
34:12
the course here. Try to basically start from scratch with him. Less minutes, better defensive
34:16
player, put on some muscle, start actually defending. And I went through this with Sergei Goncher
34:22
in Washington where he was terrible. And Randy Carlisle came in and worked with him and turned
34:26
into a real good all-round hockey player. So I still hold out that hope for Thomas Shabod. Yeah. And I do think
34:32
those bad years for Gonchar kind of people forget about his Washington years just because of he
34:37
wasn't as primed as he was by the time he got to Pittsburgh and yeah he was towards the end but
34:43
but absolutely not the not the whole time for sure yeah uh Paul Thomas Shabbat stay hopefully green
34:51
and you just pray hopefully green in his crew can turn him around that I remember you're stuck with
34:56
them the way he is now all right um for the sake of time we're going to wrap things up now okay
35:02
we um yeah we're running at a time here so uh Simmer very great
35:07
for you coming back on. Really appreciate it and some good insight. Paul, happy to see you
35:11
this week as always. And for everybody watching, thanks for tuning in. Leave your thoughts in the
35:15
comments on kind of all your thoughts on all the players we talked about. And we'll see you next time
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