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Senators Roundtable - Offseason Trade Targets: Ullmark, Ehlers, Necas, Buchnevch & More
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May 22, 2024
In this episode of The Hockey Writers Senators Roundtable, Ottawa Senators writers Jacob Billington, Dayton Reimer, and Paul Quinney get together to discuss some offseason trade targets for the Senators. They also react to the Rob DiMaio hiring and talk about where Daniel Alfredsson fits into the organization. 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/ Subscribe to The Hockey Writers Ottawa Senators Substack for all the best Sens content - https://thehockeywriters.substack.com/subscribe Follow The Hockey Writers: Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheHockeyWriter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thehockeywriters_ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheHockeyWriters/ Graphics by Vince Richard - https://www.behance.net/vincergraphics #senators #ottawasenators #nhl
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0:00
Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the Senators Roundtable. I'm your host Jacob Billington, joined by Dayton and Paul. I feel like it's been a while since the three of us have been together. I might be wrong on that. But again, playoff season is on. Some pretty exciting series going on, but been pretty quiet in the land of Ottawa. Outside of today, they hired Rob Mio as their director of player development and the director of pro scouting. He spent 14 years in the same roles with the Blues. And last year, he was the Ducks basically
0:29
the equivalent of Ryan Bonas. He's the general manager of the San Diego Gulls
0:35
It's really hard to judge a director of player development and pro scouting. But do either of you
0:41
have any thoughts on this hiring? We'll start with you, Dayton. Sure. I like it. He's been in the league for a long time. He's been working in scouting and
0:51
pro development and player development. Assistant GM last year with the Ducks, like you mentioned
1:00
Uh, yeah, he's got a good career. I think working with the blues was, you know, there's
1:09
there's no complaints with that. He would have won a cup with the blues, right? Correct. Yeah. And lots of
1:15
those players have become pretty good. He was also a medicine hat tiger, which is the team I grew up
1:22
cheering for. So I like that. Good. Well, and he had quite a, um, a fairly lengthy NHL career
1:29
too. So, like, he knows, he knows what to look for. You get these guys. And, um, like
1:34
obviously, if somebody offered me a job for director of pro scouting, I'd be more than happy to take it. But somebody that played in the NHL is always going to have the better view
1:43
Yes. For sure. And having that experience, I think it's a good person to have. He's not
1:50
like, a big name or anything, but I'm, I'm more so of the opinion that you don't need a big
1:55
name to have a successful front office. Uh, and DiMaio, maybe most notably when he was with the Tigers
2:02
played alongside Vancouver's GM, Trevor Linden. So that's a, it's a very skilled team
2:09
and he was, he scored more goals than Linden that year, which is, I don't know, I think that's neat
2:18
Yeah. Yeah, I think it's a good hiring. I think it shows kind of what the summer of Stios is going to be
2:24
and it's building a strong team around himself. We spent so many years with Peter Dorion being the only voice
2:29
in the room. And now we've got some more people coming in, seeing what kind of impacts that
2:36
they can make. And yeah, I just think that it's evidence that Steve Steyos and Michael Ann Lauer
2:41
are ready to build a competent front office. Paul, do you have any thoughts on the hiring
2:50
Well, I agree with that. I mean, he is a good judge of talent. And Lord knows the senators this summer
2:55
are going to need a good judge of talent. So he has that reputation
2:59
He and Steyos have a long relationship, apparently. So I agree with Jacob
3:06
Steyos is building a front office coaching staff in his own image
3:12
That's to be expected. I think it was inevitable because they gutted their current scouting staff with Rob Murphy's departure
3:24
I guess the other thing that came to mind, not, well, they're not directly related
3:30
But where does all of this leave Daniel Elfretton? I don't know where he fits in the organization
3:38
That could be an interesting question to watch. Yeah, that is a really good question
3:43
I think in the kind of Travis Green introductory, they said we're like, we're talking to Daniel Elforson
3:49
see if he wants to be on the bench, see if he wants to be behind the bench, see what kind of position he wants
3:54
So I think he's just kind of there, helping out in practices and stuff
4:00
And he's probably going to have a position in player development if I had to guess. And it's just kind of working with the guys in practice
4:07
That's kind of my thought. Being a strong voice. Yeah, that's what Sean Donovan and Wade Redden do currently, isn't it
4:16
Correct. Yeah. So just having that impact, the plethora of experience and the skill and the talent and whatnot
4:23
and just we saw a lot of Alfredson working with Tim Stutzel to kind of become
4:28
the best that he can be. And that's kind of the stuff that I think he should be
4:32
just on the ice of practice in the locker room, giving his advice and chiming in when he can
4:38
Well, maybe that's all efforts and can be, right, given his experience
4:42
I mean, he's been a player, not much experience on the management side
4:47
I know he did say when he came back to the senators that he wanted, I think I've got it right
4:53
a big role or a significant role. So this is one, he didn't get
5:00
Stay tuned. I think that if he went to Steve Steyos and said
5:04
I want the head coach job, it would have been his. But as we all know, coaches get hired to get fired
5:10
That's as far as it really goes. And I think that putting him in a position as the head coach is miserable
5:17
Like we saw how it worked with Patrick Waugh in Colorado, beloved player, everything, all that
5:23
And then he's gone. And now it's, it kind of tarnishes your career as a Colorado
5:27
to Avalanche legend or an Ottawa Senator's legend. Well, yeah, that's right
5:32
I mean, people in Ottawa love Alfredson. And to your point, I mean, eventually they put him in his coach and they're going to hate him, right
5:41
He's going to go. It's the same reason that people always say don't borrow money from family
5:48
There's always going to be a problem to start. Dayton, did you have any last thoughts on any of that
5:56
Yeah, I think. If Alfredson had mentioned that he wanted to be the coach
6:01
there wouldn't have been any other hunt. But clearly he didn't want that position
6:08
So, yeah, I could see him joining some of his former teammates in that development role
6:13
I think that's good for the senators. I don't know if you need that kind of pressure on such a beloved figure
6:20
especially with a team that, I mean, we're not sure really what they're going to be next year
6:25
Are we going to see more of this? Or are we going to see some actual improvements
6:30
And it really seems just up to the winds of fate on how this team performs
6:38
To some degree, I think there's issues that have been overlooked that also contribute to some of that
6:45
But the suspension and the injuries, you can't predict that. I enjoy Albertson being involved with the team
6:55
team, but I don't think he needs to be a coach. Yeah, I agree
7:00
So you talk about what kind of improvements we're going to make, and I think that Steve Stales has one of the busiest off-seasons ahead of him that he might
7:06
ever have. So far, his only trades was trading Teresanko for a third and a fourth
7:12
and then acquiring, I believe his only trades, other than that, was acquiring Wyatt Bon Giovanni and Jameson Reese, which I like both of those deals
7:20
add some good HL depth. And Jameson Reese, I like as a prospect, but he hasn't really made a big splash
7:25
He had his hands tied with Teresanko and then two AHL deals. But there are a lot of names being at least whispered to the Ottawa senators
7:34
not necessarily outright rumors, but some names connecting them. So Linus Omerk, I believe it was Bruce Garrioc
7:41
He came out and said that Ottawa went hard at Omerk at the trade deadline
7:47
Do we think that Ottawa revisits at the draft? He said that they're likely to push hard at the draft
7:52
One, Omerk has a no trade clause. So that could come into play and just end of conversation
7:58
But is Linus Omer the guy that you should think that the Ottawa senators should target, Paul
8:04
Well, I think they've got to give it a shot, right? I mean, I've written several times referencing a potential for an Omart chicken trade
8:12
The thing I like about that is it would be one of those rare occasions when you can make a one-for-one player trade
8:20
The salary of both is similar. The term is similar Boston needs help on the blue line And Lord knows we need help and goal So theoretically it possible
8:34
You have to wonder whether O'Mark would come to Ottawa. We'll see
8:41
But, you know, Toronto is in the hunt as are a number of other teams
8:46
So I think he'd give that a shot. Dayton, what do you think
8:50
Do you think that O'Mark should be a target for the senators? I'm kind of torn
8:56
Like, Almark would be a massive upgrade on paper, but also I don't think goal tending is the root of the issue
9:05
I think there's a lot of team structure issues that need to be dealt with first rather than just grabbing a new goalie and running the same thing again
9:14
Because then I think you're going to get another corpusallo. You're going to get another Matt Murray
9:17
You're going to get another problematic goalie who can't stay healthy. because that's what they have set up right now
9:26
is to overwork their goalie and not provide them support. And then, oh, it's all the goalie's fault
9:33
when they can't stop a beach ball. Once is weird, twice as a coincidence
9:41
three times. Three times there's bigger problems. And I think we're on four or five right now
9:47
So I don't oppose acquiring O-Mark, but I think there's other things that need to be
9:53
fixed first. So, yeah, my only rebuttal to that argument would be how many people did Ottawa sign that
10:03
really, that were even close to Allmerk's level. I would say Jonas Corpus Alley was the only one that made sense to be a starting goalie
10:12
Cam Talbot, I mean, obviously he showed that he could do it this year. He was fantastic in L.A., but like, was anybody really expecting him to be a 915 goalie in Ottawa
10:21
no, I don't think so. He was, he's getting older and whatnot
10:26
He wasn't fantastic in Minnesota. I don't know. I just, I don't think that they've gone for the big ticket outside of Corpus Halle
10:35
which was always risky to be that undeniable number one. Well, you know, goalies are hard to get, right
10:46
I mean, my theory is you have to develop them. I mean, last summer when they acquired Corpus
10:51
So there was nothing on the market. So, you know, what story on to do
10:58
And again, he hyped it. He announced he had solved Ottawa's goaltending problems when he signed Corpusel
11:05
I was making those statements. So, I don't know. It's a tough spot with goaltending
11:14
There's just not a lot of good goaltending out there. People don't make them available
11:18
and, you know, O'Mark, well, he's available this year. Yeah, I think going for O'Mark is a great idea
11:28
I'm going to throw another goalie at you, Jacob Markstrom. Would you do it
11:32
He has a full no-move clause, so I don't know if that ends up working out
11:36
But would you go for it, Dayton? I think he's riskier than Elmark
11:42
He's more expensive than L. Mark, if I remember correctly. I don't, again, like, I don't oppose doing the L-Mark
11:52
I'm not against getting a Markstrom. I think there's other issues. Like, going back to Talbot, he was fine in Minnesota, right
12:00
He played 33, 49 games, and he was a 9-15, 9-11 goalie
12:05
Was he that good, really? Yes. I remember him just being like a 906 kind of
12:10
That's where my mind was at. With the flames a year before that, he was a 9-19
12:14
He's a very consistent goalie until he arrived in Ottawa. Okay. There was a year with Edmonton and Philly that he split that was not great
12:24
But going back, he was pretty much consistently putting up a 9-10, 9-20 percentage with whoever he played with
12:32
And then Ottawa somehow that falls apart. So is it Talbot's fault
12:39
No. I think you can make it a little bit there. So Corpus Allo had some really good looks in Columbus, had some really good looks in L.A
12:51
And of course, I do agree he was riskier. But, yeah, also just fell off the map
12:59
I think if that's the only significant move the senators make, they've made a mistake
13:06
Fair enough. And now, based on what you just kind of came back at me with, I don't think I can disagree
13:10
I would have disagreed four minutes ago. but I, yeah, I think so
13:17
And another name to kind of keep an eye on might be Freddie Anderson. I don't know what his availability is going to be like
13:22
But there's a couple of goalies to look at. But Dayton, you don't think that they need a goaltender
13:26
Paul, what do you think about Markstrom or Freddie Anderson? Well, I just listening to Dayton, he's a convincing guy
13:34
I mean, now I'm on good guys. And, you know, I think Dayton's kind of in Steve Stales camp
13:42
I think Estabos said, look, these guys aren't as bad as their numbers say they are
13:47
So there are other issues. Defense in particular. So, you know, Markstrom, I don't know, get a little long in the tooth
14:01
I think you need to have an eye on the future. And I don't think he's the future anywhere
14:07
Yeah. Well, I mean, he is 34 turning 35, so that makes sense. I will say I'm not against getting a goalie
14:14
I think goaltending was definitely an issue last year. And Forsberg, who had looked good in Ottawa, suddenly wasn't very good
14:24
And young up-and-comers weren't looking very strong. And Corpusallo had some really bad stretches
14:31
Goaltending was clearly an issue. I just don't think it's the issue. So I don't think it's worth spending a massive trade to get
14:41
one of those big name guys, I think looking for either better defense to help boost that
14:49
because I think their defense is atrocious. I think adding Jacob Chikran was maybe a bigger mistake than signing you on his corporasalo
14:59
He had points, great, but there was no defensive support, I don't think. I think he made the defense worse, despite putting up more points than other ones
15:09
and of course injuries again like Shabbat missed a lot of time. Hamannick is not
15:15
I think valuable on the third hearing anymore. Yeah, right. You've got a defense who can't support their team
15:25
and you don't have forwards who are playing defense and so yeah, the goalies are going to suffer
15:30
if they are not super consistent and they haven't got a super consistent guy
15:36
and I don't think there is a super consistent guy available in the NHL right now
15:43
Aside from Walmart. He's okay. I mean, he had a 915, which is solid
15:50
Yeah. He won the Vez in the last year. With a 938, yeah
15:54
Yeah. He dropped down this year, though. Right? He fell with the team
15:59
Yeah. That's true. That's true. I do think that every goaltender is a product of the defense
16:04
Some are just better and can bail the defense out more. Yeah. So, yeah, I, you sold me
16:12
You must be doing persuasive writing with your class at school area. Brian
16:20
Let's move on to another Canadian market and talk about Nikolai Eelers
16:25
Speedy Winger, a lot of offense there, underutilized for what seems like his entire career
16:32
He's getting third line minutes, which is criminal. Do you think Ottawa should target him
16:37
I do think that a check run for Euler's trade, Ottawa would have to add a little bit
16:41
and probably an extension maybe both ways. I don't know. But what would you think about acquiring Nikolai Eilers, Paul
16:51
Well you know the way I looked at kind of categorized problems So all right where are there holes The holes are at defense particularly on right defense There a hole in the goal
17:02
And then up front, what you've got to do is try and replace Teresenko slash Kubelik
17:11
That's not too hard. Yeah. Replace Kubliq. Well, yeah. You can do with somebody, though, right
17:17
Oh, that's true. That's true. but you know it you kind of got to replace de brinket right which is not something they've done
17:25
how high a priority um you know i think you got bigger problems in on on d and uh in goal so
17:34
you know allers fine um i don't know what do you think he cost what do you think you got to
17:41
give up you mentioned chikrin chickren a second or third round pick and a prospect of sorts
17:51
Not a very highly, not that Ottawa has a high value prospect, but just kind of another asset to throw in there
17:57
Yeah. If he's coming with an extension. Yeah, okay, you get rid of chickering it
18:05
Well, you got too many left wing on defense anyway. So, you know, I don't
18:10
Too many lefties, yeah. I don't think it's going to make your. make your blue line worse
18:17
No, and especially with Clevin would take that spot and add a more, at a different aspect
18:23
Obviously, Jacob Chikrin is a much better defenseman than Tyler Cleven today
18:27
but he adds a different role, more of a third line shutdown guy, or third pair, I guess
18:33
shutdown guy. So I think that losing Chikrin for not a defenseman is not a problem
18:40
Dayton, what do you think? So I'm more interested in adding Eelers than a goalie
18:45
I don't know if he is quite the right fit. I think the senators need a right winger
18:51
Eelers being a lefty. And it doesn't look like he's played much right wing in his career
18:56
I don't think it's a massive switch. He does play a lot of both
19:00
Does he play? Okay. So I'm just on elite prospects and they are only listing left wing
19:04
So that's my bad. So if that's the case, then I'm much
19:11
more interested. He is a great goal score. He could fill the gap that has been left by both
19:19
DeBrenkat and Josh Norris, who doesn't seem to play all that much. Now, that's like 60 goals you're
19:25
losing. And Eelers could bring 30. He got close in 1718. He had 29. That's his career high. But still
19:35
he's not scoring usually less than 25. So I don't know if I'd pay
19:41
Chikrin a pick and a prospect if it's just Eelers I'd want maybe a prospect
19:47
coming back as well or a pick but the senators probably do have to pay a little bit more than
19:53
just a guy for guy kind of swap. But I think that addresses more of the issue
20:01
that creates a much more solid top six which I don't think the senators have right now
20:07
I think they have an interesting top six but not a solid one
20:11
If that makes sense. Well, if you look at the second line left wings spot, which I think is there, I'm going to say the biggest hole on this team is second line left wing
20:20
Over the past years, Paul, you mentioned Kublii Kintra Sanko played a lot there last year
20:25
Before that, it was De Brinket. Before that, it was Nick Paul. Before that, it was Tim Stutzel
20:30
Before that, like, it has been a carousel of players that have been going in and out of that spot
20:36
There has been absolutely no consistency in the second line left wing spot season over season
20:41
and I think that that's what they need. And I think that if you make up a top six of Kachak, Stutzel, and Giroux
20:50
and then you have Eilers, probably Pinto, Batherson, I think that that makes up a much better top six than what they've had over the past couple of years
21:01
No, I very much agree with that. Yeah. And that's stability part
21:05
Like, that's important. Paul, any last thoughts on Eelers? No, no. So moving on, another player in a very similar situation as Eelers is Mardi Nikesh
21:17
So he is a pending RFA, don't know what's going to happen
21:23
Carolina has to deal with some money issues. He feels like a bit of an odd man out, and there's been some rumors about it, but is he
21:32
somebody that you'd be interested in? He's a right winger, like you mentioned, Dayton. And he can play center
21:39
He hasn't played much center under Rod Brindamor, but he can. So is his versatility an asset
21:44
What do you think, Dayton? Oh, I'm super interested in Martin Nietzsche's
21:48
I think he is a fantastic player. He was, I think I remember him playing on the world juniors
21:55
And he was really, really dynamic. Made the NHL had one season of 71 points
22:03
So that was last year, 22, 23, has been more so around that 50 point mark
22:09
I would probably argue that's because he had. has been the odd man out because the hurricanes have such a good top six
22:16
And so he's not getting those top six minutes. He throw him in with Ottawa. I think that is going to be really dangerous
22:23
He's a big guy. He shoots right on that right wing. Like he's not going to shy away from some of that physicality
22:31
He's not a physical player, but I don't think he's shy about it. He's very competitive
22:37
Yeah. Throw that on the first or second line. I would pay what it takes
22:44
I think the senators need to get on that. I'm in the same boat
22:48
I think that he should be target number one in terms of offseason trades
22:53
Just because when's a guy like this, that's this kind of impactful coming for trade
22:58
and maybe at lower the market value, right? Like you look at his season this year
23:02
24 goals, 29 assists for 53 points. He was a minus nine on the hurricanes in 77 games
23:09
He's just, the fit doesn't feel as good as it could be
23:13
I do think that they absolutely appreciate him and they enjoy having him on the team
23:18
But is he really going to be worth? Like, I think that his contract is going to be bigger than his production looks to be
23:25
Right now he's only making $3 million and his, he's only hit. So last year you mentioned 71 points
23:32
This was his second best year production wise with 53. That's not ideal, but you can see it
23:39
He has so much more in him than that. So, and he's also only played over 70 games three times
23:45
So I think that Mardinikish would be a fantastic pickup. Paul, what do you think
23:53
I don't know if he'd be my number one target, but I will give him this
23:57
He is from Carolina, and hopefully he would bring in some Carolina Hurricanes DNA
24:03
which the Ottawa senators desperately need. Yeah. I agree. Could you imagine this team with Rod Brindamore behind the bench
24:15
Yeah, well, he just resigned. I mean, I love Brindam. Fantastic. So let's move to defense
24:22
Maybe that's what Green has it is his future. Maybe Green is the next Brindamore. That would be nice
24:28
That's fingers crossed. So what do you think about? So some defense options
24:34
Paul will start with you. McKenzie Weeger, should Ottawa be targeting him? yes of course absolutely he's a good auto law boy good from a marketing standpoint and he's a right
24:45
defenseman go get him i think he he should be your top uh one of the top targets for you if i were
24:53
stales i i yeah he's definitely up there what do you think dayton yeah i i think wigger's a
25:00
great pick uh i think he's a little old but he also just put up career numbers i think so he did um
25:07
Yeah, nothing wrong with that. That solidifies the defense, which has been incredibly porous
25:16
He's 30, and he's got six more years after this one under contract
25:19
He 30 years old Yeah Oh then scratch that about the age Yeah grab him If he available grab him immediately Yeah but sorry he got seven years Cap Friendly already moved forward to the offseason mode
25:34
Yeah, so at six and a quarter, I think that that's a fantastic option for Ottawa
25:40
He put up, like you said, career numbers. He scored 20 goals this season and 52 points in 82 games
25:47
I think he's either going to be traded to Ottawa or named Cap. of the Calgary Flames this year
25:52
I know they have Backland, but he is their guy now. So it's going to be hard to get him from them, but I don't know
26:01
We talked about this in the offseason a little bit, but what do you think of Colton Pareko, Dayton
26:09
Is he also a right shot? He is a right shot. And he's still in St. Louis, right
26:15
Yeah. Yeah. Trying to get my thoughts straight. here. He's okay. He has his ups and downs. He's a 20 point guy, 30 points sometimes
26:33
I don't know. I'm just not as interested. I think there's a few more hiccups or kind of warts that
26:42
you're taking in with Pareko that might be similar to adding a chikrin. He's not a perfect
26:50
fit for the team. A lot of things do look right, but I just don't know if it's quite right
26:57
Yeah, he had a much better season this year than he did last year. Last year, he was miserable defensively
27:04
This year he was much better. But his 6-foot-6 frame with great shot blocking and hits
27:09
I think that's something that would compliment like Thomas Chabot very well. What do you think, Paul
27:15
He wouldn't be on my list. I mean, you know, there are other players that I pursue
27:20
Sorry, go ahead, Paul. He's not meh, you know, if I can use that word
27:26
It all depends on the price. Like if it's just like a third and a fifth going to St. Louis
27:32
I'm happy to see that deal happen. But if it's like some significant assets being traded, then I don't want to see it
27:39
Yeah, exactly. Last name we're going to talk about, Pavel Bucenevich. He has been a star since being traded to the St. Louis Blues
27:50
and he was almost dealt at the trade deadline this year. They're going to revisit that this offseason
27:56
What do you guys think? How about you, Paul? My initial reaction was, can we move on from these Russians
28:05
It would depend on the term. I mean, Dorian brought Tarasenko in for a year
28:14
I mean, Ottawa's got to stop making those types of moves, right
28:18
I mean, if you're coming to town, you're coming long. term and you're committing to the franchise
28:22
I don't know what Mujnavich would commit to coming to Ottawa. So do you think that Ottawa should have signed that offensive Russian winger to a three
28:31
years, let's say, $5 million a year? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know
28:39
And then traded them to Vegas and not tell them about the no trade clause. Oh, wait, sorry, that's Dada enough I'm thinking of
28:45
I'm from a gentleman, you know. Yeah, dad and off, I mean, but surely you must be able to sit down with these guys and just level with them
28:57
Look, we're serious, we're building a championship team here. Are you committed
29:03
And if you're not, I totally understand. But if you're not, we're not signing you
29:07
But who are you seriously going to convince that this is en route to be a championship team with the way that they've been over the last seven years
29:16
That's like the only reason. in Ottawa got Teresanko is because nobody else had those space or need for him
29:23
And they just kind of said, hey, listen, we have a spot for you. And he was like, I guess so
29:29
That's. Yeah, he parked himself in Ottawa and knowing that at the trade deadline, he'd be a rental
29:35
And probably back in Florida, where he's kept his family. Yeah. But, yeah, I'd, I don't know
29:45
Yeah, too, okay, good point. I mean, who are you going to convince? Convinced Juru come to town
29:51
Hometown guy. I put a caveat on that. Yeah. Dayton, what do you think of Buccanevich
29:59
Ottawa sure has some rough luck with Russians, eh? Oh, totally. The soup has been great
30:04
Yeah? But doesn't it all go back to Yashin? There's another example
30:10
I hate to raise that. I almost want to cry at the mention of his name
30:16
Right? Nothing against, you know, the senator is adding some of these guys, but they've just, it just seems to not work for whatever reason
30:26
Yashin was, I mean, it started out great and ended really bad, but that was because the management were kind of dumb
30:35
And then, yeah, Dadanov, Teresenko, more recent examples. As for Butchenevich, I think he could be good
30:46
I just wonder if maybe he's clicking in St. Louis and wouldn't click as well elsewhere
30:51
I think he does fit well. I think he's kind of that, you know, he's got a good motor
30:58
He's a tough-nosed player, like an in-your-face, even if he's not like, like a Nietzsche's, right
31:06
He's not afraid to go into those tougher areas, but he's not a physical guy
31:10
If I'm remembering some of his stuff correctly, it's, I haven't. I didn't know this guy was on the radar, so I didn't look at him
31:20
But to Paul's point, having only one year is not the kind of guys you want to be adding and then taking that risk
31:32
Dorian was doing that like he had a playoff team in his pocket
31:38
He didn't. So he just added guys who were for a playoff team and surprised, it didn't work because the
31:45
senators didn't have that staying power. They need guys who are here to commit for at least three years because this is not going
31:53
to be a championship team next year or the year. And I'd put money on that
31:58
In fact, I'd probably put money on them not making the playoffs next year. If I was a betting, man, I would
32:05
I would as well. I think they get closer. I think they get significantly closer
32:11
I do not think they get in. It's hard to get much further. Yeah
32:15
Yeah. The East is really clogged and I don't see Ottawa putting in enough to compete with some of their biggest rivals like Buffalo and Detroit
32:28
And I mean, Boston's in there now. They're about at the same level, even if they're taking a step back. A lot of their guys are getting old
32:38
If Buconievich signs for three years, basically when he shows up, then that's fine
32:46
Same with the other guys, right? There was a few other guys we talked about who have limited deals
32:50
Nietzsche's one, I think his contract. He's up by this summer. Who's the other guy
32:57
Nikolai Eilers. He's up next summer. Yeah. So same thing. He needs a deal if he's coming to Ottawa
33:05
Otherwise, there's no point because guys show up. They give a half-hearted effort and then they leave as a rental and do great elsewhere
33:16
Ottawa needs commitment. And that's just something they haven't had for, I don't know, seven years
33:23
From UFAs. They had a lot of it from RFAs that have blown up in their face
33:27
Yes. So we expect Steve Stios is going to be pretty busy this summer
33:33
But that's going to wrap things up for today. Next week we're going to have Peter Berichini on from the hockey writers
33:39
He's kind of our prospect guru. And we're going to be talking about some options at 7th overall
33:44
and just some draft. stuff. So, um, tune in for that episode. And if you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to like and
33:50
subscribe. And we'll see you next time
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