FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-The Arizona Coyotes are supposed to be a desperate hockey team. They’ve already swung for the fences with the acquisition of Taylor Hall and yet heading into last night’s game, they found themselves clinging to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Based on what we saw last night, this Arizona team has no business anywhere near the post-season. Arizona had everything to play for last night and in those opening 10 to 15 minutes, the Ottawa Senators skated circles around them. Granted that was the best start to a game Ottawa has had in months but still. The Yotes pushed back a little bit in the second and third but it was too little, too late. Jon E Shakka may want to start making calls to see if anyone is interested in a slightly used Taylor Hall.
-So is Marcus Hogberg a starting goalie er what? In a season where a number of young players have taken significant strides, it has been the rise of Marcus Hogberg that stands out for me. I’ve never been particularly high on his potential as an NHL goalie but he has proven me wrong so far this year. First time for everything, I suppose. There is still something terribly awkward about the way he looks in the net but there’s really no arguing with the results. While his technique may still need work, he really does battle as hard as any goalie I’ve seen. Never quits on the play and finds a way make miraculous saves that he really has no business making. Hogberg has a 2.87 GAA and a .914 sv% in his 18 appearances.
-As it currently stands, there are three Ottawa defenceman with contracts next season- Thomas Chabot, Nikita Zaitsev and Mike Reilly. Erik Brannstrom and Christian Wolanin are both likely to push for full-time jobs next year and then you have Max Lajoie and RFA-to-be Christian Jaros both on the bubble. Top prospects in Jacob Bernard-Docker and Lassi Thomson are waiting in the wings too. With those seven guys already at least in the mix for NHL jobs and more coming, it’s easy to see why Pierre Dorion has to be a little bit careful what he does with Dylan DeMelo, Ron Hainsey and Mark Borowiecki over the next couple weeks. Realistically, they should probably only be bringing one of those guys back. They really need to leave some space back there to be able to promote from within. Mark Borowiecki left last night’s game with what seems a high-ankle sprain which adds another layer of complexity to Dorion’s decision on that front.
-Bruce Garrioch talked about Jean Gabriel Pageau and Dylan DeMelo during the first intermission and gave some insight into what the trade market might look like for those two guys. It sounds pretty quiet so far. Garrioch mentioned that at this point, it’s unlikely the Senators would land a first round pick for Pageau, instead suggesting that a second rounder might be the bench mark. Meanwhile, Garrioch added that there may still be time for the Senators to work something out with Pageau on what Bruce referred to as a “hometown discount”. This really is the best way to approach the situation with Pageau- if you can get him to agree to a team-friendly deal (especially something with limited term) then the Senators should consider it. Just not sure if that’s any interest to Pageau this close to unrestricted free agency.
-Earlier this week, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that the Senators might be looking to move AHL forward Max Veronneau at some point before the trade deadline later month. It’s an oddly specific AHL rumour which means either the player has let it be known he would be open to change of scenery or the Senators have to clear a spot and want to get the word out. Either way, it feels like a near lock he gets moved at some point in the the not too distant future. Despite showing flashes of being a competent NHL forward in his brief audition last year, Veronneau has fallen fast down the organizational depth chart. Injuries have played a big part in that obviously but he’s mostly just been outplayed by a bunch of guys in Belleville. The Senators won’t be looking for much in return and would probably just like to get a contract off the books. Max Veronneau is an RFA this summer.
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