Not long now, folks.
With last week’s announcement that the Ottawa Senators face off against the Montreal Canadiens in a rookie game on September 18th (and then again on September 20th), we officially have a day to count down to.
And it’s just three weeks away.
So while players around the league frantically attempt to get into the ‘best shape of their lives’, it’s probably a good idea for us to do the same. And that’s why we’re attempting the unthinkable.
News and Notes…ON A SATURDAY.
Tkachuk Negotiations Continue
With the clock ticking towards the start of a new season, things remain uncomfortably quiet on the Brady Tkachuk front. Bruce Garrioch continues to provide Sens fans with reassuring updates but in terms of the actual negotiations, we aren’t hearing a damn thing. Just the way the two sides want it apparently.
Fans seem to be latching on to those early comments from Melnyk about not giving the Captaincy to a player on a bridge deal (obvious posturing, by the way) but other than that, it’s all speculation at this point. What we know for certain is the Senators have a strong preference to sign Tkachuk to a long-term deal and that it would likely be in the range of the contract Andrei Svechnikov just signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. What we don’t know is whether the structure or length of such a deal is of interest to the Tkachuk Camp.
Don’t Forget the Drake
It isn’t causing the same level of angst among Sens fans but the negotiations with Drake Batherson are also…lingering. Again, we don’t know a whole lot about where things stand but in the case of Batherson, there’s a good case to be made for either approach. A short-term bridge deal would allow the Senators to keep his cap hit/salary low over the next couple seasons. A long-term extension could ultimately save the Senators some money and cap space down the line, assuming Batherson continues on his current trajectory.
It does sound like the Senators tabled a six-year offer at some point in the negotiations but we really don’t have a sense of what Batherson and his agent are looking for on a new deal. It applies to all RFAs but you can be sure with the start of Camp just around the corner, negotiations will heat up. Nobody wants the distraction of an unsigned player once Camp starts. At the same time, it’s a lot easier to finalize these things when everyone is in the same place.
Logan Brown Remains Unsigned
It’s sort of fascinating that Logan Brown still remains unsigned this close to a new season. Brown is an RFA this summer and was qualified long ago but it’s clear that Brown and his agent are sort of waiting to see if another opportunity shakes out. It sounds like the Senators were open to the idea of trading Brown this off-season but it doesn’t seem like there was much interest. Ultimately, you would think Brown will have to accept that qualifying offer submitted back in July and then come to Training Camp with something to prove.
It hasn’t worked out between Brown and the Senators so far but there is still plenty of time to get this thing back on the rails. Brown is a 6’6 centre with all the offensive talent in the world. Considering the uncertainty at the centre position, the Senators could certainly use that skill-set in their lineup. If Brown can stay healthy, the biggest of all ifs by the way, it’s not hard to imagine him forcing his way into the Senators lineup this fall. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine Brown has a better path to the NHL than the one he has with the Senators.
Big Opportunity for Colin White
If you missed it, Bruce Garrioch had an interesting sit down with Head Coach DJ Smith earlier in the week. The interview covered a range of topics and gave a good sense of where DJ’s head is at with a new season now just a few weeks away.
There are a few things that jumped out in the article but at the top of that list was the opportunity that will be given to Colin White. Barring some sort of pre-camp deal for a centre, it sounds like White is going to get the first crack at the centre spot on the team’s second line with Tim Stützle and Connor Brown. It’s a great opportunity for White and a chance to show that he can handle the offensive responsibility. White has proven that he can be a responsible two-way guy but with Shane Pinto’s imminent arrival, White is going to have to find some untapped offensive potential if he’s going to hold on to that spot on the depth chart.
Adding a Centre
Speaking of a pre-Camp deal, whatever happened to the pursuit of a top six centre? Eugene Melnyk tipped the organization’s hand during his appearance on the Bob McCown Podcast and from that point on, Sens fans have been eagerly awaiting a move to add some help down the middle.
And now with the regular season just around the corner, it’s looking and sounding like the Senators may be comfortable starting the year with what they have. Honestly, not the worst thing in the world. While I’d normally have some reservation about throwing a young player like Shane Pinto right into an NHL lineup, Pinto looked more than comfortable during his 12 game audition at the end of last season. So unless the Senators have a chance to swing for the fences on a guy like Jack Eichel (we know they made a call, by the way), it might make sense to leave a spot open for Pinto.
Sanderson Hype Train Rolls Along
If you haven’t watched the Jake Sanderson video posted by the good folks at Elite Prospects, you’re missing out. They provide an in-depth look at Sanderson’s progression over the last couple seasons and talk about how that game may ultimately translate at the NHL level. Mitch Brown then made an appearance on the Locked On Senators Podcast, providing additional comments on where Sanderson is at in his development.
Between the video and the podcast appearance, it’s safe to say fan excitement over Sanderson is officially off the charts. The Ottawa Senators took some heat for the selection but watching Sanderson now, it’s easy to see what Pierre Dorion and Trent Mann liked in Sanderson. At the time, there was a misconception that Sanderson was more of a shutdown type defenceman but watching his game now, it’s clear that his offensive potential is sky high. Sanderson is likely to join the Senators at the end of the NCAA season.
