that works until you realize who owns the senators

So sad, but so true. He's the only person in the world I hope gets screwed over by Covid19

well thats not nice

Hey, honest question to OTT fans...and I think Melnyk will like this.

Would you trade the Lower of your (2) lottery picks this year, the NYI 1st, OTT 2nd. To get EK back HALF retained? EK's contract would be the single best contract in the entire NHL for at least 4 years. Even when he's 36 it's still only $5.75M.

LOL. No thanks. We've moved onto the future at this point.

But you do need to get to the cap floor.

For me, once he decided he didn't want to stay, it was over. The Sens have moved on and have their own emerging group of leaders. The only person I'd be interested in is Stone, but still, they decided they did want to stay. Even if I was interested in Karlsson, I wouldn't trade 2 1sts. The Sens got what many thought would be a mid to late 1st rounder plus prospects. I'm not getting him back for a top 5 pick, retained salary or not.

And spending a top 5 and 18 pick to get to the cap floor is beyond silly. That can't be your argument for getting Karlsson

There's a few teams I'm sure would be willing to trade a contract to help their cap situation that the sens could squeeze some assets out of instead of spending it

So my argument isn't simply getting to the cap floor. It's wisely spending money. Melnyk sends dorion out there to get Gabs, Callahan, Mac, Boedker, Anisimov not because he likes those players. It's because they were either FAR cheaper than their cap hit or insurance paid their contracts. Melnyk cares about money...ALOT. EK is clearly a good player. I think Melnyk would LOVE to have an $11.5M player for half. I'd need to look into the signing bonuses if this were serious. That might negate some of this, but the overall point is getter players for Value. AND Yes, you can't get to the cap floor with ELCs. Do you want to overpay for UFAs? He's not doing that. Or do you want to get proven quality players for contracts better than they're worth? I think he'd be all about that. AND EK is really good.

yea that is weird

dude wtf

your IQ must be in the single digits if you think a building team trading a top 5 pick and 18th OA for a 30 YO often injured Dman that is average right now. OTT paid 39 YO Ron Hainsy 3.5m for 1 year, they have no problem overpaying UFAs for 1 year to reach cap floor.

you can do that signing players to one year deals until you have to start paying your own guys. why hamstring yourself?

Sergachev isn't worth anywhere near what Chabot is.

I think you have shown why there are so few RFA offer sheets....or in this case a trade.
IMO, the Sens would be better to spend 8m on a UFA or other players and then they can keep their picks.
Does anyone really think Sergachov deserves to be paid as a top 5 DMan?

There is no scenario where a rebuilding team should be trading two 1sts including a top 5 pick for a 30 year old. Sens are doing a really good job with the rebuild, and when people try to accelerate it, the team just looks worse off.

Also I think you're forgetting how toxic that relationship had gotten by the time the parted ways. No chance either side would agree to this.

I know you're a Leaf fan, but if you were an OTT fan, wouldn't you be worried that guys like Shane Pinto or Heck ANY of their next 11 picks are just going to walk and you've lost them for nothing? I mean if they get Laf he's obviously staying, but picks are NOT guarantees. and when you don't have NHL roster spots...why on earth would they stay? What are they going to do with ANY of their 2nd rounders?

I'm not saying abandon the rebuild. I'm saying there is a such thing as too much of a good thing. I like ice cream...I'm not going to eat 2 gallons of it in one sitting. I like draft picks, but there's only so many roster spots...AND no team would seriously want top 6 talent on the 4th line. They'd get beat up and what's the point of that? Every team needs players that bring their lunch pail to work. NOR would Melnyk actually pay them for a 4th line role.

Wasn't the relationship issue actually with Hoffman though? Well, their wives I believe.

That was kind of a separate thing, though the organization knowing about it and doing nothing certainly contributed to the negativity surrounding the whole Karlsson/Melnyk relationship.

There were reports contract talks got pretty nasty on Ownership's part, and it really wore Karl down.

It was handled so poorly, I'm surprised they were able to get the insane return for him they ended up getting.

I meant financially lol not health-wise that's just cruel, I want him to sell

Firstly you're missing the point of the sens have moved on. Only 2 players remain from the conference final run. They aren't bringing them back. Secondly, I agree spending wisely is important. So getting a player that is more likely to upset team chemistry and confuse the players of the teams direction is the opposite of spending wisely. Also, if a team is willing to eat half his salary, then you're not getting an 11.5m player for 5.75. You're paying what he's worth, or rather what the other team thinks he's worth to get off their team. It's also for 7 more years. That doesn't seem like a good place to put money.
I'm sure some vets will sign short term in return for a bump in pay. For example Hainsey this year. What I'm saying is the player being paid doesn't matter as long as they get to the floor. And they won't have an issue doing that