Team: 2020-21 Ottawa Senators

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 30, 2021

Published: Jan. 30, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is ACGM, but I'm only going to do coaching changes here, and not moving any players to or from the taxi squad, the AHL, or make any trades, those are all GM duties because they have cap implications.

This is the team Dorion assembled, what can DJ Smith do with it?

I'm not a fan of the kid line, but they have played better, so I'll leave well enough alone there.

I'm moving Tierney up to the 2nd line for two reasons, faceoffs, and playmaking. Dadonov needs someone to feed him the puck more often, and with better skill. Stützle can benefit from playing with these two vets.

Colin White replaces Tierney on the 3rd line, or primary shutdown line, but, he only takes faceoffs on his strong side. NIck Paul will take the weak side faceoffs, which is his strong side, or Whites strong side if White is struggling, but White will play centre defence duties so Paul can use his strength on the boards.

Stepan is still good enough for 4th line centre, and Watson is fine as well. They are both 200 foot players, which should help Galchenyuk. The Sens need his offence, even if it's with 4th line minutes.

The team still only has three top4 defenders, but someone needs to play with Gudbranson. Reilly, Wolanin, Coburn, and Josh Brown haven't been able to, so lets try Zub, on his offside. If Zub struggles, then it has to be obvious to Dorion that this team either needs to call up Brannstrom and put him there, or make a trade.

To succeed this team needs at least three forward lines, and two defence pairs, working properly to have a chance to win. The fourth line and third pair just need to keep from being caved in.