gorgeous

It's crazy that we could go from arguably the worst blueline since I started watching to the best we've had in over a decade so quickly.

This team has been a completely different animal with Brannstrom and Mete, and only Zaitsev and Brown dragging things down. It seems like DJ is slowly coming around on Brannstrom, and he's looked really good of late. He's even getting trusted with PK time. Mete is quickly becoming one of my favorite players to watch on the entire team. The Sens might have a player there.

Abramov and Sokolov look great in Belleville. Now, if Thomson can get going too

hes done the thing DJ smith was criticizing him about eariler. Hes been way way better at breaking up the cycle in our own end

Thomson plays well, but his biggest problem is that he's in his own head a bit. He makes a mistake and he beats himself up over it, which leads to him making more mistakes. He has some consistency concerns too, but that mental hurdle is by far the most pressing issue. He'll likely be another year or two in Belleville.

Also I feel like he's the forgotten Sens prospect, but Ridly Greig has been on a rampage in the WHL. 8 goals, 17 assists for 25 points in just 16 games. That's a 34 goal, 106 point pace on a full 68 game season. And keep in mind he also spend 4 games with Belleville and was far and away the best player on that team as an 18 year old. I think that there might be a lot more top 6 upside there than I initially gave him credit for. If Stützle works out as a C, I think Greig could definitely have a future as a really annoying top six grinding winger.

I totally agree. Also DJ Smith is probably salivating about Pinto and Formenton and soon enough Greig and Sokolov. They’re coaches dreams. Did DJ say anything post game about Pinto?

He's small, but starting to show the one trait you need to make it as a small guy in the NHL; That willingness to stay in the fight with bigger opponents. There were a few moments where he was covering Josh Anderson hard, and took a beating for it, but he was able to remove him as an offensive threat really well. He's not shying away from physical contact. I think if he gets another summer to build up some more strength, he'll be in a good spot.

Not that I saw. He was amazing though. 4-2 on draws, three takeaways, PK shifts and an assist in just over 9 minutes. I don't remember the last time a Sens rookie showed that kind of poise in his play away from the puck in his first NHL game. He's ready to handle NHL competition, and it's not going to be long before he's an elite defensive forward. His offensive instincts look good too.

Yep. Other than Martinez all we need is a little addition by subtraction.

Can't wait to see him get some power play time. He got 14 of his 32 points at UND this season on the man advantage.

One of those defensive zone wins led directly to the ENG. Saw it all the time with UND. Pinto with a clean win in the Offensive zone, directly leading to a goal.

As for him on the PP, he's a really versatile player for the 2nd unit. He's got a heck of a one timer which would make him a good shooting option on a 2nd unit that lacks a real big shot, his big frame and soft hands would make him a useful net front tip guy, and his combination of all three would make him a great bumper option like he was at the World Juniors.

Sens fans have lost so much over the years, we deserved a little good fortune just dropped into our lap.

Honestly I wish him the best, I know he'll succeed in Ottawa. It just sucks that we can't develop and keep puck moving defensemen instead of icing Chiarots and Benns till the end of days.

Yeah those guys are also blocking Fleury and Brook and eventually Harris, Norlinder and others

Norlinder won't stick too long. He'll have talent, sure, but he will move the puck to well and defensemen are not supposed to do that.

What do u mean won’t stick too long?

Nathan Beaulieu, Victor Mete, Mike Reilly, Otto Leskinen, all could have been decent puck-moving defensemen. This team just don't like them. They prefer their Chiarot, Scandella, Alzner, etc. Even Alexander Romanov has a good transition game that he has not really had the chance to display so far.

I feel like it was a case of unfair expectations. I think they got excited when he was NHL ready at 19, and kind of assigned some unrealistic expectations for what he should be by 22. 22 is still so young for a Dman, a good chunk of Dmen are still getting their feet wet in the NHL. Hell he's only a year and a half older than Romanov.

I don't know how much of a long term future Mete will end up having in Ottawa, but right now he's playing well, and i think it will be good for Brannstrom to have someone who can push him to be better.

I think Montreal don’t try and develop players the way other teams do. I don’t know if the expectation of always winning and they’ve never rebuilt, I don’t think Kotkaniemi and Mete were developed enough and properly

just look at Galchenyuk and JESPERI KOTKANIEMI both where rushed Gally crashed hard and Jesperi is on the same trajectory, then they trade Sergachev for Yakupov 2.0