Team: 2022-23 Ottawa Senators

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 2, 2021

Published: Dec. 3, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is done with the projected 1.5 million bump in the cap I understand it's not a guarantee but it seems likely.

To start I think there needs to be a coaching change, DJ clearly just hasn't worked out as head coach in Ottawa and if this year is any more of an indication that it is time for a change. I think a possible replacement could be Bruce Boudreau. For the team a key for Ottawa is to try to find an identity, something that has been lacking ever since they jumped into the rebuild. I think that identity should be a fast-paced hard checking team with plenty of skill. A lot of the skill on this team has been already drafted and developed but I have always thought something they were missing was a true number 1 elite center. I think the best option they have right now would be to acquire Elias Petterson by selling off some of their prospect capital. Part of the problem in Ottawa has been holding onto prospects for too long, someone like Brannstrom has been in the system for far too long without proving to fit in on the team. You might as well trade the young players while he still holds value instead of watching his potential slowly diminish. As much as Shane Pinto has been very solid young player for Ottawa I think you have to choose to trade one of your young forwards between Norris and Pinto, I'm holding onto Norris 10/10 times. Kleven is another prospect I think you can afford to trade if you are Ottawa with guys like JBD likely knocking on the door of the big club next year. Colin White can play a third-line role for a likely rebuilding Canucks team next season, and Vancouver seems like a viable destination for Murray who can try to find his game again behind an elite goalie in Demko. I think at the very least it would require a first-round pick and a second-round pick in this deal as well to get Petterson. I think Ottawa is the perfect destination for Petterson who can get out of the spotlight in Vancouver to a smaller Ottawa market and have the chance to play with some very skilled players.

After siming Tankathon Ottawa ended up with the first overall pick so I'm just going to go with that. Obviously, this would be huge for Ottawa creating a three-headed monster up the middle between Petterson Wright and Norris.

In free agency signing Forsberg is an opportunity Ottawa has to jump at, he would solidify the top 6 forward group as one of the top 10 in the league. Barabanov would also be a perfect third-line addition, he would bring plenty of skill along with a hard checking mentality very similar to Brown. I think the fourth line can be a true identity line for this Sens team much like Calgary has and Vegas had in previous years. Bozak would be the perfect two-way center who can take on D-zone draws against the tougher opponents and will eat PK minutes. Deslauriers is a hard-checking player who would make this team very difficult to play against. I think Perreault would again play a similar role of playing on the PK and being tough to play against.

I think Chiarot is the perfect signing to help solidify this team's defense that has struggled mightily in previous years. He has stepped up big time in Weber's absence this year and could take on an important shutdown role with Ottawa.

Lastly the goaltending, I think Gustavsson is a capable backup with the potential to become a starter one day, but that day isn't quite here. Obviously, Soogard presents a bright future as well but I don't think he is quite ready to make that step to the NHL. So I think the perfect goalie for the Sens to target is Darcy Kuemper, he was a huge reason the Yotes didn't get blown ot every game a year ago and is capable of being a solid and at times an elite goalie.