For a team that has struggled to retain their star players, giving him an extension like that is a no-brainer IMO.

I want that too.

Jokes aside, I like the team too.

As good as Johnson is, I would personally give him another year in NCAA. Rather him be too prepared then not prepared enough.

******nevermind, I thought he was a freshmen, didn't realize he was a sophomore.

Does Laine sign that?

I like this team however, given that texier and roslovic are the grizzled vets, this team could be fantastic or go up in smoke. Maybe signing a veteran guy to push the younger guys and to add more experience to the locker room wouldn’t be a bad option.

I think so. I think he understands he isn’t consistent enough to demand over 10 and not budge. He’s said as much in the past about his play not being consistent enough.

I think its a good offer for Laine but i wouldn't be surprised if he does get 10 mil per year especially if he signs for 6+ years

well at that point 500k would not be that much of a difference. At that point no matter what the price is, they should sign laine longterm. Colombus is struggling enough as it is to retain their players.

Imagine this team adding Connor Geekie and Denton Mateychuk

Voracek is the vet no?

He is, along with jenner and bjorkstrand, however I just don’t know if there’s enough there to support those young players. It’s probably me just being worried for no reason, but it’s definitely a concern for me.

I think it’s totally fine . You guys have more vets than us haha

If they can keep their guys they're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

All points agreed but this point in particular is a statement of itself (the money he has imaginarily signed for). He isn’t the highest paid player on the team which many have speculated he would want to be. While I would be fine paying him this or even 10 million I don’t think its gonna take that much. I think low 9 should be enough to keep him, assuming his 16 goals in 16 games cools off and he finds equilibrium.

They’re so stacked offence wise (depth) They need to trade some guys to make room for prospects that are ready.

Cue whole lotta money by Antonio brown

Good team. I think you might be able to get Laine for slightly cheaper though, I’ve got faith in Kekalainen

Sounds like Ottawa.

I love what the sens have done, but for a team that was ready to compete this year, where did that get them?? I actually had them edging for a playoff spot, but I don’t think they were ready or had the leadership needed. While veteran presence isn’t the end all be all like old time guys claim it is, there definitely is merit to having a strong core of old guys to help guide the young guys along and steer the team back on track when they struggle.

Ottawa and Columbus are at very similar spot. Like very similar. Go down the list and the comparables are almost
Spot on.
Werenski Chabot
Gavrikov zub
Bjorkstrand batherson
Brannstrom/ JBD bean/boqvist
Sillinger Norris ( I really hope this becomes true)
Johnson stutzle (play style and upside)

I think with the Sens , they obviously knew that without Jake Sanderson , the defence wasn’t ready to be good. Chabot and Zub are 2 good players. Holden is a decent vet but any team that was rolling Del Zotto- Zaitsev as the 2nd pairing was destined to fail.

Also with Pinto and White missing most of the season and Covid hitting hard then injuries to Norris and Batherson, it’s hard to see how this team could’ve faired better.

I just hope they add Sanderson to the team next year, re-sign Forsberg and go and acquire some top 6 forward

maybe this means that Ottawa vs. Columbus is gonna be the eastern conference finals at least once 5 years from now

that would be a great series tbh