The be-Leaf is the Ottawa Senators rebuild is in full bloom.
In May, general manager Pierre Dorion to become the clubs 14th bench bo s. He then dealt d-men Cody Ceci and Ben Harpur to Toronto in a multi-player trade in exchange for forward Connor Brown and blueliner Nikita Zaitsev on July 1. But, he wasnt finished there, inking Maple Leafs' free agent duo Tyler Ennis and Ron Hainsey to one-year contracts hours later.
For the Senators, the 2019-20 campaign will be about player growth and making good on opportunities; All-Star defenseman Thomas Chabot and sophomore forwards Brady Tkachuk and Colin White expect to take another leap in their development. Rookies, such as Drake Batherson, Erik Brannstrom and Logan Brown, will have a chance to jumpstart their careers and players like forward Rudolfs Balcers and rearguards Christian Jaros and Christian Wolanin should earn more ice time.
Grading the offseason: | | | | |
Offseason goals
Dorions main goal this offseason was to find a head coach fitting the bill of taking charge of a team in the midst of a rebuild Smith checks all the boxes.
The Senators GM said this upon Smiths hire, D.J. Smith is a winner. We believe he is the best person to drive the development and succe s of the Ottawa Senators.
"D.J. is a great communicator and an exceptional strategist. His pa sionate approach, coupled with his ability to teach the game, is exactly what we were looking for throughout the proce s.
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Dorion also wanted to bring in veterans to insulate the teams youthful roster and get restricted free agent centre/right wing Colin White under contract prior to the start of training camp Sept. 12.
Offseason acquisitions
Coaching staff: Head coach D.J. Smith, a sociate coach Jack Capuano, a sistants Bob Jones andDavis Payne
Artem Anisimov (F), Connor Brown (F), Tyler Ennis (F) Ron Hainsey (D), Nikita Zaitsev (D)
Offseason departures
Cody Ceci (D), Mike Condon (G), Brian Gibbons (F), Ben Harpur (D), Oscar Lindberg (F), Magnus Paarjarvi (F), Tom Pyatt (F), Zack Smith (F)
Free agency/trades
In the morning hours prior to the free agent frenzy on July 1, with their Ontario counterpart sendingCeci, Harpur, minor-league forward Aaron Luchuk and the Blue Jackets 2020 third-round selection to the Maple Leafs for Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown and American League forward Michael Carcone.
The trade was the end for Ceci, who spent the majority of his career playing in his hometown spending three-plus seasons of junior hockey with the 67s and another six with the Senators. Dorion and Cecis agent J.P. Barry appeared to be heading towards a collision course that wouldve resulted in back-to-back arbitration hearings. Last summers hearing left a bitter taste on both sides of the table.
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Zaitsev brings familiarity to Smiths blue line core; he was instrumental in the Ru sians decision to waive his partial no-trade clause to land in Ottawa.
Im looking for people to change the culture here, up the work ethic. It was easy for me. And I just explained how much I needed him and we needed him in Ottawa to help us with that, explained Smith at Zaitsevs initial meeting with the Senators media members in July.
The Senators also have high hopes for Connor Brown. The former Erie Otter notched only eight goals and 29 points last season while being slotted among the bottom six Maple Leafs forwards. However, with increased playing time, Brown should challenge his 20-goal total posted as a rookie in 2016-17.
Tyler Ennis gets a touch of the puck with the tip for his first goal as a Leaf!
Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs)
As stated, Dorion wanted a veteran presence and he accomplished this by signing two unrestricted free agents: 29-year-old forward Tyler Ennis and 38-year-old blueliner Ron Hainsey. The versatile Ennis can play all three forward positions, bringing three 20-plus goal campaigns and 543 games of NHL knowledge to the team. Surpa sing the 1,000-game plateau last season, Hainseys primary role will be to mentora promising, but young, defensive core.
The trades of goaltender Mike Condon and the Senators longest-tenured player (612 regular-season games), Zack Smith, served several purposes. The two deals saved the team in actual salary payouts; in Condons case, Ryan Callahan, who wasacquired in the deal fr om the Lightning, will head straight to Long Term Injured Reserve.
NHL trade grades:
Moving Condon alleviated a potential three-headed monster in the crease leaving Craig Anderson and Anders Nil son as the confirmed tandem. While picking up four-time 20-goal centre Artem Anisimov from the Blackhawks in exchange for Smith gives the club more creativity upfront, a facet the club desperately needs this season.
Dorion was also able to finally get White locked down, albeit leaving Senators' fans sweating a little bit; .
2019 draft
Armed with three selections among the first 37 picks, the Senators surprised all by selecting Finnish d-man La si Thomson at 19th overall. It was thought Thomson wouldve lasted until late in the first round or dip close to the 32nd spot, which also belonged to the team. However,whos going to question Trent Manns decisions as the Senators chief amateur scout has been on a roll in recent drafts.
For all the misgivings surrounding Thomsons selection, he has impre sed Senators bra s and fans alike this summer. The 18-year old was arguably one of the top threeplayers at development camp, prior to making an even greater impre sion at the World Junior Summer Showcase with a pair of goals.
First Look: La si Thomson.
Ottawa Senators (@Senators)
Thomson is also displaying his competitive side, deciding to play in the Finnish Liiga (Ilves) and giving up an opportunity to play in the Memorial Cup tournament for host Kelowna wh ere he playedlast season.
Farm system rankings:
The club is also high on Shane Pinto, selected 32nd overall who fresh out of the United States Hockey League left his mark at the Summer Showcase. The multi-sport athlete will attend the University of North Dakota in September, a squad which includes Senators prospect defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Jonny Tychonick.
Goaltender Mads Sogaard was an intriguing pick. The six-foot-eight netminder represented Denmark at the 2019 world juniors and had a solid season with Medicine Hat (WHL). While Sogaard will return to junior this season, his presence brings potential healthy competition between goalies Joey Daccord, Filip Gustav son
In May, general manager Pierre Dorion to become the clubs 14th bench bo s. He then dealt d-men Cody Ceci and Ben Harpur to Toronto in a multi-player trade in exchange for forward Connor Brown and blueliner Nikita Zaitsev on July 1. But, he wasnt finished there, inking Maple Leafs' free agent duo Tyler Ennis and Ron Hainsey to one-year contracts hours later.
For the Senators, the 2019-20 campaign will be about player growth and making good on opportunities; All-Star defenseman Thomas Chabot and sophomore forwards Brady Tkachuk and Colin White expect to take another leap in their development. Rookies, such as Drake Batherson, Erik Brannstrom and Logan Brown, will have a chance to jumpstart their careers and players like forward Rudolfs Balcers and rearguards Christian Jaros and Christian Wolanin should earn more ice time.
Grading the offseason: | | | | |
Offseason goals
Dorions main goal this offseason was to find a head coach fitting the bill of taking charge of a team in the midst of a rebuild Smith checks all the boxes.
The Senators GM said this upon Smiths hire, D.J. Smith is a winner. We believe he is the best person to drive the development and succe s of the Ottawa Senators.
"D.J. is a great communicator and an exceptional strategist. His pa sionate approach, coupled with his ability to teach the game, is exactly what we were looking for throughout the proce s.
MORE:
Dorion also wanted to bring in veterans to insulate the teams youthful roster and get restricted free agent centre/right wing Colin White under contract prior to the start of training camp Sept. 12.
Offseason acquisitions
Coaching staff: Head coach D.J. Smith, a sociate coach Jack Capuano, a sistants Bob Jones andDavis Payne
Artem Anisimov (F), Connor Brown (F), Tyler Ennis (F) Ron Hainsey (D), Nikita Zaitsev (D)
Offseason departures
Cody Ceci (D), Mike Condon (G), Brian Gibbons (F), Ben Harpur (D), Oscar Lindberg (F), Magnus Paarjarvi (F), Tom Pyatt (F), Zack Smith (F)
Free agency/trades
In the morning hours prior to the free agent frenzy on July 1, with their Ontario counterpart sendingCeci, Harpur, minor-league forward Aaron Luchuk and the Blue Jackets 2020 third-round selection to the Maple Leafs for Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown and American League forward Michael Carcone.
The trade was the end for Ceci, who spent the majority of his career playing in his hometown spending three-plus seasons of junior hockey with the 67s and another six with the Senators. Dorion and Cecis agent J.P. Barry appeared to be heading towards a collision course that wouldve resulted in back-to-back arbitration hearings. Last summers hearing left a bitter taste on both sides of the table.
MORE:
Zaitsev brings familiarity to Smiths blue line core; he was instrumental in the Ru sians decision to waive his partial no-trade clause to land in Ottawa.
Im looking for people to change the culture here, up the work ethic. It was easy for me. And I just explained how much I needed him and we needed him in Ottawa to help us with that, explained Smith at Zaitsevs initial meeting with the Senators media members in July.
The Senators also have high hopes for Connor Brown. The former Erie Otter notched only eight goals and 29 points last season while being slotted among the bottom six Maple Leafs forwards. However, with increased playing time, Brown should challenge his 20-goal total posted as a rookie in 2016-17.
Tyler Ennis gets a touch of the puck with the tip for his first goal as a Leaf!
Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs)
As stated, Dorion wanted a veteran presence and he accomplished this by signing two unrestricted free agents: 29-year-old forward Tyler Ennis and 38-year-old blueliner Ron Hainsey. The versatile Ennis can play all three forward positions, bringing three 20-plus goal campaigns and 543 games of NHL knowledge to the team. Surpa sing the 1,000-game plateau last season, Hainseys primary role will be to mentora promising, but young, defensive core.
The trades of goaltender Mike Condon and the Senators longest-tenured player (612 regular-season games), Zack Smith, served several purposes. The two deals saved the team in actual salary payouts; in Condons case, Ryan Callahan, who wasacquired in the deal fr om the Lightning, will head straight to Long Term Injured Reserve.
NHL trade grades:
Moving Condon alleviated a potential three-headed monster in the crease leaving Craig Anderson and Anders Nil son as the confirmed tandem. While picking up four-time 20-goal centre Artem Anisimov from the Blackhawks in exchange for Smith gives the club more creativity upfront, a facet the club desperately needs this season.
Dorion was also able to finally get White locked down, albeit leaving Senators' fans sweating a little bit; .
2019 draft
Armed with three selections among the first 37 picks, the Senators surprised all by selecting Finnish d-man La si Thomson at 19th overall. It was thought Thomson wouldve lasted until late in the first round or dip close to the 32nd spot, which also belonged to the team. However,whos going to question Trent Manns decisions as the Senators chief amateur scout has been on a roll in recent drafts.
For all the misgivings surrounding Thomsons selection, he has impre sed Senators bra s and fans alike this summer. The 18-year old was arguably one of the top threeplayers at development camp, prior to making an even greater impre sion at the World Junior Summer Showcase with a pair of goals.
First Look: La si Thomson.
Ottawa Senators (@Senators)
Thomson is also displaying his competitive side, deciding to play in the Finnish Liiga (Ilves) and giving up an opportunity to play in the Memorial Cup tournament for host Kelowna wh ere he playedlast season.
Farm system rankings:
The club is also high on Shane Pinto, selected 32nd overall who fresh out of the United States Hockey League left his mark at the Summer Showcase. The multi-sport athlete will attend the University of North Dakota in September, a squad which includes Senators prospect defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Jonny Tychonick.
Goaltender Mads Sogaard was an intriguing pick. The six-foot-eight netminder represented Denmark at the 2019 world juniors and had a solid season with Medicine Hat (WHL). While Sogaard will return to junior this season, his presence brings potential healthy competition between goalies Joey Daccord, Filip Gustav son