Choosing Chabot or Chychrun & Prospect Call-Ups
Also, grading every player at the mid-way point & more!
Welcome to the THW Ottawa Senators Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Senators writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look at the decision that needs to be made between Chabot and Chychrun, potential call-ups, a look at the trade deadline & more!
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Now on to the good stuff…
Senators: Grading Every Player at the Midway Point
January 25, 2024 by Jacob Billington (THW Paid Premium Content)
It has been a rocky start. The Ottawa Senators are 18-24-1 through 43 games and now that the first half of the season has come and gone, it is time to look at how the players are doing.
It wouldn’t be fair to grade everybody on the same scale. The expectations for Tim Stutzle are much different than the ones placed on Jacob Bernard-Docker. The letter grade given to each player is based on how they have performed given what was expected of them headed into the season.
Senators Will Have to Choose Between Chabot and Chychrun
January 24, 2024 by Dayton Reimer
On paper, Chychrun looks like the better of the two defencemen. He has been completely healthy the entire season, putting him on pace to reach 82 games for the first time in his eight-year career, while Chabot has once again missed a significant chunk of the season, dressing for just 20 games so far. As for points, Chychrun leads the Senators’ blue line with seven goals and 27 points, which could see him reach the 50-point plateau, also for the first time. Chabot, on the other hand, just scored his first goal this season on Jan 13, 2024, and is on pace to put up his lowest point total since his rookie season.
Trade Deadline Could Be Painful for the Ottawa Senators
January 21, 2024 by Dayton Reimer
The Ottawa Senators have the typical look of a seller heading into the 2024 NHL Deadline. With just 30 points in 39 games, the team sits at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and third last in the league, and with just $12,000 in cap space, they are in no place to take in big contracts. Add in a rapidly-depleting farm system, and you have the modern recipe for a rebuild.
Yet another rebuild is the last thing that the new Senators owners want to start. After seven years of missing the playoffs, this was supposed to be the season that would change, and with one of the youngest cores in the NHL, surrounding them with the right talent needs to be the top priority. The team knows it too, with general manager Steve Staios promising he’ll be aggressive on the trade market to turn this team around. That’s created plenty of speculation around the team’s expiring contracts and underperforming stars. But, of course, a roster shakeup is never easy, and moving most of these players is going to hurt. But how much? Here are the top five players expected to be moved on deadline day and how painful it will be for Ottawa.
3 Senators Prospects Who Deserve Call-Up From AHL
January 17, 2024 by Paul Quinney
I admit that it would be difficult to slot any Belleville call-ups into the lineup for extended stays given the Senators’ non-existent cap space. What’s more, of the regular roster, only Ridly Greig and Jake Sanderson are waivers exempt, but they aren’t going anywhere.
Even so, some depth players would clear waivers if they were sent down to Belleville to make room for some up-and-comers. It’s worth the risk given what little would be at stake. This, combined with injuries and possibly some deadline trades may give head coach Jacques Martin the wriggle room to give some Belleville prospects meaningful NHL playing time.
With that in mind, here’s a look at three Belleville players the Senators will want to see more of as the season grinds on.