“You are wanting on the break to recharge and be prepared for an enormous push down the stretch right here,” says alternate captain Thomas Chabot.
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Maintain calm, and keep it up.
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Steve Staios has at all times taken a gentle method because the president and basic supervisor of the Ottawa Senators’ hockey operations. Nonetheless, that persistence has been put to the take a look at.
A visit to the Sunshine State was pointless after the membership dropped its third straight with an unsightly 5-1 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday evening at Amerant Financial institution Area.
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With the Nationwide Hockey League shut down for almost two weeks with the 4 Nations Face-Off getting underway on Wednesday in Montreal, Staios has time to step again, calm down and decide what’s subsequent for this roster.
The Senators are sitting within the first wildcard spot within the East because the gamers head their separate methods for a prolonged break, however the loss to the Panthers is a reminder this workforce is a great distance from being a Cup contender.
That doesn’t imply the Senators received’t make the playoffs, however the Panthers took management of the sport within the second interval by taking their sport to a different degree that Ottawa couldn’t match.
The Senators discovered a lesson the exhausting approach and this wasn’t the best way they needed to move right into a two-week pause within the schedule, however head coach Travis Inexperienced can’t flip again the clock now.
Ottawa gamers acquired a first-hand have a look at what it takes to be a champ.
“That’s what you need to obtain as a workforce is doing the identical factor time and again,” alternate captain Thomas Chabot stated. “Within the second, we didn’t do it, they took it from us and the sport is over.”
With 25 days to the NHL commerce deadline set for March 7 at 3 p.m. EST, Staios is working out of time to bulk up this roster, however his choices are additionally restricted as a result of the Senators don’t have a lot cap area or belongings to make a commerce.
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League executives advised Postmedia on Sunday that the asking costs are excessive and first-round picks are in demand.
That’s a slippery slope for Staios as a result of the Senators have to surrender their first-round choose in one of many subsequent two NHL drafts as punishment for the botched take care of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022.
The membership has its second- and third-round choices it might transfer, however the group additionally must restock its prospects’ cabinet in order that is probably not an amazing answer.
We’re advised that Staios has been kicking tires all season for depth up entrance and on defence. The precedence could be to discover a ahead who can play within the prime 9, particularly with Nick Cousins out for the remainder of the season after having knee surgical procedure.
Two names we’re advised the Senators have proven curiosity in are ahead Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks ahead Ryan Donato. The previous is listed as No. 18 on TSN’s latest Commerce Bait board and Donato is at No. 11.
Donato, 28, has 19 objectives and 37 factors in 53 video games this season with the Hawks. An unrestricted free agent on July 1, he’s making $2 million U.S. and is attracting numerous curiosity, and the Senators aren’t alone.
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Tanev, 33, would assist fill the function left empty by the Cousins harm. He’s exhausting to play in opposition to and makes $3.5 million. The Senators tried to accumulate him from the Kraken final summer time, however didn’t have any luck.
Tanev will possible be moved by the Kraken and there may be vital curiosity. He has 9 objectives and 17 factors in 55 video games this 12 months and Seattle received’t be making the playoffs so he’s expendable.
One other identify to observe is centre Gustav Nyquist of the Nashville Predators, who has 9 objectives and 20 factors. He may very well be an choice as a depth centre and the membership did research signing him as a UFA two years in the past.
Staios can do as he’s executed up to now, hope the membership will get wholesome and the solutions come from inside.
It’s unlikely Staois will make an enormous splash if he does make any strikes, however he might add to the roster with out subtracting. He can ship a message to the room that he’s assured heading down the stretch.
The membership has 26 video games left when the schedule resumes on Feb. 22 in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens on the Canadian Tire Centre. The membership will 16 of its closing 26 at dwelling.
The Senators’ depth has been examined within the final 10 days with accidents to centres Josh Norris and Shane Pinto. The membership didn’t react properly, particularly after Pinto’s loss, and wasn’t as much as snuff in Tampa or Florida.
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That’s why the break comes at a superb time for the Senators.
“Each workforce goes by means of it and has accidents,” Chabot stated. “It’s not simply us. Guys should step up and it’s a next-man-up mentality to fill that function. On the opposite facet, you’re wanting on the break to recharge and be prepared for an enormous push down the stretch right here.”
Ottawa defenceman Nikolas Mantinpalo, who has performed solely 18 NHL video games, will go well with up for Group Finland on the 4 Nations. He acquired the decision on Sunday after Philly’s Rasmus Ristolainen opted to not go due to an undisclosed harm.
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