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New York Times
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What will the Senators' offseason look like? Here is Steve Staios' to-do list
OTTAWA — It drew a laugh from Senators coach Travis Green, but it had to be asked. It was the last time Ottawa media would see him or general manager Steve Staios until the draft, possibly beyond. It was also the right time to ask questions about how the Senators would address their need for scoring this offseason, among others. It had been only days since the team was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs, so things were still fresh. Green, just like many of his players, was quite ticked that his team wasn't still playing. But there he was in the Sens' media room on the podium, flanked by Staios on Monday morning. Advertisement So, when Staios was asked a question about acquiring a scorer externally — a slightly reworded question from the one asked previously — that prompted the laugh. It was as if Green couldn't believe the media weren't getting the point. 'Someone else reword and ask the same thing here,' Green said. 'Make it a hat trick.' Staios and Green will likely spend the next few weeks recuperating and going off the grid before scouting and personnel meetings begin ahead of next month's draft. The Sens' to-do list for the offseason isn't a short one, thanks to more than $18 million in cap space and a handful of pending free agents to sign. But they will lean heavily on their players to take a step forward, as they did last summer and through most of this season, and hope their internal growth can help fill whatever holes need to be patched. 'I think it's important that we continue to improve,' Green said. 'It's not status quo. As coaches, as an organization, we push our players to have a mindset, a growth mindset of getting better. How you left today isn't going to be acceptable if you just come back the same. I think a lot of our players are in that age group where they still have room to grow as players, and that's going to be very important for us to be a better team next year.' And that includes a need for scoring up front, something Staios knows he'll have to address in some way. The Sens finished tied for the 19th-best offence leaguewide and 31st in scoring at five-on-five. Only the Nashville Predators scored fewer goals at five-on-five. 'With the group we have returning, there's some areas that I'm going to look at,' Staios said. 'But as we've talked about before, the market will sort of dictate on if you can add those types of players or improve in that area. And until you find that opportunity, it has to come from within.' #Sens fans are the best fans!#GoSensGo — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) May 5, 2025 While it's a consistent, unsurprising message from the Sens' front office, there will be pressure find a scoring winger come July 1 — even if they address Claude Giroux and Fabian Zetterlund, which we'll get to further down. If the Toronto Maple Leafs don't re-sign Mitch Marner, he will enter July as the league's top available free agent after a 100-point season. But that's likely not in the cards for the Sens, considering his high price tag. Advertisement A realistic target could include Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who has been the subject of trade rumours for some time. While it didn't appear the Sens had interest in Brock Boeser ahead of the trade deadline, the Sens will be linked to the American-born winger who may have played his final game in Canucks colours. Mikael Granlund and Ryan Donato are versatile forwards who could also be free agents in July. That storyline could dominate most of the summer for the Sens via offseason stories, but it doesn't stop there. The Sens' need for another defenceman appeared evident during their first-round series against Toronto. Their depth held up better than expected, but Ottawa could've still benefited from another defenceman who could help clog up the middle of the ice and kill penalties. Considering Nick Jensen's injury fogginess, it's something the Senators might have to consider anyway. Staios declined to disclose more on Jensen's injury situation — or any from the playoffs — and couldn't confirm if Jensen would need surgery for his nagging lower-body injury. But he called Jensen an 'absolute warrior' for being able to play through an injury that affected much of the second half of his season. 'I don't believe in doing that, I think it's personal,' Staios said of revealing injury statuses. 'Our players, if they want to speak to it, they can. Kind of feel like it might be justification on why we didn't get through the series. We don't live in that world. But I can tell you that just about every one of our players was dealing with something.' The free-agent market could have names such as Aaron Ekblad, Ryan Lindgren and Vladislav Gavrikov. But here's another name worth considering: Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson. He has one more year left on a six-year, $27.3 million deal that carries a $4.55 million cap hit. While the Flames have said in the past that Andersson will be in Calgary to stay, his exit interview seemed to suggest his future was up in the air. Advertisement If the Flames wanted to move on from the Swede, it might be worth it for the Sens to take a flier on an all-situations right-shot defenceman who looks to enter his prime at age 28 despite his point totals decreasing since the 2021-22 season. For those wondering how that affects youngster Carter Yakemchuk and his place in the organization: Patience will be key here. Since he'll be 20 by year's end, the Sens' 2024 first-round pick will be eligible to play in the AHL with the Belleville Senators next season. It's the likely route for Yakemchuk unless he turns heads again and pushes for NHL minutes as he did last training camp. The Senators needn't be forced to play Yakemchuk in their lineup. But that doesn't mean they won't challenge him to make their upcoming roster decisions tough on them. 'He knows how important this summer is for him,' Staios said. 'You get an opportunity with the Ottawa Senators on merit, and if he's ready to play and pushes us, we'll be open to that.' If the Sens want to chase any big fish via trade or use offer sheets to sign restricted free agents, they must be mindful of their draft-pick pool. The first-round-pick issue remains a hurdle. But the Sens also don't have a second-round pick this year (though they do have three in 2026). It appears the Sens will keep their 2025 first-round pick, according to Staios. That's one item checked off his to-do list. Sens owner Michael Andlauer said it would likely be the case when he spoke last month. It would mean forfeiting their 2026 first-round pick if their punishment for l'affaire Evgenii Dadonov holds up. The 37-year-old Giroux is the biggest name in the Sens' pending free-agent class and its most fascinating case. Sens players expressed how much the veteran meant to them Saturday, and Staios affirmed that. Though he declined, as he normally does, to discuss negotiations. 'We love (Giroux and we) want to have him back,' Staios said. 'We touched on it briefly at the exit meetings, and everything's still fresh right now.' Advertisement When we did a contract comparable for Giroux in a recent mailbag, thanks to our friends at PuckPedia, we used teammate David Perron's two-year, $8 million ($4 million AAV) contract as a comparison. PuckPedia estimated that a new deal for Giroux could carry a cap hit between $4.85 million and $5 million. It has been quiet on the Giroux contract front for much of the year. But if you're Giroux and his agent, Pat Brisson, Perron's contract is an easy jump-off point, and Giroux's statistics (15 goals, 50 points) suggest he could still be some kind of factor at 37. Giroux told the media he still thinks he could be an impact player. But is it a risk worth taking for Staios? We touched on a few other pending UFAs in our Saturday player postmortem piece, but one player we didn't spend much time on was backup goalie Anton Forsberg. Netminder and fellow Swede Linus Ullmark commended Forsberg for being a big help to him in his first season with the Senators, helping him get acclimated to a new city. 'Whenever there were any sort of questions from me or my wife or whatever it may be,' Ullmark said, 'if it was a play date here or there (with our kids), they were in the same shoes as us. Being a goaltending family, it's a little bit different. So, I have a lot of gratitude towards them, lots of love, as well. They really helped us to thrive in Ottawa quicker than I ever could have imagined.' But Leevi Merilainen's emergence could spell the end for Forsberg. You may remember the rookie saving the Sens' season when Ullmark was injured — speaking of young players taking a step. 'Anton Forsberg is a great pro and a great teammate,' Staios said. 'We'll look at our goaltending depth. Leevi's come up and played well. But when you have a player like Anton, (he has) the commitment in being in that role as the backup and one of the hardest-working guys on our team. … So we'll take a long look at it and we'll see what the possibilities are.' The Sens have two restricted free agents in Zetterlund and Tyler Kleven. Zetterlund is arbitration-eligible, according to PuckPedia. Advertisement The Sens signed Nikolas Matinpalo to a two-year contract extension Monday, which takes one restricted free agent off Staios' plate. Most eyes will fall on Zetterlund, who joined the Sens via trade from San Jose after contract talks broke down between him and the Sharks. Nothing is imminent on a deal just yet, but he's due for some kind of raise. But the backdrop of contract discussions with his previous employer makes his case the most intriguing. Despite only two regular-season goals with 5 points in 20 games with Ottawa, he finished his regular season with 19 goals and 41 points with two teams. Staios sees him as part of their future. Zetterlund is open to remaining in Ottawa beyond this season. 'We think he's a good fit for our group,' Staios said. 'And like many of our players, we feel like there's room for improvement.' We'll know in time how much money, and term, the Sens will be willing to commit to the 25-year-old winger. (Top photo of the Ottawa Senators: André Ringuette / NHLI via Getty Images)
New York Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Nick Cousins speaks, Tyler Kleven's emergence and more: Senators notebook
OTTAWA — Unsung heroes can come from anywhere in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And they aren't limited to overtime goal scorers or top-billing players. Consider the case of Tyler Kleven, the towering 23-year-old North Dakota defenceman whose game has caught some onlookers by surprise this postseason. The 6-foot-5 rearguard has imposed himself physically while showing off his defending and mobility as the Senators' No. 5 defenceman. Advertisement Kleven saved goalie Linus Ullmark by batting the puck out of midair after the latter made a big save in Game 4. In overtime, he got the primary assist on Jake Sanderson's winner after skating into the offensive zone and nearly beating Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz with a shot of his own. 'I just tried to get a shot on net,' Kleven said. 'The puck got whacked up to (Sanderson). He just made a nice shot on net. I was happy to see that one go in. There was not much there, but I'm just happy to see him score.' The Sens' playoff inexperience has been well documented, and there might be no better encapsulation of that than their third pairing. Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo had 141 NHL regular-season games between them entering the playoffs. That's just under the 161 career regular-season games Matthew Knies has played for the Maple Leafs in addition to his 18 playoff games. Kleven also had at least two other partners throughout the regular season: veteran Travis Hamonic and 2018 first-round pick Jacob Bernard-Docker, who is now a member of the Buffalo Sabres. But the Kleven and Matinpalo pairing has held up better than anticipated in the Senators' first-round matchup. They've obviously been sheltered. But they're still the Sens' best pairing in terms of expected goals percentage and high-danger chance percentage among pairings who've played a minimum of 30 minutes together in the playoffs, thanks in part to how they've dealt with chances against. The most important thing is that the duo has helped more than harmed the Sens. 'I've liked them,' Sens head coach Travis Green said. 'The physicality within them. I don't want to call (Kleven) sneaky physical because he's now just becoming physical and comfortable playing that way. And he hits hard. Big defencemen who can skate and hit hard are hard to find. (Matinpalo) is similar. And when you have two guys that are long and can skate and can be physical, that's the making of a good pair.' Advertisement 'I've had the same mentality all year,' Kleven said. 'Just go out there and play my game. 'Simple, hard, fast. That's just how I like to play.' It helps that Kleven and Matinpalo have a rapport dating back to their days in the American League with the Belleville Senators. Matinpalo told The Athletic back in March that they spent last season together in the minors, and he benefited from the constant communication Kleven provided. Just like many of his young teammates, Kleven has had some growing up to do on and off the ice. He acknowledged what it was like this season playing through growing pains and how Green has managed it. 'They give you a leash at times,' Kleven said. 'Sometimes, being a younger player, your leash can be shortened at times. I go out there and try to make the right plays. But at times, I don't always make the right play, and (Green) has to get on me for that. It's all for the right reason. He's definitely given me a hard time … but he's been a great coach for me this year. He's helped my game grow a little bit. 'I've got a lot of guys around me in this locker room, too, that have helped me out.' Green acknowledged that he had to give the 23-year-old some 'tough love' as he played through his first year as a full-time defenceman. But Green said he 'stood tall on a little pressure' while also crediting assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner for keeping his confidence and helping him adjust to the NHL level. 'Sometimes the habits of players, the focus for a player from day to day when they come out of college or junior, can vary,' Green said. 'Some players come right into the NHL. Some have to learn the hard way in the American League. And as coaches, we've got to pick and choose how we develop. That's a big part of the NHL now is developing young players. 'He's a guy that I probably treated differently than (Thomas Chabot). Being very demanding of him, whether it was being late for a meeting or not quite focused in a meeting where every detail matters. And making him accountable to his play yet still playing him.' Advertisement And now, Kleven has emerged as a solid, key part of an ambitious comeback attempt down three games to one. 'Just take it one day at a time. You can't win three games without winning the first one,' Kleven said. 'I think that we just (have) to go out there and play our style.' The Senators forward spoke to the media for the first time since the NHL fined him $2,083.33 for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' during Game 3's pregame warmup against the Leafs. Ottawa was also fined $25,000. Video surfaced of Nick Cousins lobbing pucks toward Stolarz, the Maple Leafs goalie. The two were previously teammates on the Florida Panthers, winning the Stanley Cup last year. The incident has since been dubbed 'Warmupgate.' Here's what NHL is looking at from last night. 'Friend of Bieksa' Nick Cousins shoots puck at Stolarz. NHL not crazy about pre-game stuff…also clamped down on funny Scheifele/Hofer standoff in Blues/Jets series — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 25, 2025 Days after the events, Cousins tried not to revive the storyline. He reiterated a few times that he'll focus on his play 'between the whistles.' But he conceded he was 'surprised' about the fine. 'I played with (Stolarz) numerous times in my career, probably talk to him once a week,' Cousins said. 'Haven't talked to him since the start of the series, obviously. We'll save that for after. But he's playing really well for (Toronto) right now. He's playing the best hockey of his career, and I'm happy for him.' Cousins will also focus on making life difficult for his former teammate turned Maple Leafs goaltender. 'Clearly, shooting pucks at him isn't the play because he's been lights out for them,' Cousins said. 'I just think we've got to get a little more traffic in front of him and beat him that way.' Advertisement The NHL is trying to crack down on any pregame antics ahead of its playoff games. The NHL fined the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens on Monday for their 'unsportsmanlike' actions ahead of Game 4 in Montreal, in which Caps defenceman Dylan McIlrath and Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj found themselves in the fray. McIlrath and Xhekaj were also fined. 'The league obviously doesn't like it,' Cousins said. 'Well aware of that.' Nick Jensen is among the #Sens group at practice today. No sign of Ridly Greig. — Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) April 28, 2025 These lines sure seem familiar. They're the ones coach Green started the series with. We've been told the Senators won't skate Tuesday, so this might be the last time we get a peek at potential plans ahead of Game 5. There is also nothing stopping Green from reverting to the lines he started Game 4 with. The line blender was active throughout these first four games, with Brady Tkachuk playing alongside Dylan Cozens, Tim Stützle getting reps with Drake Batherson, and David Perron getting bumped down to the fourth line with Adam Gaudette and Cousins (and scoring on that line). Finally, as anticipated, Fabian Zetterlund was bumped up the lineup as a 'Swiss Army knife' type player. 'He's fast, he's sturdy,' Green said. 'He's still young, too. He's still learning the importance of certain parts of the rink and being ultra-competitive shift in, shift out. He's definitely built for it. He's fast enough, and he's competitive. He can shoot the puck. There's a lot to like about him.' Now, let's focus on the third line. Matthew Highmore is in Ridly Greig's spot from our projected lines. Unless the Sens tell us otherwise, you should expect Greig to play third-line minutes with Shane Pinto and Michael Amadio. Greig hasn't made many appearances at pregame skate since the eve of Game 1, with Green playing his cards close to the vest. For what it's worth, Nick Jensen practiced with his teammates on Monday. He's missed a handful of practices and skates since the halfway point of the season. Zack MacEwen took line rushes as an extra on the fourth line. The forward recently returned to the organization after leaving partway through the year for what has been described as 'personal reasons.' The 28-year-old was among a handful of recalls made last week, as is custom for most NHL teams when they want to recall Black Aces for their playoff roster. They include Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk, who joined the Sens after his WHL postseason run with the Calgary Hitmen came to an end.
New York Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Linus Ullmark overcame early-season struggles, but now he must find playoff wins
TORONTO — Senators head coach Travis Green fielded the question after his team lost 6-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1. The Sens' inexperience didn't help — a dozen played their first playoff game — but they tried their best to generate chances. What also didn't help: Their No. 1 goaltender, Linus Ullmark, allowed six goals on 24 shots. Advertisement It was suggested there was an 'elephant in the room' because of past playoff experiences, albeit in a different jersey. Those concerns were refuted. 'I like our goaltending,' Green said Sunday. 'I like our goalie a lot. He's a good goalie. He's won a Vezina. He's pretty good. There is no elephant in the room.' But those concerns will remain until Ullmark steps up for the Senators when it matters. Ullmark's record in postseason games is now 3-7 with a 3.82 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage, dating back to the 2022 playoffs when he was a member of the Boston Bruins. But he's not here to talk about his Bruins tenure. He made that clear when he was asked how he processes losses compared to his time in Beantown. He cited having the mind of a goldfish after the game. It's a familiar saying that gained prominence on the famed Apple TV show 'Ted Lasso,' which Ullmark quoted during his days in Boston. 'There's a high-skilled team on the other side,' Ullmark said. 'We're just going to have to refocus on the next one. It's just one game. That's the beauty of it. Doesn't matter how you play one game and you lose it. You can lose 1-0, it's still going to be a loss. It's just, have the mind of a goldfish. Go out there and play Game 2 and (have) a little bit of a chip on your shoulder.' Ullmark's soundbites, mannerisms, sense of style and goaltending have played key roles in the city embracing him as he's worked — and succeeded — in finding his game after a slow start to the season. 'He's a big piece of our team,' Senators forward Claude Giroux said Thursday. 'All year, he gave us (a chance). Both of our goalies gave us chances to win in each game. For our goalies, that's what you need.' 'When we traded for Linus, we knew we were getting a goalie that was capable of winning a lot of games,' Green said earlier this month. 'He's given us a good year. Especially when he found his game and got dialed in.' Those factors, and an upcoming $33 million commitment, ensured there would be no doubt who'd get the reins for the Sens' most important games in eight years while playing a position that has given Sens fans heart palpitations throughout the team's history. There is time for Ullmark to piece it together. And if he does, he could elevate himself from fan favourite to Sens legend, considering Ottawa is 0-4 against the Leafs all time in postseason series. Advertisement 'It's honourable, something that I've always strived to become. It's all that I've worked for,' Ullmark told The Athletic last week about having the starter's responsibility despite all the mental health stresses it brings. 'Because when you get the opportunity to be a No. 1 guy, it means that you've done a lot of good things for a long period of time and it hasn't just been handed to you out of the blue.' Ullmark was hoping it would go better than it did two years ago. He was the Vezina Trophy-winning goalie on a Bruins team that set the record for most wins in an NHL season, only to be upset by the upstart Florida Panthers. The Swedish netminder started the first six games of the series, including three wins in his first four appearances. But after losses in games 5 and 6, Jeremy Swayman took his place for Game 7. Both men split the Bruins' net frequently throughout their three seasons together in Boston, even during that Vezina season. It took some getting used to, but Ullmark says he was happy for his partner's success and with himself on how he handled sharing duties and the 'feedback' he got from teammates and management. 'For my personal game time and playing time and career, maybe it wasn't the best time of my life,' Ullmark said. 'But at the same time, you've got to put your ego aside and focus on what's important.' During Ullmark's final year in Boston, his name was floated as a trade-deadline possibility. But he remained on the roster through the playoffs. He made only one start, a 6-1 loss, in the first round against the Maple Leafs. When the Bruins' season ended, he told the media he wanted to embark on a 'revenge tour' to make the most of his final year under contract in Boston. One month and five days after those comments, Ullmark was dealt to Ottawa on the eve of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Advertisement 'I think I speak for everybody that gets traded or has a down year,' Ullmark said. 'Maybe I phrased it in a dramatic fashion, instead of just saying that I'd like to be better next year. More of a one-liner than saying that you want to be on a revenge tour. But it certainly felt like that at that point.' Months after being acquired and just before the 2024-25 regular season began, Ullmark signed a four-year, $33 million extension with the Senators. His preseason offered hope that he'd finally be the team's answer in goal. But an early-season muscle strain and subpar performances when he returned temporarily quashed that hope. Ullmark had five wins in his first 15 starts with a 3.06 goals-against average and an .888 save percentage. Ullmark says he focused 'too much' on things that had nothing to do with his game, focusing more on the negatives with his teammates compared to their positives. 'It wasn't fair to them,' Ullmark said. 'Instead of looking into myself at the situations that happened. Maybe there was a breakaway,' he added. 'I would focus more on how the breakaway happened and start looking at breakdowns in our defensive system and in our offence. How could we do that pass? Why did he try to do that thing? Instead of me thinking back, when we have the puck, I need to be ready in case there's something going on or if there's a screwup or there's a mishandled puck or it might hit off the ref.' It took some work and self-reflection for Ullmark to get over his early-season struggles with his teammates and himself. He says he sought feedback from teammates such as David Perron. He even spoke with team psychologists to 'spew all the bad things' before focusing on positives. And he had a lot of meetings with the team's goalie coach, Justin Peters. Some of those meetings take place after games in the dressing room within earshot of a media scrum. 'It was important because there have been times during the year when there's been frustration,' Ullmark said. 'Where I've been playing at a level where I didn't feel like I should be playing. Or I felt that I was the reason for goals being let in and not being the reason for saves being made.' Advertisement Ullmark followed a poor 15-game start with an incredible December with seven consecutive victories and a .956 save percentage through nine appearances that month. The netminder sought an eighth straight victory against the Edmonton Oilers before Christmas break. He lasted only a period after a back injury forced him out of the game. 'At that point, I was so happy about how I was playing,' Ullmark said. 'I felt that I came back to the level of play that I know that I had prior to coming here. And the feeling that I've been on a search for ever since I got traded.' 'I think both injuries derailed him a little bit,' Green said. 'I can't speak for a goalie. But when you miss time, I would say more so with a goalie than a player, it probably takes you a little bit more time to get your game back.' There was a lull once Ullmark returned after a month and a half away from the Senators, with a brief 4 Nations appearance with Sweden mixed in, as he won only once in six appearances. But the Senators' No. 1 turned a corner after that, ending his season with 12 wins, a 2.74 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage in his final 15 games. A distinct 180-degree turn compared to his first 15 games of the season. 'I'm happy that I managed to sort of find the groove again,' Ullmark said. That was before Sunday's Game 1. The spotlight will be on him to return to form during a provincial rivalry that demands his absolute best. His teammates are confident that he will. 'He's going to be fine,' Senators forward Drake Batherson said. 'He's an unreal goalie.'
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Why is Bryan Rust still available?
Now that the trade madness has concluded, it's time to concentrate on your fantasy endeavors for the stretch run. [Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem is back: Enter for a shot to win up to $50K] And there probably isn't an easier way to accomplish that than by adding a couple players from the 50%-and-under bin. Here are the latest suggestions: (Rostered rates as of Mar. 14) When Rust was originally discussed mid-December, it was shocking to see him available in two of every three Yahoo! leagues, as he was continuing to produce at a high level. And the same applies here — albeit with a slightly better coverage rate — as he's gone on to post 29 points, 74 shots, 30 hits and 29 blocks while skating more than 20 minutes a night. Pittsburgh's star core may be aging, but they're still significantly talented and a veteran like Rust can thrive on the top line and power play. There's the obvious concern associated with a poor plus-minus, though the lure of sufficient scoring should easily counteract that. It didn't take long for Cozens to endear himself to his new club by finding the scoresheet in his first four games while also recording 11 shots and 20 hits. He's centering the Sens' second even-strength trio and is part of the lead PP, where he potted a PPG on Monday. Cozens only recently turned 24 and will want to prove that those last couple of years with Buffalo were only a blip in what should be a long and productive career. And if the early evidence indicates anything, he's set to get that opportunity in Ottawa. If you haven't been paying attention the last two weeks, Olivier has bolstered his repertoire with some offense. He was already proficient when it came to laying out opponents and directing pucks on net before picking up five goals and two assists across eight appearances in addition to 19 shots, 30 hits and 21 PIM. We're not saying Olivier is going to be the next Brady Tkachuk or Tom Wilson, though teaming up with Boone Jenner and Kent Johnson is clearly helping his fantasy profile. Might as well get on board. As expected, the Isles dealt Brock Nelson at the Deadline. Combine that with Mathew Barzal's continuing absence and there's plenty of center minutes to fill. Pageau can play anywhere up front but is probably more comfortable down the middle. And in the three contests since Nelson left, he's totaled four points, three shots, four hits, three blocks and 28 faceoff wins on a 17:44 average — with almost three of that while up a man. If Pageau is versatile enough to fit anywhere on an NHL roster, he can probably do the same on at least one of yours. Samoskevich's inclusion seems to be dependent on the statuses of Matthew Tkachuk and/or Brad Marchand, with one or both of them eventually set to push the 22-year-old down the depth chart. But until either starts skating again, he appears to be safe and locked into gigs on the Panthers' lead power play and second five-on-five unit. Samoskevich has taken advantage of the promotion with seven points — five of those PPPs — 22 shots and 24 hits through eight matchups. Add him while the stats are flowing and then stash for the future. Colton's campaign has been highlighted by a broken foot and an extended dry spell after he returned where he only managed seven points from 32 games. With the Avs' forward contingent now fully healthy and upgraded, there's little chance he can move back into the top-six. However, that shouldn't be a problem for Colton, as he's performed well within the bottom-half over the last seven by tallying two goals, five assists, 14 shots and 22 hits on a meager 11:30 per outing. And if an injury or slump has him rejoining the big boys, that would only be a bonus. Some will find it hard to believe Benson is still a teenager because he's logged two full NHL seasons since being drafted 13th overall. The 2024-25 season has largely been forgettable with large offensive gaps and mediocre ice times, yet a recent switch to the first line could produce significant dividends after he struck for a goal, assist, two shots and 12 PIM on Wednesday. Like Samoskevich, Benson's prime placements appear to be contingent on a star player's absence — in this instance, JJ Peterka. So before giving him a try, it would be wise to see how the Sabres line up next time out (Saturday) and beyond. As was mentioned with Rust, it's sometimes tough to take on players from clubs lower down in the standings due to their issues consistently generating decent fantasy output. Even so, San Jose hasn't been that terrible across the last 18 contests, having accumulated 55 goals. While their youth movement has previously been brought up a few times, it'd be a shame if we didn't return to an underrated contributor such as Wennberg. The 11-year forward has also occasionally struggled, but has hit an upswing since Feb. 27 by posting eight assists — two of the PPA variety — and 52 FW on a 19-minute average. So if you've already missed out on Macklin Celebrini, how about giving a try to a much lower-covered member of the Sharks' top PP? Hronek tends to receive more attention when Quinn Hughes is injured, but he's been solid even when the reigning Norris Trophy winner is available. After all, he skated 28:07 on Wednesday with Hughes back (at 29:48) while notching an assist, shot, hit and four blocks. And there's nothing wrong with participating on Vancouver's second power play (seven PPPs overall) on top of a lead penalty-kill placement. At nearly 24 minutes a night with a substantial stat haul, Hronek should be on more rosters. Defenders who don't do much on the offensive end often get overlooked in fantasy unless their physical numbers are required. Larsson peaked at 33 points two years ago and is currently at 19 through 66 games, though he's posted seven from the last 10 in which he's also supplied 12 shots, a plus-8, five hits, and 10 blocks. The lack of man-advantage duty may hinder his appeal, but his work elsewhere and elevated ice time should be enough for short-term usage. It's been tough for Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov having frequently operated as healthy scratches this season, but both have been in the lineup since the Ducks traded Brian Dumoulin to Jersey. And while Mintyukov has produced a goal and two assists in the last three contests, it's been Zellweger earning the much bigger boost, averaging 20:22 over four alongside five shots, two hits and five blocks while quarterbacking Anaheim's first PP. As long as he remains in favorable attacking positions, the scoring will eventually come. Roman Josi has been sidelined the last couple weeks with an upper-body issue, and his return is unknown. Brady Skjei initially ascended to the top power play, yet it's been Blankenburg who's registered a PPA on this group in each of the last two matchups. That's pretty impressive for someone who's only made 97 NHL appearances across four years, though the offensive pedigree is there in the form of 21 points during 37 AHL outings and a strong showing as a senior at the University of Michigan. There's no reason to rush back Josi as the Preds are well out of the postseason race, so perhaps Blankenburg will assume more responsibilities the rest of the way. Wedgewood hasn't been featured here this season, yet his fantasy upside was alluded to after he was acquired by the Avs. That potential plummeted when Mackenzie Blackwood arrived, as he's gone on to dominate the Colorado crease. Even though Wedgewood has only received five starts since Jan. 4, he's come out on top in three — including Monday's shutout versus Chicago — while posting a 1.62 GAA and .929 save percentage. The Avs will be fighting to stay top-three in the Central, so Blackwood should get the bulk of the appearances until the playoffs. But if the team wants to protect his workload based on injury history, Wedgewood would be up for more action. While Tarasov's situation is similar to Wedgewood, he's been slightly more involved. He's also won his last three — all on the road — where he stopped 92 of 99 shots. As Columbus holds off others for the final Wild Card spot, Elvis Merzlikins will continue to cover as the No. 1. Based on the recent hot run and enough upcoming games, look for Tarasov to provide solid fill-in protection and work best as a daily streaming option. Players to consider from past columns: Macklin Celebrini, Evgeni Malkin, JJ Peterka, Logan Stankoven, Gabriel Vilardi, Dylan Guenther, Rickard Rakell, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Perfetti, Nick Schmaltz, Marco Rossi, Dylan Strome, Jonathan Huberdeau, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Quinton Byfield, Brock Nelson, Kent Johnson, Valeri Nichushkin, Adam Fantilli, Logan Cooley, Pavel Dorofeyev, Matvei Michkov, Connor McMichael, Matthew Knies, Pavel Zacha, Josh Norris, Matty Beniers, Pavel Buchnevich, William Eklund, Nino Niederreiter, Troy Terry, Sean Monahan, Will Cuylle, Patrick Kane, Nazem Kadri, Mason McTavish, Boone Jenner, Jamie Benn, Elias Lindholm, Jake Neighbours, Chandler Stephenson, Trevor Moore, Vladislav Namestnikov, Stefan Noesen, Connor Zary, Jonathan Drouin, Ryan Donato, Marco Kasper, Leo Carlsson, Yegor Sharangovich, Casey Mittelstadt, Shane Wright, Blake Coleman, Yegor Chinakhov, Will Smith, Michael Bunting, Brayden Schenn, Ryan Strome, Anthony Cirelli, Viktor Arvidsson, Kyle Palmieri, Dawson Mercer, Dmitri Voronkov, Warren Foegele, Eeli Tolvanen, Filip Chytil, Anton Lundell, Dylan Holloway, Matthew Coronato, Jake DeBrusk, Teuvo Teravainen, William Karlsson, Jaden Schwartz, Conor Garland, Andrei Kuzmenko, Tyler Toffoli, Mason Marchment, Ryan O'Reilly, Morgan Geekie, Jack Roslovic, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Pius Suter, Patrik Laine, Bobby McMann, Kaapo Kakko, Barrett Hayton, Alex Killorn, Jack Quinn, Anders Lee, Jiri Kulich, Tyler Bertuzzi, Alex Laferriere, Zachary Bolduc, Pontus Holmberg, Maxim Tsyplakov, Fabian Zetterlund, Brett Howden, Aliaksei Protas, Aaron Ekblad, Neal Pionk, Jackson LaCombe, Brandt Clarke, Seth Jones, Lane Hutson, Luke Hughes, Bowen Byram, Tony DeAngelo, Travis Sanheim, Cam Fowler, Matt Grzelcyk, Justin Faulk, Mason Lohrei, Simon Edvinsson, Alex Vlasic, Brady Skjei, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Rasmus Ristolainen, Samuel Girard, Owen Power, Jared Spurgeon, Radko Gudas, Esa Lindell, Jordan Spence, Erik Gustafsson, Jamie Drysdale, Darren Raddysh, Declan Chisholm, Sean Durzi, Alexander Romanov, Zac Jones, Ivan Provorov, Cam Talbot, Ilya Samsonov, Mackenzie Blackwood, Lukas Dostal, Kevin Lankinen, Charlie Lindgren, Samuel Ersson, Yaroslav Askarov, Jake Allen, Elvis Merzlikins, Marc-Andre Fleury, John Gibson, Sam Montembeault, Jonathan Quick, Karel Vejmelka, Casey DeSmith, Dan Vladar, Vitek Vanecek, Calvin Pickard, Joel Hofer, Joonas Korpisalo, Spencer Knight
New York Times
09-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How Senators channeled their emotions in comeback victory over Rangers
OTTAWA — It was hard not to be emotional for certain players in the Ottawa Senators' locker room entering Saturday's game. Two men in particular used those emotions for the Sens' good. Dylan Cozens and Brady Tkachuk's contributions helped the Senators secure two precious points in a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Rangers, keeping them in the Eastern Conference wild-card playoff spot. Both men had reason to feel out of sorts for essentially the same reason: a deadline deal trade that reverberated in the Senators dressing room and beyond, sending out centre Josh Norris and defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker for Cozens, defenceman Dennis Gilbert and a 2026 second-round pick. Advertisement Cozens has barely lived in his new city for a full day and made an impact, notching an assist and nine hits (a single-game high for him). Cozens' Corsi rate was at 55.56 percent according to Natural Stat Trick. He was slotted on the Senators' second line with David Perron and Drake Batherson to start the game and occupied the bumper spot and net-front positions on the Sens' second power-play unit. 'I just talked about our team identity and how we want to play,' Senators head coach Travis Green said. 'I think it fits in with how he wants to play. (I just told him to) go play, enjoy the game. Play fast, play physical, and good things will happen.' There is a lot to prove for Cozens, who many believe still has an upside worth tapping into despite back-to-back down seasons in Buffalo. He sure played like it. 'I'm just focused on winning now,' Cozens said. 'I just wanted to win this game so bad, especially my first game here. I just wanted to win, so I'm glad we did that.' Cozens learned midday Friday that he was the centrepiece of the Senators' trade with the Sabres. It was a 'shock' to the 24-year-old who said he didn't expect to be traded (conversely, neither did Norris). Buffalo, destined to miss the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season, were in Florida. Cozens quickly hopped on a flight and arrived in Ottawa by 9 p.m. E.T. Friday. The young centre barely had time to worry about making a first impression on his new team: the Senators hosted the Rangers at 12:30 p.m. E.T. on Saturday. The new Senators centre drew cheers during his first shift as a Senator, leading an offensive rush and completing a clean zone entry before a penalty was drawn. He found himself in numerous battles in corners of the ice and used his frame to shield off opposing players. That zone entry at the beginning of the game wasn't his first and the Senators will use that to their advantage whether at even strength or with the man advantage. Advertisement There might be no better example than the play that gave him his primary assist. Cozens used his pace to enter the zone and then caught up with his chip off the wall and into the corner. Once the Senators kicked the puck out the blue line, Cozens occupied the net-front position in front of Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin. He was close to scoring his first on that play, but he benefitted from having another teammate help with the dirty work. Ridly Greig makes it 3-2! Dylan Cozens nets his first assist with the Sens. He also started the play with a crisp entry- an area where Ottawa's struggled. #GoSensGo — Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) March 8, 2025 'It was a good shot from the blue that got through,' Cozens said. 'I just saw it sitting there and my eyes, I couldn't believe it was sitting there and then I somehow managed to miss it. But I'm glad Ridly was there to follow it up and tap it home.' Cozens will now spend the rest of his weekend getting to know his new teammates, but it helps that some familiar faces are already in the dressing room. Greig was a teammate of Cozens at the 2024 IIHF World Championship for Team Canada. That shot from the blue line came from Thomas Chabot, who captained Canada's World Championship team in 2022 to a silver medal alongside Cozens and Drake Batherson. Senators assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner was also an assistant on that World Championship team. 'A lot of familiar faces makes it easy coming to a new team,' Cozens said. Tkachuk's leadership will help with that transition, even as he's still processing his shock from the trade. The Senators captain barely got to know Cozens and Gilbert before the puck dropped on Saturday, but much of that was because of scheduling. 'Today was as tough of a situation with the 12:30 (start),' Tkachuk said. 'You're just (like) 'Hello, let's go play hockey.'' Advertisement It's been a whirlwind of emotions for Tkachuk over the last day. His reactions to Friday's trade went viral, clearly shaken when he addressed Norris being traded to local media. If Tkachuk didn't play well on Saturday, his 500th career NHL game — completely overshadowed by the trade deadline — we might have pointed to that as a reason. Instead, the captain scored twice, including the overtime winner and led all skaters with nine shots on net. Tkachuk now has goals in four straight games since returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off and Tim Stützle's assist extends his points streak to 14 games (five goals, 20 points). "THE OVERTIME HERO AGAINST NEW YORK" 😤 Brady Tkachuk with a game-winner in OT‼️ — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 8, 2025 'It was a really hard day yesterday, it sucked,' Tkachuk said. 'With that being said, today, you've got a job to do. For us, every game is a Game 7 right now. So, you can't let emotions and things in your head get in the way of it. For us, it's all about winning this game.' And just like how the early start favoured Cozens when it came to getting over nerves about playing with his new team, it likely benefitted Tkachuk to continue his team's charge for the postseason right away. The Senators will remain in a playoff spot come Sunday morning and will return to the ice Monday against the Detroit Red Wings, the second consecutive Monday where Ottawa will play a game. Cozens and Gilbert will have to get acclimated on the fly. 'It's going to be really fun to get to know them (Saturday and) the next couple of days, and be a part of this ride and journey to the end,' Tkachuk said. 'Two great guys so far and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them.'
