After dealing with some unqualified RFAs (which includes bringing back Rourke Chartier, cf), the Sens have been busy signing players. Let’s take a look, with grades included:

Joonas Korpisalo, GL, DOB 94, 6’3, 3-62/12 Clb 5yrs/4.0
2021-22 Clb .877
2022-23 Clb/LA .913/.921
I have no idea why the Sens gave him five years (a sentiment largely echoed by the fanbase and reporters—Jason York is the only exception I’ve seen, with his argument being that you just don’t know with goaltenders so it could work out, he’s been a tandem with Forsberg before, and the cost is fine–it’s not much of an argument). Dorion was very excited by his age (clearly believing this is peak time for goaltenders), but this is massive term for a guy who has never played more than 39 games in an NHL season and struggled the previous two seasons (Mendes compares him to other ‘tenders with deals this long and none found success throughout and few found any success at all). It also indicates that the Forsberg-era (as the default starter) is over. The only plus, from my perspective, is that Sogaard is going to get more time in the minors, which he desperately needs (assuming the team is not going to move he or Forsberg–they currently have three AHL goalies signed or qualified). If this fails the Sens will have to buy him out, which is the Matt Murray scenario all over again at a reduced price. Ottawa has historically struggled to successfully sign or trade for goaltenders, with Craig Anderson being the lone exception with Dorion around (2011 is a long time ago). If there are positives, it’s that it echoes the recent lessons of the playoffs where winning isn’t about elite goaltenders, but an affordable tandem–a good but not great Chris Osgood. The other plus is the team didn’t spend assets in acquiring him (no picks, no players), so it’s just cap space. For a deep dive on the ‘tender, Yost digs into recent numbers and his conclusion echoes the general sentiment–the risk far outweighs the reward and the problem is the term. Keep in mind, neither Dorion (or York) are numbers guys–they don’t reject all numbers (height, weight, hits, etc), but advanced stats are for nerds, so no thanks. This means Dorion gambles blind, which is why so many of his moves don’t pan out (he’s coming off trading Filip Gustavsson for one year of a declining Cam Talbot–a decline all the stat people predicted).
Grade D: There’s no chance the deal works out for all five-years and a decent chance it doesn’t work at all; it’s a panicked move by Dorion who realized Sogaard wasn’t ready and was swayed by the most recent performance for the ‘tenders available

Travis Hamonic, RD, DOB 90, 6’2, 2-53/08 NYI 2yrs/1.1
2021-22 Van/Ott 43-4-6-10
2022-23 Ott 75-6-15-21
He waited until free agency to re-sign. The org and he disagreed over term initially and two years seems to be the compromise. While I don’t know that I would have brought him back, the cost is low and moving him (or burying him) is feasible. It helps that he wants to remain in Ottawa and clearly will be a good soldier for the org. I suspect one of the reasons for his retention is related to a plan to move Brannstrom at some point.
Grade C: It’s an adequate if underwhelming decision (he won’t win you games, but he likely won’t lose you games either).

Zack MacEwen, CR, DOB 96, 6’3, undrafted QMJHL 3yrs/0.775
2021-22 75-3-6-9 Fights: 12
2022-23 56-4-6-10 Fights: 7
A three-year deal for a fighter is absurd. It’s classic Dorion (eg) and the cap hit is minimal, but why? Ottawa has no use for an enforcer (we can argue no one does). The argument is that Tkachuk will have to fight less (this is exactly what Marc Methot said, although we know Marc’s opinion could change in a few months), but Brady can already choose to not fight. No one is obliged to fight MacEwen (as his declining totals illustrate and why the enforcer role has disappeared) and that’s all he can do usefully at this level. Admittedly, new ownership can safely bury him in the minors, but why put yourself in that situation?
Grade F: A completely pointless move based on what the league was like 30-years ago and he’ll be moved or bought out before he completes the term.

Along with the NHL signings the org has picked up some pieces for the BSens and the usual bizarre off-season decisions for Belleville continue (Incidentally, I must have missed something about two-way deals, as it seems every player is getting the same amount, 775k):

Josh Currie, RW, DOB 92, 5’10, undrafted QMJHL 1yr/0.775
2021-22 KHL 48-10-16-26
2022-23 KHL 48-3-9-12
Career AHL numbers: 321-113-98-211 0.66
Played his way out of the KHL and the Sens have a mixed record with players coming back from Europe. He wasn’t a dominant AHL player before, being a top-six who shoots first. There’s also a concern his career is in decline (and why Currie instead of the ascending Lucchini?).
Grade B-: His AHL-numbers are solid, but not spectacular and there’s a chance his career is heading in the wrong direction and he’s eating up a veteran slot (so good luck moving him)

Matthew Highmore, LW, DOB 96, 5’11, undrafted QMJHL 1yr/0.775
2021-22 NHL 46-5-7-12
2022-23 AHL 68-19-42-61
Career AHL numbers: 165-50-75-125 0.76
Someone with unimpressive NHL numbers (139-12-15-27) who seems like they can add offense at the AHL-level (although it’s worth pointing out this past season was his best in the AHL).
Grade B: This is the signing I like most because he’s the most likely to be able to produce second (or even first) line support numbers for the BSens.

Bokondji Imama, LW, DOB 96, 6’1, 6-180/15 TB 1yr/0.775
2021-22 AHL 54-5-7-12 Fights: 12
2022-23 AHL 50-5-10-15 Fights: 7
Career AHL numbers: 257-26-36-62 0.24
The Montreal native only does one notable thing as a pro: fight. Even though fighting is down across the league, the Sens always have at least one enforcer on the BSens roster. This suggests that Scott Sabourin is not returning. The signing echoes MacEwen‘s above, although hopefully Imama can actually play and not just fight.
Grade D: This could be an F, but I don’t know if he can play the game or not.

Garrett Pilon, CR, DOB 98, 5’10, 3-87/16 Wsh 1yr/0.775
2021-22 AHL 60-17-25-42
2022-23 AHL 53-11-18-29
Career AHL numbers: 259-60-96-156 0.60
Yet another ‘son-of’ situation (Rich is his father), the Sens are taking a risk that his down year was just a fluke and that he can provide scoring for the BSens.
Grade D: This is a veteran contract spent on a player coming off a terrible year–why take the risk?

And here’s a few AHL-contracts:

Brennan Saulnier, CL, DOB 93, 6’0, undrafted NCAA
2021-22 AHL 43-3-3-6 Fights: 6
2022-23 AHL 30-6-9-15 Fights: 5
Don’t be fooled by his spike in production, at this level Saulner is a physical, agitating player who fights. Despite his age the past two seasons are his first as a (semi) regular in the AHL.
Grade B: There’s a chance Saulnier regresses, but being on an AHL-deal means that’s fine, he can still function as depth (as in, he doesn’t need to produce at the same level).

Ryan MacKinnon, DR, DOB 94, 6’0, undrafted QMJHL
2021-22 AHL 25-2-1-3
2022-23 AHL 20-0-3-3
I have no idea what the org was thinking here, as he’s shown no ability to be a regular AHL-player (for those wondering he was a skilled junior player, so he’s not added for sandpaper).
Grade F: No idea what anyone was thinking here.

Graham McPhee, LW, DOB 98, 6’0, 5-149/16 Edm
2021-22 33-5-6-11
2022-23 41-1-5-6
AHL career numbers: 77-6-11-17
The ‘son-of’ continues (this time of exec George). I have no clue why the Sens brought him back, as his AHL career has largely been hopeless (he even bombed out in the Tier-2 league in Austria) and he’s not a grinder.
Grade F: No idea what anyone was thinking here (this is especially bad because I’ve seen him play so I know what the org saw too).

Mark Sinclair, GR, DOB 96, 6’0, undrafted NCAA
2021-22 NCAA .905
2022-23 ECHL .915
Spent his college career getting pummeled on a terrible Alabama team, but did well with Cincinnati this past season (he played one game for the BSens, where he was excellent). It’s a solid signing, as he’s currently the fourth goaltender in the system.
Grade A: The high grade is because, given the information available and what you are asking him to do, this is spot on.

We have some follow-up to the NHL’s decision to not enforce Pride and other ‘statement’ jerseys on its players, and it’s a clever solution I did not discuss at the time: have the players/NHLPA front the issue. In this way the league gets to have their cake and eat it too. No one is going to protest players doing what they want, so the league can officially not promote issues while still having them promoted. Certainly the outrage about the decision was barely a blip, which was helped by the timing of it (right before the draft and free agency).

This article was written by Peter Levi

July 8, 2023
Categories: Belleville Senators, Free Agency, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens

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