Sens Nation - Your Ottawa Senators Podcast

The Ottawa Senators hire Travis Green as their head coach. We discuss the many story angles, including the criticism on social media. The Sens stay put in the NHL Draft Lottery and will choose 7th overall.

It's another finale of the Blue Team Elimination Watch. And we're joined by The Athletic's Ian Mendes to discuss the state of the Senators.

We discuss the latest on the Senators' coaching search, including the notion of two excellent coaches who are currently employed. We talk about Thomas Chabot, who reportedly requires surgery on his bad wrist. And our third man in, Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson joins us for the final time this season.

In this episode, Craig Berube makes a push to the top of the rumoured list of Senator coaching candidates; Marc Methot says the Sens "aren't close" to being at the level we're generally seeing in these playoffs; A word on the passing of Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Bob Cole; Marcus Hogberg returns to the NHL, but where?

We get into the discussion points from GM Steve Staios' end-of-the-year press conference; When considering Chychrun vs Chabot, did Chychrun just decide things for Staios? We get into some of the best storylines of the NHL Playoffs so far. Just like the Sens, Buffalo brings back the winningest coach in their history to try and halt the longest playoff drought in their history.

The Senators held their media availability on Thursday. Brady Tkachuk says he's sick and tired of losing and has faith in new management. Jakob Chychrun gave a surprising answer when asked if he could see himself in Ottawa for a few years. Claude Giroux chimed in with an interesting answer when asked about what the Sens need in a new coach. Erik Karlsson plays his 1000th game as the Pens playoff rally fizzles out.

The Sens home finale is here, but it'll feel as much like a Habs game. Despite the poor season, the Sens had great attendance. Will it go up or down next season? The Sens need a more physical edge and toughness in the top six and in their top four defence. And we don't mean fighting toughness. Tim Stutzle is out again and should probably be shut down now. Why is the smallish but feisty Ridly Greig the one to react to the hit on Stutzle? Trivia: Which six former Senators scored goals that were set up by Sidney Crosby as one (or more) of his 1000 career assists?

With a week left in the season, who are your Ottawa Senator untouchables? Your MVP? If you can’t keep both Chabot and Chychrun, who are you keeping? Do you want Chabot for four more years at $8 million? Do you want to sign Chychrun to an extension, one that will make it worth his while to forego unrestricted free agency next year? The housecleaning begins. The Sens have fired longtime pro scouts Jim Clark and Rob Murphy. Former Senator Bobby Ryan parts company with the Sens podcast he was working on after some critical comments about women's sports. Claude Giroux is up for the Bill Masterton. What's with the bad angle goals on Joonas Korpisalo? Empty net etiquette…a lot of the hockey world says the Sens are hypocritical for getting mad at the Devils for how they put a puck into an empty net. Brady Tkachuk sets the record for hits in a game on Saturday night.

We're joined by the former captain of the Ottawa Senators, Laurie Boschman. Laurie gives us his take on the state of the current Ottawa Senators. We look back on his career, which included playing with Wayne Gretzky in his prime. We get into his reaction the day he found out he was claimed in the expansion draft by Ottawa. What it was like playing for owner Harold Ballard in Toronto. And we also discuss a new digital platform called CAPT (Concussion, Awareness, Protocols, and Training) that Laurie is endorsing that will help athletes get the best care after a concussion occurs. www.CAPTcares.com

The Sens finally figure out Chicago. We discuss Connor Bedard's performance; the first game in a while for Tyler Kleven; and the latest injury to Thomas Chabot. With Anton Forsberg getting a shutout, More on whether the Sens goalies are as bad as their numbers show. Steve is convinced that most goalies are only as good as what's happening in front of them. We discuss the Sens' streakiness, the return of Alexandre Daigle, whose career didn't reach the levels we thought it would but that doesn't make a bad career.

The Senators' Dr. Jekyll gives way to Mr. Hyde and then back again. Sens win two straight. Joonas Korpisalo earned his keep with two nice wins. Why don’t goalies play back-to-back days? Do they work that much harder than the skaters? Spotlight on Drake Batherson and Angus Crookshank who are both trending hard and upward…Drake 'n Jake! Sens fans at the CTC get The Connors back-to-back. What does Jacques Martin want out of the final 12 games? If the Senators only address one area of need this summer, what should it be? Some miserable human sets NHL twitter on fire trying to diminish the accomplishment of Zack Hyman scoring his 50th goal in Ottawa on Sunday.

On today's show: Sens Back in Losing Slide Staios Calls Expectations "Debilitating for Us" D Soft in front of Ottawa's net Opposing Backup goalies continue to shine Steve urges fans to stay positive Sens sign Ohio State Star forward Stephen Halliday Ostapchuk sent down, Crookshank up Parker Kelly on a top line Dr. Don Chow Added to Ring of Honour Mark Kastelic interview Kastelic on team performance Kastelic on his individual season Kastelic on his health Kastelic on going back on the ice to practice right after a game was over Kastelic on his potential for offence Kastelic on the coaching change Kastelic conversations with Staios and Andlauer Wrapup: Baby Tkachuk on the way

We talk about wearing white at home, which was once the norm. The Sens' modest win streak ends with a 7-2 loss to Carolina. Brady Tkachuk hits 30 goals for a third straight year. NHL GM Meetings discussing, among other things, expanding the number of things that can be challenged in video review and whether the 3 on 3 overtime format needs tinkering.

We're not in Tank Nation, we want to see entertaining competitive hockey in the last month. Claude Giroux provided some with a walk-off slap shot in the shootout win in Columbus. Erik Karlsson doesn’t put much stock in all this talk of him returning to Ottawa. Zack Ostapchuk enters the chat and may have lit a fire under Mark Kastelic.

We discuss the Sens' seven-game slide, Josh Norris's season-ending surgery, Elliotte Friedman talking up Erik Karlsson to Ottawa again. What would a Korpisalo buyout look like? John Tortorella refuses to leave a game he was ejected from and the Minnesota Wild pull their goalie in a 3 on 3.

Steve Staios gets little done at the trade deadline, hopes trade discussions have laid ground work for deals this summer. Vladimir Tarasenko is traded to Florida to play with the other Tkachuk brother who idolized him in St. Louis. The Sens also claim Boris Katchouk off waivers from Chicago.

Should the Sens take a run at Markstrom? Brady Tkachuk misses his first game in almost three seasons. Josh Norris goes on LTIR. We would have thought the Senators couldn't be a worse team than last year. But they're considerably worse. Tarasenko says of the deadline "We'll see what happens." Doesn't sound like a guy who's planning to use his NTC. With 16 pts in 18 games, what will Pinto's next contract look like?

Senators go on an 0-2 road trip and get outshot in Nashville 20-0 in the third period. Head Coach Jacques Martin confirms on radio he will not be back this fall as head coach.

Senators who just got 7 of 8 points against four of the best teams in the league in Tampa Bay, Florida, Dallas and Vegas. Assistant coach Jack Capuano beautifully articulated the NHL’s secret formula for success. Of course, it's easier said that done. Almost on cue, as people start to worry about their huge contracts, Thomas Chabot and Josh Norris start to turn things up. NCAA women's game has a player do "The Ridly Greig."

Sens perk up in Florida. You never know what to expect from the Senators. Which Senators' long-term contracts will age best? And which ones are most concerning?