Headlines

  • Avalanche Sign Jared Bednar To Contract Extension
  • Philadelphia Flyers Fire Chuck Fletcher
  • Boston Bruins Extend David Pastrnak
  • Boston Bruins Acquire Tyler Bertuzzi
  • Ottawa Senators Acquire Jakob Chychrun
  • Detroit Red Wings Extend Dylan Larkin
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Snapshots: Senators, Merzlikins, Tarasenko

September 7, 2021 at 7:43 pm CDT | by Zach Leach 6 Comments

Armed with a contract extension, Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion is looking to make this next stage of his time with the team much different than the most recent stretch. According to Dorion, the rebuild is over. In an appearance on TSN 1200 in Ottawa today, he stated the following:

We’ve had a plan since we started this rebuild. I feel that we’re in the next stage now, it’s time to start to win… Last year, we felt we were a team that was hard to play against, but now it’s time to challenge to get two points every night, be in every game. Games that maybe you got a point last year, you need two this year… A lot of our younger players have reached a maturity stage in their career where they should be leading us and not be considered young players anymore. As a group, It’s time to start winning.

The Senators did take a small step forward last season, finishing with a 23-28-5 record that was neither the last in their division nor a bottom-five mark in the NHL for the first time since 2016-17. The season ended on a strong note with a 16-13-4 run to end the year. However, there is more work to be done for the Senators to regain relevance. The team is still young and inexperienced and lacking in depth in many areas. In order to compete in the deadly Atlantic Division, at least this season, Ottawa likely needs more than what their current roster can offer even at their very best. Fortunately, the Senators also have a copious amount of cap space – still under the cap floor for now – and Dorion mentioned having “several irons in the fire”. Perhaps the Senators will add an impact player or two before the season begins if they are really committed to taking a step forward this season.

  • Another team that could be looking to surprise this season will be the new-look Columbus Blue Jackets. The x-factor could be goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who has his sights set on more than just winning the starting job over Joonas Korpisalo. Merzlikins tells The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline that the tragic death of close friend, teammate, and countryman Matiss Kivlenieks has instilled in him a drive to become one of the best goaltenders in the NHL.  “I’m gonna win a f—— Vezina for him,” Merzlikins proclaimed. “This is my goal. I believe I’m going to reach it. I’m not going to have any limits. I’m just gonna go all-in.” The 27-year-old goaltender has certainly shown signs of elite ability through his first two NHL seasons, recording a .920 save percentage and 2.54 GAA in 61 games. While he may seem far from competing for a Vezina Trophy, especially sharing starts with Korpisalo and playing for a team that is not expected to be a playoff contender, never underestimate the inspiration that a life-changing event can create. Merzlikins credits Kivlenieks with saving his family and that should be more than enough motivation for him to honor his friend to the best of his abilities.
  • With considerable cap space and a desire to add top talent, both Ottawa and Columbus could be good landing spots for Vladimir Tarasenko, who requested a trade out of St. Louis earlier this off-season. However, Blues head coach Craig Berube does not expect the star sniper to be going anywhere. In an appearance on the “Cam and Strick” podcast, Berube stated that he believes that Tarasenko will remain in St. Louis this season. Berube says that he has no hard feelings toward Tarasenko, who has maintained that he would like to be traded, and will treat him like any other player in helping him to succeed with the Blues in the event that he stays with the team as Berube expects. Berube states that the team is focusing on what they can control (Tarasenko) and not on what they can’t (the market) which could mean that he really will not be traded despite all indications.
Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Columbus Blue Jackets| Craig Berube| Elvis Merzlikins| Matiss Kivlenieks| Ottawa Senators| Snapshots| St. Louis Blues| Vladimir Tarasenko

San Jose Sharks To Hire John MacLean
Main
Minor Transactions: 09/08/21
View Comments (6)
newest oldest

Comments

  1. MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend

    2 years ago

    I’ll be the first to wish that Elvis will not only not leave the building, but will do his damnedest to OWN the building. Ceremonial cannon shot for him on his drive to honor M.K.! Do your friend’s memory proud!

    4
    Reply
  2. pawtucket

    2 years ago

    I’m sure Columbus would do a better job of taking care of its players than St. L. That’s why so many of them want to sign long term deals and stick around!!

    2
    Reply
  3. brodie-bruce

    2 years ago

    Hey elv do what flartery did when his buddy passed and scribe his number in the blue ice in front of the goal (flatary did that for every start when his buddy from laa passed away). Anyways I hope you have an outstanding season to honor your buddy and stay strong losing someone really close hurts.

    Reply
  4. Bucky76

    2 years ago

    Let tank go in St.Louis and sign Thomas and other young guns…Bring in other good young stars on the Cusp..

    Reply
  5. Ducey

    2 years ago

    Ottawa has some irons in the fire because they are more than $3 million under the Cap floor.

    They wont add anyone of note unless he has a big cap hit but low actual salary.

    It always comes back to their cheap owner and lousy stadium location.

    The best they can hope for is a Miami Marlins run for a year or two before they tear it down again.

    Reply
  6. bighiggy

    2 years ago

    Wonder if an eichel for tarasenko move could be made? Obviously some of eichels money would have to be taken on by a third team or by buffalo so st. Louis could be cap compliant and sign thomas,with high draft picks attached of course.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Avalanche Sign Jared Bednar To Contract Extension

    Philadelphia Flyers Fire Chuck Fletcher

    Boston Bruins Extend David Pastrnak

    Boston Bruins Acquire Tyler Bertuzzi

    Ottawa Senators Acquire Jakob Chychrun

    Detroit Red Wings Extend Dylan Larkin

    New York Rangers Acquire Patrick Kane

    Edmonton Oilers Acquire Mattias Ekholm

    Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty

    New Jersey Devils Acquire Timo Meier

    Recent

    College Notes: Farrell, Boston University, Minnesota, Gibson

    Penguins Reassign Dustin Tokarski

    Blackhawks Send Down Anton Khudobin

    West Notes: Kurashev, Kolesar, Johnsson, Knyzhov

    Robert Mastrosimone Unlikely To Sign With Detroit

    College Notes: Polin, Colangelo, Quillan

    Lightning Prospect Isaac Howard Transfers To Michigan State

    Sharks Sign Henry Thrun

    East Notes: Roslovic, Harris, Joseph, Greig

    Jakob Chychrun To Miss Multiple Weeks

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Coyotes Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version