We could undoubtedly begin to evoke a curse of the guardians in Ottawa, if it hasn’t already been done. In five seasons since 2019-2020, with the decline of veteran Craig Anderson, the Senators have already employed… sixteen.
Unsurprisingly, columnist Bruce Garrioch talks about a priority issue in Ottawa in his column today.
Goalies who have played at least one game with the Senators since 2019-2020
- Anders Nilsson
- Craig Anderson
- Mike McKenna
- Marcus Hogberg
- Joey Daccord
- Mike Condon
- Anton Forsberg
- Matt Murray
- Mads Sogaard
- Filip Gustavsson
- Magnus Hellberg
- Dylan Ferguson
- Cam Talbot
- Kevin Mandelose
- Leevi Merilainen
- Joonas Korpisalo
The deposed general director Pierre Dorion has repeatedly failed in this area. In October 2020, he offered the Pittsburgh Penguins a second-round pick and second-round prospect, Jonathan Gruden, to obtain Matt Murray.
Murray, 26, nevertheless has the reputation of a fragile goalkeeper. He played just 38 games the previous season and 50 two years earlier. He is coming off his worst year of his career with a .899 save percentage.
Pierre Dorion nevertheless offered him a four-year contract extension for 25 million upon his acquisition. Murray played 27 games in his first season, winning only ten, with a resounding 3.38 average, and 28 the following year.
In July 2022, he must offer the Toronto Maple Leafs third and seventh round picks to get rid of him. Dorion must also absorb 25% of his salary, which he is still paying this winter (1.5 million according to capfriendly.com).
Cam Talbot was Dorion’s second lifeline…at 35 years old. In July 2022, Dorion traded his 23-year-old goalie, Filip Gustavsson, to get him. He had been effective in the American League, but less transcendent in his recalls to Ottawa, like most goalkeepers 24 years old or younger.
Talbot was average at best in his lone season in Ottawa last year. Gustavsson has been one of the nice surprises in the National League with a 22-9-7 record, a 2.10 GAA and a .931 save percentage, but he is having a tougher winter this year, as the Wild elsewhere.
The hiring of Joonas Korpisalo represented the final doom and gloom for Pierre Dorion before his dismissal. Korpisalo also had the label of an often injured goalkeeper and he had never played more than 37 games in a season. Only twice had he exceeded thirty meetings per year.
What does it matter Pierre Dorion granted him 20 million for five years with a partial no-trade clause. The Senators general manager was convincing enough that the Ottawa media are now talking about the goalie position as a position of strength with the Senators.
In 39 games, Korpisalo, 30 in April, has a 13-19-3 record, a 3.41 GAA and a .887 save percentage. Anton Forsberg, 31, obtained on waivers, is doing a little better.
Pierre Dorion’s successor, Steve Staios, fired the team’s goalie coach, Zac Bierk, in mid-January. He was replaced by his colleague from the school club, Justin Peters. Bierk was hired in April 2021 to succeed Pierre Groulx by coach DJ Smith, fired a few weeks earlier.
Korpisalo has lost his last five matches. He allowed 17 goals during this losing streak, including a game lasting just two periods. Forsberg is doing much better. Before a tough outing Monday in Washington, he had won four straight games and allowed nine goals. He still has one year of contract left at 2.75 million. Who knows if the short-term solution doesn’t lie internally?
Sean Monahan unlocks!
PHOTO TERRENCE LEE, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Sean Monahan
Sean Monahan added a goal and an assist to his record Tuesday night in a 4-2 victory for the Jets against the Blues. At the center of the second line with Alex Iaffalo and Nikolaj Ehlers, Monahan was shut out in his first four games in Winnipeg, but has six goals and an assist in his last five games. He also plays in the first wave on the power play. The Jets are now in first place in the central section, bad news for the CH since the first in each section are ranked ahead of second or third place teams from other divisions in anticipation of the draft even if they have amassed more than points.