Hope Check at the Break: Five Games to Decide the Ottawa Senators’ Deadline Plan

Hope Check at the Break: Five Games to Decide the Ottawa Senators’ Deadline Plan

In this episode of the Jim Keay Ford Sens Nation Podcast, the Senators hit the Olympic break on a heater (5 wins in 6), and suddenly the hope meter is back on the table. Steve Warne and “The Coach” Gregg Kennedy break down what’s real, what’s fool’s gold, and why Ottawa’s improved shot suppression has changed the conversation.

They debate the brutal late line change vs. Carolina (and who wears it), gush over Tim Stützle’s ridiculous three-zone motor, and ask the big question: with only five games left before the March 6 trade deadline, what should Steve Staios do, buy, sell, or stand pat?

Plus: why right-shot defence is priority #1, what a “seller’s market” could look like, listener poll reactions (including the Jesper Wallstedt dream), and a quick detour into Olympic ceremony gripes, All-Star skills done properly, and Steve’s debut on a Super Bowl commercial.

00:00 Olympic Opening Ceremonies and Fragmentation
01:59 Hope Check: Assessing the Senators’ Performance
06:09 Line Changes and Game Management
10:08 Trade Deadline Decisions and Management Challenges
18:00 Evaluating Team Needs: Buyers or Sellers?
26:10 Poll Results and Fan Perspectives on Trades
31:21 Evaluating Team Performance and Player Roles
34:05 Trade Considerations and Player Evaluations
35:28 Goaltending Challenges and Management Decisions
39:24 Assessing Potential Trades for Defensemen
43:13 Tyler Klen has NHL’s hardsest shot this season, All-Star Game Critique
47:00 Olympic Hockey Predictions and Team Assessments