Five Thoughts for Friday: The Letting Go Edition

We don't know how this season will end, but we owe it to ourselves to enjoy the ride without overthinking the misfortunes of the past. This edition of Five Thoughts is about letting go of our collective neuroses.

1) On Linus Ullmark

I'll admit it—I was guilty of falling into the panic trap. The thought of Linus Ullmark becoming another casualty of the Senators' goaltending graveyard was terrifying. The noise around him losing his edge and the Sens supposedly jumping the gun on signing him was just getting too loud. Sure, we've endured the likes of Pascal Leclaire, Martin Gerber, Matt Murray, and plenty of others, but the truth is, none of these goalies were really at the caliber of Ullmark when they got to Ottawa. We are so programmed to think the worst that we couldn't even give Ullmark the time to properly adjust to a new team while also coming back from an early-season injury. Is he going to continue playing at the level of the last stretch? That would be nice but likely impossible, and, really, all that we need to succeed is stable goaltending and that doesn't mean a shutout or a stolen game every night. He’ll have off nights, but we need to breathe, be patient, and trust that Ullmark can guide this team where it needs to go.

2) On November

Ah, November—the cursed month. I can’t stand it, but maybe it’s time to change the narrative. At this point, it felt like even the players were buying into the "November scaries," and that mindset couldn’t have been helping. Every team hits rough patches (well, except for that Lightning team that steamrolled the regular season only to get swept in the first round). If we can dominate October and December, does it really matter if November is a bit of a mess?

It doesn't have to end the season is all I am saying and we don't need to act like it. Personally, I’d rather be known as the "Lost November Boys" than the "First-Round Exit Club."

3) On Josh Norris

He’s back to, seemingly, full health and he’s playing well. I’ve personally been trying to stop with the gasping and twenty different panic thoughts every time he falls down or looks like he's in an ounce of pain. If we continue to wait for him to re-injure his shoulder, he will.

The team really took their time with him and I think there was an understanding that he hadn’t given himself a chance to properly heal in the past and that seemed to have been dealt with in the summer. He looks stronger in many aspects of his game and there’s no reason to doubt that he can handle the physical demands of the season—including the occasional rough hit or awkward fall.

4) On Brady Tkachuk

He is not going anywhere! Stop talking about him leaving, don't share mock trade scenarios and certainly don't freak out over some unfounded leaks related to the New York Rangers. He is NOT going anywhere.

You can question certain aspects of Tkachuk’s game or his approach as Captain—I’ve been critical of him at times too—but one thing is undeniable: he loves being the leader of this team. He takes immense pride in wearing the "C" and is fully invested in guiding this group from a rebuild to a championship. Sure, his leadership can be a little excessively passionate at times, but that’s part of what makes him who he is.

Add to that the chemistry he has with this core, the amount of love he's received from the community and the fact that the team is so close to figuring it out and I don't see a formula for the team parting ways with him or him asking for that. As much as I loved Erik Karlsson but when it comes to Captains, I truly believe Tkachuk is the closest we've had to Alfie. That, my friends, is the foundation of something long-term and special.

Again, he is NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

5) On Management and Coaching

This one’s tough, and I’m still working through it myself. After enduring years of Melnyk’s ownership and a forgettable parade of coaches, it’s okay if we take our time adjusting to the new era. Honestly, no matter what happens, it’s hard to imagine any ownership or management group being worse than the Melnyk/Dorion/Smith trio. Michael Andlauer still has work to do before everyone lets their guard down completely, but he’s made meaningful strides in a short amount of time. From reconnecting with the fans and the community to mending fences with the franchise’s past core, Andlauer seems committed to turning the page. I may never get over of what could have been with Ryan Reynolds but I am easily swayed by tangible progress; like bringing back Erik Karlsson for example.

For Travis Green, I am not sure how I feel about him. Was he my first choice, not really and all indications and reactions weren't really positive at the time of his hiring. But some coaches simply don't thrive in certain environments and are not necessarily "bad". I'm willing to see what he can do and if nothing else, he has given us the gift of the Adam Gaudette magical ride.

I like Steve Staois; the Ullmark trade will be his ultimate power move until the next big thing and while I don't agree with some moves like the acquisitions of David Perron and Nick Cousins, I would say I feel much more comfortable with him behind the phones than I have in a few years.

At least we can say "We Have A Real GM" instead of "We're a Team". Too soon?