Links, News, and Notes: Well Warne-d

With Ian Mendes leaving The Athletic, there wouldn't be much Sens-specific non-podcast content (other than Silver Seven) if it weren't for Steve Warne at The Hockey News, so I'd like to take a moment to thank Steve for his sunmer-long service. For your Monday reading, here are his two latest contributions, and some other stuff around the hockey world.

• First, Warne argues that even if Ullmark can't be extended, acquiring him was worth it because I'll show if the defence are a bigger problem than imagined. Personally I think a 1st-round pick is a lot to give up just for information, but I also get it will be valuable (and frightening) if Ullmark also puts up a sub-.900 save percentage next year here.
• Warne also argues Shane Pinto is due for a monster year. Considering he was on pace for 54 points, coming in cold halfway through the year, it's not hard to agree.
• Meanwhile, Jim Parsons has the Sens as one of his three sneaky picks to make the playoffs. ​From his lips to the hockey gods' ears.
• The Belleville Senators are hoping to build off their first playoff series win in franchise history. They've also brought in last year's lead AHL goalscorer Adam Gaudette for a second Sens stint.
• Could Claude Giroux be a prime trade target this season? Only if the Sens aren't making the playoffs, so I hope not.
• Other blogs also do their T25U25 this time of year, and Mile High Hockey has a familiar face, recently traded goalie Kevin Mandolese, at #21 on their list. I think he'd be 18/19 on our list, so the prospect pools seem similar at that depth.
• GM Mike Hirshfeld says that Ottawa is now a prime PWHL destination after their first season. Just apparently not enough of a destination to keep Daryl Watts.
• At age 31, Oscar Klefbom has retired from hockey after a shoulder injury kept him from playing since 2020. I hate to kick a dog while they're down, but imagine this playoff's Oilers with a healthy Klefbom over someone at the bottom of the lineup.
• You know it's late into summer when two of the top three remaining UFA centres are Sens castoffs (Chris Tierney and Colin White).
• Six teams need a new captain; who will captain them? I agree with Hedman in Tampa. It's hard to imagine Nick Foligno over Connor Bedard in Chicago though.
• RMNB with a fun exercise in ranking each NHL team's red. Not the red jerseys, but the shade of red. Ottawa's was considered B-tier, by the way.
• Which RFAs still need a new contract? Notably, Jeremy Swayman. I get that the Bruins wanted a first-round pick this year, but trading Ullmark before they signed Swayman swung a lot of leverage the player's way these negotiations.
• And finally, here's Shane Pinto visiting home on Bell Breakaway