"I just don't take the Ottawa Senators seriously": Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette critically compare Senators & Canadiens' futures

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Aug 07, 2024 12:00 GMT

In a recent video from Spittin' Chiclets on X (formerly Twitter), Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette discussed the futures of the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens. They combined insight with sarcasm to point out the different directions these teams might take.

Bissonnette was critical of the Canadiens' prospects, though he used a sarcastic tone. He compared Jacob Fowler, a top Boston College goalie, to Patrick Roy.

"He's the next Patrick Roy," Bissonnette said.

Whitney and Bissonnette debated which team they’d prefer to manage. Both chose Montreal. Whitney praised Montreal’s strong goaltending history and Fowler’s potential. Bissonnette agreed, saying Montreal’s future is exciting but unproven. He contrasted this with Ottawa, which he thought was less dynamic, even with key players in place.

Bissonnette doubted Ottawa’s ability to succeed with its current roster. He pointed out issues like the Senators' arena location and recent organizational problems.

"I think of this guy, just dominating everywhere he goes. He's going to be in the NHL at some point. Then they have a new star goalie, as Montreal always has over all these years. I just don't take the Ottawa Senators seriously," Whitney said.

"I know the passion's there, and I know the fanbase is proud, but that arena in the middle of a field and this organization's last few years has me just out," he added.

Bissonnette was more hopeful about Montreal’s future, even with the risk of hype. Their discussion showed the Canadiens' high hopes and potential. In contrast, the Senators' future seemed more uncertain, with lower expectations.

Ottawa Senators sign top prospect Carter Yakemchuk to entry level deal

On Tuesday, the Ottawa Senators secured a three-year entry-level deal with defense prospect Carter Yakemchuk.

Yakemchuk was the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He had 71 points in 66 WHL games last season. Senators GM Steve Staios praised Yakemchuk's offensive skills and NHL readiness.

In a Tuesday statement, Staios said, according to NHL.com,

“Carter has a bright future ahead of him. He’s an offensively-gifted defenceman who’s competitive and who has an NHL-ready shot. With continued development, we expect him to become a key member of our defence corps for many years to come.”

With Yakemchuk signed, he might join the Senators for the 2024-25 season and make an early impact. This summer, Ottawa traded Jakob Chychrun, acquired Linus Ullmark, and hired Travis Green as head coach.