On the heels of one of the busiest off-seasons in recent history, NHL teams will soon be able to flaunt their new acquisitions. Combining a fervent hockey market with a talented scoring punch, the annual question lingers: Will the Senators bathe in success or drown trying?
The answer is simple – they will stay afloat.
As the NHL regular season gets underway, TSN fantasy sports expert Scott Cullen ranks the newly-furbished Sens 24th among the league’s 30 teams.
Even though another trip to the Stanley Cup finals seems offside, the Senators surely won’t be a bottom feeder in the standings. Not this year at least.
The team recently traded their highest scorer in franchise history, Dany Heatley, giving coach Cory Clouston a deeper offensive arsenal at his disposal.
Over the last four seasons the Sens have personified the modern-day one line attack, leaning heavily on Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza to generate most of their offense. Last season, that over-reliance hampered the club, as it marked the trio's least productive campaign, posting a combined 219 points compared to their first season tally of 296.
Mixing Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek, both offensive talents gained in the Heatley trade, with the blockbuster off-season signing of all-star forward Alex Kovalev, Ottawa has a potent offense that can skate with the best of them.
Cheechoo is a player with something to prove, going from an NHL leading 56 goals during the 2005-2006 season, to netting just 12 last year.
He has publicly said several times he is excited to play in Ottawa, and perhaps Clouston and his team full of veterans can re-ignite the one-time all-star.
Cheechoo finds himself in the same boat as the Heatley of 2005-2006. That season saw the left-winger and now ex-Senator register 103 points – compared to his mere 25 the season before – breathing new life into his stalling career. The solidity of a fresh start could be exactly what Cheechoo, the former sniper, needs to rejuvenate his career.
Michalek, the other piece of the Heatley trade, will bring something different to the roster. The talented forward has consistently exceeded the 20-goal mark the last three seasons, adding to the dynamics of a more balanced Senators attack.
Adding Kovalev, last year’s All-Star MVP, to the mix of gritty players like Chris Neil and Jarkko Ruutu, the Sens Army is well-equipped up front.
However, the Senators’ defense does not complement its offense.
Not one defenseman on the Sens’ roster has ever made an all-star appearance, making it clear that Ottawa’s blueline will once again be their Achilles’ heel. Its defensive core is plagued by average size and lack of puck movers to accompany the talent upfront. This should come as no surprise from a team that spends three times more money on its forwards than its defense.
So why not pick up a franchise blue liner like Zdeno Chara? Easier said than done, as Ottawa is $2.6 million over the salary cap. This means the team will be sellers rather than buyers, squashing the rumors of a potential blue-chip defensemen coming to the rescue.
For a blueline with a poor track record, Ottawa ranked sixth last year for least shots against per game.
With trade deadline acquisition Pascal Leclaire, the Senators’ goaltending drought appears to be over. The Canadian goaltender put up league leading numbers in 2007-2008, posting nine shutouts and boasting a .919 save percentage.
However, a long list of injuries shadows over his stats and brands him as an inconsistent netminder. One year after showcasing career high numbers, Leclaire won only three out of the 12 games he played in last year. Coming from Columbus, the former first round pick will be forced to quickly adapt to playing in a marquee market, with Ottawa’s hockey hopes hanging on thin ice.
But for now, the capital might as well be painted red, black and gold, while the Senators attempt to escape mediocrity. Not finishing low enough in the standings to receive a high draft pick, but not excelling enough to make the playoffs, Sens fans are trapped in hockey’s headlock.