For the second consecutive year Ottawa will start the season while a former captain suits up for another club. Disgruntled Jason Spezza was shipped off to Dallas with some movable parts in return.
After long-time hero Daniel Alfredsson fled the capital city for Detroit the year before, the Senators may be battling a bit of an inferiority complex headed into a critical season. Critical if only because two-years removed from a 2013 Jack Adams award, coach Paul MacLean’s future could be on the line with the Sens.
Spezza’a departure leaves Ottawa without a bonafide center and a captain. The centerman on the top line will likely be inherited by Kyle Turris, who has shown signs that he is talented enough to assume the number one role. The captain’s role is likely to be assumed by the Senator’s best player and franchise cornerstone, defenseman Erik Karlsson.
Other than shipping unhappy Spezza out of town, Ottawa didn’t do much else this summer to improve a roster that missed the playoffs last season. In the parity-driven competitive Eastern Conference every point seems to matter that much more. Sorry, David Legwand fans, but he doesn’t make your team that much better.
Offense
Faith has been put in the Senator’s youth to step up and become the real core of this team. The top line features Turris, Milan Michalek and Bobby Ryan for now, you would have to believe that Ryan will be dangling as trade bait all season. He’s in the final year of his deal and there is next to no chance he will resign in Ottawa. Legwand will join fellow newcomer Alex Chiasson, who arrived from Dallas, on the second line with Clarke MacArthur.
The top two lines accounted for most of the Sens offense in 2013-14 and will more than likely do the same this season. When Chris Neil is a forward on your third line, it might be time to upgrade the talent.
Defense
Karlsson is a top five player in the NHL, but will have more weight than ever put on his shoulders to carry his club. The Sens will build this team around the superstar defenseman, but there are sure to be some growing pains along the way. Marc Methot is his linemate with Jared Cowen, Eric Gryba, Chris Phillips and Cody Ceci round out the rest of an ordinary defense.
Goaltender
Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner are closer in talent than most people think. By the end of the season, Lehner might actually be the starter on this team. Anderson has had a few good seasons in his career, but has yet to string together any significant success, which might explain why he is on his fourth NHL team. Lehner is entering the make-or-break portion of his young career. If he is going to stick in this league as anything other than a backup, this is his time. The competition should make both goaltenders better, but there is a very average team in front of them.
Special Teams
With Erik Karlsson at the point running the power play the Senators are dangerous when they have the extra man. He single-handedly can keep Ottawa in the top half of the NHL on the power play. As the leading scorer on the team the challenge for Karlsson is to make his teammates more productive/better.
Shorthanded is another story for the Sens. Their defensive unit is still young and could develop into a solid corps, but they will endure a trial by fire as they look to make their mark in the NHL.
Coaching
Paul MacLean has already shown that he can do more with less than any coach in the league. That being said, the margin for success and failure is increasingly slim as the demand for success increases. The expectations have to be realistic from the front office as MacLean will attempt to get Ottawa back to the playoffs. The return for Spezza was good not great and there is a lot of optimism that the young players can succeed.
Outlook
A happy ending would be nice for a team that deserves it, but that probably isn’t in the cards for Ottawa this season. The youngsters will gain valuable experience and if the team shows the right amount of patience a solid foundation could be built here. For now though, the Sens will take their lumps in a conference that isn’t so different from top to bottom. There are just too many teams that are better and deeper than Ottawa this season. Predicted finish: Sixth in the Atlantic Division.