2009-10 NHL Season Preview: Ottawa Senators
by James Mirtle on Sep 24, 2009 7:00 AM CDT
9 comments
Who's in: Jonathan Cheechoo, Alex Kovalev, Milan Michalek
Who's out: Alex Auld, Brendan Bell, Mike Comrie, Dany Heatley, Jason Smith
Outlook: The biggest gut punch to an organization that has had a few of them the past couple years came early in the summer when Dany Heatley requested a trade and then vetoed a deal with the Oilers, leaving owner Eugene Melnyk on the hook for a $4-million bonus and the team's financial situation in terms of acquiring free agents in disarray.
Heatley was finally dealt in mid-September to the Sharks, netting a pair of forwards in Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo that should at least spread around Ottawa's depth up front a little bit. GM Bryan Murray had moved on well before that deal was made, however, inking Alexei Kovalev to help fill Heatley's role up front.
Those three newcomers constitute the major changes for the Sens skaters, and whether or not they can replace Heatley's production is the question we'll be hearing all season.
In goal, newcomer Pascal Leclaire will take over the No. 1 role after coming off major ankle surgery, and his health could be the biggest factor in a potential playoff push by the Sens. Backup Brian Elliott looked ready for spot duty after last season, but expect the team to struggle if the lion's share of the work falls in his lap.
Missing Heatley will take some bite out of the top line, but it's also highly unlikely the Sens struggle as badly on offence as they did under Craig Hartsburg, and players like Mike Fisher, Nick Foligno and Ryan Shannon could all improve to give the team more secondary scoring on top of whatever Michalek and Cheechoo bring. Chris Campoli should also help improve the team's mobility on the backend, although there continue to be question marks there unless rookie Erik Karlsson is truly ready for the show.
Ultimately, Leclaire's the wild card. If he can give this team above average goaltending for 55-plus games, they will return to the postseason mix. If not, my guess is Murray's finally done for.
X-factor: Pascal Leclaire
For a more in-depth Senators preview, visit Silver Seven Sens
For more NHL analysis, check out the McKeen's Hockey Yearbook
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The bottom of the East will be really tight, and I think the Sens will fall short. Kovalev will disappear down the stretch and Leclaire won’t be the same elite goalie he was for a season in Columbus. 11th.
by red army line on Sep 24, 2009 8:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It should be alright
Key word: should.
Even if Kovalev disappears, he should have no problem providing PP support—it comes naturally to someone of him. The Sens are finally in position to ice a few capable offensive lines, and the defence isn’t as bad as it might seem. Especially if Leclaire plays as well as he can.
I voted fifth. Another advantage is that the Sens won’t likely lose too many players to the olympics, so there might be guys with lots left in the tank (Spezza, Fisher, Foligno, Shannon, Regin, Cheechoo).
by PeterR on Sep 24, 2009 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s funny that not having players good enough to be on the super elite Olympic squads is considered an advantage.
I haven’t decided where Ottawa will finish, but I think they’ll finish higher in the standings. The Northeast is a pretty weak division (although there’s no obvious weak sister, so it’s competitive). There could be three teams in the division battling for one of the final playoff spots, so those head to head matchups will be really important.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on Sep 24, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's really weird
But you look at guys like Spezza and Marc Savard, who are still elite talents in the league but didn’t make it for Canada. I think The Hockey News picked Philly because they’ve got a good team, but also because they won’t be too badly worn out by the Olympics—Pronger and Richards notwithstanding.
by PeterR on Sep 24, 2009 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I for one still think injuries will be a more telling factor. The Red Wings won in 2002 despite all their Olympians.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
by saskhab on Sep 24, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m a little more cautious than Peter, so I voted eighth. Although come on, who are the Leafs fans voting 15th? Or were these the same idiots who voted the Red Wings 15th?
by DarrenM on Sep 24, 2009 9:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
They’re probably (hopefully?) as disillusioned as the few Senators fans who voted first.
by PeterR on Sep 24, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brendan Bell?
Can anyone tell me why Ottawa let Bell go for nothing? I remember him and Picard providing excellent points from the shot on the PP last year.
Was he really that bad in every other aspect of his game that they couldn’t keep him as the 6th defender? It seemed like a curious transaction to me.
by Richard S. Argent on Sep 24, 2009 1:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Too many bottom pairing D-men. Right now the team has too many – Karlsson, Carkner, Picard, Schubert, Campoli, and Lee are all fighting for spots with Kuba, Phillips, and Volchenkov.
Bell also wanted a one-way contract, something Murray couldn’t afford to give out.
by DarrenM on Sep 24, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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