OTTAWA SENATORS

2005-06 Recap

Record: 52-21-9, 113 pts (1st Northeast Div, 1st Eastern Conf)

Playoffs:

1st round Defeated TB 4 games to 1
2nd round Lost to BUF 4 games to 1

Goals For: 312 (1st overall)
Goals Against: 205 (2nd overall)

Power Play: 20.8% (4th)
Penalty Killing: 84.7% (4th)


2006-07 Preview

Key Additions: G Martin Gerber (UFA, Car), D Joe Corvo (UFA, LA), D Tom Preissing (Trade with CHI via SJ), F Dean McAmmond (UFA, Stl), C Alexei Kaigorodov (2002 2nd rd draft pick, Russia)

Key Losses: D Zdeno Chara (UFA, Bos), D Brian Pothier (UFA, Was), G Dominik Hasek (UFA, Det), RW Martin Havlat (trade to Chi), C Bryan Smolinski (trade to Chi),G Mike Morrison (UFA, Phx), LW Vaclav Varada (UFA, Europe), C Tyler Arnason (UFA, Col)

RFA left to sign: none


Offense: The league’s top offense could be even better with the maturation of sophomore Patrick Eaves who will battle for a spot on the top two lines. The loss of Havlat and Smolinski will be felt, although Havlat missed most of the season and Smolinski was underappreciated as a second line centre. Heatley and Spezza will remain together but Alfredsson will move to another line. If Alexei Kaigorodov does indeed make the team out of camp and can produce as the second line centre, the Senators offense should be among the top 5 once again. The depth of the forwards is unmatched, and there is the potential for 9 or 10 twenty goal scorers. The forward lines are so deep that they do not have room for the AHL’s top goal scorer (Denis Hamel)

Defense: The departure of Chara leaves a hole for a physical stopper who matches up against the opposition’s top forward every night. However, injured or not, Chara was exposed in the playoffs by the speed of the Sabres. The primary stopper role will fall to Chris Phillips who has to show his playoff intensity for a full season now, which he is capable of doing. The defense is more mobile now with the additions of Preissing and Corvo. Still one of the top 5 defensive corps in the league, should be able to produce more offensively.

Goaltending: The tandem of Gerber and Emery should prove to be capable of carrying the team in the regular season, but when the playoffs come around is when the questions will need to be answered, as another playoff failure is not an option this time around.

THE BIG QUESTION: Is this a Stanley Cup team? Quite simply, expectations are high in Canada’s Capital, and another early playoff loss will be unacceptable, and will cost Coach Bryan Murray his job. New faces are in and they will get an early look at the pressure that will be on the club with the opening home and home with the hated Leafs. Gerber is the only player with a Stanley Cup ring, but Redden and Phillips have both come out and said they will hold everyone on the team more accountable this season, something that has never really been done internally before. They lost one of the league’s most talented players in Havlat, but all around they might be stronger this year than last. This year will depend on Muckler's ability to land a definite leader at the trade deadline who can be a locker room presence in the playoffs, which he has really failed to do in previous years.

Synopsis: Will have no trouble qualifying for the playoffs, but will be pushed by Buffalo for the division crown. The only thing that matters to the team and its fans are the playoffs, as anything less than a Stanley Cup Final appearance will be considered a complete failure.