NHL
Off-Season Preview – Ottawa Senators
*NOTE* This article was written by former TSJ writer, John Lehocki.
The Ottawa Senators had a big turn of events in 2017-18. They went from having finished one goal away from the Stanley Cup finals, to contending for the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. What was a miracle run turned into a nightmare. The 2017-2018 season was a dark time for Ottawa, and can only be improved upon, so we hope. From the locker room issues, to trade requests, to the Karlsson rumours, there is a lot in the air when it comes to the start of the 2018-2019 season.
WHAT THEY’VE DONE SO FAR
The Senators have qualified offers for RFA’s Mark Stone, Cody Ceci, and Nick Paul. That allowed Fredrik Claesson and Chris Driedger to hit the free agency marked as UFA’s. The Senators also bought out winger Alexandre Burrows, who was traded to the Senators for prospect Jonathan Dahlen.
Ottawa has no choice but to become contenders next season, as they do not have a first round draft pick. They traded it in the deal that sent Kyle Turris to Nashville and brought Matt Duchene to Ottawa. The Senators are not normally a very active team in free agency, and are known for making trades, instead, at this time.
DEFENCE
The Senators need to boost their defence. They need a top-four defender to make themselves a bigger threat on the blue line. Ottawa lost a key part of their defence when Marc Methot was selected by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft. They have been looking to fill that void ever since.
Their current top-five defencemen include Erik Karlsson, Thomas Chabot, Cody Ceci, Mark Borowiecki, and Chris Wideman. They need another to make that a more solid force. Bringing in a veteran defender through free agency would be ideal. There are a few options out there, which include Dan Hamhuis, Tobias Enstrom, Jason Garrison, and Mike Green.
Green has been rumoured to have signed an extension with the Red Wings, but that will be confirmed on July 1st if it is true.
OFFENCE
The Senators also need a boost on offence for scoring goals. They are deep in the centre position, having many natural centres such as Matt Duchene, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Logan Brown, Zack Smith, Colin White, Ryan Dzingel, Tom Pyatt, and Filip Chlapik. The Senators need to bring in a top six winger to add to Mark Stone, Bobby Ryan, and Mikkel Boedker.
With the selection of Brady Tkachuk as the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, it gives the Senators a boost on the wing. Tkachuk hasn’t decided whether he will play for the Senators or go play for Boston University.
There are a few good options for the Senators to add, but they have to be willing to pay. Their best option is James Van Riemsdyk or James Neal. If they miss out on one of those two, there are other options such as Michael Grabner, Pat Maroon, Thomas Vanek, or David Perron.
