Wednesday, September 22, 2010

2010-11 Preview: Ottawa Senators


2010-11 Prediction 8th Eastern Conference

Ottawa had both a frustrating season and a fruitful season in the 2009-10 edition. Moments of frustration involve the goalie situation (Brian Elliott and Pascal Leclaire), lack of production among the forwards (RW's Alexei Kovalev and Milan Michalek) and the same general malaise that seems to have plagued the Sens for the better part of a decade. The season was a positive one overall though, due to the playoff appearance and a chippier demeanor for most of those games in the playoffs. RW Daniel Alfredsson is another year older, and it has become stunning evident that he cannot do everything. C Jason Spezza had a very frustrating year that started off with stick issues, a prolonged goal drought, injury, and then a point per game pace to close the season. The defense core got dramatically less intimidating with the loss of Anton Volchenkov to the Devils via free agency. Many local fans will know that D Sergei Gonchar left on the first day of free agency to join former teammate F Jarko Ruutu in Canada's capital. Other D-men include Chris Phillips, Matt Carkner, Erik Karlsson, and Filip Kuba. The Sens should make a run at the playoffs, but it will take every man pulling their weight. Don't be surpised if they come up short and a team like Rangers take their place.

Player to Watch: C Jason Spezza

2 comments:

  1. Spessa looks like a child predator in that pic.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unsubstantiated. I hope he sues you for that remark...

    ReplyDelete