TEAM PREVIEWS: THE OTTAWA SENATORS

Introduction:
You know when you get that headache that isn't really a headache but is actually more of a pounding above your eye. And you just rub it and rub it but that only seems to make it worse and you take some Tylenol and hope it will go away but in the end it just stays there and even continues to bother you as you go to sleep? That's how I feel about the Ottawa Senators this year. Something is not quite right with the team and really no measure of creative roster massaging or the introduction of relief through free agency or trades is going to change it. They are going to be who they are going to be.

Who is that? A team that scores a lot of goals but ultimately either takes an early exit in the playoffs or fails to make it altogether.

Key Departures:
Ray Emery
Wade Redden
Mike Commodore
Cory Stillman
Andrej Meszaros

Emery went to Russia and so too did the "Days of Our Lives" style craziness that had taken over the Senators locker room. Its usually not a good sign when you are fighting your teammates in practice. In fact that's a terrible sign. I think this was a good move for Emery as he is a less then awful goalie and he'll get a chance to remind NHL teams of that. He wasn't going to be given that opportunity in North America this season.

You'd think that Wade Redden was the Frankenstein monster the way he was run out of town in Ottawa. He did everything but flee to a windmill. I'm going to be frank with you Sens fans. Say what you will about the guy he is one of the most patient, poised defensemen I've had the pleasure of watching and on top of that he's creative offensively and deceptively quick. What was to hate?

The fact the Commodore and Stillman are now both gone after Ottawa sent Joe Corvo, one of three offensive defensemen they used to have, and former BC great Pat Eaves to Carolina is evidence of the complete organizational ineptitude from which this team is suffering. Stillman never really clicked in Ottawa but another season surely would have helped with that. And Commodore was exactly the kind of bruising D-man that they now lack. Sure Jason Smith is all right but ... sigh...

Andrej Meszaros is better then you think. He's only 22 and on what was a crowded blue line was able to put together 35, 39 and 36 point seasons.

New Faces:
Jason Smith
Filip Kuba
Alex Auld

Jason Smith is a steady presence in the back, one of the few Ottawa looks to have at the beginning of this season. He isn't fantasy relevant except that he might be responsible for keeping a goal or two out of the net.

Kuba is an all right offensive defenseman. He wasn't particularly great in Tampa when Dan Boyle went down last season but he has a good shot and can pass and that's about all you need to get points on this powerplay.

Alex Auld is not the answer. He wasn't the answer for Vancouver. He wasn't the answer for Florida. He won't be the answer here.

The Offense:
I'm tired of asking if this is the year Mike Fisher becomes a reliable point producer. I'm tired of saying the Antoine Vermette has a ton of talent but that it never shows up on the score sheet and I'm done speculating about whether or not they will get any production out of their farm system. For fantasy purposes this is a one line team. They are all spectacular and other then Heatley are all also shockingly injury prone.

You Should Be Happy You Drafted:
Daniel Alfredsson
Dany Heatley
Jason Spezza

Alfredsson when asked about his recent knee surgery said "It went well. I had a loose piece in there. They took it out. I think in 20 minutes it was done. I feel fine. I can walk around no problem." This happened last Friday. Alfredsson was on the exercise bike on Monday. It makes you want to shout "They took out a piece of your knee! Really? You feel fine?" Regardless, the Sens, and tons and tons of fantasy owners better hope that Alfredsson in fact feels fine because he is the key to their seasons. Alfredsson is an elite right winger, that always misses a few games to injury. Better it happen now then when you are making that push at the end of the season.
FACT: Alfredsson has played one 82 game season... his first.

Hockey is an interesting world. Nobody talks about the past. I guess I'll honor that. Dany Heatley is a great hockey player and one of the best all around options you can have on your fantasy team. He plays on the wing, gets a ton of points and contributes in all the intangible categories.
FACT: Dany Heatley, at the age of 27, is already Team Canada's all time leader in goals, passing Marcel Dionne, and points, passing Steve Yzerman.

Spezza...Spezza is Joe Thornton but he passes less and scores more. He doesn't shoot, he doesn't really get PIM. He plays a soft game despite being a pretty big kid. But underneath all of that he's talented as high holy hell. We haven't seen the best this kid has to offer yet. He's fast and he's got hands the envy of every centerman to ever play the game. Some day, when his game comes together fully, he'll lead the league in scoring. Until then you'll just have to settle for the 90+ point season that's only frustrating because you know he's capable of more.
FACT: Spezza is yet another pick that should have been the Islanders. He was acquired with one of the draft picks, the second overall in 2001, the Islanders gave up for Alexei Yashin. Luongo, Heatley, Bertuzzi and Chara could all be on the Islanders right now. Think about that.

You Want to Be Ready to Snag:
Antoine Vermette

I know. I didn't say I'd stop it, I just said I was tired of it. But seriously WATCH THIS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho4eoeOxuKg He's soooo good! How is it possible that he can't string this together for an entire season??? Or at least long enough to be valuable.
FACT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11ZJP3VeQN8&feature=related This is an absolutely filthy goal.

The Defense:
It looks pretty ugly back here. I could not have written this part preseason as I wasn't entirely certain that I wasn't going to be playing point on the Senators. I was waiting for the phone call.

You Should Be Happy You Drafted/Grabbed After Watching the Sweden Games:
Filip Kuba

It appears that Kuba is the guy on this powerplay, and that's probably the best option the Sens have until Brian Lee matures. Kuba is doing fine with the assignment right now, better then fine I guess as he has 4 assists, but we all know that the Sens fans turn on their d-men quickly if they don't make up for their forwards defensive ineptitude (See: Redden, Wade) so he shouldn't get too comfortable.
FACT: Kuba has been a plus exactly once in his career... his very first season he managed to be a +2.

The Powerplay:
Dany Heatley
Jason Spezza
Daniel Alfredsson
Antoine Vermette
Filip Kuba

Deadly unit. Spezza and Heatley really excel on the man advantage.

The Goalie(s):

Gerber was the feel good story of the season for the first half of the year and then the goat for the second half. With Ray Emery injured Gerber put up absolutely spectacular number through November, carrying the Sens to one of their best starts in franchise and NHL history... before the wheels came off and the bus flew off the highway, rolled down a hill, got hit by a train, and propelled into a lake full of sharks. I wish him luck this season. He will face stiff competition from Alex Auld who has occasionally resembled an NHL caliber starting goaltender. The best hope the Sens have this season is that Auld turns into this years Ty Conklin or Mathieu Garon.
FACT: The Minnesota Wild are only paying the goaltending tandem of Niklas Backstrom and Josh Haring $150,000 more then the Sens are paying Gerber.

The Verdict:
So my tone has been pretty harsh throughout the article, I recognize this. I think its warranted though. This is a team that could do great things with some creativity from the front office and better management of free agents and draft picks... but we're stuck with bad D and bad tending behind one of the most explosive first lines in the league. That line may win them enough games to get to the playoffs, but if that happens it will be an early exit again, and the Sens are running out of D-men to chase to the windmill when they need a scape goat.