OTTAWA SENATORS: 08-09 Season Preview

07-08 RECORD: 42-27-13 97 points
DIVISION: 2nd
CONFERENCE: 7th
RESULT: Lost in 1st round

OFF-SEASON:
ARRIVALS: LW Jarrko Ruutu(PITT), D Jason Smith(PHI), D Brenden Bell(PHO), RW Ryan Shannon(VAN), G Alex Auld(BOS), D Alexander Picard(TB), D Filip Kuba(TB)
DEPARTURES: D Mike Commodore, G Ray Emery, RW Brian McGrattan, D Wade Redden, C Randy Robitaille, LW Cory Stillman, D Lawrence Nycholat, D Andrej Meszaros

The Senators suffered one of the biggest collapses in NHL history last season, going from Stanley Cup contenders to barley making the playoffs and getting swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. The Senators didn't want to be known for being a team easy to push around, they wanted to get tougher and be a harder working team and started by hiring Craig Hartsburg. Hartsburg brings a hard working attitude and seems like the perfect man to change the Senators personality. The Sens key off-season acquisitions were Jarrko Ruutu and Jason Smith who are known for their toughness. The Senators were forced to deal Andrej Meszaros near the end of the summer because they were unable to lock him up long-term. In return the Senators acquired defensemen Alex Picard and Filip Kuba. Alex Auld was also brought in to back-up Martin Gerber. This will be an interesting year for Senators fans.

CAP HIT: 54 million

FORWARDS:
My Projected Lines:
1- D.HEATLEY-J.SPEZZA-D.ALFREDSSON
2- A.VERMETTE-M.FISHER-J.WINCHESTOR
3- J.RUUTU-C.KELLY-C.NEIL
4- S.DONOVAN-D.McAMMOND-N.FOLIGNO
E- B.ISBISTER-C.BASS-R.SHANNON

The Senators will never have trouble scoring with their big three up front. Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson are probably the best line in hockey and will once again be counted on to produce the majority of the Sens offense. Jesse Winchestor could rotate with Alfredsson to help out the secondary scoring but for now Winchestor will play on the 2nd or 3rd line. Mike Fisher and Antoine Vermette have produced more and more each year offensively while still being two of the best Senators all around players. Ruutu and Neil could form one of the most toughest and grittiest lines in the league. Players will hate to play against them and that is exactly what Ottawa has been looking for. Chris Kelly was rewarded with a three year contract extension in the off-season for his good defensive play while Dean McAmmond, Shean Donovan and Nick Foligno give the Senators a 4th line filled with energy.

DEFENSE:
My Projected Pairings:
1- B.LEE-J.SMITH
2- C.PHILLIPS-A.VOLCHENKOV
3- A.PICARD-F.KUBA
E- C.SCHUBERT-L.RICHARDSON

The loss of both Wade Redden and Andrej Meszaros will hurt the Senators. Meszaros will hurt long-term while Redden seemed to be the odd man out even before the season was over. In their place, young Brian Lee and Alex Picard will have to step up and develop into everyday NHLers. The toughness and grit will not be lost with Jason Smith, Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov. Phillips and Volchenkov are one of the league's best shut-down pairings and Smith works hard every game and is always in the oppositions face. Filip Kuba will fill in on the PP and should do a decent job.

GOALIES:
1- M.GERBER
2- A.AULD
3- J.GLASS

Even with disgruntled and very distracting goaltender Ray Emery out of the picture, goaltender is still the major issue with the Sens heading into the season. Martin Gerber has never proven he can be a NHL starter since joining Ottawa and Auld has been a back-up the last couple of seasons. If neither one can step up and take the number 1 role, the Senators will be in for another short season.

OVERALL:

It will all come down to goaltending for the Senators. They have the scoring they need, a good top-6 defensive core and finally the toughness that has been lacking but if Gerber and Auld cant at least split time, the Senators will be a 1st round wonder again. Hartsburg will make his players play hard every shift and the Sens should be a better team because of it.

PREDICTION: 2nd Division, 6th Conference