Forwards
Other than the free agent signing of Nate Thompson, Ottawa depends on player development to provide upgrades at forward. The Sens were 22nd in the NHL with 212 goals, and defenseman Erik Karlsson was their leading scorer with 71 points. Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris and Mark Stone each scored over 20 goals. Bobby Ryan (the highest paid player on the club) had a disappointing regular season with 13 goals but rebounded with a good playoff performance.
Derick Brassard, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Alex Burrows, Zack Smith and Ryan Dzingel will be depended on to provide more secondary scoring, as well as 20-year-old center Colin White, who won gold with Team USA at the WJC and signed after completing his sophomore season at Boston College. Clarke MacArthur, who came back and played well during the post-season run, failed his physical and may not be able to continue his career with concussion issues.
The Sens will have to wait a bit before they know whether White can help their offense, as the former first rounder broke his wrist in a pre-season game against Toronto last week.
Defense
Erik Karlsson could be the most valuable player on his team in the NHL. That may become painfully apparent to the Ottawa Senators, as the two-time Norris Trophy winner could miss the opening month of the regular season recovering from off-season foot surgery.
When Karlsson returns, he will be with a new defense partner as Mark Methot was claimed in the expansion draft and later traded to Dallas. That new partner may be rookie Thomas Chabot, who starred for Team Canada at the 2017 World Junior.
The Sens have solid depth on the blueline, with Dion Phaneuf and Cody Ceci on the second pair, Chris Wideman, Fredrik Claesson and Mark Borowiecki as depth options and veteran Johnny Oduya added via free agency, but they need Karlsson back logging 25-27 minutes per night at an All-Star level as quickly as possible.
Goalies
The duo of Mike Condon and Craig Anderson were equally responsible for getting the Sens to within a goal of the Stanley Cup Final.
Anderson had to miss long stretches of time to be with his wife Nicholle, who underwent treatment for cancer throughout the season but was one of the best goaltenders in the league when he did play, which was an inspiration to the team.
Condon was acquired from Pittsburgh for a fifth-round pick in November and provided the Sens with goaltending above and beyond what a backup normally provides, including playing 27 straight games from December to February.
Ottawa re-signed Condon to a three-year deal this summer, and he could be the future #1, as Anderson enters the final year of his contract.
Questions
Looking ahead to trade deadline – if sellers who could be on the move. If buyers, what area might they need to improve? Turris has been a consistent producer in six seasons with Ottawa, but the 28-year-old will be looking for a significant pay upgrade and could get that in unrestricted free agency next summer. If the Sens fall behind and do not think they can afford to re-sign Turris, he could be an attractive rental at the deadline.
Veterans Oduya and Anderson could also be shopped if they fall out of the race.
If buyers, it is probable that GM Pierre Dorion will try to add a center. Speculation over the summer indicated that the Sens were one of a few teams that kicked tires on Matt Duchene.
What rookies could make the team? Chabot is a given. White will get a good look when he returns from injury, but that might not happen until mid-to-late November. 2016 top pick Logan Brown is a big body presence, but still has Junior eligibility. Defensemen Andreas Englund and Ben Harpur had brief appearances last season. Harpur played nine playoff games and could get some time early on with Karlsson out.
Which player could take a step forward this season? Chabot is considered an elite defensive prospect and could be a difference maker as Karlsson’s partner.
Which players could regress? Phaneuf started showing signs of losing a step last season and has been somewhat protected by playing with a partner who can carry the puck. The 32-year-old may get exposed playing more minutes early on. Ryan needs to prove that last season’s production was a hiccup and not a trend.
Are there any training camp battles expected? Veteran Chris VandeVelde was invited and released from his professional tryout, Filip Chlapik and Tyler Randell were demoted to the AHL, which improves the chances of Brown making the club.
