Ottawa Senators 2014-15 Season Primer

The Ottawa Senators are the next up in our Atlantic Division season primers.

Use the below Tabs to view Senators info for this upcoming season, as well as some numbers from last year.

2013-14 record: 37-31-14, 88 points
Where they finished: 5th in the Atlantic; tied for 11th in the East; tied for 19th.

Player Salaries: $54,345,000 (23)
Cap Payroll: $54,883,333
Bonuses: $1,628,333
Cap Space: $14,116,667
Forwards: $29,651,667 (13)
Defensemen: $19,819,167 (8)
Goalies: $5,412,500 (2)
Source: CapGeek.com

In: Aaron Johnson D, Alex Chiasson RW, Alexander Guptill LW, Carter Camper C, David Legwand C/LW, Nicholas Paul C/LW

Out: Ales Hemsky RW, Jason Spezza C, Ludwig Karlsson LW

2014-15 Team Outlook:

Last year the team was coming off a season in which they made the playoffs in a rather surprising way. Although there were plenty of injuries to key players like Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza, and the team was expected to finish dead last in the East, the Sens found a way to get into the postseason during the lockout season.

More of the same was expected from the Sens last season, especially since they basically kept the same core as the previous year, while finally adding a star winger to the mix to play alongside Spezza, in Bobby Ryan.

The Ryan trade didn’t exactly go to plan, as he found more success playing on a line with Kyle Turris and Clarke MacArthur rather than Spezza and Milan Michalek, and the team failed to make the postseason.

The offseason hasn’t gone much better for the Sens, as Spezza, the team captain, asked for a trade and was subsequently dealt to the Dallas Stars for one NHL forward, Alex Chiasson, two prospects, Alex Guptill and Nicholas Paul, as well as a second-round pick in 2015. The haul wasn’t a great one for the Sens, but Spezza also didn’t really put them in a position of strength to make a trade either. The second blow of the offseason came when Ales Hemsky, who had re-found his offensive touch beside Spezza after being dealt from the Oilers to the Sens late last year, followed Spezza and signed as a UFA with the Stars.

Aside from those two key losses, it hasn’t been all bad for the Sens, as they did make a signing to replace Spezza in the top-six forward group.

Bringing in David Legwand as a UFA on a cheap two-year, $6 million deal was a great move by the frugal Sens. Legwand can slide into the second- or third-line centre roll, with Kyle Turris on the first (alongside Bobby Ryan and Clarke MacArthur) after impressing for most of last season. With a good camp young centre Mika Zibanejad could take over the second-line centre spot from Legwand, but for now it’s safe to assume it’s Legwands to lose. The only other spot left up for grabs in the top-six is that of the second-line right-wing alongside Legwand and Michalek, a spot that Alex Chiasson, Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone, Shane Prince, Matt Puempel and rookie Curtis Lazar will be fighting for. The bottom-six looks similar to last season, with Zibanejad (or Legwand) and Zach Smith manning the middle and the gritty Chris Neil, Colin Greening, Erik Condra and one of Chiasson or Hoffman on the wings. J.G. Pageau is another name that will be looking to stick with the team this season.

Defensively the Sens will be rolling out the exact same, less than impressive group as they did last season. This was the area the team was said to be looking to address, but here we are with the exact same group of six going into the 2014-15 season. On the first-pairing will be Marc Methot and Erik Karlsson, with Jared Cowen and Chris Phillips likely to make up the second-pairing and Eric Gryba and Cody Ceci on the third. Mark Borowiecki is another defenseman with NHL experience attempting to make the line-up.

Goaltenders Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner will also be back splitting time between the pipes, a major strong point for the Sens. Lehner, who was a RFA this offseason, recently re-signed with the team on a three-year, $6.67 million deal that shows the Sens rightfully still view him as their goalie of the future. The Senators also locked up the 33-year old Anderson to a three-year contract extension that won’t kick in until next year..

The Senators won’t be out to win the Stanley Cup this season, but if they have proved anything in the past, it’s not to underestimate them. They are nicknamed the “Pesky Sens” for a reason. The team is now drama free with Spezza gone, and it’s sounding like Ryan is in fact open to signing an extension with them. With the influx of young talent that the Sens have looking to make the team this season, mixed with the skill they possess in net and the talents of Ryan, Turris, and Karlsson, it wouldn’t be crazy to think they could sneak into the playoffs. It will, however, be a hard task for the team, especially since most teams in the East improved this offseason.

Written by Greg Stamper, who can be found on twitter @g_stamp91.

The depth chart listed below was taken from NHL.com’s 30-in-30.

FORWARDS
Clarke MacArthur – Kyle Turris – Bobby Ryan
Milan Michalek – Mika Zibanejad – Alex Chiasson
Colin Greening – Zack Smith – Chris Neil
Mike Hoffman – David Legwand – Mark Stone
Erik Condra – Derek Grant

DEFENSEMEN
Marc Methot – Erik Karlsson
Jared Cowen – Cody Ceci
Chris Phillips – Patrick Wiercioch
Eric Gryba

GOALTENDERS
Craig Anderson
Robin Lehner

Forwards	POS	HT	WT	DOB	BIRTH PLACE
Alex Chiasson	R	6′ 4″	205	1-Oct-90	MONTREAL, QC, CAN
Erik Condra	R	6′ 0″	190	6-Aug-86	TRENTON, MI, USA
Colin Greening	L	6′ 3″	210	9-Mar-86	ST. JOHN’S, NL, CAN
Mike Hoffman	L	6′ 0″	185	24-Nov-89	KITCHENER, ON, CAN
David Legwand	C	6′ 2″	205	17-Aug-80	DETROIT, MI, USA
Clarke Macarthur	L	6′ 0″	195	6-Apr-85	LLOYDMINSTER, AB, CAN
Milan Michalek	L	6′ 2″	216	7-Dec-84	JINDRICHUV HRADEC, CZE
Chris Neil	R	6′ 1″	215	18-Jun-79	FLESHERTON, ON, CAN
Jean-Gabriel Pageau	C	5′ 9″	175	11-Nov-92	OTTAWA, ON, CAN
Bobby Ryan	R	6′ 2″	207	17-Mar-87	CHERRY HILL, NJ, USA
Zack Smith	C	6′ 2″	210	5-Apr-88	MAPLE CREEK, SK, CAN
Mark Stone	R	6′ 2″	205	13-May-92	WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
Kyle Turris	C	6′ 1″	191	14-Aug-89	NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, CAN
Mika Zibanejad	C	6′ 2″	211	18-Apr-93	STOCKHOLM, SWE
Defencemen	HT	WT	AGE	DOB	BIRTH PLACE
Mark Borowiecki	6′ 2″	205	25	12-Jul-89	OTTAWA, ON, CAN
Cody Ceci	6′ 3″	209	20	21-Dec-93	OTTAWA, ON, CAN
Jared Cowen	6′ 5″	228	23	25-Jan-91	SASKATOON, SK, CAN
Eric Gryba	6′ 4″	225	26	14-Apr-88	SASKATOON, SK, CAN
Erik Karlsson	6′ 0″	180	24	31-May-90	LANDSBRO, SWE
Marc Methot	6′ 3″	230	29	21-Jun-85	OTTAWA, ON, CAN
Chris Phillips	6′ 3″	220	36	9-Mar-78	CALGARY, AB, CAN
Patrick Wiercioch	6′ 5″	206	23	12-Sep-90	BURNABY, BC, CAN
Goalies	HT	WT	AGE	DOB	BIRTH PLACE
Craig Anderson	6′ 2″	184	33	21-May-81	PARK RIDGE, IL, USA
Robin Lehner	6′ 5″	225	23	24-Jul-91	GOTHENBURG, SWE

A look at the Ottawa Senators top prospects heading into this season. Each source may use different classifications as to if a player is deemed a prospect or has graduated on from a prospect.

RK	NHL.com	ESPN Corey Pronman	Dobber Prospects	Hockeys Future	The Hockey News
1	Curtis Lazar	Curtis Lazar	Cody Ceci	Curtis Lazar	Curtis Lazar
2	Mark Stone	Mark Stone	Curtis Lazar	Cody Ceci	Mark Stone
3	Matt Puempel	Mikael Wikstrand	Mark Stone	Mark Stone	Andreas Englund
4	Mikael Wikstrand	Matt Puempel	Alex Guptill	Matt Puempel	Mark Borowiecki
5	Alex Guptill	Miles Gendron	Jean-Gabriel Pageau	Chris Driedger	Matt Puempel
6	Shane Prince	Andreas Englund	Matt Puempel	Jean-Gabriel Pageau	Mikael Wikstrand
7	Fredrik Claesson	Nick Paul	Mikael Wikstrand	Ryan Dzingel	Jean-Gabriel Pageau
8	Buddy Robinson	Fredrik Claesson	Chris Driedger	Andreas Englund	Murcus Hogberg
9	Marcus Hogberg	Quentin Shore	Shane Prince	Alex Guptill	Mike Hoffman
10	Ryan Dzingel	Shane Prince	Mike Hoffman	Shane Prince	Alex Guptill

* Dobber Prospects – Prospects based on relevance in a fantasy-hockey keeper league, not actual talent on the ice.

Ottawa Senators Draft History from the past five years

2014 Draft
Rd.	Draft #	Player	Pos.	Team	Ht.	Wt.
2	40	Andreas Englund	D	Djurgearden (SWE)	6′ 3″	190
3	70	Miles Gendron	D	Rivers Academy HS (MA)	6′ 1″	181
4	100	Shane Eiserman	C/LW	Dubuque (USHL)	6′ 1″	200
7	189	Kelly Summers	D	Carleton Place (CCHL)	6′ 1″	191
7	190	Francis Perron	LW	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	5′ 11″	166
2013 Draft
1	17	Curtis Lazar	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6′ 0″	190
3	78	Marcus Hogberg	G	Linkoping Jr (SWE)	6′ 4″	194
4	102	Tobias Lindberg	RW	Djurgarden Jr. (SWE-JR. )	6′ 3″	200
4	108	Ben Harpur	D	Guelph (OHL )	6′ 5.5″	210
5	138	Vincent Dunn	C	Val-D’Or (QMJHL )	5′ 11″	172
6	161	Chris Leblanc	RW	South Shore (EJHL)	6′ 3″	195
6	168	Quentin Shore	C	U. of Denver (WCHA)	6′ 1″	190
2012 Draft
1	15	Cody Ceci	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6′ 2″	203
3	76	Chris Driedger	G	Calgary (WHL)	6′ 2″	187
3	82	Jarrod Maidens	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	6′ 2″	170
4	106	Timothy Boyle	D	Nobles HS (MA)	6′ 1″	185
5	136	Robert Baillargeon	C	Indiana (USHL)	5’11”	164
6	166	Francois Brassard	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6′ 1″	154
7	196	Mikael Wikstrand	D	Mora (Swe-2)	6′ 1″	183
2011 Draft
1	6	Mika Zibanejad	C	Djurgårdens IF (SWE)	6′ 1″	183
1	21	Stefan Noesen	RW	Plymouth (OHL)	6′ 0″	195
1	24	Matt Puempel	LW	Peterborough (OHL)	6′ 0″	190
2	61	Shane Prince	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5’10”	180
4	96	Jean-Gabriel Pageau	C	Gatineau (QMJHL)	5′ 9″	165
5	126	Fredrik Claesson	D	Djurgarden (Swe)	6′ 0″	200
6	156	Darren Kramer	C	Spokan (WHL)	6′ 1″	202
6	171	Max McCormick	LW	Sioux City (USHL)	5’11”	175
7	186	Jordan Fransoo	D	Brandon (WHL)	6′ 2″	178
7	204	Ryan Dzingle	C	Lincoln (USHL)	6′ 0″	185
2010 Draft
3	76	Jakub Culek	LW	Rimouski	6′ 3″	185
4	106	Markus Sorensen	RW	Sodertalje Jr.	5’11”	156
6	178	Mark Stone	RW	Brandon	6′ 2″	188
7	196	Bryce Aneloski	D	Cedar Rapids	6′ 2″	197

Player	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	S	S%
Erik Karlsson	82	20	54	74	-15	36	5	0	1	257	7.8
Jason Spezza	75	23	43	66	-26	46	9	0	5	223	10.3
Kyle Turris	82	26	32	58	22	39	6	2	5	215	12.1
Clarke Macarthur	79	24	31	55	12	78	8	1	5	159	15.1
Bobby Ryan	70	23	25	48	7	45	6	0	2	190	12.1
Milan Michalek	82	17	22	39	-25	41	4	0	1	169	10.1
Mika Zibanejad	69	16	17	33	-15	18	3	0	0	153	10.5
Marc Methot	75	6	17	23	0	28	0	0	1	117	5.1
Patrick Wiercioch	53	4	19	23	-1	20	3	0	0	97	4.1
Zack Smith	82	13	9	22	-9	111	0	1	4	154	8.4
Cory Conacher	60	4	16	20	8	34	0	0	1	73	5.5
Ales Hemsky	20	4	13	17	-2	4	0	0	0	44	9.1
Colin Greening	76	6	11	17	-15	41	2	0	1	108	5.6
Erik Condra	76	6	10	16	0	30	0	1	0	85	7.1
Chris Phillips	70	1	14	15	-12	30	1	0	0	90	1.1
Jared Cowen	68	6	9	15	0	45	0	0	2	68	8.8
Chris Neil	76	8	6	14	-10	211	0	0	0	99	8.1
Eric Gryba	57	2	9	11	9	64	0	0	0	57	3.5
Joe Corvo	25	3	7	10	-7	10	0	0	0	54	5.6
Cody Ceci	49	3	6	9	-5	14	0	0	2	82	3.7
Mark Stone	19	4	4	8	5	4	1	0	0	36	11.1
Mike Hoffman	25	3	3	6	-2	2	1	0	0	61	4.9
Stephane Da Costa	12	3	1	4	2	2	1	0	0	20	15
Matt Kassian	33	1	1	2	-1	63	0	0	0	12	8.3
Derek Grant	20	0	2	2	-3	4	0	0	0	31	0
Jean-Gabriel Pageau	28	2	0	2	-5	12	0	0	0	31	6.5
Mark Borowiecki	13	1	0	1	-2	48	0	0	0	6	16.7
Goalie	GPI	GS	MIN	GAA	W	L	OT	SO	SA	GA	SV%
Craig Anderson	53	52	3000	3.00	25	16	8	4	1680	150	0.911
Robin Lehner	36	30	1942	3.06	12	15	6	1	1141	99	0.913
Andrew Hammond	1	0	35	0.00	0	0	0	0	11	0	1.000
Nathan Lawson	1	0	12	10.00	0	0	0	0	10	2	0.800

Performance and Usage Charts for the Ottawa Senators from last season, from Extra Skater.

Senators media section was created by Mike Power

With training camp just around the corner, it’s time to get back into our routine of incessantly checking our favourite Senators blogs. Compiled here for your convenience is a list of some of the best Sens blogs, reporters and twitter accounts to follow. I’ve also created a twitter list here to which you can subscribe with one easy click. I’ll keep updating the list throughout the season, and if I’ve missed someone who should be included please let me know.

National Media:

Bleacher Report
SB Nation
SB Nation Senators Blog

Local:

Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Sun
TSN 1200 and on twitter

Writers & Local Media on Twitter:

James Gordon
Don Brennan
Wayne Scanlan
Ken Warren
Bruce Garrioch
Ian Mendes
Shawn Simpson
Steve Lloyd
John Rodenburg
Steve Warne
Jason York
AJ Jakubec
Lee Versage
Matt Kaunisviita
James Abson
Brent Wallace
Murray Pam
Nicolas St-Pierre
Dan Seguin
Terry Marcotte
Marc Brassard
Chris Stevenson
Sylvain St-Laurent
Dean Brown
Matt Weinstein (Binghamton Senators beat)