Claire Hanna and Bruce Garrioch break down the Ottawa Senators’ upcoming season, analyzing whether the team has what it takes to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017 under first-year head coach Travis Green.
They need a lot of luck avoiding injuries. They don't have the depth to overcome losing core players to long term injuries like last year (Norris, Chabot, Zub, etc). With a healthy roster i like their chances, now that they have Ulmark and a natural rhd in Jensen(he is an upgrade on Chychrun defensively).
Thatcher Demko, drafted in 2014 by the Canucks at 36th, and thus in the second round, last started under 10 NHL regular-season or playoff games during the 2018-19 season. During the 2019–20 season Demko started 25 regular-season games to then-future Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom’s 43. In each of the past four seasons, Demko has started more regular-season games (RSGs) than any non-Demko Canucks goalie, with Demko having started, during the season of: – 2020–21, 35 RSGs to Braden Holtby’s 21 (with respective save %s of 91.5 and 88.9) – 2021–22, 61 RSGs to Jaro Halak‘s 14, with respective SV% of 91.5 and 90.3, but with the latter goalie having had a horrific February and in that season having otherwise been quite inconsistent – 2022–23, 32 RSGs in a season during which he had had to miss almost 3 months due to an injury series that had started in December and ended only by late-February, with his SV%, among goalies with 10 or more RSGs started, the highest add 90.1 (vs those respective ones for Spencer Martin and Collin Delia of 87.1 and 88.2 over 27 and 18 starts and, for each, two games he didn’t start) – 2023–24, 51 RSGs to 27 for Casey DeSmith
On paper Ullmark appears to be less injury-prone than Demko but the Sens, very much like the Canucks, have long had goalie quality issues. TBD will be whether this Sens’ season will go more like how last went for the Canucks, how the season before that went for the Canucks or somewhere in the middle.
I have lower expectations than the last couple of years but I'm hoping that's a good thing. If Norris remains healthy they have a competitive top six. The key will be their defensive play and goaltending. Fingers are crossed. Can't wait for hockey to start.
Yes they have what it takes to make the playoffs. Just like they did for the past two seasons. But having what it takes isn't enough. You can have all the right ingredients to make a dish but if you don't know how to perform the recipe it's just not going to work. Injuries are also an important factor. Especially long ones. Pinto missed 41 games last season. When he started playing, everyone else had played half a season plus training camp. He wasn't playing at the right level for at least 2 weeks. Norris was out for too long and didn't partake in training camp. He wasn't playing at the same level as everyone else either and injured himself again, missing some extended time. Having a full team healthy to go through training camp and start the season on opening night can make a big difference.
Don't know why Garrioch who's supposed to be a hockey expert say that all is on Ullmark. Honestly, it isn't Ullmark that will make the PP better or score goals 5 on 5. Overall, all players had a bad year last year and lets hope that with the mind games played by the NHL last year will not carry over this year. I hate to say it, but not having Pinto was a huge blow for the Sens as they hardly had any centers.
My biggest issue will be health. Norris, Chabot and Stutzle all need to be healthy. Ullmark needs to have the support of the D and if all falls in place, Ottawa might actually surprise.
This team was so embarrassingly bad last year I have set me expectations very low. But for some reason the Sens always manage to surprise when everyone doubts them. But I think it’s gonna be years before they’re in the conversation again.
16 Comments
Gave up 22 goals in the first 2 shots of the game??? Wow that's literally impossibly astounding!!
Overdrive video? No? Too much to ask for this remedial media outlet?
Claire makes listening to Bruce tolerable.
One 3rd Pair D man, Josh Norris and the new Goalie have to come up to the mark…and we got a shot!
Why is this clown still an “insider”. He provides nothing of value.
They need a lot of luck avoiding injuries. They don't have the depth to overcome losing core players to long term injuries like last year (Norris, Chabot, Zub, etc). With a healthy roster i like their chances, now that they have Ulmark and a natural rhd in Jensen(he is an upgrade on Chychrun defensively).
Thatcher Demko, drafted in 2014 by the Canucks at 36th, and thus in the second round, last started under 10 NHL regular-season or playoff games during the 2018-19 season. During the 2019–20 season Demko started 25 regular-season games to then-future Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom’s 43. In each of the past four seasons, Demko has started more regular-season games (RSGs) than any non-Demko Canucks goalie, with Demko having started, during the season of:
– 2020–21, 35 RSGs to Braden Holtby’s 21 (with respective save %s of 91.5 and 88.9)
– 2021–22, 61 RSGs to Jaro Halak‘s 14, with respective SV% of 91.5 and 90.3, but with the latter goalie having had a horrific February and in that season having otherwise been quite inconsistent
– 2022–23, 32 RSGs in a season during which he had had to miss almost 3 months due to an injury series that had started in December and ended only by late-February, with his SV%, among goalies with 10 or more RSGs started, the highest add 90.1 (vs those respective ones for Spencer Martin and Collin Delia of 87.1 and 88.2 over 27 and 18 starts and, for each, two games he didn’t start)
– 2023–24, 51 RSGs to 27 for Casey DeSmith
On paper Ullmark appears to be less injury-prone than Demko but the Sens, very much like the Canucks, have long had goalie quality issues. TBD will be whether this Sens’ season will go more like how last went for the Canucks, how the season before that went for the Canucks or somewhere in the middle.
GSG, Sens army 4 life.
The state of that bottom defensive pairing is disturbing. Crap shoot. Hope it works out.
Coaching and management is untrustworthy. Sorry but no playoffs
I have lower expectations than the last couple of years but I'm hoping that's a good thing. If Norris remains healthy they have a competitive top six. The key will be their defensive play and goaltending. Fingers are crossed. Can't wait for hockey to start.
Yes they have what it takes to make the playoffs. Just like they did for the past two seasons. But having what it takes isn't enough. You can have all the right ingredients to make a dish but if you don't know how to perform the recipe it's just not going to work. Injuries are also an important factor. Especially long ones. Pinto missed 41 games last season. When he started playing, everyone else had played half a season plus training camp. He wasn't playing at the right level for at least 2 weeks. Norris was out for too long and didn't partake in training camp. He wasn't playing at the same level as everyone else either and injured himself again, missing some extended time. Having a full team healthy to go through training camp and start the season on opening night can make a big difference.
I'm so sorry Claire, only made it to 0:58. Can't take Bruce.
Don't know why Garrioch who's supposed to be a hockey expert say that all is on Ullmark. Honestly, it isn't Ullmark that will make the PP better or score goals 5 on 5. Overall, all players had a bad year last year and lets hope that with the mind games played by the NHL last year will not carry over this year. I hate to say it, but not having Pinto was a huge blow for the Sens as they hardly had any centers.
My biggest issue will be health. Norris, Chabot and Stutzle all need to be healthy. Ullmark needs to have the support of the D and if all falls in place, Ottawa might actually surprise.
This team was so embarrassingly bad last year I have set me expectations very low. But for some reason the Sens always manage to surprise when everyone doubts them. But I think it’s gonna be years before they’re in the conversation again.
Its good to be back, games cant come soon enough!