Filibuster- Senators year in review

[yave1964]

PRESEASON OUTLOOK Not good as per usual. Hopes were meh that some progress would be made but none other than eleven year old fans could look at this team and see a playoff team, at least not yet.

 

FINAL RECORD 33-42-7 73 points, 7th in the Atlantic

 

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR They were out of it early but after dropping  4-1 DECISION to the Preds on March 29th they sat at 23-37-6 but down the stretch they played very well going 10-5-1 to finish the season strong

 

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR Nobody mistook this club for a playoff team, but they were particularly inept from October 21st through December first going 2-14-1, they were shutout 3 times during that stretch and scored 1 goal four others. ugh.

 

WHAT WENT RIGHT Tkachuk playing through a ton of ailments had a career year and showed promise as one of the leagues best throwback power forwards. Josh Norris broke out with 35 goals. Anton forsberg established himself as a true NHL goalie and was rewarded with a three year deal. Tim Stutzle after a bad rookie year took huge strides last year. Drake Batherson missed half the season but scored at a point a game pace. Thomas Chabot before missing 20 games towards the end of the year reestablished himself as a true number one. Artem Zub quietly established himself as a real deal top four blueliner. Parker Kelly showed flashes and the hope is he will take a stranglehold on a middle six center role next year. Gustafsson showed flashes as a potential goalie of the future.

 

WHAT WENT WRONG Matt Murray has been a complete bust since signing a long term deal and spent part of the year in the minors. He may be bought out. Speaking of buyout options, Colin White continues to regress since signing his long term deal in the nations capital. Erik Brannstrom looks more and more like a bust. Chris Tierney looked awful all year. Nikita Zaitsev may also be bought out. He was constnatly out of position on the blueline. Victor Mete did nothing to impress and will likely be Europe bound. 

 

FREE AGENTS Tierney and Tyler Ennis wont be back. They are the only two of any significance this year. Colin White will likely be bought out. They have an extra second and an extra third rounder.

 

TOP ROOKIES Start with Jake Sanderson who will be taking a role alongside Chabot on the top defensive pair giving them a quality top duo. Jacob Bernard-Docker will pair with Zub to give them a quality second pairing. The defense is better than it has been in years. Lassi Thompson and Jonathan Aspirot will be competing for blueline ice time as well on a defense that will suddenly be deep and talented. Mads Sogaard will be pushing for net time as the goalie of the future. Forwards arent as deep but Sokolev and Ridley Greig will be fighting for a role. Shane Pinto will crack the third line and may be even higher if he catches the breaks.

 

COOLEST NAME POSSIBLY IN ALL OF HOCKEY Angus Crookshank. My dream battle would be angus Crookshank squaring off for a bout at center ice with Bokondji Imama. Or if the Coyotes trade Imama to the Sens, if their is a hockey God they will put them on the same line. 

 

OFFSEASON OUTLOOK White will be bought out or banished Tierney wont be back, they need a 2C which Pinto may claim if not one needs found. The defense is young hungry and talented but could use a steadying influence on the back end. They arent the worst team in hockey and have some nice pieces, it is a matter of if they can fit them together and add the right pieces as they move forward.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

@yave1964
I haven't read your post yet, but you are getting a 'like' right away simply for finding a use for "Filibuster"! 

Edited May 15, 2022 by TropicalFruitGirl26

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

Good stuff as always, @yave1964

I really like Artem Zub. Was hoping the Minnesota Wild could swing a deal somehow with the Sens at the deadline to acquire him, but the Sens were smart enough to hang onto him, as his contract is pretty nice for what he brings.
Solidly built hitter and shot blocker who chips in some offense....as you and I both know, due to him spending some time on our fantasy hockey rosters this season!   

Up front, I like Alex Formenton, even though I am not sure what his true ceiling is.
From what I've seen of him play, a good sized, aggressive checker with an offensive skillset that peeked out a bit this year with the Sens.
Looking at his junior offensive numbers, they are much more impressive there, so if he can translate any of that to the NHL a bit more consistently, while maintaining his pitbull-esque mentality, the 22 yr old winger could find himself as a long term, middle six type Senator as well.

The Atlantic division is really looking like it will be an ultra deep division, what with even 'lower rung' teams like the Sabres, Red Wings, and these here Senators already on good paths that look much better than some other divisions' mid level teams.