Friday, September 5, 2008

The end of an Era?


The recent departure of Meszaros got me to thinking… did we just witness an end of an era?
The senators faltered down the stretched last season and lost quite handily in four straight to exit the playoffs. Redden and Meszaros are gone in favor of Jason Smith, Filip Kuba and Alexandre Picard for a new-look defense.
The league’s highest scoring team last year, Ottawa is nothing short of an offensive Juggernaut. But they were also 24th for goals against and they haven’t improved on the backend. Emery is gone and Alex Auld is in, but that doesn’t overshadow the fact that and aging Gerber is still penciled in at No. 1.
Gerber, 34, had good campaign last year playing 57 games. But, he was only the starter because Ray Emery was injured and is kind of a meat head. Gerber is a low-end starter; he lost the job in Carolina and lost the job in Ottawa. I’ll take a pass on Martin Gerber.
Chris Phillips headlines the blueline, with Volchenkov, Schubert and the newly acquired Picard, Kuba and Smith. A weak unit compared to those of the past.
Ottawa’s prospect pool is even more disappointing, they have Nick Folingo and Brian Lee but lack depth and top-end talent.
Ottawa has been regarded for its explosive offense, great power play, pretty good goaltending and good team defense during this century. Cup predictions and long playoff runs have become an annual event in the nation’s capital. They have been, and it’s hard for me to say this, a model for success around the league for years.
But, sport franchises work on a rollercoaster timeline, good for a couple, bad for a couple that’s just the way it is.
Yes, they will make the playoffs with their first line but, gone are the days of Chara, Redden, Yashin, Hasek and those long playoff runs against the Leafs and Sabres.
I guess my point is…..
Are the Senators still the powerhouse they’ve been feared as in past years? Not likely.
Have the Senators missed their chance for glory? I think so.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

model for success? okay buddy...

Anonymous said...

I think so long that they have Heatley, Alfredsson and Spezza they'll be a powerhouse. Sure, that might not get them far, but I don't think we can consider it the end of an era just yet.

Anonymous said...

ive been saying this for a long time, they had thier shot when they went to the cup finals, when they had chara havlat etc they will keep going downhill from there. in this new era of hockey every team will follow the system of being really bad getting draft picks, being really good, then losing players because they cant afford to keep everyone, just like the Penguins wont be able to afford Staal soon. most teams have been putting all thier money into 3 players...Ott Alfie Heatley Spezza, Tampa bay last year, Lecav, St Louis, Richards, you cant win games with 3 players.

IMO

Anonymous said...

I think 05-06 was their best chance for the cup since 2000. 3 capable scoring lines, a monster defence with Chara and Redden as the top pairing, Hasek in net. I was truely scared whenever Toronto played against them. They embarassed Belfour and chased him out of the net on a nightly basis.

Anonymous said...

just to add
OTT needs to move Spezza, think of the return they could get for him, an all star goalie...an already good forward and a #1 easily
look at Kaberle, Jeff Carter and a 1st round pick...think what Spezza could get, thats the only way Ottawa will continue to be a good team

Simon604 said...

They have the best first line in hockey no two ways about it. The fact that they play in the defense second eastern confrence against teams that they can regularly put up 4 or 5 goals a night against makes them still a strong team. They will finish in the top 5 teams in the east and I still think they can go to at least the second or third round depending against who they draw.

People are also forgetting that Emery and Redden where problems in the dressing room and that played a large part in bringing this team down in the second half. I think this team will fly under the radar and they will be neck and neck with Montreal all season for the division lead.

Anonymous said...

ottawa wasn't the league's best offence last year!

Dennis Lemieux said...

how arent they a model for success? and for the last poster

http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/app?formids=PropertySelection_6%2CPropertySelection_7%2CPropertySelection_8%2CSubmit_0&component=reportBuilder.%24SimpleForm_0&page=Home&service=direct&submitmode=&submitname=&PropertySelection_6=0&PropertySelection_7=0&PropertySelection_8=3&Submit_0=Get+Stats

sorry so long, copy paste

Anonymous said...

Montreal had the most goals for last year no?

Dennis Lemieux said...

the sens had 1 more

Anonymous said...

The Habs actually had 1 more than the Sens last year Dennis.

The Sens are a much better team this year and will show th ehockey world just how good they are. Mark my words.

Dennis Lemieux said...

http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/app?formids=PropertySelection_6%2CPropertySelection_7%2CPropertySelection_8%2CSubmit_0&component=reportBuilder.%24SimpleForm_0&page=Home&service=direct&submitmode


sens have 1 more

Anonymous said...

Since the Source refuses to answer the question maybe you can find out...When are those Ottawa and Montreal team predictions gonna be posted?? He said on Monday and its now Friday! Way to make this website lose major credibility with the readers by saying your gonna write a piece and then not following throught and then when the Source is asked about it in the comments section of his articles he just refuses to answer! What a joke !!

Dennis Lemieux said...

i unno man i dont have anything to do with that