NHL Projections: Ottawa Senators Lineup
The Ottawa Senators had a tough 2015-2016 season, and missed the playoffs by 8 points. This year does not look great for the Senators, and I think they will miss the playoffs again. Ottawa is not a bad team, but they aren't great either. I think their forward group is lacking, but their defense is pretty good. They have a new coach in Guy Boucher, and it remains to be seen how things will go with him at the helm. Injuries are already a big problem for the Senators. Clarke MacArthur, Mark Stone, and Curtis Lazar are all out right now. Stone I think will be ready for the season, MacArthur and Lazar probably will not be. Overall this team looks like a 10th place team in the east. Here is what I expect the lineup to look like at the start of the season.
Forwards
Mike Hoffman- | Kyle Turris- | Mark Stone |
Zack Smith- | Derick Brassard- | Bobby Ryan |
Ryan Dzingel- | Jean-Gabriel Pageau- | Mike Blunden |
Matt Puempel- | Chris Kelly- | Chris Neil |
Defensemen
Marc Methot- | Erik Karlsson |
Dion Phaneuf- | Cody Ceci |
Mark Borowiecki- | Chris Wideman |
Goaltenders
Craig Anderson |
Andrew Hammond |
The forward group in Ottawa is not an overly spectacular group. They have pretty good depth at center, but their wings are a mess. I like their first line if Mark Stone is healthy. Their second line is also decent with Derick Brassard and Bobby Ryan. Zack Smith is up there because Clarke MacAurthur looks like he is going to miss time with another concussion. The bottom six in Ottawa is not great. Losing Curtis Lazar is a big loss, because now someone who normally wouldn't play, like Mike Blunden, will have to step into the lineup. Also, Ryan Dzingel and Matt Puempel are relatively unknown around the league, and Chris Kelly and Chris Neil are both is their mid 30s. Overall, I think the foward group is an average group at best in the NHL.
I do like the defense in Ottawa. Erik Karlsson is one of the best defensemen in the league, and a superb talent. Marc Methot off sets Karlsson perfectly because he is more of a solid, stay at home guy. Dion Phaneuf is where he belongs on the second pair. I used to bash Phaneuf during his time in Toronto, and I still think he was terrible. But he was terrible because he was their number one defenseman, and Phaneuf is not a number one. He is the number three in Ottawa and that is where he belongs. Cody Ceci is fine in the fourth spot, and the bottom pair is good enough. Overall I think the Senator's defense will be fine this year.
The goaltending situation is really interesting. Craig Anderson is the experienced veteran and will be the starter, but that's only if he can stay healthy. Anderson has had a lot of trouble staying healthy the last few years, and even when he is healthy, he isn't always a great goalie. Anderson has never solidified himself as a franchise goalie, and is often pretty average. Andrew Hammond is the backup, and other than one good half season a couple years ago, has been very average in his career. I think Hammond will see plenty of playing time this year, and in the end Ottawa has two average goalies.
