When the puck drops at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, sometime after 7:00 PM, it will be the start of the 20th season in the NHL for our beloved Ottawa Senators. It is a season full of optimism as a cast of young players get their first taste of life in the NHL. This team is rebuilding and a lot of the hard work that has already gone into the rebuild, will be put into action tomorrow.
Mika Zibanejad, the 6th overall pick and an Ottawa Senator for just four months, will make his much anticipated debut. At just 18 years of age, Sens fans will be able to see the future of this franchise first hand. Expected to skate on a line with the legend Daniel Alfredsson, it will be fascinating to watch the old guard and the new guard work together. More of the same on defence as tower of power Jared Cowen skates alongside veteran Sergei Gonchar. Calder Cup Champions Zack Smith, Bobby Butler, Colin Greening and Erik Condra will all be ready to carry over the success they enjoyed last year.
Veterans like Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek, Chris Phillips and Sergei Gonchar all went through the pains of last season and are poised for bounce back seasons. Acquired from Columbus this offseason, Nikita Filatov is a player with all the skill in the world who is out to prove his doubters wrong.
It’s going to be a fun season in the Nation’s Capital. Aside from the excitement of a new coach, a 20th anniversary and an NHL All Star game, the product on the ice is sure to be an exciting one. Counted out by just about everyone, the Sens are in a position to turn some heads around the National Hockey League.
The so-called experts may not give them much of a chance but when the puck drops tomorrow night, it’s just a hockey game. Two teams, six players a side, and all bets are off. With Craig Anderson in goal, and a number of kids and established veterans with something to prove, this Sens team is going to be competitive every time they hit the ice.
I’ve learned my lesson with predictions in the past but I will say this. The Ottawa Senators are going to surprise some people this season. Eastern Conference elite? Obviously not. But this team will be competitive and I think anyway, could be in the mix for a playoff spot.
It all starts tomorrow night. GO SENS GO!
- The Sens have a practice scheduled for this afternoon at 1:00 PM. Will provide updates on that as they become available.
- In case you missed it, the Ottawa Citizen has an excellent 20th Anniversary feature out today. I think my favourite piece from that was twenty years of great quotes. You can check that out here.
Looking forward to the draft tonight.
Go Sens Go!!!
#Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson will guest on the Team 1200 radio today at 3:25 p.m. #Sens20 #Team1200Ottawa
http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2011/10/05/project-mayhem-getting-the-right-players-into-the-all-star-game/#comment-9466
Either way, I'm going to watch this year's team thinking mostly of what they'll be in 2-3 years - so most nights will be positive even if we lose.
one other note I would like to add to all you have indicated that will make for a very exciting season, is the drama around a number of bubble players, contract year players that have all on the line this year...they either prove they belong, or it may be the end as a Sen or even worse a career:
Foligno - does he make the next step
Regin-is he an NHLer or not
Winchester-can he stay on the NHL roster or is he an A player
Kuba-does he make it past 10 games or will he be this years version of Lee and never to be heard from again
Very big year for all these players, not only for this year but for their careers.
because of all you have said, plus these players, the effort will not be in doubt, and b/c of a bonafide NHL tender, I too think we will surprise, and battle for a playoff spot!
All I hope -- is that there are NO Leaf jerseys or Leaf fans booing during that All-Star game. This is Ottawa's game.. not f@@@in' Toronto's.
Their weak link -- between the pipes. Shoot often and from everywhere on his guys... you never know.
And I won some Sens tickets for the upcoming Nov. 9 tilt against the Rangers is Sec. 106!!!
GO SENS GO!!!
PS Melnyk - please create a true Sens channel. One where all games are televised and when there are no games, we can watch 20 years of history! Or buy out TSN. Thank you.
Only injured player I can read anywhere is Jan Mursak
PREDICTION = SENS 2-1
sorry just being real, but if we can pull an upset...forget the playoffs, we will be on pace of a Stanley Cup! :)
With such a rookie team and coach, no one would have anticipated they would make the playoffs; even less win the cup! With unknowns at the time such as Claude Lemieux (20), Stephane Richer (20), Shayne Corson (20), Chris Chelios (24), and Patrick Roy (20), they surprised their critics and won it all.
Go Sens Go!
@ SC --- luckypuck!?
Bold call but I love it... but just so you know Tookie called it first...right Took?
Then how about we ask for a Sens vs Wild finale? Then we can hoist the cup in front of Heatley's good eye!
My prediction for the Detroit tilt? I'll reserve that for game day, but let's just say I have a good feeling about the Sens tomorrow.
Tonight? Blow Leafs! Blow!
For tomorrows game I think it will end up being 2-1(OT). Maclean will have the team play a tight defensive game against his old team but we will still come out onthe loosing end
For the season...the Sens will be exciting to watch sort of like Edmonton was last year. We will be fast, tight checking but in the end will loose many games because of the lack of scoring. I love the team we have this year but unfortunately you just can't expect our 1st and 2nd year guys to score 20 to 30 goals each. And that's really what it would take along with Alfie, Spezza, and Michalek putting up solid numbers. Many teams in the east got much better and the Sens got worse apart from our goalie(who is good but not great). I think Murray's changes were good but will only show up next year. Our defense will make many mistakes and we just don't have the firepower to compensate for it. I say we finish in the lottery. Only Colorado/ Winnipeg have a chance at being worse.
All the idiots on the panel on Hockey Central just picked the sens 14th/15th in the conference, I really hope we do better than that to put those smug ass homers in their place!
Mika 1 goal 1 a
I'm sorry but that scares me a lot!!
Please god make the avalanche a half deascent team this year!
SC your awesome post has left everybody in a feel good mood!!
That and the Tookies must still be out looking for the pucks...
If you can keep that up all year, I'll give you a prize.
Now, THAT's scary!!
Haha you asked for that.
Exactly what I thought would happen haha
I certainly agree for that game against Detroit. Not really a team that gets involved in the physical side of the game.
Konopka vs. Toronto!
Everyone is so excited for this new season!!
Like seeing a naked girl for the first time... you are nervous of what's about to happen, yet excited! You are going to give it your all and hope for the best! But in the end, you'll enjoy the ride!
Peluso doesn't screw around during the regular season...
I was giving everyone a green thumb... but this... this left me typeless... I just don't know what to think!
Dr. Greenthumb, paging Dr. Greenthumb!
Thanks for explaining sex!
Now Nizzy,
He (Lidstrom is 3rd best), behind both Bobby Orr and Doug Harvey, whom you probably never saw play live !
Rockin Robert
I think he just got stuck in the numbers game because of his injury, which also allowed Zibanejad and others more time to shine. I'm pretty sure he'll be contributing at some point this season though!
We're overmanned at C now... Spezza should be an unfaltering lock on the 1st line and Konopka a lock for 4th IMO. Now look at all the battles for 2C and 3C, even with Regin out it's insane... something has got to give, between shifting a player to the wing, demotions to the minors or a trade... this is unsustainable and it does DaCosta little good playing on the 4th line.
GO SENS GO!!!
Filatov Spezza Michalek
Foligno Zibanejad Alfredsson
greening Smith Regin
butler da costa neil
I say we wirte in Tyler Seguin to fight back. We'd love to see Chara, Havalt and Hossa and they'd HATE to see Sequin.
Made me laugh. Hopefully this won't be the case this year!
I'm foaming at the mouth for Saturday's game.
GO SENS GO! (and Jets on Sunday)
Fans: Interested to know which players' jerseys you may be considering buying this season? I'm liking Greening or Condra.. Can't decide :(
the whole organization and fan base are arrogant whiners who get every privledge because they are from toronto
if this team were anywhere else they would have gone bankrupt 5 years ago but no, we all have to listen to the media and fans stroke each others d***s.
SC quote of the year!
9 hours 41 minutes to go!!!!
Go Sens Go!!!
yeah i agree, michalek is our only potential - 60 point player aside from spezza.... we need to get that guy going!
Straight from mendez just now: @ian_mendes Sens/Wings season opener on Sportsnet East tonight. Coverage begins at 6:30pm ET with our new Sens pre-game show.