Sens Writer: Senators Training Camp Preview

The team looks to be good enough to make the playoffs. They should at least in the mix until the end of the season.

With the additions of a high quality #1G, solid veterans in the bottom 6 and a top 4 RD, the roster is as solid and deep as it has been for many years. The big question mark is defensive depth.

I expect Ostapchuk to take the 12th forward spot.

Nice sum up

Green immediately puts Zub with Chabbot.

I'm not sure how long it'll last but I wouldn't ever allow Norris to play center again. His face off days are done if I'm the coach.

The Swayman hold out thing is all the more peculiar

The team looks to be good enough to make the playoffs. They should at least in the mix until the end of the season.

With the additions of a high quality #1G, solid veterans in the bottom 6 and a top 4 RD, the roster is as solid and deep as it has been for many years. The big question mark is defensive depth.

I expect Ostapchuk to take the 12th forward spot.
- SensFan25

Not to fall into the trap of false optimism we've all made so many times before, but I'm really curious to see how this team performs with a real goaltender, and not one who lets in the first or second shot how many times?

Some real confidence in the goalie will help make such a difference, as we saw with Andy.

If Sanderson keeps developing, then we may see him getting way more minutes which will help Chabot stay healthy.

Nice sum up

Green immediately puts Zub with Chabbot.

I'm not sure how long it'll last but I wouldn't ever allow Norris to play center again. His face off days are done if I'm the coach.

The Swayman hold out thing is all the more peculiar
- Octavarium

Hearing Norris is healthy, and putting him back at center makes me really nervous. He should be playing wing, and even then I'm nervous.

Pinto should be ready to play on the second line. Or maybe put Giroux back there.

Hearing Norris is healthy, and putting him back at center makes me really nervous. He should be playing wing, and even then I'm nervous.

Pinto should be ready to play on the second line. Or maybe put Giroux back there.
- david22

Part of me can understand not wanting to close the book entirely on Norris as a #2C, however it just seems irresponsible to deliberately put someone with a recent history of major shoulder injuries in a position to take 1,000 face-offs. So if they moved Giroux down to the 2nd line to play on his wing and take the majority of the face-offs, then fine. Tkachuk-Stutzle could take care of the face-offs on the 1st line (they combined for 892 last year), and Pinto was already on pace for 992 face-offs last year so the 3rd line wouldn't be a concern. That said, this scenario also presumes that it's more beneficial for the Senators to have Pinto playing 3rd line minutes for the coming year, which I would say is far from certain.

...interesting.

to quote Major Leauge "that's a hell of an idea'.

So.
Like the power play you have Giroux out there for the draws on that line and then you have them swtich as soon as the puck is droppped

...interesting.

to quote Major Leauge "that's a hell of an idea'.

So.
Like the power play you have Giroux out there for the draws on that line and then you have them swtich as soon as the puck is droppped
- Octavarium

It really depends on how they structure the PP units. If Norris is penciled in on the 1st unit, you could let Stutzle/Tkachuk handle the face-offs and have Norris focus on getting himself into an optimal position for one-timers (as showcased in his 35G season). Giroux may be more useful on the 2nd unit, where he and Pinto could be a pretty formidable pair in terms of gaining possession off the draw. Put one of Chabot/Sanderson on each unit, add Batherson/Perron however makes the most sense, and you should have at least a half-decent PP%. If they eventually sign Addison, you'd almost certainly see him moving the puck on the 2nd unit as well.

I could be mistaken, but with Stutzle, Norris, Pinto - over 82 games the Sens record looks something like this: 42 - 32 - 8.

This record would give Ottawa 92 points, which would've just knocked out WSH out of 8th spot last year to get into the playoffs.

If Norris is able to put up 25-30 goals and play 60 games - with Ullmark having a SV% above 0.912% - Ottawa will be in the running for a playoff spot and have a legit chance of squeezing in