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Forums :: Blog World :: Michael Stuart: What does Senators Success look like in 2019-20?
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Michael Stuart
Ottawa Senators
Location: "Caresi > Corsi"
Joined: 10.24.2011

Sep 21 @ 12:13 PM ET
Michael Stuart: What does Senators Success look like in 2019-20?
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 21 @ 12:23 PM ET
I don't think the Sens accomplished mastery over the Leafs as much as the Leafs just choked in their first two exhibition games. Nothing new here.
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 21 @ 12:30 PM ET
Outstanding assessment of Sens situation moving forward.

No need for playoff or even regular season success in terms of win/loss. Ottawa fans are ready to fall in love again with a young team that exhibits skill and energy. Losing can be fun if the fans are able to observe the growth of skill on the part of the individual players. Team success will come down the road.

CAP space is a weapon. Sens need to stay lean in order to exploit the advantages that comes from having significant CAP flexibility.

I am really looking forward to the season.

punchanello77
Joined: 07.17.2015

Sep 21 @ 12:44 PM ET
I think you're bang on Michael.

A successful season would be:
- continued development of the future core players.
- a hard-working team that is competitive most nights.
- recouping additional picks/prospects at the deadline for players that are not part of the longer term future. (Hainsey, Tierney, Boedker, Boro, etc)
- a bottom 5 finish and hopefully a top 3 draft pick next summer.

Getting to draft Lafreniere would be a home run.
systemtool
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Real men always have to poo, ON
Joined: 09.12.2007

Sep 21 @ 1:33 PM ET
Michael Stuart: What does Senators Success look like in 2019-20?
- Michael_Stuart



If you're Spatso, preseason wins vs the Leafs.
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 21 @ 1:49 PM ET
If you're Spatso, preseason wins vs the Leafs.
- systemtool


The tightness you are feeling around your throat is not caused by global warming or pollution.
Steven_Seagull
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: AUSTON MATTHEWS IS A LEAF
Joined: 03.03.2016

Sep 21 @ 7:08 PM ET
The tightness you are feeling around your throat is not caused by global warming or pollution.
- spatso



spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 21 @ 7:28 PM ET

- Steven_Seagull



Need to dress gull in Leaf blue and white. But, I certainly see the choker!
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 21 @ 7:40 PM ET

New Jersey
Tampa
Florida
Washington
Boston
Carolina
Islanders
Pittsburgh
probstc
Ottawa Senators
Location: Gloucester, ON
Joined: 06.23.2015

Sep 21 @ 8:15 PM ET
I think anything better than what the Sens showed the past two seasons would be considered success. Also, continuing to show committment to acquiring talent on and off the ice would be a step in the correct direction. Finally no more drama, on or off the ice!

But seriously, as long as Melnyk owns this team I do not have faith in the long term future of the franchise. He HAD some mightily good players in Karlsson, Stone and Duchene, and due to cheapness and sheer stubbornness and incompetence, he squandered the opportunity to build with them as the cornerstones. Now we are starting over...
leafsfann
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Joined: 05.11.2014

Sep 21 @ 10:14 PM ET
What does Senators Success look like in 2019-20?




Sorry about Melnyk, guys. He's not as bad as Ballard was, but he's trying.
PavohnDatsvares
Ottawa Senators
Location: Ottawa, ON
Joined: 05.03.2016

Sep 21 @ 11:21 PM ET
I don't necessarily think there is a benchmark to achieve in order to be deemed a successful season. Personally, I just want to see the guys care. I want to see a full 60 minute effort every night, and let's have some fun out there. If there is any measuring stick, I think it will be in terms of personal success, not team success. It would be nice to see some youngsters improve on their respective overall games - even if that doesn't equate to team wins.

I agree with your point on AHL success. Seeing the B-Sens have a strong season would perhaps serve as a bit of a window into what might be achieved in Ottawa in short time. So in that regard, I suppose I have higher expectations of Belleville than I do Ottawa.

The only other thing I would like to add right now, is that we got very lucky draft lottery-wise this past Summer (Colorado DIDN'T get Hughes). Unless you're the Edmonton Oilers, I'm not sure you're gonna get that lucky 2 years in a row. So I don't know about Lafréniere. Lol

Although statistically speaking, being the bottom team and having our draft position drop to fifth might mean we're due some luck to get that first overall pick. Because statistics don't care that Colorado owned that pick. Depends how you look at it. Some see the glass as half-empty, others see it half-full. Me; I see it simply as half.
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 22 @ 6:32 AM ET
I don't necessarily think there is a benchmark to achieve in order to be deemed a successful season. Personally, I just want to see the guys care. I want to see a full 60 minute effort every night, and let's have some fun out there. If there is any measuring stick, I think it will be in terms of personal success, not team success. It would be nice to see some youngsters improve on their respective overall games - even if that doesn't equate to team wins.

I agree with your point on AHL success. Seeing the B-Sens have a strong season would perhaps serve as a bit of a window into what might be achieved in Ottawa in short time. So in that regard, I suppose I have higher expectations of Belleville than I do Ottawa.

The only other thing I would like to add right now, is that we got very lucky draft lottery-wise this past Summer (Colorado DIDN'T get Hughes). Unless you're the Edmonton Oilers, I'm not sure you're gonna get that lucky 2 years in a row. So I don't know about Lafréniere. Lol

Although statistically speaking, being the bottom team and having our draft position drop to fifth might mean we're due some luck to get that first overall pick. Because statistics don't care that Colorado owned that pick. Depends how you look at it. Some see the glass as half-empty, others see it half-full. Me; I see it simply as half.

- PavohnDatsvares


If you have a top 7 pick you are likely getting an elite player. This really is an exceptional draft (best in 15 years says Bob MacKenzie). If the Sens do hit a home run it will most likely come on the back end if an aging and fragile San Jose roster stumbles and falls out of playoff contention in very tough Western Conference.

The West is exceptionally tough with really, really strong teams. Nashville, St. Louis, Dallas, Colorado, Calgary and Vegas have exceptionally high expectations. Winnipeg and San Jose appear to me to be the teams most likely to drop down. Dark horse contenders to move up and snag a playoff position are Arizona and Edmonton.
Adam French
Atlanta Thrashers
Location: Isn't Cooley 5"11? You know who else is 5"11? Sydney Crosby. - Scabeh
Joined: 04.06.2011

Sep 22 @ 10:02 AM ET
Success is

1. Chabot hitting 50+ points again and staying healthy
2. The development of Brannstrom into a top-4 option
3. Tkachuk taking the reigns as a top-line forward as he will be thrust into that position
4. Getting something for Craig if he has anything left in the tank
5. Batherson taking AHL success to the NHL level
6. Logan Brown developing and not being a Jekyll and Hyde player
7. Getting a top-3 pick
8. Getting a good return for Pageau, or signing him for 6 years to become that competitive 3rd line C of the future
9. Duclair hits 40+ points and doesn't implode
10. Gustavsson shows signs his SHL success can translate to North America and start showing his potential
JACMAN
Joined: 02.10.2010

Sep 22 @ 10:56 AM ET
Melynk had an offer for about 450M. Bettman would not allow the sale. Wants offer to be for what Seattle paid. Other condition is team can't be moved. They will allow Melynk to go under and take over the team. Senators are going nowhere
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 22 @ 1:03 PM ET
Melynk had an offer for about 450M. Bettman would not allow the sale. Wants offer to be for what Seattle paid. Other condition is team can't be moved. They will allow Melynk to go under and take over the team. Senators are going nowhere
- JACMAN


I don't think there is any problem for a potential buyer establishing a top line number of $650m for the purchase of the franchise. Far more complex is sorting through the existing debt and determining how it gets settled and who is responsible.
sensarmy_11
Location: NS
Joined: 06.01.2009

Sep 22 @ 4:37 PM ET
I was driving from Ottawa to Barrie today and stopped in one of the rest stops to get a coffee. In line at timmies, notice they have sens travel mugs for sale for 8$ so I grab one. Guy behind me taps me on the shoulder and says “good choice”.....I turned around and it was Verroneau, Formenton, and Lajoie. Guess they were on their way to Belleville. Lol

Nice guys, chatted with them for like 5 mi a while we waited in line.
PavohnDatsvares
Ottawa Senators
Location: Ottawa, ON
Joined: 05.03.2016

Sep 22 @ 4:50 PM ET
Success is

1. Chabot hitting 50+ points again and staying healthy
2. The development of Brannstrom into a top-4 option
3. Tkachuk taking the reigns as a top-line forward as he will be thrust into that position
4. Getting something for Craig if he has anything left in the tank
5. Batherson taking AHL success to the NHL level
6. Logan Brown developing and not being a Jekyll and Hyde player
7. Getting a top-3 pick
8. Getting a good return for Pageau, or signing him for 6 years to become that competitive 3rd line C of the future
9. Duclair hits 40+ points and doesn't implode
10. Gustavsson shows signs his SHL success can translate to North America and start showing his potential

- AdamFrench


👏👏👏
spatso
Ottawa Senators
Location: jensen beach, FL
Joined: 02.19.2007

Sep 23 @ 2:55 PM ET
I was driving from Ottawa to Barrie today and stopped in one of the rest stops to get a coffee. In line at timmies, notice they have sens travel mugs for sale for 8$ so I grab one. Guy behind me taps me on the shoulder and says “good choice”.....I turned around and it was Verroneau, Formenton, and Lajoie. Guess they were on their way to Belleville. Lol

Nice guys, chatted with them for like 5 mi a while we waited in line.

- sensarmy_11


Great story!

Interesting how much spirits have improved with both the fans and the young players on the team.