Lalime Top Sens ‘Tender? & All Time Sens Team
With the announcement of Patrick Lalime‘s retirement yesterday, the debate flared up again as to where he ranks among all Sens’ goaltenders. I know what you are thinking, that distinction is like being the lightest dude on The Biggest Loser, a nice honour, but a little hollow. However, the lasting memory of Lalime in this city is the two Joe Nieuwendyk wristers that beat him in game 7 of the 2004 playoffs.
However, if you look at Lalime’s entire body of work, combined with his demeanor and image in the city, it would be hard to argue that he isn’t the best goalie in the franchise’s short history. Twenty seven different goalies have suited up for the Senators, but really there is only 5 or so players that would even be considered: Lalime, Ray Emery, Damian Rhodes, Ron Tugnutt and Dominik Hasek.
Lalime ranks 1st on the club in career game played, wins and shutouts, and by a large margin. He also has a 21-20 playoff record and single handedly defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2002 playoffs with 3 shutouts in the series. It would be difficult to really call anyone else the best goalie in the franchise history.
Which brings me to the all-time Sens Team. Who are the best players at each position to play for the Senators? Here is my first and second team All Time Sens Roster:
| PO S | 1st Team | 2nd Team |
| C | Jason Spezza | Alexei Yashin |
| RW | Daniel Alfredsson | Marian Hossa |
| LW | Dany Heatley | Magnus Arvedson |
| D | Chris Phillips | Zdeno Chara |
| D | Wade Redden | Igor Kravchuk |
| G | Patrick Lalime | Ray Emery |
Think what you will, as some of the names above will not be popular choices. Some of the positions are open for debate, but this is my list.
Hopefully in a few years we can put names like Craig Anderson, David Rundblad, Erik Karlsson, Jared Cowen and Mika Zibanejad somewhere in this list.
Who would be on your list?
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Thanks for reading and as always, comments are welcomed.
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