Around The Division: Looking At What The Senators’ Rivals Have Done So Far
With an increased emphasis on divisional play in the new NHL alignment, we take a look at what each team in the new-look Senators division has done and assess if they are better or worse for their actions in the off-season. By no means is this a season preview, simply a snap-shot of how they look at the moment.
May 24, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ottawa Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson (11) reacts as the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate a goal by left wing James Neal (18) during the second period in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
BOSTON BRUINS
Jun 1, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing
Jarome Iginla(12) and Boston Bruins right wing
Nathan Horton(18) at the face-off circle during the third period in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Boston Bruins won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Bruins finished second in the Northeast Division with 62 points, and advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.
OUT: Nathan Horton (signed with Columbus), Tyer Seguin (traded to Dallas), Rich Peverley (traded to Dallas), Anton Khudobin (signed with Carolina), Andrew Ference (signed with Edmonton), Aaron Johnson (signed with NYR) Jaromir Jagr (UFA), Wade Redden (UFA), Kaspars Daugavins (UFA)
IN: Jarome Iginla (UFA), Loui Eriksson (From Dallas), Chad Johnson (UFA)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? No. They lost a lot of depth and will be a much younger defense corps when they take to the ice in September. They lost a key piece of each line and a top 4 defenseman, and one of the best backup goalies in the league. They are still very good, but have come back to the pack a little.
BUFFALO SABRES
Mar 5, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman
Henrik Tallinder(7) skates with the puck during the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Prudential Center. Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
The Sabres missed the playoffs, finishing last in the Northeast Division with 48 points.
OUT: Andrej Sekera (traded to Carolina) Mark Mancari (signed in St. Louis), Adam Pardy (signed in Winnipeg), Nathan Gerbe (bought out), Jochen Hecht (UFA)
IN: Henrik Tallinder (from New Jersey), Jamie McBain (from Carolina)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? The jury is still out. With Mikhail Grigorenko ready to step up and the potential for Rasmus Ristolainen to jump right in, they could be better. However, there are still questions surrounding Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller and where they will be playing next season, and if they are traded, what the return will be. They will still be in tough to make the playoffs.
DETROIT RED WINGS
May 24, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ottawa Senators right wing
Daniel Alfredsson(11) reacts as the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate a goal by left wing
James Neal(18) during the second period in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Red Wings are not only moving divisions, but also conferences. For the first time in ages, they will have a more friendly travel schedule that will benefit their aging club. They finished with 56 points and were 3rd in the Central division.
OUT: Damien Brunner (UFA), Dan Cleary (UFA), Valtteri Filppula (signed in Tampa), Ian White (UFA)
IN: Daniel Alfredsson (UFA), Stephen Weiss (UFA)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? No. Alfredsson isn’t a spring chicken any more, and Weiss is coming off a long-term injury and has always under acheived. They lost a couple of solid young players in Brunner and Filppula and Cleary was a very good all-around player who will be missed if he doesn’t re-sign.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
The Panthers move from the Southeast Division, to the as yet unnamed former Northeast division. They missed the playoffs, finishing last in the Eastern Conference with 36 points.
Feb 28, 2013; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers center
Stephen Weiss(9) warms up before a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the BB
OUT: Filip Kuba (bought out), Stephen Weiss (signed in Detroit), Tyson Strachan (signed in Washington), TJ Brennan (signed in Toronto), Jack Skille (signed in Columbus), Peter Mueller (UFA), George Parros (traded to Montreal), Jose Theodore (UFA)
IN: Bobby Butler (UFA), Joey Crabb (UFA), Matt Gilroy (UFA), Jesse Winchester (UFA)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? Perhaps, but the biggest aquisition is 17 year old first round pick Aleksander Barkov. He will provide skill on the top 6 right away, and should compete for a front line role. They are less talented than they were and will be counting a lot on young players.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
The Canadiens made a huge jump from 15th to 2nd in the conference, winning the division with 63 points. So who are the real Montreal Canadiens?
Apr 27 2013; Ottawa, ON, CAN; Philadelphia Flyers Pright wing Danny Briere (48) during warm ups prior to game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
OUT: Michael Ryder (signed in New Jersey), Tomas Kaberle (bought out), Jeff Halpern (UFA)
IN: Danny Briere (UFA), George Parros (from Florida)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? They will be more experienced as the likes of Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk have a year under their belt. Briere will be a solid veteran addition and Parros adds toughness so Brandon Prust can focus more on playing hockey. It is still tough to look at the Habs roster and think they can repeat last year’s success.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
The Lightning have some top-end talent up front, and despite missing the playoffs last season could be a threat this season.
May 20, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) and Detroit Red Wings center Valtteri Filppula (51) battle for the puck in the second period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
OUT: Vincent Lecavalier (bought out, signed in Philadelphia), Benoit Pouliot (signed with NYR), Mathieu Garon (UFA)
IN: Valtteri Filppula (UFA)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? If Jonathan Druoin steps right in, they could have a potent first line with him, Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis. Swapping Lecavalier for Filppula is pretty much a wash. They should contend for a playoff spot but not sure how much better they will be.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
The Leafs made the playoffs for the first time in years, finishing 3rd in the Northeast Division with 57 points.
Apr 7, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) during the game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. The Ducks defeated the Kings 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
OUT: Mikhail Grabovski (bought out), Mike Komisarek (bought out, signed in Carolina), Mike Kostka (UFA), Clarke MacArthur (signed in Ottawa), Ryan Hamilton (signed in Edmonton), Matt Frattin traded to LA), Ben Scrivens (traded to LA)
IN: David Clarkson (UFA), TJ Brennan (UFA), Jonathan Bernier (from LA)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? With the additions of Bernier and Clarkson, they are arguably better. Grabovski was a good player whose paycheck didn’t fit his eventual role. They still have a lot of RFA’s to get under contract including Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson. Clarkson was overpaid but that was the price to pay for nabbing one of the top UFA’s in a shallow market.
OTTAWA SENATORS
The Senators overcame numerous injuries to make the playoffs, finishing 4th in the Northeast Division with 56 points.
Apr 19, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks right wing Bobby Ryan (9) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
OUT: Daniel Alfredsson (signed with Detroit), Jakob Silfverberg (traded to Anaheim), Andre Benoit (signed with Colorado), Peter Regin (signed with NYI), Guillaume Latendresse (UFA), Mike Lundin (UFA)
IN: Bobby Ryan (from Anaheim), Clarke MacArthur (UFA), Joe Corvo (UFA)
ARE THEY BETTER TODAY THAN THE END OF THE SEASON? In terms of talent, yes. The team and the city are still getting over the shock of Alfredsson signing in Detroit. Ryan brings a legitimate top line player, and MacArthur has to potential to bring some solid secondary scoring. Corvo is an interesting case, but is a better gamble than Lundin or Benoit on the blue line.
So there you have it. With 5 of the 8 teams in the new-look division making the playoffs last season, it should prove to be a very competitive season, with nothing to be handed to anyone. With the top-end Bruins coming back to the pack a little, it might be a tight bunch in the division for the top 4 spots.
What teams still have big moves to make? And will any of them shift the balance of power in the division? With two months or so until the beginning of training camp there are still a lot of things that can happen!