Ottawa Senators Mid-Term Grades – Goalies & Defensemen
As the Ottawa Senators embark on the second half of their season with a lot of ground to make up if they want to make a third consecutive trip to the post-season, we look back on the first half and see what went right, and more importantly, what went wrong.
Dec 28, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; The Ottawa Senators celebrate the third period goal scored by right wing Bobby Ryan (6) in game against the Boston Bruins at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Bruins 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
We will start off by giving out mid-season grades to each player who made a consistent appearance in the lineup. The grades will be given out against the expectation and role rather than actual performance. For example, Eric Gryba came in to the season in a 6/7 role, so just because he does not have offensive numbers doesn’t mean he cannot get an “A”.
The forward grades will be in a separate post, so here are the goaltenders and defensemen:
Dec 28, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN;Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a blocker save in the first period against the Boston Bruins at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: Anderson was a Vezina Trophy favorite and a Hart Trophy Candidate last season before his ankle injury forced him to miss 18 games. After a summer off, and a contender for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, he was expected to provide the Senators with excellent, consistent goaltending, even if his numbers couldn’t quite match last year’s superhuman numbers.
In The First Half: Whether it was the pressure placed on him or trying to do too much to secure a spot on the U.S. Team this has been pretty much a disastrous season so far. He ended the first half with an 11-9-4 record and a sub-standard 3. 26 GAA and .901 SP. It hasn’t just been the number of goals he allowed, it is when they are going past him. The Senators need him to make timely saves, and in the first half that hasn’t happened.
GRADE: D
Potential to Improve: Anderson showed signs of getting out of the funk late in the term, with a shutout of Pittsburgh followed by a win over the Bruins.
Dec 18, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Ottawa Senators goalie Robin Lehner (40) makes a save during the second period of their game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: In his first full NHL season, Lehner was expected to push Anderson for the #1 job and provide solid goaltending when called upon to get in the net.
In the First Half: Lehner played more than he was expected to due to Anderson’s injury and at times less than stellar play. Lehner played in 19 games, starting 15 of them. He had a personal 3 game winning streak when Anderson was injured, the longest streak of the season by either goalie. His 5-9-3 record is probably doing his play a disservice, and he was probably better than his record would indicate. However, he was presented with an opportunity to seize the starting job and run with it, but fumbled that opportunity.
GRADE: C
Potential To Improve: The team in front of the goaltenders has has much to do with their poor numbers as the goalies themselves. As the overall team play improves, so will Lehner’s stats. How much he gets to play will be largely dependent on how Anderson plays in the second half.
Dec 21, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators Pdefenseman Erik Karlsson (65) controls the puck in the third period against the Phoenix Coyotes at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Coyotes defeated the Senators 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: Coming off a serious Achilles injury that caused him to miss more than 30 games, fans and the team wanted to see Karlsson regain the form that made him the Norris Trophy winner. He was expected to continue the upward trend of play in his own end as well as being a leader offensively from the blue line.
In The First Half: Karlsson has been a bit of Jeckyll and Hyde this season. The organization has to be delighted to see his progression in skating and leading the rush like the Karlsson of old. He leads the team with 37 points in 41 games, playing over 27 minutes per game. On the other hand, his own end has been another story. He is also like the Karlsson of old, meaning he is back to the form of his first couple of seasons. There has to be more attention paid to the defensive game, and his mistakes tend not to be the physical ones, but mental ones that cannot be excused.
GRADE: B
Potential To Improve: Karlsson showed over the last two seasons that although he will never be considered a defensive juggernaut, he was adequate and made up for mistakes with speed and smarts. Attention to detail and thinking smarter will allow him to get back to the level that does not make him a liability defensively.
Dec 27, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) mixes it up with Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot (3) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: Forming some good chemistry with Karlsson in the first half of last season and then taking his game to another level in Karlsson’s absence, Methot was expected to continue to be the defensive stalwart and the conscience of the top pairing.
In The First Half : Methot had a roller-coaster first half. The chemistry with Karlsson no longer seemed there, and Methot wasn’t the same shutdown force that he had shown he could be last season. The decline in his play was emphasized when he was made a healthy scratch following his recovery from an illness in December.
GRADE: C-
Potential To Improve: Methot has been better in the handful of games following the healthy scratch. If he can get back to the level of last year and play a shutdown role, the Senators will be happy, and a better team.
Dec 19, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen (2) and Florida Panthers right wing Krys Barch (21) battle for control of the puck in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Panthers defeated the Senators 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: After signing a lucrative 4 year deal following a brief training camp contract squabble, hopes were high for Cowen to regain his form of two seasons ago. He was expected to be a physical presence and dominant force in his own end, while refining his offensive skills.
In The First Half: It was a gong show for Cowen for much of the first half. A lack of mobility was evident and he might have still been feeling the effects of last season’s hip injury. He wasn’t good positionally in his own end and got beat with regularity, becoming a whipping boy of sorts for frustrated fans. He was a healthy scratch on a couple of occasions.
GRADE: D
Potential To Improve: There is really nowhere to go but up for Cowen. As he gets re-adjusted to the speed of the NHL game and he gets back into the flow, he should regain the form the Senators expect. It could be baby steps though.
Dec 10, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Patrick Wiercioch (46) against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: Also signing a new contract, the hope was for Wiercioch to form a solid 2nd pair with Cowen, to provide a puck moving presence to go with Cowen’s banging shutdown role. To continue the learning curve that was started with a solid rookie season.
In The First Half: As bad as Cowen’s start was, Wiercioch was probably even more disappointing. He was a healthy scratch almost as much as he was in the lineup, as his defensive zone play took a step backward. After a slow start he couldn’t find his place in the lineup and became almost an afterthought despite scoring half a point per game (14 points in 28 games).
GRADE: D
Potential to Improve: With the emergence of Cody Ceci, it might be tough for Wiercioch to get into a rhythm on a game by game basis. His potential is still there, but I am not sure how much Paul MacLean trusts him and he seems to be quickly dispatched to the doghouse.
Expectation: For an aging blueliner, this was supposed to be a season where Phillips could take a step back on the ice and become more of a mentor who plays on the third pairing and not be overtaxed. Still a contributor, but more of a situational presence.
Dec 5, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Chris Phillips (4) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
In The First Half: With the struggles of the blueline, almost to a man, Phillips was a beacon of consistency who was called upon more than he should have been, and for the most part he was equal to the task. Only Karlsson has played more than the 20:38 per game than Phillips, who took a regular turn on the power play in addition to his expected penalty kill and even strength duties.
GRADE: A
Potential To Improve: I don’t think there is much more Phillips could do at this point in his career to be better. If it wasn’t for him, the blue line might have imploded early on while they were finding their way.
Nov 28, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Joe Corvo (77) passes the puck in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: Corvo was signed as insurance, a cheap 6/7 guy who could provide some offense, knowing the risks that he posed in his own end from his previous tenure in Ottawa
In The First Half: Corvo started out in the role that was expected of him, but he eventually found himself in the lineup on a regular basis for a time in place of Wiercioch. He played in just over 50% of the games (22 of 41), and contributed 9 points.
GRADE: B
Potential For Improvement: Corvo knows and has accepted his role, but with the emergence of Ceci and the fact that Wiercioch started developing a bit of consistency, Corvo will continue to bounce in and out of the lineup.
Eric Gryba
Dec 27, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) gets tangled up with Ottawa Senators defenseman Eric Gryba (62) during the first period of Boston
Expectation: Still a young blueliner, he was expected to stick around the team and share the 6/7 role with Corvo, adding a big physical presence when needed while sitting down when more speed and skill was necessary.
In The First Half: Gryba played in 20 games, leading the Senators defense corps with a +6 rating. He has been relatively good when called upon, although he needs to work on his foot speed to be an everyday defenseman.
GRADE: B
Potential for Improvement: Gryba would probably be better served by playing consistently in the minors, but due to waivers the Senators have to keep him and play him sparingly or risk exposing him to other teams.
Cody Ceci
Dec 28, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Cody Ceci (5) controls the puck in in the third period against the Boston Bruins at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Bruins 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Expectation: Ceci wasn’t even expected to see NHL action this season. The plan for his first pro year was to play in Binghamton and get used to the game at that level, expecially in his own end, before getting an NHL test.
In The First Half: I guess Ceci’s learning curve was steeper than expected, and when the need arose he got his chance and has been a mainstay in the lineup since his recall. After a couple of adventurous outings, he settled down and has earned the trust of MacLean to the point that he not only plays power play, but has been out killing penalties in the dying minutes of close games.
GRADE: A+
Potential for Improvement: While it remains to be seen if he will stick around for the rest of the season, he is making management’s decision difficult. His potential is through the roof, and if the first 9 games are any indication, the sky is the limit.