Woe Canada: Which Canadian Team Will End Stanley Cup Drought?

OTTAWA SENATORS

Apr 13, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ottawa Senators center

Kyle Turris

(left) and left wing

Clarke MacArthur

(16) and defenseman

Erik Karlsson

(65) stand for the national anthem before playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Senators won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

A season after the Pesky Sens made some noise in the playoffs by eliminating the favored Habs in the first round in 2013, the Senators took a step backwards after the departure of Daniel Alfredsson and a regression in defensive play and most notably goaltending.

This projects to be another tumultuous off-season for the Sens, with the likely trade of another captain after Jason Spezza requested to be moved on.

When Spezza leaves it will put tremendous pressure on Kyle Turris as the number 1 center for a full season, a task that he hasn’t proved he is ready for.

Erik Karlsson had a great season offensively, but like most of the Senators, his own zone was a fire drill on most nights.  The rest of the blue line struggled mightily although a bright spot was the rapid ascension of Cody Ceci through the ranks and the positive contribution he made as a 19 and 20 year old.

The inevitable trade of Spezza puts the 3 year rebuild plan (that had just finished year 3) back into effect, putting them a couple of years behind schedule.

With the internal budget still in effect, it is not going to be a quick trip to competitiveness.

ODDS OF BREAKING THE DROUGHT:  15%