If there’s one thing keeping Sens fans hopeful for the future, it’s Curtis Lazar. Fans seem to be latching onto him, as if they believe he could be the team’s savior. It seems a bit odd for this fan base, which for the most part is quite skeptical of its team’s players, to believe in someone this much. Someone who has yet to even play a game. Though most are looking for a bright side from the past season, and Lazar seems to be the unanimous choice.
The big question is: will he make the team for the 2014-15 season? Unless management plans on putting him on the wing, he won’t be wearing a Senators jersey next season. Chances are that Kyle Turris, Mika Zibanejad, and David Legwand will be playing centre on the team’s top three lines. And unless Zack Smith is traded before the season begins, I’m sure he’ll get the fourth line job. Add the fact that the team recently resigned Derek Grant, and Lazar suddenly has five guys above him on the depth chart, without including Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
However, it’s possible that Zibanejad could be moved to the wing. Although Bobby Ryan, Clarke MacArthur, Milan Michalek, and Alex Chiasson will probably be filling out the top six, so I don’t see a whole lot of room to move them around.
This leaves Erik Condra, Colin Greening, Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman and Lazar to fill out the bottom six. Personally, I’d love to see Hoffman with Legwand. There would be tons of speed, and could be a great scoring threat on the third line. The only issue is who would play with them? Stone could be a good fit, though that leaves three players with a one way contract to fight over the last two roster spots. Unless management finds a new home for Condra, Greening or Neil, I have a funny feeling all three will make the team over Stone. The problem with that, is one is guaranteed to be playing on what will be wanted to be a scoring line. Greening has good speed, but I don’t know how much I trust him.
Even without including Lazar, the team’s forward situation is already very crowded. Unless a trade or two are made, I find it hard to believe that Lazar will make the team.