44. Shaun Van Allen
Stats: 495 GP, 44G, 133P
Height/Weight: 5foot11, 195lbs
Acquired: Trade with St. Louis (Trade with Anaheim w. Jason York for Marc Moro, Ted Drury)
It seems like if you weren’t an obvious choice for this list, you better at least have a big OT winner or clinching goal to your name. Shaun Van Allen is no exception to that rule.
Van Allen’s OT winner came in 2003 during game one vs the New Jersey Devils. Although the Senators would fall to the Devils as they would win the Stanley Cup, the energy of the building in the clip above displays how monumental the goal was.
Van Allen spent 6 seasons in Ottawa, mostly acting as a 4th line center for the team. He’s top 10 in games played for the organization as he posted 133 points in 465 games. He had two stints with the club, with his best season coming during the second when he posted 32 points.
He entered the organization with a trade that also brought important piece, Jason York to town. The return going the other way included the rights to Marc Moro and Ted Drury. Van Allen and York would become good pieces for the Senators as it was one of GM Pierre Gauthier’s better trades.
Van Allen is remembered as being a productive, career Senator. He spent the majority of his career in Ottawa and his OT winner, combined with nearly 500 games puts him on the list.
Next: #43: The Most Skilled Senator Of All Time?