The 50 Greatest Ottawa Senators Of All-Time: #20 – #11
We are just one post away from the top 10,
if you missed any of the others. Be sure to check them out here:
Part One: #50 – #41
Part Two: #40 – #31
Part Three: #30 – #21
20. Chris Neil
Oct 18, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil (25) during the warmup period before the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 893 GP, 106G, 233P
Height/Weight: 6foot1, 215lbs
Acquired: 1998 NHL Entry Draft (6th Round)
Sure, he’s never been more than a 3rd or 4th line player and his time is winding up in Ottawa, but how do you leave the 3rd most tenured Ottawa Senator off the top of the list?
You don’t.
Chris Neil has been an absolute warrior for the Senators over the past decade or so. He may be looking at his last season in Ottawa but his value was best seen during the days in which the Senators were a contender. Neil played in all 20 of the Senators’ 2007 playoff games and has 93 of those under his belt.
He’s a seasoned veteran and a guy with over 2200 penalty minutes. His career high in points is 33 (actually, not bad) and he had 16 goals that year. That said, Neil has never been a scorer aside from beer league play but he has been one of the NHL’s toughest customers for greater than a decade. Safe to say, aside from the frequent frustrations, it has been an absolute pleasure to see such a character guy inside the Senators organization for what has now been 13 years.
Kudos to Neil on making himself quite the NHL career. He’s a UFA next year and may not be resigned as a 36-year-old. He stands at 893 games played, and you know he’d love to hit the exclusive 1000 marker before his career winds up.
Next: #19: A Swedish Force, Two-Way Forward
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19. Magnus Arvedson
Stats: 393 GP, 92G, 210P
Height/Weight: 6foot2, 198lbs
Acquired: 1997 NHL Entry Draft (5th Round)
The Ottawa Senators struck late round gold in 1996 and 1997 by the way of Andreas Dackell and Magnus Arvedson. Both would make immediate moves to North America and would become NHL pieces after being drafted as overage players.
Magnus Arvedson was a fan-favourite during his time in Ottawa. He was a career Senator, as he spent all but 41 of his NHL games with the Senators. The other 41 were spent with the Vancouver Canucks, where he finished his career. Arvedson was not a dynamic scorer in his day, but rather he was a steady and responsible forward.
That led to Arvedson completing over 400 games in a Sens jersey, where he recorded 210 points. He was a good sized forward and was heralded as being one of the game’s most responsible two-way forwards.
Sadly, his career came to an end as a 31-year-old as the grinding took a toll on his back, forcing him into an early retirement.
Looking at his point totals, Arvedson might seem to be a little high on this list. However, he is looked back on fondly as being an underrated, likeable figure among Senators and good enough of a high ranking on this list.
Next: #18: All-Time Goaltending Leader
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18. Patrick Lalime
Stats: 283 GP
Height/Weight: 6foot3, 189lbs
Acquired: Trade with Anaheim (for Ted Donato and Antii-Jussi Niemi)
No Senators goaltender has played as many games, and no Senators goaltender has won more games.
Looking at it on paper, Patrick Lalime seems to be the best Ottawa Senators goaltender of all-time. And going by that standard, it would seem as though the Ottawa Senators have never had a franchise goaltender. Which is quite possibly true.
There’s no question that the best goaltender to appear in a Sens uniform was Dominik Hasek, but that was only for 43 games and that’s also why he’s ranked #42 on this list. And while Lalime is not the best goaltender in Senators history, his longevity is certainly the best.
Lalime had peaks and valleys. His early playoff performance in the 01-02 season saw a series vs Philadelphia where Lalime had three consecutive shutouts, leading to a 3-1 series lead. The Senators would play 12 playoff games that year, eventually bowing out to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second consecutive year.
It would be those same Maple Leafs who defeated Lalime again in 2003-04 when an eastern conference powerhouse Senators team couldn’t handle the Leafs through 7 games. Of course, that’s when Lalime allowed an infamous goal by way of a Joe Nieuwendyk “squeaker”.
Lalime was a likeable goaltender during his time in Ottawa. If for nothing else it was due to his colourful Marvin the Martian mask. He played the majority of his career in Ottawa, but would also spend time in St. Louis, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Chicago. The Lalime era ended when sub-part playoff performances punched Lalime a ticket to St. Louis.
The Lalime era was a frustrating one. The Senators had an incredible roster and were certainly ready to contend. It didn’t happen and although Lalime wasn’t able to bring success in way of the post-season, his regular season play earns him a healthy spot on this list.
Next: #17: Speedy Forward, 35 Goal Marker
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17. Milan Michalek
Jan 13, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Ottawa Senators left wing Milan Michalek (9) skates against the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Senators 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 380 GP, 109G, 214P
Height/Weight: 6foot2, 198lbs
Acquired: Trade with San Jose (with Jonathan Cheechoo + 2nd round pick for Dany Heatley + 5th round pick)
Only 5 players have scored 35 or more goals in a Senators uniform. That list? Marian Hossa, Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, Alexei Yashin and Milan Michalek.
Since coming over in the Dany Heatley deal, Michalek has been a steady Senator. His career year came in 10-11 when he earned an all-star nod and scored 35 goals while playing beside Jason Spezza. He’s got 214 points in 380 games as a Senator. That puts him in the top 15 among most points and games played as a Senator.
He’s still a member of the team today and showed a bit of a bounce-back after what many thought was the beginning of a fall-off. Michalek still has speed and he’s always been a smart player. Today, he’s a fill-in top 6 guy who is also capable of 35 – 45 points a year.
Michalek will remain under contract for two more years, and it’s quite possible the Senators will look to move his 4 million dollar salary sometime soon. Although, that might be a hard task.
His time in Ottawa will be looked back upon as the only piece from the Heatley deal t0 make an impact. He’s been a good Senator and is approaching 400 games with the organization. For that, he earns a nod at 17.
Next: #16: A Steady Forward, 70-point plateau
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16. Shawn McEachern
Stats: 454 GP, 142G, 304P
Height/Weight: 5foot11, 195lbs
Acquired: Trade with Boston (for Trent McCleary + 3rd round pick)
Perhaps one of the most underrated Senators of all-time, McEachern’s 304 points earns him a spot in the Senators’ top 10 all-time scorers. He spent the better part of six seasons with the club and was a consistent scorer with the team from 1997 until he was sent to Atlanta in 2002.
His best season came in 2000-01 when he posted a 72 point campaign. That year puts McEachern with players like Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, Radek Bonk, Jason Spezza, Marian Hossa, and Erik Karlsson as the only players to have 70+ points in a single year (7).
Aside from his 72 point campaign, McEachern also posted 56, 51, and 48 point seasons. This led to a pretty good PPG average of 0.56. McEachern sort of slips through the cracks when talking about life Senators. He spent the majority of his career in Ottawa and put up some pretty solid years as a Senator.
McEachern is a comparable to Milan Michalek, who is ranked one position below him. Both are players who help solidify forward groups and acted as good insulation during their best years.
Next: #15: The Ottawa Senators' Best Goaltender Of All-Time
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15. Craig Anderson
Mar 28, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) guards the net against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 193 GP
Height/Weight: 6foot2, 180lbs
Acquired: Trade with Colorado (for Brian Elliot)
Since coming over in 2011, Craig Anderson has been a star goaltender for the Ottawa Senators.
His .941 lockout shortened season and 923sv% follow-up year give fans a good idea of what kind of goaltender Anderson is. He’s reliable and he stops pucks. He’s still one of the league’s top 10 goaltenders and going by this list, he’s the best Senators goaltender of all-time.
At 193 games, Anderson is still about 100 starts away from Lalime’s franchise record, but with 3 years of term left, there’s a chance he breaks that mark.
Anderson has had his down years, sure, the 13-14 year was rough all-around but goaltending was certainly not the problem. This year, Anderson has Andrew Hammond playing behind him and with a goaltender who has lost only once in regulation over 25 career starts, there might be more pressure on Anderson from Hammond than he had from Lehner.
Anderson has been steady. He’s had nearly 200 starts and has been a top-tier goaltender for the Senators. He’s played at an all-star level over those near 200 starts and has been an incredible player to watch.
Next: #14: A Current Senator, In For 7 More Years
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14. Bobby Ryan
Apr 2, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing Bobby Ryan (6) prepares for a face-off in the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 148 GP, 41G, 102P
Height/Weight: 6foot2, 198lbs
Acquired: Trade with Anaheim (for Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen, 1st round pick)
It’s been just two seasons in Ottawa and Bobby Ryan hasn’t played up to expectations consistently. That said, Ryan has already left his mark on the team.
He just missed out on the 20 goal mark for the first time in his career this year and was hampered by a long streak of poor play. The year before he played through a hernia, so there is no reason to think he’s missed a step. Ryan should be back in 15-16 and ready to play a full 82 games like he played the first 55 this past year.
He’s set to be in the city for 7 more years and will make 7 million+ dollars in each of those years. He needs to be more consistent and perhaps he has a chance to jump up this list. If he spends the rest of his career here, he certainly will.
Ryan has already racked up 102 points as a Senator, good enough for 0.70 pp/g in an NHL that has been low on scoring in recent years. His first two seasons both had faults, that said, he’s got 7 more years to prove himself and has already been a good Senator.
Don’t count Ryan out, he’s a great scorer and already a formidable Ottawa Senator.
Next: #13: A Top Line Forward, Acquired Player
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13. Kyle Turris
Apr 19, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) before game three against the Montreal Canadiens of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 261 GP, 74G, 180P
Height/Weight: 6foot1, 195lbs
Acquired: Trade with Phoenix (for David Rundblad, 2nd round pick)
When Turris was acquired, Bryan Murray had made a controversial move.
He acquired a former top 3 pick whose career high was 29 points. He had held out into the regular season on a contract dispute and wasn’t a favourite around the league. In exchange, Murray gave up David Rundblad, a young defender with an incredibly high ceiling and a 2nd round pick. Many called it an overpayment at the time.
Rundblad was compared to Erik Karlsson, but wouldn’t end up working out in Phoenix. Kyle Turris, however, has been nothing short of a stud for the Ottawa Senators.
Over the past two years, he’s averaged 25 goals and 60 points; proving his worth as a first line center. He’s shown he can elevate his game and at 25, he’s still got his best years ahead of him.
He’s already got 250+ games as a Senator; he’s under contract for 3 more seasons and will surely be do for a nice raise when his deal his up. Look for the Senators to lock Turris up and make him a career Senator. And if that happens, there’s surely potential that Turris could be remembered as one of the greatest Senators when his career is done.
Next: #12: Perhaps Known Best For His Mullet
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12. Radek Bonk
Stats: 689GP, 152G, 399P
Height/Weight: 6foot3, 210lbs
Acquired: 1994 NHL Entry Draft (3rd Overall Pick)
Radek Bonk was one of the Senators’ early first round picks. He was part of a group that included Alexei Yashin and Alexandre Daigle as players who were young, high-end pieces that were supposed to be part of the solution in Ottawa.
None would be, but two of the three would have successful careers in Ottawa. Bonk was one of the two as he’s surprisingly top 5 in the franchise for points at 399. Those 399 points would come during 689 games as a Senator over 10 years. Bonk’s best season occurred in 2001-02 when he had 70 points and he would also post 54, 59, and 60 point years.
Bonk played most of his career in Ottawa, and would retire with just a hair under 1000 games. He also spent time in the NHL with Nashville and Montreal, highlighting an exclusive list of players that have played for both the Senators and Habs.
Today he’s probably best remembered for his hair and the @BonksMullet parody but also for being a quality Senator. As stated before, Bonk is top 5 in the franchise for points and spent nearly 700 games in Ottawa. For those achievements, a near top 10 rank is justified for Radek Bonk.
Next: #11: One Of The Best, A Career Senator
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Mike Fisher
Mar 7, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher (12) during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Stats: 675GP, 167G, 348P
Height/Weight: 6foot1, 215lbs
Acquired: 1998 NHL Entry Draft (2nd round pick)
Fisher was a beloved Senator and was hard to rank outside of the top 10.
He’s still a good player in the NHL today, but is best remembered for his time in Ottawa. He was an original pick by the franchise and would play 11 seasons and 675 games before being traded to Nashville to finish off his career.
Fisher would play in Ottawa at the height of the team’s success. He was an important piece who played in a depth role and would never earn more than 53 points in a season. That said, Fisher’s two-way success and responsibility on the ice was a strong asset. He was a steady player capable of 20 goals and 40 points, while maintaining a solid two-way game.
He would be a big playoff performer for the team in 2007, as he recorded 10 points in 20 games, including 5 goals.
The Fisher era came to an end when Ottawa declared full rebuild in 2011. Fisher was an older asset and was ready to wind down his career with his wife, Carrie Underwood in Nashville. Fisher brought back a 1st and 3rd round pick and Ottawa was able to select Stefan Noesen and Jarrod Maidens. Noesen would of course be a piece in the Bobby Ryan trade.
Fisher is now 35 years old. He’s been a solid player for 15 years and when he retires, he’ll be remembered as one of the best Ottawa Senators of all-time.
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Stay tuned for the Top 10 this Tuesday…