Will this be the Ottawa Senators line-up in October?

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OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Ottawa Senators Goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a save during third period National Hockey League action between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Defencemen

Chabot – Zaitsev
Borowiecki – Hainsey
Brannstrom – DeMelo
Scratch: Wolanin

Like the forwards line-up previously listed, there are a number of changes that should be made to the list of defencemen given above.

Thomas Chabot is a lock as the team’s top pairing left-handed defenceman, exploding for 55 total points (14 goals, 41 assists) in 70 regular-season games during his sophomore campaign with the team.

His partner should be Dylan DeMelo, who looked solid throughout his first season in the Canadian capital and is already familiar with Chabot’s style of play.

Nikita Zaitsev, acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier in the summer, would be best served as a second pairing defenceman that can provide some valuable offensive upside, likely partnering Mark Borowiecki in the process.

Having the offensive-minded Russian partnering the defence-first Ottawa native could provide Smith with a balanced pairing that could complement each other’s style of play.

As Erik Brannstrom is viewed as the team’s best prospect, giving him a strong veteran mentor to learn from would be the most sensible move for the Ottawa Senators.

With that in mind, partnering the young Swede alongside 38-year-old Ron Hainsey, a veteran with over 1000 games under his belt and a Stanley Cup ring, would be the ideal bottom pairing.

Giving Brannstrom a defensive-minded partner that is responsible on the penalty kill and has more mileage than anyone else on the team’s blueline, could help the 20-year-old adjust to the NHL and grow good habits both on and off the ice.

Christian Wolanin has looked good for the Senators, but will need to be at the top of his game to find a regular spot in the top six if the team opts to bring Brannstrom up this season.

Smith is likely to rely on the likes of Zaitsev and Hainsey early on in his tenure as head coach as he is familiar with them and knows exactly what he’ll get out of them.

Wolanin, who arguably should be in there ahead of the likes of Hainsey, may have to settle for being a seventh defenceman that can come in and provide cover on nights that the 38-year-old is given off.

Goalies

Anderson
Nilsson

This position is the easiest of all to predict for the Ottawa Senators, at least at the start of the season.

Craig Anderson will remain as the team’s starter between the pipes to open the season, with the 38-year-old American only needing nine more starts to reach 400 with the Senators organisation.

Anders Nilsson is being viewed as the future stop-gap starter for the team once Anderson’s contract expires at the end of this season, with the Swedish goalie locked up until 2021.

The likes of Marcus Hogberg and Filip Gustavsson are both battling for playing time in the AHL and either player could find themselves promoted into the NHL line-up once Anderson steps aside.

Hogberg is likely to be the team’s backup for the long-term, regardless of how long Nilsson is the starter, with Gustavsson still viewed as the better prospect and the future number one of the team.

Next. Senators rookies are ready to shine. dark

What do you think of CapFriendly’s depth chart Sens fans? How about our views on where each player listed in the line-up will likely play? Who else, not currently listed in the line-up, could you see playing in the opening game of the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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