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St. Patrick’s Day Shows How Far The Senators Have Come

By Nicholas Robinson

OTTAWA, ON - MARCH 16: Wearing a green St. Patrick's Day jersey, Bobby Ryan #9 of the Ottawa Senators high-fives fans as he leaves the ice after warmup prior to a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre on March 16, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - MARCH 16: Wearing a green St. Patrick's Day jersey, Bobby Ryan #9 of the Ottawa Senators high-fives fans as he leaves the ice after warmup prior to a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre on March 16, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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March 17th is a day for everyone to pretend they’re Irish, typically spending time parading or at a local bar having a green-tinted pint. Since St. Patrick’s Day 2020 is mostly being spent by Ontarians in their homes with no sports, it provides a chance for fans to reminisce on the past, and what is yet to come.

St. Patrick’s Day and Ottawa Senators hockey don’t often go hand-in-hand, but a quick glance back to this day in 2017 shows how far they’ve come. The team and their fans certainly know that a lot can change in three years.

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Despite a 2-1 loss on home ice to the Chicago Blackhawks on the prior night, the Senators woke up on St. Patrick’s Day 2017 sitting first place in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 39-23-7. It was the first time they had reached the summit of the division since the NHL’s divisional realignment in the 2013-14 season. It was also the first time the team had seen itself with a chance to battle for the lead since the glory days of the early 2000s team.

First-year coach Guy Boucher had his team operating at its peak, with the now infamous 1-3-1 trap game seemingly solving every defensive issue that had plagued the team for years.

While it may feel like forever ago, Senators fans can reimagine the joy of watching the likes of forwards Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris and Mark Stone amongst others. Just some of the players that paced them offensively throughout an exciting campaign, finishing with 26, 27 and 22 goals respectively.

Captain Erik Karlsson was also in the midst of one of the best runs of his career. After a slow start to the 2016-17 season, Karlsson recorded 38 points down the stretch in the new year to push the team into the playoffs. I think everyone can remember what he did from then on.

Karlsson finished the regular season with 71 points, forcing himself into the Norris trophy conversation, where he finished runner-up to Brent Burns.

Craig Anderson was a month into his return during his Masterton Trophy-winning season, where he heroically played for the Senators down the stretch as his wife Nicholle battled cancer. The other goalie three years ago? Now Syracuse Crunch starter, Mike Condon.

Bonus points if you remembered Chris Kelly, Alex Burrows and Tommy Wingels lining up for the team that season. Ironically, only three Ottawa Senators players have survived in the three years since. The aforementioned Craig Anderson, as well as Bobby Ryan and Mark Borowiecki.

Sadly, the 2016-17 rendition of the team is just more evidence that indeed all good things must come to an end. Even the division lead didn’t last, as the Senators were overtaken by the Montreal Canadiens the next night, after a 4-3 shootout loss in the nation’s capital.

While three years is certainly not a long time in the grand scheme of things, what has happened to the team since March 17th, 2017 makes it feel like forever. All management and fans can wish for are that by St. Parick’s Day 2021, the Ottawa Senators are closer to being back where they were.

… Or at the very least hope, they’re on TV again.

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