Our Very First SenShot Mailbag (MVP’s, Trades and More!)
Q: When do you think the Senators will win the Stanley Cup? (Kevin J.)
If you ask Eugene Melnyk, the answer is in 3-5 years, when the Ottawa Senators are said to begin an era of unprecedented success. This entire answer hinges on the 2019-20 draft and off-season. There’s no doubt that the Senators have a nice crop of prospects that look set to graduate from Belleville to Ottawa, which will drastically improve the team as is. However, what the team lacks compared to recent champions, is game-breaking talents, that push them over the top.
During a Sens corporate event in Toronto tonight, Ottawa owner Eugene Melnyk vowed "the #Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success – where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL’s salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025."
— Mike Zeisberger (@Zeisberger) February 7, 2019
The obvious needs are a 1st line centre, another couple of top 4 defencemen, and a quality starting goaltender. The Senators have candidates for all of these positions in their system and can boost it all at the draft this year. Without any of these needs filled, there will never be a window.
In the best-case scenario, over the next 1-2 years, the Senators check all of these boxes. Assuming that, their contention window will open likely around the 2022-23 season, and will be expected to last somewhere in the 4-6 year range. With that, I’d expect a cup before 2030. My honest best guess would be the Ottawa Senators win a cup in 2026.