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Ottawa Senators: 3 Players Who Could Surprisingly Make the Opening Day Lineup

By Daniel Bruce

LONDON, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Alex Formenton #80 of the London Knights skates with the puck in the second period during OHL game action against the Guelph Storm at Budweiser Gardens on February 13, 2019 in London, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
LONDON, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Alex Formenton #80 of the London Knights skates with the puck in the second period during OHL game action against the Guelph Storm at Budweiser Gardens on February 13, 2019 in London, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Alex Formenton #9 of the North Division skates during the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Alex Formenton #9 of the North Division skates during the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Alex Formenton

This seems like a bit of an odd “surprise” since Alex Formenton has made the Senators opening day roster twice already but oddly he didn’t appear in an NHL game last season. Ottawa went the development route in Formenton’s first year of professional hockey and boy did it pay off, playing in 61 games the speedy-winger had 27 goals, 53 points and appeared as an AHL All-Star.

Formenton’s speed fits today’s NHL perfectly and once he jumps in as a full-time player he will be one of the better skaters in the league. The talent is there and personally I think that Formenton can immediately step in on the third-line and be a staple on the Senators’ PK as soon as the season, but it remains to be seen if he’s given the opportunity. It’s safe to say that Formenton will see NHL games this upcoming season but I along with others have my doubts about the coaching staff’s willingness to start him with the big club.

The Senators are pretty weak on the left-wing after Brady Tkachuk. Alex Galchenyuk, Tim Stuetzle, Artem Anisimov and Nick Paul round out the competition but there are some question marks. First off, Stuetzle appears he will be recovered from his injury in time for Senators camp but there’s no guarantee he leaves Manheim, due to contract stipulations. Galchenyuk was signed on a one-year “prove it” deal that doesn’t tie the Senators to him in the least, so if they don’t see him as a fit he can be easily overtaken. Nick Paul seems like a staple in the bottom-six, especially after his new contract and Artem Anisimov shouldn’t be preventing younger more deserving players from getting ice-time, he seems like an ideal 13th forward.

With the speed, skill and two-way game Formenton brings to the table, he’s plenty deserving of a spot in the opening day lineup.

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