Ottawa Senators Season Preview: Forwards

Brady Tkachuk

The Senators best forward, and arguably best player once again enters the season as the leader of the forward group.

Tkachuk nearly reached an unprecedented milestone last season when he was on pace to record 300+ shots and hits, this would have made him the first-ever player to do so. Entering another season where the record will be impossible to hit, however, expect Tkachuk to set another great pace with his net-front presence and physical play.

The staple on the first-line left-wing, and a net-front presence on the powerplay, Tkachuk will have every opportunity to lead the forward group in multiple statistical categories.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 20G 24A 44P

Josh Norris

Norris 21, will start the season centring the top line, a testament to how much Norris has grown since entering the professional ranks just last season. Surprising many people (including me) last season when he fired home 31 goals in just 56 games with Belleville, Norris looked primed for the NHL a year before anyone had expected. Already having dipped his toe in the NHL waters last season when he suited up for 3 games at the end of the season, Norris knows what to expect.

Norris hones great goal-scoring ability and combined with Tkachuk they could cause significant problems to opposing teams, especially with a playmaker with the talent of Drake Batherson on the right-wing. D.J. Smith has been hesitant confirming that this line will stay together, while they may not stay together the whole year, Friday night they will start the season together.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 13G 9A 22P

Drake Batherson

Calling Batherson the most gifted offensive player in the Senators system wouldn’t be a stretch, even with the insertion of Tim Stuetzle into the lineup, that’s how good Batherson is. Honing exceptional playmaking ability, Batherson has been one of the better point producers in the whole AHL over the last two seasons, the only thing he’s yet to conquer so far is the big leagues.

While training camp has been limited in its media coverage, there have been rave reviews regarding Batherson’s play:

Something that couldn’t have been said last season when Batherson started the season slowly. This upcoming season will hopefully be the year that the top prospect finally becomes an NHL player.

2020-21 Prediction 56GP 10G 26A 36P

Tim Stützle

Yes Tim Stützle, not Stuetzle, will be suiting up on Friday, likely playing with Derek Stepan and Evgenii Dadonov. The most dynamic forward on the Senators by far should be able to create extra space for Stepan and an upper-echelon goalscorer such as Dadonov. Stützle relies heavily on his outstanding playmaking ability and that shouldn’t change as he will likely be setting up his linemates constantly.

Timmy Süperstar has already been debuting his skills during the first scrimmage open to the media, his speed is such a weapon:

If there’s one thing the Senators have missed in their forward group during the past few seasons is pace, and Stützle brings world-class skating to the table.

The most exciting debut for a Senators player that I can remember, just imagine if the fans could be there to witness it.

One of the favourites for the Calder as well, Stützle can be found in the top-5 in betting odds.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 14G 18A 32P

Derek Stepan

The step-dad to Stützle, D.J. Smith and Pierre Dorion are hoping this can be a season long partnership that guides the German forward throughout his first year of hockey in North America.

Entering his 11th season in the NHL, Stepan has had a solid career to date, scoring 479 points in 739 games and he leads all Senators players in career points. A career low 28 points last season doesn’t paint a pretty picture for Stepan, but he never seemed comfortable in Arizona, the last two seasons being mired by mediocre production.

A change of scenery may be what Stepan needs to crack the 50+ point pace which he did for 7 consecutive seasons stretching from 2011-2018. If Stepan regains his form, he would be an ideal player to dangle at the deadline as a rental for a contending team.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 9G 16A 25P

Evgenii Dadonov

Without a doubt, the most surprising signing of the offseason, maybe even in the NHL was the inking of Dadonov, a 31-year-old dynamic goal scorer by Pierre Dorion. One of the better moves Dorion has made as a General Manager, this offers the team a known commodity (which they don’t have many of), who can help the younger players find their stride by getting him the puck.

Dadonov scored 11 powerplay goals last season on one of the better units in the league, while Ottawa was dead last in powerplay efficiency. Highlighting the first unit of the man advantage, it would surprise nobody to see Dadonov’s name in the team lead in powerplay goals and for that fact, total goals.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 19G 23A 42P

Nick Paul

Firmly positioned on the third-line left-wing, Paul is looking more and more like a player who will be a reliant contributor in the bottom six for the foreseeable future.

Finally earning his spot in Ottawa last season, Paul set career-highs in goals, assist, points and games played. His 20 points in 56 games were impressive since he wasn’t paired with the most talented offensive players.

Expectations should be reasonable for Paul, a regular in the lineup and similar production to last season should be a realistic possibility.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 10G 8A 18P

Chris Tierney

Tierney finally moves on from the top six, and this is something that will be better for the player and the team. Producing 35+ points in each of his first two seasons in Ottawa, Tierney has been a critical part of the team’s offence. Less powerplay time and more time shorthanded should benefit Tierney, he was one of the more effective penalty killers on the team last season, finishing tied for first spot with 4 shorthanded goals.

While less point production is likely in the cards, Tierney’s career will be better for it as he can now establish himself as a valuable third-line centre.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 6G 21A 27P

Connor Brown

Another player that personifies the third-line role, Connor Brown is a very versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup and on both the powerplay and penalty kill. Brown led all Senators forwards in ice-time last season, averaging 20:07 TOI/GP.

Brown will likely see time on the second powerplay unit and will be a crucial factor on the penalty kill. While he is on the third-line to start the season, It’s highly doubtful that he doesn’t take someone’s spot ahead of him in the lineup. D.J. Smith has a good relationship with Brown and depends on him in crucial situations, so his minutes shouldn’t be cut as much as some people will expect.

2020-21 Prediction: 56GP 11G 17A 28P

Cedric Paquette

A scrappy, experienced veteran who played a part in Tampa Bay’s Cup win, Paquette will play a role that the younger players can’t and shouldn’t play: playing under 10 minutes a night and crashing bodies.

He should be used in that sheltered role and not much else:

Oof…

2020-21 Prediction: 27GP 3G 1A 4P

Artem Anisimov

Anisimov had surprisingly good numbers last season in a limited role his first season in the Capital of Canada, posting 15 goals in just 49 games.

His role this season will be primarily limited to the fourth-line with a chance of no powerplay time. Once Colin White regains the coaching staffs confidence it’s likely Anisimov slips down to the 13th forward.

2020-21 Prediction: 25GP 4G 2A 6P

Austin Watson

One of the better leaders on the team combined with being the main enforcer on the team to “protect the assets”, Watson will be a regular in the lineup throughout the season.

Watson had 7 fights and 65 penalty minutes last season so Senators fans can expect to see a few scraps by virtue of Watson.  The 6’4″ power forward has some offensive instincts as well, scoring 14 points in 53 games last season.

2020-21 Prediction: 51GP 8G 4A 12P

Colin White

A surprising healthy scratch on opening night, White shouldn’t be seeing much more of the pressbox after the upcoming game. Signed to a 6-year contract prior to last season, the Senators will never be giving up on White sooner rather than later, this seems like an intended wake-up call.

White will have to work his way back up the lineup, however, his linemates could be limited to Watson, Anisimov or Paquette, not a recipe for success.

2020-21 Prediction: 54GP 10G 15A 25P

Logan Brown

I thought it was necessary for me to include Logan Brown, as he will be an Ottawa Senator at some point this season. With the Senators housing a lot of veterans it seems they want to start this season favouring experience, a questionable move but one that Brown needs to work through.

An interesting point by Dorion, but he thinks that more AHL time for the 22-year-old would be better. Dorion seems to really want Brown to improve at even strength before he/D.J. Smith can trust him enough to play in the NHL.

2020-21 Prediction 28GP 3G 10A 13P