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Lessons The Ottawa Senators Can Learn From the Tampa Bay Lightning

By Nicholas Robinson

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Genral Manager of the Ottawa Senators Pierre Dorion speaks with a runner prior to the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Genral Manager of the Ottawa Senators Pierre Dorion speaks with a runner prior to the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Thomas Chabot #72 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Best Players Earning Their Money

When Ottawa once again reaches the post, fans will be able to see what exactly their core is made of. It can go one of two ways:

  1. The Tampa Bay route: Their young stars can embrace the post-season, and flourish under the pressure of being a play-off team, leading to success every spring.
  2. The Toronto route: Their young stars can fail to seize the moment(s) when it comes, leading to a consistent cycle of disappointment.

Senators fans that enjoy spending their free time dunking on their provincial rivals in Toronto will be hoping the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and Tim Stützle among others, take the first route and allow fans to taste the success that they have so long craved from this team. If they don’t, then Ottawa too will be subject to ridicule from all over.

This in many ways is a cop-out of a lesson, but one that does still need to be emphasized. While Tampa Bay have won two championships on the back of their depth and versatility, they wouldn’t be anywhere without their stars producing when it counts. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman and the rest of the core have all been stars in both playoff runs, and none of them have folded under the pressure.

This is by far the least controllable or predictable of the lessons that the Senators can learn from the Lightning. It is worth saying that the compete level and desire from players, coaches, and management in Ottawa has been evident in everything they’ve spoken about since the rebuild began. Whether or not they can truly back up this talk remains to be seen, but establishing a winning mindset in the early parts of this transition can go a long way.

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