3 Senators you completely forgot made an All-Rookie Team
The Ottawa Senators may have never won a Stanley Cup in franchise history, but that doesn't mean the organization hasn't had great moments or players in franchise history. One thing that seems to be common in Senators history is players having good rookie seasons.
In Senators history, nine players have earned NHL All-Rookie Team honors. Daniel Alfredsson and Marian Hossa are two of the most recognizable players to earn All-Rookie honors. Since 2015, Mark Stone, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris and Jake Sanderson have earned the honor as well.
However, there are still three players that have earned an All-Rookie honor that some Senator fans might have forgetten about.
3 Senators you completely forgot made an All-Rookie Team
All three of these players played on great teams in Senators history, and were big contributing pieces to help the team reach the playoffs, and one of them helped contribute to the Senators making the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.
3. Martin Havlat
Martin Havlat was the 26th overall pick in the 1999 NHL Draft by the Senators. The Senators were hoping a late first-round draft pick on Havlat would be worth it. After not playing in the 1999-00 season, Havlat would have to wait until the 2000-01 season to get NHL experience.
When Havlat got playing time, he thrived in Ottawa during his rookie season. At 19 years old, Havlat finished with 42 points, and was tied for sixth on the team with Rob Zamuner for most goals on the team with 19.
Havlat earned 2001 NHL All-Rookie honors and finished third for the Calder Trophy. Havlat's play helped the Senators finish with a 109-point season, but the Senators were swept by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2001 playoffs.
Havlat would play in Ottawa for the next four seasons of his career. Havlat was part of the 2003 Senators President's Trophy winning team, and in the 2003-04 season, Havlat recorded career-highs in goals with 31 and points with 68. Havlat would play for the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues after finishing his tenure in Ottawa in the 2005-06 season.
2. Andrej Meszaros
Entering the 2004 NHL Draft, the Senators were hoping to cash in with the 23rd overall pick in the draft. With the selection, the Senators drafted defenseman Andrej Meszaros. Meszaros would be unable to play in the 2004-05 season due to the NHL lockout, but would play his rookie season in the 2005-06 season.
When Meszaros did play in his rookie season, he was spectacular. Meszaros posted career-highs in goals with 10, assists with 29, and points with 39. Meszaros finished second on the Senators in +/- rating with a +34 behind Wade Redden. Meszaros earned 2006 All-Rookie Team honors and finished seventh for the Calder Trophy.
Following his rookie season, Meszaros produced back-to-back 30-point seasons, and Meszaros would be a key piece on Ottawa's defense core the following season when the team reached the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. Unfortunately for Meszaros, his tenure in Ottawa ended after the 2008 playoffs.
In 2008, Meszaros signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the Lightning, Meszaros struggled and didn't produce one 20-point season. After Tampa, Meszaros played with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres.
Meszaros would only record one 30-point season for the rest of his career in the 2010-11 season with the Flyers. Meszaros never played an NHL game again after the 2014-15 season.
1. Sami Salo
Defenseman Sami Salo was taken with the 239th overall pick in the 1996 NHL Draft by the Senators. Salo would have to wait to make his NHL debut in the 1998-99 season with the Senators at 24 years old.
When Salo did play, he made an impact on the Senators defense. Salo was able to play the penalty kill, clear pucks out and play physical. Salo finished the 1998-99 season with 19 points, and finished with a +20 rating. Salo's +20 rating as a rookie wad the second best on the Senators behind Magnus Arvedson.
Salo earned 1999 All-Rookie honors and finished ninth for the Calder Trophy. The Senators made the playoffs in 1999, but were swept by the Buffalo Sabres in a shocking upset in the first round.
Salo would play in Ottawa for the next three seasons, but missed a significant amount of games. The Senators made the playoffs for the next three seasons with Salo on the team. However, following the 2001-02 season, Salo joined the Vancouver Canucks and played in Vancouver for the next nine seasons of his career. Salo was part of the Canucks' 2011 Western Conference Finals championship team.
Salo finished his career with the Lightning for the final two seasons of his career. After his +20 rating in 1999, Salo would only record one season with a rating better than +20.