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.