5 ex-Senators who belong in Ring of Honour instead of having jersey number retired
The Ottawa Senators have four retired numbers in franchise history, but they are also missing jersey numbers to retire too. The team also has a Ring of Honour for people who don't have their number retired.
At the moment, the Senators have three people in their Ring of Honour. Dr. Don Chow was the last one to be inducted. The other two are former head coach Bryan Murray and defenseman Wade Redden, although some might feel Redden should have his number retired.
With three people in, the team is missing more people to put in the Ring of Honour. There are five former Senators who no longer play that deserve to have their name in the Ring of Honour.
Having a player to have their jersey number retired is a big deal. That means they did a lot for the organization and were a key contributing player. However, former Senator players have the ability to be inducted into the Ring of Honour instead. With their hard work and dedication, it shouldn't go unrecognized.
5. Anton Volchenkov
Some might forget that Russian defenseman Anton Volchenkov was drafted in the first round by the Senators 21st overall in the 2000 NHL Draft. When in Ottawa, Volchenkov made an impact on the Senators defense.
Nicknamed the "A-Train," Volchenkov played in Ottawa for the first seven seasons of his 12-year career. Volchenkov was part of two of Ottawa's best seasons in 2003, when the team won the President's Trophy, and in 2007, when the Senators made the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. In the 2006-07 season, Volchenkov had the best year of his career with 19 points and a +37 rating.
Volchenkov was known for being a defensive defenseman would be able to block shots, hit people, and shut offensive threats down. Unfortunately for the Senators, Volchenkov left in the Summer of 2010 to sign with the New Jersey Devils. In Ottawa, Volchenkov totaled for 94 points in 428 games and recorded a +61 rating. Volchenkov's +61 is the ninth most in Senators history.
4. Marian Hossa
Most hockey fans will most likely remember Marian Hossa playing for the Atlanta Thrashers and Chicago Blackhawks, but some might forget he spent the first seven years of his career with the Senators.
The 12th overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft by the Senators only played seven games for the Senators in the 1997-98 season. The next season, he gained consistency and was part of the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1999. Hossa recorded back-to-back 80-point seasons in his final two seasons with the Senators.
Hossa's tenure with Ottawa ended when he was traded to Atlanta in part of the Dany Heatley trade. In his tenure in Ottawa, Hossa recorded 390 points in 467 games. Hossa has the fourth most goals in Senators with 188.
3. Ray Emery
The only goaltender in Senators history to lead their team to the Stanley Cup Final was Ray Emery when he did it in 2007. The goaltender needs to be remembered for his excellence by having his name in the Ring of Honour.
In the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons, Emery barely got playing time by playing only six games combined. However, 2005-06 was when Emery caught the Senators' eyes. In 39 games played, Emery earned 23 wins, but it was the following season he earned the love and respect of the Senators fans and team.
Emery played in 58 games and won 33 of them. Emery posted a 2.47 goals against average and five shutouts. However, it was in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs that Emery shined.
Starting all 20 games in the Senators' run to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, Emery posted a 2.26 goals against average and three shutouts. In the Senators' run to the Cup, Emery outperformed arguably the greatest goaltender of all-time, Martin Brodeur, in the second round of the playoffs.
Emery played his final season with the Senators in the 2007-08 season. After the Senators, Emery was a part of the Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks and Blackhawks organizations. In Ottawa, Emery recorded a 71-40-14 record in 134 games. Emery's 71 wins are the fourth most in Senators' history.
Senator fans were heartbroken when Emery passed away in July 2015 in an apparent swimming accident in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario.
2. Radek Bonk
Some hockey fans might forget that Radek Bonk was the third overall pick of the Senators in the 1994 NHL Draft. Bonk would be part of the Senators organization for 10 years. Bonk was part of good Senators teams.
Bonk was part of the Senators' 1998 team when they won their first playoff series as well as the 2003 team who won the President's Trophy. Bonk's impact was big when he scored over 20 goals in four straight seasons.
Bonk's tenure ended in Ottawa in 2004. Bonk spent two seasons each with the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators. In Ottawa, Bonk recorded 399 points in 689 games.
Bonk is in the top 10 in goals, assists, points and games played in Senators history. Bonk was truly a leader and an important piece in Senators history.
1. Craig Anderson
When asked who the best goaltender is in Senators history, it's without a doubt Craig Anderson. The Senators were searching for a goaltender to be their new number one, and they found it when they traded for Anderson from the Colorado Avalanche midway through the 2010-11 season.
Once Anderson was traded to the Senators, Anderson would be a big part of helping the Senators have success for a decade. The Senators made the playoffs in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
Anderson has the most wins (202), saves (12,477) and minutes (24,840). Anderson is also second in shutouts with 28. Anderson went 202-168-46 in 435 games played, 2.84 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Anderson also won the 2017 Masterton and was fourth in Vezina Trophy voting in 2013.
Without Anderson, the Senators wouldn't have seen success in the 2010s. Anderson is the number one Senator that needs to be inducted in the Senators Ring of Honour.
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