We come up with our selections for the best Senators from the past 25 years.
As the Ottawa Senators continue to re-live Groundhog Day, it's getting harder and harder to visualize an end to it. But there's no question that the past remains crammed with great moments, memories, and players. Later this month, the NHL will reportedly roll out the nostalgia and select an all-quarter-century team for each of its member clubs, honouring the best players from the millennium's first 25 years.
According to TSN's Chris Johnston on Insider Trading last week, members of the media, along with retired players and executives, will vote on each team’s top six players at forward, top four on defence, and top goaltenders from January 1, 2000 to present day.
Selections will begin to trickle out at the end of this month and continue into January. The Senators have some obvious choices and a few that will spark debates. Here's our list.
Forwards
Daniel Alfredsson (2000-2013)
Alfie holds the Senator team records for career goals (426), assists (682) and points (1,108) with 1,178 games played. 'Nuff said, praise Alfie.
Jason Spezza (2002-2014)
Spezza holds Senator team records for career goals, assists, and points by players not named Daniel Alfredsson. Another easy choice.
Marian Hossa (2000-2004)
Now things start to get a little trickier due to lack of longevity. But Marian Hossa was the complete package. High skill, blazing fast, good at both ends, and deceptively tough to knock off the puck.
Dany Heatley (2005-2009)
He was also here for a good time, not a long time. Trade demands and diminished roles aside, we simply cannot ignore two 50-goal seasons, still the only ones in Senator history.
Brady Tkachuk (2018-Present)
The Sens captain can play it any way you like. It feels like he just got here, but he's already fourth in scoring during the time period we're measuring.
Mark Stone (2013-2019)
Tim Stutzle was very close to getting this spot. But Stone scored so many big goals for this team in big situations. If Stutzle had ever been close to the playoffs in the past four seasons, it might be a different story.
Defence
Erik Karlsson (2009-2018)
Karlsson certainly isn't the greatest defender in Sens history, but he is the most skilled by far. Karlsson nailed down two Norris Trophies in his time here, and probably should have had a third, making him an easy choice.
Zdeno Chara (2001-2006)
Chara hadn't emerged yet as the player he'd become in Boston, but he was still pretty damn good. He hovered near 40 points in his last three seasons here and six-foot-nine, 250 pounds speaks for itself. And what a reach. If you were at your blue line, he could poke check you while standing at his.
Wade Redden (2000-2008)
Redden and Chris Phillips were never defencemen who would attract Norris Trophy love. But they were reliable, minute-munching, do-the-right-thing defencemen who excelled for the Senators for a long time. With very similar personalities, Redden had a little more offence and skill to his game. Phillips had a little more defence and physicality in his.
Chris Phillips (2000-15)
Goalies
Craig Anderson (2010-2020)
As with the two forward positions, Anderson and Lalime are 1-2 in nearly every category so there really is no debate. Dominik Hasek was a better goalie than both, but his time was far too brief and "adductory." Anderson and Lalime are both slam dunks.
Patrick Lalime (2000-2004)
There it is. Our all-quarter-century Ottawa Senators team – the best six forwards, four defence, and two goalies between 2000 and the present. Did we miss out on someone? Did we blow it? Scroll down and let us have it at Sens Roundtable, The Hockey News Ottawa's growing fan forum.