2017 was a memorable year for the Ottawa Senators.
They finished the 2016-17 season that spring in second place in the Atlantic Division and defeated the Boston Bruins in six games in the first round of the playoffs. After that, they took down the New York Rangers and pushed the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins to double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, only to fall on a goal from a Penguins' player whose name we dare not speak.
Hopes remained high in Ottawa that summer. But things unravelled, oh, so quickly.
Following their impressive 98-point campaign in 2016–17, the Senators dropped by 31 points the next season and went on to miss the playoffs for the next seven years. The dysfunction ran deep, from the owner’s suite to the locker room. Players were feuding (so were their wives and girlfriends), and a now-infamous Uber video showed them mocking the coaching staff.
A fire sale loomed.
But even as we revisit that disastrous 2017–18 season, it’s clear the warning signs went beyond all that, including Eugene Melnyk’s volatile and frugal ways. Those were certainly nothing new.
As we strolled through The Hockey News Archive, as we do from time to time, the cover of the annual 2017 Hockey News Yearbook that set up the 2017-18 NHL season had a headline that read "Can Erik Karlsson and Crew Make Magic Again?"
The answer would be, as Wayne likes to say on Letterkenny, "HARD No."
The Yearbook issue sets up the season every year, and as part of that, we compile a list of each team's Top 10 Prospects heading into that campaign.
In Ottawa, it wasn’t pretty – at least in hindsight.
Leading the pack was 2015 first-rounder Thomas Chabot. That was a strong start. But beyond Chabby, the snapshot of that cupboard looks pretty shabby. No other player in the Sens' top 10 remains with the team, and Nick Paul was the only one who made any kind of real impact. Because Nicky Paul does it ALL.
Whether it was the stock of the team or its prospects, no one saw this crash coming. No one.
Bruce Garrioch previewed the Sens' season for The Hockey News' Aug 31, 2017 Yearbook Issue, including the top 10 in the Future Watch that year... such as it was.
Future Watch: Ottawa Senators Top 10 Prospects (2017–18)
1. Thomas Chabot, D
Age: 20
Team: Saint John (QMJHL)
MVP at the World Juniors for Canada, Chabot elevates his game under pressure.
Acquired: 18th overall, 2015
2. Colin White, C
Age: 20
Team: Boston College (HE)
Stats dipped in his sophomore NCAA year but impressed in six pro games.
Acquired: 21st overall, 2015
3. Logan Brown, C
Age: 19
Team: Windsor (OHL)
Towering center limited to 35 games due to injury; ended year at the Memorial Cup.
Acquired: 11th overall, 2016
4. Shane Bowers, C
Age: 18
Team: Waterloo (USHL)
A competitive 200-foot player with goal-scoring touch. Good sense, lacks explosiveness.
Acquired: 28th overall, 2017
5. Nick Paul, LW
Age: 22
Team: Binghamton (AHL)
Big-bodied forward showed improved production; projects as a fourth-liner.
Acquired: 101st overall, 2013
6. Filip Chlapik, C
Age: 20
Team: Charlottetown (QMJHL)
Rebounded from a poor season to post another 30+ goal year.
Acquired: 48th overall, 2015
7. Alex Formenton, LW
Age: 18
Team: London (OHL)
A fast, gritty winger with bottom-six potential. Needs to add size.
Acquired: 47th overall, 2017
8. Andreas Englund, D
Age: 21
Team: Binghamton (AHL)
Physical, stay-at-home defenseman with limited offensive upside.
Acquired: 40th overall, 2014
9. Francis Perron, LW
Age: 21
Team: Binghamton (AHL)
Crafty forward with offensive instincts, adjusting to the pro game.
Acquired: 190th overall, 2014
10. Filip Ahl, LW
Age: 20
Team: Regina (WHL)
WHL rookie season was a learning curve; needs to compete harder.
Acquired: 109th overall, 2015
2017-18 OTTAWA SENATORS PREVIEW
By Bruce Garrioch
THE SENATORS WENT above and beyond expectations last season. Now, what do they do for an encore? After advancing to the Eastern Conference final for the first time in a decade before dropping a 3-2 double overtime decision to Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh in Game 7, Ottawa won’t take anyone by surprise.
In their first year under coach Guy Boucher, the Senators bought into the program and overcame their share of adversity to have a season not many will soon forget. GM Pierre Dorion, who did an exhaustive coaching search before settling on Boucher, declared his steadfast belief in the Senators by telling anybody who would listen that this team was a contender and the goal in the summer was simply to minimize the changes. Dorion believes if all goes well, the Sens will find a way to take the next step.
OFFENSE The Senators relied on Boucher’s system and that attitude won’t change in 2017-18. There’s no question Erik Karlsson is the straw that stirs the drink, but the Sens have plenty of firepower up front. Center Kyle Turris, who had 27 goals and 55 points last season, doesn’t get nearly enough credit for what he brings to the table, while sharpshooter Mike Hoffman was second on the team in goals with 26. Ottawa needs more consistency from its top-six forwards. Mark Stone was virtually non-existent in the playoffs while Bobby Ryan and Derick Brassard both turned around their difficult years by stepping up in the post-season. After missing nearly two full seasons due to concussion issues, left winger Clarke MacArthur is healthy and could bring more goals.
DEFENSE The departure of Marc Methot as part of the expansion process – the physical defender was selected by Vegas and then traded to Dallas – raises the question of who will play alongside Karlsson.
It could be done by committee. Veteran blueliner Dion Phaneuf, who has played mostly with Cody Ceci since arriving in Ottawa, will get a chance, as will UFA signing Johnny Oduya. Rookie Thomas Chabot will get a look in training camp as well. Karlsson played with Fredrik Claesson when Methot was injured last season. For a while it may be a game of musical chairs.
GOALTENDING Craig Anderson had the kind of season they make movies about. With his wife, Nicholle, battling a rare form of throat cancer, Anderson – who won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication – brought his focus to the rink every night and played a huge role in the club’s success. The 36-year-old Anderson, who left the team for two months to be with Nicholle, finished with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. Backup Mike Condon did a solid job filling in during Anderson’s absence and signed a three-year, $7.2-million deal in the off-season. At some point, perhaps as soon as this season, Condon is expected to take over the No. 1 job.
SPECIAL TEAMS Boucher is supposed to be a power play expert, but the Senators ranked 23rd last season. It was even worse in the playoffs, where Ottawa ranked 14th out of 16 teams. For a team that has Karlsson running the show from the back end, it was tough to watch. The PK wasn’t much better, finishing 22nd overall. There’s no new personnel to help out, so players must step up or the system must change.
INTANGIBLES It’ll be interesting to see where Phaneuf stands once training camp gets underway. He had every right to refuse to waive his no-movement clause and not be exposed in the expansion draft, but the Senators lost Methot as a result. Dorion confirmed he listened to offers on Phaneuf. An alternate captain, Phaneuf plays a big role on the team and some fences may have to be mended.
ROOKIES All eyes will be on Chabot. He made the team out of training camp last year but only suited up for one game before being sent back to junior. He was excellent at the world juniors for Team Canada and helped lead the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs to a QMJHL title. He could play on one of the Sens’ top two defense pairings this season.
X-FACTOR Will Boucher’s system and the club’s superb netminding hold up for a Senators squad that was the only team to qualify for the post-season with a negative goal differential? Brassard, an integral part of the forward group, had off-season shoulder surgery and may not be ready to start the year.
THE BRASS Owner Eugene Melnyk expects the Senators to make the playoffs every spring and that’s not going to change this year. Dorion, heading into his second season as GM, helped the team by adding at the trade deadline, but he had a quiet summer.
Brush Up On More Great Hockey History at The Hockey News Archive
This article orginally appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa, where you'll find all the latest Senators news:
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