We’re around 60 games into the 2022-23 NHL season and it has been a mixed bag for a lot of teams. In the Atlantic Division the Bruins are soaring and the Leafs are doing “well” but have hit many hiccups, while the Canadiens have been absolutely abysmal. In the Metropolitan the Blue Jackets have been dreadful and aren’t really showing signs of improving. In the Central Division, the Stars are flying high with the jets hot on their tails and in the Pacific the Golden Knights have recently knocked the Kings off of their throne.
Today however, we’re going to be taking a look at our beloved Ottawa Senators. The Sens haven’t particularly been a high-flying team for a while now, with nothing but misery for the fans, for the most part at least. But with solid players like Brady Tkachuk, Nikita Zaitsev and Thomas Chabot in their lineup, should Sens fans really be expecting more than they’re getting? We will be looking back at the Sens season so far and trying to figure out where things keep going wrong for the boys in black.
To begin with, let’s rewind back to just before this season started. The Sens made quite a lot of moves that on paper looked really good. But starting the season with an injured Cam Talbot wasn’t ideal, he has since made 28 appearances with 12 wins. Again, not ideal. Anton Forsberg filled in for him and has also played 28 games but for Anton he only has 11 wins. Both tenders have save percentages of over .9 which is solid but, when they’re both conceding around 3 goals a game it’s really not a good look. On the other hand, Mads Sogaard has played 4 games winning 2 with an OT win and an sv% of .913. I’m not suggesting he’s the answer but..?
Tim Stützle is on solid pace this season and has already beat his points total from last season with 59 in 52 games, beating 58 in 79 games already. SOURCE NHL Ottawa Senators
When it comes to the rest of the roster, it hasn’t quite clicked really, but that doesn’t mean it never will – the Sens have one thing on their side. And that thing is time.
The Senators have gathered a relatively young roster, with players like Tim Stützle who is only 21 and Brady Tkachuk who is still only 23, there is still a lot of potential in this roster. When it does click it looks great, like this weekend when they beat the Blues 7-2 and when they beat the Leafs 6-2 in January, but for some reason they just can’t keep consistent. For example, a 4-0 win over the Blue Jackets into a 8-4 loss to the Kraken? And again a 5-3 win over the Coyotes into a 7-0 loss to the Avalanche and a 2-1 loss to the Blues just isn’t really good enough.
The Ottawa Senators could be viewed as a blank canvas right now and the potential is certainly there and they show it every now and then. With a few more good additions and perhaps a different approach to coaching, they could be a team that could genuinely challenge for years to come, if they could just find those few missing pieces to their jigsaw. Once their young heads are given the experience they need to grow and those final pieces slot together, the Sens will be a team to fear seriously. But for the time being, they’re a bit of an inconsistent mess in the worst way imaginable, crazy results against big performers like the Maple Leafs to poor results against struggling teams like the Blue Jackets, this just can’t happen when you’re wanting to challenge at the top.
Now we’ve taken a look at how the Senators season has been going, it’s time to look forward a little bit and have a peek at how the experts think their next fixture is going to go. For their next game they travel to Carolina as they take on the Hurricanes who find themselves top of the Metropolitan Division with a record of 38-10-8 and currently on a 4-game win streak. The Senators on the other hand are having a drastically different season, propping up the Atlantic Division with a record of 27-25-4.
Looking at some online sportsbooks in Ontario in search of the best odds, it seems that they all agree across the board. The Carolina Hurricanes are pretty heavy favourites, coming in at -425, returning $6.17 from a stake of $5, so with odds that short it’s likely going to be better off adding it into a 3 or 4 team parlay. The Sens on the other hand are +325, returning $21.25 from that same stake of $5. Not looking great for the Sens really is it? Based on that, I can’t imagine the odds will be great on them winning the Stanley Cup… Might as well take a look anyway!
If by some absolute miracle you think the Ottawa Senators are not only going to make a massive run and make the playoffs, but they’re going to surprise everybody and go all the way, you can get them at +300000 which would return $15,005 from that $5 stake we mentioned earlier. For reference, the top 3 favourite teams are as follows; The New Jersey Devils are +3000 in third place returning $155, the Carolina Hurricanes are second with odds of +350, returning $22.50. Finally, to top the list, the Boston Bruins are HEAVY favourites coming in at -700! That would see a measly $5.71 return, all of these returns were from a $5 stake.
So, Sens fans. Time for some questions. Firstly, how do you mentally prepare yourselves for each coming season? Do you start off expecting more only to be let down the same way every season? Or do you go in with low expectations meaning every positive point can be taken as a win? I mean, surely even a playoff appearance would be a welcome change of pace at this point, right? Not that Sens fans need to be reminded of course but, having not made the playoffs since 2017 and no real signs of improvement. Surely, those in charge know that things have to change to get back to where the fans want them to be?
But, the question then is what do they need to do to get them up there? Challenging for titles, or at the very least, making the playoffs somewhat regularly. Look, people like to laugh at the Leafs lack of form in the playoffs, but at least they make it to the playoffs. Does the recruitment policy need to change? Is the coach to blame for the lack of post-season hockey? Or is the full system from top to bottom in need of a shake up? Something isn’t working and until they get to the bottom of what that is, it seems like the Senators are destined to prop up the table.
lead photo Otttawa Senators celebrate 8-2 defeat of Florida Panthers, photo by Ottawa Senators on Instagram
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