Senators Mid-Season Report: Some Good, Some Not So Good

Bring on the grind.

The Ottawa Senators plowed through an incredibly taxing road run with a few nicks and a few ticks. They also picked up a few wins, particularly at the start, but ended the nine-game slog with a string of defeats.

Now the real fun begins as the second half of Ottawa’s season unfolds.

Unlike previous campaigns, Ottawa enters the next run (technically, if you want to get technical, and I know that you do, the team’s halfway point comes on Saturday in Pittsburgh) nipping at a playoff spot.

Let’s dip into how the team has looked and performed through the first half.

FORWARDS: The good?

Brady and Tim and Drake.

The not-so-good?

Pick a name, really.

You can’t ask much more from Ottawa’s top two dogs in Tkachuk and Stutzle who’ve carried the club’s attack for the entire first half. Batherson’s been solid and steady.

The fall-off though from that point is precipitous.

Claude Giroux is not aging well. He’s clearly lost a step. More troubling is the production from supposed up-and-comers Shane Pinto and Ridly Greig (six goals apiece). It’s not too trite to say a playoff rung could hang in the balance with these two. Secondary scoring needs to improve, or the opposition’s shutdown line won’t have much to worry about.

Still pondering the off-season acquisitions in Mike Amadio, David Perron and especially Nick Cousins who – outside of a shift or two – has done zippo except for taking dumb penalties. Perron could help down the road, but injuries have curtailed his involvement.

Oh . . . almost forgot. Josh Norris. Remember him? Josh has immense talents – great skater, wicked shot – but boy does he play a sometimes-uninvolved game. The club needs a whole lot more from the 25-year-old.

Grade: (Top half): A. (Bottom half): D

DEFENCEMEN: One day there will be folk songs sung around the campfire about Nick Jensen.

Well, let’s not go that far but the veteran has been Ottawa’s best blueliner and it isn’t even close. Steady, mature and responsible, the former Washington Capital who was traded for (gulp) Jakob Chychrun (11 goals, 28 points) has surpassed expectations.

Ottawa’s top-two defenders, meantime, have drawn mixed reviews. Former whipping boy (there’s always at least one in Ottawa, eh?) Thomas Chabot is playing smarter and safer. His 18 points is expected; his +11 rating isn’t. Improvement to be sure.

Wunderkid Jake Sanderson hasn’t been so ‘wunderful.’ His -16 is far and away the worst plus-minus on the team. Jake was the goat Tuesday in Detroit when he took a caught-out-of-position minor in overtime that led to the game winner. Someone needs to collaborate with the youngster on decision-making, as in when to jump in and go, and when to hold back and defend. He’ll get it eventually. Call it a growth year.

The only other thing I’ll ponder on here deals with Artem Zub. The 29-year-old wears a ton of mileage and hard minutes on that frame, and we’re seeing the results this year. Durability has become a problem.

Grade: B

GOALTENDERS: Ottawa’s reputation as a goalie graveyard is rearing up once again.

It’s like the promo line for Jaws 2: “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water . . .”

Just when you thought the saviour had found his game and all was good in the crease . . . a mystery ailment sends him to the sidelines. Such is life in the Ottawa goal where Linus Ullmark stood on his head for about, oh, a month, before landing in sick bay (again). The investment in the 31-year-old former Vezina winner is pretty immense, and you can’t blame the organization for being a little shellshocked.

The Senators net situation is not a deep one (more on that below in the ‘management’ evaluation) and it’s a hot spot of trouble right now.

Anton Forsberg – capable at times – is not a long-term answer, if Ullmark and the mysterious back issue are not resolved.

Hard to grade a position do fraught with bad luck . . . but.

Grade: B (overall). D- (on the fortune side of things)

COACH: There’s not much of a question as to whether Travis Green – like him or not – has brought a relative sense of calm to the entire team-defence-structure. And I use the word ‘relative’ here given where Ottawa stood (or didn’t stand) during the previous coaching carnival. It was . . . pure, hot mess.

Nowadays, for the most part, the forwards aren’t blowing the zone willy-nilly. There’s a stronger dedication to sticking around when the puck’s still being batted around in your zone.

Green’s whole package isn’t completely being bought in to, though. That space in front of whoever’s patrolling the net tends to go unattended for lengthy periods; leading to chances, leading to goals. Boxing out in front of your own net doesn’t seem to be a part of the local lexicon, too many times.

Overall, Green’s done a capable job. The Senators play a much more mature game than they have in the recent past. This isn’t as stable and sturdy as program as it was under former boss Jacques Martin, but Ottawa’s seen growth under Green.

Grade: B

MANAGEMENT: If things don’t change in a hurry, GM Steve Staios is soon to get the nickname “Stay Steve.” Staios always seems to preach patience but at times that patience needs to be pushed aside. In other words – make a move already.

Currently at hand is a testy goaltending situation with Ullmark (back strain) shelved yet again. Backup Anton Forsberg hasn’t been up to par and so the team goes to untested youngsters who really have no business being in the bigs (at this point).

With the playoffs in a tenuous position, dilly-dallying away precious time while not addressing an enormous need (no one seems to know when Ullmark will be able to return) is foolish.

There is veteran help available and yes, it’s going to cost, but that’s the price you must pay if you have any intention of staying in the race.

Staios has also remained quiet addressing the rest of the roster.

Grade: C-

OTTAWA SENATORS WEEK AHEAD:

Thursday, Jan. 9: Buffalo at Ottawa (7 pm)

Saturday, Jan. 11: Ottawa at Pittsburgh (4 pm)

Sunday, Jan. 12: Dallas at Ottawa (5 pm)

Tuesday, Jan. 14: Ottawa at NY Islanders (7:30 pm)

thegrossgame@yahoo.com

PHOTO: Courtesy AP