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In the NHL there’s, of course, the Great 8.
The Ottawa Senators however are well on the other side of the discussion as far as ‘8’ goes.
Eight straight losses.
This team is sinking harder and faster than my RSP portfolio.
Hell, we all knew this season was going to be a test of patience, but eight straight defeats?
The pom-pom waivers will tell you – “Give them a break, they’re close in practically every game!”
Close counts in darts. That’s about it.
Is the team rich in upcoming talent . . . to soften the blow of a blown season?
Depends on who you ask.
There are pieces there, as we point towards Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and perhaps Alex Formenton and Drake Batherson.
A decent lot to build around we predict.
But they’re certainly not at the top of the league. In fact, The Sporting News put together a recent ranking-rating and Ottawa was slotted 13th. (The Buffalo Sabres ranked first overall, and we’re seeing evidence this year with that massive turnaround in Western New York).
I won’t dispute the notion that the Senators have a pretty decent young base.
But.
But.
But.
You need more than youth.
You need stability and genuine optimism – something Ottawa has neither of.
You need a management and ownership group which breeds confidence. Ditto for the coaches. Double ditto for the scouting staff.
Ottawa strikes a big zero on all fronts.
The fact that the team’s only legitimate and proven stars – Matt Duchene and Mark Stone – remain unsigned to new deals is embarrassing.
The fact that the club might be forced to move both at the upcoming trade deadline is equally troubling. (Stone is 26 and Duchene is 27, so the argument you’d be shuffling off ‘aging parts’ is ridiculous).
Hate to rain on anyone’s hope here, but the palpable evidence dictates that hope is headed in the same direction as my RSPs.
Notes and notions: The Senators get a taste of California this week. They’ll be in Anaheim, LA and San Jose. That’s three games in four nights. That’s taxing. That’s stating the obvious . . . I am not a fan of the NHL all-star game. Never have been. Still, have to feel for a guy like Mitchell Marner who – because ‘every team gets a representative’ – is not attending. The league instituted a Last Man In clause this season where fans can vote to add an additional skater from each of the four divisions. The Maple Leafs, who already have Auston Matthews and John Tavares headed to San Jose, have opted to put Norris candidate Morgan Rielly as their voting option. Can’t disagree with Rielly but Marner’s been Toronto’s best and most consistent forward all season. He should be ahead of both Matthews and Tavares . . . Here’s all you need to know regarding Marner: Media pundits continually put him in the Hart Trophy hunt and talk whereas Matthews and Tavares are not . . . The host Sharks will have three players playing – Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and some guy named Erik Karlsson . . . The game will be played at SAP Center on Jan. 26 . . . Ottawa’s Last Man In candidate? Mark Stone . . . I know what you’re thinking: For a guy who says he doesn’t care for the all-star game, you sure write a lot about it. You wouldn’t be wrong . . . And back to it: Did you know this will be Karlsson’s sixth appearance? . . . Got to love former Senator Curtis Lazar’s attitude. In a piece penned on Sportsnet’s website, Eric Francis explains when Lazar arrived at Calgary’s training camp this past fall, he approached the team about starting the year in the AHL. They agreed. Since then Lazar continues to tear it up in Stockton and is likely going to be called up (although the Flames are awfully deep). Lazar knew the only way to improve his game was to get plenty of ice time, even if that meant missing out on the top league in the world. So far so good. Hell, the kid’s only 23. Plenty of time to turn around a disappointing career.
Senators week ahead:
Wednesday, Jan. 9: Ottawa at Anaheim (10 pm)
Thursday, Jan. 10: Ottawa at Los Angeles (10:30 pm)
Saturday, Jan. 12: Ottawa at San Jose (10 pm)
