Pressure comes with success. The more you have of the latter, the more you inherit of the former.
So then, when you haven’t had any measure of success for the better part of seven or eight years, and suddenly stumble onto a taste most recently, the expectations rise. From the fan base to the skaters, to the management, to the media.
Such is life when you’re wearing the Big Boy pants, Ottawa Senators.
With training camps on the horizon (next month in these parts), Ottawa is one of the clubs that won’t be satisfied with just making the playoffs in 2025-26, the Senators count themselves as one of those clubs pressed to gain further ground.
The scene and table are set as well. There’s bound to be some fluctuation in the Atlantic Division: The first-place Leafs lost one of the top-10 – likely top-5 – wingers in all of hockey; Florida might have to go without Matthew Tkachuk for a lengthy period and really doesn’t give a hoot where they finish as long as they qualify; Tampa’s aging in key areas; Buffalo’s still Buffaloing; Boston’s done little to improve; Detroit’s followed suit; and that leaves . . . Montreal as about the only real competition in the moving-on-up class.
The door is open then to make some hay in the Eastern Conference. But having written that, we’ll write this – certain players need to step up their game(s) in order for the ascension to continue.
Here’s a look at who will be dealing with the heat of great expectations.
Linus Ullmark: Well, we had to start here, right? Before launching into a stellar final one-third of the year, Ullmark was either injured or grossly inconsistent. Not what is required of the guy you tagged as Franchise Netminder. Good health and a good start are essential for the former Vezina winner. His final numbers (25-14, 2.72 goals-against average and .910 save percentage) were decent and reflect how good Ullmark performed down the stretch.
Dylan Cozens: Say what you want about the oft-injured Josh Norris, and you will, but the former Senator was one of the more popular guys in the Ottawa room before the trade that brought Cozens over from Buffalo. There is an ocean of naysayers who consider Cozens a step down. At 24, he still has a touch of potential growth ahead of him (he’s 25 in February) and he’ll be under some fire in his first full season as a Senator. After a sterling 2022-23 season (31 goals), Cozens’ numbers have consistently dropped.
Ridly Greig: This is an enormous year up-coming for the former first-rounder (28th overall, 2020). Greig has teased his potential through his first two full campaigns in Ottawa, but here’s that word ‘consistency’ again. Steady production and steady assertive play are going to be the requirement(s) in Year 3. Being ‘hard to play against’ was Greig’s calling card in junior hockey; that will be the hope in the NHL during 2025-26.
Drake Batherson: How can a guy who finished second on the team in goals (26) and second on the team in points (68) be on this hot sheet? Because it’s Drake, friends and neighbours. Batherson always leaves the fan base wanting more; check out the various chat sites if you’re not believing it. He’s also at the top of the class as far as trade rumours. Not really fair but that’s what it is.
Fabian Zetterlund: Another relative newcomer (see: Cozens), Zetterlund could turn into a major trade deadline win for the Senators if pundits around the NHL have it right. The ongoing question seems to be: Where does he fit in? Zetterlund bounced up and down the lineup last season during his 20 games in Ottawa (traded from San Jose) and his two goals reflect the constant upheaval. Coach Travis Green needs to find a permanent slot and role for the 26-year-old winger.
Tyler Kleven: You could slot a question mark after his name here . . . Does Kleven even belong on the pressure-list? Helluva good question. Still, his maturity and growth on the blue-line in the last half (and into the playoffs) of the year has the collective shouting ‘more-more-more!’ Kleven has size and a boomer of a shot. Playing with a touch more of an edge couldn’t hurt the blossoming defender (see also: Greig).
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
Photo: Courtesy NYTimes
