Questions in need of answers.
Some of this we’ll see come to fruition early this next season, other answers will have to wait until we’re well into springtime 2027.
The Ottawa Senators are clearly riding the crest of a different wave come the fall.
Let’s have a look at four of the burning questions facing the club that finally broke through with back-to-back playoff appearances after seven very long years of futility.
ARE THE SENATORS BETTER OFF WITHOUT BRADY TKACHUK?
You can’t take a unicorn out of your lineup, as Tkachuk is, and expect status quo.
And sure, you can trot out all that horse manure about him ‘being a distraction in the room’ and Brady morphing into ‘Captain America’ as reasons why the organization is better off without him, but who’s kidding who here? Tkachuk was Ottawa’s most impactful force for practically all of the eight years he played here.
Fight, score, energize – all part of the Brady mystique for those eight seasons.
He’s gone now, and we all know now that that plan was firmly in place for – at the very least – months. Brady had no intention of re-signing in Ottawa, despite protestations from management that that wasn’t true in the least.
Replacing the league’s preeminent power forward is impossible. Ottawa and its fans will have to go on without him, bitterly no doubt, but claiming the club is better off without Mr. Tkachuk is ridiculous.
WHO MAKES THE BIGGEST LEAP IN PLAY, TIM STUTZLE OR JAKE SANDERSON?
The double-steal of the 2020 NHL draft, Stutzle and Sanderson have been much more – already – than most projected (except maybe former GM Pierre Dorion who picked the duo third and fifth overall?).
Stutzle’s 409 points in 449 games ranks well atop the board among the 2020 picks, while Sanderson’s 181 points in 303 games ranks him well ahead of the rest of the d-men selected that summer. So, you can complain all you want about what Dorion brought to the organization, but you have to tip your hat at what he pulled off here.
But to the question at hand then.
I’d have to go with Sanderson here.
His trajectory season by season has been nothing short of marvelous. He’s at the point where he’s established himself as not only the Senators best blueliner, but he’d have to rank as a Top-5 league-wide. If Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes ever retire, pencil Sanderson in for a Norris.
If anyone is to feel the full effect of a Brady departure more than Stutzle, you’d be hard pressed to name a name. Offensively, Tkachuk was hand in glove with Stutzle, and he also benefited from Brady’s ‘don’t touch Timmy or you’ll pay’ effect.
Suffice it to say that both will take on bigger roles with the former captain gone.
WHICH LINUS SHOWS UP THIS SEASON?
Good question.
Ullmark was godawful at times (early) and went through some significant personal issues that kept him sidelined for a good chunk of the year.
But.
Late in the season, the former Vezina winner found his game in a big way. In the playoffs, Ullmark was outstanding.
After a summer of rest and regrouping, we’d expect an exceptional year from the 33-year-old netminder. He can also count on some big help from the skaters as coach Travis Green’s tight defensive scheme clicked in a major way last season.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE DRAKE?
Another good question.
Mr. Batherson and the team were reportedly far apart on contract talks at the time of this writing. He becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of this term if no deal is signed.
Seriously though, I can’t see that happening. The 28-year-old winger is an integral part of the Senators attack. It’ll be tough enough replacing Tkachuk’s yearly output but without Batherson – whose goal numbers the past four years are 22, 28, 26 and then 33 last go-round – it’s panic time.
Batherson should also become Ottawa’s introduction to the new-age NHL as the salary cap keeps elevating and elevating. It’d be stunning if Batherson doesn’t become the Senators highest paid player come the fall. Postmedia suggests that the Nova Scotia native is looking for an eight-year deal in the neighbourhood of $10-million US per annum.
Two weeks ago, GM Steve Staios addressed the issue.
“There’s no secret that we want to get Drake Batherson signed. That conversation is ongoing with Drake, and it takes two sides to come to a deal. But there’s been good dialogue as we move forward,” Staios told Postmedia.
“He’s a homegrown talent. It’s a great story. He continues to get better and we feel like we have a very great, strong, contending team with a chance to win. We want him to be a part of it.”
Stay tuned.
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
Photo: Courtesy Post Media
