With the NHL well into its cups this 2025-26 season, it’s a good time to look at Eastern Ontario’s three choice teams and how they’re faring.
Montreal, Toronto and of course Ottawa are the organizations most fans cling to in these parts. And with that in mind let’s have an in-depth look at what’s going great and what’s going not-so great for the Habs, Leafs and Senators as the circuit pushes into November.
OTTAWA SENATORS:
WHAT’S GOING GREAT?
In a word, The Drake (. . . that’s two words, Dave).
Ok. And here’s another two words for you, Drake Batherson. Want two more? Shane Pinto.
It has to do management’s hearts good to see the springboard a couple of skaters have hopped on in the absence of captain Brady Tkachuk.
Outside of a couple of severe and costly brain farts, Batherson’s been outstanding. He leads Ottawa in points (five goals, 10 assists) with 15 through just 10 games. All that summer training with hockey beasts, and fellow Nova Scotia natives, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon is paying off big.
Pinto’s sizzle of a start had the entire league on notice when he was unstoppable through the opening few games. His eight goals have him two back of the lead league. Pinto’s all-around game has been startlingly good as well.
Offensively, Jake Sanderson is on target for around a 65-point year which is about right. The Montana product will also be prominent on the US contingent at this winter’s Olympics.
Overall, you generally cannot argue with Ottawa’s overall pace of play. No surprise that Tim Stutzle’s the driving force in that regard.
WHAT’S GOING NOT-SO GREAT?
Hands up who saw this coming . . . netminding.
In a word – brutal at times (that’s three words, Dave). But brutal is descriptive and accurate. The supposed saviour – Linus Ullmark – sports a near-league worst .861 save percentage. His backup Leevi Merilainen has fared even worse (through only two games though).
So, here’s the Amazing Kreskin with the call – if there’s no improvement, there’ll be no return trip to the playoffs.
We touched on Ottawa’s pace of play previously – generally particularly good – but consistency therein has been lacking. The Senators can look dynamite for stretches then foggy and fuzzy for others.
Individually, Fabian Zetterlund has to be better than one goal in 13 games.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
WHAT’S GOING GREAT?
If you caught sight of head coach Craig Berube’s face and could read his lips in Monday’s effort against Pittsburgh, you’d rightfully conclude that this section would be as short as Montreal’s is long.
Still, you have to admire what ageless John Tavares is accomplishing with his six goals and 10 helpers in 13 games. Eating their words are all the critics who claimed his original free agent contract would NOT age well. He’s played so consistently well, the Buds brought him back on another deal.
And for all the heat thrown his way (did he inherit the Mitch Marner media treatment?), Willy Nylander’s putting up Batherson-Esque numbers with 18 points in his first 13 games.
Goalie Anthony Stolarz’s performed well enough considering his co-No.1 Joe Woll’s been absent for the opening of the season.
WHAT’S GOING NOT-SO GREAT?
I think it was TSN’s James Duthie who said (last year) for a team that holds the first overall spot in the Atlantic, Toronto gets scrutinized like no other.
That’s bang on.
But it’s also the reality of playing in the NHL’s largest market in front of its biggest fan base.
So even though the Leafs sit with a positive 7-5-1 mark, they get torched a bit. So, here we go.
The eye-test reveals a team that plays slower than most and – definitely – without the same verve and vigour as almost all. This is what drives Berube, a noted fiery competitor, nuts.
Outside of a few spurts, Auston Matthew’s play has been lethargic. Clearly the loss of Marner was expected to sting and it absolutely does.
As we wrote earlier, Toronto will be nip-and-tuck to make the post-season.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
WHAT’S GOING GREAT?
This could turn out to be an exceedingly long section. But we’ll try to keep it tidy.
First off, kudos to the organization for identifying needs then filling them, lickety-split. In the past year, Montreal’s added Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Zach Bolduc. Seamlessly these three plugged holes.
Montreal also brought in Ivan Demidov whose flash and dash and creativity rival former Hab Alex Kovalev. Interestingly, the Canadiens could sport back-to-back Calder winners with Demidov and last year’s champ, Lane Hutson.
How superb has Montreal been? Both Hutson and Caufield are now strong considerations for Team USA at the Olympics.
The Habs – long time thought of as small and meek – have a terrific mix now with Josh Anderson, Bolduc, Jay Struble and of course, the beast-incarnate, Arber Xhekaj, patrolling.
And will wrap with this. Someone in the know (Elliotte?) said this about the club, so I’ll just repeat it: There is not a more enjoyable and exciting team to watch this year than Montreal.
WHAT’S GOING NOT-SO GREAT?
For a team off to a 9-3 start, not much.
The one (major) stickler is in goal, though. As poor as Ottawa has looked on the stat line, Montreal has them trumped with its No. 1 guy Sam Montembeault. His .839 save percentage is a league-worst among first liners.
Unlike Ottawa, Montreal’s ‘back-up’ has been remarkable. Jakub Dobes is 6-0 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.
Told you. Hard to poke holes here.
OTTAWA SENATORS WEEK AHEAD:
Thursday, Nov. 6: Ottawa at Boston (7 pm)
Saturday, Nov. 8: Ottawa at Philadelphia (1 pm)
Sunday, Nov. 9: Nashville at Ottawa (7 pm)
Tuesday, Nov. 11: Dallas at Ottawa (7 pm)
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
Photo: Courtesy David Banks
