Some are quick to label the start to the Ottawa Senators season as a case of ‘treading water.’
Some are also claiming that the Senators just have to ‘hang on’ until their captain, Brady Tkachuk, returns from a decimating hand injury; then things will get immensely better.
Both are somewhat inaccurate statements, and here’s why.
Our first scenario – ‘a swimming skill that allows a person to stay in a vertical position with their head above water without moving forward’ (thanks AI) – is kind of ridiculous. Ottawa has not not moved forward. Quite obviously, the team has progressed in a number of areas and sports/carries a number of players who have jumped to the front of the line. They’ve advanced.
This is a full-credit situation that goes onto the laps of the organization’s coaching staff. Travis Green might have been an underwhelming choice when initially hired, but here in his second year behind the bench, he’s found his game and helped his skaters find theirs. Analytically, the club has advanced overall.
The players?
With the colorful captain sitting quietly on the sidelines, guys like Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson and Shane Pinto (newly signed to a four-year deal) are making plenty of noise of their own.
That next-man-up philosophy is kind of working out nicely, eh?
You might think this next part a little wayward but how much better is the team with Tkachuk? While significant, in his absence (see above) the realization is he is not both the salt and pepper of the franchise. Face it, it’s hard to ignore a Tkachuk and while it’s also hard to ignore his contributions, he’s not the entire package.
And this is a very good thing indeed if you call yourself a fan of the Eastern Ontario team.
At 8-5-4, Ottawa sits just two points behind Montreal for first place in the Atlantic Division – without Tkachuk.
The Habs have a game in hand but more to the point have been a media darling right out of the gate. Being just two back of the much-adored Canadiens ain’t too bad.
ARE THE LEAFS TRULY THIS BAD?
If you check the various headlines and opinion pieces and chat boards, the answer would be a big, fat yes.
This corner of the page wrote a few weeks ago about expectation versus reality in Toronto.
As the most scrutinized entity in the National Hockey League, the Maple Leafs get it big time from the media and the haters across the country . . . daily. Is it fair? Well, not really but that’s the price you pay for playing in Canada’s largest city in front of Canada’s largest fan base.
Some can manage the heat (William Nylander, Auston Matthews) while others can’t (Mitchell Marner).
The hand-wringers here in Ottawa who seemingly hang on every stitch of thread, obsessively dialing in their best schadenfreude regarding the Leafs just relish in the constant turmoil. As do the clans in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver and (especially) Montreal.
With every playoff fumble comes a veritable parade down your city streets.
Anyway, to the matter at hand. Toronto is (really!) not playing effectively on a number of levels. The goaltending has been questionable; offensively Nylander, Matthew Knies and John Tavares have produced while others (Matthews) have struggled mightily; the defence looks slow; and that time-honored tradition of not being resilient or tough enough is back in a major way.
Is it fixable?
Likely. You just know that GM Brad Treliving is piling up the cell charges seeing what’s out there, while an exceptionally good head coach in Craig Berube tries to get his charges back on track. The netminding should progress as well now that Joe Woll is back in the fold. Meantime, stalwart blueliner Chris Tanev is close to a return.
At 8-8-1 the sky is not falling but the national perception certainly is.
Welcome to Toronto.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET . . .
Sits Anaheim. Not even close to being a sitting Duck anymore.
GM Pat Verbeek’s done wonders out west with this team.
You want young stars?
Leo Carlsson (20 years old with 26 points in 16 games), Cutter Gauthier (21 with 20 points in 16), Mason McTavish (22), Beckett Senneke (19).
Dribble in some healthy experience with Chris Krieder and Alex Killorn and some grit/experience with Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba and voila.
The Ducks goal is in good shape too with emerging 25-year-old Lukas Dostal (8-4-1, 2.69 goals-against average and .908 save percentage).
Nice to witness a bit of a turnover as well in the league with upstarts like Anaheim, now at a robust 11-4-1 (first in the Pacific). Throw in Montreal, Utah and Chicago and it is all-good with some of the previously written-off clubs in the circuit.
OTTAWA SENATORS WEEK AHEAD:
Thursday, Nov. 13: Boston at Ottawa (7 pm)
Saturday, Nov. 15: LA at Ottawa (7 pm)
Thursday, Nov. 20: Ottawa at Anaheim (10 pm)
Saturday, Nov. 22: Ottawa at San Jose (7 pm)
thegrossgame@yahoo.com
Photo: CourtesyTSN.ca
