Season Preview: Making a Case for the Ottawa Senators

by George Marshall and Bonk's Mullet

Last week, we were introducing one new blog member each day of the week. Two of our blog members got pushed back thanks to the Ryan and Karlsson news, so we're finishing our introductions this week! Today's post comes from George Marshall. You can find George on Twitter at @GMarshall3 and you can check out all our new authors' bios here. Enjoy!

“But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why.”
       - Samwise Gamgee

Paulwise McGamgee (Image by Matty Go Sens)

Scholars have studied the text above and most, if not all, have concluded that Samwise was speaking about the 2014-2015 Ottawa Senators. Perhaps the darkness he refers to is the internal budget and the new day represents a casino opening in Ottawa. Maybe the darkness is not having a Swedish captain and the new day is Erik Karlsson getting the C or Mika Zibanejad buying a boat.

Those are reasonable conclusions to make, but we believe the new day Mr. Gamgee was referring to was the start of the new season. The Sens have the personnel that we can all get excited about, so let’s take a look at these heroes and what we should expect from them this year.

Erik Karlsson:  Even though we never got the results from Melnyk’s forensic investigation, apparently EK is OK! (Sorry.) He racked up 74 points in his first full season after his gruesome injury. When asked about his achilles, he assured us that Jared Cowen would be better this year.

Bobby Ryan, Kyle Turris & Clarke MacArthur: They say threesomes are overrated, but -- Wait. Nobody says that. They're not quite the Pizza Line, but they're at least as good as say... a Calzone Line right now.

Chris Philips: Just signed a lucrative, multi-year deal. Scored the cup winning goal in '07. Easily the most qualified 7th defenceman in Sens history.

Chris Neil: Neil continues to be a hardworking guy that doesn’t try to think outside the box. Meaning he doesn't think, and he spends most of his time in the box.

Mark Stone: He seems to have cemented his place in the lineup. We hate this blog too.

Milan Michalek: With Draisaitl, Edmonton has a rare German-born NHL player, but Ottawa has a German engineered NHL player. Also quite rare.

Curtis Lazar: The 18-year-old hero has overcome every obstacle he's faced so far. Now he must face his biggest challenge yet: playing on a line with Chris Neil. 

Mike Hoffman: Marc Methot's injury has left a spot open for Hoffman on the 23 man roster. Once Methot returns to the lineup, the Sens will have to move a body. We're not sure who it will be, but we suspect his name will rhyme loosely with "ball skin cleaning."

Erik Condra: Is he going to be a healthy scratch? Of Corsi will.

Craig Anderson: Our goalie scout has told us that Anderson has instinctively stopped looking over his shoulder after allowing a goal out fear that Robin Lehner might be there.

Patrick Wiercioch: Last year, he was repeatedly inserted and pulled out of the Ottawa lineup. While Paul MacLean could whip him out at any moment for the PP, his one-way contract provides no protection against him being thrust into another team’s roster.

David Legwand: Sorry Dave, we try to only make one penis joke per post. We do hope you create some magic down the middle though (searches for the exit).

We hope this post has assured you that the Sens are up for a big season. Some story lines we didn't cover: Will Mika handle the pressure of second line? Will Mark Borowiecki punch opponents' faces? Will Chris Neil punch teammates' faces? Will it be Jared Cowen's face?

See you on Thursday!