I sat down to write down Five Thoughts following that loss to the Anaheim Ducks and couldn’t put together more than a single sentence.
It was that kind of game. It’s been that kind of season.
In the moments that followed that game it hit me just how done I am with this season. It feels like we’ve been asking the “What’s wrong with the Ottawa Senators?” question for like four consecutive months. I’ve grown tired of it and like the rest of you, I’m running out of answers.
This is going to be an important summer for everyone in this organization. The Players. The Coaches. Management. Ownership. Everyone has to take a long look in the mirror this spring and decide what they can do to help turn this thing around next year.
And as we grind our way through what’s left of the season, let’s take a quick run through some news and notes surrounding this team.
-Couple updates on the injury front this afternoon as the Senators announced that both Clarke MacArthur and Dion Phaneuf have officially been shut down for the rest of the season. Smart move on both fronts. Ken Warren wrote a great piece on the weekend that gave us a behind the scenes look at just how painful MacArthur’s long road back has been. The good news is he’s hopeful he can come back ready to play next year. Meanwhile Phaneuf broke his foot more than two weeks ago (March 12 vs. TOR), played through that but then suffered another injury against the Capitals last week. At that point it made sense to just shut it down for the rest of the season. Having MacArthur and Phaneuf in the line up and healthy is going to be a key element in any potential turnaround for this team.
-This morning, the Professional Hockey Writers Associating (PHWA) announced that forward Zack Smith is the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game. It’s a fitting end to an incredible season for Smith. After suffering a significant wrist injury last year, Smith bounced back in a big way, scoring a career-high 21 goals. He’s probably been one of Ottawa’s most consistent forwards this season.
-Lots of talk about the next step for top prospect Colin White. His Boston College team is headed to the NCAA’s Frozen Four but it’s what happens at the end of that Tournament that’s up in the air. Based on a lot of the talk surrounding White, it really does sound like he could push for a spot on the NHL team next season. But the Senators want to be careful about rushing him into the line up. There’s also a chance White heads back to BC for another year which probably looks like an attractive option compared to a year in Binghamton. Tough call. The organization has to get this one right though. White is a top prospect and it’s crucial they do what’s best for his development. That Frozen Four tournament will also feature Quentin Shore, a 2013 6th round pick currently playing with the University of Denver. He’s another guy that could land in Binghamton next season.
-Speaking of the Frozen Four, keep a close eye on North Dakota. The Senators have been watching them closely the last little while and as I’ve mentioned on a couple of occasions, definitely have interest in Drake Caggiula. They certainly aren’t the only team in the mix for his services though. Elliotte Friedman mentioned him in his 30 Thoughts piece, suggesting that the Philadelphia Flyers were also interested. NCAA free agents are free to sign with NHL teams as soon as their college season ends.
-Speaking of prospects, 7th round pick Francis Perron continues to rack up ridiculous numbers with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. After putting up 108 points in 62 regular season games, Perron has kept on rolling in his team’s first two playoff games. He has six points already including this wicked one-timer from the other night. He’s going to be a player to keep an eye on in training camp next year. Don’t think there’s really room for him on the NHL roster obviously but he should provide a much-needed boost to the offensive attack in Binghamton.
-With six games to go in the regular season, I think there’s a good chance Dave Cameron could be Coaching his last games with the Senators. When Cory Clouston was fired at the end of the 2011 season, the Senators barely waited till their plane touched down following the last game of the season. I don’t think they’ll be in as much of a hurry this time around but based on what we heard from the Owner last week, it really does sound like the clock is ticking for Cameron. Being an NHL Head Coach is a tough gig. You’re a hero at one moment and without a job the next. To his credit, Cameron really handled Melnyk’s comments well last week. Brutal spot his boss put him in and he handled it like a pro.
