Yesterday was the type of day this team desperately needed. A day that where the franchise seemed to turn the corner and send a clear signal to the fans that better days are ahead for this hockey team.
The last year and a half has been pretty tough on Sens fans. There was a cloud of negativity that seemed to linger over this organization from the moment Daniel Alfredsson walked out the door. Yesterday, for the first time in about 15 months, there was almost unanimous optimism from the fan base. And from what I heard, yesterday’s news was paying immediate dividend for the organization. In the ticket office, the “phones were ringing off the hook”.
Yes indeed, it was a good day to be a fan of the Ottawa Senators.
And today, the focus shifts back to the on-ice product as the Senators prepare for the final two games of their preseason schedule. They’ll host the Montreal Canadiens tonight before finishing their regular seasons tune up tomorrow night at the Bell Centre.
Here’s how the Senators will line up for tonight’s game at the Canadian Tire Centre.
MacArthur-Turris-Stone
Ryan-Zibanejad-Chiasson
Michalek-Legwand-Neil
Hoffman-Lazar-Condra
Cowen-Karlsson
Phillips-Ceci
Borowiecki-Gryba
Robin Lehner is expected to play the full game.
-There’s been some playful bragging from the “there’s no budget” and the “spend smart” crowd following yesterday’s news and that’s fine. But let’s not ignore the facts. This was a budget team and they’ll be near the bottom of the league in spending again this season. With that said, with the recent efforts to retain key players, and a handful of RFAs still left to sign, there is clearly going to be a significant bump in spending next year. Pierre McGuire labelled them as a cap team and that may be a bit premature but there’s clearly a light at the end of the tunnel.
-In all the excitement of yesterday’s news, there was some slightly concerning updates on defenceman Marc Methot. Bryan Murray indicated that the team made another offer and later in the evening Bob McKenzie suggested that it was a four year deal worth $4.6 mil a season. The Senators have increased their original offer of $4.5 but Methot seems set on landing a deal worth $5 mil a season. Ottawa isn’t going to go that high. A trade is still a very real option here and I suspect the Senators are getting close to their “take it or leave it” offer.
