It’s been a long off season.
That’s something all hockey fans say this time of year but in Ottawa, we have taken it to a whole new level.
Going back to December of 2017, when Eugene Melnyk melted down in the shadow of the Peace Tower, it has basically been one twist of the knife after another for the die hard supporters of this hockey team. Sure there was still a half season of games left to play when the Owner had his say at that Alumni Game but from that point forward, it’s basically been 10 months of Sens-related agony.
When other teams talk about off-season, they’re referring to those four months without hockey. In Ottawa, it’s been so much more than that. Things have been “off” for awhile now. It has done terrible things to us a fan base. We fight with each other, we bicker and we actively seek out things to be angry about. It’s turned our hobby into something we should probably be in therapy for. It’s been bad.
But tonight…at 7:30 PM…we have a chance to start fresh.
And while expectations are seemingly at an all-time low, that’s usually when the Ottawa Senators do their best work. Experts from across the league have this team locked into the 31st overall position even before the puck has dropped. Never has there been such a league-wide consensus on who the worst team is going to be. Well actually that’s not true. It’s sort of with the Vegas Golden Knights last year.
The history of professional sports is littered with examples of teams that were written off by the experts. It happens every year. Often, the experts are right. In many case, you can look at a line up on paper and project how that team will perform. But there’s a reason they still play the games and a reason why the underdog continues to defy expectations.
See, even in all the negativity and buried deep under all the questions about this year’s team, there are reasons to believe that maybe, just maybe, they could surprise some people this year.
First, a change in Coaching philosophy. A commitment to playing a more up-tempo attacking style and an overhaul to what was a dreadful power play. A 37 year old goalie with a long history of bouncing back after an off year. While they’ve obviously lost two of their best players, they have also spent the last eight or nine months cutting some of the dead weight from the roster. Young players are stepping in to those spots once occupied by over-the-hill veterans, eager to prove that they can play at the NHL level. The Senators have speed throughout the line up where there wasn’t speed before.
And maybe most importantly, the roster includes two elite talents in the prime of their career in Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. Two players that are eager to prove the experts wrong and eager to earn a big pay day next summer. And by all account, two players ready to take on a leadership role with this team. To be part of the solution.
If you look, okay you might have to squint a little bit, there may just be some light at the end of the tunnel.
One thing is for sure, when those 20 guys gather in the locker room prior to puck drop, not a single one of them will be worried about what the experts think of this team. Not one of them will be thinking about their contract status next summer or the attendance. Not one of them will be thinking about how this team did last year, about Erik Karlsson or Mike Hoffman and they sure as shit not one of them will be thinking about the damn Owner.
They’ll be thinking about winning. That’s it.
On to the game. Senators and Blackhawks at the CTC.
Guy Boucher had his team on the ice for practice yesterday and confirmed that Brady Tkachuk will be out for the opener. They do hope to have him back for Saturday night though. On defence, Ben Harpur appears to be the odd man out. That means that Max Lajoie makes his NHL debut.
The team will be on the ice for the morning skate later today but a best guess at the line up for now.
Dzingel-Duchene-Ryan
White-Smith-Stone
Formenton-Tierney-Boedker
McCormick-Pyatt-Paajarvi
Chabot-Wideman
Borowiecki-Ceci
Lajoie-DeMelo
Craig Anderson gets the start in goal for Ottawa. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM. Broadcast on TSN and there will be so many damn illegal streams you’ll just have to pick your favourite.
Sometime, prior to puck drop to night, take a moment to think about why you became a fan of the Ottawa Senators.
Think about some of the good games you’ve watched, some of those unforgettable moments this team has given you over the years. Maybe it’s one of the playoff overtime winners from a couple years back? Maybe it’s Alfie going one on three against the Sabres defence and beating Ryan Miller. An OT winner by Turris perhaps? Maybe it’s a Stanley Cup Final game played right here in Ottawa. Just take a moment to remind yourself why you watch hockey. Why you love it. I know a lot of you have been feeling disconnected from this team because of the Owner and I understand that.
But there was an Ottawa Senators before him and there will be an Ottawa Senators after him too.
Now…
Let’s watch some fuckin hockey.
Go. Sens. Go.
