With the Ottawa Senators teeing off in their annual golf tournament at Rideau View Golf Club, it’s a good indication that a new hockey season is almost upon us.
The players will report to the Canadian Tire Centre for their medicals tomorrow morning and will hit the ice the following the day. With training camp week finally upon us, there are already a few things to talk about when it comes to our Senators and it began today with a revelation from Head Coach Paul MacLean.
It shouldn’t come as a big surprise really but in speaking with reporters this morning; Paul MacLean confirmed that the team will load up their top line to start the season. Here’s how that top trio will look to start the camp…
Milan Michalek-Jason Spezza-Bobby Ryan
On paper, it’s as dangerous a line as the Senators have iced since Spezza skated with those two guys (their names slip my mind right now) during the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Obviously the big question mark on that line will be the health of Michalek. He has battled knee issues for the past few seasons and is hoping that an off season trip to a knee specialist in Germany may finally mean he’s back to 100%. If that line can find chemistry early on in the season, they’ll be as dangerous as any combination in the league.
Michalek is the highest paid play on the Senators roster this season at $6 mil and is entering the final year of his contract. If he can stay healthy, I really do think we’ll see the best of Milan Michalek this season.
- Paul MacLean suggested that he is close to naming the next Captain of the Ottawa Senators and that he would ideally like to have the decision made before training camp opens tomorrow. Sounds like we’ll see a final decision in the next couple of days. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…it better be Jason Spezza
- Perhaps some good news on the Jared Cowen front as Bruce Garrioch suggests that the two sides did touch base at some point last night. There is so little distance between the two sides right now that it seems silly they wouldn’t get something done before or at least during training camp. We shall see.
