Despite a disappointing lockout that washed away half the season, this 2013 season is one that fans of the Ottawa Senators won't soon forget.
The way this team pushed through adversity to make another surprising appearance in the NHL playoffs was nothing short of incredible. To add to that, the team won their first playoff round since the 2007 Stanley Cup run and over a division rival to boot. Although as we look back on another successful season, a few lingering questions remain.
Here are six things that still have me scratching my head as we put the 2013 season behind us and look ahead to what should be an exciting off season.
- Where did Jean Gabriel Pageau come from? When the Senators announced they were calling up the 20 year old from Binghamton, more than a few eyebrows were raised. He wasn't exactly setting the world on fire in the AHL and while he seemed like a quality prospect, I think most assumed it would be another year at least before he got a real shot. And then seemingly out of nowhere, he was in the everyday line up and became a playoff hero in the first round against Montreal. His climb up the depth chart was remarkable. In fact, I bumped into him at a season ticket holder event and actually thought he was a high school kid there to get autographs. Pageau's performance in the playoffs was nothing short of incredible and puts him in a pretty good spot heading into next year's training camp.
- When did Jason Spezza injure his back? The team's top centre appeared in the first five games of the regular season before the back injury "flared" up, forcing him to go the surgery route. We know Spezza has had back troubles in the past but is it possible this was something happened while playing in Switzerland? A really disappointing turn in Ottawa's season and even more frustrating because it was impossible to pinpoint when the injury took place. Either way, the Sens need him to be back to 100% next season.
- How many concussions did Mika Zibanejad have? While the season ended well for Zibanejad, it certainly didn't start that way. The first round draft pick had one concussion in the Swedish Elite League for sure. And then another shortly after arriving in Binghamton. He then went through a ridiculous stretch of injuries that included strep throat and headaches from having his wisdom teeth removed. Bad luck or was this something more? I'd say the number of concussions is somewhere between 2-4 but it's pretty hard to know for sure. It's possible he was dealing with symptoms from the second one for an extended period. The good news is he's completely healthy now and coming off a solid 42 games plus playoffs as an NHL player. With injury concerns behind him, Zibanejad looks like he'll be a key piece for this team moving forward.
- Why are the Senators a budget team? This is a tricky one. The building is packed almost every night, they released a heritage jersey that was one of the top sellers league wide, they team went two rounds deep in the playoffs and they did all that with the 5th lowest payroll in the league. Is this just an era of fiscal responsibility on the part of Eugene Melnyk or is this out of necessity? Based on the discussion we've seen on this site the last couple of days, fans have no problem with the budget, as long as Melnyk is willing to spend when the time comes.
- What happened to Jim O'Brien? At one point early in the season he was the team's leading goal scorer and now all that's left of him is a bizarre Twitter account. Plenty of times down the stretch it seemed like there were opportunities for him to draw back in but he just didn't seem to be on MacLean's radar. O'Brien has one year left on his deal but it's hard to tell if he's in the club's plans right now.
- Has Daniel Alfredsson played his final game as an Ottawa Senator? When Alfie picked up the puck following that Game 4 loss on home ice, he sent fans and media alike into a frenzy. While the Captain had registered his 100th playoff point earlier that night, this seemed like an odd souvenir to keep. Everything I've heard from my contacts suggests he'll be back for another season. But until Alfie confirms it, this will be the most prominent question in the minds of Sens fans. One more year Alfie!
So there's six questions I was left with at the end of what really was a remarkable season for the Ottawa Senators. What about you? Any lingering questions left over from the 2013 season?
Did I miss any of the big ones? Maybe you have answers for some of the queries I have posted above. Have at it, folks!
