The Hockey News: Screen Shots: Screen Shots: Senators deserve respect

Screen Shots: Senators deserve respect

The Ottawa Senators have jumped out of a 13-1-0 start in 2007-08.

Adam Proteau
2007-11-08 12:21:54

Already this season, the NHL has been beset by a swarm of on-and-off-ice predicaments that assuredly won’t make the end-of-year highlight DVD.

Dirty plays and injured players, drawn-out lawsuits and premature retirements, a lousy resurgence in fighting and even lousier attendance in many markets are among the many plagues to have hit the league through its first month of action.

It’s enough to make any hockey fan cry – and not just one of those single-tear-down-the-cheek cries, either. We’re talking full-on Sally Struthers/guest of Dr. Phil/Mark Messier-style sobbage.

So thank goodness for the Ottawa Senators, hockey’s Harlem Globetrotters through the first sixth of the 2007-08 regular season.

Off to the best start of any team in league history through the first 14 games (13-1-0-0), the Sens not only are proof positive you can play NHL hockey well into June and not suffer from some alleged Stanley Cup hangover the next year – they’re also prime examples of good things happening to good people.

And it’s a low down dirty shame they’re not receiving the hype and headlines their performances deserve.

This is a team that’s hard not to root for.

They’ve got Daniel Alfredsson, the captain whose captaincy was forever questioned and qualified until he shut up the carpers and harpies with jaw-dropping displays of leadership last spring.

They’ve got Jason Spezza, the dazzling offensive talent and mega-geeky laugher who will be regarded as Ottawa’s Steve Yzerman by the time his stint in Canada’s capital is done.

They’ve got Mike Fisher, the straight-edge, two-way pivot rapidly developing into one of the game’s great unheralded players and on pace for the best offensive season of his career.

They’ve got Chris Phillips, the low-key, always-available-to-the-media blueliner who overcame the crushing mistake of scoring on his own net in the Cup final and now leads the Sens – and the entire league – with an amazing plus-15 rating.

And the best part?

All of the aforementioned players, as well as goal-scorer supreme Dany Heatley and shot-blocking menace Anton Volchenkov, are locked into multiyear contracts. Veteran defenseman Wade Redden may be squeezed out of the picture when he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season, but the way the team is playing now, does anyone honestly believe their play would suffer a precipitous drop if the longtime Sens staple leaves?

I sure don’t.

I look at Ottawa these days and see a team that reminds me of the NFL’s New England Patriots, who can lose a player here and there and miss neither a beat nor the chance to beat down their opponents.

The Sens are getting contributions from top to bottom; have one of the deepest defense corps in the game; have lost absolutely nothing in Bryan Murray’s transition from coach to GM (and John Paddock’s move from assistant coach to head coach); and have a pleasant conundrum in net, where one of Ray Emery or Martin Gerber eventually can be peddled to plug any holes that arise.

Right now, though, the Sens seems hole-less. Which is why I get cheesed off when I hear chatter about the wisdom of picking up Peter Forsberg or Mats Sundin for their next playoff run. If ever a team wasn’t broke and didn’t need fixing, this is it.

This group of NHLers dominates from the first line through the fourth. Now, they’re not ranked No. 1 in goals for (or against) per game. They’re not league leaders in 5-on-5 goals for/against. Their power play is 14th best in the NHL thus far, their penalty kill seventh-best, their shots allowed average only 24th overall.

The sole stat the Senators are tops at is the one that counts most: wins. And, even if they drop their next seven in a row, something tells me we’ll see them playing again this June – and running rampant again next October.

Adam Proteau’s Screen Shots appears every Thursday only on thehockeynews.com. Want to take a shot at Adam Proteau? You can send him a comment or question through our Ask Adam feature.

Can’t get enough Adam? Subscribe to The Hockey News to get the column Proteau Type delivered to you every issue.

COMMENTS (11)

Sort: Oldest | Newest | Love | Hate Filter: All | Videos

Jan Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:56)

There's no doubt that Ottawa is on a roll so far. It's too soon to guess what things will look like in March -- anything can happen. (I'm a Sabres fan -- we've seen what can happen).It's up to the Sens to do what they need to do to reach their goal.

Global Sasquatch Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:51)

The Sens made the same run two years ago, and went in as the dominant favorite. Lost to Buffalo. Being elite in November is irrelevant. By the way, Spezza is soft. Guys like him disappear playoff time.

Tree Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:46)

Rick - I agree with you somewhat, but when you mention Ottawa's lack of secondary scoring your argument is severely weakened. As of today, Ottawa has scored 56 goals, with only 22 coming from the top line. If your top line scores less than 40% of a team's goals, I find it hard to agree that it is a one line team. Any teams top line should account for the majority of the scoring (which Ottawa's does), but as Spezza's absence has proved is that the 2 and 3 lines can and do score often. Ottawa's checking line of Fisher, Vermette and Neil is arguably the best in the game (in terms of number of hits as well as number of goals scored). Another scoring threat would be great, but to say this team needs it simply isn't backed up by the stats.

Shawn P. Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:43)

Oh for god sakes it seems like a lot of Leaf fans have been commenting here. Okay, The sens broke a record of the most points earned 14 games in. It's like people are hoping the sens will stumble and fall down the standings. It's like the hockey world doesn't want Ottawa to do well. Im sorry, im tired of people being so skeptical about Ottawa. People keep comparing Ottawa to last years Sabres. Yeah, I am pretty that Ottawa has quite a bit more grit and depth than the Sabres last year.

Johnny Thunder Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:30)

The new england patriots of hockey.... are you comparing a dynasty to former presidents trophy champions? hahahahahaha. wow. gold star for that one adam. With that reasoning, can we not say the 90s buffalo bills are imortals too? Spezza=Steve Yzerman? You should be ashamed for saying that, complete lack of respect and responsibility as a reporter. Good team, no doubt, but come on.

Rick Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:29)

To Mr. Tree -- I won't dispute ANA's start to last season as being strong, but whether it's the East coast bias or what-have-you, the talk in NOV-DEC was all about 'who is going to and how can anyone stop the Buffalo Sabres. Games got tougher to win, and BUF got exposed for being too soft (up front and on D). At this point in time, if there's a weakness, it could be a lack of legitimate secondary scoring, similar to last year's playoffs where they didn't have legitimate scoring past the Spezza line. The idea of getting a legit no. 1b centre (Forsberg, Sundin, whatever) to compliment Spezza would work in the Sens' favor. Otherwise, it's still the same ol' team w/ more experience and determination, but nothing that can rebound from a solid checking line pounding your first line (see Rod Brind'Amour and the Hurricanes as a prime example of a checking line that can neutralize the Sens).

Stephen Hayward Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:26)

Steve - The key to the Sens success is that when they take a step, it is always forward, never back. In the early years, there were some "not to wise" decisions (Alexanders Daigle & Ca$hin).They have moved forward and have strong, committed ownership and management. Trade deadline deals do not seem to help this team (Peter Bondra, Greg DeVries, Tyler Arnason). The key to their depth is by building from within. Coach Paddock coached the Baby Sens, so it makes Sens for him to grow into the Big Club with players he coached in Binghampton. Only 1 more step.

James Lalonde Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:24)

Hey, Who needs the Fullacrap hype, OOh we are better, they are better, Bottom line, Money talks and B.S Walks,YA can win every game and die when it it counts, relax, still a long way to go, OH YEAH !!!! SENS RULE !!!! LEAFS BLOW????

Tree Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:22)

Rick, with all due respect, people were also talking about Anaheim last year at this point (12-0-2) because they had the best start to the year (unbeaten in regulation for the first 16 games). As you recall, they won it all. All this talk of being hot when it matters is true - but there is no evidence to suggest Ottawa will somehow get worse as the season rolls along (aside from injuries - which Adam notes). To say Anaheim picked-up steam as the season went along completely ignores the fact that they had the best start to the year after 14 games too. Not too early at all - if Ottawa (barring injuries) doesn't make the Finals, it is nothing short of a choke (like Buffalo choked last year).

senators611 Posted
(2009-04-30 05:53:22)

Comment is about Wade Redden and staying in Ottawa. They are winning and he is a big asset to the team. They play better with him than without him in the line up. I hope they do sign him and he stays in Ottawa. He is a great player and has one off year, and everybody is on his case. He's been with the Sens for over 10 years, and him and Alfie have survived this long with all the bashing comment and such... think positive people.....