Are You Ready To Stumble?

I’m not sure what to think of the up-coming season. Am I excited or apprehensive?

Now is usually the time that I begin thinking about line combinations and individual stats…but not this year. This year it is all about the prospects, and who among them will make the team. Individual performance is not the issue, who makes the cut is, from there, it is a big mystery.

I guess that’s exciting…I guess. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about the return of hockey, and watching the Senators, and my passion has not waned one bit, but how I approach this season is different.

Some are predicting little or nothing of the Sens, in terms of the standings. They may be right. The fact remains that only two of last seasons three issues (goaltending, coaching, scoring) have been addressed. We have our new goaltender, who has proven able to work miracles when competing on a less than stellar club. We have our new coach but, un-like Anderson, he’s yet to prove himself in the top job role. Outstanding remains offence. Apart from Filatov, a far from reliable scorer, the Sens have done bupkis to improve in this category.

Some would argue the Sens best plan of action would be to lose, and draft high. I get that, but here’s the rub, losing is never good for a team. Losing, like winning, becomes a habit, and teaching young players to lose is hardly the recipe for success.

I, for one, still hold out hope that the Senators will land some extra offense before the start of the regular season, and behind the scenes rumbling indicates there are efforts being made in this direction.

Sources indicate that teams looking to off-load salary have approached Ottawa, and Ottawa is listening.

Names rumoured to be on that list…Lecavalier…of course and Briere,  I’m not saying this is true, or likely, just saying this is what has been rumoured.

GN