With the season drawing nearer and nearer, speculation has begun. With teams finalizing their rosters as they prepare for puck drop, the hype has only just begun. One team that made head waves early was the Ottawa Senators. With the players acquired and extended, the hype surrounding the team is real. The Ottawa Senators roster outlook makes the hype real.
The Ottawa Senators Roster Could Be Must-Watch Hockey
Rumour: Pierre Lebrun From The Athletic discusses how the rebuild for the Ottawa Senators Is Over
There is good reason to believe in the Ottawa Senators. Since the overtime playoff defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins, things have been brutal for the team. But that has all changed and for the first time, this team is headed in the right direction. Given the current roster construction, is the rebuild truly over?
The Roster Turnaround
The Ottawa Senators have made a good turnaround. For the first time under the new rebuild, they’ve been able to do something different. Bringing in high-quality talent and players that want to be here. According to Pierre Lebrun, the team is entering must-watch tv status. And rightfully so.
With the acquisition of Alex DeBrincat and the signing of Claude Giroux, optimism has been set into place. General Manager Pierre Dorion chimed in and said, “It’s been great,” Sens GM Pierre Dorion said of his market’s reaction when we chatted late last week. “I think we’re moving into the next phase of what we’ve been trying to do since the start of the rebuild. Having a chance to acquire impactful players has definitely created a big buzz in the city. …
There is a reason to be excited if you are a Senators fan and enjoy the ride while it is here.
Why They Are Must-Watch TV
Aside from the two significant acquisitions this off-season, the team made moves to benefit the present and the future. Priority amongst management was to lock up its core talent. They did just that. Tim Stutzle and Joshua Norris we’re signed to 8-year deals to help solidify the core group. This core now boasts Giroux, DeBrincat, Stutzle, Norris, captain Brady Tkachuk, and Thomas Chabot.
Dorion also went on to say, “That was part of the plan. Always try to lock up your young players so you can have them under contract for their best years.”
The core of this group is locked in for the long haul. Ottawa will and should be playing meaningful hockey for the foreseeable future. All signs point to them being a better team. But are they and will they be a playoff team?
Are The Ottawa Senators For Real?
You should believe in the Ottawa Senators. They won’t be a pushover to any of the other teams in the Conference and the division. They bolstered their top six which looks deadly on paper and shored up the goaltending by acquiring Cam Talbot from the Minnesota Wild. Granted, they have some holes on the back end, but this is the best the team has looked in years.
A Team executive weighed in on their situation and started, “You can definitely see that the rebuild is over in Ottawa and Pierre (and the organization) is now expecting progress on the ice. It’s about now and short-term, versus previous long-term objectives. Also seems he was given more resources to make sure he keeps his young core while adding a veteran presence to that core. Impressive how he was able to lock up that young core for many years to come. I’m convinced this will bring major excitement to the local fan base.”
With the current Ottawa Senators roster outlook, this is going to be a fun team. The Senators fan base deserves this. While every other team improved in the Eastern Conference, Ottawa made sure they did as well. The pain is over, and joy has set in for the Senators faithful. It should be a great season and make Ottawa a must-watch team when they are playing.
Warmed up in Belleville! 🔥 #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/bcWqDLPKX3
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 30, 2022
