An Interesting Week Ahead For The Ottawa Senators

After Sunday’s NHL action, the Ottawa Senators trail the final wildcard spot currently held by the Pittsburgh Penguins by seven points. The Senators do have one game in hand.

The Senators possess a solid 8-3-1 record since January 25, and have gained five points in the race for a wildcard position during this stretch, which on this day is once again held by the Penguins.

While the Penguins hold down the final spot, in actuality, the Buffalo Sabres technically have the inside track as they trail Pittsburgh by only a single point, holding one game in hand. However, injuries to their second and third leading point-getter likely make it tough for the Sabres to maintain their pace.

Forward Alex Tuch is out indefinitely after sustaining a lower-body injury. Tuch is second among Sabres in goals (28) and points (62). Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is day-to-day after suffering an injury Saturday, Dahlin, considered an outside Norris Trophy candidate, leads all Sabres in assists (48), and he chipped in by scoring 14 goals.

With 24 games remaining in the 2022-23 campaign, the Senators will have to garner at least 34-35 points to have an opportunity to knock down a postseason berth. For example, the team will need to post a record of 15-5-4 or something close to this.

Wildcard Standings 

New York Islanders 63 GP, 69 PTS

Pittsburgh Penguins 59 GP, 67 PTS

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Buffalo Sabres 58 GP, 66 PTS

Detroit Red Wings 58 GP, 64 PTS

Florida Panthers 61 GP, 64 PTS

Washington Capitals 62 GP, 64 PTS

Ottawa Senators 58 GP, 60 PTS

It’s not out of the realm, but judging by the standings above, it’s definitely an uphill climb for the Senators.

It all starts Monday with back-to-back games versus their Atlantic Division counterpart, Red Wings.

With a 7-3-0 record over their past 10 outings, the Red Wings are on the cusp of a wildcard spot themselves and temporarily held the position at the end of play Friday evening.

It won’t be an easy time for the Senators who will be playing their third and fourth games in five nights.

How the club performs in the two games may dictate if general manager Pierre Dorion is a buyer or seller this week, leading up to the March 3rd trade deadline.

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Dorion said as much over a week ago, that the results of the next seven games will go a long way in his decision-making process. Since then, his club is 2-2-1, so he’s no further ahead in his decision-making process.

It wouldn’t shock whichever direction Dorion goes. The team has an eye toward improving for the present and more importantly for the future. The search for a top-four right-shot defenseman continues.

Dorion recently opened cap more space by sending Nikita Zaitsev and his $4.5 million cap hit to the Blackhawks Wednesday evening.

With such a long row to hoe, combined with having to leapfrog several clubs to earn a wildcard spot, it doesn’t make sense to add a rental player unless that player is someone Dorion wants to lock up for the following season.

The Senators possess five pending unrestricted free agents.

Cam Talbot G

Travis Hamonic D

Nick Holden D

Derick Brassard F

Austin Watson F

While all may receive some form of interest, the Senators GM expressed his desire tin a discussion with assembled media over a week ago that he would like to keep Hamonic if possible.

Goalies are always in demand come playoff time, and this one is no different. The issue with the Senators; does the team want to go with a pair of rookies between the pipes (Mad Sogaard, Kevin Mandolese who was recently re-assigned to Belleville the rest of the way.

All in all, it pledges to be interesting for the Senators on and off the ice.