Erik Karlsson and the Senators finished last season on a 23-4-4 run. Can they pick up where they left off?
Yahoo! Sports Puck Daddy is doing a great job producing NHL season previews of all 30 teams.
We thought we’d paraphrase a bit of what they had to say about the Canadian squads and apply it to the NHL betting odds to see if there’s any value out there on any of our favourite teams.
For the full Ottawa Senators season preview, you can read the Puck Daddy article here.
Better or Worse?
The Senators were a tale of two teams last year, struggling out of the gate and canning head coach Paul Maclean. Then they caught fire down the stretch, going 23-4-4 in their last 31 games to snatch the first wild card spot in the East.
That late-season surge meant Ottawa hasn’t changed that much for this year. The Sens locked up Andrew ‘The Hamburglar’ Hammond and signed Calder Trophy nominee Mark Stone to a three-year deal in their biggest moves. Management is obviously hoping the Senators can pick up where they left off last spring.
The Senators’ over/under wins total for this season is listed at 40.5 at Pinnacle Sports.
Players To Watch
Erik Karlsson is now a two-time Norris Trophy winner at just 25 years old, and should be in the running for the league’s top defenceman award yet again. Andrew Hammond was 20-1-2 in the regular season but lost both his playoff starts, so there’s question whether he could contend for the Vezina or was just riding a hot streak.
We’re keeping our eyes open for Hart Trophy betting odds, Vezina Trophy betting odds and Norris Trophy odds. Karlsson could potentially be in the running for the Hart and Norris, especially if the Sens have a strong season, and Hammond is a very, very outside darkhorse for the Vezina.
Coaching
Dave Cameron signed a two-year extension over the summer after leading Ottawa to its strong finish a year ago. He’s earned the benefit of the doubt as management wants to ensure he’s not a one-hit wonder and can maintain the buy-in of the players.
Best Case Scenario
Hammond proves that last year wasn’t a fluke and the Senators ride their hot goaltender throughout the season and into the playoffs.
Ottawa pays +700 to win the Atlantic Division at Bodog, slightly behind the Bruins (+550) and Red Wings (+650).
Worst Case Scenario
Hammond is a bust, Craig Anderson isn’t happy about having been pushed into the back-up role and never recovers, Karlsson gets injured again and the Senators finish near the bottom of the East.
The Senatorsare in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference betting odds at Bodog, paying +1800 to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Prediction
No team – especially the Senators – is capable of playing 23-4-4-type hockey for an entire season. The hot finish may have been a bit of an oasis for management, tricking them into thinking the team was better than it was. Ottawa will either eke out a wild-card spot or narrowly miss the playoffs.
Sports Interaction lists the Senators as +4000 (40:1) on the Stanley Cup betting odds.
