No one seemed to want to get wet on whether the next season would finally be the one where the team from the federal capital will finally find the spring ball. The Senators have been shut out since their overtime loss in the 2017 Conference Finals Finals against that year’s eventual champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This is understandable when looking at the Eastern Conference standings. With a harvest of 100 points, the Washington Capitals obtained the 8th and last rank giving access to the playoffs, far ahead of the New York Islanders (84 points) in 9th place. The Ottawans for their part accumulated a total of 73 points by virtue of their record of 33-42-7.
In all positions, we have excellent players. I think we have a team that will participate in the playoffs in the next few years. If it’s not next year, it’s the next one
estimated striker Mathieu Joseph, acquired at the trade deadline.
Team head coach DJ Smith, for his part, spoke of a frustrating season marked by numerous injuries to key players, multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 and a condensed schedule because of all the games. postponed.
If we forget the COVID and the injuries, we might have collected 10 to 12 more points, it would not have been enough to make the playoffs
he pointed out.
There is no team that plays 82 games with the same roster, I don’t think we can use that as an excuse
added defenseman Thomas Chabot, who has still not played a playoff game at the end of his fifth season in the NHL.
Chabot and Joseph are looking forward to great things for the Senators next year.
Sun through the clouds
All is not gray, however. The past year will still have allowed Senators fans to witness the progression of several players whose offensive production has taken off.
Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson, among others, shone, while goaltender Anton Forsberg and Thomas Chabot have nothing to be ashamed of.
I think this year has probably been my best defensively. Both ways of the rink, I really took my game to another level
said the number 1 defenseman of the Senators.
Not to mention captain Brady Tkachuk, who reached the 30-goal plateau, and Josh Norris, who scored 35 in addition to confirming his status as a first-line center. Tkachuk also saw his big brother Matthew have a dream season with the Calgary Flames.
I was really proud of him that he reached 100 points, it’s unbelievable. I still have a lot of work to do to reach this level, but I just want to keep improving.
he explained.
As for Norris, he will have to agree with the organization on the terms of a new contract which he is already eager to sign.
I have an agent for a reason, but I hope we can come to an agreement quickly so that we can enjoy the summer without thinking about it. I love the city and the guys in the locker room
insisted the American.
Goaltender Matt Murray’s season has been pretty tough. Injuries often kept him sidelined and when he was on the ice, the two-time Stanley Cup winner often looked like a pale copy of himself. He remains confident of being a dominant goaltender when healthy.
It’s Dorion’s turn to play
DJ Smith didn’t want to set criteria for what a successful season will look like in 2022-23. He prefers to wait to see the maneuvers of his general manager, Pierre Dorion, this summer.
Mr. Smith believes that the organization’s building blocks are already on his board, but a few quality supporting players wouldn’t hurt. Above all, the head coach is delighted with the attitude shown by his players during the end-of-season interviews.
” My observation is that all players want more. They want to give more themselves and play more meaningful matches. »
Mr. Dorion must for his part meet the media on Sunday morning in order to proceed in turn to an assessment of the last campaign.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca