NHL.com is doing their 30 in 30 series this month, and today is Ottawa Senators day, with the coverage provided by Chris Stevenson. There are 4 or 5 articles focused on the Senators (which you can find by clicking the link, after you have read this article, of course)
The coverage is essentially focuses on looking at question marks in goal (Anderson's ability to stay healthy, what Hammond can really contribute, and the overall inexperience behind Anderson in the organization), as well as what happened to Bobby Ryan down the stretch (and what might/will happen going forward).
The Senators know that they can't expect to go on another run like they did to end the season and claw their way into the playoffs, and have to be more consistent from the start of the season. That shouldn't be a problem, because there won't be a coaching change and installation of a new system this time around. The Senators were a different team under Cameron, and while the run was almost miraculous the groundwork was there before it started.
Like I wrote yesterday, the articles look at Karlsson's potential to have an even bigger season playing with Methot for a full year.
One comment that caught me by surprise (but maybe shouldn't have by now) was:
Ottawa will be looking for more growth and consistency from defensemen Cody Ceci and Patrick Wiercioch in their second pair, and gritty Mark Borowiecki will play on the third pair with whoever can earn the sixth job in training camp.
Once again Jared Cowen gets absolutely no respect. I am not saying he doesn't need to earn it, but even if he is the Jared Cowen of last year he is still an upgrade on Eric Gryba on the third pair and he at least deserved a mention. He might get beat out, or platoon with Claesson or Wideman (more likely the latter due to the waiver situation), but surely he comes in with at least a spot that is his to lose come September.
Stevenson also ranks the top 5 Senators prospects as:
1. Nick Paul 2. Matt Puempel 3. Mikael Wickstrand 4. Colin White 5. Thomas Chabot
I might be inclined to slide Tobias Lindberg in there perhaps ahead of Wickstrand, and might actually move Puempel out of the list. Puempel is probably the closest to being NHL-ready, but in terms of potential there are 5 or 6 guys I would slot ahead of him in my mind. Add to that list Matt O'Connor, Shane Prince, Wideman and Claesson and the prospect pool is pretty deep and varied for the Senators, who are already going to ice a very young team when you remove Chris Phillips and Chris Neil's (who don't figure to see a lot of ice time) over 70 combined years.
I am heading out of town, to rival Boston for a week starting tomorrow, but will post when I get a chance, whether is be early morning or late night. I will try to talk to some Bruins fans and get their impression of their teams' drastic moves as well as the impression of what the Senators look like, from outside the Sens bubble.