Trevor Shackles: Most Devastating Days in Senators History What would you say was the most devastating day in Senators history?

The 2003 conference final will always stand out for me - especially because I was in the crowd. Most of the other games cited here were either the end of a playoff series they'd already lost, or a series they never really expected to win (eg. Game 7 vs. Pittsburgh a couple years back). Conversely, the 2003 run had a genuine feeling of hope attached to it, after years of frustrating early playoff losses, the emergence of a new group of 'young' players like Hossa, Chara, Havlat, and Volchenkov, and a President's Trophy in hand. Factor in the intangibles like them playing to honour Roger Neilson, them fighting back from being down 3-1 in the series to force a Game 7, and fighting back from being down 2-1 to start the 3rd period, and it just added to the devastating nature of the loss. Bonk tied the game early in the 3rd, they killed off 2 consecutive penalties, then Hossa hit the post on a great net drive, and it just felt like they had destiny on their side.

That is, until Jeff Friesen exploited the fact that Redden and Rachunek didn't know how to play a basic 2-on-2 rush...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCFnOPNPIOA

As I said, I was in the building for that game, and I've never experienced anything like it... with ~20,000 people acting like they'd been simultaneously shot in the head. The game was over, and literally every single person in the arena knew it. There have been far worse outcomes for the team, and many of the other items on the list may be evidence of that, but I don't think there's been a more devastating single moment in team history than the Game 7 conference finals loss in 2003.

2003. A win and maybe a cup that early in the franchises rebirth would have been an incredible feat and earned them some league wide respect.

As a Devils fan I was happy but it reminded me of our 1994 loss the Rangers and it bothered me in a way. It wasn’t like playing Philly or NY where you just hate those guys.

x Successful liver transplant

I was at game 5 in 2006. Best team we ever iced. We just couldn't keep up with the Sabres in terms of speed. Alfie getting danced in OT while shorthanded was heartbreaking.

The arena was eerily silent after with just the sound of those inflatable batons being popped every so often. Rough

Look at the bright side.... You fleeced us for Brassard. One of the softest, most gutless players I've ever seen in a Pens jersey.

I've always wondered why these leagues like NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA don't demand a standard level of capitalization. There should be language in the franchise agreement that says If you can't afford to own a franchise you should be forced to sell. We have a guy in Pittsburgh who has owned the Pirates for 15 years or so. He's so cheap he'd make Melnyk blush. I bet you Melnyk has called Nutting (Pirates owner) asking for advice on how to screw over fans in perpetuity.

I feel for you guys. We have similarly had some horrible years and rotten transactions. You have some good pieces and a boat load of picks, you should be better sooner than later.

I don’t know why he left, if Sens didn’t offer enough Or he just wanted to leave... but not even listing Chara leaving I think is an oversight. If he stays this franchise is much different. As he was just blossoming into the force he became.

x Successful liver transplant
- spatso

I don’t know why he left, if Sens didn’t offer enough Or he just wanted to leave... but not even listing Chara leaving I think is an oversight. If he stays this franchise is much different. As he was just blossoming into the force he became.
- dozerD10

It was relatively clear that they would only be able to keep one of Chara or Redden... unfortunately they made an absolutely horrible decision. What they should have done is trade Redden the year before the UFA crisis hit, but they decided to 'go for it'. For many fans, speculating on what the team might have accomplished built around Hossa/Chara instead of Heatley/Redden is the stuff of nightmares.

Look at the bright side.... You fleeced us for Brassard. One of the softest, most gutless players I've ever seen in a Pens jersey.

I've always wondered why these leagues like NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA don't demand a standard level of capitalization. There should be language in the franchise agreement that says If you can't afford to own a franchise you should be forced to sell. We have a guy in Pittsburgh who has owned the Pirates for 15 years or so. He's so cheap he'd make Melnyk blush. I bet you Melnyk has called Nutting (Pirates owner) asking for advice on how to screw over fans in perpetuity.
- madmike71

Isn't that precisely what the salary cap floor does?

Trevor Shackles: Most Devastating Days in Senators History
What would you say was the most devastating day in Senators history?
- Trevor Shackles

Good article, Trevor. And I don't mean that in a trollish way.

Being a fan means getiing your heart stomped on - often.

You did a good job here of sharing your heartaches with your readers.

Cheers.

Most devastating day?

August 26, 2003. The day Melnyk bought the Sens.

Most devastating day?

August 26, 2003. The day Melnyk bought the Sens.

Melnyk was seen as a bit of a savior when he first bought the team.

Funny how things change, and how this franchise has has perpetual issues with money.

friesen? That was (frank)ing redden and maybe lalime's fault.

Jeeze, we're really trying to be positive around here eh lol

Isn't that precisely what the salary cap floor does?
- Atomic Wedgie

It is. But then you look at teams like AZ acquiring cap hits to reach the floor when the actual dollar payout is significantly lower. I don't think Ottawa has made any of those types of moves, but it would seem they might be doing that in the future.

I don't really follow Ott's situation. All I ever read is how cheap he is and the situation is getting less stable by the year. Don't get me wrong, he's 5 times the owner that we currently have in the Pittsburgh Pirates. Our owner (Bob Nutting) is a stone cold thief.

I've posted here before that Melnyk has at the very least tried to build a winner recently. He's handed out some legitimate market rate contracts.

It is. But then you look at teams like AZ acquiring cap hits to reach the floor when the actual dollar payout is significantly lower. I don't think Ottawa has made any of those types of moves, but it would seem they might be doing that in the future.

I don't really follow Ott's situation. All I ever read is how cheap he is and the situation is getting less stable by the year. Don't get me wrong, he's 5 times the owner that we currently have in the Pittsburgh Pirates. Our owner (Bob Nutting) is a stone cold thief.

I've posted here before that Melnyk has at the very least tried to build a winner recently. He's handed out some legitimate market rate contracts.
- madmike71

It's a small market thing: your margin of error is significantly smaller than a team like Toronto's is.

And it seems like the recent moves by the Sens have just compounded their problems.

If they "win" the draft lottery this yezr, it will scar the franchise for a decade.

It's a small market thing: your margin of error is significantly smaller than a team like Toronto's is.

And it seems like the recent moves by the Sens have just compounded their problems.

If they "win" the draft lottery this yezr, it will scar the franchise for a decade.
- Atomic Wedgie

Pittsburgh is a small market too, but the owner (Burkle) has really deep pockets who can tolerate losses in bad times. That's where I'm talking about "capitalization". Pro sports is a billionaire's game. Teams are toys to a guy like Burkle. He doesn't need to make one penny on the Penguins. Now, I don't think any billionaire would tolerate massive losses year after year, but the NHL should make sure they can handle a few down years.

Anyway, like I said, I don't follow their situation, but feel bad for the fans. I couldn't imagine losing players like Karlsson, Duchene and Stone. That's staggering. We have a guy here in Pittsburgh who is far, far worse and it sucks having someone like this holding a team hostage.

It was relatively clear that they would only be able to keep one of Chara or Redden... unfortunately they made an absolutely horrible decision. What they should have done is trade Redden the year before the UFA crisis hit, but they decided to 'go for it'. For many fans, speculating on what the team might have accomplished built around Hossa/Chara instead of Heatley/Redden is the stuff of nightmares.
- khawk

Heatley was lights out his first 2 years in Ottawa- probably the best offensive winger in the game. 50 goal/100 point seasons. Hossa was the more complete player and had a more extensive career, but I don't know if you don't make that trade at the time. It benefited both teams.

Chara had a horrible playoff and management thought that the speed of the NHL would pass him- unfortunately, this was a huge mistake in letting him go in free agency. Redden was a slowing down himself and his physical presence was non existent- he was horrible his last couple of years in Ottawa. Anything but reliable. Probably had a lot to do with the party culture and nose candy!

Good article, Trevor. And I don't mean that in a trollish way.

Being a fan means getiing your heart stomped on - often.

You did a good job here of sharing your heartaches with your readers.

Cheers.
- Atomic Wedgie

Thanks for the feedback!

It's a small market thing: your margin of error is significantly smaller than a team like Toronto's is.

And it seems like the recent moves by the Sens have just compounded their problems.

If they "win" the draft lottery this yezr, it will scar the franchise for a decade.
- Atomic Wedgie

It might not be that bad if they win the draft, what’s done is done. It not like the Kessel deal where it’s the start of an era, the Sens seem to be rebuilding so they’ll have a few years of high picks to work with. Obviously it sucks to not have one this year, but the turnaround could be pretty quick so it might not matter as much.

It might not be that bad if they win the draft, what’s done is done. It not like the Kessel deal where it’s the start of an era, the Sens seem to be rebuilding so they’ll have a few years of high picks to work with. Obviously it sucks to not have one this year, but the turnaround could be pretty quick so it might not matter as much.
- 13sundin13

Yeah, if they win the lottery this year, it will be one year at least of agony.

But if they win again the next year and Lafernierre or Byfield live up to expectations, it could start the healing pretty quickly.

No one even mentions the Kessel trade anymore, and they lost out on Seguin and Hamilton. Oh and Knight, can't forget him.

Yeah, if they win the lottery this year, it will be one year at least of agony.

But if they win again the next year and Lafernierre or Byfield live up to expectations, it could start the healing pretty quickly.

No one even mentions the Kessel trade anymore, and they lost out on Seguin and Hamilton. Oh and Knight, can't forget him.
- david22

Totally, things can change quickly, even without their pick this year they're in the right position for a rebuild with the pieces they have. If Tkachuk and a top pick next year pan out, people will forget the pick this year fairly quickly.

To me the only question would be is the Dorion/Melnyk combo savvy enough to do a rebuild properly. It does take knowledge and commitment to pull it off well. Time will tell.

I voted for Alfie leaving. It seems to me that's where things started their downward trend.

Melnyk was seen as a saviour when he bought the team. "How things change" indeed. I can say that when he leaves/sells the team, it'll probably be one of this franchise's better days!