Michael Stuart: Could the Senators Surprise in a Canadian Division?

If things stay the same, the sens were my team to watch. Dorians done a good job drafting and in free agency. #2 in the division.

The Senators are going to be very hard to play against.

I don't think they make the playoffs. But they will make teams pay a price every night.

Why not?

It’s pretty much all garbage.

At least a Canadian team will reach a conference final.
And from there????
Who knows??

That is going to be one hell of a tough division. There are going to be some very good teams on the outside come playoff time. This might not be the Sens year, but they are getting really damn close.

It is what it is, best way to some semblance of hockey going. It might even be a fun change for one year.

Toronto is the closest to being "elite".

Then a lot of teams that would be described as good with potential to take a step forward.

I'd still think Ottawa finishes last overall though in the division though.

Not sure how many games the short season would be.
If all games are played within this Canada division
That would mean the Sens could likely play the Leafs up to 10 times within 3 months and the rest of the Canada teams.
Sounds like a lot of fun, and a lot of animosity would develop right across the division.

not this year but in the near future

Much like Detroit, Ottawa will be an improved team. But also much like Detroit, they are still likely going to be last in their division though probably just a point or 2 behind the 6th place team.

That being said, they could easily be a team on the rise in 21-22

I'd need more info on this "Canadian Division". If teams just have to play the same handful of teams all year, it's a gongshow. But I guess if they are going to try to have 6,000 fans a game or something, a Canadian division it the only way to go.

From a competitive aspect, housing all the teams in the US would be the way to go. Split gate revenue sharing so Canadian teams don't suffer more of a loss.

I'd need more info on this "Canadian Division". If teams just have to play the same handful of teams all year, it's a gongshow. But I guess if they are going to try to have 6,000 fans a game or something, a Canadian division it the only way to go.

From a competitive aspect, housing all the teams in the US would be the way to go. Split gate revenue sharing so Canadian teams don't suffer more of a loss.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

If Canadian teams were housed in US, it would create a huge political firestorm.

I like 60 game schedule. 5 and 5 home and away games. Or 48 games schedule 4 and 4 home and away. Huge rivalry incentives. My guess is the popularity would be so great Canadian division structure will extend beyond Covid crisis.

I don’t see why not.

All 7 Canadian teams have at least 1 major exploitable flaw that can be exposed on any given night.

The sens showed last year that they play a very competitive game but their biggest flaw was a lack of talent to be able to compete with the better clubs around the league. I wouldn’t expect guys like batherson, Norris or possibly stuetzle (if he makes it) to come in and light the lamp like established players but an extra year of development & the addition of dadonov is an improvement on that flaw which should give the sens better results over last year.

Realistically I still have them in the bottom 10 range but outside of the bottom 5. Anywhere outside of the bottom 10 should be considered a huge success wether they make the playoffs or not as playing meaningful games late in the year is huge for player development and it’s not like Ottawa needs another top 10 pick anyways.

Canadian division is crap. They should just have regional hubs in the USA.

Travel alone for Canadian teams will be horrendous.

If Canadian teams were housed in US, it would create a huge political firestorm.

I like 60 game schedule. 5 and 5 home and away games. Or 48 games schedule 4 and 4 home and away. Huge rivalry incentives. My guess is the popularity would be so great Canadian division structure will extend beyond Covid crisis.
- spatso

I don't want to watch the same Canadian teams over and over. Best part of hockey is playing North South...

Canadian division is crap. They should just have regional hubs in the USA.

Travel alone for Canadian teams will be horrendous.
- MisterBrown

Would it? I think they have blocks of games, so you stay in either the east or west for a large block of time.

It might get repetitive, but we we need to accept this isn't normal times.

Having hubs in the US would see Canadian players away from their families for 6+ months.

Same coaching, same message, same system, same player deployment, same results. The skilled players will get swallowed up in the on ice chaos and underachieve. Grunt hockey.

Same coaching, same message, same system, same player deployment, same results. The skilled players will get swallowed up in the on ice chaos and underachieve. Grunt hockey.
- granpa

If things stay the same, the sens were my team to watch. Dorians done a good job drafting and in free agency. #2 in the division.
- MLew65

2nd in that division? Settle down, LOL

Why not?

It’s pretty much all garbage.
- bruceflyers

The Stanley Cup wiining Flyers won't be in that Division, will they ?

I don't want to watch the same Canadian teams over and over. Best part of hockey is playing North South...
- MisterBrown

Obviosly you didn't grow up in the 60's.

Would it? I think they have blocks of games, so you stay in either the east or west for a large block of time.

It might get repetitive, but we we need to accept this isn't normal times.

Having hubs in the US would see Canadian players away from their families for 6+ months.
- david22

The US per capita Covid infection rate is 400% higher than it is in Canada. The US mortality rate is 300% higher than Canada.

No way the NHL or the Canadian government would ever expose themselves to the ridicule that would follow a decision that puts players and families in the notional position of higher risk.

Keep in perspective that there was not any hint of protest when the Blue Jays were not allowed to play home games in Toronto. Nobody wants cross border events as long as Covid continues to surge.

People may have already seen this, but here's an interesting story about whether Norris or Brown deserve a shot next year at C...
https://www.silversevense...ogan-brown-or-josh-norris

I would generally agree that it's a make-or-break year for Brown... but he'll still have to fight for top-6 minutes against the likes of Tierney and White. That said, if he can't showcase more offensive upside at the NHL level than those 2 and make a case for at least a #2C role, then I'm not sure he'll be with the team much longer.

The US per capita Covid infection rate is 400% higher than it is in Canada. The US mortality rate is 300% higher than Canada.

No way the NHL or the Canadian government would ever expose themselves to the ridicule that would follow a decision that puts players and families in the notional position of higher risk.

- spatso

On top of that, what happens if the US doesn't get their sh*t together and they can't even finish the season while the "Canadian division" gets through it all?

People may have already seen this, but here's an interesting story about whether Norris or Brown deserve a shot next year at C...
https://www.silversevense...ogan-brown-or-josh-norris

I would generally agree that it's a make-or-break year for Brown... but he'll still have to fight for top-6 minutes against the likes of Tierney and White. That said, if he can't showcase more offensive upside at the NHL level than those 2 and make a case for at least a #2C role, then I'm not sure he'll be with the team much longer.
- khawk

I'm not worried for Brown he'll be a very good NHL center either in Ottawa or somewhere else.