Subj : Ottawa Senators Best All-Time
To : All
From : The Hockey Writers - Main
Date : Fri Sep 25 2020 12:26 pm
The Ottawa Senators have had a number of franchise faces since their inception
in 1992. Many fans ask common questions about their teams as to whom would be
their prospective best players of all-time. Naming a group of Senators players
was an interesting exercise in examining what defines "The Best".
I assembled a list of four Senators players for this list. My choices for the
best all-time Senators are not just reflective of their statistics with the
team, as some players have fewer points than others that don';t make my list. I
chose them based on multiple factors, so some debatable players have been
ignored. Without further adieu, here is my list of best Senators of
all-time.Daniel Alfredsson
Who else but Daniel Alfredsson? The longtime Senators captain is without a
doubt worthy of being the greatest Senators player ever. His 1,157 points are
by far the most of anyone in Ottawa. His captaincy from 1999 to 2013 is the
longest in franchise history and is the period of time in which the team saw
it';s longest and most consistent success in the regular season and playoffs.
He is the franchise leader in goals, assists, and points, and the face you see
when thinking about the Sens. Daniel Alfredsson is the face of the Ottawa
Senators (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
His leadership was also instrumental in not only his success but in the success
of those around him. The six-time All-Star was a major part of the
franchise';s rise from mediocrity, into the contender that they became in the
late 1990s and 2000s. His playoff numbers are also remarkable, with 100 in 121
games, and an appearance in the 2007 Stanley Cup Final. Related: Ottawa
Senators' Daniel Alfredsson: Hall of Fame Worthy?
His 103-point season in 2005-06 was his career year, finishing within the top
five for the Lady Byng, Selke, and Hart Trophies. Even though Alfredsson did
not win any major awards aside from his Calder in the 1995-96 season, he was
one of the most consistent players of the 2000s. He was the face of the
franchise from his arrival and remains the biggest icon in Ottawa, not only for
his playing ability but for his added philanthropy in the city.
You cannot think of the Senators without Alfredsson, and even if his records do
eventually get broken, he will still have his place in Senator';s lore. When
his number was retired in December 2016, that spot was guaranteed to be forever
remembered. No matter what happens, he is still the greatest Senator to play
the game.Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza is in my opinion, one of the best Senators ever. When Spezza was
drafted second overall by Ottawa in 2001, it signified the change of the
Senators from an expansion franchise into a dominating force of the 2000s.
Spezza became the first high draft pick the Senators chose who became a star in
the NHL (no offence to Alexei Yashin).Jason Spezza played in Ottawa from 2002
to 2014 (THW Archives)
Spezza';s time in Ottawa would be marked as his emergence as the best playmaker
in Senators'; history. In 686 games in Ottawa, Spezza is one of only two
Senators who hold more than a point per game average in the NHL. Spezza
compiled 251 goals and 436 assists while in a Sens sweater, both of which are
second in franchise history.
He, Alfredsson, and Dany Heatley made up the "Pizza" line for a portion of the
mid-2000s, leading an explosive Senators offense that led the NHL in goals
during the 2005-06 season. His 71 assists that season is still a team record
and his 94 points in 2007-08 are the closest a Sen has come to 100 since
Heatley did it in 2006-07.Related: Jason Spezza To Lead Ottawa Senators Into
Post "Alfie" Era
When he succeeded Alfredsson as captain in 2013, he could not live up to the
expectations, resulting in his trade to the Dallas Stars during the summer of
2014. Like other players in Senators'; history, his last days in Ottawa took
away from how good he was. Despite that, I maintain that he is not only
underrated in Ottawa, but the best centre to play for the team.Craig Anderson
The greatest goalie in Senators'; history is a lock for a place on this list.
When Craig Anderson arrived via trade in the middle of the 2010-11 season, the
Senators were lacking in terms of a stable, No. 1 goaltender. By the end of the
season, though, the team had their man in net.Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators
(Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
The Senators franchise record holder in wins, games played, and second in
shutouts, Anderson played his way into club lore. Since his debut, he
consistently kept the team in games where they had zero business winning. When
looking at his playoff numbers, it gets better. He is within the top five in
all major categories, including being tied for the record for wins with 21.
Related: Senators' Best Goalie All-Time is Craig Anderson
Anderson';s character also came to the forefront when his wife Nicole was
dealing with her cancer diagnosis during the 2016-17 season. (from 'Update:
Craig Anderson will play tonight, cancer-stricken wife says team needs him,';
Ottawa Citizen, 10/30/2016) While his wife was fighting the disease, he led his
team to the Eastern Conference Final. His season also included an emotional
2-0 shutout win in Edmonton on Oct. 30, 2016.
In more recent years, Anderson has taken the bullet for the Senators. While the
majority of the Senators playing with Anderson left, he remained in Ottawa.
It';s a price he paid with his stats. Despite not having much help, he did the
best he could, and while his numbers over the last three seasons have not been
acceptable, Anderson is both a face of the Senators franchise and one of their
best players. Erik Karlsson
Like Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson';s image is synonymous with the Senators. He is
the dictionary definition of the modern-day defenseman. His puck skills and
vision of the ice is something to marvel and is reflected in his point totals.
He is currently the franchise leader in points by a defenseman, and third in
franchise history with 518. His points per game average are 10th in team
history, 15 spots above the next defenseman. When he was drafted 15th overall
in 2008 out of Frölunda in the Swedish Hockey League, he was considered very
small, and underweight for his position. While it took a few years, Karlsson
grew into the best defenseman in team history. Erik Karlsson was the Senators
best player for many years (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Karlsson dominated the NHL for nearly a decade, winning two Norris Trophies,
and placing second two more times while in Ottawa. His 82 points in the 2015-16
season is still a record for a Senators defenseman. A torn Achilles tendon in
2012 did set him back, but he was still able to perform at a top-level for many
years. Serving as captain from 2014 to 2018, he was able to remain at his
elite level of skill, while also providing leadership for younger defensemen.
Related: Senators and Karlsson Repeating History
Like the others on this list, his tenure ended poorly during Ottawa';s fall to
rock bottom in 2018 with a trade to San Jose. Until the end, Karlsson was loved
in Ottawa and was given the appreciation he deserved by Sens fans. He remains
the best blueliner to play for the Senators and will be remembered as
such.Honourable Mention: Chris Phillips
Chris Phillips is, unfortunately, the odd man out here. While an icon in
Ottawa, he just missed the threshold for what I consider the best.
Phillips was the ultimate stay at home defenseman during his time in Ottawa.
The franchise';s first overall pick in 1996 became a mainstay during his 18
years in Ottawa. The franchise leader in games played with 1,179, recently had
his No. 4 retired, joining Alfredsson as the only two modern-day Senators to
have that honour. The longtime alternate captain was a symbol of the Senators
on and off the ice, his No. 4 always engaged with the puck, or with an opposing
player.Related: Ottawa Senators Legend - Chris Phillips
While Phillips didn';t have much of an offensive game, he was an anchor on the
back-end. He was within the top 15 for the Calder voting in the 1997-98 season,
rare for a 19-year old defenseman with only 16 points. He was never a flashy
player but managed to finish within the top 20 in voting for the Norris Trophy
in 2007 and in 2010. He also scored one of the most famous goals in team
history, when he beat Martin Brodeur to send the 2003 Eastern Conference Final
to a Game 7.
Phillips was an integral part of the Senators franchise, and one of their best
defensemen. He wasn';t a player who would wow you whenever he stepped on the
ice, but he made his presence known. While he just missed being the best, he
will still be very much remembered in Ottawa. The Final List
To conclude, the Senators have many fantastic players, but only a handful can
be considered the true best of the best. The names Alfredsson, Spezza,
Anderson, and Karlsson, will truly go down as the best to ever wear the
Senators uniform.
The post Ottawa Senators'; Best All-Time appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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