Ottawa is loaded with talented rising stars at forward and added some experience in the off-season with a trade for Alex DeBrincat, a two-time 40-goal scorer with the Chicago Blackhawks, and signed former Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux. Veteran defenseman Travis Hamonic was also brought in.
With the return of Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Drake Batherson up front, and defenseman Thomas Chabot, there is plenty of talent for the Senators, and scoring goals should not be an issue.
Norris and Batherson combined to miss 52 games on their way to career years. They figure to build on what they started a season ago.
Will that be enough for the Senators to make the playoffs?
According to the NHL playoff odds, the Senators are priced at +10000 in the odds to win the President’s Trophy.
Let’s check the latest NHL picks, stats, injury reports, and NHL predictions. We’ve plenty of NHL expert picks for you to consider.
Ottawa Senators Odds
- To win Stanley Cup +6000
- To win Eastern Conference +3000
- To win Atlantic Division +2200
- To make playoffs Yes +200/ No -260
Player to Watch
Alex DeBrincat, F: The Senators gave up three draft selections, including a top-10 pick to acquire the goal-scoring phenom. Certainly, being around Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews helped DeBrincat get scoring chances during his time with Chicago. This could be the perfect landing spot for DeBrincat with the wide-open style of play.
DeBrincat is just 9, and the former second-round pick has scored 160 goals, the third most in the 2016 draft class. The players ahead of him (Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine) were the top two picks.
DeBrincat scored at least 12 goals on the power play in his first five NHL seasons.
Ottawa ranked 20th in the NHL in power play success rate a season ago, and the addition of DeBrincat should change that.
DeBrincat (+2200) is tied for seventh in the odds to win the Rocket Richard Trophy as the top goal scorer in the NHL, according to the NHL betting lines.
Breakout Player
Breakout Watch: F Tim Stutzle – Stutzle went from 12 goals and 29 points in 53 games as a rookie to 22 goals and 58 points in games a season ago.
The third overall pick in the 2020 draft was a barometer of the Senators’ success a season ago. He had 15 goals, 38 points, and a +12 defensive rating in 32 wins. His numbers tumbled to three goals, 15 points, and a -36 rating in 40 losses. The best should be yet to come for the 20-year-old winger.
No. 3 overall picks have had limited success in recent years. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Kirby Dach haven’t lived up to their lofty draft status. The question is what the ceiling for Stutzle is. Could he become a 30 or 40-goal scorer this season? His development will play a key role in Ottawa’s quest to reach the postseason.
Senators Outlook
Much like some of the other Canadian teams, the biggest question will come on goal for a talented Ottawa team.
Veteran Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg will share time in goal. It will be interesting to see the roles that young defensemen Jake Sanderson and Erik Brannstrom will have this season.
Ottawa finished -40 in goal differential, so that will need to be addressed for the Senators to be in contention for one of the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The Senators have been patient with their young stars, and pretty soon, it will start to pay off. There will be those who bet online who view a young, talented Ottawa team as a dark horse in the Eastern Conference.
