After sending Alexei Yashin and his hefty price tag to the New York Islanders, Ottawa now has the freedom to make a major market move. Replacing Yashin's team-leading 88 points will weigh heavily on the mind of GM Marshall Johnston as he shops for a playmaker. Several possibilities that have emerged so far are acquiring disgruntled centers Adam Oates and Jason Allison. But no matter which Ottawa team skates onto the ice in 2001-02, the questions about the Senators' poor playoff performances will linger.
Here are your thoughts on what the Senators need for next season:
Neighbors to the North are a step behind
As a longtime NHL fan from Europe, I find it increasingly alarming that Canadian teams (besides Toronto) can't keep their rosters intact when contracts are about to run out. Basically, the teams are developing into on-the-job training facilities for financially insane U.S. clubs that also don't have the money they are spending in most cases. Losing Alexei Yashin might not be such a bad deal considering his attitude towards the Ottawa organization and his bizzare salary demands. The last time I checked, he competed with the likes of a Kent Manderville on a points-per-game basis in the playoffs, so crying for $8-10 million might be a bit farfetched. I feel really sorry for the fans of teams such as Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Vancouver where the best thing you can hope for is management assembling a hardworking group with a bunch of talented youngsters who will probably move on when they reach their prime (see: Doug Weight). I really hope that all small-market teams will fare well this season, and think that Ottawa might be one of the premier teams again this season.
Bernt
Osnabrueck, Germany
Youth will lead the way
To say that Ottawa will go backwards without Alexei Yashin would be speaking a lie. Ottawa played extremely well in the season that Yashin sat out only a couple of years ago. Now, with the new energy that the young players bring, the future of the organization looks bright.
Tom
Richmond, Va.
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The Sens are a small market team and they will never win the Stanley Cup. Yashin could see the writing on the wall. ” |
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— Ralph, New York |
Big ego's dominate NHL
I think it is a good trade for Ottawa. They get rid of someone who didn't want to be there and pick up some good young talent in return. It's just too bad that most players think they have the right to choose where they play and for how much. It used to be considered a privilege to play in the NHL, but now certain players think they are bigger than the game (hello, Eric Lindros). Good for the Senators.
Eric
Salem, N.H.
Yashin was not answer for soft Senators squad
In the long run, the Senators will be better off without Alexei Yashin for a number of reasons. One is that he seems to disappear when the playoffs come around -- he won't pay the price to score goals. He also is a head case and as the Islanders will soon find out, he is not a team player. For the Senators to be considered Cup contenders, they need to add more grit to their lineup. They need players who will do the little things and the dirty work for their teams to win. Every team that wins the Cup has these types of players to complement their star players. The Senators have never had these gritty type of players, and they must add them if they are going to be a threat to the Devils in the East. Getting rid of Yashin was a start.
Jason
Chatham, N.J.
Blame should be put elsewhere
The Senators are going to fall flat on their faces. How can they blame Alexei Yashin for their playoff failures? Radek Bonk did absolutely nothing in the playoffs. Getting rid of their best player and another who is among the best in the league is not the answer. To put blame on Yashin is not the answer. The Sens need to be honest to their fans and tell them that Yashin didn't work out because he could never be re-signed nor kept content in Ottawa. The Sens are a small-market team and they will never win the Stanley Cup. Yashin could see the writing on the wall. The Sens need to improve at center and in their bank account.
Ralph
New York
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It used to be considered a privilege to play in the NHL, but now certain players think they are bigger than the game (hello, Eric Lindros). Good for the Senators. ” |
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— Eric, Salem, N.H. |
Running in place
After another first-round exit in the playoffs this year, Ottawa needed a complete overhaul. Getting rid of Alexei Yashin was a good start, but all that did for the short term was remove a 40-goal scorer from the middle of the lineup. There is no doubt Ottawa possesses some of the NHL's best young, skilled players. But they still lack the gritty tough guys essential to any team that wishes to make a playoff run. This is a team built for regular season success, not postseason glory. Ottawa's offseason moves give us no reason to think that this year will end any differently than last season's playoff disaster.
Doug
Dallas
Talent show could hurt Sens
The Ottawa Senators play a very team-oriented style of hockey. They are very well coached and can put four solid lines out even without Alexei Yashin. However, I do believe that you cannot take a 80-100 point player out of your lineup without seeing some drop in the standings. They did, however, prove me wrong when they had a great year two years ago without Yashin. Also, youngsters Marian Hossa and Martin Havlat have a year of experience since then. Jason Spezza was a great addition and if Magnus Ardvedson and Radek Bonk can stay healthy, they should be a 90-100 point team in 2001. I believe that the great talent on this team is their biggest long term enemy because the more they succeed, the higher their salary demands will be. If Ottawa was on a level playing field financially, Canada would have a hockey dynasty on its hands, which would be great for the country. Instead, it seems like a talent farm for the rest of the National Hockey League. And that is a crime.
Tim
London, Ontario
New faces will fuel playoff run
The Ottawa Senators are able to live without Alexei Yashin in their lineup because they got great talent in return from the New York Islanders. Yashin was the Senators' top leading scorer in almost everything, but they just have to move on without him and not change a thing. Now with the defense they have, there should be no problem for the Sens to get into the playoffs. The new arrivals from the Islanders should benefit and be more competitive now because they are on a playoff team. With the new additions and new signings, the Ottawa Senators can only get better.
Pete
New York
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If Ottawa was on a level playing field financially, Canada would have a hockey dynasty on its hands, which would be great for the country. ” |
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— Tim, London, Ontario |
Spezza provides a spark
Alexei Yashin out and Jason Spezza in is more than just a face lift for the Senators. Daigle? No. I'd rather think of a young Jaromir Jagr, who stepped right into a very good team and went on to win the Cup -- twice. Spezza will be well supported, and by the end of the season he'll be the No. 1 pivot in Ottawa. The Senators also got the bonus, picking up Zdeno Chara, to strengthen their back line. I'm thinking the team will start slow, pick it up and start peaking sometime in March or April. Already being in the playoffs, they´ll be in a good place to knock a team out.
Jonas
Norrköping, Sweden
Sens lack winning drive in playoffs
The Senators season came to an end that was expected -- quick and sudden. The four-game sweep was much-deserved, as the Senators became a shining example of a problem many NHL teams fall prey to -- being built for the regular season. When the playoffs started, the Senators lineup faltered because they didn't put forth the heart that Toronto did. Instead, they played as they did all season -- a flash and dance show of scorers without any grit. They haven't fully addressed those needs with the acquisition of Bill Muckult and Zdeno Chara, but if Jason Spezza pans out, they may be a force to be reckoned with in the future. The only thing that saves this team from being fed to the lions is their incredibly supportive fans in Ottawa.
Mohan
Georgetown, Guyana
