"Get Me Out of Ottawa!"

Only 20 games into the 2023 EHE regular season, and things are off the rails in Ottawa.

Pain has come to be expected in the nations capital.

Senators General Manager Cole Bates declared the team was set to undertake a full rebuild in 2021-2022. That was only one season removed from a heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 7 of the 2021 Lemieux Conference Finals.

Back in 2019-2020, prior to Bates' arrival, Ottawa finished tied for 2nd last in the league, with 67 points. After a busy first summer at the helm, the Sens would finish 2020-2021 2nd in the league, with 117 points (one point shy of the league lead). In just three seasons, Bates has taken the Sens on a path of buyer, to seller, to cellar dweller. This of course, is all apart of the plan,according to Bates, who has a reputation for being active and aggresive by nature.

"It's not the conventional path, but it's the one I see as the best course for this organization. The landscape of the league, combined with bargains we got in the trade market ultimately propelled us to go for it in year one. Afterward, I felt it was imperative that we position ourself for sustainable success. Looking ahead to 2023, we knew it would be the ideal year for a full teardown. We also had two franchise-tagged players we wouldn't be able to trade until they resigned after the 2021-2022 season, in O'Reilly and Lehner". Explained Bates.

Senators fans are no stranger to dramatic upheaval; Ottawa's faithful has watched as their beloved fan-favorites were shipped out of town in favour of picks and prospects. Former players like Anthony Cirelli, Ryan O'Reilly, Robin Lehner, Mats Zuccarello, Erik Karlsson, Mikael Granlund, and Anthony Duclair, have all since found new zip codes.

If the grass is even greener on the other side, how long is it going to take to actually find out?

That question couldn't be more pressing for grizzled, 43-year old EHE veteran "Jumbo" Joe Thornton. The Senators captain is on his last legs of a lengthy career; still in pursuit of his first ever-so-elusive Stanley Cup. In what was supposed to be an off camera exchange with his agent, leaked to the media, Thornton was heard urging his agent to quote, "Get me out of Ottawa!".

It's no secret that much like many of his teammates, Thornton has not enjoyed his short tenure with the Sens. The former star, turned depth-player and glue-guy has even visibly aged since arriving to the nations capital. Sadly, a $4 million dollar cap hit, combined with a decline in performance makes getting Jumbo-Joe out of Ottaw a near-impossible task.

It didn't take long for recently signed unresstricted free agents John Klingberg and Tyler Johnson to see the writing on the wall. Both players requested a trade out of town after just 20 games. Granted, both signed knowing they were heading to a rebuilding club, with hopes of showcasing their abilities in top-line roles. It appears, however, that the overwhelming negativty surrounding the Sens was just too much to bear.

2020-2021 EHE Coach of the year Barry Trotz, who has been given little to work with, still has the confidence and support of Sens managment.

"I have put Barry in a difficult position as head coach. Our young players continue to develop despite a tough situation. Look at where we finished last year, relative to the roster Barry had to work with. Trotzy' is going to be apart of our future here so long as he still wants to be. We have full faith in Barry as our Coach. We're fortunate to have him behind the bench during this rebuild." Said Bates.

Ottawa currently sits tied for last in the EHE, with a embarassing record of 4-14-4. The Sens are splitting time in the crease between Matt Murray, Antti Raanta, and Karel Vejmelka.The trio accounts for the highest caphit of any Goalie group in the league, with a combined total of $15,850,000. Vejmelka has been the most successful of the three, with a 0.902 SP, and a 2-3-3 record. Matt Murray on the other hand, is sitting at 0-7-0 on the season, with an 0,900 SP.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi leads Ottawa with 18 PTS in 22 GP; with Corey Perry not far behind, at 16 points in 22 GP. Fringe NHLer Andrew Porturalski is the only Senator is a plus rating, at +6. Porturalski has worked his way to the top line after starting the year as a scratch and fourth line forward. The Center / Winger is up to 13 PTS in 20 GP, currently in the midst of a 4-game point streak

Aforementioned Joe Thornton sits with just 3 PTS in 20 GP, prompting Head Coach Barry Trotz to crudley paste him to the bench, even putting him in the press box on two separate occasions.

"Everyone needs to be held accountable here. The same standards apply for everyone in this locker room, that includes our captain. If he wants to get the hell out of here, he ought to start by playing better and being the best pro he can be." Said Trotz.

With little to look forward to this season, Sens fans are focused on the future. Sens GM Bates cited that the minimum contract control of 23-year old players on this list, still have 8 years of contract control (when factoring in this season).

"I see contract control and RFA-aged players as an extremely valuable asset in the EHE. Having 7 picks in the top 64 will be big-time equity at the draft. I believe picking anywhere in the 32-64 range this year will be like having a pick in the 25-40 range of other recent drafts." Noted Bates.

We conclude with a look at Ottawa's current core of 23 & under players and prospects, follwed by their list of draft picks for 2023.

FORWARDS

Kemell            Bordeleau      Jarvis

Chinakhov     Bourque         Lekkerimaki

Soderblom     Frost               Firkus

Buchelnikov   Kotkaniemi   Gritsyuk

Beckman        McBain          Rashevsky

Neuchev         Damiani         Leason

Steeves           Savage            Ranta    

J.Beck            Ljungman     T.Robertson

Muldoney      Vierling          Kurth

Tyutyayev      Haanelt          

DEFENSE

Bichsel      Dobson

Behrens    Niemela

Thrun        Joseph

Tucker      Heimosalmi

Galvas      Fisher

Forsmark Myrenberg 

GOALIES

Dostal 

Ersson

Ivanov 

Hamrla

2023 DRAFT PICKS

2023 OTT 1st

2023 MIN 1st

2023 ARI 1st

2023 OTT 2nd

2023 VGK 2nd

2023 CBJ 2nd

2023 FLA 2nd

2023 FLA 3rd

2023 ARI 5th

2023 SEA 5th