What do you do if you finished last season as one of the worst teams in the NHL?
You make changes.
And that is exactly what the Ottawa Senators have done over the past few days. Their rebrand to their old logo and updated uniforms was just a drop in the bucket for the Senators.
Updating the home and away uniforms the Senators will wear was an answer to Sens fans. For years, the Senators fan base has been calling for a rebrand similar to their old 90’s look. The front office of Ottawa listened, releasing stunning jerseys to go back to their old roots.
It’s hard to believe, but Ottawa is one of the most successful Canadian teams since the 2000s. Despite not winning the Stanley Cup in 2007, the Senators have reached the Eastern Conference finals three times since 2000. Their winning ways have parted the Sens over recent years, but GM Pierre Dorion and his managerial staff are looking to make improvements for the Senators’ organization.
The new look Senators started to take shape earlier in the off-season, signing players like Alex Galchenyuk in October. However, the Senators made a splash after Christmas, making moves that have pleased the fanbase.
Ottawa traded for Derek Stepan, giving up a 2nd round pick in 2021. While Stepan’s salary is relatively high (6.5M), Stepan’s value comes at mentoring the young group, while giving a veteran presence. His offensive production may have fallen off last season, but Stepan is a leader in the locker room. The Senators also needed to reach the cap floor, and his salary plus leadership capabilities was more than enough for Dorion to sign off on the trade.
Not done there, the Senators made another huge trade by bringing in Cedric Paquette and Braydon Coburn from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Again, Coburn and Paquette come with a modest salary that will be off the books next season as both players are unrestricted free agents but this move helps the Sens reach the cap floor.
The cherry on top of the Senators’ holidays was the official signing of draft pick Tim Stuetzle. Currently representing Germany at the World Juniors, Stuetzle signed an entry-level contract with the Senators, which has pleased the fan base.
Stuetzle is projected to be a top player within the Sens organization and has been a bright spot at the World Juniors.
What does this mean for the Senators on the betting side of things? Unfortunately, the Senators still have one of the worst odds to win the Stanley Cup. The Sens’ +20000 (888Sport) is the worst odds of any Candian team and the second-worst odds in the entire NHL.
Still, the Sens were not expected to be a contender this season, so it’s understandable why betting sites have not improved Ottawa’s odds.
These moves have helped Ottawa for this season and they should have a decent draft pick in 2021. With the Senators’ prospect pipeline, they should be in good shape down the road.
