So, where were we?

Considering that Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr have owned the NHL spotlight for the past four months, it has been easy to forget about all the on-ice changes since the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup.

So, just like the players who are now headed back to a brief training camp, Ottawa Senators fans might need to get back up to speed in a hurry, too.

Injuries will happen and we could see a trade or two, but we know this much before Senators coach Paul MacLean blows his whistle for the first time: the Senators will be hard-pressed to replace injured defenceman Jared Cowen, a glorious opportunity awaits rookie Jakob Silfverberg to establish himself as a first line winger and the team is, for once, blessed with goaltending depth.

Now, for a deeper look at the organization, let’s take you all the way back to the summer.

Back then, Senators fans were generally optimistic about the future following their surprising playoff appearance last spring, the outstanding season by Norris Trophy winning defenceman Erik Karlsson, the players’ acceptance of MacLean as coach and the decision by captain Daniel Alfredsson to return for at least one more season.

General manager Bryan Murray resisted major change to the team’s core – the team’s payroll of $51.9 million is the third lowest in the league, ahead of only the New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes — but he did tinker with the talent surrounding the key players.

The organization deemed that it was too expensive to keep defencemen Filip Kuba and Matt Carkner, along with centre Zenon Konopka. Kuba received two years and $8 million with the Florida Panthers, Carkner landed a three-year, $4.5 million contract with the New York Islanders and Konopka secured a two-year, $1.85 million deal with the Minnesota Wild.

Jesse Winchester, who endured a concussion filled 2011-12 season, and disappointing defenceman Matt Gilroy weren’t re-signed. Bobby Butler, who couldn’t produce as a top-six forward, had the final year of his contract bought out.

Letting Kuba walk away was a gamble, given that he served as the playing partner for Karlsson. Murray hoped that he had filled that gap by acquiring Ottawa native Marc Methot from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for left winger Nick Foligno. Methot is far more vocal and physical than Kuba ever was – a necessity with Carkner gone – but it’s a big hole for Methot to fill. Defensive chemistry doesn’t usually arrive overnight. While Foligno had his share of moments and highlight goals for the Senators, he couldn’t establish himself as a fixture on the club’s top two lines. Given that his contract had expired – Foligno subsequently signed a three-year, $9.25 million – and Methot has three years and $9 million remaining – the trade was a wash, financially.

To replace Foligno’s lost offence, Murray dipped his toe into the free agency world, signing Guillaume Latendresse to a one-year, $2 million deal. Once upon a time, Latendresse was a young, homegrown Quebec star for the Montreal Canadiens. He also scored 25 goals in 55 games for Minnesota three seasons ago. Now, though, he’s aiming to keep his career alive, limited to only 25 games in the past two seasons due to concussion and groin injuries. This one should be fun to watch. At 6-2 and 235 pounds, Latendresse might fit the bill as a power forward and could find a home on a line with Kyle Turris and Alfredsson.

Silfverberg, the reigning Swedish League MVP who was rushed into Games 6 and 7 of last spring’s playoff series against the New York Rangers, will receive a shot on a first line alongside Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek. After a slow start with Binghamton in the American Hockey League, Silfverberg found the range in December. He has 13 goals and 15 assists in 31 games with Binghamton, including a six-game goal scoring streak.

Barring a trade, MacLean won’t need time to adjust to any other new faces. Centres Kyle Turris and Zack Smith received long-term contract extensions in the summer. Jim O’Brien has a two-year deal, while Peter Regin, looking to rebound from two years of shoulder problems, and Kaspars Daugavins were signed for one more year.

Defensively, though, the Senators will need to find some answers in a hurry.
Methot, who has spent the first six years of his NHL career as a support player out of the spotlight in Columbus, must answer the challenge of playing in his hometown, while possibly being paired with the league’s top defenceman from 2011-12.

Somehow, the Senators must also find a way to fill the considerable void left by the season-ending hip injury Jared Cowen suffered while playing in Binghamton. Cowen, one of the league’s most promising rookies last season, offered the Senators great promise due to his youth, his size and his physical play. At some point, Murray may need to make a deal – perhaps a short-term fix by signing a free agent defenceman – to make the team stronger on the blueline.

The Senators still have Sergei Gonchar, who has put up impressive numbers with Magnitogorsk Metallurg in the KHL, while playing alongside Pittsburgh star Evgeni Malkin. Gonchar is in the final year of his contract and last month, speculation surfaced that Gonchar could be traded to Pittsburgh, perhaps finishing out his career with good friend Malkin. At this point, the Senators don’t have enough proven NHL defencemen to make such a deal, however.

Chris Phillips has two years to go on his deal. In a perfect world, the Senators would like him to serve as a fifth or sixth defenceman, but he may be pushed to play more, considering the current state of the roster. The only other blueliner with significant NHL experience is Mike Lundin, a free agent who was expected to serve on the bottom end of the defence roster after signing a one-year contract. Lundin, however, suffered a hand injury before Christmas and isn’t expected to be ready for camp.

The door is open for at least one, probably two, young defencemen from Binghamton to make their mark. The need for a physical player – again, they’re thin in that area due to Carkner’s departure and Cowen’s injury – will likely give Mark Borowiecki a chance to play.

If there’s one more opening, it will likely boil down to a choice between Patrick Wiercioch and Andre Benoit, who have served as Binghamton’s top defence tandem most of this season. Benoit is an All-Star minor league veteran and captain in Binghamton, registering nine goals and 13 assists in 31 gaems with Binghamton. Wiercioch is the former second round draft choice, who, after a solid summer of training to bulk up, has re-emerged as a top prospect within the organization. He has scored eight goals and nine assists in 29 games with the Senators’ AHL farm team.

While the defence situation should be cause for some worry, that’s not the case in goal.

Craig Anderson will return as the number one goaltender, but he will be pushed. Following a shaky start in Binghamton this season, due in part to health issues, Ben Bishop has been solid, with a record of 8-3-1, a goals against average of 2.66 and a save percentage of .928. Barring injuries, the Senators will start the season with Anderson and Bishop as their netminding tandem.

But then there’s the stellar play of Robin Lehner. Lehner has been spectacular with Binghamton this season, owning a 13-4-1 record, a 1.83 goals against average and a .946 save percentage.

For the time being, Bishop gets the nod as Anderson’s back-up because he has a guaranteed NHL contract – Lehner makes a minor-league salary while in the AHL – but the situation is a luxury for the Senators.

If Anderson or Bishop suffers an injury, there will be no hesitation in playing Lehner. If another NHL team is in need of a proven veteran NHL goaltender, the Senators may be position to dangle Anderson as trade bait. Should the Senators struggle and fall out of playoff contention, the likelihood of Anderson being moved will increase. This much is for sure: the Senators won’t keep Lehner in the minors beyond this season.

Isn’t it fun to once again talk about who will be in net, about defence pairings and line combinations?

Potential Training Camp Lineup

Forwards

Milan Michalek – Jason Spezza – Jakob Silfverberg
Guillaume Latendresse – Kyle Turris – Daniel Alfredsson
Peter Regin – Zack Smith – Chris Neil
Colin Greening – Jim O’Brien – Erik Condra
Kaspars Daugavins

Defence

Marc Methot
Erik Karlsson
Sergei Gonchar
Chris Phillips
Mark Borowiecki
Patrick Wiercioch/Andre Benoit
Mike Lundin (short-term injury)

Goaltending

Craig Anderson
Ben Bishop

Tags: Craig Anderson, Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, feature, Jared Cowen, Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators