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head coach: Jacques Martin

roster: C - Alexei Yashin, Vaclav Prospal, Radek Bonk, Sergei Zholtok, Shaun Van Allen. LW - Randy Cunneyworth, Shawn McEachern, Magnus Arvedson, Denny Lambert. RW - Daniel Alfredsson, Pat Falloon, Andreas Dackell, Bruce Gardiner, Chris Murray. D - Lance Pitlick, Chris Phillips, Wade Redden, Stan Neckar, Jason York, Janne Laukkanen, Igor Kravchuk. G - Damian Rhodes, Ron Tugnutt.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Northeast Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA   
y-Pittsburgh 82  40  24  18    98  228  188 
x-Boston     82  39  30  13    91  221  194  
x-Buffalo    82  36  29  17    89  211  187  
x-Montreal   82  37  32  13    87  235  208  
x-Ottawa     82  34  33  15    83  193  200  
Carolina     82  33  41   8    74  200  219   

y - Clinched division
x - Clinched playoff spot

team news:

by The Nosebleeders, Ottawa Correspondents

Coming off their best season since rejoining the NHL in 1992, the Ottawa Senators had hoped to recharge their batteries and avoid any turmoil over the off-season in the hopes that, come October, they could pick up where they left off in 1996-97. But, alas, it was not meant to be.

Even throughout last season, everybody knew that Sens GM Pierre Gauthier's biggest challenge over the off-season was to re-sign the Swedish Messiah Daniel Alfredsson. At first, Gauthier seemed committed to task as he quickly initiated talks with Alfie's agent Michael Barnett. But then the summer heat must have got to Gauthier because talks suddenly slowed to a halt. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months...and Alfie was nowhere to be seen.

Regardless of how promising the 1997-98 edition of the Senators appeared, the team couldn't escape the dark cloud that hung over them due to the Alfredsson fiasco. Popular opinion around Bytown was that Alfie earned his dues, and after playing for a bargain basement price of $320,000 per year, it was 'time to show him da money.'

Despite predictions from Sens' GM Pierre Gauthier that Alfredsson would never play this season, management eventually relented and the Swedish Star was signed to a four-year, $10-million contract just four games into the season.

Controversy aside, the rest of the Senators season was...well... quite average. Although the team did display marked improvement in defense over last year - shaving over 25 goals against - the Sens still struggled at bulging the opposing team's twine. As a result, Sens fans had to sit back and watch their beloved flirt with .500 throughout the season, belly flopping above and below the magic number night in and night out, never once showing any desire to solidify a winning record. Strong road wins against Colorado, Dallas and New Jersey would be quickly followed up by agonizing losses to Carolina, Tampa Bay and the Islanders. You get the picture.

Thankfully, however, the Sens had just enough ammo to notch their first winning record in modern franchise history, leading to their second straight playoff appearance, once again at the expense of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes.

And, once again, it took a brilliant and exciting playoff run against the Devils and Caps to revive the spirit of Senator fans. Despite seeing their Cinderella run halted in five games by the evil Washington Capitals in Round Two, you can bet that those measly 11 playoff games did wonders to rejuvenate the team's season ticket sales for next season.

So, after 105 games, 6200 minutes of hockey, and 3.5 seconds of brilliance from Radek Bonk, let's take a gander at some of the brightest - and dimmest - moments of the Senators' 1997-98 season.

* SHINE ON - 18-year-old rookie Marian Hossa notches seven points in the Sens silly season. Although he was sent back to junior just seven games into the regular season, Hossa's impressive efforts (he had never skated on a North American-sized rink before) proved to many that Ottawa, despite picking in the middle of the first round, walked away with the steal of the 1997 entry draft. Of course, it didn't hurt that he then went on to lead his Portland Winter Hawks to the Memorial Cup championships.

* SHINE OFF - In one of the strangest moves of the season, Sens GM Pierre Gauthier refuses to allow players to wear jersey numbers above #35 (goaltenders excepted). Alex Daigle (R.I.P) goes from 91 to 9, Bonk trades in his 76 for 14, and Stan Neckar dropped from 94 to 24. The decision also prevents rookie Chris Phillips from wearing his beloved 77. Instead, he opts for #5, then #4.

Guess that rules out any chances of Wayne Gretzky finishing his career in Bytown?

* SHINE ON - Last season, Sports Illustrated - you know, the official magazine for junior bowling championships - showed how little they knew about professional hockey when they proclaimed Ottawa to be the worst professional sports franchise in North America, despite their impressive run to the playoffs. Flash forward to the beginning of the 1997-98 season, and suddenly the cobwebs at SI predicted the Senators to finish first in the Northeast Division. Hmmmm.....

* SHINE OFF - Just five games into the regular season, troubled forward Radek Bonk notches his third goal of the season in a game against Anaheim. All signs indicated that Bonk was ready to break out of his shell. Seventy-seven games later, Bonk finishes with just four more goals.

* SHINE OFF - In yet another strange front office move, Gauthier offers notorious underachiever Alexandre Daigle a one-year extension on his contract for $1.9 million. A few months later, Gauthier ships him off to the Philadelphia Flyers for Pat Falloon and Vinnie Prospal.

* SHINE ON - See Daigle trade above. Falloon looks like another disaster waiting to happen, but Prospal has a lot of promise. And at least we managed to finally rid ourselves of a PR nightmare in Daigle.

* SHINE OFF - Speaking of Philadelphia, who can forget the big fight between the Flyers' Chris Gratton and Stan Neckar? Final score had Gratton winning on points, 15-2.

* SHINE ON/OFF - Early in the new year, Ottawa unveils its third jersey, a menacing 3-D centurion peering out from a toga swash of red, white and black. 'Shine On' because the Sens were virtually unbeatable when wearing the jerseys. 'Shine Off' because they are just so damn ugly.

* SHINE ON - Ottawa sends two players - Daniel Alfredsson and Igor Kravchuk - to the All-Star game in Vancouver, making it the first time since 1993 that more than one Senator participated in the extravaganza. A few months later, Ottawa sends five of its boys to the Olympics in Nagano, Japan - Alfie, Kravchuk, Alexei Yashin, Shawn McEachern and Janne Laukkanen. Way to go, boys!

* SHINE OFF - Proving once again that they prefer ballet style hockey, the Sens unload tough guy Dennis Vial early in the season, then leave Denny Lambert unprotected, allowing the expansion Nashville Predators to gobble him up in the recent Expansion Draft. To add insult to injury, the Sens had glorious opportunities to land bruisers like Sandy McCarthy and Gino Odjick, only to turn a blind eye. The next time Yashin wobbles to the bench with a bloody mouth, Sens management should know why.

* SHINE ON - Alexei Yashin donates a whopping $1 million to the National Arts Centre to help promote Canadian and Russian cultural arts. Remember people, Yashin is only 24-years-old.

* SHINE OFF - That same night, Sens fans learn that Radek Bonk is busted for drunk driving. Even more embarrassing is the Sens front office response, promising to reimburse players who decide to cab it home after a bender. Some role models...making millions of bucks, and they still need added incentives to do the 'responsible' thing? Puh-lease...

* SHINE ON - The stretch run to the playoffs. For the second straight year, Sens fans were on the edge of their seats, taking in each game as if it were Judgement Day. Kinda made up for all of those February San Jose Shark games we were forced to attend at gun point.

* SHINE OFF - Steve, one half of the famed Nosebleeders duo, continues to struggle with names like Alexie Yashin, Ron Tugnut and Igor Kravhcuk. Dave steadily goes insane.

* SHINE ON - The Corel Centre Faithful. Sellouts to the left of me, sellouts to the right of me. As for the playoffs...don't get us started. White towels waving, screaming at the top of their lungs, blasting out the occasional "Woo-Hoo!". Best fans in the league. Period.

* SHINE OFF - Ottawa is forced to play Buffalo three times in the final ten games of the season. Can you spell O-V-E-R-K-I-L-L?

* SHINE ON - Sens big 3-2 OT win March 25 at Madison Square Garden not only meant a rare win in The Big Apple, but it also knocked the Rangers out of the playoff race.

* SHINE OFF - Sens golden prospect Marian Hossa rips his knee to shreds in the dying minutes of the Memorial Cup final, which his Portland Winter Hawks went on to clinch. News emerges that Hossa will need major surgery and at least six months of therapy.

* SHINE ON - Damian Rhodes and the Sens' systematic dismantling of the first-place New Jersey Devils in Round 1. This was not a fluke folks. Ottawa dominated New Jersey in every category, beating the Devils at their own game. As for Rhodes....talk about making people forget about last season's leg injury fiasco.

* SHINE OFF - Damian's bleach blonde, buzz coif spreads like wildfire throughout Bytown. Even geriatrics took to the 'do, making us yearn for the traditional comb-over, or better yet, stapled rugs.

Alexei Yashin by Meredith Martini

TEAM MVP: Alexei Yashin. Normally, Daniel Alfredsson's name is engraved on the trophy long before the season even begins. But given his injuries, Alfie could not be considered this year. That's not to say that Yashin won by default... nosiree. Yashin emerged this year as the team's true leader, both on and off the ice. Whether he was scoring sweet goals, setting up chances, barking commands on the bench, or donating mucho donair to local arts programs, Yashin did the Senators proud this year.

Yashin's 'coming of age' comes at the right time, too. The Sens are one of the youngest teams in the league and steadily climbing the ladder of respectability. Having a veteran leader like Randy Cunneyworth helps overcome lack of experience, but having a young leader like Yashin gives the club's youth motivation to strive for similar glory.

And, besides, his numbers - 33 goals, 39 assists, 72 points - were fabulous, given this team's general disdain for scoring goals. In fact, second best scorer on the team, Shawn McEachern, was a full 24 points back, despite playing the same number of games as Yash. Case Closed.

Runner-Up - Wade Redden. Redden has developed into a solid stay-at-home defenseman who can score when he needs to, as his 21 points attested. He also notched an amazing +17 rating in only his second full year in the NHL.

SURPRISE: Chris Phillips. When Phillips held out last season, many could not believe such a brash attitude by a young player who had yet to prove himself in the Bigs. Two years later, we now know why. Everybody knew that Phillips would play this year, but how many actually thought he would be counted on to play both forward and defense, would deliver some of the biggest hits of the season, or score some of the biggest goals of the year? This is a predominantly young and inexperienced team, and unlike other clubs, Sens rookies do not have the luxury to quietly and slowly grow accustomed to the NHL calibre of play a la Joe Thornton. The pressure to perform is indeed high, particularly in front of some of the most knowledgeable hockey fans around.

In his rookie season, Phillips went beyond expectations and, at times, was the best player on the ice for Ottawa. This lad will one day be hoisting the Norris Trophy, mark our words.

DISAPPOINTMENT: Radek Bonk. C'mon now, are you really shocked? He started off so well, then dove right back into his shell, finishing with an awful seven goals and 16 points. Heck, even Denny Lambert scored more points than Bonk, and he was recently left unprotected! Even more discouraging is the fact that Bonk has the size to be a big force in front of the net or in the corners. That alone would quiet his fiercest critics (read: Nosebleeders), yet he continuously refuses to use his biggest assets. Frankly, who really cares that Bonk has developed into a solid faceoff specialist? After winning the draw, Bonk promptly phases into the background as a spectator. Not much benefit in winning a faceoff if you must immediately go shorthanded for the rest of the shift, right?

Get rid of Bonk, and use the money he's gobbling up for more productive purposes.

OFF-SEASON CHANGES: If the Sens continue at this pace of improvement, they should be hoisting Lord Stanley's mug in June of 2001. First round last year, second round this year, conference finals next year, finals in 2000, glory in 2001. Yup, if only life were that predictable...

But if Ottawa truly believes that they can compete for the Cup in less than two years, then they need to make a few changes, namely:

1. Get a Natural Goal Scorer.

Gee, Einstein, really? Seriously, Ottawa has two potent playmakers in Yashin and Alfredsson. But where's their finisher? Remember the Islander dynasty of the early 1980s? They had Bryan Trottier, the playmaker, feeding Mike Bossy, the finisher. The Broad Street Bullies? Clarke the playmaker, Leach the finisher. The Oilers? Gretzky the playmaker, Messier, Anderson and Kurri the finishers.

Ottawa had high hopes that McEachern would fill that role nicely, but he lacks the consistency to make it happen. Remember the playoffs, in which he failed to even score one goal?

What Ottawa needs is a guy who can circle the net looking to tuck home any rebounds or gently deposit pucks that are so sweetly placed on the tape of their blades courtesy of Yash and Alfie. He doesn't have to be huge, nor does he have to command an enormous price tag. He just has to have the natural (sometimes fluky) ability to score those key goals.

If you are still confused as to what I mean, just take a gander at what Brian Bellows did for Washington in the playoffs this year.

2. Quit Ballet Lessons.

We already duly noted this point earlier on, but Ottawa has to wake up and realize that the NHL isn't exactly non-contact ringette. So long as NHL brass continue to insist that the game be played by overgrown men skating at warp speed within a tightly confined 200x85 area, there is going to be hitting, and plenty of it. Yashin is a big boy, and Alfredsson has the guts to fight back, but we think we'd rather see them concentrate on scoring goals than running for their dear lives.

For every championship team with Wayne Gretzky, there was a Dave Semenko. For every Wayne Cashman, there was a Stan Johnathan. And for every Steve Yzerman, there was a Darren McCarty. Get the point?

3. Protect Craig Ramsay at All Costs.

Generally, organizations show good will to their assistant coaches by allowing them to interview for any vacant head coaching positions in the league. And Ottawa is no exception, as assistant coach Craig Ramsay has reportedly shown interest in the Chicago job. Well, stop that nonsense once and for all!

If you are looking for a reason why Ottawa has improved so much in recent years - especially with such a young group of players - then look no further than Craig Ramsay. Ramsay is the Xs and Os man behind the team's stingy defense and solid goaltending. There is no question that he will one day make a fine head coach, but Ottawa should chuck its altruistic character out the window and do whatever it takes to ensure that he is around to help lead the team to a Stanley Cup championship.

Just look at what happened in New Jersey in 1996 after assistant coach Larry Robinson left the Devils to take the L.A. Kings' helm. Nuff said.

So, what other front office moves are expected? Frankly, who really knows. GM Pierre Gauthier is about as talkative as a mute snail in rigor mortis. Chances are good you will not see the Tugnutt-Rhodes tandem next year as one of them, likely Tugnutt, will be shipped off to another team. And don't be surprised if Randy Cunneyworth is forced off the ice and into the front office a la Brad Marsh. Cunneyworth has proven his worth to the organization, but slowly that value is shifting away from the ice.

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