head coach: Jacques Martin

roster: C - Alexei Yashin, Radek Bonk, Shaun Van Allen, Bruce Gardiner, Sergei Zholtok. LW - Shawn McEachern, Tom Chorske, Randy Cunneyworth, Dennis Vial, Denny Lambert, Derek Armstrong. RW - Daniel Alfredsson*, Alexandre Daigle, Andreas Dackell, Phil Crowe, Mike Prokopec. D - Wade Redden, Igor Krachuk, Sean Hill, Stanislav Neckar, Frank Musil, Lance Pitlick, Jason York, Wade Redden, Janne Laukkanen, Christer Olsson*. G - Damian Rhodes, Ron Tugnutt, Jani Hurme.
*-Unsigned free agent.

injuries: None.

transactions: 07/03 - Signed forward Ivan Ciernik to a multi-year contract and forward Marc Labelle to a one-year contract; signed 1997 first-round draft pick Marian Hossa. 07/17 - Signed free-agent center Clayton Beddoes (Boston) to a one-year contract. 07/28 - Re-signed left wing Denny Lambert to a one-year contract. 07/29 - Signed defenseman Jason York to a multi-year contract. 07/31 - Signed defenseman Justin Hocking and right wing Mike Prokopec to one-year contracts and defenseman Erich Goldmann to a multi-year contract. 08/01 - Re-signed free-agent right wing Phil Crowe to a one-year contract and defenseman Janne Laukkanen to a multi-year contract. 08/12 - Agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with left wing Mike Maneluk. 08/26 - Signed defensemen Lance Pitlick to a new multi-year contract. 08/27 - Traded defenseman Steve Duchesne to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Igor Kravchuk. 08/29 - Signed defenseman Chris Phillips, their 1996 first-round pick, to a multi-year contract. 09/09 - Re-signed defenseman Stan Neckar to a one-year contract.

standings:

1996-97 FINAL RESULTS
RECORD:
 OVERALL      31-36-15
 HOME         16-17-8
 ROAD         15-19-7
POINTS:             77 (16th)
GOALS SCORED:      226 (19th)
GOALS AGAINST:     234 (12th)
POWER PLAY:      16.7% (11th)
PENALTY KILLING: 81.9% (20th) 

game results:

PRE-SEASON RESULTS
9/13 Buffalo            T 3-3 @Hamilton

team news:

by Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

SENATORS BACK FOR MORE

The Ottawa Senators did a whole mess of Earth shakin' last season, making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Their record of 31-36-15 earned them the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference and set franchise highs for wins, ties, and points (77). The secret to their success was improved defensive play. Under the guidance of coach Jacques Martin, the Senators allowed a mere 234 goals, by far the lowest total in their five-year existence. But making the playoffs is the easy part. Returning to the postseason can be tricky.

OFFENSE: Alfredsson AWOL

Just when you think GM Pierre Gauthier is a genius, he goes and does something stupid. For example, Gauthier has yet to re-sign restricted free agent Daniel Alfredsson. Forget that Alexei Yashin may have led the club in scoring last season, Alfredsson is Ottawa's best player. He's probably even among the top five most complete players in the NHL. Alfredsson is simply amazing. Yet Gauthier continues to drag his feet in trying to sign the Swedish superstar. Alfredsson isn't even asking to get paid as much as Yashin, who rakes in $2.9 million a year. Alfie is seeking a deal worth about $2.5 million. That is an absolute bargain by today's standards. And considering that Alfredsson only made an average of $350,000 Canadian in each of his first two seasons in the league, without once asking to renegotiate is completely unfair deal, the Senators should be bending over backwards to accommodate him. But they aren't. And Alfredsson remains in Sweden. If he doesn't get signed, any hopes of the Senators returning to the playoffs get tossed out the window... then once they hit the ground they get kicked, stomped, and urinated on.

While Gauthier apparently doesn't think having Alfredsson unsigned disturbs team unity, he is trying to unite the team by forcing everyone to wear a jersey number lower than 35. This is actually a pretty cool idea. Because really, do we need Radek Bonk skatin' around out there with number 76? That's not good for anybody. The only guy who should be wearin' 76 is Ben Franklin. Bonk will be sporting number 14 this season. Which, oddly enough, is also the number of goals he's scored in his four-year career. Oh, that's not true, he's actually scored 24 goals in his four-year career, including five last season. Whoa, slow down there, Radek! Don't want to burn out too soon. To say Bonk has been a bust since he was drafted third overall in 1994 is an understatement. The guy's been brutal. Hell, he only scored five more goals than Ben Franklin last season! Bonk has become a pretty good defensive center and is good on faceoffs, but stuff like that only gets mentioned when a guy isn't scoring.

Alexandre Daigle seemed like he was ready to finally bust through last season, scoring 19 goals in his first 43 games. But he cooled off down the stretch, knocking home just seven over his final 39 contests. The 26 goals were still a career high, but after the start he had that total was a disappointment. By the time the playoffs rolled around, Daigle had his ice time cut significantly and was only skating with a fourth line. Even though his playing time was butchered, Daigle still managed to go pointless with a -5 in seven playoff games. Hey, that's hard to do. He said that most of the problems were due to fatigue. He came to camp last season in great shape, but quit working out the second half of the season because he got tired. He once again hit the weights hard this off-season, but has vowed to continue working out the entire schedule. Hopefully that will keep him scoring the whole season. And Daigle needs a big effort, because he's entering the final year of his contract. Daigle was also forced to scrap his number 91 and will be wearing number 9 this season. Ya know, Maurice Richard wore number 9. Maybe the change will do him good.

After Alfredsson, Yashin, Daigle, and Bonk, the Senators don't have much in the way of talent up front. Shawn McEachern has blazing speed and a rocket slap shot, but he just never scores as much as he should. What good is having a full tank of gas if you never take the car out of the garage? Sergei Zholtok has a goal-scorer's touch and could be a 20-goal guy if given the chance. Andreas Dackell had a nice rookie season and displayed the potential to be a solid two-way threat. That's about it, tho', in the way of scoring. Captain Randy Cunneyworth is an emotional leader and a fiery competitor. It's not often that a checking role player wears the "C", but Cunneyworth wears it well. Bruce Gardiner had a nice rookie season himself last year and is a good checking center. If Dennis Vial is healthy, he'll provide toughness. Vial led the league with 30 fighting majors in 1995-96, but was limited to just 11 games last season because of injury.

DEFENSE: Crowded

The Senator defense took some serious lumps early last season when both Stan Neckar and Sean Hill went out with season-ending knee injuries just five games into the schedule. Their absences meant the remaining guys had to really pick it up. And pick it up they did. With Steve Duchesne leading the way, a group of no- names band together to supply the Senators with the best defense in their history.

However, Duchesne and his 19 goals won't be back this season. Gauthier traded him to St. Louis for Igor Kravchuk. See this goes back to that whole just-when-you-think-he's-a-genius-he- does-something-stupid thing. It has to be just a question of money, because otherwise trading Duchesne for Kravchuk is insane. Without Duchesne the Senators never would have made the playoffs last season, and it's doubtful they'll make it this year, either. He was just incredible for the club. Replacing him will be impossible.

But the Senators do have to move on. At least Neckar and Hill will be back. Neckar is a tremendous physical specimen that can log enormous amounts of ice time. He was on his way to becoming one of the best young defensive defensemen in the game before his knee injury. Likewise, Hill is also an important member of the blue line. He has excellent offensive skills and can play in all situations. Having Neckar and Hill return will be a big help. But it will cause a bit of a log jam. Now the club will have eight guys used to being regulars. That could mean a trade might be in the works.

One guy who definitely won't get moved is Wade Redden. He may not have won rookie of the year like Bryan Berard, but Redden played a steady, dependable game well beyond his years. He also chipped in with six goals and 30 points. That's nice work. Janne Laukkanen impressed everyone last season with his inspired play. People knew he was an excellent skater with skill, but his toughness and overall defensive game were pleasant surprises. Radim Bicanek and Jason York are also two skilled guys that played well at both ends of the rink. And Lance Pitlick doesn't get much attention, but he's a rough and tumble guy that can throw some big hits.

The team also has to save a spot for rookie Chris Phillips. The first overall choice in the 1996 Draft, Phillips held out last season with a contract dispute but finally came to terms with the club this summer on an incentive-filled, multi-year deal. He's expected to be able to step right in and be one of the top six. Phillips and Redden give the Senators two quality young defenders to build around.

GOALTENDING: Sometimes You Feel Like a Tugnutt...

LCS hero and former Nordique legend Ronnie Tugnutt emerged as Ottawa's number one goaltender down the stretch last season and played some of the best hockey of his life. Damian Rhodes will be back to challenge Tugnutt for the number one spot this season, and will likely win out over the long haul. But both should see plenty of playing time this season.

GEE, THAT'S SWELL

* Alfredsson, Yashin, and Daigle give the club three talented young stars.

* The defense isn't made up of a lot of household names, but it is deep.

* Tugnutt is cool.

TROUBLE

* Not much scoring on offense.

* The club will miss Duchesne.

* Alfredsson's contract dispute needs to get resolved.

1997-98 OUTLOOK: Obviously if Alfredsson doesn't get signed this club is beat. But hopefully things will get worked out. Even if Alfie is back, the Sens are going to have a hard time making the playoffs. Losing Duchesne is killer and the club didn't do much of anything to improve its offense. With clubs like Washington and Carolina on the rise in the East, Ottawa can't afford to stand pat.

PREDICTION: Fourth in the Northeast and outside looking in come playoff time.

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